//------------------------------//
// Text Messaging is Overrated 
// Story: The Truth about Reapers 
// by MineLittleDashie 
//------------------------------//

With Twilight gone, it was time for me to get down to business. 

I asked Fluttershy if she had a private room or something similar that i could borrow, to which she directed me to a shed positioned behind her house. 

Entering the small wooden structure, I locked the door and placed my suitcase on the rickety wooden table that sat against the back wall. Opening the case, I reached in and removed both clay jars, followed by some other containers filled with different "necessities". 

After double checking that i had everything I needed, I opened a glass jar and dipped the first two fingers of my right hand into the green slime held within.

Removing my fingers from the jar, I then proceeded to drag them across the tabletop, leaving a glowing green path in the shape of a circle. 

Finished with the most important step, I wiped my hand on a towel, then reached over and opened another glass jar. This one was filled with minuscule white crystals.

I took a pinch and sprinkled them over the trail left by the green goo. The circle sparked as the crystals came into contact with it, then began to bubble as the crystals dissolved into the goo.

"Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...." I muttered. The words weren't really required, but my spellcraft instructor had been a huge fan of Macbeth, and some of her peculiarities had been adopted by her students.

Finally, the goo circle settled and changed to a beautiful shade of crimson. I nodded to myself and grabbed the first of the two clay jars, opened it, and angled it so that the occupant slid out into the middle of the circle.

The forest fae took a moment to gather itself, then looked around, taking in the new environment.

Ignoring it, I did the same with the other jar, allowing the other fae to roll out into the circle.

The two immediately began chattering at each other and I took the opportunity to study their appearance in more detail.

Surprisingly, and somehow unsurprising, the fae had a very pony-esque appearance, though neither had a mane or tail. Standing approximately an inch and a half tall, they were smaller than any other kinds of fae I had seen back on Earth, but then again, they would probably be taller if they stood on their back legs. They were a marvelous leaf green color, and each sported a pair of yellow butterfly wings that glowed with a faint yellowish light.

I clapped my hands once, immediately drawing the attention of my guests. Despite how dark the shed was, the glow from both the goo circle, as well as the light from the fae's wings, were enough to sufficiently illuminate my face.

The fae froze. 

"Hear me now, fae of the forest." I said. "Listen and heed my wishes, should you wish to leave here......alive."

The first merely gulped and nodded. The other one was a bit more plucky.

"You won't kill us you naked monkey! You need us, you bottom-sniffer, otherwise you wouldn't have caught us."

I see that at least some of the fae here also have a love of insults. Guess some things span even worlds.

I turned my attention solely onto the fae that had spoken. "And that's where you are wrong. You see, I know where to get others, you two were simply the first catch."

The fae paled. Good, I had called its initial bluff, so now it would be more likely to play along with me.

"Any other objections?" I switched my gaze to the quieter one, who didn't respond. 

"Good. Now then, let me put your minds at ease a bit. I have no need of you two as test subjects, nor as ingredients, nor as slaves. More importantly, I need messengers."

'Gods I hope this works.'

Apparently it did, because the fae perked up. Now, not only did I have their undivided attention, but also their active curiosity. And you know what they say, "A curious fae is a cooperative one." Unless there are lamps or balloons involved. Fae plus lamps or balloons equals trouble. Or bath soap. The things I've seen fae folk do with bath soap are.... Not the point.

I leaned forward. "Now then, can you two link for a Nature's Whisper?

"Hold on a moment." The mouthier one held up a foreleg. "Suppose we could and agreed to help. Who are the messages for, and what do we get out of it?"

"Fair enough question. It will be correspondence between myself and the alicorn Princess Luna. As fo--"

"We'll do it!" Both fae were leaping into the air, waving their forelegs and fluttering their wings uncontrollably. It almost looked as if they were on fire.

I stared at them in surprise. "But I haven't even said what was in it for you?"

"Serving the moon princess is more than fair payment. She is the protector and guide of the supernatural after all. What fae wouldn't jump at the chance to meet her?"

"I guess that's a fair point. So....I guess we have an accord?"

"Most indeed!"

"Alright then. Next order of business, I suppose you'll need names."

"No need," the noisy one interrupted. "I'm Bloom Blossom, and this is Moon Lily."

Now this was actually a very nice surprise for me. Don't get me wrong, the fae back on Earth had personal names as well, but it was really only the elves that had made theirs more pronounceable. Other fae were only more than happy to make your tongue commit sepuku just to pronounce the first syllable of a name that might not even be their real one.

"Alright, that saves me some brainpower. Now, the Whisper if you will."

I'm not going to bother you with the details of how this link is set up, as it consists of several subtle gestures between two or more fae. Most reapers find it too boring to pay attention to, and I'm no exception. The point is, Nature's Whisper is a link that can be set up between two or more fae as a way or passing messages over a long distance. This message is literally carried on the wind, but can only be heard by those who are part of that specific Whisper. It's kind of like whispering over a phone, except without having to rely on wifi or broadband, and not having to worry about no signal.

The only downside is that, like a phone, you must have the 'receiver' on or near you at all times, otherwise you won't be able to get said messages.

Actually there are other downsides, like no music playlist or built-in camera.

Point is, such magic is very useful to reapers in situations much like the one I'm currently in.

"Alright, we're finished and a Whisper has been established."

"Hmm? Oh, good. Now the only real problem is how to get one of you to Luna. Could you fly to her castle?"

Bloom Blossom scratched his head. "We know the location of her palace, but we've never been there, and there's no telling how long it would take to get there."

"I see. Hmm, asking Twilight....no that's risky. I guess the best way would be to sleep and inform Luna herself."

"Wonderful! I'd be honored--"

"You," I pointed at Moon Lily, who shivered violently. "pack your bags. You're going to Canterlot."

Lily did a very nice impression of a fainting goat, while Blossom became a tomato. Not literally, just turned the color.

"HOLD IT! Why do I have to stay here with YOU?!

"Trust me, I don't like it any more than you do, but it works out this way. Luna will get Moon Lily because, A) Luna is usually fairly soft-spoken and Lily can relate. B) Luna lives and works in a more public setting. Lily is less likely to draw attention to herself.
C) I think it would be nice for Luna to be partnered with someone named Moon. Fits doesn't it?"

From Blossom's grumbling, I could deduce that he failed to find a suitable counter argument.

"Do...do you think I can do this?"

I almost addressed Bloom Blossom again, but caught myself when I realized it wasn't him speaking and turned to speak with the quiet member of our party.

"It won't be as difficult as you expect it to be. Just make sure to listen to Princess Luna and I'm sure the two of you will get along swimmingly."

Having consoled her, I hope, I stepped backwards and gestured at the shed around us. "Now, unless you want to go back into the jars for the time being, I suggest you make yourselves comfortable in here. It will take some time for me to arrange a means of transportation for you. Oh, and try to stay out of sight. It wouldn't do for the owner of this shed to find you and pry open my mischievous schemes."

The yellow pegasis with a pink mane?" Blossom questioned. "Pfft, even for a big pony, she's not that scary."

I grinned to myself and began to pack away my things. "You have no idea how wrong you are."

I refused to answer of Blossom's pursuing queries, and put the rest of my energy into finishing my packing. Eventually, he dropped the conversation and went to join Moon Lily in the little nest she had constructed in a shadowy upper corner of the shed.

Having finished my business, I gave the fae one last glance, before unlocking, exiting, and relocking the shed behind me. Normally I might've placed a seal on the structure, but I was relying on the fact that being able to see Luna would be incentive enough to keep the fae there.

I'd say things went fairly well, but now I've got a date with a princess.