Chapter 38

Strong Shield watched the crowds carefully, Celestia was beside Luna, talking to each and everypony individually

Celestia’s smile worried Luna, it was obviously forced, the public might not notice but she did, even Twilight had a hunch that something was wrong

“Sergeant Strong Shield?” Twilight stood near the guard “What happened?”

Strong Shield sighed as his gaze darted to Celestia “Negative” he said quietly

Twilight sighed “I saw Dave but he completely blanked me” she shook her head “I think something is wrong”

“This is not the place for discussions Twilight Sparkle” Strong Shield glared at the purple mare “Meet on the path to his house”

Twilight nodded as she understood what he meant and quietly slipped out of the crowds, Strong Shield saluted the princesses

“I have a duty that needs attending to” He stood proud as both the alicorns nodded to him, regret in Celestia’s eyes and concern in Luna’s

The sergeant marched away from the cartridge and through the town, the crowd had thinned because the sun would be lowered soon, signalling the leaving of the royal guests

He stopped at the start of the road leading to Dave’s home, he breathed deeply looking around he saw Twilight running towards him

“H-how did you get here so fast?” a confused Twilight panted

Strong Shield rolled his eye “Those with the greatest will shall surpass even the greatest foes”

“How is that relevant?”

“Those who can be bothered can do great things” He stared as Twilight failed to grasp even the simplified quote “I care more than you so I shall be there for Dave first”

Twilight gasped “I care about Dave more than anypony!”

“Then how come you are here when you could be at Dave’s side now?” Strong Shield turned and began the walk to Dave’s home outside of Ponyville

Twilight had to jog to keep up with the rushing guard “So Celestia isn’t pregnant?”

Strong Shield looked around, nothing but fields and the town met his gaze “No she isn’t”

“That’s good right?” Twilight looked ahead at the house, the dark windows sent a chill down her spine

Strong Shield sighed “For Celestia yes, for Dave… I think he may have taken a blow”

Twilight’s ears pricked up as they stopped at the door “Do you hear that?”

Strong Shield frowned at the door “The sound of silence”

“Something doesn’t feel right” Twilight backed from the door “Can we go?”

“You want to leave Dave?” Strong Shield turned “I thought you loved him”

Twilight stomped forwards “Of course I do!” she stood by Strong Shield’s side

Strong Shield knocked the door heavily, even the sound of hoof hitting wood sounded forbidding

“I don’t like this” Strong Shield stood frowning at the door “I can’t hear anything”

Twilight’s horn began to glow “Let’s just teleport in” the glow surrounded her body, but as soon a she disappeared she reappeared in a burst of purple and red, she groaned as she staggered to her hooves

“I thought you were supposed to be the element of magic” Strong Shield sighed as he trotted past Twilight “Now get behind me”

Twilight frowned at Strong Shield as she made her way behind the stallion “What are you doing?”

“Showing you what is standing in our way” Strong Shield’s horn glowed as a ball of light floated from his horn, it floated into the air before splitting into smaller balls “Don’t blink”

The balls raced towards the house from different directions, as they neared a black fog exploded from the house and the balls of light were destroyed by red lightning that raced to meet them

Twilight watched as the fog seeped back inside the house “What was that?”

“That was Dave’s immunity to magic, he must be expanding it around his house” Strong Shield shook his head “We aren’t getting in”

“How has he expanded it?” Twilight nervously walked back over to the house

Strong Shield looked in through the window “either he found a way to do it or this is an effect of an emotional trauma”

“Like when young unicorns get a sudden increase in emotion their magic becomes… unpredictable” Twilight avoided Strong Shield’s grin

“Yes the classic, horn sparks normally associated with ahem… mating activities” Strong Shield groaned as he returned to the door and knocked again “OPEN UP!”

“Sergeant Strong Shield I don’t think that…” Twilight was cut off when the front door opened

The sun finally set and the moon took it’s place, the house which normally welcomed the moons glow almost seemed to resent it, Dave’s hair cast a shadow over his face

“Hey dad, hey Twilight” he said sadly

Strong Shield pushed past, flicking the lights on “Sit down and talk”

Twilight reluctantly stepped in to the home and Dave gently closed the door, he walked over to the chair and dropped into it, the purple unicorn nervously sat next to the guard

“So what are you doing here?” Dave asked his voice low and emotionless

Strong Shield sighed “I know it must have hurt finding out that Celestia isn’t pregnant”

“You don’t… you never loved anypony” Dave’s eyes stared from behind his hair

Strong Shield removed his helmet, revealing his greying mane “I care about you… I love you like a son”

“Like a son” Dave chuckled “am I being used by you to fill an emotional gap?”

“No… I took you in when you came back from the dead because I knew everypony else would drive you to do something else stupid” Strong Shield glanced briefly at Twilight “I think you have done enough stupid things Dave”

“Dave… your harem are always there when you need them” Twilight smiled reassuringly as Dave’s eyes passed over to her “I’m always there when you need me”

“My harem” Dave’s eyes dropped “the girls that love me”

“Yes we all love you” Twilight smiled as Dave’s eyes danced around the room “Please come with me and find the others, we can help”

“Actually just you” Dave raised a finger to point at Twilight “I need information”

Twilight laughed weakly “Anything just ask”

“Can you send me home?” Dave’s eyes squinted slightly

“This is your home” Twilight said, she cowered when Dave’s fists clenched

“My real home… not yours” Dave relaxed his hands again

Strong Shield stood “Let’s go Twilight Sparkle… let him sulk”

“No…” Twilight hurried to Dave’s side “I won’t leave him”

“Go Twilight… I will see you again soon” Dave smiled at Twilight as she followed Strong Shield from the house

The door slammed loudly and Dave let out a loud sigh of relief “That was way to close”

“I told you I could stop them teleporting in” Odio said proudly “Now there is a rather nice beach I think you might like to take Celestia, aww wait she doesn’t care”

Dave ran back upstairs and over to his makeshift bag, he had taken one of the tent bags and attached some more pockets as to carry anything else he needed

“Right I have tent, sleeping bag, maps, some bits and umm…” Dave walked into the bathroom and retuned to the bag “Toothbrush”

“So which way are you going?” Odio floated around Dave’s mind

Dave scratched his chin “I know how about you tell me which way to go, you haven’t let me down so far”

Odio was pleasantly surprised “Finally seeing my way? Ok hmm… if you go west then…”

“Go east? Fair enough” Dave lifted the bag over his shoulder and took it downstairs

“I’m sorry have I done something to upset you?” Odio’s voice became sarcastic “Oh yeah I made your relationship with Celestia break down and I am doing everything I can to ruin your life”

Dave dropped the bag by the front door, his gaze was brought to a notepad and pen that sat on a small desk beside the door “I could leave a note”

“Write ‘I’ll be back in five’ then hide and see how long it takes before they realise you aren’t coming back” Odio growled when he saw who the letter was meant for

“Shut up I know you are going to complain” Dave wrote the letter, pausing occasionally to think

Odio groaned loudly “Hurry up! You aren’t writing a novel”

“Fine” Dave finished of the letter, he found envelopes in the draw beneath so he sealed the letter inside and wrote ‘Celestia’ across the front, he placed the letter on the table in the living room

“She will probably use it to save firewood” Odio moaned “This is really getting on my nerves, are you going or what?”

“For fuck’s sake you moan more than Celestia did!” Dave’s chuckle was cut short by the sound of Odio being sick “What happened?”

“You had to bring that day up didn’t you?” Odio sniffed in disgust “Ew do you mind if I get rid of some of the stuff in here… it got a bit messy”

Dave rolled his eyes as he picked up his bag and stepped outside “So what is east then?”

“Well I believe that there was a migration east which happened a few months back” Odio laughed “You should pass near some mountains so I’m sure you will meet one of the fantastic creatures”

“That might have been the first compliment I have heard you give to a creature” Dave smiled “Let me guess the ‘mixing of personalities’ has worked it’s magic”

“Actually they are disgusting, primitive and as stupid as a rat with no head” Odio sighed happily “Also fuck you”

“What was that for?” Dave asked raising an eyebrow

“Boredom”