Twilight’s POV
It has been 2 days since the picnic and Twilight has been getting more and more suspicious. She has been gone more often and always has the same excuse. “I was just checking on my animals.” At this point it’s ridiculous. I know she loves animals but it’s been harder to find her ever since she started using that excuse. I’ve even have caught a glimpse of her heading into the everfree forest!
I’ve decided to ask Zecora if she’s seen anything. I was nearing her hut but saw something weird, even for out here. She was just trotting back into her hut with nothing on her. No ingredients for potions, no materials for crafting things, no nothing. Ignoring that fact, I trotted over to her door and knocked. In a couple seconds she opened the door and was happily surprised to see me but she could also tell something was bugging me. “Hello there Twilight Sparkle. What has you in such a pickle?”
“Hi Zecora. I was just curious if you’ve seen Fluttershy come through here by any chance?”
No POV
Zecora immediately knew what Twilight meant. However she made a promise to Fluttershy.
~2 days ago~
After Fluttershy asked Ornstein to remove her helmet she started to shift nervously in her seat. She didn’t completely trust Zecora. She wasn’t suspicious of her but she was still wary. Daimon noticed and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Hey it’s alright. Fluttershy already proved she can be trusted and if she trusts Zecora. That’s good enough for me.” Ornstein was shocked. It’s like he predicted what she was worried about and reassured her in the same sentence. That made her feel much better. He was right anyway.
“Alright. I trust them. Sorry for being suspicious.” She apologized to Zecora. Zecora just smiled and waved it off.
“It is quite alright my armored friend. For i know you did not mean to intend. But I am still curious, of what’s behind that armored lion head. So please show us, for we are all a friend.” the Zebra replied in sincerity. That made Ornstein feel much better. So with more confidence, she grabbed at the rims of her helmet and pulled it off. Fluttershy and Zecora were shocked to see what her face actually looked like. To them she looked like a hairless monkey with caramel colored skin and a long black mane and sparkling blue eyes.
“Wow. Your very pretty Ornstein. I really like your mane.” Fluttershy said with a smile. This made Ornstein blush big and smile sheepishly.
“Thanks. For me it’s called hair though. Also i think Zecora’s hair is cooler though” She praised. Zecora’s smile got bigger after hearing that.
“Thank you Ornstein, for the kind compliment. But to get your hair as nice as that, is nothing short of a great accomplishment.” Zecora praised with respect. Ornstein smiled warmly at the compliment but Daimon spoke up next.
“I know this is all happy and all and i hate to ruin the fun but there is something we need to talk about” Daimon said with a serious face. The rest of them were confused so he continued.
“We have to ask that you don’t tell anyone about us” he said and surprisingly Zecora nodded immediately.
“I understand, your reasons to stay subtle. A demon and knight in Ponyville, may bring nothing but false propaganda and trouble.” She responded. Ornstein and Daimon were shocked but Fluttershy then remembered when her friends were skeptical of her.
“When she came to Ponyville we all thought she was an evil hexer.” Fluttershy explained. Daimon and Ornstein nodded in realization before turning back to Zecora.
“Thank you” Ornstein said while giving a polite bow. Zecora bowed back before answering.
“No need to thank me, knight of gold. You have trusted me with a big secret, that shall never be told.” she said with a smile. They all then went back to eating.
~Present~
Zecora made a promise and she was going to keep it. She was just glad Applejack wasn’t here. “Young Fluttershy, i have not seen. I have just been spending my time, to clean”. She answered with a half lie. She was cleaning before she went to see Daimon and Ornstein. Twilight was still suspicious though.
“So what were you doing anyway?” she asked while getting closer. Zecora stood her ground though. This one would actually be true.
“I was just disposing of some leftover ingredients of my early morning brew. Now later, it shall turn into goo.” She answered calmly. That seemed to satisfy Twilight for now.
“Ok well sorry to bother you. Bye Zecora.” Twilight said as she trotted away. Satisfied for now. Zecora on the other hand was relieved to get out of that. She didn’t like lying to her friends but for the sake of her new friends she had to. Speaking of witch, Zecora trotted to Fluttershy’s to help them get to the Castle of the Two sisters.
Twilight’s POV
I was on my way to gather the rest of the girls. I knew something was up, and I was going to find out what.
~5 min later~
Everyone except Fluttershy was present at the cutie map. “Hey Twi, why you brought all of us here?” Rainbow asked, impatiently hovering above everyone as usual.
“I brought you all here because I believe something’s wrong with Fluttershy.” I said as calmly as possible. To say everybody was surprised would be an understatement.
“What do you mean. What’s wrong with her?” asked Rainbow. The rest gave similar questions.
“Everyone just wait a minute!” I shouted. I worked in calming everyone down.
“I’m just worried something’s going on. I don’t know if it’s really bad yet so calm down.” I said. It worked in getting everyone much calmer.
“So what are we gonna do?” Pinkie asked in an unusually calm tone.
“We’ll just see where she goes today and find out what she’s really doing.” I explained, to which everyone seemed to understand. Except Pinkie.
“What if she’s been possessed and is being forced to conduct an evil ritual. Sssppooooookkkkkkkyyyyyyyyyyy!” she said sounding dramatic before Applejack caught her and shoved an apple in her mouth. After that little ordeal we all left for Fluttershy’s cottage.
No POV
Zecora just arrived at Fluttershy’s and they were busy conversing on how to get through the everfree forest. Once Zecora and Fluttershy were done conversing they prepared to meet Daimon and Ornstein on their way their. Unknown to them a certain rainbow maned Pegasus and purple Alicorn saw them leave.
Twilight POV
As Zecora and Fluttershy were trotting through the Everfree, I was now very curious about why Fluttershy was here and why Zecora was with her. “Why are they going through the Everfree, they should know it’s dangerous out here” Spoke Applejack in her southern accent.
“I agree darling, it is simply dreadful out here. Uh, and it’s impossible to get through here without messing up my mane!” Rarity shouted but was quickly shushed by me and Applejack. Rarity just huffed and kept trotting along side us. We kept up with them until they got to a clearing
We all hid in our own separate bushes. And watched.
Fluttershy’s POV
I had just gotten to the same clearing I found Daimon and Ornstein in. They said they would meet us here so here I was. “Do you think they're here?” I asked Zecora. She just looked around seeming nervous. “Why are you so -mmmhh” I tried to say but Zecora covered my mouth. “I think we are being watched. By who? I have not witnessed.” she answered. I looked around to but heard a shuffling in front of me. We both quickly turned towards the noise in full alert mode. We were ready to run until we saw Daimon and Ornstein walk through the tree’s. Both me and Zecora calmed down. Daimon reached his hand out for a friendly shake. I was going to shake his hand before a purple blast of magic struck Daimon’s head. To my shock Twilight, and the rest of my friends jumped in front of me.
“Fluttershy, Zecora stay back we’ll handle this.” She said as she fired another magic bolt at Ornstein and I also saw Applejack charge Daimon. This was not going good at all and by the look on Zecora's face, she agreed.
Twilight’s POV
~5 seconds ago~
When I saw Fluttershy and Zecora get worried and then the massive Demon and Knight walk out of the tree’s I immediately panicked. When I saw the demon reach its hand out I attacked. I fired a magic bolt at the demon but it only seemed to stun him. The rest of us jumped out and got between the two creatures and our friends. “Fluttershy, Zecora stay back we’ll handle this.” i said as i fired a bolt at the large knight.
No POV
Ornstein and Daimon had multiple emotions going through them. Shock, fear, anger, and betrayal. They were shocked that a peaceful trek to this abandoned castle ended up as an attack, fear of being attacked, anger at being lied to, and betrayal because they thought Fluttershy and Zecora were the ones that lied to them.
Their first instinct was to fight but Daimon felt that was a bad idea. He didn’t want a lot of enemies. Ornstein felt the same as well. So to try and diffuse the situation, he put up his hands and spoke. “Wait. We weren’t doing anything wrong?” He said but all he managed to do was scare the new ponies with his demonic voice.
“Yeah, a likely story. Why were you trying to attack our friend then huh?” the rainbow maned one with a cyan blue coat asked while flying closer to Daimon. Ornstein spoke next.
“We were not attacking her, we were just going to shake hands with her.” She pleaded but it fell on deaf ears. The orange cowpony one spoke next.
“Yeah right ya flea bitten varmint, you was probably trying to score yourself an easy meal.” she spoke while glaring at Ornstein. Both Ornstein and Daimon were getting fed up but both turned their looks at Fluttershy. She just looked guilty and it tugged at their hearts. Zecora didn’t look much better.
Both of them looked at each other with one plan in mind that wouldn’t leave casualties. Run. And that’s what they did. They ran off into the forest. They heard one of the new pony’s shout “get back here” and Daimon felt a strong blast hit his back causing him to stop. Ornstein was struck in the back of the head by the cyan pony and fell to the ground. She wasn’t hurt, but the force was enough to knock her down. Daimon rushed over and helped her up. When they looked around they saw they were surrounded by the White one with a horn, Orange regular looking pony, and the Cyan pony with the wings along with a Purple one with wings and a horn that blasted Daimon and a pink one wearing a frown and somehow pulled a large cannon out of nowhere.
“Your not going anywhere.” the purple one said while charging her horn. Daimon and Ornstein saw there was no way to reason with these stubborn ponies so they decided to take out their frustrations and training on these ponies and FIGHT.