There's something stranger than 'normal' going on in the Everfree Forest. With the Mane Six absent for the time being, four unicorns band together to investigate this threat.
Something stranger than 'normal' is going on in the Everfree Forest. With Twilight Sparkle and her friends away in Canterlot, the owner of "Mystic Shield's Self-Defense Academy For Unicorns", aptly named Mystic Shield, sends out four of his top students to investigate. That turned out to be a grave mistake and now they're at the hospital. While heading there to visit them, he stumbles into and makes acquaintances with three unicorns not in his class.
One is a naïve delivery pony from a florist shop in his hometown Baltimare. One is a dainty seamstress with great overall dexterity. And one is an adopted nurse's daughter with a tragic past.
After learning that the strangeness was reminiscent of Discord's magic, and that it was bound to reach Ponyville if it isn't stopped, they four decide to take matters into their own hooves.
A unicorn stallion strode into the marketplace with his head held high, catching the rays of the rising sun in his flowing red mane, and having no doubt it looks as glorious as usual as he paced through Ponyville. Just to be sure, he caught his reflection as he passed the window of a nearby building, spying his own hazel eyes and rosebud cutie mark. Confirming the expectations of his own grandeur, the comely black stallion gave his reflection a knowing wink and continued on.
On his way to his delivery's destination, the stallion examined the flower stalls around the market and exchanged some brief chit-chat with the vendors about the local growing season and nutrient issues for the flowers.
"By the way, madam, can you tell me the way to the Aloe and Lotus Spa?" he added, addressing a pale yellow mare and a raspberry mane behind a flower stand, who was selling his favorite flower; roses.
"I'm afraid I haven't been back to Ponyville for a delivery in a long while," the florist, whose name was Roseluck, replied as she shook her head. “Business hasn’t been going too well for any of us lately.”With less wild flowers and herbs, we’ve had to raise our prices." She then directed the stallion to go to the town square and told him that the spa would be the fancy looking purple and yellow building near a shop somewhat resembling a jester’s hat.
After thanking the mare, the stallion methodically worked his way through the crowd on the market towards his target destination. After about a minute, he arrived and walked inside.
He did a once-over of the place, noting the muted shades of pink and blue on the walls. As he heard calming instrumental music playing, he noted a few mares visible from inside the reception area.
In a back room, there was a pale pony with a mud mask getting a massage from a pink mare with a blue mane while a mare nearly identical to the other but instead with a blue coat and a pink mane hurried behind the counter upon noticing Tango entering.
“Hello, my name is Lotus Blossom. How may I help you, sir?" she greeted him with a Eastern Euromanian accent.
There were also two more mares sitting on a bench behind Tango, chatting away the time as they waited for their appointments.
“Tango, venture gardening and delivery extraordinaire, at your service, Miss Blossom,” the stallion introduced himself. He then flipped open his satchel and presented the parcel he was sent to deliver with a whip of his mane and a stylish flourish. "As requested, I have a package of full cuts of assorted herbs for this fine establishment."
"Oh thank you, I'll just go put these at the back.” Lotus accepted the presented parcel and put it in a shelf under the desk before popping back up with a small pouch of bits. “Here is your payment, sir. Fifty bits in total. We normally don't need to order these, but there’s been some weird stuff going on in the local forest where they grow.” She leaned in a bit and continued in a hushed, concerned voice. “I heard some ponies who went investigating the other day ended up in the hospital."
Erstwhile…
The pale grayish-olive mare was enjoying a massage at the hooves of the other spa pony’s twin sister Aloe Blossom. She can tell that Aloe was very experienced in the trade for a good part of her lifetime. Ah, the first day of my “all expenses paid” vacation here and already I’m in heaven, she thought.
Whilst relaxing on the edge of bliss, she heard the voice of a stallion talking to the other Blossom sister about a delivery of herbs she’d overhead the sisters were expecting.
"Fräulein Blossom, now that the—" she began before being overwhelmed by pleasure, her legs jerking back as a soft moan escaped her lips, which shortly formed into a big, satisfied grin. This massage is amazing!
“—herbs are restocked, I want to order a herbal bath with aromatherapy. I'd like to have some herbal tea as well," she continued, her voice constantly switching between shaking and squealing.
"Of course, Miss Ruffle,” Aloe said as she finished up the massage, sporting a proud smile from the effects her skills have on the slightly smaller mare.
The other blue and pink mare peeked her head out into the room for a moment looking around. "Sister? Could you add seventy-seven bits to Miss Ruffle’s bill? Two for a herbal tea and seventy-five for a herbal bath with aromatherapy." She was given a nod as confirmation before she went back into the massage room with a smile.
"Miss Pinecone, we can begin your mud bath in a short while. Thank you for waiting so patiently," Lotus said to one of the talking mares on the bench.
"Thank you, dear," one of the mares on the bench replied.
Tango held his payment for a while before regretfully depositing the fifty bits into a side bag as he overheard the spa treatment prices. It wouldn't do to net a loss for his own before the bits even hit his pockets.
"The hospital, you say? No doubt a dangerous bit of business going into the forests these days," Tango said, trying to ignore the delighted squeals in the background. "If you don't mind me asking, where is this hospital?"
With Aloe having finished the massage, the small mare slowly raised her head, still a bit shaky from the pleasure as she slid down from the bench. All she needed to do was go through the reception area to get to the bath area.
As her hooves touched the ground, she realized her mistake; the massage left her legs as feeble as winegum. Her face filled with panic as she gained more and more momentum, getting into an unbalanced trot towards the reception as she tried to keep standing on her hooves.. She closed her eyes as she crashed into a stallion with a black coat and a red mane.
Tango gave a "Hrmph!" of surprise as the small mass of pony collided with his backside and reflexively steadied himself with a heavy stamp. He turned about to discover his 'assailant'. "Goodness! I was thinking of making a visit to the hospital, but I'm in no rush, young filly," he said amiably as he flashed a pearly smile and extended a helping hoof, "Have your horn still attached there?"
The small mare accepted the helping hoof of the stallion, embarrassed at her display of weakness she blushes and turned her head away. "I am fine," she quietly said. She tried to get up but dropped instantly, whimpering with her head buried in her hooves. After a while she raised her head again and looked at the stallion with teary eyes. "I can't get up. I think I twisted my right hind leg. You have to…" She paused and looked at the floor. "Carry me to the hospital."
"Miss, are you all right? Should we cancel your aromatherapy, bath, and tea, then?" Aloe worryingly asked as she walked over to her client with her Victorian-esque ensemble consisting of a bonnet, dress, umbrella, crinolette, leg laces, and folding fan.
Meanwhile, Lotus called to the mares on the bench again. "Mrs. Pinecone, your mud bath is ready." One of the gossiping ponies got up and walked to the counter where Lotus led her into one of the spa’s rooms.
"Well, miss, before you go, that will be fifty bits for the massage. Some ponies have tried to sneak out of paying recently so...how will you be paying?" Aloe hesitantly asked with a forced smile.
Tango set a hoof at his chin with bemused concern. He'd never heard of anypony needing to go to the hospital for a twisted leg, but ponies kept telling him not to favor the judgment of others over his own. "Well, I guess there's no helping it. I don't normally deliver fillies, but I've had stranger requests." He then bodily lifted the smaller pony onto his back and used his magic to neatly set her belongings behind her. "Whenever you've got your affairs in order, little lady."
With her magic, the mare reached into the pocket of her dress, giving Aloe the bits she requested. Having dealt with this distraction, she wrapped her front legs around Tango’s neck and held on tightly before moving her head closer to his ears. "My name is Crinoline Ruffle, what’s yours?" she asked, resting her head on his neck shortly afterwards.
“Thank you miss, sorry for the inconvenience…” Aloe said apologetically as the two begin to leave. Just before they did, she called out to them. “Oh! Um. Sir! Ma’am!” Tango paused as he and Crinoline turned to face her. ”The hospital is on the outskirts of town near Whitetail Wood. Just go past the town hall and follow the main road. You should be able to see it when you get to the edge of Ponyville. Do come again!”
"Tango, pleased to meet you," the stallion chattered as he left the spa and trotted out into the streets in search of the Ponyville Hospital with his new parcel clinging to him. "I'm in the garden delivery and exotic landscaping service. My brother came up with that business. Said it makes what I do look better and that's what I'm best at, after all…"
"I have had a business myself, but not for very long.” Crinoline then went into a flurry of asking questions.
“What exactly do you do aside from herb deliveries? Is the pay good? How long can you hold your breath? Can you even swim? What where those stranger requests you where mentioning back at the spa? Where do you live? Do you need accommodation here in Ponyville? Do you have other relatives? Do you already have a special somepony? What is your special talent exactly?"
She soon stopped herself upon realizing that Tango might need some time to think on his answers. "Heheh, my bad. I like to ask questions." She gave a slight blush, then tightened her embrace. "Hope you don't mind."
"No, no. Not at all. But, I don't know if I can handle all that in one go," Tango mused, his mind struggling valiantly to keep up with the stream of words and decidedly failing. "I guess I could just tell you the short version of my life…" For a moment, he considered breaking out into song as some ponies sometimes do, but decided against it.
"Sonata, Tango, Waltz, and Crochet. The four of us siblings work the Spring Concerto florist shop out on the edge of Baltimare. The others handle the shop and I've done the deliveries since I was a little colt. Always had a knack for finding wild flowers. Family eventually decided I might as well be put to use if that's the sort of thing I'd be good at so we expanded the business and I've been galloping about the wild parts of Equestria near four years now. Harvest some plants, take replanting requests, battle monsters, do commercial and home deliveries. Don't really keep track of how much we make. Sonata takes care of that." As he chatted and trotted, Tango stopped to ask directions to the Hospital from the locals and—once he had them—made his way there.
“I wonder how it is to have siblings,” Crinoline pondered. “I would be happy, if I had you as a big brother… Oh, I know! You should add a Rent-A-Big-Brother service to your catalog!”
Tango paused to contemplate this recommendation seriously for a few moments before continuing his search. "I've never heard of that business," he replied with honest obliviousness, cantering onward. "Don't know how much that has to do with gardening, but you seem like a smart pony. I'll ask Waltz when I get back."
Along their way to the hospital, the duo got many weird looks and awkward glances. A stallion carrying a mare across town was not a common sight, even in the oddity-prone Ponyville.
Though the trek took its time, Tango and his passenger reached the hospital without much problem, other than the mare’s weight beginning to tire the stallion out a bit.
The doors opened as if by magic, or probably technology, when they approached them and led them straight into the hospital’s waiting room. At the reception desk was a light-blue pegasus nurse in a white vest, who greeted the two.
"Hello, nurse. I had an accident at the spa," Crinoline said. "I twisted my leg and I am not sure how bad it is. Luckily this very special somepony here helped me in an instant." She rubbed Tango’s chin with one hoof. "So tell me, nurse, how long will it take for the doctor to check my injury?"
"Once you've taken a look at the little miss here, I'd like to visit a couple of patients, probably those who have been recently injured out in the forest," Tango added.
The nurse, looking a bit tired with her blond mane ruffled, answered calmly, "I'm sorry, but we are pretty full right now. There is another nurse coming soon to help out, but it’s a full house today."
She walked up to the counter and retrieved a small band with the number 0124 and, after saying something to a passing nurse, gave it to Crinoline upon getting back to her and Tango, allowing both a look at her name tag (Graceful ‘Grace’ Breeze) and her cutie mark (a caduceus).
"We will call your number when a doctor is available to check up on you, but we’ve got some ponies that require our full attention." She turned to face Tango, her expression and tone of voice rather questioning. “I must ask, why do you want to see them? Are you a relative or acquaintance? If you are not, then I’m afraid you can’t visit them unless you’d like to assist us. You see…we’re a bit understaffed at the moment, so we can use all the help we can get.”
She let out a short giggle as if she remembered something funny, but her expression remained serious. “I even asked my daughter if she could help out.”
Tango ran a hoof reflexively through his long mane. He seemed to be getting sidetracked into a number of odd jobs today, but there seemed to be no helping it. “Forests of all sorts are where I have to travel,” he answered. “I just wanted to ask some questions about the trouble they ran into, if they wouldn't mind answering. I suppose I can help out in the meantime.”
Turning to Crinoline, he said, "Well, little Miss, I guess I'll have to leave you to the doctor. It looks like I'll be running around this place for a while if you need me again. I'll check to see you have everything sorted out once I'm done with business."
Just then, somepony entered the hospital, breathless and panicked as he reached the reception desk, stopping beside Tango and Crinoline. "My name's Mystic Shield, and I've come to visit my students Greatstone, Bullseye, Chrono Cards, and Tricky Books. How bad are their injuries?"
Another pony was making his way to the hospital to check up on four of the patients.
A teacher of sorts, he had heard that something had happened to them from another of those he’d have called his students. Something that he had asked them to do had left them in the hospital which forced him into a swiftness to get there as soon as he heard.
After rushing through the entrance up to the reception desk, he spoke, breathless and panicked, "My name's Mystic Shield, and I've come to visit my students Greatstone, Bullseye, Chrono Cards, and Tricky Books. How bad are their injuries?"
"Oh, Mystic, good. I'm Nurse Graceful Breeze. They refused to say anything to us without you for some reason." She walked towards a door before looking back and asking, "Do you mind if this gentlecolt comes along, he seems curious." She gestured to Tango.
Mystic turned to look at the other pony. From what he could see, this pony was a unicorn stallion, perhaps a bit younger than he was. Red hair, black coat, hazel eyes, and rose cutie mark. There was also a smaller unicorn mare on his back whose head was buried in his mane. Pale, light grayish olive hair, light violet-ish gray coat, and a cutie mark depicting ruffled silk shaped like a wing.
They don't seem to be students of mine., he pondered. Then again, I do have plenty to handle, even with my First Four—now at the hospital thanks to me—as co-teachers now. I'll have to know this some more before inviting him. After all, if Miss Rarity of Carousel Boutique is anything to go by, not everypony has time for my classes.
He then turned back to Graceful Breeze and said, "I don't see why not. Maybe I can also check whether or not he'll make for another prospective student in my dojo."
The redhead stallion flashed another award-worthy smile at his newest acquaintance. "Thank you. I'll try not to be a bother," he said graciously.
Mystic was certainly charmed by the smile. "A bother? Heavens, no. It's always a pleasure to meet another unicorn. You look like you can be a prospective student in my Self-Defense dojo. What do you say?"
"Self-defense dough joe? Oh, I don't know...Waltz says I shouldn't make any decisions by myself, but I don't think we have much to do with the bread business, combat or otherwise," the redhead stallion said bluntly. The mare on his back gave a slight giggle. A look of puzzlement passed very briefly over his face, but dissolved once more into radiantly self-assured confidence. "You should ask Miss Crinoline. She's probably good at most everything of the learning sort."
Mystic realized that his acquaintance misinterpreted his words and replied, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to imply anything involving bread. By dojo, I mean something like a training academy. Hay, I even managed to get Rarity to take at least one class and learned a useful spell from her. And very well, I'll ask Miss Crinoline. Perhaps she'll make for another potential student. Would you mind telling me what she looks like?"
The mare on the redhead stallion moved her head to her right, revealing her blue-violet eyes, then raised her head to his ear and whispered, "Tango, would you kneel down for me? I can't possibly get down on my own, pretty please?"
"Of course, little miss," he replied before elegantly dropping to two knees to let the small unicorn down. "I'll let her introduce herself. Tango is my name." he added.
The mare carefully slipped down from Tango's back and gave him a peck on the cheek before he can react. She blushed slightly and smiled at him. "I am very grateful for your help." With her magic she levitates seventy-five bits out of her dress pocket over to Tango. "If you don't mind I would like to rely on this service more often." She put a hoof under his chin and—with a big smile on her face—said, "I really enjoyed the ride. Seeing the world from above for once was really enjoyable."
She let out a soft laugh, then cleared her throat as she faced Mystic Shield. "Before I introduce myself, I first have to get more sightly." Using her magic, she levitated her assemble in front of her. First, she carefully put on her leg laces, after that her crinolette, followed by her dress and bonnet, her umbrella secured by two straps on the former's right side.
Finally, with her folding fan levitating next to her, she looked at ease now and spoke up. "My name is Crinoline Ruffle. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Mystic Shield. I have nothing against training in your Dojo, but my magic abilities are rather poor. What you just saw is the best I can do. It took me years of practice to do that. I see it positive though. You see, over the years I got also more and more dexterous."
Just then, the group saw a mysterious cloaked pony walking up the halls toward them, her face covered in shadows cast by her hood, only her grey, hairless, muzzle was visible.
She stopped next to Grace, who said, "Oh, there you are, sweetie. Would you mind helping this pony with her leg?" She gestured to Crinoline's leg, then turned to address Mystic.. "I think we should get going, though. Don't want to keep your students waiting." She led the two stallions down the hall, leaving the two mares. Before she was out of earshot, she turned back to the cloaked pony to say, "Oh, and please do be careful with this one, dear."
Having little time to mull over whether or not he should be accepting money for non-work related services, Tango waved uncertainly back at Crinoline—who waved back at him with an amused grin on her face —as he was ushered out into the hall.
Returning to his previous subject, Mystic asked Tango, "Well, what do you say?"
The red stallion's mind quickly gave up the struggle as he deposited the bits in his coin pouch. "What do I say? Oh, the classes. I don't know. Waltz got mad the last time I signed up for classes. Can't imagine why. Said it was a sure-fire way to double your bits. Waltz usually likes making money," Tango commented wistfully.
He then brightened up immediately with the knowledge that this question, like all life's conundrums to his knowledge, could be answered in the usual fashion.
"But Waltz says I should always do what the smartest pony I know says to do. Miss Crinoline is the only pony I know here. I'll ask the little miss what to do when we're done." He flashed Mystic Shield another gleaming smile and happily trotted forth, positive that the purple unicorn must be impressed by Tango's flawless logic.
Ashen Rise had been helping out at the hospital for most of the day so far and was about to take a well-earned break when one of the nurses asked her if she could see to a pony in the reception with a minor injury. Since her assigned break time was coming up anyway, after helping out for most of the day she went to take care of it, even if a minor injury seemed rather insignificant with the ponies with actually dangerous wounds.
As she approached the reception area, she used a bit of her magic to put her hood back on just before passing through the doors. Inside, she saw Grace talking to two stallions and a mare as she continued her stride and walked up to the group. As her patient was pointed out to her, she simply nodded although this was only noticeable to most of them if they saw the slight drop and rise of her hood. She then saw Grace lead the colts out to visit the 'students' of one of them.
Okay, now for you, Ashen thought to herself as her mind started to analyze her would-be patient.
Unicorn mare, smaller than average but obviously far from a filly, blond mane and a coat of so light a shade of purple that it'd look like white from a distance and those with bad sight.
It might have been this last bit and the fact she was dressed up like some sort of princess-doll that the smaller mare reminded Ashen of another pony she'd run across once, one who she did not like very much at all after she tried to get her cloak off of her 'for the sake of fashion', which she couldn't care less about.
"Okay, kid. Your leg, right?" Ashen asked. "Just tell me which one and show it to me so I can take a look at what's wrong." Besides you wasting time I could spend on those that really need it.
She smaller mare took off her right leg lace on her hind leg to let the nurse see it. "I collapsed and hurt my right hind leg. Can you make sure it's nothing serious, and maybe tell me how long I have to treat it with care?", she asked, feeling a little intimidated as she stared at the floor.
As Ashen walked around the smaller mare, she spoke, half to herself half to her. "A fall, huh? Could be a few things. Sprained, but then there'd be swelling though that could take some time. Dislocation, which is never fixed without pain. Or even a break, which would have your leg wrapped up like a Hearth's Warming Eve present." When she got behind the little unicorn, who seemed to have been trying to follow her movements by turning her neck as she walked, she gave a light tap to her right hind leg. "Just stretch it out backwards so I can take a look. And keep your eyes forward, dear, I don't need you trying to pull away, which they always do when they look."
Using a mixture of skill, knowledge, and magic, Ashen sat down as she began her examination, slowly running her hooves across her patient's leg while applying pressure as well as keeping an eye on her reactions to locate the problem.
Finding the spot at which the smaller mare was reacting the most (the fetlock), she got to work on pressing the point in different ways and directions to try and decipher this little conundrum.
This caused Ashen's patient to cringe in pain as she felt her joint move. "It hurts right there when you move it. It also hurts whenever I try to move it. It feels numb and paralyzed," she explained before standing still, waiting for the nurse's judgment.
Ashen had suspected the ankle was the harmed spot and now her patient has confirmed it. She started thinking on what the injury may be and how to deal with it. Hmm, muscles feel tense, stretched and... Aha! There it is; a slight dislocation. That should be easy enough to fix, but first, the hard part. She sat down and kept the leg up with her left hoof before speaking to its owner again.
"Everything seems just fine so there's no need to worry but…" Ashen deliberately fell silent for a second to allow the almost white mare to get curious as a faint blue light began to form around her upheld leg. "Hey, is that the Princess?" she said without hinting at which one or in what direction. As the smaller mare was distracted and looking away, she made her move.
The blue aura around the hurt leg took hold. Her patient, having realized her deception too quickly, turned around to find out what she was going to do. Before she could respond however, Ashen used her magic to force the dislocated joint back into its place. The pain turned out to be excruciating and the patient immediately fainted as a result.
Ashen had expected screaming and kicking (lots of both, actually), but instead the unicorn whose leg she just forced back into place went as limp as a piece of cloth. Before she could hit the ground, Ashen caught the smaller mare in a reflex. ...Okay, did not see this coming.
Luckily for Ashen, there was nopony else in the reception hall, with all of the staff busy, which was good for her since she'd probably be kicked out again if she was seen next to an unconscious pony she was supposed to be taking care of.
Knowing how some would respond to this situation, she briefly thought about dragging the other unicorn off and hiding her in a closet, but quickly thought better of it and decided to just carry her to Grace and face the music.
"Troublesome little thing aren't you, huh?" she said, again more to herself than anypony else.
After picking the mare up with her magic and placing her on her cloak-covered back like a pair of saddlebags, she left the reception hall to go to the room Grace would have taken the pale mare's companions.
Erstwhile…
After leading the two stallions down a fraction of the long hall, Grace led them to a room with patients. What Mystic Shield saw there utterly devastated him.
His four students were resting on the beds, injured in varying levels, but all of them serious. Bullseye's entire body was covered in a cast save for his face, which lacked the eye-patch he usually wore, showing the scarred amber eye it hid. Tricky Books had a cast on two of his legs, scars over the other legs, and a bandage over the eye his hair usually covered. As for that, that portion was torn off. Chrono Cards had a cast on one leg, and bandages covering his flank and forehead, leaving a hole for his horn. Greatstone had a bandage around his body stained with blood, and a fresh scar on his front leg.
All of them looked…broken, as he had been once. He was one of the lucky few (like Berry Punch) to have been spared corruption when Discord warped Ponyville to his liking. When the draconequus invaded his dojo, his four star students opposed him…and were tossed aside and turned into various harmless stuff for their trouble. Mystic stood terrified and shattered after seeing that, and did nothing against him when Discord started turning his dojo's tatami mat into a swimming pool of chocolate milk, and everything else into pastel colors. Not wanting to meet the same fate as his students, and knowing there was nothing he could do, he made the best of it and dipped in after Discord left to cause chaos elsewhere. It was a very embarrassing sight when Chronicle barged in and—
Mystic shook the memory away. This isn't the time. I gotta focus on the task at hoof, he thought to himself as Greatstone got off of his bed and walked over to him. To see the tough unicorn injured was a tearful sight.
"Master," he said. "I'm sorry we failed our mission."
Since perspectives are about to change a bit quickly without changing scenes, I'm gonna add notes on whose perspective the story is in at the moment.
POV: Mystic Shield
"Master. I'm sorry we failed our mission, but there's something in that forest acting against us, something more powerful than you thought. And before we were ambushed, we crossed a border deep in the forest. Past it was utter chaos, the kind that we thought was sealed away with Discord."
"It was expanding, the border," Chrono Cards spoke up from his bed. "It will reach Ponyville and will not stop if someone doesn't go in there to put an end to the source."
Once his students finished speaking, Mystic was deep in thought. Normally, this would be a job for the keepers of the Elements, or even Chronicle, who was a very experienced fighter. He even supposedly confronted Discord in extended combat, although Mystic doubted that was true, even after seeing him in action. But with them away in Canterlot, it was up to Mystic Shield to "hold down the fort". And anyone else who wished to help him was welcome.
''Though seeing your friends here would make me discourage going into the woods…if they're right, there might not be enough time and certainly not enough room in the hospital. But if any of you will go...so will I," Graceful Breeze volunteered.
Turning to the nurse, Mystic nodded in thanks, then turned to Tango, awaiting his answer.
"Sure. I was going to head into the forest on my own anyways," Tango agreed easily. "Can't leave without seeing if there's anything that might mess with business."
Greatstone smirked at the brave ponies ready to fight and said, "Then I'm coming with you!"
Grace was quick to shut down the idea with a stern word. "No. You're already badly injured, if anything else happens to you, it could disable you for life… if not worse. Until you recover, you're staying here." Her voice turned kind again. "Now you should get some rest. You'll feel better."
"I concur with Ms. Breeze here," agreed Mystic. "Leave this matter to me." He then gave a sigh. "If only he was here, he could've handled the situation easily. But he's in Canterlot, so it's my…unofficial and personal…responsibility."
"Then let me help you out differently," Greatstone offered. "There are things in that forest. Unnatural things. I think you need to know about them."
POV: Ashen Rise
Umph. Okay, so you're not that little, Ashen thought to herself as she noticed she underestimated the pale mare's weight.
After a bit of searching, she found the room where Grace and the mare on her back's probable friends should be, which was proven correct when she entered only to be caught off-guard by a rather...odd statement.
"Oh dear. I didn't think the little miss was that badly off," the black and red unicorn said regretfully as he stepped forward to lend the hooded mare a hoof. "I know my flank is uncommonly magnificent, but this is the first time anypony seriously injured themselves running into it."
"…Okay…" She falls silent for a few seconds at the sheer awkwardness of what he just said. I'm just going to ignore that last bit for my sanity's sake.
After turning away and walking to the nearest empty bed as she levitated the smaller unicorn off of her back and onto the bed, she spoke up again. "She's fine, I think. should just be unconscious. I had to get a joint back into it's socket and it seems she couldn't really take the..stress." After she was done with that, she turned to the colt who spoke up to her. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She'll probably complain about her leg but it should heal a lot quicker now. Putting bones back into place is never done without somepony—usually the patient—screaming their lungs out, but instead she just fell over." She shrugged at the memory, causing her cloak to jump a bit.
After making sure the other mare was in a comfortable position, Ashen turned to face the others, only to notice a strange, determined, yet conflicted look on Grace's face. "'Mother? Is something wrong?'
"Dear… I'm going with them, to help stop the chaos," the head nurse said bluntly. She always had a certain tone in her voice, so that no matter what situation and what she said, she still sounded kind. "I need you here. They need you here." She gestured to the ponies behind her and looked Ashen in the face, giving her a gentle smile. "I'm going to be okay. I promise."
POV: Mystic Shield
Mystic turned to look at the arrival, whom he remembered walking over to them earlier at the reception hall. Only now did he get a good look. Despite being bald and most of the body concealing with a black and brown hooded robe, from what little he could see of this newcomer, he could tell that this one was a gray-coated mare. It was a random guess, but he thought she was probably concealing scars from a horrible incident, assuming the bald head wasn't a style choice.
"Hmm…", Mystic wondered, then turned to Grace. "Are you certain she will be incapable of assisting us? Does she have abilities that are more of use here than in our group? Will she in any way be a hindrance if she were to accompany us? Because I could use all the help I could get."
"WHAT!?" the newcomer cried out, her hood falling back a bit and revealing more of her head, a burn-mark on the left side of her face leading back into the shadow cast by the black cloth. "What chaos? Where? Everfree? With them? You don't even know them! We need you here!"
She quickly looked straight at Mystic, anger clear in her raised voice as she glared at him, her golden eyes just visible to him from the light reflected in them. "You've got some nerve! I don't know whether you're high or drunk and how or why you got this stupid idea of 'chaos threatening the village' into my mother's head but I don't care! Chaos? Really? Discord's long gone, trapped in stone, sealed away forever."
Mystic was slightly shocked at the sight of the burn on the bald mare's face and the somehow frightening gold eyes (even though Bullseye had them too), then was taken aback at what she said. Apparently, she hasn't been updated on—oh wait, they only discovered the news from his students, and he might not have believed them if he were anyone but their teacher. And her calling him high or drunk?! The nerve! He would never succumb to such things. The only vice he has is non-monetary wagers.
The hooded pony then turned to Grace, almost begging her not to go. "Mom, we need you here, the patients need you here, not off on some wild goose chase." After this outburst, she calmed down somewhat and went quiet for a while, turned around, then walked up to Crinoline, who—judging by her stirring —seemed to be having a nightmare.
Apparently lost in thought, she checked up on her and waited.
POV: Graceful Breeze
Ashen would never gone so directly against Grace's wishes, she'd never had to. They always got to an agreement without too many arguments to cause distance between them.
After regaining her thoughts, she spoke up quietly. "I'll go." She turned around and repeated herself, her determination clear to all within the room. "Mother..I'll go instead. Even if I could keep this place in check, I could never manage if this…" She shot a quick glare at Mystic. "…'chaos', is real and does reach Ponyville, then we'll need you to keep it from all falling apart over her."
"Ashen…dear…" Grace started but stopped, trying to get her thoughts together.
"I know you have some experience with the dangers out there but…" Her eyes got watery as memories flooded in and she closed them to prevent herself from crying.
FLASHBACK
Ashen, battered, bloodied, and exhausted, was in the rain at the doors, carrying a yellow colt, limping inside, and finally collapsing in front of her. "M..mother.."
The shock, sadness, and even a bit of anger returned to Grace for a moment as she managed to keep it all contained before she opened her eyes and began her rebuttal.
END FLASHBACK
"Look, dear. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle things and keep the staff in line. They should be too busy tending to the patients to start bickering amongst themselves, I believe in you." However, Ashen doesn’t seem to be budging, so she continued. "Dear, you never wanted to talk about what happened last time…so how can I be sure things won’t end up the same way? I don’t want to have to go through seeing you hurt like that again. I just wouldn’t be able to take it. I just want you to be safe…"
POV: Tango
Having been briefly distracted by his own reflection in a nearby metal instrument after reassurances that his current charge was resting and taken care of, Tango detached himself from considerations on which side of his face was the better one and stepped forward to place his full ruggedly handsome figure in the center of the discussion as it becomes heavy with emotion.
"Now…" Tango paused for a moment as he regarded all the gathered faces with a self-assured countenance. "I barely have any idea of what any of you are talking about."
Tango paused again. This was the extent of how far he had though ahead for his speech. After a few seconds of staring around with a pleasant, vacant expression, he stirred into action again. Holding his head high and striking a hoof with powerful force into his sturdy chest, Tango let it sit against his breastplate.
"It seems to me that everyone has a job they need to do. I'm sure you all know better than me what that is for you, but my job is to make sure things inside the forest get out safely," Tango announced, "I figure that might as well include ponies. Seems like there's danger a-hoof, and if we fail nopony is very safe. Maybe we ought to do what we're best at so this doesn't happen…and the right pony is there to take care of us if it does. Whichever one of you is coming with us and whichever is staying, I won't tell you not to worry, but nopony is getting into any trouble without me there to lend a hoof."
The black-coated unicorn reared up and stamped down again, his usual confidence now overflowing from every aspect of his being.
"When danger comes you are free to stand behind me. It'll take something impressive to get through me. As my brothers always tell me, I'm mighty thick in every way."
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
"Do your work! You are nothing, you will never make it!"
Crinoline found herself in a sparely lit dark room sitting on a wooden stool.
Her hooves hurt and her eyes had trouble focusing.
She wore a white robe. In her left hoof she held a thread, and in her right a needle.
What is going on?
"Are you mocking me?" said a voice behind her, Who is it?
"..." Crinoline tried to speak up.
She can't move either.
What is going on? This is not fair!
"I warned you, this is your own fault," the voice said.
She came closer and stopped, right behind her.
"Stay still."
There was a tug on the robe. Then the sound of cloth being ripped.
Silence.
Tears rolled down Crinoline's cheeks,
as she watched the white robe falling onto the ground, now forever,
soiled.
END DREAM
Crinoline heard a loud thump and somepony was talking. She looked around. Everything had a slight blue tint and was a bit unfocused.
How did I get here? Is that Tango talking?
Crinoline tried to listen for a moment what all the fuss was about, her ears still ringing.
"I figure that might as well include ponies. Seems like there's danger a-hoof and if we fail nopony is very safe. Maybe we ought to do what we're best at so this doesn't happen...and the right pony is there to take care of us if it does. Whichever one of you is coming with us and whichever is staying, I won't tell you not to worry, but nopony is getting into any trouble without me there to lend a hoof."
Crinoline heard a stomping.
"When danger comes you are free to stand behind me. It'll take something impressive to get through me. As my brothers always tell me, I'm mighty thick in every way."
"What?" Crinoline asked, confused after rubbing her eyes. She decided to slowly turn and look at the current situation, still feeling a bit dazed.
"Ahem. Looks like Miss Crinoline has awoken," she heard Mystic say, her head much clearer now. "Although I doubt she'll be coming with us given her current condition. Right?"
"Okay then, I… I don't want to let you do this but, you're right." Grace meanwhile forced a small smile as she faced her daughter. "I believe in you, Ashen. When you're ready to go, I have some supplies for you to take with you. Now, the colt has a point." She indicated Mystic. "What are you going to do now Miss Crinoline?"
Crinoline's senses returned at this point. She did not feel dazed anymore and after moving her right hind leg, she found that it only hurt slightly. Still, she doesn't remember how she ended up in that bed, so to be on the safe side she quickly checked if nothing was missing.
Bonnet, check. Crinolette, dress, Folding fan and umbrella, check. Thread, sewing needle, 50 bits, check. Leg la— She then remembered she took the right leg lace off right before the examination and frantically searched for it in her pockets. Where is it? Where did I stow it?, she thought as she started to panic, only to find that she tugged it behind her umbrella. Hastily she put it back on.
Feeling confident. she got out of her bed, looked at Grace, and started to slowly walk up to her. Once she was close enough, she answered the head nurse's question. "I will disregard the neighsayers," Crinoline turned away and moved over to Tango, nuzzling him before—with a swift leap—getting onto his back.
"You're coming along then, little miss? S'pose that makes things simpler for me," Tango said with placid acceptance of his passenger. He then looked back to the others. "Whenever you ponies are up to it, I'm ready to go."
"Okay. Looks like the lady wishes to go after all," Mystic remarked, then requested, "Allow me to return to my home so I can pick up some old weapons of mine. I do not believe that my magic alone will be enough to stop this chaos, although I doubt they will do much. Where shall we meet?"
"You should all go and prepare," Grace advised. "Meet back at the hospital before sundown. I have some supplies to give you."
POV: Ashen Rise
Ashen raised and eyebrow at the other mare's…odd choice of action upon waking. Again choosing not to let the 'traits' of others bother her, she spoke up, even if it unnerved her a bit.
"I agree, we should all be prepared as best we can and anypony early can lend a hoof around the hospital."
"I'm already saddled up in my travel gear, but I guess I could go see if there's anything I need around town," the black unicorn said, then shifted to glance back at Ashen's patient. "Little miss, do you need me to escort you back home to prepare your things?"
The small mare slightly giggled, then jokingly remarked, "Well ,if that is not a feat of devotion, to carry me all the way back to Manehatten," she petted his head with a big smile on her face. "I have what I need, liebster."
"Oh, so you're also a visitor to Ponyville? Don't think I caught that. Suppose I could have guessed."
"I shall take my leave as well," said the purple unicorn as he then turned to the four wounded. "Don't worry. I shall return." With that, he made his way out of the room. The black one swished his tail with satisfaction as he followed.
"Mother, if I may," Ashen said, giving Grace a respectful nod before moving to the door as well and addressing the stallions as they left. "Let's meet up in the reception. If you're early, we should be able to find something you could help with."
"I will see you soon, dear," Grace called back and led Greatstone back to his bed so he could rest.
Leaving the room as the other ponies went to prepare themselves, Ashen made her way through the halls of the hospital. She found the common room, which the staff had converted into a barracks of sorts for the (extra) personnel to stay in so they wouldn’t have to be summoned from their homes every time they’d be needed.
Walking over to her bed, Ashen retrieved a few items from the cupboard next to it; a container of cotton discs, a small bowl of burn-salve, and her pouch of bits. She put the last of those in a pocket on the inside of her cloak. After checking if there was anypony nearby in the halls, she moved to a more private part of the room.
Using her magic, Ashen took off her cloak and hung it from a nearby hook. Opening the cylinder and taking out a disc, she tapped it into the bowl of salve before quickly applying it to the scars across her burnt body, relaxing at its cool touch, but wincing at the contact with the worst of the wounds.
After she was done, she donned her cloak again, some of her nerves still aching even with the salve's soothing effects. Ashen reunited the bowl and cylinder with her pouch on the inside of her cloak. Before she left, she had one more thing to retrieve as she left her hood off.
Again checking if nopony was nearby, Ashen focused her magic on the loose tile in the ceiling above her bed, moving it up and aside. Taking hold of the wrapped package she hid up there, she levitated it down to herself. Moving to sit on the bed, she unwrapped the cloth protecting it, revealing a book, burnt and broken, much like its owner.
Words failed her as she laid eyes on her oldest and most prized possession, opening its damaged pages carefully as her mind recalled the memories and emotions attached to it as her eyes started to water.
Allowing herself to bathe in the past for a while as she lay on the bed, smiling with her eyes closed as she kept the book firmly to her chest with her front legs.
POV: Tango
Tango was walked the down the hall, Crinoline on his back. Seeing the dignified purple pony from earlier slow his pace, Tango matched it. The large pony somewhat unconsciously took a more subdued posture in his authoritative presence, though this did not stop Tango from his habit of making cheery, shallow attempts at conversation.
"Ah, Mr. Mystic. We were just talking about hometowns," he greeted. "You from around these parts?"
"Nope. I'm from Baltimare," Mystic answered Tango as they exited the hospital and made their way to the marketplace, which was full of stands selling overpriced food, clothes, potions, anything you can think of. He was still en route to his academy; the market was just on the way.
"Well, fancy that! I'm a Baltimare colt as well. Don't suppose you know the Spring Concerto flower shop? That's the family business. We're all gardeners," Tango responded with evident pleasure at finding something in common. "Guess you can't know everypony in a big city, though. Don't seem to spend too much time in the heart of the city myself anyways."
"I think I will buy some sweets, excuse me for a moment!", Crinoline said suddenly as she dismounted from Tango and ran off.
"Spring Concerto?" Mystic asked. "Can't say I've heard of that. I've nothing against flowers, but I don't spend much on niceties. Say, have you heard of any self-defense schools back in Baltimare? I was once a student in one such school belonging to a great unicorn named Aegis. At least he's great to me." He then noticed that Crinoline was gone. "Hey, where'd the young lady go?"
"Can't say I know of any Egees, sorry. Like I said, don't spend too much time in the city." Crinoline returned a short while later. Upon that, Tango bid the purple pony a farewell and made his way back to the hospital to see if he can be of any use.
"Bye." Mystic called back as he waved.
(A/N: During the conversation, Tango purchased three regeneration potions (heals wounds over time) and thirty feet of rope. Crinoline meanwhile acquired a couple of 'throwing nails', her preferred weapon, a hoof-held small-range explosive, and some sweets.)
POV: Mystic Shield
Later…
While shopping at the market, Mystic acquired two regeneration potions and an alchemical sun-rod. According to the seller, the sun-rod works like a bright glow stick; bend it to activate and it stays on for two and a half hours before fading. According to the shopkeeper, it glows is as bright as a fire and works underwater. It also doesn't smoke you out of a cave unlike a torch.
He was now home. It was like many in Ponyville, only bigger, and it had a sign nailed on top of the doorway, which was a pair of double doors. He paused for a moment as he looked up at the sign written in a foreign language.
"七転び八起き. Nanakorobi yaoki. Perseverance is better than defeat."
With that, he passed the double doors of his home and looked at the empty dojo, its tatami mat clean. He then crossed it and opened another door to his quarters. There, he looked for and found an old chest. Blowing the dust off, he opened it, and looked at it contents.
There was an old armor made of light iron, although it could use a little polish. There was also an ornamental spear, a family heirloom of his old teacher's family. He hasn't revealed any of this to anypony, not even Chronicle. He stared at them for a moment, recalling memories of his past, before picking them up, and getting to work in polishing them.
He was finished shortly after and put them on. He also levitated the spear and did a few moves with it, remembering having used them before arriving at Ponyville. But upon closer inspection of its spearhead, he said, "I'll need a new spearhead."
With that, he exited the dojo, taking off the armor and placing it in his saddlebags, and made his way to the armor and weapons trader. Chronicle introduced him to the guy once, calling him Graphite. He would know of somepony who could help fix up his gear.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
At the reception area of the hospital, Crinoline and Tango, the former riding on the latter returned to find Nurse Redheart (not that they knew her) rummaging around behind the desk for something, not noticing them.
"Ahem. Good day, miss," Tango said in a gracious attempt to get the nurse's attention. "It seems I'm to be running an errand of sorts for the hospital, but it looks as though I'm a tad early. Should I be assisting in some way in the meantime?"
Crinoline, relaxing on Tango's back, then heard hoof-steps getting closer and closer before stopping.
She turned her head to look and saw Mystic Shield, who had some sort of glow stick in his saddlebags. Mystic Rave… She silently put some of her candy into her mouth and just kept staring at him as Tango extended a greeting to him.
The purple stallion then said, "You're not gonna share that? It's okay with me if you don't."
Crinoline looked at him, confused for a second, put the bag of candy into a pocket inside of her dress, then exclaimed, "I will not share my place at Tango's side with you!" She then tightly onto the black stallion to secure her position on him.
Mystic looked confused at this, then said, "Oh sorry. I meant the candy. That is if you were thinking I was asking for something like a ride on his back like you're doing. I assure you I mean no such thing. Imagine the embarrassment. Not to mention the burden he'll bear."
"Hello there, are you here to see a patient?" Redheart suddenly asked, getting the attention of the small crowd.
Crinoline reached inside her dress to get a piece of candy. Levitating it carefully over to Mystic (Shield, she remembered now), she motioned him to speak to the nurse. Shortly after, she also motioned to him to stay away from Tango, who extended a brief nicety to the nurse.
Thankfully, Mystic seemed to get the message. "All right, all right. Sheesh," Mystic said as he 'took' the candy. "I don't swing that way if that's what you're thinking." He then turned to Nurse Redheart and said, "No, ma'am. I believe we're here to see Graceful Breeze. She told us to meet back here before sundown and that she had some supplies to give us. But since we're probably early and all, I suppose we could lend a hoof for the time being."
"Oh well. I suppose you can deliver supper to some of the patients. I would appreciate that at least, just go to the kitchen and tell them that I sent you," Nurse Redheart said as she took out a small stack of official looking papers and flipped through them on the front desk.
"Will do, Nurse." Mystic immediately set off to the kitchen (observing the signs on the walls), pausing only to turn to the other two unicorns as if waiting for them to follow.
Seemingly happily oblivious, Tango trotted along, humming pleasantly all the while and seeming quite pleased to have the purple unicorn taking the lead.
POV: Ashen Rise
Meanwhile…
As she basked in the glow of the positive memories that clung to the book she still held clutched against herself, Ashen was awoken by Graceful Breeze.
"Dear, could you come with me, please?" she asked. "I have something for you before you leave."
"Huh!? Oh! I'll be right there, Mother." Ashen put it down on the bed as she got up and righted her cloak, but kept her hood off, enjoying the cool touch of the air. She then turned back to find that one of the damaged pages had fallen out. Saddened by the creeping decay of her treasure and those other memories interwoven into its fabric, she decided it was better if she took it with her for her own sake as she replaced the loose page back in. Maybe she might even be able to decipher a spell or two from the notes her mother made in the old spell book…
Shaking off the bad thoughts, Ashen placed the book inside one of the bigger pockets of her cloak before leaving and following where Grace went.
Grace led her into her office. On her desk was a small bag. "Last time I let you go, I let you go too unprepared. I refuse to repeat that mistake. In this bag is everything you need to stay alive and well out there." She sidestepped to give Ashen a clear path to the bag.
"Mother…Grace…" Ashen said as she approached her surrogate mother before quickly hugging her. "Thank you." She soon let go, walked up to the desk, and paused for a moment as she looked it over.
It was a standard medicine bag about the size of a lunchbox. It was made out of white cloth with a red cross on it and a red cord keeping it tied shut. Knowing her mother and her intentions, it wasn't difficult to guess its contents.
Grabbing hold of the bag with her magic, Ashen put it in her cloak in the same pocket she placed her spell book in and just as close to her heart as she turned around and walked back up to Grace again. She did nothing but smile at her for a few moments before finally caving in as her eyes started to water. She then embraced Grace in a real hug this time, not letting go for a good minute or so.
After a final few seconds of affectionate nuzzling and some whispers of concern for the other, the gray mare broke off the embrace and stepped back. "I will come back. But they need you here more now, so keep them safe for me. I'll try to do the same with the others."
Grace savored her moment in her daughter's embrace, holding back tears as she lets her go. "Its the least I could do, ashen. I wasn't planning on sending you off into the unknown without anything again." She gave Ashen Rise a reassuring pat on the back. Lightly, conscious of her tenderness and led her out into the hallway. "It's not quite dark yet, want to help around the hospital with me before you leave?"
"Yes mother," Ashen said, a bit embarrassed and not being used to being so emotional. "Just point me where and I'll do my best."
"Come with me. We'll feed the patients together." The two hospital ponies walked together in the same pace towards the kitchen.
Seeing Tango follow him, Mystic let out a little smile as he let him catch up. Once the two (three if you count Crinoline on Tango's back) of them were side-by-side, he turned to the other stallion and asked, "I know you seem to have refused my offer, but if that's the case, may I ask what's your business in Ponyville? Unless you actually live here now and I don't recall your face."
"I expect not. My face is difficult to forget," Tango replied with another pearly smile. "Just doing some deliveries here for the shop. Herbs and the like. I handle all the non-local deliveries and services. Don't come to Ponyville much. Ponies around here can tend to their own gardening needs well enough and don't have much demand for the plants you find in other places."
"Yeah. I seem to not be able to take much note of anyone who's not a unicorn," Mystic Shield put in. "Save for some ponies my co-teacher introduced me to, like Dinky's mom the mailmare Derpy Hooves, Lyra's marefriend Bon Bon, Minuette's best friend Berry Punch, the schoolteacher Cheerilee, the Cakes, the time-keeper Time Turner, the mayor—especially after that article about her actual hair color—and our local heroes, if you catch my drift." As well as non-unicorns who come straight to me. After taking another turn, they could see a set of doors that he guessed led to the kitchen. "Oh, and there's also the zebra alchemist Zecora. I wonder how she's doing? After all, she lives in the Everfree Forest, and we all know what's happening there."
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
As Crinoline listened to Mystic Shield, more and more "??"'s arose. Like his unicorn fixation, and if an earth pony or pegasus thief would target him someday because of that.
After all, he wouldn't be able to recognize them later on. What did he mean with local heroes? Never heard of any heroes. They do not seem to be local anyway at the moment.
Finally, she asked the most important question. "Lyra, Bon Bon, Marefriend? You mean two mares that are in a love relationship? Why is that? I understand not every stallion is as adorable as my Tango here, but with another mare?" She nuzzled his neck.
It sounds really strange for me that two mares can be in that kind of relationship. First time I hear about something like that. At least I don't have to worry about them taking Tango away from me, but when two mares are a normal thing, that also means…
"SOooo, do you have a marefriend, Herr Mystic Shield?"
The purple pony seemed a little flustered at her question, but then looked down in sorrow. "Well, I don't know. They act so intimate together, closer than best of friends like six certain mares I know a bit of, two a fair bit more since they're unicorns. As for me having a marefriend? No, I don't. But I was married once. We broke up. As far as I know, she and our foal are back at Baltimare. I don't really want to talk about it, if that's all right with you." Damn, I sound like her. What does Chronicle see in her? He then gave a sigh and thought out loud. "The Elements of Harmony would prove really useful right now. I wonder what threat their keepers are facing at the moment at Canterlot or wherever they're sent to? Is it possibly bigger than whatever we're gonna face real soon?"
As usual, Tango didn't seem to be listening, judging by his usual vacuous smile plastered across his face. They soon reached the kitchen door at the end of the hall and he held it open. "After you," he said as he lingered behind to fluff the end of his mane in the reflection of the door's window pane.
Mystic Shield turned to face Tango, then Crinoline before starting to move forward.
Crinoline sulked a little when she slid from Tango's comfortable back, though shortly afterwards it was replaced by a confirming smile as Tango held the door for her. She got out a piece of candy from her bag and gave it to Tango.
"Here. A reward for your courtesy, my dear Tango," she said while caressing his mane before entering the room.
Thinking about what Mystic said made her feel a little angry. What a coward with his constant self pitying, but the worse has to be the lack of trust in his own abilities and the ponies around him. And he thinks he is qualified to train other ponies with this demeanor? Nonsense, I feel so insulted now by this philistine. Who does this plebian think he is?
Feeling huffy, disgusted, and repulsive she replied to the self-conscious stallion without looking at him. "Oh, you are such a pitiful gentlecolt, Herr Mystic Shield. Like it is your very essence. Don't worry though, you can depend on us getting the job done if you feel unsure. Oh, and I understand that everypony has some things they don't want to talk about. And that is very fine with me."
Mystic turned to her and said, "Thank you, Miss Crinoline. I'm not usually like this. It's just that my admittedly self-proclaimed burden of being the next line of defense for this town is bearing down on me. Not to mention my four best students severely hurt because I sent them there."
burden…
Memories of her childhood started to rush in.
burden…
Her own life and choices, all too similar.
burden… And who I am to speak like that…? No, I have changed…
Her eyes opened widely as they started to nearly release teardrops, though she managed to keep herself from crying. "It is not your fault Herr Mystic! We all have a choice… " Is this even true? "You are not like me, though you act like it would be expected of me. And I am not you, who had years of practice and training. Still I act with confidence in my skills and expertise, even though it would be expected of you to do so. Are you going to neglect your training, the ponies you trained with and trained you, their time, effort, hope and expectations? Be honored that ponies have expectations in you!"
Mystic seemed to take her words into heart as he finally replied. "You're right, Chroni—I mean Miss Crinoline." He looked up with resolve. "I can't give up now that I know that there are those looking up to me. I've got to fight for my students! For the new students I haven't met yet! For me! For Chronicle! For the bearers of the Elements of Harmony! For Ponyville! And Equestria!" He then realized that he was shouting and quickly calmed down. "Oh sorry. Thank you for the pick-me-up, Miss Crinoline."
Overwhelmed by his gratitude, Crinoline slightly blushed. "Y-your w-welcome, b-but don't think I d-did this because I-I like y-you or anything!", she said in a very unconvincing voice. She then realized that and only blushed more, the embarrassment causing her to hush. She reached into her dress to get a piece of candy out, ran up to Mystic without looking at him, and placed the candy on his back, only to run out the room afterwards to calm herself.
POV: Ashen Rise
Walking through the halls to the kitchen with Graceful Breeze, Ashen thought back to a time in which she spent much more time within these walls. Back then she had to eat the food made in the very same kitchen almost every day.
Grace had always described it as 'being good for you but not for your taste buds', something Ashen wholly agreed with, though she'd grown used to it over time due to her extended time in the hospital. Still though, she'd rather not eat it herself unless she had to and though she knew that the patients probably wouldn't like it, it would help keep them healthy.
It's for their own good, she thought to herself as they arrived at their destination…just in time to hear Mystic Shield and Crinoline Ruffle's conversation.
Hm. Ashen did not consider herself the type to eavesdrop unless she was suspicious of somepony, but with the volume the colt was speaking it was hard not to overhear. She can't help but let out a short giggle at the mental image of one of the nurses shushing him, though most are probably too busy at the moment or out of earshot.
Still though, she could hear the conviction in his voice. He's sure of himself, that much is certain. How disappointed he would be if this 'chaos' story is proven to be just a tall tale from his students. But at least I know part of your name now, Mystic.
Still out of their sight, Ashen put her hood back on. No need to concern them with my appearance.
"It looks like we're all already here," Grace said. "I doubt it would hurt to get an early start." She walked up to the door and saw the plates of mashed vegetables, and a small square of gelatin to wash it down neither of which look appetizing what-so-ever.
POV: Tango
Tango stood aside silently while Crinoline and Mystic Shield had their heart-to-heart. His concern with the emotional nature of the discussion abated as some sort of resolution seemed to be reached. He complacently stored the candy he received from Crinoline in an easy-to-access pocket as he watched her flounce back out of the room for a moment.
"…Well…" Tango began to say, a little confused by the sequence of events, but was distracted by the arrival of the nurse ponies, immediately returning to full radiant amicability. "Why hello again, Miss Breeze…Miss Ashen! We were just going to start helping out with the kitchens, I think. I hope that's alright?"
Mystic seemed to recover from a confusing feeling as he turned to face the two. "Oh. Right. What is it we should do, Miss Breeze?"
"I think we should split up," she proposed. "Miss Crine and Mystic can come with me. And Tango, my daughter will show you where to go on the east wing." Breeze pulled out two trollies to push the food on and and waved Mystic and Crine over, the latter returning and having recovered from earlier.
"Oh. Alright. I'll see you later, little miss, Mr. Mystic Shield. Have fun," Tango said with cheerful compliance, turning to Ashen with a dazzlingly oblivious gaze of expectancy as he awaited her order.
"As you wish, mother," the hooded mare said to Grace as she began moving the cart farthest from the pegasus towards herself, the blue 'flaming' aura of her magic clinging to the metal and her concealed horn, which illuminated the inside of her hood with an eerie blue shade. She turned to face the black stallion as she approached him. "Tango, right? Follow me, please." And with that, she and the cart make for one of the kitchen's exits.
Tango followed Ashen in dutiful silence, but not for very long. Taking her shortness of speech as a result of unfamiliarity, Tango reflexively more than consciously exuded even more friendliness than normal as he trotted with a graceful increase in speed until he was just maintaining a respectful half-step behind her.
"Miss Ashen, you've been here in Ponyville a while, yes? Sonata used to tell me that there were all sorts of rare plants in the Everfree Forest, if I ever got the chance to take a look at the place. It wouldn't be a problem if I harvest some samples, would it? Waltz says I ought to make sure there aren't any laws on that sort of thing before I do it… Oh, but never mind that. Focus on the job at hoof first, Waltz always says. What do you need me to do? I'm good at carrying things and…" Tango took a very brief pause of reflection. "Yes. Carrying things."
POV: Mystic Shield
After seeing Tango leave, Mystic Shield made a groan as he was reminded of a pony named Pinkie Pie, who threw him a party just hours after he first moved in to Ponyville. Incidentally, that party had also been for a certain jerkass griffon, who had blown her top and seriously insulted ponies everywhere, or at least Ponyville. His co-teacher Chronicle, though he wasn't that yet at the time, had gotten into a scuffle with her prior to that party and got a number of scratches for his troubles. Luckily for him, Mystic was in the area after she left and he gave him basic-though-mediocre first aid, which was basically wrapping the wounds in bandages.
He quickly shook the memory off his head, berating himself for getting himself distracted. As he then walked over to his designated trolley, he turned to Miss Crinoline and said, "Let's get started."
Crinoline answered by giving a soft nod, all while avoiding eye contact. She wanted to speak up, but ended up saying nothing.
Graceful Breeze led her group down the hall, stopping at every door and giving the patients their food, then leaving after she had a short chat with them.
POV: Ashen Rise
Ashen, not used to being called "Miss", blushed a bit under her blue-lit hood. "I know little of the plants found in the Everfree Forest other than the randomness of poison joke, but I don't think it's forbidden to collect them though at one's own risk. Anyway, I believe a zebra lives in the forest who could tell you more, though all I know of her is that she knows the Everfree and speaks in rhymes."
Entering the eastern wing of the hospital, Ashen half-dreaded what was to follow.
It had been a very long time since she'd last worked or helped at the hospital, and back then the patients didn't always react too well to her. Some got used to her as time passed, but now most of the patients would probably hardly know or remember her.
She'd rather work in the background, aiding the nurses and doctors or keeping watch over vulnerable patients at night; out of sight but just as crucial. But she could not refuse her mother's request. She owed her everything, so facing this fear for their sake is the least she can do for now.
As they got to the first room, she spoke up again to answer Tango's earlier question. "Why don't you give them their desserts while I distribute the meals and then go to the next room? That way, we won't get in each other's way…and that way the sight of me won't leave them too sick to eat…"
"Give them desserts, and then next room. Alright," Tango repeated, seriously absorbed with remembering each step of the task as Ashen related it. "Sorry, Miss Ashen, what was that last bit?"
Not expecting the question since her whisper was more a loud thought that she let slip, Ashen was a bit startled but tried to keep her composure. However, her spell breaking accidentaly shoved the cart for a moment before she managed to take hold of it again.
"Nothing important, shall we begin?" she said a bit shakily as she moved her telekinesis from the cart to a couple of the plates on it.
"Certainly, Miss Ashen," Tango replied, beaming with joy.
POV: Tango
The dark stallion followed Ashen Rise from room to room, levitating desserts from the tray and presenting them to each patient in turn with a handsome flourish and idle words of chit-chat regarding the patient's well-being, current events of Ponyville, and whether or not he would look good in a hospital gown ("Yes, I do believe I could pull if off.") regardless of whether the patient seems entirely inclined or capable of responding.
"Miss Ashen, should I be wearing a robe like yours while I'm doing this?" Tango asked of the mare while in-between transferring a pudding to the tray of an elderly gentlecolt and a mare with a fractured hoof. "I don't know much about hospital dress code, but I'd guess it doesn't include armor."
Ashen had been checking temperature of a young colt before delivering his meal, when he asked her. "No, there's no need for you to get a robe. The dress code are more guidelines to keep this place clean and the personnel identifiable," she said as she checked the thermostat she'd removed from the child's mouth.
"Just one more night and you should be good to go, Berry," she told him just before he had a coughing fit. Getting closer, she tried to comfort the colt by putting her front legs around him in a loose hug and petting him on the back. "There, there, just take it easy and let it out."
The coughing was quickly diminished and the child fell silent before she lay him back down on the bed and pulled the blanket over him. Tango failed to catch her whisper while completing his own task as she levitated the plate over to the cupboard next to the bed, leaving the thermometer there as well.
Slowly backing away now that her job was done, Ashen motioned Tango to follow her out as she led him and the food cart out into the hallway before continuing her answer to the stallion's question.
"My robes are for more personal reasons." Her voice had a somewhat sullen tone to it. "I'm sure you will ask me to show my face but I must warn you, I do not make a pretty sight."
"Oh, whatever you like," Tango responded rather indifferently, an incredibly warm and uncharacteristically thoughtful expression melding with his usual grin as his mind wandered elsewhere. As per usual, the transition from thought to speech was near-instantaneous with him.
"That's nice, isn't it? Just once, when I was a little foal, Sonata made me a soup while I was sick. It tasted pretty awful," Tango recalled fondly. Having no apparent point to this recollection, Tango continued working, humming pleasantly to himself.
POV: Mystic Shield
As Crinoline's apparent embarrassment from Mystic's sudden praise slowly faded away, she turned to Grace and asked, "Would it be okay to help in another way? I am really skilled at sewing."
Pushing up the hall, Grace said, "No, I don't think there is really much need for sewing right now. Clothes will definitely be torn in the forest and in battle, so patching them up will be very useful." She opened the door into a smaller one bed room. Under the covers there was a middle aged mare. Grace put a tray of food on the table next to her and asked her how her day was and how she was feeling.
Mystic Shield remained silent throughout this entire ordeal, following Grace's orders without much question. All the while, he thought back on his time in Ponyville. Over the months, thanks to Chronicle, his life had gotten interesting, moreso than his adventuring in his younger years. Dealing with the parasprite infestation, the Cutie Mark Crusaders leader Apple Bloom getting the Cutie Pox, the Running of the Leaves, dressing up as a knight in Nightmare Night, the Smarty Pants incident, the Gabby Gums scandal, a short tyrannical "rule" by a pony named Trixie, the Mysterious Mare Do Well, the attack of "Spikezilla"… It's a wonder the townsponies remained after all this, especially since the Everfree Forest was right close by.
And then he realized he was smiling. Unfortunately for him, Crinoline caught him in the act and was charging at him. "You think this is funny?" She then started kicking his side a couple of times with her meekly hind legs, looking more adorable than threatening though.
"These don't sound very serious compared to what happened to your students, right?" Crinoline remarked.
Grace was quick to step between the two and break up the fight before it started, staying planted between them. "Woah now, fillies. Save your feistiness for the creatures in the forest."
Suddenly from the doorway, a green and brown stallion, somewhat interested in the commotion, spoke up. "No, you two aren't right. You're not the same." He then turned around and mumbled "But you're gathered already. It's about to happen." While the second part was barely legible, Mystic's ears were keen enough to understand it as the stranger galloped down the hall.
Just after he left, Mystic wondered, "Huh? Not the same? Whatever does he mean?" then turned to Crinoline and said, "No, this matter is serious to me. I was just remembering the interesting events that have occurred in this town, that's all. Parasprites, Smarty Pants, Nightmare Night, Mare Do Well, Gabby Gums, this place being right next to the Everfree Forest… I wonder why this place remained even before it was realized that the Bearers of Harmony reside here, though I think one did hail from Canterlot."
At the same time, Crinoline said in a shaky voice, "I-I am sorry I didn't want to cause a scene, it is just…I feel very uncomfortable with the situation at hand, please excuse me." She then trotted out of the room, probably in search for Tango.
"We should give her some space. All of this is coming at her so fast," Grace said to Mystic Shield with a smile. "What is your take on all of this? Being a local pony, you know this town attracts trouble. But without the elements here, you four will have to take the reins."
"Four being me, Miss Crinoline, Tango, and Ashen who I presume is your daughter, right? I have some other students aside from the four currently in this hospital, but I haven't got the time to ask for their help. Most of them probably don't have the will to go, although I think Firecracker Burst may be rarin' to. I don't know where to find her, though. She roams around at times, practicing her fire, always getting into Minuette's nerves—who has an ice spell, by the way—, who else can I call…"
"Yes, you four seem like you can handle yourselves very well," Grace pushed her cart outside the room and headed to the next room. "I don't think you need to—or should—get extra help. You ponies are very tough, and others might not be completely up to the challenge. I'm here to help ponies heal, not send them out and risk getting hurt."
"Are you sure, Nurse?" asked Mystic as he followed her, doing what needed to be done. "Because I'm sure Firecracker would definitely want to join in. I did mention her fire abilities, right? Of course, I'll brief her in so she'll know what exactly she'll be getting herself into, then ask if she still wishes to go. If she refuses, then she won't go, simple as that."
POV: Ashen Rise
He didn't press the issue, either he's just being nice or… Ashen's line of thought was suddenly cut off.
While Tango was half-distracted, winking at a nurse, a mysterious pony galloped past the two, knocking Ashen across the shoulder, pulling her hood down, and almost knocking over the food cart. He didn't slow down to apologize or even look back at her, and just kept running to the entrance.
"Hey! No running in the halls!" she shouted after the figure. "Some ponies are trying to rest here." She was more annoyed by the stranger's reckless behavior than actually hitting her.
"Dear me…"
Then she noticed something was off as she turned to look at Tango as he steadied the cart and reached out to lend a supportive hoof to her. As it was, Tango has seen her cracked and split leathery gray skin she had been hiding.
Tango and exhaled through his snout with mild disapproval. "Being in a hurry is one thing, but you can always take a second to be polite, Waltz always says. Besides, somepony could have been hurt! There's pointy things all around this place. You're alright, aren't you?"
Surprised by this sudden change, and not registering anything else that Tango was saying, she can't help but let out a scream as she panicked. She tried to grab her hood with her magic and pulled it back over her head as she backed away but she pulled too much on it, and ended up pulling her head down with it as she backed up into the wall.
She was expecting to hear Tango scream as she knew he'd seen her scars, but instead she only heard her own echoing through the halls. As she let go of the hood and allowed herself to breathe again, she looked up and saw Tango trotting off in the direction the stranger went.
Sitting down against the wall and letting her head hang, she can't help but sigh, thoroughly embarrassed by her own reaction and the fact that she probably managed to scare somepony away again. "Well, isn't that just great." She let out a sigh.
Hearing the scream a short ways down the hall as he neared the entrance, Tango performed a full one-eighty turn with a graceful hop and saw the nurse pony apparently toppled over against the wall.
"Miss Ashen Rise! …Oh, excuse me sir, you first…oh dear, ponies in Ponyville are always falling over. I never knew…Miss Ashen Rise!"
Upon reaching Ashen, Tango immediately tilted the mare's head up and pressed a hoof firmly against her brow. He stared off vaguely into the air for a moment. "…a little warm? I can't tell…and that's for a cold…Waltz says…Waltz says 'Find the pony in charge. Be respectful. Tell them what the matter is.' The pony in charge…oh, that's you." Tango cleared his throat and addressed Ashen very seriously, not noticing her laugh a bit. "Miss Ashen Rise. There's a pony that's fallen over. She might have a bit of a cold. What do I do?"
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
Erstwhile…
Crinoline turned around the corner trying to pursue the brown stallion when she saw Tango very close to Ashen, who was sitting on the ground. Her eye twitched several times as she stopped her pursuit and silently approached them.
"…a little warm? I can't tell…and that's for a cold…Waltz says…Waltz says 'find the pony in charge. Be respectful. Tell them what the matter is.' The pony in charge…oh, that's you." Tango cleared his throat and addressed Ashen very seriously.
"Miss Ashen Rise. There's a pony that's fallen over. She might have a bit of a cold. What do I do?"
Crinoline pressed herself between the two and answered Tango's question. "It is easy, Tango dear. You should give her some space to breath, you are suffocating her!" With the skilled tug of a seamstress, Crinoline removed Ashen's cloak with her magic and shouted, "She just needs some fresh air!"
"Eep!" Ashen suddenly yelped as anger rose as much as she did to her hooves, knocking Crinoline backwards as she used her magic to wrap herself in her cloak again.
Next, the pale unicorn was just as swiftly surrounded by Ashen's aura and sent flying towards the ceiling, stopping just inches from it. Crinoline was sweating a bit from this sudden 'assault' and was frankly shocked. With the blue aura licking the air around her body and the light of the lamps cast upon her, it sort of looks like she's been lit on fire with an azure flame.
Ashen sat back down and looked up as she shifted the grip of her spell to let Crinoline dangle upside-down above her, looking straight down into Ashen's golden eyes with the light of the lamps leaving nothing hidden in the dark. Crinoline appeared to be more a doll than a living pony. "Okay, Miss Crinoline," she said in a stern voice. "I know you are close to—or at least very fond of—Mister Tango here, but maybe it'd be better for your and everyone else's health to, as they say, 'look before you leap' and not draw conclusions at first glance."
POV: Tango
Tango glanced with surprised dismay between the two mares. This sort of thing seemed to happen quite often in town around him and he wasn't sure why. Crochet had assured him it was his own fault somehow. Tango's ears drooped with shame.
"Little miss, Miss Ashen, I don't understand what's going on, but I'm very sorry," the large stallion apologized. "I'm not sure which one of these I'm supposed to give you, but I'm supposed to give you at least one of them now."
Tango reached into one of his saddlebags and retrieved two unopened envelopes. One of them was labeled "Business Associates" and the other "Acquaintances". He levitated them hopefully onto the food tray and sat back, his duties fulfilled to his own knowledge.
A few patients and nurses poked their heads out of their rooms up and down the hall, wondering what all the ruckus was about. There was mumbling all around.
"Was there a fight?"
"What happened?"
"Who's that?"
"I'm scared."
The runaway pony was long gone by now, and a distant slam of the doors can be heard.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
As if a switch was turned, Crinoline was now present again. "I know you cannot hold me here forever, Miss Ashen," she said with a face of resentment. "I am also sorry for having misread the situation at hand, and if you let go of me, I will behave myself."
Ashen seemed to raise an eyebrow (if she had any under that face), not buying her apology and not liking the tone she was using either. "I rather doubt that, so I'm afraid I'll have to keep you restrained for the moment and though you are right, I'll still be able to hold you there for a while longer." Lowering her head, Ashen turned to the nervous looking Tango, her hood partially pulled back by gravity while she was looking upwards. "There's no need for you to apologize, sir. The little miss here was just acting before she'd thought her actions through, so you can keep those for the moment."
(Ashen would levitate the letters back to Tango, but that ability was currently occupied holding a small overdressed mare up in the air that required her attention to keep the mare there.)
Not only was the heat from the azure flame aura taking its toll, but the fact that more and more blood rushed to her head also didn't help brighten her mood. Sweat was starting to drip down from Crinoline's face. She looked at the other mare with an unimpressed face, but deep inside her anger and frustration roamed wild.
That was when she noticed the bystanders. Fine then. Crinoline realized that she was helpless. Her eyes began to shake and her body started to tremble. A stream of tears ran down her eyes, joining the sweat on her face.
She whimpered, clearly conveying her discomfort with her situation. Her body twitched as she gasped for air, and she began to bawl heartrendingly, her volume fluctuating. "*sniff* whuahh he-help m-me, some po *sniff* pony plEase, whauuu "I can't t-take it *sniff* any more!, she is hurting me! "Plase j-just le *sniff* let me g-go! Huee,"
POV: Ashen Rise
You little brat, playing the victim in front of the crowd, huh? Coldheart will have my hide if she hears of this. "Have it your way then." With a grumble, Ashen brought Crinoline back down, but before letting her back on the ground she made herself clear with a stern voice with the mare levitated on eye-to-eye level. "But if you attack me again, I'll stick you back up in the rafters without a second thought. Understood?"
Maneuvering the mare around and the nervousness from the attention of the crowd was starting to take its toll on Ashen's ability to focus on her spell. Still, as much as the sight of the smaller mare crying (be it fake or not) stung her heart, Ashen was more concerned with keeping this troublemaker under reasonable control even if she'll have to look like a bully to do so.
Crinoline slowly calmed down. After a good amount of time has passed, she gave a nod. Still levitating in the air, she reached into her dress, taking out a piece of candy. Extending her hoof into Ashen's direction, she presented the candy to her, and with a really exhausted look on her face she said, "Please, Miss Ashen. Accept this bonbon as a sign of peace."
Ashen smiled at the change in her behavior, content to see that she seemed to have cooled off. "Glad this little conflict is over, then."
She let the pale mare down to the ground before moving her levitation spell to the offered treat, waiting for the other unicorn to move her hoof away and thus letting go of it before attempting to move the bonbon as a courtesy before turning to the ponies still taking a peek. "Okay, everypony, show's over. Please go back to your beds, you need your rest."
Though she'd love to just chow down on the wrapped piece of candy (after unwrapping it, of course) she had to set an example so instead she moved it into one of the pockets in her cloak. Realizing that Crinoline couldn't have known about the pockets or the items that were kept inside them when she pulled away the cloak, Ashen checked to see if her valuables were still in their places.
POV: Tango
Meanwhile, Tango packed away his letters and perked up immediately as the bad atmosphere at least appeared to vanish. "I suppose we ought to finish up here and get on the job as soon as we can and save daylight. Most of these wild forests of Equestria—" Tango started to say before cutting himself off abruptly with a good-humored smile and wink as he remembered his place. "Yes, you young ladies and Mr. Mystic know what's to be done, of course. Miss Crinoline, is Mystic Shield about done with his work?"
Just as the nurses started moving the patients back into their beds, one of them turned the corner and glared down the hall directly at Ashen, a stern look on her face. She started marching toward the three, standing straight and professional.
"What is the meaning of this, Ashen? I could have you fired for starting fights in the halls." She spoke quiet enough to not rouse the patients again, but intimidating as if yelling. "I want you and your friends here outside before I call the head nurse!"
Crinoline levitated a bonbon in front of the nurse, perhaps to sooth her wrath, then ran up to Tango and tugged on him, signalling him to get out as fast as possible.
"Ah, is it time to go already? Alright, little miss."
Tango strode straight to Nurse Coldheart—as he saw on her name tag—and gave her a deferential bow of his head. "I'm very sorry for all the commotion I've caused, madame. There was a bit of an accident that left me quite flustered and I'm afraid I haven't been taking as much care as I ought to. I think the little miss and I will take our leave now and let all of you finish your work."
Tango lifted the mare's hoof gently and released a winning smile along with another respectful inclination of his head as he recited the line Waltz taught him to say to any authority figure. "Good day to you, madame. Thank you for your efforts." He then turned to the hooded nurse pony. "Miss Ashen Rise, we'll just wait for you and Mystic to finish up outside. If you're still feeling faint, you ought not push yourself, you know. You'll get more done in the long run if you don't hurry, Waltz always says."
Nodding to Crinoline, the black unicorn walked along with her to the entrance.
Coldheart smiled at the polite gesture given from tango, but her grin quickly flipped when she looked back at Ashen and trotted toward her.
POV: Ashen Rise
Though touched by Tango's attempt to take part of the blame, the real cause of which was now long gone, the look Ashen was getting from the mare as he left didn't do much to lift her spirits.
And there go the supporting witnesses leaving me alone in the lion's den…just…great. Ashen knew the pale yellow mare with the two-shaded blue mane all too well; Nurse Coldheart, the supervisor of the hospital's day-shift.
She and Ashen did not like each other very much. As far as Ashen knows, Coldheart doesn't do much other than keep the personnel in line, and even then she seems a bit overzealous with that job. But she does know that for some reason Coldheart seems to have it out for her. Maybe she thinks Ashen is being privileged as the daughter of the head nurse.
"Even if I told you what happened, the only ones who could support my story just ran for it. But even then I doubt you would have believed me, Miss Coldheart,"
Ashen said in a flat tone, not bothering to defend herself when she knew that Coldheart would have already made up her mind the moment she saw her. "And in case you've forgotten, I'm here as a volunteer. I quit on my own long ago, not that you'd care to notice seeing as you drove me to. Plus, I think that if I were to tell Grace that I was just defending myself from an attack on my person by an overly attached filly, I think she'd take my word over what you saw after blundering onto the scene with it all over." Ashen can't help but grin slyly at Coldheart, even if only to defy her.
Coldheart growled under her breath at the mares grin. "I'll clean up after you this time, Ashen. But i want you out of here for the rest of the day, before I report you to management." She walked past Ashen and started picking up the few plates that got knocked over.
POV: Mystic Shield
Grace and Mystic were almost done making their rounds when they looked out a window and saw Tango and Crinoline standing outside. "I guess they're done already," Grace said, noticing the lack of her daughter. "Ashen must have some unfinished business she has to take care of, then. You should join them." She smiled at Mystic and nodded in appreciation for his help.
"You're welcome," Mystic Shield replied before leaving. Grace had been adamant with lot letting anybody else in on this chaos, and so he is left with three ponies he barely knew. Not that he was going to be their leader or anything.
Before long, he has joined his two acquaintances. "Hey Tango, Miss Crinoline. Did I miss anything?" He had no basis on that assumption, but he could tell—as he could tell from his students during classes—that they were a bit worn out, and not just from boring hospital duty.
Crinoline acknowledged Mystic's greeting with a nod. As for Tango…
"Hello there, Mr. Mystic," he replied cheerfully. "The little miss and I have just been waiting for you and Miss Ashen to finish up. Something or the other happened with a pony knocking over the food cart, and then it seemed like the other nurse mare wanted us to leave." He then brushed aside a lock of hair with his hoof and placed his foreleg to his brow in a grand surveying gesture. "Come to think of it. Wonder what that was all about? Guess somepony would've said if it was anything the matter, though."
Mystic Shield put a hoof to his chin. Darn. The "plot" may be…no, probably not. "Hmm…that pony…did either of you manage to identify him?" It was possible that that pony was the same one from before. "Did you see any green and brown on him? I can't be certain which was which on his coat or mane." And could he have any involvement in all this?
"Hmm, green and brown?" Tango reflected. "I believe that might be right. Friend of yours, Mr. Mystic?"
Crinoline decided that now was an appropriate time to speak up. "Mind If I take a look at the letters inside your saddlebags, Tango dear?" she asked. "Miss Ashen might've said they had nothing to do with her situation, but I think I should read them to ensure they do not apply to me. Don't worry I will fetch them myself."
"Oh! If you think so, Miss Crinoline. Waltz said I ought to be safe and give 'em to anypony who might be mad at me," Tango commented as he unlatched his saddlebag, "Don't know which one you'll want, though. Waltz said this was for friends and Crochet said this was for business partners, but I reckon you're both."
"Pertaining to your previous question to me, Tango, that stallion is hardly a friend of mine," Mystic Shield replied to Tango as Crinoline proceeded to (excitedly) take the letter she was presumably looking for. "Never seen him before. Didn't even get to identify his race." He then turned to the mare. "Say, what's in the letter you're looking for? It's okay if you don't wish to tell me."
"Oh, Waltz and Crochet gave me a few spares, Mr. Mystic. I can give you a pair if you think you need it," Tango said anxiously, popping open his bag wider and levitating a stack of what looked to be a dozen envelopes of alternating style to the front.
As Mystic Shield received the letters, he said, "Please, just Mystic. The only other title I wish to be addressed to is Master Shield, which you cannot call me since you're not gonna be one of my students." He then perused through them, taking interest.
Contents of "Business Associates" letter, written in a very neat, efficient style:
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Spring Quartet would like to extend our sincerest apologies if our employee, Tango, has failed in his services or been the cause of frustration to you or your business. While we vouch for his reliability in completing any requests that we have formally agreed upon before hoof, we regret to inform you that Tango is an idiot. Please convey any further instructions to Tango in as simplistic a manner as possible and do not assume that common sense applies.
If Tango cannot repair damages that have occurred as a result of his misapprehension, please send all requests for compensation or renegotiation to the Spring Quartet floral shop, located in Baltimare.
Regards, Crochet, Manger of Relations
P.S.: If the statement above does not apply to your circumstances, please ask to see the other letter Tango is carrying
Contents of "Acquaintances" letter, written in a friendly, flowery style:
Dear Sir or Madam, (In all likelihood, Madam)
If our Tango has elected to give you this letter, it is because a particular sort of dispute has occurred that he is a participant of and he is unaware of what he has done wrong. If Tango is not directly involved in your argument, please return this letter to him and inform him that he need not become involved.
I would like to assure you that Tango has conducted himself entirely with well-meant intentions and is incapable of knowingly doing any of the following things: -Flirting with your wife/husband/relative/friend -Agreeing to take your hoof in marriage -Challenging you or agreeing to participate in a fight -Stealing your merchandise or personal belongings. -Otherwise breaking the law of his own volition.
If Tango has upset you for some other reason that may be resolved, I urge you to remain collected and explain his error in terms he is familiar with. Please contact me at the Spring Quartet floral shop in Baltimare if we must negotiate any further legal or personal arrangements.
Thank you very much for your patience. Good day and sincerest well wishes, Waltz
PS If the nature of your concern is business related, please ask Tango for his other letter
Once he was done, he thought to himself. Great. Another cuckoo, just like Derpy Hooves and Pinkie Pie.
Crinoline meanwhile was finished reading the letters as well, and it was evident that her mood had changed upon reading their contents. She quietly put them back in disbelief of what she presumably just read, fell onto her haunches, and stayed like this for a while. "These letters… did not help at all," she said with a sad tone in her voice.
POV: Tango
"Alright Mr…Mystic," Tango paused to correct himself. He then turned to face Crinoline. "I'm sorry little miss. Waltz says those are supposed to help sometimes. They must be for somepony else," he replied with concern, taking the letters back and returning them to the bundle.
Crinoline's ears drooped, and she was still sitting on her haunches when she looked at him. "You are a good pony Tango. Too good. Tell me, are there things that others have or do, that you are not allowed to do or have?"
"Hm…I'm not supposed to sign up for clubs or things like that without telling the family first, little miss," Tango replied to the first question, Mystic's offer to tutor him still fresh in his mind.
"Okay, Tango would you tell me what you think this means?" She moved up to Mystic, then in an embrace she pressed her lips onto his and kissed him dearly.
Tango's luxurious red mane tilted to the side as he carefully considered Crinoline's actions performed on the disciplined unicorn and hazarded a level guess. "That's a kiss, Miss Crinoline." He glanced expectantly to see if the two of them would confirm his answer.
Crinoline nodded at his answer, slowly approaching him. "Your answer is correct. Well done, Tango!" she announced proudly. She pointed with her hoof at Mystic and said, "Do you think he liked it?"
Tango frowned with puzzlement and glanced at the speechless unicorn, who was blushing profusely. "Well, I couldn't say, little miss. How do you feel about that, Mystic?" He didn't answer.
"Would you like it?"
This question was along lines Tango was more familiar with and he perked up again with the confidence of giving an easy answer. "No, Miss Crinoline," he stated plainly, "There isn't anypony who should be doing that sort of thing to me. It wouldn't be right."
POV: Ashen Rise
"*sigh* Okay, okay, I'll leave," Ashen told Coldheart, having dropped the attitude like a brick at the threat and/or warning, before turning around and helping her with the toppled cart as she continued, not interested whether she's being receptive of the aid or not. "Grace already has enough on her mind with this outbreak, she doesn't need any more because of me." She knew that if there were a complaint about her, it would eventually end up on Grace's head.
After finishing up (or when Coldheart made it clear she wanted her gone NOW) Ashen turned to the mare. "Ok Cold—" she stops herself as the thought hit her that calling Coldheart by her (presumed) last name too often would probably get on the supervisor's nerves, considering her unfortunate name. She started again carefully. "C…before I go, I want to ask a favor of you, not for my sake but for that of Grace." She walked up to the mare, put a hoof on her shoulder and took a deep breath as she prepared herself to trust the one she dislikes the most. She almost pleadingly began. "…Could you…keep an eye on Grace for me? I fear she's taking things a lot harder than she's letting it show."
"Fine, I suppose I can try to." Coldheart looked down at Ashen. For the first time in Ashen's life, she had a twinge of compassion. "You may not be nurse material, but I have full confidence in this mission." She shot a smile at her, barely noticeable, not forced. Coldheart then turned around and started pushing the cart back to the kitchen, leaving Ashen to return to her party.
!?! Ashen was not expecting Coldheart to accept, so she was quite taken aback by the fact that she did. By the time that it had sunk in, Coldheart was long gone before Ashen can thank her. She didn't even snap back at me for calling her C. Touched by the unexpected kindness, Ashen starts making her way towards the front of the hospital, but before going around the corner, she looked back and said, "…Coldheart…Thank you."
Arriving at the entrance, Ashen saw the other three ponies outside already. Although she'd like to have a word with this Crinoline, she saw Grace overlooking the group, seemingly waiting for her arrival.
"Grace…" she started, knowing this is going to hurt for the both of them.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
"There isn't anypony who should be doing that sort of thing to me. It wouldn't be right."
Crinoline froze in her tracks for a moment over this statement, but regained her composure fast as she looked at him like a cat who locked onto her prey. "Please Tango, explain to me why you think it wouldn't be right!" She looked at him now with a more worried and caring look.
Tango blinked before answering, "Miss Crinoline, two ponies have to love each other for that to be alright. Sonata even told me this," he said with emphasis, "But, I can't do that love thing, little miss."
Mystic Shield remained stunned and speechless throughout this.
Crinoline looked at Tango with a determined expression. I can teach you and I will teach you. It is the only right thing to do. It is just.
POV: Graceful Breeze
Grace heard Ashen Rise come up from behind her, looking out toward The Everfree Forest, avoiding eye contact. "Hello there, Ashen," she said, acknowledging her presence, and knowing that she will cry if she looks. "My little filly is all grown up. I can't stop you, can I? But you're the most capable pony I know and trust. If this danger in the forest is real, as much as I hate to say it, you have to deal with it."
She turned to face Ashen, smiling a bit. With a shaky voice and a quivering lip, she said, "You will come back alive, Ashen. I believe in you. Take care of them." She glanced back out the window at he three. "Make sure they come back alive as well. And, I love you."
She faced Ashen Rise again with watery eyes and stepped forward, embracing her.
"Grace…Mom…" Ashen said as she cried in her embrace.
After what seemed like an eternity, she finally spoke again. "I won't disappoint you." She reluctantly backed out of the hug before walking to the double doors leading out into Ponyville. After looking back one last time, she passed through into the outside world once again.
"I know you won't." She looked back out at the Everfree Forest. From this distance, it looked peaceful and beautiful. However, the image of the students lingered in her mind (as well as the four to-be-adventurers) as she looked at it, trying to imagine what horrors could await in that peaceful forest.
A/N: Before we start, I'd like to do an inventory check for the characters.
Ashen Rise: a black, hooded, robe, a burnt spell book, a medicine bag filled with yet unknown contents, a coin bag containing 200 bits, 1 candy.
Tango: heavy iron armor, sickle (serves as weapon), 3 healing potions, 30 ft of rope, 70 bits, 1 cracked mirror, 1 candy piece, 6 "Business" and 6 "Acquaintances" letters, a magazine clipping, about half a pound of dried grasses and flowers.
Mystic Shield: old light iron armor, ornamental iron spear, red ascot, two regen potions, alchemical sun-rod, 55 bits, 1 piece of candy.
Crinoline Ruffle: victorian bonnet, victorian dress, (with two strong straps that can serve as makeshift 9ft ropes, victorian umbrella (holds a hidden dagger and 16 hidden throwing needles), crinolette, victorian leg laces, victorian folding fan, sewing set (contains various Threads and needles), 20+25 throwing nails, 1 hoof-held small range explosive, 34 bits, bag of candies (26 pcs).
Crinoline also had two travel bags left behind at the spa, one filled with cosmetic utensils brushes, perfume, hoof polish etc., and the other holds paper for sketches and other sketch utensils, as well as a dozen envelopes.
Now that that's over with, let's continue.
POV: Tango
Not noticing the gravity of the silence the two ponies around him have fallen into (one from a kiss), Tango took a brief moment to make the pre-journey inspection of his baggage as his siblings have taught him, complacently humming the checklist to himself.
"Bags…straps on, tools…sickle right there, delivery…hm…three ponies. Hello, Miss Ashen Rise!" Tango said as he glanced around to confirm the headcount and noticed the mare arriving, "Are we ready to start the job now?"
Crinoline jumped on Tango's back and exclaimed, "Everypony, you heard what Tango said. I think we all are prepared for the exploration of the Everfree Forest, but we will also agree that Tango here is the one who is really prepared for it. Tango knows all about the flora in the Everfree and thus should lead us. He will be consulted before we approach any kind of plant." She then sat down on onto her haunches and continued with a softer voice, "So Tango, your job will be to tell the pony closest to you if you see any dangerous plants and how to deal with it. Easy, right?"
Mystic Shield decided to finally speak up, having presumably recovered from Crinoline's kiss. "Just to be clear in case you think I might disagree, I'm all right with Tango being leader."
"Well, you probably know better than me what something is. I've been in forests, but not so far into the Everfree," Tango commented, doubtful that anypony should rely on his mental ability or leadership. "I can mostly figure out what to do if you step into something dangerous, though." The large unicorn reflectively toyed with a crimson forelock as he considered the pony clinging to his back with a fearless grin. "Little miss, this won't be a very safe ride. I'll need you to hop off sharp-like if anything bad happens."
Crinoline looked at Mystic with a tempting smile. "I am pleasant to you, if you are to me," she conveyed with a smooth voice. "If you like the sweetness of my lips, then you surely will enjoy the candy I gave you." She purred, followed by a cute chuckle from her. Without a doubt, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Taking note of Tango's worries Crinoline opened her muzzle. "This is exactly what I want you to do, Tango," she told him in a gentle voice that began to shift into a more confident tone as she continued. "I promise to follow this order, Tango sir." Crinoline raised her hoof to a salute. "I will hop off your back if anything bad happens."
POV: Ashen Rise
"Though I agree with Miss Crinoline, I also have to agree with Tango." Ashen spoke up as she rejoined the group, her face hidden beneath her hood. "He might not know every local threat. I've lived here for my whole life, so I'm confident that with what I've learned at the hospital. I should be able to identify some of the Everfree's hazards or at least know how to treat them."
Though Tango seemed like someone she could possibly trust, Ashen wasn't sure about his abilities. From what Crinoline said and the cutie mark on his flank, she could with some certainty deduce that his special talent is related to flowers, maybe gardening. But the Everfree Forest isn't some public park or flowerbed to be pruned and kept.
"I think we should keep a two-by-two formation if possible, so Tango and I can identify dangers before we stumble into a field of poison joke or a hungry timberwolf."
"I think quite positive of your proposal," Crinoline said with a tone of agreement in her voice.
"I concur, Miss Ashen. The only times I've been to the Everfree Forest is to go to Zecora's hut for the occasional potion." Mystic Shield then proceeded to equip his armor from his saddlebags, finishing by brandishing his spear.
"Zecora?" Ashen was at first a bit puzzled at whoever Mystic was referring to. She then realized a second later. "Ah, you mean the zebra. Yes, I believe I might've heard of her before from a patient. She might know more about this supposed chaos, if it's real." She added quickly, believing that something is going on, but still not buying the chaos story. "Since she lives there, she would at least know the way without getting lost."
POV: Mystic Shield
Mystic Shield gave a sigh. It would take a lot more to convince this mare of the threat. And he hoped his students were telling the truth, or else he was going to be extremely disappointed. Oh wait, he was the one who sent them off in the first place and he knows it's real. He grumbled at himself for forgetting that.
"If nopony else has any objections, I suggest we get moving." He turned to Tango (since he was probably the leader) and gave a nod, then turned to Ashen and said in a mildly annoyed tone, "Okay, Miss Ashen. Assuming what my students said isn't true, what do you think happened to them that would make them say what they said short of some kind of combination of mass hallucination and series of accidents?"
"Poison Joke would be my best guess," she answered. "Nopony has ever fully studied it I think, so for all we know they breathed in spores of the plant which would have had easy access to their brains… And if they did manage to avoid those plants then a combination of wounds, infections, illness, and concussions can often make patients delusional and in some cases other patients in the same room could start echoing the illusions of the others.
"But I do agree on that we shouldn't be wasting any more time if something is going on in there." She turned to the Everfree Forest and walked a short distance in its direction before stopping and turning around to wait for the others to follow her lead.
Tango obediently took the lead at Mystic's urging. Crinoline stared absently into the void of the dark forest. Seeing Tango move, she hurried to catch up to him, jumping atop his bacl.
Mystic Shield analyzed what Ashen had said and figured she perhaps had a valid point. "Right. Poison joke. My friend once got afflicted by them and he says he had turned into a girl. Doesn't help he looks somewhat feminine to begin with." He then decided to shut up. Who knows if there are timber wolves around.
POV: All
[A/N: I would like to apologize in advance if the perspective gets confusing. I am basing this section on a battle scenario, after all.]
The party of four walked into the thick forest. Quickly, the only light shining through was behind them. The rarely walked, weedy path was barely recognizable as a path, but rather an area where thick roots didn't cover and tree trunks didn't block the path. The mood was constantly tense; this forest has a tendency to do that to ponies.
Try as she might Ashen can't help but start feeling vulnerable. She hates feeling vulnerable and both the feeling and knowledge of being watched aren't helping as she keeps trying to look around without betraying her unease. They're waiting to strike. Still, it's better we know they are.
Plucking various floral matter from the sides of the path with his magic as he walked and placing them into an empty pouch, Tango maintained a uniquely upbeat attitude as the darkness of the forest surrounded them, cheerful to have some company in a forest venture as a change.
Some with more wilder imaginations can see faces in the trees, and figures in the shadows. However, all of them can agree that something was watching them from the shadows, not just a feeling. They could see eyes peering at them in the distance glaring with glowing eyes from all around them, probably waiting for a chance to claim their prey.
"Ah, then, you best slide off and keep behind me, little miss," Tango commented when one of the group acknowledged the figures.
The path became more rocky and rooty, gradually leading to a sheer drop, a dead end, with a river rushing below. As if things couldn't get any worse, the eyes started approaching, and a pack of Canis Minors, six of them, growled toward the party, drooling with anticipation of their next meal.
"Blast! Get ready!" Ashen cried out.
number - Enemies (Canis Minors)
letters - Player Characters (You can guess who's who.)
As the wolves appeared behind them, Tango regarded the creatures like a gardener inspecting an unfamiliar pest. "A tree that's a wolf? I hope nopony orders one of those. Looks a bit big to carry home." He also judged that the others will probably be unable to outrun them.
(A/N: Remember, Tango's an idiot.)
Upon hearing the Canis Minor, Mystic Shield immediately tensed up, both in battle-preparedness and concealed fright. Why oh why did I even think of them? he thought as he backed up only to find Tango in the way. He then decided to move to the right, sensing all too well that a Canis was there, went into a defensive stance, and cast a spell. He applied a green-hued barrier around Crinoline, not certain of her combat skills.
Knowing the wolves will be on them within moments, two of them already approaching (Wolf 1 and 5), Ashen used her magic to break a sizable branch off of a nearby tree, their thick presence making fire an unwise weapon of choice.
She struck the ground with the blue "flaming" stick once to show she won't go down easily and prepared to take a swing at any of the creatures that dare get close. "Come and get some! I've lived through far worse than the likes of you beasts!" As she said that, another wolf (Wolf 2) ran up around the tree at Ashen.
Tango stepped quickly into the position vacated by Ashen, hoping to draw attention away from his clustered companions and cutting a dashing figure with his sickle gripped between his teeth and raised high.
The other Canis Minors closed in, one of them (Wolf 6) ramming into Mystic's shield, cracking it but not breaking through.
Crinoline grinned wide as she laughed at her attacker. "Thank you liebster Mystic, but how do I fight now? I can't use my throwing needles while surrounded by your shield." She prepared an attack, ready to attack the wolf.
The last of them (Wolf 4) sprinted toward the group and dug its teeth into Mystic's leg, hanging on and growling up at him.
Mystic Shield screamed in pain from the attack, but tolerated it. He wouldn't be a fighter otherwise. Bearing the pain, he attempted to 'jam' his spear into the Canis Minor's body, but due to the wolf's teeth still embedded in his leg he almost missed, only getting a glancing blow. He was still scared of them, but the adrenaline rush that came with a life-threatening attack helped him cast it aside or the moment, but not by much.
Noticing Crinoline not moving, he mentally smacked himself in the head (Right, they don't know my specialty in barriers.), then said, "If you have a means of attack, it can pass through my shield. Try it." And then another wolf (Wolf 1) also lunged at him, growling at him and giving him a good hard bite on his shoulder before dropping down again. Another of the wolves (Wolf 5) went for Tango and bit him on the leg.
Ashen lashed out without holding back at the wolf (Wolf 5) as much as she can, intent on smashing the branch on the creature's skull. Her attack knocked it down. "Mystic, get back, they'll surround you!" she yelled, seeing that two of the beasts are already after him. "They'll go for the easiest target and right now that's you!" And then another wolf (Wolf 2) bit her.
Concerned for his friends, Tango joined the fray. His long mane whipped handsomely about as he lashed out with his sickle blade with simple, direct cuts and attempts to push in closer to the fight. He slashed four times at the wolf in front of Ashen (Wolf 2), the third blow missing, and the final time left the wolf bleeding all over but still growling.
The last wolf not occupied with anybody (Wolf 3) joined its two pack mates attacking Mystic, gnawing on him while the one who bashed at the shield (Wolf 6) tried again. Crinoline 'drove' a sewing needle into the face of that wolf, sending it reeling back, and sprints around a tree (and out of the shield, since Mystic forgot to have it 'lock-on' to her) to get behind the wolves attacking Mystic, then 'hurled' two more at two of them (Wolf 3 and 4).
One of the wolves (Wolf 4) yelped, getting a sharp pin in its rear and turns around to run at Crinoline, jumped at her, and attacked with its jaw.
"Dammit, I hate canines!" Mystic Shield cried out as he slowly lost his cool, trying to get away from the three Canis Minors attacking him. Making his way behind Tango and Ashen, slipping out of the reach of the wolves and backed up to the sheer cliff, he then conjured a barrier around himself. This time, unlike Crinoline's which was centered on the spot she was on, this one was centered on him and would follow wherever he goes. It was also just small enough to surround his body while leaving his spear 'open' for him to use.
Unfortunately, due to whatever's in the forest, He didn't summon a second shield and instead relocated the damaged barrier Crinoline left behind around himself.
One of the wolves tries to pursue Mystic, but slipped on the edge and fell being carried away by the river. He saw it makes it to the shore alright, if only a little beat up. It wasn't re-entering the fight anytime soon.
The wolf that bit Tango (Wolf 5) turns to face its attacker, then went for Ashen and bit her as well. "AAH!! Why you!" Angry, but still in control, Ashen beat the wolf off of her with the branch before setting it (and hopefully some of it's pack) ablaze with a "fire spray" spell, now that Mystic was out of the firing line.
As the the flames washed over her foes, Ashen's mouth twisted into a wicked smile as she prepared to beat down any survivors that would try to strike her again. "To ashes with you all." Along with the leaves above them, one of the wolves (Wolf 2) was set on fire and died as a result. It was nothing more than a flaming body now.
Tango was concerned by how much harm has already come to his new allies and made a note to make a better target in the future as he cut his way through the pack to plant his formidable frame in front of one of the remaining wolves and stare it in the eyes with indignation.
"I won't stand for all this nipping and biting at my friends, Mr. Wolf!" Tango declared magnificently. "You just try chewing on me if you think you're getting away with that!"
He slashed twice at the laying down wolf (Wolf 5) with his sickle, the second blow decapitating it. Rather than bleeding, it looked like its spectral soul flowed out through its seams and holes as a steam floating into the air. The other dead wolf (Wolf 2) hadn't done the same due to the fact that its wounds were sealed shut by the burning. He shifted next to Ashen after that.
The other wolf hit by Crinoline (Wolf 3) lunged at her, and landed a hard bite at her, pushing her back. With the absence of Crinoline, the wolf that attacked the no-longer-there shield (Wolf 6) shifted ahead and bit at Ashen.
Like a marble, the wolf's attack caused Crinoline to roll backwards. She ended up sitting on her haunches, shaking her head to regain composure. "This just got personal!" She hurled three needles at the wolf's face from point blank range, forcing it to stagger.
Meanwhile, the remaining wolf (Wolf 4) headbutted Mystic's shield. Not good, he thought as the Canis Minor hit his force field, which neared it breaking point. He had also seen how the one decapitated by Tango died. It wasn't a pretty sight, but then again death never is. He delivered a thrust of his spear at the wolf before pulling back and putting as much distance from the cliff as possible. Despite how deep he stuck it in, there was no trace of blood or anything on his weapon. He hadn't taken down the beast. I hope could deal with it. He worried about Crinoline, who seemed to be a bit worse off than he was but Ashen's words still echoed in his head; he had been the weakest link of this team.
Ashen can't help but feel a bit of sadistic glee as she saw the celestial wolf burn. Come on Ashen, you're a healer, not a killer, she thought to herself as she tried to calm down by taking deep breathes.
*sniff sniff* "Oh no."
With her eyes closed, her other senses sharpened and she recognizes an all too familiar smell; Burning leaves. Opening her eyes again, she immediately noticed that the distinctive dancing lights of a flame were coming from above as well as the wolf's remains.
"No! No! No! No! No!" Ashen almost yelled when she noticed the leaves she set on fire with her spell, backing away until she felt the ground give away underneath one of her rear hooves, almost falling off of the cliff. Whipping her head around with panic rising in her eyes, she looked down into the abyss and the river flowing far below. Then an idea hit her.
Emboldened by her plan, she turned back and lit her horn up as she began casting her telekinesis. I've got to stop this before it burns down the whole forest! Before..somepony else..suffers..the same fate. She began tearing down the burning branches and leaves and threw them over the cliff, knowing they wouldn't cause as much damage down there as up here.
Meanwhile, Tango methodically continued to cut at the weaker beasts, since he saw no way to keep the creatures at bay besides dispatching them quickly. He rammed his sickle into the back of the wolf (Wolf 3), knocking it to the ground, the color and the stars flowing out of it like the last one he killed. He then turned his attention to another wolf (Wolf 6) and sliced at his muzzle twice.
Crinoline stepped into the thick grass off the (barely) beaten path and threw her nails at the wolf from there (Wolf 4) and one more for good measure, driving the nail into its supposed skull. It yelps and collapsed, needles sticking out of it everywhere. The same blue gaseous material flowed out of each puncture in its body.
Suddenly, a loud howl and cracking of tree trunks was heard. Crinoline turned around from her fallen foe to see a giant Canis Major, standing at least ten feet tall. It let out a low growl and swiped at Crinoline, sending her flying.
"Crinoline!", Mystic Shield cried out, then turned to face the Canis Major, fear showing upon seeing it. He managed to take a few steps back before tripping over a root and stumbling onto his back, 'dropping' his spear. He then got up and froze in place, fright evident in his eyes to those who would see them.
"That can't be good," Ashen said as one of the wolves howled, no doubt calling its pack. Looking around, she can see that the wounded group will probably not survive another encounter like this. "If more arrive we should flee! Jump into the river if there's no other options."
After hurling the last of the big burning branches and leaves over the edge, leaving only a few small cinders, Ashen saw Crinoline kill a wolf with a bunch of thrown nails as Tango hacked away at the wolf near them. Now why would she have those?
Before she can think of any possibilities, a loud howl drew Ashen's attention to the trees behind the smaller mare, which were forced apart to reveal a giant version of the ethereal wolves they'd been fighting. With a single swipe of its paw, it sent Crinoline flying as Mystic called out and fled from it, shaking like a leaf.
"Damn it! This is even worse!" Ashen called out as she ran towards the prone mare, her hood catching the air as she ran and getting pulled down by it. "Come on, get up! We need to get out of here, NOW!!' She helped Crinoline up on her hoove (or put her on her back if needed) and headed for the cliff. "Tango, grab Mystic and get over here!"
Looking down, she can't help but swallow in anxiety. "The only way…Buck, I must be crazy…' she spat out to herself.
POV: Tango
"Yes, Miss Ashen," Tango replied dutifully. "Pardon me, Mystic. Looks like we're leaving." He lifted the rigid shield pony bodily over his back (the spear floating alongside in Mystic's aura) and charged to the cliffside with him, running off it ungracefully, though still looking incredibly handsome, his voluminous mane fluttering majestically as it was whipped up by the force of the fall.
The last survivor of the attacking pack (Wolf 6) ran for it, afraid either of the Canis Major or of getting in the crossfire.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle
Crinoline law on the ground, her eyes closed, the world spinning. She felt like she would fall off any second. She tried to stand up but there was no ground! She gasped and her eyes shot open. The forest around her looked twisted and she realized that she was lying on her back, her hooves helplessly hovering in the air. She struggled to keep her eyelids open but to no avail.
Shifting humming sounds was the next thing she noticed. Wait, was there sound before? Crinoline thought hard, trying to remember if there was, but she just can't focus. She opened her eyes again.
A bald scarred pony was carrying her. Am I dead? she thought as her eyes wandered down, noticing the attire the bald pony was wearing, Oh, Crinoline. It's just Ashen. Just Ashen, carrying me over to the cliff.
Oh no!
Crinoline rolled off the mare's back and fell to the ground. She saw Tango, his mane slowly moving, his frame emitting a radiating light as it was carried by two large celestial wings, carrying Mystic on his strong back and holding Ashen with his front hooves.
Ashen now wore a simple white dress with a olive wreath embroidery and Mystic's armor looked like it is made out of the sun itself, his spear punshing a hole through the dark cover of clouds, creating a path for them to escape.
Crinoline blinked and she was alone now, her senses begin to come back again and her vision normalized. She felt a great pain overshadowing the aches from her body. She reaches into her dress and took the explosive, throwing needles, and her strongest thread out.
She wrapped the throwing nails around the explosive, forming a spiked ball, then attached a thread to the pin of the explosive and bound the other end of the thread through a throwing needle's eye, which she pushed into the ground diagonally to secure it. She then threw it down to the Canis Major.
Her work done, she walked close the edge of the cliff.
The Canis Major walked up to Crine and roared in her face before swiping at her, sending her and Ashen off the cliff face.
POV: Mystic Shield
In spite of his paralysis, Mystic Shield could see Tango pass through what was left of his force field (dissipating it in the process) to pick him up and carry him away. He managed to retain his 'grip' on his spear as the two of them approached the cliff, Tango looking ridiculously handsome he would've started hitting on him were he a mare. As it was, he didn't swing that way.
He also saw Ashen carry Crinoline, the former's hood was down. He could see that she was indeed bald, but the scars she had were worse than he first thought. He wasn't able to think more of it as they neared the water. He tried to focus and form two force fields around his and Tango's heads as they made impact with the river with a loud splash, which started carrying them away.
His focus on the barrier was weakened by having to focus on swimming to the shore, but it stayed up. The river was too much for him to swim against and he was pulled under. Thankfully, he can breathe due to his spell but he was still brought downstream.
POV: Ashen Rise
Ashen's hesitation had cost her precious time as the Canis Major was now upon them and it swiped at her, the very air being pushed forwards by its paw pushing the mare back and over the edge of the cliff, sending her falling upside down.
With her vision blurred and her mind hazed from the vertigo of falling upside-down, Ashen mistook Crinoline for a younger pony due to her smaller size. Grabbing hold of the pale mare, she whispered, "It'll be alright." to her before her cloaked back hit the flowing waters. This was a bad idea!
The impact stung a bit, but was mostly cushioned by her cloak. The cold water surrounded her and weakly soothed her skin. However, the soothing feeling was dwarfed by the urgency of not drowning.
POV: Rest
Seeing Mystic had himself handled to a degree, Tango tugged the rope out of his pack and threw one end across the path of the two mares so he may attempt to drag them to shore.
Crinoline panicked when Ashen plunged down into the water. In a desperate attempt, she jumps after her, trying to hold onto her. She then saw a rope floating, attached to the swimming Tango. If she could swim hard enough, she could grab onto it.
The giant spectral wolf above them roared at the four, but turned around stomping off in defeat.
KABLOOIE!!!
The explosion from Crinoline's hoofheld explosive drove a few needles and shrapnel into the rear of the Canis Major, making it roar in pain and loathing.
Mystic Shield continued to struggle to reach the shore, but he was left too weak to do so due to the skirmish with the Canis Minors. Dammit, I can't fail now. He still tried anyway. He succeeded in making it to the shore, but was so far down river that he can't see the others.
POV: Ashen Rise
Floating, that's what it felt like to Ashen after hitting the water. It shook her mind and body, causing her to let go of Crinoline. With her cloak flowing and waving like a flag in the wind behind her half-conscious form, she was being carried away underneath the water's surface.
That is, until she hit a rock in the flow.
The shock from the sudden pain woke her up enough for her to understand she was in danger and tried to grab hold of something to escape the torrents. Some distance farther down, she managed to end up on a stone sticking out of the water's surface, drenched to the bone with thinned blood flowing from the bite marks on her limbs into the stream, leaving a thin red trail in the waters behind her.
Sputtering and coughing Ashen tried to get the water out of her lungs as she tried to hold on.
"Not…a good…idea…at all…" She was barely clinging to consciousness.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle and Tango
Crinoline wasn't too sure if everything was going to be alright. She wanted to believe Ashen, but the fact that Crinoline cannot swim and her clothes are soaked didn't help. She struggled to grab onto Tango's rope, using her magic to lead it to her.
This damn wolf, he should hope he never sees me again, she thought, gritting her teeth.
Once Crinoline had secured the rope, Tango pulled the small mare to his side and endeavored to deliver her to shore, neither speaking nor thinking of anything else as he focuses on the task at hand.
Tango successfully pulled the cold and wet Crinoline to shore and noticed that no one else was around, no wolves, or the other half of the party. The forest was too dense to follow the river downstream with fallen trees and low handing branches. Crinoline was doing pretty bad, she has trouble standing up and walking around even if she tried.
Crinoline breathed hard. This whole ordeal made her reach her limit, and now her clothes will cause her to freeze to death. She lay on her sides, her body trembling as she was rendered immobile.
"Listen Tango, y-you have to remove my clothes." Crinoline blushed, feeling uncomfortable with the situation at hand. "Ma-ke su-sure t-to re-move o-objects f-from the po-ckets be-f-fore h-hanging them uh-up to d-dry. Be-t-tter hu-urry I-I am r-realy fre-hezzing."
Anxiety over Crinoline's state and that of his other two new friends bubbled up against his usual confidence. Protecting other ponies was a more difficult job than he'd expected and he didn't feel he was doing it very well. "I'll take care of it, little miss. Try to rest yourself a while."
Tango followed the small mare's requests, dutifully removing the sodden garment and carefully collecting the variety of possessions of deadly or more mundane purpose into a separate section of his own pack.
"Not much to do about it. Hope Mystic and Miss Ashen are alright," Tango commented as he stared into the dense forest, "But they're both smarter than me. We'll start a fire here and wait for a bit. Might help them find us."
Once he was done setting Crinoline's clothing in order, Tango unbuckled his own armor, stripped off his own wet tunic underneath, and set about making a small campfire. He gently lifted the shivering Crinoline and placed her by the fire to warm. Tango stopped periodically during his work to listen into the sounds of the forests and kept a steady watch out for friends or any other unpleasantness once he had set everything in order.
The sky was stained red with the sunset, but where they were resting might as well be midnight since the trees blocked off any light directly from the sun. "Thank you Tango, I never felt so secure before," Crinoline chimed happily before drifting off into sleep.
POV: Ashen Rise and Mystic Shield
Once he was safe, Mystic Shield took a few seconds to compose himself, then turned around to the river…and saw Ashen clinging to a rock a ways downstream of his current location.
"Ashen!" he cried out as he made his way to the pyrokinetic unicorn, then looked around to see if there was anything he could do to help her. However, his search proved fruitless. None of them were long enough to reach her, and he was still too weak to try and conjure panel barriers to serve as a bridge, though not enough to…get back in the water.
Left with very little alternative, Mystic Shield put away the armor and—taking the current into account—took another dip and made his way to Ashen. He then grabbed her and rested for a while before contemplating on whether he could swim back to shore with her.
"...took your...time...didn't you?" Ashen weakly said at his arrival.
"Snarky, aren't we?" he quipped back."Just like my co-teacher." He was still unsure on whether or not to swim back. Maybe Ashen has an idea.
Ashen tried to growl at Mystic for being so dumb as to ask her to do seeing as she'd hit a rock, is soaked to the bone, bleeding, and most importantly, hanging on for her dear fleeting life! "some hero...you turn out...to be..."
All of a sudden, an explosion drew their attention (and awoke Crine and Tango) as they saw what can only be described as a shock-wave of chaos from deeper in the forest. The trees changed colors with more variety than their manes and coats as flowers turned into mouths and snapped at flies and bugs.
The rock Ashen and Mystic were on turned into a living animal and desperately tried to shake the two off and swim to shore itself. Though it didn't need to as the water turned red and slowed down. At first, the river running red seemed concerning and disturbing (Blood!) but the flow slowing was caused by the water becoming more solid. They were now swimming in strawberry jelly with a terrified rock.
Mystic Shield's reaction to the entire change was instant. And snarky. "Oh no, not again," he complained as he fought to stay on the now-living rock. He had no idea how Ashen was faring at this moment. Some of the transformed water entered his mouth and he ended up licking some. Tasty.
"By Celestia's mane, what's going on!?" Ashen called out as adrenaline started rushing through her body now that she was in a flash rodeo with a rock that suddenly came alive. The rock's thrashing knocked both of them off fairly quickly, launching them into the sticky jelly.
Mystic landed on the jelly, bouncing a bit before landing on it horn first, stopping his bounce. He was a bit woozy from the landing and couldn't see clearly, although he thought he could see Ashen.
Ashen however landed on solid ground after a bounce or two where she lay still until her eyes stopped spinning in opposite directions.
Mystic recovered soon enough and struggled to wiggle out, but couldn't. Trying something else, he took a bite out of the jelly that was in reach of his mouth and the resulting hole made him fall over. He got up, only to fall again from the wobbling jelly. He looked around to see Ashen on the shore, her eyes spinning.
Am I the lucky one or is she? he thought as he struggled to keep himself balanced and made his way to her.
After recovering from their experience, Ashen and Mystic found themselves in the forest. There was no obvious path and no way to tell which way was which, other than, of course, the jelly river and the cliff-face. They were both also covered in jelly and cold.
POV: Crinoline Ruffle and Tango
Crinoline's head shot up from the sudden noise and soon she found an insulting display of colour combinations in front of her. "What do you think we should do, Tango?" she asked. "Should we investigate the place where that noise came from?"
The fire suddenly exploded in a burst of black flames that cast darker shadows than the night had rather than the warm light, almost like a terrible omen as it died out quickly.
As he stood on guard peering into the forest, Tango regarded the explosion and the changes around him with interest, but not surprise. The latter was an emotion reserved for those who have their sense of how the world should work betrayed. To Tango, the forest was full of things he didn't quite understand that were frequently attempting to hurt him. Par for the course.
"If you think so, little miss," Tango replied pleasantly to Crinoline. "Miss Ashen and Mystic are probably well on their way there already."
Tango donned his gardener's tunic and saddlebags again, but decided to leave his armor. It pained him a little to discard a gift from his siblings, but all-in-all it only weighed him down and he'd want all the mobility he could get.
"I don't think I can protect you too well without the others, little miss," he continued with concern. "If it's alright with you, I think you ought to just hang on tight this time and be ready for us to run."
Crinoline blushed at Tango's request to hold on tight, her eyes wandering from him to the ground and back. "I would like that," she responded with a smile. She began to dress herself and ready up for the journey ahead, lastly climbing back onto Tango's back. She motioned for him to move, but still holding tightly onto him, her head snuggled against his luscious mane.
At Crinoline's urging, Tango moved carefully into the forest towards the center of the chaos explosion, keeping a hopeful eye and ear out for any signs of his lost companions while he did.
A few of the plants snapped at Tango and Crinoline, but nothing reached them if they were careful. Before too long, they broke out into a path perpendicular to the direction they were going.
POV: Ashen Rise and Mystic Shield
Working herself up on her legs, Ashen tried to stand, but the pain in her leg made it difficult so when she can she keeps it lifted up, standing on the remaining three. Using her telekinesis, she removed her robe, revealing all of the scarred and burnt flesh underneath and took her belongings out of it, purring them aside on the ground. Though her vision was still a bit blurry from the wild ride, she opened up the medical bag Grace had given her to try and patch up her leg.
In the bag were some cheap, mundane, non magic items like bandages, rubbing alcohol, adhesive medical strips, and a small packet of painkillers. Below those were a few magic healing items for emergencies, including three weak potions, and one book of weak healing. With Ashen's expertise, she can tell that a bandage will help heal it a bit if she stayed off it and painkillers will help her bear through the wound. However, a weak potion would heal her a lot quicker. That is, if she were to trust a magic item after what had just happened.
"Grace..." Ashen said to herself with half a smile on her face as she saw the liberal amount of supplies the pegasus somehow managed to cram into it. After examining the contents of the bag and her injury, she wrapped a healthy amount of bandages around it to stop the bleeding, but didn't use any of the painkillers. I'll save these for when they are actually needed. She decided to just bear through it, but still she kept her wrapped up leg off of the ground to prevent it from getting any worse.
"You okay, Mystic?' she then asked, breathing heavily as she was still recovering from their ordeal.
"I'm fine, Ashen," he responded as he approached her. He then cast a barrier somewhere inside his body and expanded it from there, his expertise in them through training and as advertized by his cutie mark ensuring that his insides weren't affected. As it was, he had done this before with Chronicle when he asked him to do so after suspecting that there were a few parasprites in his mane.
In this case, Mystic managed to remove all the jelly on him, leaving his coat dry. He then turned to face Ashen, re-acquired his armor he left at the shore, then asked, "Could you analyze my injuries, please? I know how to wrap and tie a bandage, as well as apply antiseptic, but that's as far as my medical skills go."
Using her professional skill, Ashen ignored the awkwardness of the situation with both of them bare and did as she was asked. "Okay, sit down and show me where they got you," she told the stallion as she limped up to him on her three good legs. The tensor bandage clung to her skin and squeezed her bad one.
She inspected the bitten leg and the bite on his shoulder, ignoring how close this put her to him. "So, cynophobia I'm guessing? Judging from the way you freaked out at those things back there," Ashen bluntly asked as she motioned back down the 'river' during her examination, trying to make small talk.
There are a few puncture wounds in his legs, mostly in the shape of dogs teeth. They may be infected if the wounds were left open in the forest, although this new landscape looked more like a foals daycare than a forest. Ashen doesn't have much experience in the physical effects of the chaos, so she wouldn't know.
His legs sting slightly from the bites as she examined it. "Yeah. You got me there," he admitted. "It also happened to help me reach first place during the last Running of the Leaves." It was then that he noticed the scars on Ashen, now that her cloak was off. His guesses were true; she had suffered burns, but took pity instead of fearing them.
Hovering a bottle of the rubbing alcohol and a new length of bandages from the bag, Ashen turned back to her patient, Looking around for a moment, she spied his spear and 'took hold' of it, levitating it with its shaft to its owner face as she screwed off the top of the bottle.
"Okay, this will sting so you might want to bite down on something," she told Mystic as she carefully brought the bottle closer to his leg.
Not wanting to bite down on the ornamental spear, even though it suffered some wear from the Canis skirmish, he looked around for a branch to bite on, saw that it had turned into a licorice stick, 'took' it, and bit down on it before giving the go signal.
Ashen carefully applied a few drops to each of the punctures in his skin. Letting the fluid evaporate by itself, she put the bottle on the ground and applied the bandages. Having experienced this sort of pain before in his younger days, Mystic didn't yell.
"First place, you? Haha, yeah right." Ashen can't help but laugh at Mystic's trying to act tough as she bound his wounds, but she could see the way he looked at her now that her scars were open for all to see.
"I advise you to take me seriously mister Mystic," she said, feeling somewhat offended. An individual's eyes can be read like an open book by those that know how to. Though Ashen may not be one of these, there are two things that she can read with ease; fear and pity. "I don't need your or anypony's pity so I advise you not to look down on me." She looked hi dead in the eyes. "Yes, I know how I look and yes, I'm not the strongest out there and rather frail but that doesn't make me weak." she says as she looks him dead in the eyes. Survival of the fittest, only the strong survive. Well, I'm alive, I survived what I've been through and it hasn't made me weak, only stronger."
Ashen paused for a moment before she turned her right side to face Mystic, revealing a lengthy and wide scar on her side near her back. "Do you see this scar, Mystic? Notice how it looks different than the others, and if you'll look you'll see others like it." She turned back to face the stallion as she repeated the process on his shoulder wound. "Those aren't burns; They're stretch marks where my skin was pulled and torn. But why are there no signs of it having been clawed or torn by some beast's talons? Because there's another reason behind those scars and I'll tell you why." She leaned in closer as she twisted the cap back on and returned the bottle to the bag, and whispered the answer into his ear. "The same reason why a snake sheds its skin."
"Prince Tango, which way do you want to take your fair lady?", Crinoline purred.
Unused to being depended on for such a decision, Tango stopped at the path and peered uncertainly down its length in either direction, checking for signs of creature tracks or some kind of indication for where it might lead. "Maybe we ought to take the right turn, little miss? If the river is behind us, that would send us farther downstream, wouldn't it?" Tango offered, not taking another step forward until Crinoline weighed in.
The forest was eerily quiet. Any time they aren't talking, they are hearing nothing other than the distant chirping of some strange outlandish beast, made more strange and outlandish by the chaos. Crinoline and her majestic mount trotted downstream the river. The dense forest was hard enough to travel one pony height. It was even harder to travel when the trees were shooting confetti at you, snapping at your hooves, and hitting you in the face with low hanging branches. It actually looked pretty peaceful however, a lot nicer than the forest was before it.
They saw an antlered jack rabbit scurrying around, and a large origami eagle kicked off a branch and flew away. In a strange way, the forest seemed better off like this. However, they saw how quickly the influence spread, and it has no signs of stopping at just the forest.
Tango marched along the path warily, but regarding each new strange and potentially dangerous thing with pleasant appreciation while endeavoring not to let Crinoline too close into reach of anything that looked like it might want to take a snap at them. He drew the newspaper clipping from his pocket every once in a while, saying to Crinoline as he did comments such as, "I bet Sonata would know about that," and "I delivered something like that for Crochet one time. Stung my legs up something fierce."
Crinoline listened. "I really would like to see your home. Promise me to take me there if we come back," she said holding tight onto Tango, keeping a low profile.
POV: Mystic Shield
Mystic shut up when Ashen talked, feeling more and more awkward about the whole situation as she went on and started to get creepier, talking about the snake skin and all. He then took a step back towards a soaking wet old book he noticed earlier as he and Ashen heard some rustling in the bushes, distracting the two of them from the conversation.
Jumping back away from Mystic, Ashen grabbed her her still-moist cloak and hastily threw it onto her back as she prepared to cast a spell in the highly likely case of it being another predator or attacker. "Show yourself or I'll burn you alongside your cover!" she yelled, hoping to scare off whatever it might be.
POV: Tango
Overjoyed to hear the voice of his separated ally, and without much thought of the context, Tango's trademark handsome, vacuous grin found itself once more to his face and he called out, "Miss Ashen Rise!"
Taking a little time to levitate aside the brambles in his way, which threatened to snag at his passenger or his own now-exposed flank and slightly-less-magnificent-than-usual(but-still-quite-magnificent-all-things-considered) mane and tail, Tango rejoined the others in the clearing.
"And Mystic! I knew you two would be fine. Hope you haven't been searching for us too long," the large stallion continued apologetically.
"Not really," the purple pony replied. "Just getting patched up after our Canis encounter."
Acknowledging Mystic's statement with a polite nod and settling into an easy mood again, Tango withdrew his small mirror from his pack and set about restoring his mane to its full flowing glory with the use of his sickle as an unconventional comb. A fairly quick task, as his hair seems to naturally want to fall in the most becoming manner.
"Well, it was fun while it lasted," Crinoline muttered, then leaned her head to the side. "Is this how you will wear your rug from now on, Miss Ashen, or weren't you expecting to be interrupted and acted out of panic?" she teased with a big grin on her face.
POV: Ashen Rise
Ashen was both relieved and surprised to see Tango walk out of the foliage she'd threatened to burn down though Crinoline was snarky and suggestive.
"Well, seeing as you came from upstream, I'm sure you could guess that we were in the water longer and had less time to dry before you could show up." A few drops of water fell from her still-soaked hood past her face as Ashen justified her appearance. "And I doubt you would have looked much different had we walked in on you before you'd have had the chance to dry. Hm, no." She corrected herself. "I'm sure we'd have caught you in a much more compromising position than just wearing wet clothes.
"But enough childishness!" the mare declared as she corrected her cloak and began to collect her belongings.
"The forest looks real wacky, doesn't it?" Mystic remarked as he looked around.
"It seems your students were right after all, Mystic. So...as much I don't like to admit it...you were right...I'm sorry..." As she continued on, she seemed to trail off as she picked up her soaked spell book. Her composure began deteriorating as she noticed its condition.
"It's okay," he replied. "Had anypony else other than those in my class said it, I would've been doubtful myself. Unless it was Zecora. Or the Bearers of Harmony."
POV: Tango
Not catching the gravity of the lull in the conversation, he asked cheerfully, "Well then, where do we go from here? Miss Crinoline thought we might meet you near that big sound, but then we found that path over there and Miss Crinoline said it would be a good idea to follow it this way so we could find you here. And that's how we got here."
"Tango is giving me to much credit, he found you," Crinoline corrected, starting to work on his mane as well. She looked at Ashen. "You are just no fun my dear." She shifted her focus over to Mystic, a pitying expression on her face. "I really hope we didn't take to long to rescue you."
"Yes, hope we weren't too long," Tango agreed, a worried expression returning to his honest face. "I've spent a week or two in the forest running from monsters of one sort or another, but from what I remember, everypony seemed to think we ought to hurry to..." Tango's face went blank for a moment. "...to do whatever it was we were going to do with that 'chaos' thing."
"Nah, not that long, I hope," Mystic answered back to Crinoline and Tango, then caught himself. "Hold on a second, Tango. You've been in the forest before?"
"Spend most of my time in forests. Not this one, specifically. Had a couple of requests to harvest some poison joke for some clients, but I haven't been too deep in the Everfree..." Tango scratched his chin in brief thought. "At least, I don't think so. When I first started, I got lost in the wilds west of Baltimare for about a month. Can't say for sure where I was most of that time."
POV: Mystic Shield
Mystic Shield shudders, remembering the one time he got lost in the forest.
FLASHBACK
Yearrs ago, during his colthood…
Mystic, a young colt back then. was screaming at the top of his lungs as he fled the timberwolves that were chasing him. He was well aware that they were surprisingly fragile, but his mind still screamed with fear of canines that had lingered from his time with the Diamond Dogs.
END FLASHBACK
He was visibly cringing, enough for his companions to notice. Especially Crinoline.
"What did you do to him?", she accused Ashen, pointing her hoof at her. She rolled over, landing on the ground next to Tango as she walked up to Mystic and embraced him. "Shh, she will not scare you anymore with us around." She said, stroking the back of his mane with her hoof.
"No, no, no, you misunderstand," Mystic Shield attempted to explain. "Tango just reminded me of my own time I got lost west of Baltimare, that's all. Although Ashen can be scary."
"I know, sweetie," she purred, walking around Mystic. "Just stay close to me and out of her biting range." She wrapped her tail around Mystic's snout to lead him away from Ashen and next to Tango.
POV: Ashen Rise
Opening the dripping spell book, Ashen reluctantly checked the damage the water's done.
The pages are all soaked through and through, having smeared out what little writing that had remained legible on the pages that aren't sticking together or hadn't been turned to pulp.
As her sight passed each and every page and more and more damage was revealed, Ashen's eyes grew more and more moist. Being unable to bear the sight of it anymore, Ashen snapped the book shut and levitated it back to the pocket it had called home as she pulled her hood back over her head, shrouding it in shadows again.
Ashen wasn't sure if she was supposed to be glad or annoyed by Crinoline's pestering, but at the very least it pulled her mind back to the present and away from...that.
"In that case you might want to stay back a little further unless you want to find out how easy those fibers of yours catch flame," she dully said. She wanted to sound snappy, but just couldn't bring up the energy for it. If I sound weak, that wench will never let me hear the end of it.
A broad grin broke across Tango's face as he patted Mystic affably on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Mystic, little miss. I used to be scared of doctor ponies and nurse ponies too, back when I was a little colt. But Miss Ashen is a nice pony. Nurses won't bite you," he explained to the others in a brotherly manner. "They make nurses sign a form says they won't bite anypony. Waltz told me that." He then wandered off to look at the path again, contemplating what he saw down the stretch of both ends with great uncertainty.
"I sure hope so, but I believe that biting is the least of our problems," Crinoline explained to Tango before responding to the other mare in the group in an overly dramatic manner. "Thanks for the advice, Miss Ashen. I shall recreate my ensemble using more fireproof material. Would be a shame if I would have to stop playing with you."
Mystic was quick to cut in. "Um, girls? Tango?", he called. "Lest we forget, we're trying to find out the cause of all this chaos which has apparently made its way here. Anypony got a course of action to suggest?"
"Hmpf, fine. Nothing is to be gained here anyway. Back where me and Tango came from was a crossing. I suggest us to go there and take the other path" Crinoline started to trot in that direction.
"For once, we agree," Ashen said as she turned to follow. As much as she hated letting Crinoline lead, she knew she wasn't in a position to think clear enough to lead herself. "Let's find out what's doing this and be done with it."
As the others caught up to his position on the path, Tango allowed himself to fall to the back of the group and plod along steadily behind them. Mystic Shield noticed this, but said nothing.
The party found themselves back on the path and started walking down it. There was nonsense and chaos all around, some enduing giggles, some horrifying them. However, of everything they see, there wasn't really any threat. Everything seemed to just ignore them and wander around aimlessly.
Ashen spent most of the time mulling things over in her head, not paying much attention to the oddities around her. They left her be, so she had no quarrel with them. I've failed…How could I let it be damaged? Why didn't I think of that when I jumped? Mother would hate me for letting it come to this.
After about an hour and a half, they managed to reach a landmark. Great, ancient ruins from the ancient kingdom that used to stand in this forest. This was the home of the artifacts known as The Elements of Harmony, for 1000 years. But now it was anything but harmonious. The bridge connecting the two sides of the cliff was broken, but all the boards were somehow levitating in mid-air, making floating, wooden, stepping stones in place of the bridge.
The ruins themselves seemed to be messed up as well. With random bricks floating around, the structure probably would have collapsed looking like this if it weren't for the "look blocks" suspended in their own space. Furthermore, through the cracks, they can see a dim red light. And a figure pacing around the room.
"Well ladies, Tango. I believe this is the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters," Mystic said. He and Tricky Books had once read the book while checking out the library. He also remembered that the latter inquired to Twilight Sparkle about the outdated info (which had thankfully been updated).
"Yes, it probably is," agreed Ashen, her eyes having dried by then from crying. "Can't say I blame them for abandoning it. It must be even worse without this madness consuming it."
Tango nodded politely, though he didn't seem to actually understand.
Ashen examined the other side of the cliff and stated her finding matter-of-factly as she processed them. "Single approach, levitating planks for a bridge, lots of hiding places at the other side...if my nose wasn't being drowned in the scent of candy cane, I'd say this reeks of a trap."
"No sane pony would go to this place voluntarily," Crinoline whispered to the others as her eyes darted about for alternate entrances. "We should be careful."
As the group approached the ruins and noticed the figure inside, Tango blithely trotted past the others and furnished whoever is inside with his friendliest "Hello there!" The figure glanced around, maybe trying to find the source of the voice but passed it off as just the chaos getting to him and returned to whatever it was he was doing. There were withered and dry trees sprouting all around the ruins, two or three actually growing inside it, each growing random objects on them, ranging from rocks to bugs to smaller trees.
"Look before you leap, Tango. Or didn't any of your siblings tell you this?" Ashen asked with a tone as dry as the Appeloosan desert as the aura of her magic enveloped the black stallion's crimson tail. She stopped him before moving past him to the beginning of the bridge herself and looked back to the other side, blocking his way. "Whoever that might be, friend or foe, doesn't matter much. Our first challenge would be to cross these..." She tapped the closest board to see if it'll move. "...without them deciding to drop us to our deaths."
Turning back around to face the rest, the mare continued. "Normally, in such cases the lightest would be asked to go first." She threw a glance at Crinoline for a moment before looking back at the bridge. "But that won't do here since there are no ropes holding up the planks. And the fact that Miss Crinoline would accuse me of bias towards her if I'd ask her to risk going first. So I'll go first myself. What do I have to lose anyway?" She put her hoof down on the first floating board.
The board wobbled a bit as Ashen stepped onto it, but not enough to flip. They seemed to be able to hold her weight easily and probably heavier ponies as well. With a few more steps and maybe a hop or two, Ashen made it to the far side safely.
POV: Mystic Shield
Mystic Shield agreed with Ashen about the prospects of a trap in the area, but he felt like there was no other choice but to cross the bridge. It was unfortunate there were no pegasi (or even griffons) in this party; just four unicorns. I wish I was able to contact Skyla, but I was advised against calling anybody else.
He considered conjuring panel barriers at their feet to serve as steps, but he wasn't too confident on them being able to maintain his weight. Still, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious…
"I'm next," he said as he stepped forward, in the process conjuring a panel barrier just below the floating board. He would repeat this process with the rest of the boards as he crossed.
Just after crossing the bridge safely, shortly joining Ashen, Mystic said, "Well that was—" before cutting himself off. "Whoops."
POV: Tango and Crinoline Ruffle
Tango resumed his position in the back of the group as Ashen chastised him, relieved to once more be following direct orders.
"After you, little miss," he said to Crinoline, intending to go last if by chance his heavy frame might prove to be too much for the bridge.
"I guess it is my turn now." Mot wanting to die plummeting to her death, she decided to remove the two decorative silk straps she had on her dress and use them as a makeshift rope, which reached about 9 meters long. She secured it on herself and gave the other end to Tango. "Tango, when I am on the other side, I will look for something to secure it so you can cross safely." She turned and stepped onto the first board. Careful, she waited before moving on to the second, calmly moving to the other side.
She moved across fine, slipping off the last one but managing to reach the cliff-side anyways.
Standing rigidly with one end of Crinoline's cloth wrapped around his hoof until she made it safely across, Tango fearlessly followed suit to join his companions. However, if Crinoline couldn't find a place to tie the rope, Tango would release his end; if he was going to fall, he wasn't going to take the little miss with him. Thankfully for him, she found one and tied her end firmly on one of the two posts planted in the ground that once held this bridge up.
Rejoining his comrades and seeing no plan of action immediately forecoming, Tango hesitantly spoke up. "Maybe I could go ahead and see if there's anything dangerous?" he offered. "My reflexes are mainly what I'm good for."
POV: Mystic Shield
"I disagree," Mystic Shield said. "Unless you know a spell that can help you do that while keeping yourself safe at the same time," Like a magical clone spell. "We're going in together." He then turned to Ashen. "Unless you have a different plan." He also gazed at Crinoline, just to silently inform her that he'll listen to her opinion as well.
"I'd say we move from cover to cover," Ashen suggested. "If possible, in two stages with you and Mister Tango first, and then me and Miss Crinoline behind you two since you're better close range fighters. Doing so would spread us out, but would make it easier to approach unseen; if we are attacked, then we'd already be somewhat protected behind cover."
"I'm with Miss Ashen on this one." Mystic turned to the others to hear their opinion.
"Alright, then. Will do," Tango agreed simply, moving cheerfully onwards as if expecting Mystic to be right behind him. Thankfully, his hoofsteps were quiet.
Mystic Shield followed Tango's footsteps, treading carefully as well, his eyes focused on any pebbles he may kick or twigs he may snap—as well as Tango to make sure he doesn't get them into trouble. He's no Pinkie Pie, that I know for certain.
Crinoline gave a quick nod before she took her place next to Ashen. With her magic, she recollected and put the silk straps onto her dress again.
POV: All
Tango and Mystic managed to get behind some trees and peered inside. There seemed to be an invisible barrier that objects can pass through but the chaos cannot. From this point, the two can see through the two grand doors and inside the ruins, where they saw a unicorn covered from head to hoof in chain mail and leather and wearing a brilliantly shining ruby on a necklace. Staring at the gemstone gave them mysterious chills and a general sense of uneasiness.
The center of the room where the Elements of Harmony once stood now held a large round table with pretty much everything needed to live in the forest for a month or two. There was a smoldering pile of ash and logs that was recently a fire. Other than that, it was very plain and clean.
"Can't we just go say hello, Mystic?" Tango murmured to his partner at length. "Don't seem to be much else to see."
Feeling he couldn't convince him otherwise, he said, "Be my guest."
Breaking cover at Mystic's agreement, Tango directly approached the unicorn with overflowing affability shining through his demeanor. "Hello, sir! How are you doing today? My name is Tango and I'm running an errand in this forest. Awfully interesting forest, isn't it? Do you live here?"
The pony whipped around. "No no! no!! NO!! NO!!!" he cried out. The ruby glowed and sparked for a second before sending red arcs of electricity through Tango and into several of the trees around, setting them ablaze quickly. Red hot fire stretching into the air, Ashen was obviously being very triggered by this. The tree that Mystic was under was the most fiery.
E - enemy
Following the others as they'd agreed to, Ashen can't help but sigh after Tango was struck by red lightning. "Everypony's mad here, aren't they?" she asked to nobody in particular as she moved to the opposite side of the passageway the shocked stallion was at.
Seeing the burning foliage, the first thought to run through her mind was Not again though it was followed by another; to fight fire with fire. Repeating her plan from last time, Ashen started pulling down the blazing branches but without a river to toss them into she instead threw them inside the dome in the general direction of the crazed unicorn.
As she started pulling down branches and throwing them, she realized that the fire was much too out-of-control for her to stop it without de-rooting the trees. She managed to throw five and hit him with two, but three missed.
Mystic Shield ran up to Tango's side, fired on the enemy with a magic shot spell, then said to Ashen Rise, "By Luna, you're right about that." His shot unfortunately missed, knocking a few bricks out of the far wall behind their foe, who drew a sword and ran up to him, slashing his chest with it.
Tango righted himself with a handsome roll and continued to address the now-flaming pony in a hopeful and friendly manner. "If it's not too much trouble, sir, could you stop attacking us and maybe we could help you stop being on fire and then talk about things a little?" Tango proposed generously to the raving, burning pony. "Waltz says ponies ought to try to talk out their disagreements first."
Tango's proposition would probably calm an angry mother bear. Unfortunately, this was no mother bear. It seems like they will have to "calm him down" with force.
"Unforgivable!" Crinoline screeched, having been shaken by the sudden hostility. Her motions were quick but precise as she sidestepped to the right to let fly with a storm of throwing needles (just five) at the attacker. The first two of them whizzed past him, and the other three jabbed into him, one embedding itself into his armor.
Unfortunately for Ashen, the nearby trees have already caught fire and were up in smoke. She did manage to get more flaming sticks on the battlefield though as a few fires burned out.
"Dammit!" cursed Mystic as he backed away from their foe and under the flaming tree. He then shot a blast of magic at their attacker (which struck head-on), formed a barrier to Tango's left, and said, "Crinoline, my shield won't stop your needles! Tango, get away or get in if you won't fight! You can duck from her needles."
As the fire on the attacker's coat finally burned out, he downed a drink, ran back to his table to grab a whistle, and blew on it hard. There was a ringing left in the group's ears, but nothing else happened.
"Oh great," groaned Mystic as he saw their foe quaff the potion, which seemed to heal injuries. "How did I not realize this?" There was also the fact that he had backed up against a flaming tree. He could feel the heat of the intense flames on his flank, but it wasn't hot enough to burn him.
Not sure what else to do and torn between the order to stand back and his desire to help in some fashion, Tango looked for the heftiest object in reach he might manage to lift so he might toss it on top of the crazed pony. He pulled a loose chunk of bricks out of the wall and hurled them at the crazed pony. They cracked and fell apart on his back.
Crinoline rushed the ruffian, pulling out the dagger hidden in the handle of her umbrella, and stabbed him repeatedly, following his every step. "Hah!" she exhaled heavily every time the blade sank deep into her foe, which was three times.
Damn, that must've been a call for back-up. Ashen thought to herself as the ringing in her ears lessened. "Keep an eye out, that could've been a call for assistance."
She took notice of Crinoline practically diving into close-combat with a hidden blade, making the smaller mare seem even more suspicious to her. After all, who would have need of throwing needles and a hidden dagger?
Putting those thoughts aside for now, Ashen looked around outside to see if anything was reacting to the sound the whistle made before she tried to snatch it away from their opponent with her telekinesis, as well as his cloak if possible. She was able to yank the whistle out of his mouth mid-blow, but the ringing in her ears prevented her from doing more.
Mystic sidestepped to the left, fired the magic at the enemy, and the shot exploded on his flank. Being knocked off balance a bit, he still made a mad dash for the hole in the wall.
Tango dashed headlong after the enemy with the single-minded goal of tackling him to the ground. He didn't know what he would do after that, but it beat just standing around uselessly. He managed to catch him, pulling him to the ground. The two skid across the ground, coming to a stop about a meter away.
"Oh no, you won't get away!" Crinoline shouted, drawing one of her throwing needles to use on him, but put it right back the second Tango tripped the attacker. She instead decided to use the two silk straps of her dress to tie him up.