Every pony awoke well, rest being easier now they were somewhat used to sleeping on a soft blanket on a hard floor. Discord slowly arose from under his blankets, Starswirl stretching his legs has he yawned, eyes still closed. The foal slowly got to his hooves and shook his head in an attempt to wake himself up, making his mane rather scruffy, not that it mattered, a pony's hair style wasn't exactly the top priority of a fugitive.
It appeared that Discord was the last of the group to get up, Laba was already cooking a pan over an open fire, crackling as it illuminated the room and caused bubbling sounds to arise from the pan. Starswirl started walking tiredly like a zombie, where to... Straight into a wall! There was a small bump sound as he hit the stone the wall, and another as he fell back onto his hind legs. He didn't look hurt, though Discord still checked his head when the foal wandered back to him, he was getting better at this parenting business. Luckily, there was no bump, cut or bruise.
Starswirl was about to walk into another wall, but Discord stopped him, advising he just sit down.
"Starswirl, how about we just sit down and wait for breakfast?" Starswirl joined Discord's side and fell onto his legs into a sitting position. Clearly Discord had got more sleep than his foal had. He stroked Starswirl behind the ear, who -to Discord's amusement- started twitching his leg like a puppy!
Breakfast was soon served: sausage and beans (I believe Equestrians DO eat meat). Discord, for a change, ate with some manners and self control. He felt like he shouldn't act rude in the presence of the first ever ponies he'd consider genuine friends, plus he wanted to set an example to Starswirl. Though he didn't realize it, he was changing! He was becoming more mature!
The story from yesterday was an interesting one. Not only did it help pass the time, but it said a lot about Friar: he had moral judgement, he stuck by his beliefs and he is willing to make the hard decisions. Since it worked so well for Friar, what about Sam Blue, the teller of the infamous "Edd Wood Wood Wood would" joke?
"So Sam," Discord began, in between mouthfuls of food. "What about your story?"
"What about yours?" Discord was slightly confused here... he just had the tables turned on him!
"I think mine is pretty obvious. A draconequus trying to raise a foal? Not likely Celestia will let that happen!" Yet, he still nailed that comeback!
"...Well, guess I'm next then..." Sam replied. Hopefully this story would continue into the next walk. It would be over Rambling Rock Ridge, no doubt a journey like that would get very tiring and tedious before too long. Suddenly, the ponies in the room started laughing. What at?
Discord looked beside him to see that a sausage was stuck on the tip of Starswirl's horn. Discord wanted to laugh... but didn't. Starswirl didn't seem to realize there was a piece of meat impaled on the end of his glowing blue horn. Discord gently removed it and placed it on the foal's plate. Clearly, Starswirl just though Discord had given him one of his sausages. Every pony in the room gave "aaaw"s of delight as Starswirl used his magic to give it back to Discord. He should have been embarrassed, but he wasn't. He took it, stroked Starswirl under the chin and enjoyed the tiny yet meaningful gift he had been given.
"So how about it, Sam?" Laba asked, "Tell us your story. Give us something to listen to while we walk." The group got to their feet, Sam started his story.
The crowd applauded Sam and cheered for him with glee, the occasional pony whistling in delight. This was one of the proudest moments of his life. The invention of the piston was a success! He stood atop the stage in his neat shirt and tie, bowing at the massive crowd of ponies who also dressed smartly.
"This moment is a huge step in Equestrian engineering. From this day fourth... we enter a new age!" He announced in a bold and enthusiastic voice, in response he got a wave of pure joy and excitement! The two pistons beside him pounded away within their casket, pumping the water which allowed the doors to open. Small, wooden doors, but doors that can now be opened and closed using engineering. A lot more could be done with this. And he knew it. Transportation, weaponry, factory machinery...
Sam Blue, his presentation at the Canterlot engineering department finished, walked off stage feeling proud at what he had accomplished! He was going to be famous! He might even be able to finally get ponies off the ground! In fact, with the money he would receive from this technology, he might even get enough off a budget to work on those old blueprints for fully functional wings for earth ponies!
He made his way out the maze of marble walls and corridors, being congratulated by every other pony he passed. Every time, he would give a nod back and a "thank you." Every time he received feedback like this, he felt slightly more confident in his work. Finally, the door out was in sight. He approached it, walked straight out the already open large, white doors and stepped outside. The sprawling city of Canterlot not too far ahead, maybe a two minute walk. He loved the view of the city from high up on the castle, but the hall where he was presented was on the ground floor, so today he was not treated. Still, he did manage to get that design published! And now, he was going to be a successful engineer!
It was dark now as he wandered down the streets, getting close to his house. His parents would be so glad! He didn't mind having to live with them, besides, now he was full time engineering, he would be able to earn enough to get his own house! His thoughts were shattered right there on the spot. There was an ear piercing shriek of pain, and it sounded like his mother's voice! He sprinted with more haste than he ever had done before, straight towards his house, which he could now tell had a wide open door! Why would the door be open at night? Had somepony broke in?
Finally entering through the wooden gate and straight through the open doorway, he was cursed with a sight he never wanted to remember, yet one that would haunt him every night. In his warm, inviting house, a place of safety and good memories, his mother lay. Her yellow mane was pale of color, her grey mane limp and lifeless. She lay, facing the other way, in his father's hooves. He was sobbing, tears running down his red furred face, sweat dripping from his black mane. He tried many times to communicate with his wife... but to no avail. Sam stood in shock. He just now noticed... a large patch of red on his mother's fur. The same red color could be seen on his father's hooves. When his dad finally saw him, he said but a few choice words before paramedics and police burst through the door.
"I... didn't do this. I swear..." Sam watched his mother's body be taken away, out into a hospital wagon, time slowing down yet everypony appearing as a blur. Only one thing was certain, the way he said it, the way he looked: his father had not done it.
Clearly, he was the only who thought that. This was a short while ago, about a week, and he now sat in the questioning room. The amount of times he had to repeat "My dad has not done it, he is innocent" would be uncountable. How the police came to the conclusion that his dad had done it was beyond him. When he asked, he was simply informed that he was at the scene covered in his wife's blood.
"Yes, but if my dad had been clutching my dead mum desperately trying to keep her alive, of course he'd have some blood on him!"
"Clearly you have nothing more to say to us. If the investigation team does not find evidence proving otherwise, your dad will be considered guilty and he will be sentence to death." Sam Blue again froze. Equestria was a different place at this time, the death sentence was not uncommon and the police force had little to work with in terms of scientific development.
He had to go back to an empty home that day. His mother somewhere in a body bag, his dad behind bars. His face did not change, nor did his intentions: "find proper justice for my dad, find the killer. But for now, I have to find out how to stop him from being killed."
Discord and the group wandered over the expanse of empty desert land and rocks, immersed in the story.
"And every night, for 5 days, I would stand outside, campaigning for justice," Sam continued "No pony believed me. They all believe my dad was guilty. I didn't."
There was now another crowd, a different kind of crowd. A crowd of merciless ponies all wanting to see this pony hung. The station upon which Sam's dad and the executioner stood upon was made of thin wooden planks, with stairs up at the back and left side. Sam's dad had his eyes closed, standing upon a platform that would collapse upon pulling of the large stone lever to the right. The executioner wore a black mask, and stood completely still as an announcer read aloud the charges upon which Sam's dad were being hung. Sam stood in the audience, planning his actions: "if I go in from the left, I might be able to trip over the executioner and cut that rope using the dagger." Sam had a knife ready on his belt, disguised under a coat. The final words were being spoke. Sam progressed further through the crowd. The drums started picking up speed. Sam was now only a few meters away. The announcer stopped reading. "Now or never."
The executioner tripped onto his face from a mighty blow delivered by Sam, an attack from below. He now leaped up onto the stage, two meters high, a challenge to climb onto. As he got up, he noticed the announcer running at him. He managed to draw his dagger. He charged at the announcer and felt the knife drive into him, not really caring he just killed a pony, his goal was to rescue his dad by any means! He was about to cut the rope, he stood on the platform, reached up and- he fell. Just like that he fell to the ground, now under the stage. He looked up in horror. A pair of legs dangled beside him. The lever had been pulled...
The crowd now ran back to the safety of their homes after witnessing a murder. Sam took his chance, among the chaos, he sneaked away. Blending in with the crowd, he ran to a back ally. He checked to make sure he wasn't followed... he was not. He could hear a voice shout "find him, find him!" He would have to leave soon. He looked down at his knife.
"You tried to kill my dad. What does it matter if I killed someone." he dropped the blood stained knife and ran for the Canterlot gates, ready to leave and find somewhere more discreet to live.
"And I found Hollow Shades not soon after," Sam finished his story "So, yeah. Sounds like some kind of super hero tale..." Except a super hero wouldn't kill a pony and think nothing of it, Discord though to himself. The group was now entering a cave. They had been walking a while. They had reached the next outpost before sundown.
"Now story time is over, we need rest. You all look very tired." Laba soon said as he reached for the rations box in the cave-turned outpost. Discord didn't notice it, but he was very sweaty. So was Starswirl. That's what happens when you walk through Rambling Rock Ridge! The other ponies looked just as sweaty, Chrysalis looking the funniest as sweat dripped from one hole to the other down her legs. Discord was happy to sit down, Starswirl lying flat out on the stone floor, clearly not caring if it wasn't hotel level comfort.
"Luckily, we were aware you would all be sweaty when we built this outpost so there is extra water in this rations case." The guard all quietly cheered, not showing too much enthusiasm since they were exhausted from walking through hot, exposed land. Every pony drank thirstily from their bottles, even Starswirl sacrificed some of his young charm for a good swig or two of water.
"I imagine there's not much left in that rucksack, Discord?" Laba asked him. Discord didn't reply, his mouth was full of water. Swallowing, he removed his rucksack and opened it up. There wasn't much in there, as expected.
"A can or two of food and some blankets." He announced, secretly checking to make sure that amulet of his was still where it should be: it was.
"Well, not to worry. Guess what I have?" Every pony in the room looked up, amazed. Laba had pulled CANDY BARS out of the rations box! Every pony in the room full on cheered at that moment! After all that working, the sweet taste of sugar upon their tongues was a delightful experience to say the least! For Starswirl especially, he entered a phase similar to that bacon trance he had a while back. He was motionless, slowly eating away at his candy bar. Enjoyment at it's best, right there!
The delicious tasting snack, the rest, the water and the lovely curry meal that followed soon had ever pony fast asleep. Morale in the group took a massive leap that night. Who would be next?
"Spiral Dust, your story tomorrow?" Discord asked him.
"...sure. Prepare yourself."