//------------------------------// // The ride to the city // Story: The Hunters // by Deachir //------------------------------// It took me a few minutes to find my way back, and the others were mid-conversation when I reentered the room. "So it is settled then we leave tomorrow," Fluttershy said "Spike" twilight said turning to the dragon "go tell Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie please." "You got it," he said as he ran out the opposite door opposite from me "Can I ask what that was about?" I asked as I walked up to the three. They all visibly jumped, and Rainbow was the only one to try and hide her surprise. Just then I noticed a scroll in the middle of the group. "The princesses want to meet you and the other two tomorrow" Twilight said "Why do you trust them?!" Rainbow yelled at me "Rainbow don't be rude" Fluttershy squeaked back "Why? I don't trust him one bit and after what just happened neither should you" she yelled as she stomped up to her "He just saved my life, so I trust him," Fluttershy said "He is not your friend Fluttershy. He just wants to gain your trust then use you against us!" Rainbow yelled, "we would not have been in trouble if it weren't for him!" Fluttershy fell to a sitting position as tears welled up in her eyes. I just stood there and watched their friendship slowly thin with each word. I noticed a small mark on the side of rainbows neck that looked like a spider bite but a little bigger. It took me a few seconds to recognise it and instantly knew what happened. "Where were you after you left Fluttershy?" I asked her She turned to me "does it matter?!" I turned to twilight "use that healing spell that you used on me on rainbow's neck." "Why, that wouldn't do..." "Just do it," I said "Don't touch me Twi I am warning you?" she said in an angry tone as she glared at her friend. Just then twilights horn and rainbows neck shown with a bright magenta colour and the bite slowly disappeared. Rainbow visibly relaxed and calmed down. Her eyes grew wide, and she turned to the crying Fluttershy on the floor. "Oh my Celestia, I am so sorry," she said "What was that," she asked looking at me "A davlark drone bite. It drives the victim mad with rage" I said in a level tone "Sam, there is more to your story than you let on isn't there?" Fluttershy asked wiping the tears away "Yes but we all should get some sleep. We have royalty to see tomorrow" I said with fake excitement "You are right. Let all go to bed. You three can stay the night if you want too" Twilight said with a yawn "Thanks, Twi" rainbow said We all left for a good night sleep with me Fluttershy and rainbow going to the guest bedrooms and twilight going to the royal quarters. The next morning we all gathered on the train going to a place called Canterlot where three other princesses wait to meet us. I was sitting with Fluttershy at the back of the train car to my right was Hellen and Anne both looking at their feet. When we all got up this morning, they got into a fight about what was more important between going with us and trying to hide from the Devlark. After five minutes of listening to them yell, I told them they had no choice in the matter, and half dragged Anne to the train. In front of me was twilight and beside her was rainbow. Across from them were four that I did not know. The first Twilight told me that she was an earth pony named Applejack. She was a nice orange colour with a blonde mane and a brown Stetson hat. Beside her was a white unicorn named Rarity. She had a purple mane and tail that seemed to curl naturally. In front of her was another unicorn named starlight glimmer. She was a light heliotrope colour, and her hair was a purple with light purple and greyish aqua highlights. She was currently talking to Applejack and rarity with a concerned look. Beside her was another earth pony named pinkie pie. Her name says pretty much everything. She is pink with a pink frizzy mane, and her personality is like a hand grenade, pull the pin and watch it go. "Seriously, the silence is killing me!" Spike yelled from the seat in front of Pinkie. "It's not that bad spike," Starlight said "Ya but you have been talking to rarity for the last few minutes" rainbow said "Ya, that's because I'm trying not to be antisocial." "Speaking of antisocial" Rarity said as she turned to the twins then Fluttershy and me "I haven't heard any of you talk since we got on the train." "Well, what would you like to know?" I said in a neutral tone "Fer starters ah wanna know why you three are here," Applejack said "When we left earth, we just told the machine we used to send us anywhere but there and in the end that was here," Anne said without looking up. "Ah don't get it. what do ya mean?" Applejack asked "Wait how much have you four been told?" I ask "About that..." twilight started while scratching the back of her head with her hoof Those two words said everything I wanted to know "Well might as well start from the beginning" I said The rest of the train ride was spent with me explaining everything that I described at Fluttershy's cottage. Five minutes from the station and I finished explaining. Dead silence came over the train car, and you could have sworn you could hear the conductor talking two cars up. None of us wanted to disrupt it until we rolled into the station. Anne abruptly stood up which startled all of us. "Well let's get this over with", and with that, we all got our luggage and started towards the castle of the princess sisters.