Hero of Today 2

Day 390 in Equestria.

>It's been a week since you cleansed P0nyville of that hell bound establishment through the use of righteous flames.

>It didn't take long for some of Chrysalis' minions to try to put out the fire, but swift justice quickly brought them back to sense.

>Swift justice, at the time, took the form of a 2x4 to the back of their skulls, and back to sense, to out of consciousness.

>But do technicalities really matter in times of great strife? You think not!

>You held your ground, making sure the fortress fell as you checked the drones you had put out of commission.

>After all, you were no murderer, and you had no true will to harm them, they were just wrapped up in the succubus' cancerous will.

>By the time the stronghold was beyond saving, a large crowd had gathered.

>You made sure your charges were taken care of as a couple royal guards routed you.

>You had no reason to fear these Celestia-serving p0nies, and welcomed them with a smile.

>This, apparently confused them, though after explaining that you committed the act with no ill purpose, and with a heart of justice, they quickly departed.

>From there, you continued on your venture to the market and picked up your supplies.

>P0nies watched you along the way, shock being the most prevalent expression you could identify.

>It didn't surprise you, of course.

>Few had the will to oppose the tyrant queen in these dark times.

>You knew however, that if you continued, others would eventually rise and follow.

 

>The sound of a door opening, followed by a series of light steps pulls you from your thoughts.

"Scootaloo? Is that you?"

>Suddenly silence.

"Scootaloo, I know you're there. Come out."

>You watch solemnly as the orange filly shuffled around a corner, shivering lightly as she looks to you.

"It's almost midnight, what are you doing out of bed?"

>She recoils, "I-I couldn't sleep, s-so I thought I would go for a walk.."

>The poor thing.

>She's had nightmares almost every night since you brought her here.

>It's not been rare to find her at the front door or at a window in the middle of the night.

>She must be worried that something, will get in.

>You wouldn't worry about that though. Ever since Chrysalis came to P0nyville, you've made sure to keep every door and window in the house completely bolted, with you having the only key.

"It's been dark for hours, and if anything it may even be more dangerous out there at this time. Just go back to bed okay?"

>She shivers slightly more, "Maybe we could look for my scooter? I, really miss it." A glimmer of hope shines in her eyes.

>You sigh lightly as you lower your voice a bit more. You understand how much she must miss her old scooter, but when you went to look for it, it was gone.

>You can only assume that IT had claimed it as some sort of sick trophy to spite you and the filly.

"Scootaloo.. I told you before, I don't know what happened to it, and besides, I made you a replacement didn't I?"

>Her gaze drifts to rickety, makeshift scooter in the corner of the room.

>Turns out, crafting is not a strong point of yours, and you didn't have many materials at the time.

>The 2x4, which you had christened "The Judicator", formed the core of the contraption.

>There was a bit of blood on the top-side of the board, but you quickly played it off as a design.

>It just so happened that said side was facing the two of you at the time.

>Scootaloo, now wide-eyed for some reason, turns back to you, shuffling back slowly.

>"Y-yea.. I'm, just going to try and go back to sleep."

>You hear rapid clopping and the slam of a door as she returns to her room.

>Following her shortly after, you listen through the door as you hear short, soft sobs.

>Another feature of the nights, sadly.

>You've done what you can to aid the young pegasus, but in the end, it's up to her.

 

>You are Chrysalis.

>Turns out, Equestrian law really does suck.

>A week ago, while you were attending to royal duties, Anonymous set flame to the orphanage you had helped build.

>He also incapacitated three locals who had attempted to put out the flame.

>Afterwards, when the guards had attempted to detain him, he apparently rambled for half an hour about how his supposed atrocity was, in fact, a deed of heroism.

>Said atrocity, once again, consisted of braining three locals with a wooden board, and setting fire. To an orphanage.

>Rather than take the obvious course and shackle the damned soul in a dungeon, they flew off.

>When first being reported this, you had a good laugh.

>That was, until you found that the report was accurate.

>It was the first time in your life you could say you had a conniption.

>You're fairly certain you gave nearly every one of your subjects in the area a stomach ache for most of the week.

>In fairness, this was the very same government that you had declared open war on, and still let you in with essentially no punishment other than a tap of the hoof.

>...It's at this moment that you realize you probably shouldn't hold much faith in it. For anything.

"Ugh... You shouldn't let yourself dwell on such thoughts, after all, there's so much more to be done right?"

>You had already set plans with Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, etc.

"Yes, much more, and besides, it can always be rebuilt, and I'm sure he'll see differently eventually. Simply a matter of time." You smile as you look off to the corner of the room, Scootaloo's scooter resting against it.

>You'll make sure to get it to her as soon as you can, unfortunately you've been having a time finding her, even your scouts can't seem to locate the filly.

>You had last seen her with Anonymous... as much as you may regret it, you may have to ask him of her.

>Always comes back to him. Doesn't it.

 

Day 391 in Equestria

>You are Anonymous, and after making sure your guest had finally gone to sleep, you yourself had drifted off on the couch.

>You're still trying to have a room for her, but till then she'll continue staying in yours.

>You've tried to make thing as accommodating as possible for her in the mean time though.

>You had even set up the basement as a play area for her to use her new scooter.

>Seeing as how you didn't believe her recovered enough, it didn't seem safe to let her go outside.

>This reasoning came to you after you had taken her outside the first time.

>After taking a few steps from you, she broke into a run, screaming bloody murder along the way.

>Quickly taking the pegasus once more, you had brought her back into the house and attempted to calm her in your usual fashion.

>Holding her head in pace, you crouched down to her as you brought your face to hers.

>Your locked expression set to, once again, give her a solid link to hold on to as you speak.

"We're alone Scootaloo! No one is coming to get you!"

>This silenced her immediately, her lips quivering as you hold her tightly.

"It's okay... it's okay.. I'll make sure nothing comes to you.."

>Those moments always seem to calm her.

>Regardless, it's time for breakfast.

>You prepare a small meal for yourself and the young pegasus, and take hers to her bedroom.

"Scootaloo, it's time to wake up, I have breakfast," You say in a somewhat cheery tone.

>Walking to the bedside, you shake her lightly to wake her.

>This elicits a shocked gasp, and a short bout of screaming.

>Yet another thing that has become somewhat commonplace. Damn nightmares.

>Calming her once more, you go about your day, deciding to go on reconnaissance.

 

>On your way to town, you happen upon Derpy.

>She haphazardly drops a few letters as she hover next to you, taking her time to pick them up.

"Status report?"

>"They're still clearing the remains of the citadel, but I think you should take a look at Carousel Boutique," She responds as she sets the letters into her saddlebag.

"Understood, continue monitoring your normal routes," you speak a bit louder now, "Have a nice day Derpy."

>She turns to you with a grin as he begins fluttering away, "You too Anon!"

>When Shining Armor's shield was supercharged by Cadence, some of the waves apparently made it to P0nyville, revealing quite a few locals to be changelings.

>Majority of the locals were shocked, but quickly took to them, and the few who had some issues eventually accepted it.

>Derpy, however, was apparently quite outspoken about it all. Going to the extent to refer to them as "chiggers".

>Turns out she's a racist, who knew?

>No matter her personal feelings, she's been an excellent aid in checking the expansion of Chrysalis' influence.

>Amazing what a few misplaced letters can do. Though, still little you can do with your resistance movement of two, you do what you can.

>It's at this point that you reach Rarity's place.

>You were always quite fond of the mare, her demeanor refreshing in the small town.

>Which makes it all the more striking when you hear a certain voice inside.

>"No no no, it should ride a bit higher on the flank, and the lace should be somewhat tighter."

>Chrysalis. You pull yourself from the door and move to a window, looking through it.

>As much as it pains you to imagine what kind of venom the temptress drained into Rarity's thoughts, you can't simply rush in.

>Considering Derpy was aware of this when she told you, she's probably too far gone for a simple snap to bring her to her senses.

>You grit your teeth as you resolve to listen in.

>"Hmmm.. are you sure? I mean, well, not to doubt a changeling on, well, changeling fashion it's just tha-" she sighs, "I'm sorry, it's simply all very new to me, darling."

>"I understand. The fact that you've gotten it down this far so quickly is a testament in and of itself. Now that I actually look at it, you've simply incorporated p0ny design as well, haven't you?" Rarity's ears perk up at this.

>"Why, yes, actually, I simply thought that it would be more comfortable in cases where it could be interchangeable, after all, the general measurements are actually quite close."

>"So you could market it to both p0nies and changelings at a generally lower cost of production, and with a bonus of incorporating new designs.." Chrysalis grins as she looks to the mare, "You're good."

>From there on, you zone out.

>The she-devil had taken hold of one of the few remnants of decency left in P0nyville, and was now going to have her mass-produce changeling designs in an attempt to lull the unsuspecting.

>The very lace that composed the clothing would form as a web to constrict those who fell for it.

>As this dawns on you, a familiar calling rises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIJfKWWGvM

 

>You are Chrysalis

>And you are currently impressed by the aptitude of this seamstress.

>You had most certainly not given her enough credit in Canterlot, especially considering what she had come up with in such a short time, applying to both then and now.

"I feel I have to apologize for my... attitude, during the wedding planning. They were magnificent designs," you say as you continue looking over some of her sketches.

>She blushes lightly, "Oh no no, I understood at the time, stress and all that."

"Still, no excuse to have shrugged off such quality work," you levitate one of the less full designs. "In fact, I was just thinking..." you take a bit of charcoal as well, and look to the mare for an okay. She nods. "Well, I was just thinking," You begin adding extensions to the bare form, etching in some desired specifications and a few notes on the side. "Perhaps I could have another opportunity for to have something brought up?" You pass the sheet to her.

>She raises an eyebrow as she takes it to her table and goes over the design, checking over her previous creations as she does so.

>"This is... magnificent, you simply MUST tell how you came up with this!"

"I simply added a few aesthetics of the clothing of Changeling royalty. The stuff is normally only worn during delegations, more-so as a formality than anything else, but I believed it would work nicely with your base models.

>"Nicely, would be great understatement, darling. This is wondrous! It will take time to gather the materials however. I'll spare no small expense on this, to do so would sully it."

>You try to get a few words in, but it appears as though she's gone into a sort of it, dashing across the room as she plans the making of it.

>You can taste her excitement at the prospect of such a high order.

>She truly loves her work.

>Taking this as a moment to vacate, you begin leaving.

>As you reach the door however, you notice a scent.

>Smoke.

>Turns back towards the store, you look towards the door leading to storage, and see a hint of smoke streaming of the top.

"Rarity!" The unicorn snaps her head to you and sniffs, noticing the smoke as well once pulled back into the world. "Gather what you can, and leave, now!"

>"But what about the Boutique, I can't simply lea-"

"Get help if you want, but LEAVE." Your glare meets her eyes.

>Your rise in tone shocks her enough to accept the cost.

>As she leaves the building, you loo to the door, the light of flame now visible around the frame.

>You were never exactly skilled with manipulation, when it came to magic, anyway.

>If anything, the only magic you seemed particularly apt at, was destruction.

>With this in mind, you felt it wouldn't be too much of an issue stopping the fire.

>The only true worry was if the rest of the building was still standing when you were finished.

>Regardless, you imagine a few decimated supports and a few blown out windows would be preferable to a charred husk.

 

>You are Anonymous. Again.

>Currently, you are watching as, once again, the flames of justice fume out the infestation planted by the depraved tramp.

>Unfortunately, at this time, you find the situation to be a somber one.

>Rarity was and is a mare whom you hold great respect for, and for her to have been won over so easily honestly hurt somewhat.

>However, you stood by your decision to rid the realm of any taint which it had spread.

>Even then, though, you made sure to only destroy the stock, you didn't want any harm to come to the mare, and you still held hope that she could be saved.

>Good, she's leaving the building now.

>It looks like made it out wi-FUCK IT'S THE DESIGNS.

>Leaping from your perch on a nearby rooftop, you dash to the unicorn, she herself looking upon her home as flames lap at the back windows.

>This, luckily, distracts her long enough for you to tear the papers from her magical grip, pulling her attention to you as your eyes meet hers.

>You then proceed to set the sheets aflame as you watch her, her jaw dropping as she gawks at you.

 

>You're, not entirely sure how you even did that, you don't even have a lighter or anything.

>Huh...

>"Wah.. how... WHY?!" Her eyes begin to water as she yells at you.

>First stomping out the remaining ashes, you then step forward to her quickly, grabbing he shoulders as you look inter her eyes.

"RARITY! Calm down, everything going to be okay, the infection has been cleansed, you don't have to worry about it now."

>She speaks through barely held sobs, "I-infection? What are you talking abou-"

>She's cut off by the sound of an explosion from the Boutique, followed by green flames bursting through the windows, only to quickly dissipate.

>At that, you decide that you probably shouldn't be here much longer.

>Not that you held fear for winged oppressor, but you recognized her strength

>You weren't ready to challenge her head-on quite yet.

"You'll be okay Rarity, you're strong, I know you are. You, can, fight this." You hug her tightly, kissing her forehead before making your escape.

>You climb an awning to your previous position and proceeding to leap from roof to roof before dropping into an alley.

 

>You are Rarity.

>You are a pastel magic horse, and, pardon your language, but, you quite frankly have no idea what the fuck just happened.

>Your home, and place of employment, caught aflame.

>As you escaped with all the designs you could, Anonymous, tore them from you, and, somehow, also set them on fire.

>Then your home burst in a green flame, which put out the first fire, and then itself.

>He then proceeded to ramble on about an infection, then proceeded to hug, and kiss you, before climbing onto a roof, and sprinting away.

>Standing here, you can't help but think you're forgetting something in the whirlpool of what the fuck.

>Chrysalis!

>As shake yourself to attention, you trot back to the Boutique, only to have another explosion of flame to go off.

>...Followed, by yet another, green one.

>You open the front door to reveal the back half of the Boutique, gone. In its place, a crater, and a charred exterior.

"Wha...how..."

>Chrysalis pulls herself out of the crater. "Fire... put it out with my own... apparently there was a back-up fire or something..." She takes a deep breath as she finally stands beside you. "Had to put it out too."

"A... back-up, fire. How is tha-"

>"Don't, ask, because I don't know."

>You both stand there for a few moments before Chrysalis excuses herself. Leaving you with what remains of your establishment.

>A few pieces of your ceiling fall, clattering against the floor, and, ground, in some places.

>It's at this moment, that, for whatever reason, you suddenly find it all wonderfully absurd.

>You laugh for awhile, and eventually get very tired, and decide to go to sleep.

>You walk into the crater and go up half-way up the other side to reach your bed.

>Taking a moment to look around at the remnants of Carousel Boutique, you smile before closing your eyes, and drifting off.