//------------------------------//
// Entry 6: Escape from Ponyville/2nd Visit Home 
// Story: A.K. Yearling's Heedless Almanac 
// by Vis-a-Viscera 
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Hello again, reader - you’re about to come upon the newest development that nearly compromised my home. 

I’ll try to keep it short, but suffice it to say: my ‘escape’ from Canterlot the day before did not go as well as I had hoped. Before I’d heard of that horrifying missive from the Queen, I’d been taken away from my writing by a noise: as it turned out, it was Viscera, apparently attempting to leave with Berrytwist. 

I… must admit, I did dig a bit deeper within myself to force Viscera’ s compliance. She’s too much of a loose variable to be allowed to bolt out from this, at least, not until the Princess’ method of removing Equilixirs is tried out. More on that later though.

We argued. I laid down what was at stake here, and the number of times that Viscera had already flaunted the Queen’s authority. It’d make any attempt to bolt from a city thick with her sympathetic Guards a near-death sentence. Little did I know how many ponies that’d apply to in that very room.

Viscera, in reply to my asking her of all the danger she’d willingly and repeatedly vaulted into, surprised even me., Even after attacking her inner circle and rescuing that mare from the Preservation Society building, Viscera still does not consider herself a hero. Yet the town disagrees, and I… find myself moving toward their consensus. Regardless, I let her know that her path either led to salvation or perdition. She simply said that… it was worth it.

Viscera, going into the red on deals, sticking out her neck for other ponies… I want to believe it.

And what she offered next would prove to be more proof behind that belief.* “And you’re wrong. History doesn’t repeat. But it rhymes.”

I… admit, I thought back to friends lost. Back when I had the world against me, for circumstances out of my control. One such tale was about that very Terrifying Tower I’d penned a tale about - the one that I thought Viscera fled from like a coward, only to be proven wrong. Queen Cipactli had hired her yes - but that flight from the island had saved her life, seconds after seeing Cipactli take it from another pony in front of her. 

And I’d never known, because the group fell apart as it was supposed to fall upon me. 

But for Viscera, this crimson pony that dressed like a griffon and could now alter into a space-bending golden Thestrel at will, I might not have survived that venture escaped with as few scars as I collected. The knowledge, while possibly exaggerated, humbled me.

I did not have much time to comprehend this, as exhaustion finally took over. “Wait, Daring! Are you ok?” It’d barely buzzed into my ears, with the sound of my knees hitting the ground ringing in my brain. I felt two sets of hooves tuck under me, pulling me to the bed. One pair was black, and had enough holes in them that my amber fur tickled against the ridges. The other… well it was Berrytwist’s. It was much softer. No claws, no holes, no rough edges. 

I suppose she’d always been like that. If anyone represented the Equestria that was, at this moment, it was her. 

Viscera chuckled as my head hit the squashy pillows. “Don’t you worry, Daring Do-Right. Lil’ Viscera won’t be goin’ out tonight.” I swear, that annoying thief will be the death of me, if not the purple pony hanging off her every word and shoulder.

I tried to argue against her. Gympis would later confirm I got no further than “better not,” before my eyelids slid shut.





The next day, I awoke to see Viscera and Gympis moving me again. I was in a cocoon of blankets at that point, which explained how I was also staying atop Gympis’s back. Apparently, Viscera thought it’d be a good idea to tie me to the changeling's barrel. I thought it’d be a good I to slip out of the blankets and thump the thief upside the head. Everything worked out.

I still don’t know what compelled me to do that. But as we moved into Ponyville, I realized just what had changed. No, not just in the town. I meant between me and the pony I’d been coming to blow over a week ago. 

I’d been in… relative comfort compared to Viscera, by her accounting. And with neither Ambassador Cori nor Princess Gympis refuting this, I’d had no choice but to dwell on that.  

Gympis was off at the first split past Bucephalus Brook bridge to Dr. Hooves’ house. She had said she wanted to confer with him on any possible changeling sightings within central and Northern. Now that she was a Princess, and tasked with ensuring the safety of her kind, finding those still out of the loop about the current coup in Equestria would be beneficial to the resistance.

I, myself, talked further with Viscera. “So, that job you say you escaped - does this have to do with that rash of deaths that followed my departure from the Terrifying Tower?”

“... yeah.” she said. “I know it was Queen Cipactli. And she’s in the wind now*.” She slowly readjusted the black mask that had originally fallen over her snout from my backhit.

I shuddered. As if Equestria wasn’t up to its tail in rogue elements. I changed tacks. After all, I was planning on heading home today. “And apparently, you’re trying to stop a wedding now?”

“Yeah - the Rich family came in while you were asleep.” Viscera’s airy tone cut through the sparingly pony-populated streets of Market Row. “Filthy heard that the Queen hauled in a statue for the job; said he’ll set us up for insertion into wherever the Queen’s hiding if we return with that. Drop-off location is the tavern in Ponyville.”

“Ah yes, the one Berry runs.” I noticed her crimson fur prickle at the last word. Was she the pony that Viscera had rescued during the Ponyville Riot? That it happened twice might explain her affinity for her.**

“And Spoiled… she wants the wedding bands Princess Dash and the Queen's using to seal the deal.” Viscera snorted again. “Seriously, what is it with tyrants and swaddling up in gold? Like a big neon sign, singing ‘please rob me, I’m used to not being missed whenever I go, why should my possessions be any different’!”

I chuckled at that. Really, had Viscera always been this cordial? Had I not noticed because her barbs were directed at me? Unfortun Regardless, that happy moment didn’t last; another pattern I’d seemed to notice in this new Equestria.

“Damn it, Flitter…! I thought we were over all this!” The approaching hoofstomps caught my attention first. Viscera filled in the rest.

“Wait- Stormwalker, is it? You okay, lu-”

“Yes, I’m fine!” That was Stormwalker; I’d heard of her before. Without Flitter by her side though, she looked as incomplete as the splotches of her dusting her face, She shoved past me, turned a corner, and was lost in the crowds. When I turned to Viscera she had already scaled to another building.

“That look she had, it wasn’t just words - I’m checking further up Ponyville. See ya, Yearling.” And just like that, the all-business was back in her tone as she flipped over into the rooftops. Her home. Her escape.

I suppose I should have seen it coming. I had my own tasks to complete, anyhow, so I turned to head off to the Quills and Sofas store. Davenport was having a clearance sale, obviously because of the dwindling lack of customers. It brought my mind sharply to its task again, seeing him stiffen as he saw me.

“A.K.” he calmly said.

“Davenport. I’ve heard of your troubles.” I hadn’t really; but how else would his tense pose soften? An on-edge seller is a stingy seller. I should know.

“Who here hasn’t?” His shoulders sagged from his position on the counter. First, the air blockade knocks out most of the people buying my quills, then that fiasco at Princess Dash’s visit takes out my sign and half my sofa shipment!”

My heart sank a bit. “I… understand.” Another tragedy compounded by my most faithful reader. Equestria’s formerly most loyal pony.

I left the entire bag of bits for him despite my meager purchases. I had enough to spare. It was worth it. Especially to see the light twinkle back into Davenport’s eyes, the life returning to his chestnut mane.

Among the items I bought from him were:

One (1) set of Never-Break Quills
Two (2) sofa seat cushions, purple.
One (1) copy of the Canterlot Times, just outside the back of his shop in a locked booth.

As I opened that lockbox to get the paper, a booming voice rang out from the sky above this village. It was the Queen. Her exact words will not be repeated here, for the sake of decency. The basic thrust of her statement, however, were as follows:



That the location of the wedding would indeed, remain secret.

That the Queen had an entire group of ponies selected for her ‘honeymooner's herm, to be delivered to Canterlot by sundown. The threat was buoyed by grievous harm befalling their parents

That the Night Guard would be doubled at all entrances out of the city, especially at the Everfree Forest and Ponyville Trainstation, and.

That the remaining Royal Guard under Commander Iron Standard’s call was to set off a fireworks display in the Tenochtitlan Basin - one that could be seen from Ponyville.


I’d nearly had a panic attack at this. Queen Twilight had remembered me - or at least, the me she’d seen attend her banquet in Canterlot with the Elements. And she would fireblast every part of that Basin until she hit my home.***

Quickly, I raced to Town Hall to try and re-gather the Thestrel hybrids. They had to know about this, before I left. I only met Mayor Mare there, scrambling the Town Guiard for everywhere she could belt out to them. Everywhere, except for the pile of goods and trinkets in the town square that we knew was going to the perpetrator of this travesty.”

“Where’s Cori?!” I asked of her the second I was within earshot of her. 

“She left for the flowershop the second she heard! I’ve no idea why, the pony she-" I was out of the front door before the Mayor finished. I heard her words end on exasperated growl. My heart shot into my hooves from that; we were such close allies on my first visit.  

And back to Roseluck’s Botanicals my plodding feet went, only to be told by the incoming Filthy Rich that Viscera had taken Withers from the hospital and disappeared. Apparently, he’d gotten back from carrying the soaked Flitter from Bucephalus Brook when Redheart had let the news slip. At max volume. In the main hall.

I was enraged. Incensed! Viscera, after all, she’d claimed to have learned from the ponies who'd bled and battled with her! And she’d just up and bolted anyway! 

It would take several minutes from Ambassador Cori for me to find you that sly devil of a mare had done this on purpose. Apparently, her maneuver was to draw the Night Guard’s attention. Then she would incapacitate them with several other key ponies and Trojan Horse her way into the ceremony; now it was up to the others to follow her.

I pulled aside Cori as she was about to explain how she knew this.**** “Forget about this, Queen Twilight's trying to target my home. I need a way back and a way to keep those Guards away. Do you have anything for that?”  My voice was a frantic blur, my forehooves even more so, sending my cloak flashing around me like a hailstorm was pounding it.

It was an imposition, I know. But Cori was apparently confident enough to oblige it. “Follow this path to the Friendship Express. I’m betting they’re waiting for the Night Guard to bolster their flight crew before they go for your home, especially with the Queen announcing it so loudly.” She then gave me some of the same clawed bandings Viscera wore on her forehooves. “Hitch these onto one of their chariots; I’ll handle the rest.”

I found myself feeling a little bit more steadfast as I put on those talon facsimiles. With but a curt nod to Rappid Fires and Cori as they left to do their duties, I was galloping out fro the station. 

I would not see firsthand how they planned to disrupt the wedding and make off with those golden fixtures. I almost regretted it.

By the time I had gotten to the station, the train was almost full with Queen Twilight’s demanded ‘harem’. The only reason I hadn’t put hooves to heads with the contingent of Royal Guards there was because Cori had assured me two mares were on that train too.

Apparently, she’d scouted out this area earlier, and planned to use this sudden caravan of mares to her advantage to stop the procession before it was let out at Canterlot. It was seen to be an easy job: the main leader overseeing their shuttling into the Canterlot Castle was Flash Sentry. As I’d heard last, he’d lost an eye to the phoenix during the escape last night.

Again, I almost regretted the loss we’d inadvertently inflicted on him. If he was playing party to this he’d better be either tending his resignation or finding a new hole to hide in. The time to coddle the Queen, even if in hopes of breathing through to her, was over.

And I was soon going under-the wheels of one of the pegasi’s chariots as the rose to overshadow the Express. The whipping wind threw me here, my hat safely tucked away underneath my cloud. The taste of dirt and the cloying scent of polish assaulted my nose and mouth both. And above me was the jagged hills and green plains of Ponyville's outskirts loomed above me, my upside-down positioning treated my eyes to a vertigo-inducing visage.

I waited. I didn’t know how long, considering the times I had to turn my head to keep the blood from collecting there. Several times, I feared the claws would slip from the mooring and I’d go tumbling down, a clutch of amber feathers and magenta fabric. 

Also, I know not how Coir managed to, by at the cup of them reaching the mountain range I heard Iron Standard's voice, only feet above me but rattling all the same. “Guards! Return to Canterlot immediately! There is a group there about to free the mares the Queen has requested to our city! I repeat; retreat to Canterlot at once!”

Grumbling was heard, but the firework-laden carts were soon dipping before me, turning back toward the capital. I was lucky enough to have been clutching the last of them in formation, for it was a simple task to unlatch my claw wrappings from the undercarriage and make for the ground. At about several hundred feet, I kicked up my wings to control my descent. The cloak I had functioned as an additional parachute to slow my fall.

I was a very fortunate pony. It only took me a half-hour to make my way to my thankfully untouched house. Well, by the Queen’s troops, anyways. Several Caball members were running through the same woods I was. But I was ready, if a bit woozy from my trip.

The first lashed out at my side. I looped my rearleg around his pumping forearm and brought him to the ground. 

Whipping my hat from my back and using it to blind the next charging pony, I rolled out of their imminent collision. His forehooves and barrel collapsed upon the prone henchpony. I heard a slight snap of keratin as they tumbled in the loose dirt; I knew then that the unicorn had a fractured horn. 

I nearly suffered a fracture of my own when the third Caball equine scored a lucky hit on my foreleg as I got to all fours. Thankfully, my revealed grayscale mane bought me time - specifically the two seconds it took for her to shout “What the world, it’s D-” and my satchel of quills and cushions colliding into his head. 

It didn’t floor him. It did knock him to the ground for my curb-stomping rearhoof to, though.

The third henchpony got out from under the unicorn Caball member, still moaning as he clutched at his injured horntip. He was a pegasus, like the mare I’d knocked out. They’d likely come for a score of their own and were spooked by the arriving Guards. I decided to remind him of another score. “Her skull. His horn. Give me a third thing to break.”

He turned on his flank and leaped away within seconds. The satchels the others had were brought along with me. Thankfully those ponies had stayed down and away, too, I found myself limping the last few miles to my house. Pain swelled from my left forelimb like venom, a light sweat accompanying me past the front door. 

Good thing was, they didn’t manage to get in. 

The issue was, I would have to leave pretty soon. Between the Queen and the Caball, this was too hot a spot for me to continue my research. I moved for the essentials.

The treasures I’d collected - yes, as Darin Do - were the first to go into the large carry-on I had. So was every book I’d collected that even spoke of Thestrels, Trenderhoof’s thrown on top of the pile. 

Next up was the bookshelves - a short push at the edge and they swung into the walls. I’d originally used the spaces behind them as on-the-spot triage or treasure centers. The last one, I paused at. Every roll of gauze, antiseptic bottle and bandage went into my satchel. 

I looked at the last Equilixir stone on a drawer, still inside the spare explorer’s shirt I’d placed it in.***** I closed Trenderhoof’s book over that shirt, then drew it into my back. At least let covers both thin and thick be between me and that artifact. 

I wouldn’t burn the house. That’d just guarantee it’d attract the Queen right to the spot and the Caball to me, looking for the reason why I’d torch my home. They hadn’t gotten in yet and the Queen had no clue. Let them both wallow in failure for as long as they could.

The harphone antenna and harphone would be brought with me too, but not before I made one last call upon it. It was to Dr. Hooves.

Doc.

This place has been compromised. I’m taking the essentials and the stone to the Crystal Empire for safekeeping. Make sure somepony you trust is there soon too.

Thank you for everything.

A.K. Yearling.

It then disconnected the harphone and connector rod. The first was strapped to my bulging bag. The latter was clenched between my teeth.

After giving my home one last forlorn look. I closed the door, locked it, and left. 

Soon i was at the post office, the last of the letters I’d gotten over the week I was gone in my bag’s side pockets. Just in time too, because Stellar Eclipse had finally trotted to my location. “Y’said you needed a favor?” He asked.

“In return…” I quickly produced a photo of him, eating though a rather crushed hay burger. It would have looked rather innocuous… if not for the trash can that served as a makeshift table, inches from his emaciated hooves.

“That’s not my fault, dude. If Mayor Festiv Fires hadn’t cut the store’s to make room for the Equestria Games stadium…” His voice dropped. I didn’t push further.

“Hence why I tackled the pony that did it.” Within seconds, I’d stuck a match and burned the incriminating photo before him.  “And I thank you for doing this for me.”

His grin slowly grew. “Didn’t think you’d do it before I bothered taking you anywhere.” He motioned to the door. “C’mon.  Your chariot awaits, milady.”

Within seconds, I was in the air again. The air was still harsh against my fur, but with the covering veil and overhanging roof of the cage car, I was safer against it. The taste of dirt - or of anything that’d take away from the immaculate look of Stellar’s ride - was gone. The smell of polish still lingered, but it was a week-old smell, scented lime playing nicely against my snout. And the sight before me… finally looked right, as we closed in on the Crystal Empire.

Next entry, my fellow reader, I shall tackle three subjects at once: the research I’d formerly halted, the letters I’d taken from my P.O. office… and Queen Twilight Sparkle.

Until then.


* The power of Queen Cipactli is fearsome, but it is not myself that I find myself fearing. I knew of the trajectory of the death spree across Ponyville, despite the Princesses' attempt to contain the information. The trajectory was last seen heading… toward Somnambula.

** I have found out that it is not the case, at least during the riots; her little sister Pina Colada disputed it while I was at Roseluck’s Botanicals, and several people at the Town Hall confessed to Berrytwist harboring some of the more vulnerable ponies at her tavern during the Ponyville Riot.

*** Were she knowledgeable of my home, the fireworks would likely not have been necessary. This brings me to a terrifying possibility that someone on the inside had told her where my home is likely to be. This will require further inquiry.

**** As I soon found out, it was because she had coordinated her efforts with Mayor Mare and Dr. Hooves. This was why Amethyst Star was part of the ambush force Viscera led the Night Guard toward. It is also why Minuette and Derpy Hooves were disguised and inserted into the ‘harem’ as it was processed to Canterlot. Further information on this will be noted in later entries.

***** I did not remember placing the Equilixir in this shirt. I shall have to confront Princess Cadance immediately after her plan to potentially contain the Equilixirs is done. First compelled mantras, now memory loss?