//------------------------------// // Ponyville Spa, 9:07 pm // Story: The Everfree Files // by kaminakat //------------------------------// “I still don’t understand what we’re doing here, Lyra.” Moondancer muttered these words as she followed behind her partner.  The Ponyville Spa only had light coming out of one window; the one on the second floor.  The two on the ground floor were dark, and the door had a “closed” sign over it.  It apparently had yet to be locked though, as Lyra stood holding the door open for Dancer. “I told you, were gonna grab some supplies for our monster hunt,” said Lyra as the two entered the building. The lobby was dimly lit.  Moondancer could just make out a sign next to the desk describing various massages and whatnot.  Lyra walked right up to the desk, Moondancer standing slightly behind her. “I’m sorry friends but vee are closed,” came a voice from the other side of the desk. “Agent Strings and Dancer miss, EBI,” said Lyra, “we have a bit of an emergency order, but it won’t take long.” A light blue pony poked her head up from behind the desk with a large grin on her face. “Lyraaaah, darling!  My apologies, what can ve do for you?” “We need an order of Zecora’s poison joke remedy, gonna be heading into some ground covered in the stuff.” “Ah, just give me a moment, I vill go to ze back and mix up a batch for you two!”  With that, the spa pony trotted off to whereabouts unknown. Moondancer glanced back at the waiting area.  A couple black chairs and a couch were set up, a small coffee table in the middle of the space.  Various magazines littered the top of the table.  Probably fashion related.  Should we go sit down?  I don’t really have any frame of reference for how long this is going to take.  I don’t think I’ve ever been in a spa before.  No, wait, I did go in one once to get my mom a gift card for her birthday.  That doesn’t really count though.  Maybe one- Moondancer’s thoughts were interrupted as she noticed the soft hum of unicorn magic.  She glanced over to see Lyra’s horn glowing slightly.  Lyra’s eyes were focused on something behind the counter.  Moondancer peeked over the counter and watched as two black flashlights were floating out of an opened drawer in the spa pony’s desk.  The drawer shut slowly and quietly as the flashlights floated over the counter and into Lyra’s side bag. Moondancer nudged her partner a bit harder than usual.  Lyra flinched.  She looked at Moondancer with a fake surprised face. “What do you think you’re doing?” Moondancer whispered angrily. “I didn’t think to bring some from the office,” Lyra whispered back, “I’ll bring ‘em back tomorrow.” “You could have just asked!  This is stealing!” Moondancer retorted, now whisper-yelling. “It’s fine, just relax!” Lyra whispered back. Moondancer gave her partner an icy glare until they heard hoofsteps approaching the counter.  The blue pony popped back up with a spray bottle in her hooves. “Zis should do ze trick!”  She smiled and handed Lyra the bottle.  Lyra, without looking, quickly levitated it into her bag. “Thanks a bunch.  Just go ahead and put that on the company account, okay?” “Ze same one you put ze hooficures on, darling?” Moondancer shot Lyra a dirty look.  Lyra grinned sheepishly and nodded to the spa pony. The agents said goodnight to the spa pony and headed back outside. Lyra led the way as they headed back toward Fluttershy’s cottage.  It was dark now, with only the lights from town and the moon above to illuminate their surroundings.  They trudged along slowly down the dirt path.  The edge of the Everfree Forest was visible in the distance, and Moondancer found herself focusing on it.  The area under the trees was pitch black; it seemed to swallow up all light which dared enter.  As the agents walked, the forest got closer. Moondancer felt a pang of dread.  She straightened her head and decided to focus on following Lyra for the rest of the walk.  Although she kept her eyes fixed on the back of Lyra’s head, by the time they arrived at the cottage she could feel the fear settle itself in her stomach. As Lyra began heading around the cottage, Moondancer started stepping slower. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until tomorrow to do this?” she asked, her voice wavering.  “It would be a lot easier to search in the daylight.” “If we wait another day, this monster could break into another home.  And if it is a hostile creature, it could mean someone could get hurt if we wait.  We can’t afford to let that happen.” Lyra reached into her bag and pulled out the flashlights.  She handed one to Moondancer, and realized she was shaking.  Lyra’s eyes widened, and she put a hoof on Moondancer’s shoulder. “Hey, Dancer, is everything okay?” “I’m fine.  I was just voicing a suggestion is all.”  Moondancer kept her eyes locked on the ground.  She scolded herself in her mind.  Stop shaking.  You’re acting like a foal.  Stop.  Stop shaking!  Come on! Lyra tilted Moondancer’s head up so she had to look at her.  Moondancer had been afraid of finding a disappointed look on Lyra’s face, but instead she was greeted with somber eyes. “You’re scared, Dancer,” said Lyra.  “You’re scared, and that’s okay.  I wouldn’t expect you not to be.  I was just as scared the first time I was on an assignment like this.” “Really?”  Moondancer felt her shakes subside. “Yes, really.  It’s totally normal, Dancer.  But, we do need to do this.  And we need to do it now.  It’s our job, and it’s important.  Other ponies are counting on us.  Just stay close and you’ll be fine, I promise.  I’ve got your back, as long as you’ve got mine.  Deal?”  Lyra gave a soft smile and held out a hoof. Moondancer took a deep breath.  She still felt a bit sick to her stomach, but it was better than before.  She did her best to muster up a smile as she tapped her hoof against Lyra’s. Lyra nodded, then looked to the forest. “Okay.  Showtime.” Both unicorn’s horns sparked to life as they each levitated a flashlight beside them, switching them on and casting pillars of piercing light into the dark forest.  They walked up to the grove of poison joke flowers.  Lyra withdrew the spray bottle from her bag and sprayed in on both agent’s hooves and legs.  She placed the bottle back in her bag, and the two partners headed into the Everfree.