Sunset awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and relaxed. Still, her mind dwelled on last night’s events and the questions that followed. Was it the Two-Legs that saved her? If so, then why? She thought about when it swooped in and saved her. The skin that she felt was neither like scales nor fur. It was soft and warm.
She walked out of her tent as she sang softly, “I remember there was mist...Swirling mist upon the vast moonlit woods…There was howling all around, and out from the brush came the wolves…Then I was saved by the Two-Legs…” She then saw the rope hanging from the tree. She remembered when she slid down to safety and saw the Two-Legs retreat into the woods. She sang as she slowly walked towards the rope, “Who was that shape in the shadows? Whose is the face in the dark?”
She was a few feet from the rope when something touched her shoulder. Being abruptly brought out of her trance, she gasped as she turned to face whoever it was.
Timber jolted back as he cried, “Whoa! Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you like that. Did you have a rough night?”
Sunset answered as she ran her hoof through her mane, “Um, yeah. I kinda did. I thought I saw the Two-Legs last night, so I went into the woods to investigate. I went a little too far and got surrounded by Timberwolves!”
He said in surprise, “Timberwolves? How did you get away?”
“Someone swooped down and saved me. I think it was the Two-Legs.”
“The Two-Legs?” He then asked with a smirk, “What was it like?”
“Well, at first, I was totally shocked that the Two-Legs was real and saving my life. It threw stones at the Timberwolves’ mouths and made them choke. We got away and it brought me back to the camp.” She chuckled as she pointed to the rope, “We were so high up in the trees that I had to slide down that rope there. The last time I saw it, it was running into the deeper part of the woods.”
“Did you get the chance to say ‘thank you’?”
“I tried, but it wouldn’t talk to me.”
“Well, maybe it’s a bit shy.”
Sunset gave a comforted smile, “Maybe. But I’m still grateful it even saved my life like that.”
A voice then asked, “What saved your life?”
The ponies turned to see Spike coming up to them.
Timber saw this as his cue to leave and said, “I think I’ll leave the explaining to you, Sunset. You’ve got quite a story to tell your folks.” He gave a wink before he left.
After breakfast, one half of the royal family did arts and crafts while the other half rock-climbed with Quibble Pants.
As Sunset was climbing up the rock wall, Quibble skeptically said to her, “The Two-Legs? The Two-Legs saved your life?”
She nodded, “Yep. I think that’s the one.”
“Ah. You think you saw the Two-Legs, but you couldn’t tell for sure.”
She sighed in agitation, “It was dark, and there was mist covering the forest. How could I be able to see through that?”
“Well, maybe the legend isn’t real.”
The group then cried, “What?!”
Applejack unwittingly let go of the rope Sunset was attached to and the younger sister began to fall. As soon as she heard Sunset’s scream, Applejack quickly held onto the rope again and stopped her sister’s fall.
Discord argued with Quibble, “Oh, how could you say that the Two-Legs might not be real?! I’m real, and if the creature was real, then it just saved my sister-in-law last night!”
Quibble raised his hoof to calm him, “Okay, okay. I’m just saying that what if it was another creature, like a Sasquatch? There are plenty of Sasquatches roaming around numerous forests.”
Sunset shook her head as Applejack slowly brought her down, “Nuh-uh. The creature that rescued me last night had smooth skin, not hairy.”
Discord asked, “Are you sure it was skin?” He wriggled his fingers as he said spookily, “Maybe it was scales.”
“If it was scales, they were really soft.”
Spike asked, “Who ever heard of soft scales? Well, except on baby dragons, of course.”
Meanwhile, a cloaked pony with glasses and a hat arrived at Splendor Woods. Gloriosa saw the new visitor and cheerfully greeted, “Hello, there! Here for a fun-filled adventure at Splendor Woods?”
The pony chuckled, “Adventure is my game. Oh, say, could you introduce me to the campers here? I’d like to make some friends.”
“Oh, sure! You’re in luck, because the only campers here right now are royals from Canterlot!”
The cloaked pony’s eyes widened and she said in excitement, “No way! The whole family?”
“Yep.”
“Including Sunset Shimmer?”
“She’s with them. Part of one big deal.”
“May I go meet them?”
“Why, yes, you may. Half of them are doing arts and crafts and the other half is rock-climbing.”
“Great!” She started racing off.
Gloriosa remarked, “Wow. She sure is one excited camper.”
At the rock-climbing wall, Quibble said, “Look, I have seen many things in my life that you would not believe, and I’m telling you that the Two-Legs could be another…” He trailed off as he looked at something behind Sunset. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped a little.
Sunset asked in concern, “What? What is it?”
When Quibble pointed his hoof at what he was seeing, Sunset turned around and gasped in delight.
The unicorn raced towards the cloaked pony as she cried, “A.K. Yearling!”
Sunset and Yearling embraced as the latter smiled, “Sunset! I can’t believe you’re here!”
“Well, I can’t believe you’re here, too!”
They then heard an annoyed ahem and turned to see Quibble now expressing a ticked-off look. He asked Yearling, “Is she another one of your associates you never told me about?”
Sunset asked her in surprise, “You two know each other?”
Yearling answered in irritation, “Yes, but we’re keeping our distance now.”
Quibble scoffed, “’Keeping our distance’?! Ha! We used to date before we broke up because you kept secrets from me!”
She shot back, “I have to for everypony’s safety! Don’t you realize that?! I was only trying to protect you!”
He gave a scornful scoff, “Yeah, until you let slip your biggest secret, which you hardly share with anypony.”
Yearling smirked, “Oh, don’t worry.” She pointed to Sunset and said, “She already knows my secret.”
He sputtered in surprise before he asked while pointing to the royals, “Well, what about these guys?! Do they know?!”
The royals nodded in affirmation, which surprised Quibble further.
Yearling smiled, “I can trust royals.” She then whispered knowingly to Sunset, “I knew you would’ve told them by now.”
Sunset smiled back, “No secrets.”
Quibble said in an angry shock, “I don’t believe this! I’m going back to my tent!” He then began to stomp his way back to the ledge.
When Quibble disappeared into the woods, Sunset asked Yearling, “He knows you’re Daring Do?”
She nodded, “Yep, like the rest of your family. Unfortunately, the pony who talked to me when I arrived here probably doesn’t know, so I might have to keep my disguise on for the whole trip.”
“You might also have to keep it on around her brother, Timber Spruce. They practically run this campsite.”
Soarin’ asked, “So, what are you doing here in our neck of the woods?”
The guys snickered as Discord chuckled, “Good one, Soarin’.”
Yearling sarcastically said, “Ha, ha, ha. Very funny.” She then explained as she pulled out a piece of paper from her cloak, “I’m looking for seven legendary crystals called Gaea’s Geodes.”
The royals oohed and Rainbow Dash said, “You don’t mean –“ She then said spookily, “- Gaea Everfree…Everfree…EVERFREE!”
The others laughed at that amusement.
Yearling said, “The very same. It is said that when Celestia and Luna lived in the Everfree Forest, they sealed her away in seven geodes and hid them away from the world. Legend has it that if someone wears the geodes for three days and three nights, Gaea will be free to take over the wearer’s body.”
The royals oohed again.
Soarin’ said, “You really should’ve saved that as a scary story for the campfire.”
Spike said hopefully, “Maybe Timber and Gloriosa will want to join us this time.”
Sunset smiled, “That would certainly be a nice thought.”
Discord shrugged with a grin, “Never hurts to ask.”
At the arts and crafts table, the other royals were making their works when Gloriosa and Timber checked up on them.
Timber asked, “Hi, guys! What’s up?”
Cotton Candy exclaimed, “We’re having tons of fun here! Look what I made!” She showed him and Gloriosa a drawing she made with macaroni for the sun and colored beads glued as a rainbow.
Gloriosa praised, “Why, it’s so colorful, dear! Such wonderful craftsmanship!”
Rarity said, “Indeed!”
Dignity said, “That’s nothing! Look at mine!”
When he showed his artwork, Gem chimed, “Mine, too!” She lifted her drawing up as well.
Rarity chastised, “Now, children, we mustn’t be competitive.”
Gem asked in confusion, “’Competitive’?”
Timber clarified, “It’s when you and another pony think one of you is better than the other. In this case, you and your brother think that your art is better than the other’s.”
A male voice then asked, “Then tell me, o wise word wizard, what’s the definition of ‘fun’?”
Timber turned back to see Sunset and Discord coming up to them. He grinned when he saw the amber unicorn. He put a hoof to his chin and said, “Fun is…Fun is…” He turned around as if in thought. Moments later, he faced them again, wearing prop glasses, fake bushy eyebrows, and a fake mustache. He then said in a funny accent, “Fun is when ponies enjoy amusement and sometimes laughter.”
When he twitched his fake mustache, everypony laughed.
Gloriosa chuckled, “Oh, Timber!”
Discord chortled, “He’s a hoot!”
Cheese Sandwich added, “He’s hilarious!”
Pinkie enunciated to Sunset in a whisper, “He’s a keeper!”
Sunset blushed as she whispered back, “Pinkie!” Once the laughter calmed down, she asked Gloriosa and Timber, “So, guys, are you going to join us by the campfire tonight?”
When Timber took off his prop accessories, Sunset saw a regretful look on his face. He explained, “Sorry. As much as I – I mean, we would love to hang out with you, it’s just that we have to look for the Two-Legs again.”
Gloriosa said, “We’re worried that since it’s been appearing closer and closer to the camp, we have to make sure nopony gets harmed or anything.”
Sunset explained, “But I was rescued by the Two-Legs just last night. I don’t think it’s dangerous.”
Gloriosa and Timber gave a surprised look, though each expression was slightly different. Gloriosa said while she dug her hoof in her ear, “I’m sorry. Am I hearing that clearly? Did you say that the Two-Legs saved you?”
Sunset nodded in affirmation, “Yes, I did.”
Timber suggested to his sister, “Well, then, there could be two of the Two-Legs.”
Gloriosa gave an irritated scowl as she jabbed her brother with her elbow.
Zip it!
Sunset didn’t know how, but she thought she heard Gloriosa say that. The Earth mare’s lips weren’t moving, but Sunset could’ve sworn that was her voice. She asked in confusion, “What was that?”
Timber asked, “What was what?”
“I thought Gloriosa said something.”
Gloriosa denied, “I didn’t say anything.”
The unicorn asked, “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive I didn’t say anything.”
When the siblings turned to leave, Timber faced Sunset and asked in a hopeful tone, “So I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
Sunset smiled, “We’ll be here for the next five days. You’ll see plenty of us around here for a while.”
He sighed in what seemed like relief, “Good.” He then corrected himself, “I mean, that’s great! You’re sure to have tons of fun here!” He then began to walk away with his sister.
There might still be a chance.
Sunset heard Timber’s voice that time, but decided to not bring it up. What did he mean, though? A chance at what?