Mar 12, 2024
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quick bsbff sketch
Raised by the Rom
Chapter II
-A WIP progress story written by Wind the Mama Cat -
Authors note: This is a birthday story written for @ask-de-writer. It features AU versions of our Original Characters, and It also features cannon MLP characters. Essentially, all the characters are Gender-bent, or Rule 63, versions of themselves (except one or two characters).
This story will be an ongoing Work in Progress. All new added text will be posted in bold.
Enjoy!
Lily wandered into the camp and spotted her mother and Gust talking to the newcomer she almost didn’t recognize. Well, by sight. She smiled as her horn sparked for a second as she sensed Gleaming’s aura.
“Greetings, Gleaming.” The tall mare said as she approached the fire. “Nice mane style.”
Gleaming turned and faced her. “Oh. Hello, Lily. Um, it’s Glee now. But thank you.”
“I see you have Nore’s Lyre. Is that to be your act?” Lily asked kindly.
“Oh, um, yes.” Glee nodded. “I used to play… a few years back.” She held the instrument in the crook of her right elbow and strummed the strings with her left. “Gust and De Poet were going to give me…” She looked at Gust.
“Refresher lessons.” Gust said as held his ocarina to his lips and played a few notes of a song that Glee didn’t recognize.
“What’s that song called?” Glee asked.
De Poet giggled. “That’s what Dear De Poet Hates.” She sighed. “A silly little song my little silly Kitten made up when he was four.”
Lily nodded. “He was a very rambunctious kitten when he was little. He still is, mind you, but even more so when he was younger. Mother often scolded him when he did something that she didn’t like, so, in response, he started singing her rules saying that’s what she hates.”
Gust blushed. “Soon, the Rom were singing it, and adding their own verses. Mama…” He looked at her and smiled, “Well, she was impressed that a four-year-old could come up with such a popular song, despite it being so cheeky, and her being the butt of the joke.”
“Be that as it may,” De Poet chimed in. “I did ground him for being sassy.”
Glee giggled more. “Gust, there would you mind teaching me that song that you first played? What was it, Your Lullaby?”
Gust nodded happily “Sure…” He brough his instrument back to his lips, and started playing; C – G – E – C – A – F#
Glee started strumming the same notes on her lyre.
He repeated those notes three times, and then switched the pattern; – B – D – G – A# – C# – G – A – C – G – D – C – F# – C – G – E – C – A – F# – C – G – E – C – A – F# – B – D – G – A# – C# – G – A – C – G – D – C – F# – F – C – E
Lily smiled and moved away from the fire. She then started to dance to the song, swirling and spinning in an almost hypnotic way, using her loose clothing and jewellery to catch the sun.
As Gust and Glee finished their song, De Poet titled her head back and trilled.
Glee looked between De Poet and Lily. “I heard the Rom make that noise at the Knight Contest…”
“Rom don’t applaud.” Gust explained. “We trill when we see or hear an act that we like.”
“Oh.” The young mare said. She looked at the barely breathing Lily. “Lily… you managed to dance so beautifully and intensely, yet… you’re not even breathing hard.”
Lily smiled as she sat next to her mother. “I’ve been dancing for 33 years, pretty much since I could stand. Lots and lots of practice. The key is proper breathing and diaphragm control.” She tapped her nose. “I dance pretty much all day. Can’t do that if I’m tired after each dance.”
“Makes sense.” Glee nodded in understanding.
“Do you know how to dance, Glee?” Gust asked as he packed his instrument back into its box.
“Ballroom dancing.” Glee said, as she did the same. “I attended a lot of Galas.”
“Well, we shall teach you how to dance like us.” De Poet said kindly. “We Rom always have a dance in the evenings. Helps shake the ‘dust’ off our bones from sitting in a booth all day.”
Gust looked at the Sun. “Wow. It’s getting late.” He looked at Glee. “Did you want me to take you clothes shopping before dinner?”
Glee nodded. “Sure. Let me get my purse…” she stood up and stretched. She was about to go to her tent, but stopped when De Poet cleared her throat.
De Poet looked at her. “Glee, it’s tradition that when a Rom offers to take you shopping, that they pay for the purchases.”
Glee blushed. “Oh. Um, okay then.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m just used to buying my own things.”
“Oh, you still can.” Gust said. “Normally, we just pay for the first thing.” He said as he too stood up. I’m just going to buy you some outfits. If you see anything else, you can pay for that.”
“Ahh~” Glee giggled in understanding. “That’s fair.”
De Poet rolled her eyes at just how adorable the young ones were being. She watched as they stored their instruments in Glee’s tent and then left the camp hand in hand.
“So, are we taking bets?” Lily asked her mother coyly.
De Poet looked at her daughter and pulled out a note pad and quill. She looked at what was written down. “Odds are 5 to 1 that he proposes in two weeks.”
“What about confessing their love?” Lilly prodded.
“2 to 1 that Gust confesses first, and 6 to 1 that Glee does.” De Poet sighed.
Lily looked at the tent. “Cozy little tent. Gust didn’t even hesitate to put his ocarina away in it.”
“I noticed.” De Poet nodded. “It’s why I stealthily put a silencing spell on it.”
Lily looked at her mother. “Mom… this isn’t the first time Gust has had a mate.”
“I know.” She said. “He’s also been in love before. That being said, I do believe that this is the first time his mate has loved him in return. Truly loved him. Not some fleeting fancy.”
“Mom… you aren’t going to lose him.” Lily said honestly.
“Oh, I know that.” De Poet nodded. “But this is the first time he’s moving out of my Caravan.”
“I moved out, and so did Dusk and Shimmer.” Lily said.
“I’m just feeling nostalgic.” The older mare admitted. “Shimmer calls me Mom, and so does Dusk, and I did raise them, but lets be honest, Gust truly sees me as his mother. His actual mother.” She shook her head. “I’m just being silly.”
“No you’re not.” Lily nudged her mother’s shoulder with hers. “Things are changing and you’re worrying, just like any mother would.” She stood up and stretched. “But, come on. We should get back to your booth.”
De Poet smiled. “Right, Lily. Let’s go.”
Gust and Glee walked into a Rom Tailor tent belonging to Hanar Bel Galand. He was sitting behind the counter. He spotted Gust and smiled. “Ah. Young Gust. Here for a new wardrobe? One befitting a young Knight and Champion?”
Gust smiled at him. “Eventually.” He gestured to Glee. “This is Glee. She recently joined the Rom, and, well, she bought some Rom styled dresses, however, her tailor made them from wool and leather, instead of cotton.”
Hanar scoffed. “A pony tailor, I take it? Certainly not Radiance. He would never make a Rom dress from wool. Not in the summer.”
Glee shook her head. “No. Radiance didn’t make them. I used another tailor. He insisted that wool and leather would be best. Sorry. I have no experience with… Rom clothing.”
“Never mind, my Dear. I wasn’t upset with you.” He sighed. “How many dresses would you like?”
“Um, at least 5? To start?” Glee said as she noticed that the unicorn was using his magic to magically control a measuring tape to get her measurements.
“I can make you five dresses.” He looked her up and down. “In that style that you’re wearing?”
Glee nodded. “Yes, please.” Her eyes wondered to the pre-made clothing. They were caught by a similar dancing dress that Lily had been wearing. “Ooh.’ She gasped. “May I also get that Dancing dress?”
Hanar looked up from his book, where he was writing down her measurements and looked to where she was pointing. “You may.” He smiled. “Bring it over here, my Dear, and I’ll add it to your order.”
“Actually,” Gust said, as Glee brought the dress over to Hanar, “I’ll be paying for her dress, Hanar. In fact, I’ll be paying for all of her clothing.”
Hanar nodded as he jotted that down in his book. “About your shirts? I noticed the one you’re wearing is a little thread-bare.”
“I’ll be paying for his shirts and pants.” Glee said as she picked out five new tunics and pants. “I think these will fit him perfectly.” She said as she brought them over to Hanar.
Hanar examined the tunics and pants. “You have a good eye, Ms. Glee.” He nodded. “However, as Gust has a wider tail then ponies and horses do, I need to adjust the tail hole for him. The tunics you can take with you now. I’ll have the rest finished, and delivered by the end of the day.”
“By the end of the day?” Glee asked as Hanar packed Gust’s new shirts in a bag. “It took my tailor 4 days to make my dresses,”
Gust chuckled as he handed over the bits for her clothing. “The Rom have… special ways of doing things.”
Hanar took out her bits and paid for Gust’s shirts. “Well, I’m impressed.” She took the bag and the two left the tent, and made their way down the midway.
As they walked down the midway, past all the different Pony and Rom Booths, Glee noticed that Gust’s ears were twitching.
Glee watched as his ears turned independently from one another. She had noticed that they did that whenever someone used magic that wasn’t in their immediate area. Or, if someone was using stealth magic.
“Are you okay, Gust?” She asked him as they walked. “Your ears are twitching.”
Gust hummed. “Huh? Oh…” He rubbed his right ear. “I don’t know. Something… something is going on.” He paused and looked around. He spotted a booth with the sign “Animal Apothecary” above it.
“Something over there is using magic.” He said as he pointed at the booth. “Which is weird…”
Glee looked to the booth he was pointing at, and noticed a group of 3 Deer, not often seen outside of their villages, arguing with the pony merchant. The Deer were struggling trying to speak broken Equestrian as they pointed at the caged birds. One cage, in particular, Gust noticed, contained a winged animal that looked like a, well, bunny.
“You know, I’ve only ever met a Deer once or twice,” Glee admitted. “They’re very reclusive. Normally, they only send delegations when a pony enters their lands without express permission.”
“Well, those Deer aren’t happy with that merchant.” Gust said to Glee, while keeping his eyes on the caged bunny. “Let go check it out.”
(Photo Credit GBFWiki)
“Let’s.” Glee said as the two walked over to the booth.
“(What is the matter?)” Gust asked the deer in their language.
The Deer stopped talking to the merchant as they looked at him. The tallest of them, a Noble looking female, wearing a crown weaved from branches, looked surprised. “(You speak Deer?)”
Gust nodded “(I do. How may I help?)”
“(This pony captured one of our sacred animals. A Winged Bun-Bun.)” She explained to Gust in a relieved, yet concerned, tone. “(He wants us to pay a kings ransom for it. They… only live in our territory. He trespassed.)”
Gust looked at the shopkeeper. A seedy, short, scruffy looking male Earth pony. “They said you poached on their land.” He pointed to the Winged Bun-bun. “I should know, those aren’t native to our forests.”
“S’not true.” He argued. “I found it in the Northwoods by Oakenville. Fair game.”
Glee scoffed at him. “You are a liar and a thief.” She gestured to his booth. “I know for a fact that Winged Bun-Buns are only native to Everfree, where the Deer live.” She paused and looked at the other birds, “Besides that, I count three booth violations. One, you have birds in cages. They should be on stands with strings on their feet. Two, I don’t see your live animal trading license, that should always be on display, and three…” She shook her head. “All animal trading booths need to be covered with a tarp or roof.”
The merchant gulped nervously. “…how do you know ‘bout all dem rules?”
“I am a Lady Glee, a Free Knight of Equestria.” Glee said with authority. “So is my boyfriend here, Sir Gust.”
“Your booth is now shut down.” Gust said as he reached over the counter and removed the keys from the merchant’s belt. “All your profits are forfeit.”
The shopkeeper grew angry. “HEY!” He said as he lunged at Gust. Gust pivoted, and used his foot to trip him. He landed in a puddle of mud.
“Guards!” Glee shouted suddenly. “Security!”
Two unicorn Knights, dressed in the Ponyville Militia colors, walked over to the booth.
“What’s going on here?” One Knight, with a sergeant rank on his shoulder, asked. “Oh. Sir Gust and Lady… Glee. What seems to be the problem?”
Glee quickly explained what was happening. By the end of it, the merchant pony, covered in mud, was clapped in irons on his wrists and hooves.
“How many birds did you sell?” Glee demanded of him.
“None…” He grumbled. “Those Deer scared away my first customer.”
“Where did you even get all these birds?” Gust asked as he started to unlock the cages, so that the birds could go free.
“I, uh, used nets to capture ‘em.” The pony admitted. “s’not a crime…”
“Only if you don’t injure the bird, and have a gaming license.” Gust argued. “Half off these birds are injured.” He shook his head. “And most of these birds are endangered.” He looked at the Guards. “You need to call Dr. Fluttershy. Have her examine these birds.”
The Sargent saluted. “Yes, Sir Gust. Right away.” He looked at the other guard, a Corporal, judging by his rank markings. “Corporal, I’ll take this Idiot to the Jail. You go get the veterinarian.”
“Yes, Sir.” The Corporal saluted as he took off at A brisk pace.
“Sorry, Birds.” Gust said as he relocked the cages. “We have to keep you in here until the Doctor can examine you.”
“(What of the Bun-bun?)” The Noble Deer asked. “(May we take her home?)”
Gust nodded. “(Yes.)” He opened the cage, and stepped out of the way.
The Nobel Deer stepped forward and removed the Winged Bun-bun from the cage. She spoke a different dialect to it, one that Gust wasn’t versed in, as she cradled it in her arms.
“(I have never seen a Winged Bun-bun before.)” He said to the Deer. “(Only heard stories. I understand they are very loyal, have great intelligence, and use magic.)”
“(You know much, Sir Knight.)” The Deer said. “(How does one of your species know all of that?)”
“(My Mother, De Poet, of the Rom.)” Gust answered honestly. “(She has travelled to many lands and learned much. She does her best to teach me.)”
“(We know of De Poet.)” the Deer said with a knowing nod. She looked down at the Bun-bun and talked to it some more, in what Gust guessed was it’s own language.
“(She wants to go with you.)” The Deer said to Gust. “(You saved her from that horrible Pony. She wants to be your companion.)”
“(I…what?)” Gust asked out of shock. “(She… thinks I saved her? But all I did was help YOU with the merchant.)”
“(She knows what she saw, Sir Knight.)” The Deer said as she gently passed the Bun-bun to Gust. Gust took the soft animal in his arms and held it just as the deer did. “(Bun-buns are intelligent, just as you said. She sent out her magic to find someone to help her. You are the one that answered.)”
Glee, having no idea what was going on, looked between Gust and the Noble Deer. “Uh, Gust?”
“This Winged Bun-bun wants to come with me…” Gust said. “She says that I saved her, and she wants to be my companion…” He switched back to Deer and said a few brief words to the noble Deer. She nodded and answered in Deer to him. “Apparently, despite not knowing how to speak with it, eventually, She will teach me. The bun-bun, that is.”
“What is her name?” Glee asked.
The Noble Deer chittered in her language.
Gust shrugged. “The Bun-bun will tell me when the time is right.” He chittered in deer. The Noble deer chittered back.
“I don’t even have to worry about feeding her.” Gust explained to Glee. “She’s entirely independent and self-sufficient. All she needs is a soft bed to sleep on.”
“Well, we can go to one of the booths and buy her a pet bed.” Glee nodded. “No problem with that.”
The Noble Deer and the two other Deer bowed to Gust and Glee and then walked away. Shortly after, the Corporal and Dr. Fluttershy arrived at the booth. Glee explained to the yellow and pink pony about the captured birds.
“Oh, Goodness!” Fluttershy said in a worried tone. “I will take them to my sanctuary and treat them right away!” Her eyes fell on the Bun-bun. “Oh! A Winged Bun-bun. Is she injured as well?”
Gust shook his head. “She’s okay, Dr. Fluttershy. The reason why I’m holding her is because she, well, bonded herself to me.”
“I see.” Fluttershy nodded in understanding. “Very well.” She looked at the guard. “Help me with these birds, please.”
“Yes, Doctor.” The Corporal nodded.
Gust and Glee continued down the midway. “I’m going to take… her… back to camp. Could you pick out a bed for her? I don’t want ponies and horses crowding her.”
Glee nodded and pecked Gust on his cheek. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
Gust looked down at his companion. “Okay. I’m going to use my shirt to hide you. I don’t want others to see you, okay?”
The Bun-bun chirped, and suddenly, the light bent around her, turning herself invisible. Gust’s eyebrows rose in shock.
“Okay… I knew you were magic…” He shook his head and headed back to his camp.
Once they were safely at the camp, the Bun-bun reappeared. Gust chuckled and sat on a bench near the fire. “So, um…”
The Bun-bun hopped out of his arms and used her wing-ears to float to the ground. She looked up at him, squinted her eyes happily, and started to explore the camp.
“Sure. Go ahead.” He said to her. “Though, my family and I travel a lot. So don’t get too used to this place.” He sighed. “I don’t even know what to call you...”
The Bun-bun stopped sniffing De Poet’s caravan and looked back at him.
(Twig).
Gust was taken aback as a voice popped into his head. “Huh?”
(Twig. Her name is Twig.)
Gust looked at the Bun-bun. “You’re talking to me? Your name is Twig?”
The bun-bun stopped her front paws. (Speak in his mind to her. Stupid.)
Gust, taken aback at her tone, summoned his thoughts and tried to speak to… Twig. (Sorry. Not used to speaking this way. Your name is Twig?)
(HER name is Twig.) Twig answered. (Bun-buns are he or she, her, or him, or hers and his. His name is Gust. Or Stupid.)
(He is not Stupid.) Gust shot back. (Gust just needs to learn.)
(Twig is only joking. She doesn’t think he is stupid.) She hopped over to him and sat next to him on the bench. (She is curious… only he heard her magic help. Is he special?)
(I suppose he is. He is not like others. He is a mix of cat and otter.) Gust answered. (Maybe he and Twig have a special bond?)
Twig’s nose twitched. (Maybe. He and her can teach each other.) She hopped back over to him, and then on to his lap. (He said that he moves a lot).
(Yes.) Gust nodded. (His family moves from… town to town. Never staying in one place for more then a week.)
(What is family?) Twig asked.
Gust thought for a second. (Does she have… a pack? A group she lives with?)
(Oh! Family is fluffle.) Twig said (But what is town? Or week?)
The catter chuckled (Well, a town is… well…) He pointed to Ponyville. (That’s a town. Where ponies live in houses. Like a big… den. A week? Well, that’s when the sun and moon set a rise 7 times.)
(She understands.) Twig nodded contently. (She thanks Him for teaching her.)
(May he pet her?) Gust asked.
(What is pet?) Twig asked.
Gust placed his hand on her back and stroked from her neck to her tail. (That is a pet.)
Twig purred happily. (He is grooming her with is hand. Is pleasant. Yes. He may keep grooming her.)
Gust chuckled as he kept petting Twig (He believes that Twig and Gust will get along just fine.)
Glee returned to the camp carrying the bag of shirts she bought for Gust, and a soft lamb fur pet bed for… Gust’s new companion. She spotted Gust sitting by the fire with the winged bun-bun on his lap. They were both looking quite happy as the catter pet her back.
“I see you two are getting along.” Glee said in a happy tone. “Did she tell you her name, yet?”
Gust looked at Glee and then back to the Wing bun-bun. He nodded and the looked at Glee again. “Her Name is Twig. She also wanted to let you know that she thanks you for helping me help her.”
“It was my honor, Twig.” Glee said as she dipped her head in respect. “Here…” She held out the bed she had bought and laid it on the ground next to the log. “I bought this for you to sleep in.”
Twig hopped/glided off of Gust’s lap and then hopped over to the bed. While she did so, Gust chuckled.
“Oh. One other thing… Bun-buns don’t have personal pronouns. They refer to themselves and others as he/she or him/her.” He explained as he watched Twig sniff the bed.
“Oh.” Glee said as Twig hopped into the bed and turned around counterclockwise. She then turned around clockwise, and laid down, purring softly.
“I think she likes the bed.” Gust said with a nod.
“I’m glad.” Glee said as she walked over to her tent to put the rest of her shopping away. She dropped the bags on the bed, and then walked out of it in slight shock. “Gust?”
“Hm?” Gust said as he turned on the log and looked back at her.
“Did… did you move your belongings into our tent?” Glee asked.
Gust stood up and walked over to her and the tent. He looked inside and spotted his clothing chest at the foot of the bed, his sword hanging on the wall, and his stuffed llama, Fuzzle, on one of the pillows.
“Uh, no. I mean, I was going to…” He admitted. “But…”
“Your Mother must have.” Glee said. She spotted the llama and giggled. “He’s cute. What’s his name?”
Gust blushed. “Fuzzle. I’ve had him since I was one.” He picked him up and held it arm’s length. “Lily won him from a carnie’s booth for me. I’ve slept with him ever since.”
Glee sat on the edge of the bed and opened a chest. She pulled out a stuffed pig. “This is Mr. Oinks. I’ve had him since I was born.”
Gust smiled and placed Fuzzle back on the pillow. “So, uh, Glee. Which side of the bed do you prefer to sleep on? You know, since we’re going to be sleeping in the same one.”
The mare blushed. “Well, since this is the first time in my life that I will be sharing a bed… I guess the left side?” She shrugged. “I’m really not certain.”
Gust nodded. “Well…” He smiled. “You seemed fairly comfortable sleeping next to me in the Horsepital on the left side…”
Glee blushed more. “Err… yes. I have to admit, your heartbeat was very pleasant to listen to.” She smiled and used her left hand to stroke his left cheek. “It was very soothing.”
Gust leaned into her hand. “Well, since we’re on the subject of bed sharing, shall we talk about… us, potentially… sleeping together?”
Glee’s eyes went wide as she dropped her hand and bit her lower lip. “Oh. Um… well, as you know… I’m a virgin…”
He nodded. “You told me in the Horsepital.”
“And you swear that doesn’t bother you?” She asked as she brought her knees up and hugged them.
“Not at all.” Gust shook his head. “But, I can ask you the same thing. You also promise that me being, well, experienced doesn’t bother you?”
Glee shook her head no. “No.” She thought for a second. “I was wondering one thing… your mother mentioned that you were a hybrid…”
“Yeah. An otter and a cat. More specifically, a river otter and a Siamese cat. Otter on my father’s side, and cat on my mothers.” Gust explained. “Why?”
“Just a thought.” Glees said as she looked him over. “Your lovers… were all ponies, yes?”
“My first was a Zebra. A flutist.” He said. “He was very kind and gentle. I didn’t mean to, well, sleep with him so soon. I only knew him for a day… But, well…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I had just come into maturity, and I was in my first heat cycle.”
“Heat cycle?” Glee asked.
“Yeah. Every spring, usually around the first week, My hormones go into… well, out of control.” He admitted. “It lasts about four days to a week. One time, My Mama had to lock me in her caravan and medicate me.”
“Oh my...” Glee blushed at the thought of him being like that. She then thought some more. “Wait… Gust… it’s going to be spring in a week…”
It was his turn to blush. “Don’t worry. Lily is a trained apothecary. She made me medication to help. I won’t be out of control.” He chuckled “Mama won’t have to lock me up again.”
Glee nodded and giggled. “Fair enough.”
Twig suddenly came hopping into the tent, dragging her bed using telekinesis. She set it on the “floor” at the foot of the bed.
(His fluffle is outside.) She said to Gust and Glee in her mind. (They are being very noisy). She huffed (The blue cat tried speaking to her in a weird language.)
Glee gasped (Oh. Hello, Twig. Her name is Glee. It is nice to speak with… her.)
Twig hopped into her bed. (She is pleased to meet Glee. But she is tired and wants to sleep some more.)
Gust waved for Glee to follow him outside.
The two young lovers walked out of their tent and were greeted by his family. They joined them by the fire, sitting next to each other on the log.
Dusk, sitting across from them, smiled. “Hi Glee. Hey Gust. Who was your friend?”
“Kinda curious about that myself.” Shimmer said, sitting next to Dusk.
“She’s a winged Bun-bun named Twig.” Gust explained to his family. “Glee and I came across an illegal bird merchant when we were shopping. A pack of Deer were rather upset that, well, he was trying to sell her, since they are only native to the Everfree forest.”
“He poached on their lands?” De Poet asked. “Oh, my.”
“And caught other birds without a permit.” Glee said. “The Deer Princess was happy that we helped Twig and wanted to take her back home.”
“However, Twig wanted to come live with me and be my companion.” Gust said. “She said I helped her when she called for help using her magic.”
“She didn’t seem very sociable when I used my animal talk to speak to her.” Shimmer said. “She grabbed her bed and hopped off.”
“That’s because she isn’t an animal. In the traditional sense.” De Poet said as she rolled some stuffed buns. “Winged bun-buns are highly intelligent, magical, beings, Shimmer. They are sentient like you or me. They only talk to those whom they like using telepathy. Your Druid skills won’t work on her.”
“Oh.” Shimmer blushed.
“Also, if she does decide to talk to you, don’t use personal pronouns. Say she or her.” Gust added. He went to rub his covered right eye, but was stopped when Lily gently grabbed his hand.
“No rubbing.” She tsk’d. “Is it itching?”
He simply nodded yes.
She kneeled in front of him and gently removed the bandage covering his eye. She then, cautiously, lifted the pad covering the stitching. She used her magic to check his retina.
“Well, the scratch on your eye is healed, and your scar is healing nicely.” Lily said as she scanned his cut. “If you’re careful, you don’t need to wear a bandage anymore.”
Gust nodded. “I’ll be careful.” She sighed happily. “Thanks, Lily.” He turned and looked at Glee. “How does it look?”
“Well, it’s two inches above your eyebrow and two inches below you eye.” Glee said honestly. “It’s a very thin cut. The doctor did a good job with her stitching.”
“Here, Kitten.” De Poet said as she handed him a clay pot with a white cream in it. “Use this salve. It will help with the itching.”
Gust took the pot and handed it Glee. “Would you mind?”
Glee took the pot from him, and dipped her index finger into the cream, she then gently spread the salve onto Gust’s scar, being mindful of the stitches. “I could have sworn that the Doctor said you had to wear the patch on your eye for a week. Something about a scratched cornea?”
“She did say that.” De Poet said as she set her buns to cook. She smiled, “Gust heals really quickly due to his mixed blood.” She went to take some fish that she had bought from a griffon vender, out of her ice box, but paused as she looked at Glee.
“Glee? I’m going to cook some fish for Gust, Dusk, and Shimmer…” She said, “Do you mind?”
Glee looked at De Poet “Well, I guess I’ll be okay.” She looked at Dusk “You eat meat, Dusk?”
He nodded. “I’m not a traditional horse. See, I wasn’t really born. I was created. By magic. I won’t, or rather can’t, tell you how, but, well… yes. I eat meat just like Shimmer and Gust.”
“Huh.” Glee nodded in understanding. “Well, Lady Spines also eats meat, and I have attended dinners with foreign dignitaries. So, omnivores and… carnivores really don’t bother me all that much.” She smiled weakly. “I just can’t watch it be prepared…”
De Poet nodded. “That’s understandable, Dear. Lily and I are surgeons for the Rom, so, it really doesn’t bother us.” She looked at Dusk. “Dusk? Would you be a Dear and go prepare this fish for a stew on the other side of my Caravan?”
Dusk nodded and stood up. He picked up the ice box and carried it to the other side of the caravan, like he was told.
“I’m sorry.” Glee said apologetically. “First day of being… with you Rom and I’m already making demands.”
“Hardly.” Shimmer said, “We Rom, if anything, are understanding and accepting to others. For example, before Gust and I came to the Rom 20 years ago, there had never been carnivores.” She smiled brightly. “So, if anything, Gust, Dusk and I were the ones to make demands.”
Gust nudged Glee's shoulder with his. “Also, You're with us now, Glee you're Rom now.”
“I am?” She asked in an intrigued voice.
“Of course you are, Dear.” De Poet nodded as she chopped up veggies for a salad. “You're living with us, will have your own caravan soon, willing to learn our way of life, and you're dating Gust. That makes you Rom.”
She looked around at the others. “What about those head dressings? Will I get one?”
Gust smiled. “That's called a Freedom...” he rubbed his face. “Oh...”
Lily rolled her eyes and her horn lit up. Gust's Freedom popped in front of him, in a web of her magic. He blushed and grabbed it. He strapped it back onto his head.
“Anyway...” he chuckled, “A Freedom is what all Rom wear, as a symbol and a reminder. The Rom were slaves back in Saddle Arabia, and will never be again.”
“So, only certain Rom wear them?” Glee asked.
“All new Rom, that weren't part of the Rom from the desert, have to earn them.” Lily answered. “Shimmer earned hers when she was old enough to make the vow. As did Gust and Dusk.” She smiled. “Even I had to earn it, and I was born into the Rom.”
“So, how do I earn mine?” Glee asked, “Um, that is, potentially?”
“Prove that you're willing to be Rom. That you'll keep our secrets safe.” De Poet answered.
Glee blinked “S-secrets?”
“Yes. Secrets.” Gust said. He picked up a stick from the ground and snapped it in half. He then turned his back to Glee. After a few seconds, he turned back to her and held out the stick her, showing no sign of being broken.
Glee took the stick and examined it. “How... how did you do that?”
“That's one of our secrets.” Gust explained. “See Shimmer's staff? It's made from three equal pieces of wood. She used oak, spruce, and a species called Eldar wood. She twisted them together and forged it, kinda how Dusk would forge three pieces of metal to make a sword blade.”
Glee blinked and looked at Shimmer. “You didn't use glue?”
Shimmer shook her head. “Nope. As you travel with us, we'll reveal how we Rom make our wood crafts, how we make our flour, write our music, and how Dusk makes his steel.”
“The patterned steel that De Poet's knives are made from?” Glee asked as she looked at the blue horse.
De Poet smiled and winked. “All in good time, Dear.”
Dinner was served and was quickly finished. As Glee and Dusk were washing the dishes, two horses that Glee recognized as the two bakers from the Munchies Booth, walked into the camp carrying several boxes.
Glee blinked as Gust handed her a plate to dry. “I didn't know those bakers were part of you band as well, Gust.”
Gust laughed. “They kinda are, but at the same time, kinda... not.” He dried his right hand and tucked a lose strand of her main behind her right ear.
She blushed at the gesture. “So, um... who are they, then? They have freedoms on, so they must be Rom...”
“Well, yes. They're Rom, but not full time Rom.” Gust said. “They're incognito, just like you.”
Glee squinted at the newcomers. “Wait a second... are those the the Princes?” She asked as something clicked in her head.
To answer her, Blaze and Night walked over to her and smiled.
“Uh-oh, Blaze.” Night said with a chuckle. “Looks like we've been found out.”
“Indeed we have, Night.” Blaze nodded as he held open a box of pastries to Glee. “I think Glee deserves an award for figuring that out.”
Glee was taken aback slightly as things transpired in front of her. She recovered quickly and selected an Apple strudel from the box. “How long have you two been Rom?”
Blaze smiled. “Since the Rom crossed our borders and added them to Edict of Equality.”
“We fell in love with their simple way of life.” Night said as they all sat around the fire. “De Poet taught us things that we never knew, and became a consultant to us, soon thereafter, we earned our Freedoms.”
“So, for 500 years you've kept your Rom and Royal identities separate?” Glee asked. “That's amazing.”
“It's all in the cover story.” Night said. “For example, Dear Glee, we made up a story as to why you are no longer the Knight Captain, and Captain of our Royal Armies.”
“You did?” Glee said. “Oh, I forgot about that part...”
“We did.” Blaze nodded. “You recall the South Bay Invasion? Your first battle after being promoted to Knight captain?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “The Changeling King, Demonicus, the leader before Chrysalid, wanted to rule Equestria.” She shook her head. “I took a sword to my back, and spent six months in traction.”
“Yes, well,” Blaze nodded. “It seems you never fully recovered from that injury.” He winked, “You decided to retire, and moved to your Family's estate in the country.”
Glee smiled. “Right. And remind me who took my place as Knight Captain?”
“You promoted Lt. Copper Hoof, of the Royal Marines.” Night said. “She was very honored.”
Gust was silent. He had heard of that Invasion, but had no idea that Glee had been involved with it. Not wanting to press the matter further, he set it aside from now. He knew, just like the Rom, that she had her secrets, and would tell him when she was ready.
His ears perked up as the Rom band struck up some music. He stood up, and held out his hand as he looked at Glee. “May I have this dance, My Lady?”
She tentatively placed her hand in his. “You may, Kind Sir.”
As Glee took Gust's hand, she paused as she spotted Hanar walking towards her. He was carrying several packages, which, she assumed were her dresses. “Actually, Gust,” She said as she nodded towards the clothing maker. “Hanar is here with my new dancing dress.” Hanar smiled at the couple. “Yes. I have you dresses, Glee. And your new pants, Gust.” Glee smiled kindly as she took the packages “Thank you, Hanar.” “It was my pleasure.” He smiled and left the camp to go join the dancing. Lily's ears perked up and she asked excitedly. “You bought a Rom Dancing dress?” “Actually, Gust bought it for me.” She said as she looked at Lily. “Do you want me to show how you to put it on?” The tall black mare asked. Glee thought for a second. “Um... I didn't know there was a special way of putting it on.” De Poet nodded. “Indeed. And there is no better horse than Lily to show you how to put it on.” “Oh.” Glee said simply. “Then yes please, by all means, please so me.” Lily smiled brightly. “Then bring your dress to my caravan, Glee.” Glee handed the other parcels to Gust. “Be a Dear, and put those in our tent?” The catter blinked. “Wha... huh? Oh, uh, sure.” He turned and walked towards their tent as Lily and Glee headed towards and entered Lily's caravan. Dusk chuckled. “Wow. They're already acting like a married couple.” Shimmer giggled but placed a finger to her lips. “I know, but shhh.” “Yes, Sister.” He made a zipping motion across his lips. Shimmer rolled her eyes. She grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards the dancing square. “Come on, Dusk. Let's show these Rom how to dance...” Blaze and Night followed them. De Poet sighed and shook her head at her family's shenanigans. She too, was about to go to the dancing square herself, but paused as she noticed a... cloaked stranger standing on the outskirts of the Rom camps. She summoned her stealth magic and scanned the stranger. They had no ill intention to the Rom. However, she did notice that they were watching Shimmer closely. She shrugged and walked towards the stranger. They looked at De Poet but didn't run. In fact, they didn't do anything. De Poet noticed that the stranger was taller then her, and kept the top of their face hidden with the hood of their cloak. “May I help you, Young One?” De Poet asked them. “If you wish, you can come and join our dancing and share our food. All are welcome in our camps, so long as they wait for an invitation. Much like you did.” “Uh...” The stranger, clearly female, said. “N-no thank you. But it is kind of you to offer.” De Poet nodded and crossed her arms. “May I ask why you are here then?” “I...” Despite the top of her face being hidden, the lower half of her face wasn't. Her cheeks blushed. “The turquoise Rom... I enjoy her act.” She nodded with her chin. “I was wondering, who is she?” De Poet didn't need to turn around to see whom the stranger was indicating. There was only one Rom that colour. “She's my Daughter.” The stranger turned her attention back to De Poet. “S-she is?” De Poet nodded. “Why? Are you interested in her?” The stranger eep'd. “N-nothing evil or anything.” She said as she waved her hands in front of her. “I just... saw her performing her magic in town today. Also, I've never seen a cat being like her before. She's lovely.” The Rom matriarch smirked. “Well, just talk to her. Be honest and direct.” She smiled fully. “Her favourite flowers are Black Hellebore.” The stranger nodded. She pulled back her hood slightly so that her eyes were exposed. De Poet noticed three scars across her left eye. “Thank you, De Poet.” “May I ask your name?” De Poet asked kindly. She actually knew who she was. She knew everyone in Equestria, but felt it polite to ask. “I don't tell horses or ponies my name.” She said. “Due to certain circumstances... it often isn't welcome. I hope you can understand.” She smiled slightly. “That being said, if your daughter wishes to tell me her name after I... attempt to court her, and tell her my name, then I suppose you will learn it.” De Poet nodded. “Then I wish you luck, Young one.” The stranger placed her hood back over her eyes and then disappeared into the night. De Poet walked to the dancing square and joined Night and Blaze. “Who was that?” Night asked as he danced with De Poet. “Someone who liked our dancing, but was too shy to join us. For now.” De Poet answered as she twirled in place. Gust, meanwhile, was dancing with Shimmer and Dusk. However, he stopped as Lily and Glee stepped out of Lily's caravan. His eyes went wide as his jaw dropped at Glee's appearance.
Her Rom dancing dress was a periwinkle blue with dark blue blue trim. The cut of the top revealed her trim abs. The cut of her skirt showed her shapely calves, with the the split of the skirt on the right side showing her upper right thigh. He also noticed that Lily had given her jewellery as well. Her neck, arms, wrists and ankles were adorned in gold bracelets.Glee smiled as he walked off the square and approached her. “So, Gust, what do you think?”
Gust didn't blink as he looked her up and down. He wiped the drool of his chin as he started purring quietly. “You look very beautiful, Glee.” The mare blushed cherry. “Gust...” He offered her his hand again. “Shall I teach you how to dance like the Rom, My... Beauty?” Glee managed to blush even harder as she placed her hand in his. He guided her to the square and started leading her in a dance similar to a waltz. Several hours later, Glee was panting heavily as she and Gust sat on bench near the square drinking Iced Rom black tea. “Whew...” She said as she drank the cool, sweet, tea. “And I thought the Galas I went to hand a lot of dancing.” “Yeah. Sorry.” Gust blushed. Glee noticed that he was hardly breathing... hard. “I hope I didn't over do it. I'm just used to dancing a lot.” She smiled and shook her head. “It's fine, Gust. I just have to used to dancing.” She sighed happily. “Alas, I am tired and wouldn't mind going to bed.” Gust nodded. “That's okay. The dance is winding down anyways. Let's go to sleep.” Glee and Gust stood up and headed to their tent. As they entered, Gust knelt down and stroked Twig's head. (Hey, Twig. Is she comfy?) He asked her gently. (She is fine. Where were was he and her?) She asked as she stretched. (Gust and Glee were dancing with his Fluffle.) He explained. He held out a bowl of salad. (He brought her some food if she's hungry.) Twig sniffed the food as Gust placed the bowl next to her bed. (Twig likes the leafy parts and the orange parts. What are the white and green parts?) Gust looked at the salad. (Those are cucumbers.) Twig sniffed them and gave a piece a curious lick. (Is bitter. She doesn't like that part.) Gust took the cucumber slices out of the bowl, leaving only the lettuce and carrots. He smiled and ate them. (There. Only the parts that she likes.) Twig squeaked happily and started eating. “What are you two talking about?” Glee asked as she sat on the bed and brushed her mane. “That Twig doesn't like cucumbers.” Gust said as he stood up. “So, um, how are we going to get undressed and dressed in here?” He asked. “Do you have a divider?” Glee shook her head no as she blushed heavily. “I neglected to bring one...” Gust swallowed hard. “So, we're going to see each other...” Glee nodded. “Yes.” Glee stood up and slowly pulled her top up and over her head. Gust's heart started beating faster. The next morning, Gust and Glee walked towards the breakfast, followed closely by Twig. Gust sat down on his bench. Twig hopped onto his lap. Glee sat down with a slight wince. “Are you okay, Glee?” Shimmer asked. “Was you bed not really comfortable?” Glee blushed and nodded. “The mattress isn't as... padded as I thought it would be.” Lily smiled and handed her a mug. “Here, Glee. Sleeping outside in a tent can take some getting used to. This is an elixir that will help with sore muscles.” Glee blushed as she took the mug and sipped it. “Thanks, Lily.” De Poet smiled as she cooked breakfast with Shimmer's help. “So, Glee are you going to play with Gust today at the fair?” Glee nodded. “Yes. I just hope I can play as well as he does.” Gust chuckled. “Don't worry about that, Glee. You play lovely. You just have to get used to playing for a crowd.” Shimmer looked at the couple and sighed quietly to herself. She could tell that they truly loved one another. She wished she had someone like that. The lovers that she had in the past, but the males that she dated were only fascinated in her appearance. Not her. Also, some of the unicorns that she dated were jealous when they found out that she was more magically powerful then they were. De Poet looked down at her daughter. “Shimmer? Is everything okay?” Shimmer looked up at her mother. “Hmm? Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. Just... feeling a little lonely. I guess.” The blue mare nodded. “I understand.” Shimmer sighed some more. “I wonder, am I destined to be alone? I mean, I don't want to seem jealous, it's just, Gust seems to have all the luck.” “He does seem lucky.” De Poet said as she watched Gust tuck a loose strand of hair behind Glee's left ear. “However, Shimmer, I honestly don't think you're destined to be alone forever.” She smiled and looked down at her daughter and scratched her right ear. “In fact, I have a feeling that your luck just might change.” Shimmer purred at the attention. “I hope so...” Soon breakfast was served, eaten and cleaned up. The Rom then went to their acts. Shimmer went to her busking blanket and used her magic staff to unroll it and put it on the ground. She then used a vine that she summoned from the earth to set her empty basket down. She then used the same vines to juggle several rocks for the gathering crowed. After 5 minutes, she then formed the vines into five steps , each higher then the other. She walked up to the top of the stairs and summoned several fireflies to dance around her head. She smiled as she lowered herself back to the ground as she dispersed the fireflies and vines as the coins hit her basket and the crowd went to watch other acts. One cloaked... individual..., holding a carved staff, walked up her. “You magic is amazing.” The mare said. “I've never seen such magic performed by a... um, cat being... or anyone.” Shimmer smiled at the mare. Her head was covered by a cloak, however, she could see her face. “Thank you. I was taught Druid magic by my mother. Non-Equestrian magic. Not goat, or horse, or pony. It's my own.” “It's as amazing and as beautiful as you are...” The mare smiled. Shimmer blushed and looked at the mare in shock. “I...” “Um, for-forgive me for being so bold, Miss... but I was wondering...” She pulled out a bouquet of black hellebore flowers. “I was wondering, would you be interested in going out?” Shimmer only managed to let out a slight squeak in response.
The cloaked mare stood there with the flowers held at arms length for a good seconds while Shimmer simply stared at them with her wide eyes, narrow pupils and her mouth agape.
“Um, A-are you okay, Ms?” The mare asked as she lowered the flowers slightly.
Shimmer shook her head to snap herself back to reality. “D-did you ask me out?”
“I did.” The mare nodded.
“I'm flattered. I truly am.” Shimmer said as she used her staff to support herself. “However, that being said, who... who are you?”
“Oh.” The stranger let go of her staff, which simply stayed upright by itself, and used her non-flower filled hand to lower her hood, revealing her face and head to Shimmer.
Shimmer took a half-step back.
“Tempest Shadow?” The cat asked out of shock and surprise.
The maroon mare, with her pink mane, and broken horn, simply nodded. “I'm... yes. I see my old reputation proceeds me.”
Shimmer scoffed. “Your... old “reputation”. You tried to Usurp the Princes.”
Tempest winced at Shimmer's words. She even dropped the flowers. “I... I did. That was years ago. I...I...”
Shimmer's eyes lit up pink, as did the end of her staff. “I don't want to hear it, Tempest. Leave me alone.”
A tear ran down Tempest's left cheek. “Ms. Please... I'm not that pony anymore...”
“I don't care.” Shimmer said. “Leave now, or I'll make you leave.”
Tempest grabbed her staff and walked away from Shimmer. Shimmer's eyes and staff stopped glowing as she ebbed the flow of her magic. She took a deep breath, not noticing her mother walk up behind her.
“Star Shimmer.” De Poet said with a scolding tone.
Shimmer winced at the use of her full name. “M-mother?” She said as she turned to face her. The older mare had her arms crossed and a look of disappointment on her face.
“That was rather rude and inconsiderate of you.” De Poet said.
Shimmer winced. Again. Her ears were folded back and her tail drooped. “Mother...” She looked around, but noticed that no one was looking at them.
“I put up a privacy bubble. No one can see or hear us.” De Poet said. “Why were you rude to Tempest?”
“I... she tried to conquer Canterlot.” Shimmer protested. “How could anyone, even you, defend her? Or forgive her?”
“I forgave her because the Twins forgave her.” De Poet answered. “That was 10 years ago. Besides, you're forgetting one thing, Star Shimmer, have you ever known the Princes to be lenient to the guilty?”
Shimmer looked at her feet and shook her head no. “No...”
“Using that logic, do you think that Tempest is as evil as you think she is?” De Poet asked.
“I...” Shimmer said as she looked and locked eyes with her Mother. “How can they forgive her for what she did?”
“Because they know why she did it.” De Poet answered.
Shimmer bit her lower lip. That last time De Poet scolded her like this was when she was 5 and she came home covered in mud, and tracked it through her caravan. She knew she wasn't mad at her, just disappointed. Which was worse, in her opinion. She sighed heavily.
De Poet used her magic to pick up the discarded flowers and then brought them to herself. “Hm. Black Hellebore. Your favourite flowers.” She sniffed them. “So rare that no pony flower shop grows them.”
Shimmer looked at the flowers. “They only grow in Saddle Arabia. I wonder where she got them from... and how she knew-” she stopped talking as she looked at De Poet as something dawned on her. “Mother, did you talk to her?”
“She happened to come by the camp last night.” De Poet nodded. “She said that she enjoyed your act, and in a subtle way, asked my permission to court you. In a subtle way, I gave her permission by telling her your favourite flower.” She quirked her eyebrow. “She must really like you if she managed to track them down.”
Shimmer nodded. “Yeah, I guess she does...”
De Poet’s horn lit up as she lowered the bubble. “I'll put these in water at my booth, and watch your area.” She pointed in the direction that Tempest had gone. “Go to her, Shimmer.”
Shimmer sighed. “What should I do?”
De Poet stroked Shimmer's left ear to lift them up. “Use your ears and listen.”
The turquoise cat took off at a quick sprint in the direction that Tempest had gone. As she did, she used her magic to communicate with the birds in the trees. A particular noisy blue jay told her that he saw a sad looking pony in a forest clearing not far from here.
Shimmer headed into the brush, and after a few moments of searching, found the clearing, and saw Tempest sitting on a mossy log with staff across her knees.
The maroon mare looked devastated. She had her eyes closed as tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“T-tempest?” Shimmer called out tentatively.
Tempest sniffled as she looked up slowly, her eyes were red from crying. “Wh-what are yo doing here? Come to accuse me of my past some more?”
Shimmer shook her head no. “No. I...” She took a deep breath. “My name is Star Shimmer. My family and friends call me Shimmer.”
Tempest sighed. “Fizzlepop Berrytwist. That's my real name.” She smiled weakly. “Berry Pie calls me Fizzy.”
Shimmer smiled slightly. “I'm sorry for earlier. I judged you before I...” She bit her lower lip. “I'm sorry.”
Fizzle nodded. “You're not the first to judge me for what I did. Yes, I did try to take over Canterlot, and Equestria... but, I was tricked into doing so.” She touched her horn. “I was promised by an Evil... being that if I helped overthrow the princes... he would restore my horn.”
Shimmer gasped. “Oh.”
“20 years ago, when I was ten...” Fizzle continued, an Ursa Minor attacked me and my friends. I held up a shield to cover their escape. It... broke the shield which broke my horn and gave me my scars.” Her lower lip quivered. “For 10 years, I couldn't use my magic.” She tapped her staff. “Not until... Celestial gave me this staff. It's made of-”
“Eldar wood.” Shimmer nodded. “Kinda like mine. Helps you... channel your magic.”
Fizzle nodded. “I never meant to hurt anyone, Star Shimmer. I was tricked. I was willing to do anything to get my horn back. To use my magic again.”
“I... understand.” She walked over to Fizzle and stood in front of her. “I'm sorry for... judging you so harshly.” She blushed red. “Thank you for the flowers. I really did like them.”
“You’re very welcome.” Fizzle said with a bright smile.
“Wow.” Shimmer gasped in surprise. She then blushed heavily. “You said that my magic was as beautiful as I am... did you really mean that?”
“I did.” Fizzle admitted. “Surely you've been told that before?”
“N-not really.” The cat admitted. “I've been called pretty, cute, adorable... never beautiful.”
“Well, that is a shame.” The Mare blushed heavily. “So, um, s-since you liked... the flowers... would you like to go on a date?”
Shimmer swallowed hard as her heart beat quickly. “I... well, um, a-a date would be nice. Um, what-what were you thinking?”
“Well, there's a lovely cafe in town called Caramel's Sweet Treats.” Fizzle said as she stood up and smiled down at Shimmer. Now that she wasn't hiding under her cloak, and standing at her full height, the cat noticed that she was a head and half taller then she was. “Would you like to have some lunch with me?”
“Lunch would be nice.” Shimmer nodded. “But, um, if you wanted to date me, you should know that I'm leaving town at the end of the fair.”
“Oh.” Fizzle said. “Um, then... where are you going next?” “Trottingham.” Shimmer said. “Then, the Royal fair near Canterlot.”
“Tell you what then,” The tall mare said, “Can we try dating this week, and then, if you want, I can come see you at those fairs?”
Shimmer blushed more as she thought about what Fizzle was asking. “What about... your home? Your job?”
“Well, due to my circumstances, I earn a stipend from the Royal Banks, so that's my job.” Fizzle answered honestly. “As for my home?I don't really like crowds, so mainly, I live in the woods. Camping and what not.”
So, you travel like the Rom?” Shimmer asked, now curious. “Traveling from fair to fair?”
“Well, not exactly like Rom.” She held her staff horizontally at arms length, about two feet off the ground. She then let it go. To Shimmer's shock and surprise, it was floating.
“You can... fly with your staff?” She asked wide eyed.
“Yes.” Fizzle nodded. She grabbed it, and then placed the butt on the ground. “So, um... shall we get back to the fair?”
“Oh, right. My act.” Shimmer said as she looked back towards town. “You could come and stay with me if you want.”
Fizzle smiled and held her left arm out like a hook for Shimmer to take. Shimmer giggled cutely and wrapped her right arm through it. The two girls then walked back to town in comfortable silence.
“So, where did you manage to find these flowers?” Shimmer asked as they reached her blanket. She noticed that they were in a X’iabian vase, on a stool next to her blanket.
“Well, um, I found a X’iabian Florist.” Fizzle admitted. “Apparently, they sell flower species from all over Equestria, Saddle Arabia and X’iabia.”
“Well, again. Thank you. That was very sweet of you.” She smiled sweetly.
Fizzle looked around. “Uh...”
“You can watch me from there.” Shimmer said as pointed to a canvas chair that she used between her acts, as she turned to the crowd.
Fizzle sat on the chairs, off to the side and watched Shimmer perform her magic. The mare was simply astounded as she summoned a kaleidoscope of butterflies. They formed a crown on her head, and a crown on a small filly in the crowd.
ok so. she's trans, this is just a fact
"RETREEEEEA- AAAHHHMMMPHHH" A royal guard sergeant exclaims as he is quickly bottled.
Just moments ago, The forces in Cloudsdale thought they were safe. Princess Luna was to take them back to Canterlot, and aside from a strange set of attire on the Princess of the Night. It all seemed like everything was going to be just fine, that is until the Princess herself bottled a guard right in front of the whole army followed by Tempest and Gleaming Shield popping out from behind two clouds and bottling a fair amount of troops themselves. The three of them manage to perform an ambush in plain sight. Tempest quickly throws any of her spheres at guards trying to escape.
No longer does Tempest's spheres petrify. Now they quickly bottle up anypony who gets hit. Even though it was only 3 against hundreds, the guards felt like they were surrounded at all sides. And the genie number only grew as transformed guards now got on on the action if they were released. Quickly turning the numbers gradually over to the genie side.
It hardly resembled a battle, this was a rout. The panicked screams of the troops as they try in vain to avoid being bottled. Anyone who dared try to assault the genies only ended up in a bottle faster. So the guards could only rely on the latter of their fight or flight instincts. And even those running away are starting to realize that wasn't going to work either...
Tempest smirked as she continued to flip and kick her genifying orbs towards the mostly fleeing ponies. When she was under the command of the Storm King, these kinds of 'battles' always felt so tedious, now that she's got more control over her life, she's genuinely having fun with it!
"This is all they have to offer? I'd be disappointed if it weren't so fun!" She laughed and launched another ball into a group. While she had been focused on the 'ground', Princess Luna and Gleaming Shield had taken to the air, circling around any stragglers attempting to fly away.
While the sight of the princess had initially brought hope, it had been quickly replaced by fear. Some go so far to think that she'd become Nightmare Moon once again. "THE PRINCESS HAS GONE ROGUE! WE CANNOT DEFEAT HER! NIGHTMARE MOON HAS RETURNED!"
Luna didn't take too kindly to that, but they would understand soon enough. Using the royal canterlot voice, she boomed over the screams. "YOU ARE MISTAKEN, I HAVE NOT BEEN SWAYED BACK INTO THE DARKNESS! I HAVE BEEN REBORN, AS THE GENIE OF THE NIGHT!! YOU SHOULD ALL REJOICE IN YOUR OWN COMING REBIRTH!" The screams from the air were soon met with silence as she bottled them up.
On Gleaming's end, she seemed to be the most disappointed in the guards ``Didn't I train you better than this?! You should have been ready to face any threat head on! Seems I'll have to make sure you're all put through some more intensive training!" Using a variation of her shield spell, Gleaming was able to encompass multiple guards in pink bubbles, but these were not normal shields. They stunned the guards within them before shrinking down enough to fit into new bottles.
Off in the distance, Gleaming can just see a particularly familiar guard running in the cloud city's alleyways trying to avoid detection from any of the genies causing chaos. It was a buff brown stallion with his blue mane shaped by his helmet. It had to be none other than Spearhead, one of Gleaming's best friends while she was still Shining Armor and in the Royal Guard. Gleaming asks Luna and Tempest if they can hold off the rest while she... catches a friend.
“Mind if I go see an old friend? We’ll need to catch up, or rather… I catch him” She winks
The two nod at Gleaming's request, they're not having any trouble with these guards whatsoever, so missing a genie isn't a big deal. They snicker at the thought of Gleaming having some fun with her old friend before getting back to their genifications.
Gleaming follows Spearhead until she's sure he's alone. Slipping into the shadows behind him, she makes sure she can't be seen.
Using her magic, she masks her voice to sound like it used to before she'd transformed. "Spear, it's me! I'm so glad you were able to get away! T-those genies, they're relentless! But don't worry, I'm here to help!"
Spearhead is initially spooked when he hears a voice from behind aiming his spear at where he hears the voice from "AHHHH STAY BACK! I'M WARNING YOU!.." But then he realizes it's a voice that's most familiar to him, and drops his guard. As it was none other the voice of his friend and former Captain. "Oh it's just you, Captain Shining... thank goodness. But as for your help... I know you prefer us to go on the offensive... but I'm not sure anything we do will work on these... genies. Any stallions that remembered your words just ended up being bottled right away! And now they're genies, too! The stallions were even transformed into mares!"
"Don't beat yourself up over it, save that energy for the fight ahead!" She says, trying to assure him. "There's no way they could have known what the genies were capable of...I was unfortunately too late to warn any of them...." She feigns sadness, but it should be enough to convince Spearhead.
His voice then mutters a bit quietly "Granted, I do have to admit they were turned into very attractive ones..."
A small smirk comes across her face when she hears how attractive Spear thinks they are. “(You'll be with them soon enough Spear... soon enough)”
Spearhead shakes his head and gets back on Topic "Listen, Shining. We have to get out of here... warn your wife, warn Princess Celestia, warn your sister, warn everypony! While we still can!"
Gleaming’s Shining voice lowers to a somber tone at the mention of Cadance and Celestia. "No... it's too late for that... Those genies, they got to Celestia... and Cadance too… it's because of them I was able to get away. I failed them, Spear!" She yells, hitting a nearby wall. Gleaming was acting her heart out, trying her hardest to not break character. "I just wish we had a way to stop them!"
Spearhead is disheartened by the fact that Celestia and Cadence have already been compromised, but he is quick to point out there's still a tiny bit of hope. "There is still your sister and no doubtedly all her friends. In tight spots, the Elements of Harmony has always bailed us out when things looked bleak"
"Yeah… that's true. Twilight always did figure out how to get out of a jam..." Gleaming snickered to herself, Spear's comment about being in a tight spot had her thinking on what she'll hear when he's shoved into his own tight spot. "If there's anypony who can help, it's them. We should try to get out of Cloudsdale with any pony we can, see if we can regroup with Twilight and the others!" She said in a hopeful tone.
"Once this is all over, you'll be able to focus more on your art! I know you'd been talking about wanting to do that more right?"
Spearhead wondered briefly why he heard a light laugh from Shining as he replied about Twilight. But he brushes it off and chuckles "Yeah, seriously... once this crisis is over. I'm retiring for certain, and becoming a full fledged artist from then on! Before military service gives me any more gray hairs at my young age..."
"Retire...?" This made Gleaming feel some genuine emotion rather than the act she was putting on. It nearly made her break character and reveal her voice. She may be aiming to genify him but he was still one of her best friends. They'd been in the guard together for years. So the thought of him leaving the guard stung, but it's understandable. This did give her an idea for his vessel though. She conjures up something in her hoof, but it's not a bottle. “(I think he's going to need something to better represent that dream… if I can just get him to say it as a wish…)”
Spearhead salutes before asking one more question "Say Captain, when did you even get here. I admit I never saw you arrive, did you get here while I was sleeping awaiting Luna's arrival?"
The question about how she'd gotten there did make her hesitate for a moment but she smiled "I had no choice but to sneak in. The genies were on my tail since the Crystal Empire fell to them. Practically going from cave to cave, any dark spot I could find to stay out of sight. Kind of like what we're doing now." This was something Gleaming shouldn't have said, this whole time she'd been a silhouette with a voice, Spearhead hasn't actually seen her during the whole conversation.
Spearhead does realize that this whole time Shining hadn't even shown himself, if he was hiding in the shadows because of the genies. "Wait, if you're hiding from the genies, why haven't you shown yourself before me...? If I didn't know any better, you could actually be a changeling-in-disguise!"
(“Oh I know he didn't just compare me to the....ok...ok...no it's a fair point. Breathe, I've got this...He doesn't think I'm a genie.”) Gleaming clearly didn't appreciate the changeling comparison, but considering her actions thus far, it makes sense it would be Spearhead's thought process. Gleaming takes a deep breath, changing her body to look like what it used to, no veils or genie attire. She even made sure to add some scrapes and make herself look a bit disheveled, to be more convincing that she'd been on the run with no rest.
While she thought it might be nice to be back in her old form, it no longer felt familiar. It was strange to say the least. Gleaming steps out into the light, allowing Spearhead to see her. "Don't compare me to the changelings! I just...I've been on the run since the empire, it was hard to know who to trust...for all I know, you could have been a genie in disguise! I'm sorry, Spear, I'm just a bit on edge..." She pauses "Is there a place we can fall back to? A bunker? maybe there's some remaining resistance left? We can all escape together, at the very least warn whoever's there that it won't be safe from the newly made genies!"
Spearhead is considerably calmed now that he can actually see his friend in full-form though he's downtrodden as to options as to where they can go. "To be honest, it might only be us two against the world at this point... but if there's anypony of the entire force former or otherwise that I'd choose from to at least try to beat the odds... you're the one I'd want most by my side"
"Heh, you always did know what to say to get me fired up. Thank you, Spearhead, I needed to hear that. You know I'll always have your back too." She smiled. "Alright let me think of something..." She looks out of the alleyway, 'checking' where they could go. Though given that she had flown herself there, she knew the layout of the city just fine and she already knew that both Tempest and Luna wouldn't be bothering them. She turns back to Spearhead "Ok I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think we can make a run for it. We'll cut through the Cloudsdale museum of art and then take the back exit. All we have to do is cut through this street to get there. Are you with me, Spear?"
Spearhead grimaces, knowing that if he and/or Shining are caught for even a second. The tall purple one could bottle them in mere moments with those near unavoidable spheres as he saw befall on many of his own comrades. But he's known Shining all his career, and most times the Captain ordered a risky maneuver. It all worked out in the end. "Alright, Captain. I trust you. Let's go!"
"Keep your head down and MOVE! I'm right behind you!" Darting out from the alleyway, she and Spearhead rush to the museum. Gleaming looking around at the skies for any 'incoming spheres'. The two of them could hear some of Tempest's orbs crashing into the clouds a few streets over. The screams and then moans of ponies being transformed echoed through the streets. "GO GO GO! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!"
Tempest had flown up, catching a glimpse of the duo and snickered. (“Well well well, someone's having fun. Didn't take her as the acting type, hmm I should give her friend a scare and play along!”) She kicks an orb in their direction, but intentionally misses. From their perspective, Spear wouldn't know who she's aiming for but Gleaming can see that they're not going to hit them. But for the sake of her plan, she keeps up the act.
"Spear, on your right! Dodge it! That dark purple one might have spotted us!"
"AHHHH, CAPTAIN! WE'RE AS GOOD AS APPLE CIDER NOW!" Though miraculously he thinks he managed to dodge some of Tempest's spheres. Not knowing that she was missing on purpose. He could hardly believe his luck, but he has no time to celebrate too soon. He runs quickly, and manages to ‘dodge’ more of Tempest's spheres. Before he and "Shining" both dive towards the art museum's entrance. A sphere exploding just behind them.
Spearhead gets a moment to catch his breath, he breathes heavy as he looks at his friend. "She's going to come in after us... isn't she...? I hope there's a hall of mirrors in this place or something, anything that can buy us some time"
The explosion behind them seals off the front entrance right after they dove in. In Spear's mind, it just bought them some time. "I don't know... hah... but I think she assumes that she either got us, or that we got crushed. Listen, the blasts are getting further away! Still, let's not stick around too long, I don't want to waste this opportunity! (Nice going, Tempest. Now Spear's sure to get right where I want him. I wasn't expecting her to use actual explosions though…)” In the jumble, Gleaming didn't notice that some of her disguise fell, the manestyle and tail she had as a mare was now showing rather than the one she had as a stallion. While the mane could be marked off as something caused by the explosion, the longer tail was not so easy to explain.
"But hey we did it!" She holds out her hoof for a hoof bump, not realizing this change.
"Yeeaaaa-" Soearhead's eyes widen and he frowned, as he notices the sudden longer tail on Shining. "Captain... what happened to your tail? OH GOSH, were you hit?! Some of those who were genified were bottled beginning with their tail slowly stretching first! It may be too late for you!"
"What...?" She looked behind her to see her tail and gasped. (Oh great, I lost focus and undid some of the disguise! ....wait, he thinks this is a slow burn kind of deal? Ok I can roll with this.) Gleaming acts surprised. "No! I.. .didn't feel myself getting hit! B-but I'm not going to give up now! Come on, Spear, I may not know how much time I have, but I can still get you to safety! Besides I know that there needs to be some kind of bottle for the transformed to go into! M-maybe I got lucky! Because I don't see any bottles nearby!" She puts on a brave face, holding her hoof towards him. "We knew full well this could happen. Don't give up now! You've got a wish to fulfill right?! To be an artist!?"
"Are you sure?! Because I'm sure this place must have some ceramic vases waiting to gobble you up!" He looked from side to side just waiting for a vase to come flying in and start stretching Shining towards it. "And yes... My greatest wish is to be an artist, but that won't happen if I'm literally inside the art!"
Gleaming could barely hold in a laugh, poor Spearhead had no clue how that worked... but it did provide her with ideas for later genifications. "(You know, having some bottles fly in from all sides to transform others could be a really fun idea~!)"
When Spearhead confirmed what his greatest wish was, Gleaming knew it was time. A wide smile came across her face, one that could easily be described as sinister. The object she conjured up earlier appeared in her hooves. It was not a bottle, but a paintbrush. The handle was silver, much like the spears the guard would wield. "Don't you worry, Spear... I'll make sure that you're not trapped in the art...I'm going to ensure you can make the art of your dreams...make that wish come true." Her voice was shifting from the stallion one to her normal mare one. Perhaps it was another sign of the 'transformation'? "But while I'm still me... I want you to have something..." She holds the brush out to him. "I... made it specifically for you, Spear. I just wish I could give it to you under better circumstances. Whenever you hold it, I want you to remember that wish, can you do that for me?"
Spearhead gasped "Captain! Your voice!" He's about tearing up thinking his dear friend's transforming into another one of them. He quickly grabs the brush with a wing, and looks for an exit. Though not before turning back to his captain "I'm so sorry this happened to you... I promise I'll go see your sister and together we'll free you, Princess Cadence, Princess Celestia. And everypony else!"
Gleaming grasped at her neck, acting as if she were stunned by the voice change. "It's... It'll all be fine, I got to save you after all. You just focus on your dreams, hehe I'm sure we'll be looking at your art in a museum just like this one someday. No matter what happens, I want you to remember, I'm still your friend."
Unfortunately for Spearhead, even if he were to reach an exit, it would already be too late. From the moment he touched that brush with his wing, the transformation was taking place. It was slow at first but Gleaming could see that the tip of the brush was sticking to Spearhead's wing, sucking him into it as if it were becoming paint.
Gleaming started to laugh "Hehehe, you think I could.... pull off one of those veils? I mean despite what we may think about the genies themselves, we did agree that those outfits are pretty cute."
Spearhead's touched by "Shining's" response, though as of yet he still doesn't quite see an actual exit. He feels an odd tickle of his wings but assumes that's just the brush's bristles against his wings. Though he frowns when his captain mentions the veil "Oh gosh, you're starting to think like them too... I gotta get out of he- hey... wha...? Uhhhh.. uhhhhhhh... UHHHHHH..."
He finally notices that the odd tickle from his wings was not that of the brush touching. The wing was beginning to rescind into the brush. "Oh no... OH NO... NOOOOOOOOO! Captain, tell me you didn't... YOU MADE THE BRUSH A VESSEL?!"
There was no need to put on an act anymore. Gleaming gives a wide smile, laughing again as she fully transforms back into her genie form and attire. "I did! I thought it would be far more fitting than a bottle for you, especially given your WISH. The thing is, technically anything can be made into a vessel! And what better place to do it to you than in an art museum? In some regards, a brush could be like a spear. Think like the pen being mightier than the sword and all that, heh." She steps closer to him "I did mean what I said though, you and I will always be friends, and now it will be forever as genies~!"
Spearhead gasped, his old friend, his captain. Had deceived him the whole time, it seemed he was in fact one of them the entire time. Or maybe... this genie was never Shining Armor at all. Though more likely, that's what Spearhead wanted to believe. He looked sternly at Gleaming "How... how could you... you.... you can't possibly be Shining Armor... ! He'd never betray me or Equestria like this! You rotten genie, you and your kind won't get away with this!"
Spearhead grunts as he falls over as now his hindlegs started to move strangely, his back hooves curved and folded back towards the direction of where both of his wings were being sucked in. Being his wings were part of his body, he could get a hint of the pleasure of the transformation but it's not quite strong enough yet for him to be considerably comforted by the transformation yet.
Gleaming had expected this kind of reaction, but it still stung a bit to be accused like this.
"Let me set something straight with you. Despite what you may think, my allegiance has been and always will be to this nation, Spearhead. Though we are remaking this into a more unified world under the Geniequestria banner now. We will be stronger than we've ever been. Safe from all evils that threaten this world. Threats like the Storm King, Tirek, and especially the likes of Queen Chrysalis, won't be able to stand up against us genies.
With this kind of power we can protect everything and everyone we love! Never again will ponies need to live in fear, never again will they have to struggle! Everypony will be able to follow their dreams, that includes you!
Granted, you're correct on one thing, I don't go by the name, Shining Armor anymore. I'm Gleaming Shield now, but that does not change the history we've had either! If I was a fake this whole time, would I have known about your past? Would I have known about your desire to be an artist? I'm sorry I had to trick you like that, but would you really have believed me otherwise?"
She could see the transformation picking up in pace, there was no chance of escape from it now. "Look, I know it's scary at first. It was for me too, but there's a certain point where it becomes enjoyable. I'm sure you can already feel it, can't you?"
Spearhead thinks back to their conversation they had, and he remembers that Shining, or who he thought was Shining, indeed brought up his dream of being an artist first. And he had only told a select number of ponies about it, which other than Shining only included Princess Cadence, Princess Celestia, and some of his most trusted fellow guards. Of course, maybe there's room to doubt if say the genified Celestia or Cadence could have blabbed all about that to every one of the other genies. Though he shakes his head from that thought because it's not like the genies would care about one single guard's dream enough to conspire together like that.
He had to admit it, it's more likely than not this genie was in fact once Shining Armor. It'd be harder to believe if he hadn't seen some other guards transformed into mares, plus this Gleaming Shield had pretty much the same color scheme as his friend. "I... just don't know... the fact you're going by a different name... and even accepting of being in a different form of your own doesn't seem like you're you anymore... am I about to lose myself too...? This is scary no matter how you put it Shini- I mean... Gleaming... it almost felt like Nightmare Moon was back when Luna started bottling some of my friends..."
"Why do you think I wanted to do this to you specifically? The others, they would've just hit you with one of those orbs or just stuffed you into a bottle. I wanted to make it personal. You deserved something more befitting what you desired in your heart. You're not going to lose yourself..." She sees her reflection in one of the art pieces held in a glass container.
"I may look different, sound different, even go by a different name. But at my core, I'm still me. I know this comes off as an invasion, like we've become corrupted, but I feel more complete than I ever have. And I want to share that feeling with everypony else. I can be with Cadence for the rest of time. I won't have to eventually leave her alone when my life would have come to its end. Once you change, things will be different obviously, being a mare does take some getting used to as well. But most importantly, you'll be free to do what you want. The feeling it gives may make you want to genify others, like what I, Princess Luna and Tempest are doing. But I will leave that decision to you. Take this as your retirement effective immediately, Spear."
His hooves have not touched the end of the vessel yet, but they were gradually waving and stretching there, though as more of his wings were sucked in. A blush finally starts fading in on his cheeks as he was beginning to feel just a little more pulsing pleasure flow through him. Almost putting him at ease before he shakes his head to attempt to struggle against the brush's power.
"There it is~" She gave a softer smile as the sensations were now getting to Spearhead "Just let go, let the feelings of the transformation flow through you. Trust me, I'm still on your side"
"No... no.... no no no no no!" Spearhead slammed his hooves on the museum grounds in one last act of defiance. "This isn't what I... no, this isn't what WE signed up for... to simply surrender and give in... Equestria can't fall like this…!
"Equestria in name may fall but we will rise back as something greater. Geniequestria will stand firm, everyone will have a rightful place within it! It's not a surrender, it's just the next step in our history!"
"I must... I must... I mussssst.... I MUST RESIIIIIS- AHHHHH!" Spearhead's merged legs have finally reached the bristles. He was feeling a little bit of it before with his wings, but it was now far more intense. Cheeks blush even pinker, his eyes go lidded, and he begins to relax. "Ooooh... oh my... what... Captain... what... is this...?"
Gleaming floats around Spearhead as he finally lets the feeling of the change take over. "This is exactly what I was talking about, the feeling you're experiencing now, that's what I now fight for! I want everypony to feel it, to become free and feel safer than ever. In a sense, it's a new kind of shield for me to protect what I hold dear. Like our friendship. Now be at ease, let yourself go deeper and deeper. Embrace the wishes in your heart and that vessel will make it happen.
"You... or perhaps I should say... we... are going to make Equestria... into Geniequestria? Huh, if all that mostly changes besides us becoming genies… is an additional syllable... maybe... I overreacted... Unnnh~" A big pulse of pleasure makes him moan briefly. "After all... all that magic... and power.... might be a boon for my paintings actually..." He starts thinking of the potential he could do with the magic of a genie, far beyond his limits as a pegasus. It slowly dawns on him more and more that this may in fact be the greatest thing for him, just as the brush has now whittled him down to just above his hips. Managing a smile his eyes drift upward in a mixture of daydreaming of the possibilities along with everything flooding through his entire body...
"See I knew you'd come around!" She smiled and gave him a hug while there was still enough of him to do so. "You get it now! I wasn't doing this to inflict any harm or to make you or my previous guardmates suffer. This is meant to be a gift, and you can harness it in any way you see fit. Use it to inspire yourself, inspire your artistic endeavors! Nothing will be able to hold you or your creativity back! I want to see you succeed in that, Spear. As a genie of course… but more importantly, as your friend."
The brush's tip continues to pull him in, his body essentially becoming the paint. "And I know you're going to be just as beautiful as the art you'll make. Doesn't that sound better than what you originally thought? We're not destroying anything. This is all for the best"
Spearhead puts his hooves to the side and slightly behind his back. Causing the suction to now pinch him in so now it's only his upper torso, shoulders, and his head to go. Being pinched by the brush seems like it would hurt, but it actually pumps up more of the pleasurable feelings the royal guard was feeling. His moans get longer and more intense, he shakes himself but not out of resisting. But just shivering from everything flowing through his mind and body right now.
"Ooooh... captain~... I thought this was going to be a horrible experience... like something that's not me completely taking me over inside... but that couldn't be further from the truth... I... want this... No... I NEED this... Nothing's ever felt quite like this before!" His shoulders are absorbed as all that is left now is his neck and head, the process almost reaching the best part for any mortal's transformation into a genie.
"That's it, Spear just a little more! This is what it feels like to become part of Geniequestria! You think it feels good now, just wait! The best is yet to come! Embrace the magic, embrace these feelings and let it all come out!" Gleaming had genified plenty of ponies already but doing this to a dear friend, it was different. Far more satisfying to her. It filled her with joy to be able to share this feeling with a close friend like Spearhead.
"Aaah... aaaAAAAaaaAAAH AAAAAAAAHHHHH~. Y-y-y-YES! YES! YEEEES! The world... the world shall be our canvas… Magical art EVERYWHERE…. Ooooooh captaaaaaiiin.... MY CAPTAAAAAAAAIiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnmmmmmppppph" Spearhead honoring his friend's former rank and title echo throughout the halls and is silenced as his mouth, followed by the rest of his head follows suit into the brush's thistles. Gleaming carefully picks up the vessel containing his dear friend with great satisfaction.
A blush came across Gleaming's face as Spearhead had called out to her one last time. Holding the brush in her hooves, she couldn't help but smile. "Now you're right where you belong. We are going to paint this world anew. But I can't do it without you, partner! So let's see how you take to being a genie! You will be the first 'creation' this brush makes!" Unlike the other vessels, Spearhead's didn't have a cap or lid to unseal. With his body becoming the paint for the brush, the method of bringing him...or rather her back out now needed a different approach. Gleaming conjured up a blank canvas and with a flick of the wrist, tossed the paint out of the brush and onto it! "Come back to me, Spear! Show me what you look like now!"
The paint splattered on the canvas begins to glow and ripple for a short while until an orangish brown tendril of magic with blue sparks swirls from outside. The tip rises some height above the canvas before it begins shaping into a new form. That not of the stallion that Spearhead was, but now a silhouette of a mare. As the new genie fully fades her eyes are closed as she's hugging herself, the mane was of a similar style to Spearhead's as it was before, but much longer,, the mane was covering one of her eyes entirely. The veil and legging color is similar to that of a scarf that Gleaming knew Spearhead liked to wear when not in combat. She then opens her eyes, and a long satisfied sigh before eyeing Gleaming down on the museum's floor
Gleaming marveled at the spectacle before her. Spearhead's return was nothing short of artistic. "Already starting off your artistic career strong! I think you pull off the look nicely! And your veils, I had a feeling you'd want them to be just like your favorite scarf!"
"Requesting permission to speak my mind, captain" Although she knew Shining, or well, Gleaming didn't mind having his squad speak freely. She thought that for at least this first entrance as a new pony, she'd ask formally for she's not just her captain anymore... But her mistress.
She did chuckle at Spearhead still using the old dynamic to address her. "You don't have to be so formal, we're no longer captain and subordinate, we are equals. I mean in my eyes, we've always been… but you know what I mean. You'll always be free to speak your mind. So please, ask away!"
"Hehe, I know... but I do feel like a whole new me. Maybe I felt sort of like a rookie all over again" She giggles. "On that subject though... I'm starting to understand why you changed your name. As Shining Armor nor Spearhead seems fitting for what we are now anymore. I don't suppose you have any ideas? I like being creative, but I admit names aren't my strong suit"
"I suppose in that case, I do get it, hehe. Don't worry, it took me some getting used to the new name too. But once I got more used to it, it really matches the new me. And I'll be happy to show you the ropes, it'll be like old times!" She laughed "But I know the perfect name for you… Bayonet." Gleaming gives her a warm smile. "It's similar to your old name but I think it fits who you are now. Speaking of which, why don't you take a look at your cutie mark? You'll be pleasantly surprised to see what it's become."
"Bayonet... Bayonet..." The mare that was once Spearhead smiles just saying it, satisfied that it's similar to her old name but also fresh enough to represent her new self. "I like it! Thank you so much, Gleaming" She floats down to hug her fellow genderbended genie friend.
As Gleaming asks her to see her cutie mark "Oh hold on, I can't exactly see my cutie mark with my lower half like this..." Bayonet flies on down to where her brush vessel lays on the ground, picking it up with her mouth. She places the brush on the canvas and sucks in all the "paint" until she can now disconnect herself from the canvas, now she is connected to the brush itself. She then floats down on the ground, and begins to paint her lower body back into existence with the brush. fully disconnected from her brush now. Bayonet smiles as she spins the brush on her hoof, already prideful of her creative magic.
She finally gets a look at her flank, and gasps as she sees her silver spears were replaced with three paintbrushes in the same arrangement. A big grin on her face as she puts a hoof on her cheek "Oh Celestia! It's perfect!"
Gleaming happily returns the hug, she's fascinated watching Bayonet work with her vessel. In the back of her mind, she didn't know if this would work properly compared to something like the standard genie bottle, but she's glad that it did! "See? What did I tell you? Your wish is now fully realized! This is a new beginning for you! This right here, it's why we're genifying everyone else! That is your genie mark!"
She rushes in to give Bayonet another hug. "So, would you like to meet the others? Maybe show some of our guardmates why we're doing this? It would be a good first 'training session' for you!"
She smirks, maybe even a little deviously and salutes. "Sure thing, Captain Gleaming! Let's go~"
Gleaming and Bayonet were once again together as fellow genies, and soon went back out of the museum to join in on bottling some of the remaining stragglers in the forces.
Elsewhere though, Tempest and Luna were having some trouble with some particularly stubborn fliers. Judging by the speed and maneuvers they were capable of. The Princess knew these were three of the elite Wonderbolts. Even with their genie power, they have trouble with the tricky fliers who either easily dodge vessels thrown at them or they create tornados that redirect the vessels elsewhere. Although that maneuver did end up accidentally genifying some of the guards attempting to flee. The three of them are constantly flying around the area, not letting the genies have even a sliver of time to trap them. Not even teleporting straight to them or cloning themselves attempting to surround the quick pegasi work for either Commander Tempest or the Princess. Frustrating the two of them immensely.
"Didn't think there'd be anypony with this kind of fight within them!" Tempest yelled as she continuously kicked orbs towards the main trio of wonderbolts. But their movements allowed them to dodge swiftly. “(It doesn't help that aerial combat isn't my specialty, I'm still too new to flying! If I could get them on the ground, it'd be over already!) Stay still! This is for your own good! Open up your eyes to the possibilities!"
Princess Luna wasn't faring much better, she was trying to use her magic to combat their flight capabilities. They wouldn't stay still long enough to get a hold of them, nor would creating obstacles in front of their paths deter them in any way. To the wonderbolts it was just like another training regiment. "BE STILL! Your princess commands that you cease this at once! This is for the benefit of all ponies!"
"You are no princess of ours! You're nothing more than a traitor! I would rather die than listen to what you've become!" Spitfire roared "Wonderbolts! Scramble maneuver alpha! Don't let them corrupt any more of our allies!" Spitfire broke off from Soarin and Fleetfoot, taking charge and flying faster than she ever had before. “(Never thought I'd be up against one of the princesses, but I am not about to give up!)”
Soarin' and Fleetfoot nod. Though Soarin' sheepishly kinda grimaced given he was the one who started the tornado earlier that kind of backfired when it came to saving the troops on the ground "Sorry about getting a few of them bottled up accidentally, Spitfire..."
Fleetfoot just shrugs "Heh, that just means we'll have a new nickname for you when we're back at HQ~"
"Oh please no..." Soarin is already not looking forward to whatever name they'll be calling him now.
"You can feel sorry for yourself after we've taken victory!" She smirked "But yeaaaah you're gonna have a brand new nickname when we get back. I'm thinking... Fumble? Then again if I'm Spitfire, maybe you can be Backfire!" She laughed, having a moment of levity amongst this flight.
Tempest and Luna looked insulted "Are they joking around while still flying away from us!? Luna you come in from one side, I'll come in from the other! Take out their captain and the rest will fall!" She zoomed off.
Luna nodded and did the same, flying in the opposite direction. Both aiming right for Spitfire, a howl could be heard as they came flying. But Spitfire was expecting something like this. Right as the two got in close, she dropped down immediately which made Luna and Tempest crash into each other with a loud 'THUD' "Gah! This is infuriating!"
"Ha! That was foals play! Some all powerful beings you are!" She taunted before rejoining with the other two wonderbolts "We can keep them at bay but I doubt we'll have the stamina to last forever… if only we had some backup here!"
Getting cocky, Fleetfoot flies around them and turns upside down while looking at them. Crosses her eyes and raspberries at the two genies. Before mucking them some more "What's the matter? Did you leave your brains in those bottles of yours?~" though still flying off before either of them could swipe a vessel right on her face..
"Arrogant little foals!" Luna scowled at the trio, it was clear their antics were getting under her skin. "We are trying to bestow a gift upon you and this is how you react?!"
She tried to charge up another spell to launch at them but Tempest put a hoof on her shoulder, stopping her. "Wait, Princess. They're the ones trying to get into our heads. Make us sloppy. We'll never get them like that. Besides, I'm sure Gleaming will be coming back soon with a new ally in tow as well. So why don't we try a different approach? Let them get more arrogant, then we'll be the ones with the last laugh!"
Meanwhile, just behind a cloud not too far from the action. A green pony with shades of gold hair is watching the Wonderbolts bout with the genies. She hmmphs, not even cowering from what's been going on. Instead she seems... unimpressed. ("Just what are these Dunderheads think they're doing... flying around them like this is just going to make themselves tired! They should be striking HARD at them! Feel the full brunt of a pegasi's might! Hmph, no wonder I was rejected by them. Clearly, I was too radical for these bozos... No matter... Who other than LIGHTNING DUST to show them their mistake… and once I've saved the world by myself... I'll start my OWN flying club that'll make the Wonderbolts look like a retirement home!)
Lightning then does a flip above the cloud, takes in a deep breath, and yells with ALL her might... "HEEEEEEY YOU! GENIE TERRORS! LOOK OVER HERE, AND WITNESS THE FASTEST PONY OF ALL-TIME!!"
Startling not just Tempest and Luna, but also the Wonderbolts. The 3 high-flying pegasi unfortunately can never unhear such a boisterous voice. "Oh no..." Soaring bluntly stated, while Fleetfoot is more annoyed. "Ugggggh... why now of all times?!"
Everyone's attention is now drawn to the newcomer. "What the?! A civilian!? No! Get away from here! They're too dangerous!" When Spitfire got a better look at who just foolishly charged in, she grimaced. "No... not her… ANYTHING but HER! That reckless idiot!!" If she let Lighting Dust go in alone, she was sure to be genified. "Wonderbolts, move in to assist, we need to get her off the field immediately! (I wanted backup, but not like this! Lightning Dust is too headstrong!)”
Luna and Tempest barely dodge this oncoming tackle, but they're both quite confused by this new arrival. Her speed made their heads spin. If the wonderbolt trio was giving them trouble, Lightning was going to be a whole new level of annoying. They could have sworn that nearly all of Cloudsdale had been overtaken by them. How did they miss someone so loud and obnoxious? "Unbelievable, another nuisance! She's nearly as fast as Rainbow Dash!" Luna whined.
As the wonderbolts attempt to grab Lightning Dust, she just spins and flips around the three of them. Even for as experienced as the Wonderbolts are, Lightning was on another level, if she hadn't been such a reckless jerk. She would have been top of the class, in some ways even above Rainbow Dash despite the Element of Loyalty's slightly superior speed. As the Rainbow-maned Pegasus was still prone to a fair bit of mistakes, while Lightning rarely did. Or at least too prideful to admit she made one.
Soarin panicked “Lightning! This is no time for your bold foolishness! Get out of here! Leave! Before any of the genies get you!”
Lightning scoffs "Ha? ME leave? I think you're mistaken. YOU should all run along! I'll take on these bottled behemoths myself. But before you go... allow me to show you all what you rejected!"
The green and gold Pegasus then flies high up in the air soon she’s so high up the genies look as small as ants. Above where Luna was standing, she compacted a fair amount of clouds until the start fading into darker colors of gray, prepared to do a death-defying stunt using a small thundercloud as a launch pad. "Behold the debut of my ultimate technique... THE THUUUUUUUUUUNDER STRIKE!"
Luna looks up at the pony far above her that looks like a dot from how far up she is. While she sort of expects the fast pony to dodge it. Luna proceeds to chance things by poofing up a new bottle, with a lightbulb shaped topper.
Spitfire zips about, doing her best to catch up to Lightning Dust. She's flabbergasted that Lightning is still so bitter about being rejected. "You're still mad about that!? This goes beyond any personal problems! THEY WILL STUFF YOU INTO ONE OF THOSE BOTTLES AND CORRUPT YOU IF YOU STAY HERE!! Do you not see that!?" She doesn't notice that the two genies are already plotting to make Lightning theirs with the freshly conjured bottle.
"Seems they've got bad blood between them." Tempest smirks at the sudden chaos "This is the moment we've been waiting for, that nuisance is about to be our ace in the hole! Get ready Luna!"
"Excellent thinking!" She nods. "That 'thunder strike' won't do anything to the likes of us! (But it will make a glorious show all the same.)” Luna practically holds a target to her chest, also holding the bottle right in Lightning's line of trajectory. She taunts "Come on then, hit us if you can! We’re right here~!"
Spitfire finally notices that Luna's holding up a bottle to seal Lightning Dust away into. "NO!!" She tries to rush into Lightning to stop her but the reckless pegasus was too fast for her, blowing her back with the sheer force she had created upon her descent. "Gaaaah! Lightning Dust, you fool!"
"Now prepare.... FOR THE WRATH OF LIGHTNIN- MMMMMPPPPPPPhhhhhh!" Within just a moment, it was already over. Lightning crackled all around Lightning Dust, creating a trail that looked almost similar to a sonic rainboom. The force did push Luna back a bit, but most of it was taken by the bottle itself. Lightning was cut off by the speed and momentum of her body warping to shape into the bottle within barely a second.
Where Luna raises an eyebrow and smirks in amusement while raising the sealed bottle to her face as it was still fading into Lightning's color scheme. The Princess then snarks as she finishes Lightning's sentence for her "Lightning in a bottle?~"
The Princess sealed the bottle with the light bulb topper, laughing as the bulb turned bright. "You were the fastest at becoming a genie, I'll give you that! We could really use your speed~" She looked up at the three wonderbolts who were now sweating bullets. "Why don't you show us how much faster you are than that trio there!" She says before unsealing the bottle.
Soarin is nervously biting his hooves, as he eyes over to Spitfire "Spitfire! What do we do now?!"
Spitfire recovers thanks to her friends, just in time to look on in horror to see Luna opening up Lightning's bottle. "I... I don't know, but we're about to have more trouble on our hooves." Her eyes twitched as the bottle shook and crackled like thunder and lightning. "Get ready to move, everypony!" She braces herself for the oncoming genie Lightning Dust.
Tempest and Luna relished in the fear on the wonderbolts' faces. "Not so confident now, are we? Don't fret my dear wonderbolts, you'll be able to be as confident as you like once you become genie bolts~!" Luna cackled. "Come forth, show these pegasi what true genie speed is!"
"Heh, really going heavy with the theatrics aren't you, Princess? First Gleaming does her little act and now you?" Tempest chuckles, but the sentiment is shared by her.
The bottle containing the reckless flier shakes and quivers violently, almost seeming like it can barely handle the power as it spins like crazy. Before smoke pops out not in the typical swirl, but almost like a firework shooting straight in the air. A smoke trail rockets up above the vessel, golden sparks and even some electricity surrounds the swirling mass continuing to circle around the tail as perhaps an aftereffect of Lightning's move or perhaps she had become something of an elemental genie in using such a move during her transformation, the smoke soon forms into the silhouette of Lightning Dust. As she fades in, a confident smirk can be seen on the mare's face behind a golden veil.
Having been very quickly bottled, Lightning didn't even get much time to contemplate what being a genie might be like before she was transformed. The bottle's power quickly took advantage of her ego while she was inside, however, and soothed her into a quite willing genie.
She looks at her hooves and down below where her hindlegs would be. But she wasn't feeling any shame despite her reckless act. "Well well well... this is a surprise to be sure.... but it's a welcome one~. I feel more powerful than ever! Who needs to be JUST a wonderbolt? Being a high-flying genie is where it's at!"
A deepening dread overwhelms the three Wonderbolts, knowing full well they’re in trouble now.
CONTINUED HERE
gleaming shield, wearing castoria armor from FGO
This from that porn series?
https://derpibooru.org/images/2663470
They always are, Gleaming Shield. They always are... >~<’
P.S. Sorry about the lack of drawings, wasn’t feeling too well for the past week (and still not feeling particularly good).
Originally sketched for 30 minute challenge.
Drawn in SAI at 2018/07/21 - 2018/07/22. Took ~2 hours.