Once again, Watts Onion was inside that aristocratic hallway of multi-faceted stained glass windows, of tall columns that morphed into curved dark purple wall extensions with blue stars and yellow diamond studs, of lengthy ribbon-like banners sporting checkered and pseudo-diamonds and backgrounds abstracted in a monochromatic scheme, of silk red carpet flowing on the polished floor, of golden throne enriched by refined fountains and bowls of flowers—and, added to this was the immense size of the room, the sparseness of it furthering its sheer royalty.
However, the time now was dusk and was not within the (very) early morning hours. The sun gave the hallway an awe-inspiring glow as its rays broke through the stained glass windows, bringing upon the floor a festival of soft colors to always be seen but to never be felt—and the rays themselves weren't just orange anymore for they were the first to adopt that festival before the floor did, providing the splendid corridor a dance of various hues that did not explode in one's face but rather graced one's vision, increasing the architectual artistry while not distracting from it.
The eyes of the ponies there along with the armors of the guards gleamed under the diversity of light. The guards were keeping a close eye on the four ponies on the carpet—especially Watts Onion since, unlike the others, he was sitting on the carpet rather than standing on it. They were also keeping a close eye on the cart or wagon the ponies had brought along with them inside.
"I can't believe it," Isobar said, turning his head around slowly as his words echoed. "In a few moments, we're all going to be in the presence of Princess Luna herself. It's cool enough to be in Canterlot, and then we have this!"
"It's surprising that anypony could go here and I haven't stopped by here even once," Wakes Week commented, sulking a little.
"It would be an honor to have our newspaper be read by even just one of the Princesses of Equestria," Dally News said. "That would be a sign of our reputation growing!" A pause. "Oh, and embarking on this great task, Watts Onion—" She patted the sitting Onion "—that's...great, too!"
"Uh, shouldn't you at least be a little bit more happy about this?" Isobar said. "You're the one that Princess Luna chose for the job. Come on—get some smiles working and loosen up!"
"Not after the last time I had a scuffle with these guards," Onion said.
"I'm not falling for that one again," one of the guards said calmly in his deep voice. "Sir, do not disturb the peace and you will not be arrested."
"Wow," Onion let out. "It's just the first mention of the word 'guard' and you're already jumping to arrest me the very second I do, what, something petty?"
Wakes Week gasped.
Dally News gasped, too, and adjusted her glasses with her hoof.
Isobar covered his friend's mouth and faced the guard in question, wearing a sheepish smile. "Heh-heh-heh-heh, my friend here was just joking, you see? Amateur comedian—doesn't know when his jokes go too far!"
"His cutie mark doesn't say anything about being a comedian," the guard said, pointing to it.
"Well, uh, why can't a farmer also be a comedian?" Isobar went on, keeping up his anxious voice. "The Element of Laughter is a baker but also a comedian!"
"Her cutie mark is about throwing parties," the guard said. "Being a comedian almost comes with the territory."
Onion's eyes were darting back and forth between his friend and the stern-faced guard; so, too, were Wakes Week's and Dally News's eyes.
"But, you're forgetting the fact that ponies, in general, can have hobbies and talents other than, uh, what their cutie mark signifies!"
"Of coure, everypony knows that except for a crazy few."
"Ah, maybe you are part of the—" Then, he covered his own mouth with a wing.
"Oh, so his friends start speaking badly about the E.U.P. Guard," the guard said, his voice becoming more aggressive.
"That was just the slip of the tongue, sir, my kind sir!" Isobar said in rapid pace, raising a hoof in self-defense. "My train of thought can go to tracks like that if I don't police myself, and I'm very sorry for what I was about to say and may I plead you to please pardon my friend Watts Onion of anything bad he did to royal guards like you. Kind sir."
A bit of silence.
The guard looked at Watts Onion.
The eyes of the rest of the guards narrowed on the group.
"I don't know why Princess Luna would choose somepony who doesn't have good taste regarding us," the guard said, "but, perhaps, she didn't know back then. Now, though, she had already received our reports about you but she still insists that you and your friends are the ones to solve whatever is in Winsome Falls ailing her mind. I don't understand, but the Princesses are wiser than all of us here."
The rest of the guards nodded.
"Doesn't mean you should treat us like we're worth little."
Isobar finally stopped covering Onion's mouth.
More silence as the four ponies looked amongst themselves.
"Talk, play some hoof games, as long as you don't go teasing us again."
Princess Luna eyed the double doors with suspicion though she kept on going. "That is strange," she muttered— "the timing of the guard coming in to notify me meant that Watts Onion and his friends had already been there for some time when I entered the hallway and decorated it with the flowers. I could chalk it up to forgetfulness—but, the guards are not so forgetful even during the worst days. No matter—I have kept them waiting long enough."
At the end of the hallway, there were double doors. Tall and periwinkle, its frame was golden and studded with a few more precious stones. A regal design was above the door, showcasing a depiction of a white alicorn.
With her magic, she opened the doors.
The double doors glowed blue and they opened.
The ponies looked.
Princess Luna was there, already walking.
Everypony went on to their knees, prostrating themselves before the Princess.
The faint clank of her hoofguards echoed in the otherwise permeating silence.
The doors closed and her horn stopped glowing.
The guards remained firm in their bow, eyes closed with duty.
The four ponies in front of her were shuddering, close to cowering on the carpet.
Princess Luna halted right in front of the group of friends.
She looked at them, examining them with a tilt of her head.
"You may all stand," Luna announced.
The ponies then stood up, first the guards who stood up almost in unison and then the group of friends who gradually went up on to their four hooves—still shuddering, though, as they bore on their faces expressions of royal terror in their downward mouths and their small irises in their eyes.
"There is no need to be afraid," Luna said, extending a hoof out to them before returning it—smiling. "I am not here to hurt you or to threaten you, even. I am only here to listen and to then tell you what you must do in order to start your journey in the best state possible."
The friends nodded, silent.
Luna walked past them and the guards and was now in front of the golden throne, at the step of it.
The four ponies were still shuddering.
"You may come closer."
And, so they did along with a few guards who were at the front.
Then, Onion rushed out to grab the wagon and pushed it with both his hooves and his magic. After that, he went back to his group of friends, smiling but still shuddering.
More silence as Luna looked upon the friends.
The festival and dance of colors and hues was still going on; Luna's mane shimmered colorfully.
"Watts Onion," Luna began, "do you want to introduce your friends or to let them introduce themselves?"
Onion, still shuddering though less, turned to Isobar. "What do you think?"
Isobar opened his mouth, glanced at the smiling Princess, and did not say anything—well, one syllable that was not a word. His irises were still shrunken.
"I think he's just astounded by it all," Dally News said—she was still shuddering, too. "Like Wakes Week here." She motioned a hoof towards her friend.
The mare was not saying anything, too. Her gaze was stuck upon Luna.
Onion nodded.
Then, he turned around and faced the Princess.
"I want to introduce my friends myself," Onion answered.
Luna nodded in her place. "Alright, then."
Onion walked up to Isobar's side—Isobar himself not moving much. He gestured a hoof at his friend, directing the Princess's attention to the pegasus. "First, here's Isobar! A close friend of mine since our school days back in Ambling, he is a productive and functioning member of Ambling!"
"Functioning?" Luna asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"Uh, I meant, uh, 'very productive'!"
Luna nodded again. "What else can you say about Isobar?"
"He is the leader of some kind of group for colts and fillies so that they will also be productive. He also takes care of the weather around Ambling along with, uh, about the majority of pegasi that live at home. His brand of humor may be irritating at times, but he's going to cheer us up when we're all feeling down or lonely."
Luna nodded once more. "That is a good thing—he reminds me of a specific mare, but I digress."
Isobar glanced at Onion with his still tiny irises, now clenching his mouth.
Onion trotted to Dally News who gave her a wave—though she was still shuddering; she also gave the Princess a sheepish smile. "This is Dally News! She's a friend of a friend but that doesn't mean we're not on good terms with each other! She works for a local newspaper outlet in our town, inking and printing the bundles. She's also good at skiing."
Luna raised her eyebrows. "Why did you mention that?"
"I don't know, really. I thought that skiing could be useful in our journey. Somehow in some nature."
Luna nodded again, still smiling. "Anything else about her?"
"Uh, I am good with using the camera," Dally News said. "In fact, I brought one along inside the wagon."
The Princess glanced at the wagon. Then, she looked at the mare and nodded. "That will prove to be very useful when it comes to recording any findings you have; I will clearly see what you are talking about and not having to rely solely on my own imagination. Plus, we can show the photos to others and they can chip in their own perspectives on it."
Onion went to Wakes Week's side. "And, finally, last but not least, here's Wakes Week! She's good at handling out-of-town visitors, is good at talking her way to something good, and is talented in making umbrellas and using them in a variety of ways."
"Like, say, combat perchance?" Luna asked, retaining that smile.
"Actually, I don't know. I'll go ask her." He leaned towards her ear. "Can you fight off some ponies with an umbrella?" he whispered.
Wakes Week nodded with creaking, her face still adorned with that fearful expression.
Luna nodded again. "I do not know the full range of activities and actions one can engage in with only an umbrella, but if that is her talent, then I am sure that it will be advantageous to you."
Then, a frown.
"You may also stop shuddering. This does not make sense—I have been most patient and kind with you."
The four ponies went back to their normal selves, stopping their shuddering; all of them breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"That prolonged trembling may end up detracting from your health," Luna expressed, "but, again, I digress." A pause as she took a good look of the friends in front of her. "You are a unique group of friends—in all honesty, I did not expect that you would be the ones to take on this business of finding out what is going in Winsome Falls.
"Let me continue being honest with you: While this is a royal job and I understand that you will get some honors for accomplishing this, it is not really that serious. I acknowledge that you are endangering yourselves to complete this journey, but you should not let that take you away from this truth of friendship: A difficult day binds true friends closer. Whether the trip goes smoothly or not, remember to have fun and enjoy the time that you have—you will reinforce the friendship you already have between each other and that is better than several medals and being famous.
"Am I absolutely clear on that?"
The four ponies nodded, not saying a word as the final reverberations of that question resounded before fading away.
"Now, on to the subject of the business ahead of you: As you already know, you are to go to Winsome Falls and investigate anything that seems out of the ordinary there. If there is nothing of such sort and you have proven that it is so, you can safely report to me that and you can return to your homes right away. If there is something unusual going on, you are to further investigate on the matter and to update me on what it is. If you think you can handle it yourselves, then do so by any legitimate means. If you think help is necessary, then you can write to me to bring on anypony you think is required for the job—and, if I and/or my sister is needed or, perhaps, you need Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends, then that will be so. However, I must remind you that it is not a light thing to call for our help or the royal guards' help or the help of Twilight Sparkle and her friends—all of us have their own important royal business and to interrupt us for a trifle would be, at the very least, insulting to us.
"I have already laid out to you the mere basics of the search. What comes next is the final preparation—I assume you have already brought a map that will guide you to Winsome Falls, have you not?"
Onion nodded, not saying a word.
"That is excellent.
"I have already scheduled a train to arrive here within moments of nightfall. The train will take you to the town of Fourbeat, the closest town to Winsome Falls that is still connected to the Equestrian Railway. From there, you are to write to me of your safe arrival there. After that, you are to go on your way to the next and final settlement before you truly enter Winsome Falls territory—Pace. When you get there, you are to write me once again about your safe arrival. After that, you are to go your way through the Winsome Forest—I am more than confident that you can brace whatever may be thrown at you there. Finally, when you reach Winsome Falls, you are to use the nearby postal office to continue updating me on the matter."
The four ponies looked at each other with odd looks.
"Yes, there is a postal office nearby, but it is more of a postal kiosk—only two ponies are holding it. I expect easy communication between the both of us once you get there barring unexpected disaster.
"If anypony doubts the truth of your testimony that you are sent by me, you show them these."
Her horn glowed blue once again as medals were levitated form behind the throne, through the air, and right in front of the Princess.
"These are tokens of identification and royal verification," Luna said. "You do not have to wear them, but showing them is a necessity should anypony prevent you entrance to certain areas. You probably do not need them since they are not too suspicious of those claiming to be under royal orders, but it is better to be ready in the worst of cases."
She floated the medals to the four.
The unicorns caught magical hold of it, Onion's shining a different hue of blue and Dally's glimmering a neat green. Wakes Week grabbed hers with a hoof while Isobar grabbed his with the tips of his wing.
"One more check on what you need before you go," Luna went on. "Do you have more than enough food and water to last you a month?"
The four ponies nodded.
"Do you have tents or other forms of shelter to keep you safe and warm?"
The four ponies nodded.
"Do you have an abundant amount of paper, quills, and ink to write to not just me and, if need be, my sister and the other Princesses but also to your families and friends to tell them of how you are?"
The four ponies nodded.
"Do you have at least a few weapons to defend yourselves from any hostile creatures?"
The four ponies nodded.
"Do you have books, games, and other such things to keep yourselves occupied on slow days and nights and, more importantly, to stay close to each other as good friends?"
The four ponies nodded.
The Princess of the Night gave a long, drawn out sigh, her face upward though her gaze was graced with a dainty smile. She was looking at them.
Isobar gulped.
"Then, I have nothing more to tell you," Luna said. "I am afraid that I have told you all that I could regarding what might be in Winsome Falls. You are to leave the hallway immediately after I officially finish this meeting with you. You have a little more than enough time to reach the train station before nightfall—I have personally ordered the train to be delayed by one more minute myself in the event that you get stuck by some accident. Beyond that, the rest is up to you.
"I have my full trust in you. Do not be humorless about this business—lighten up from time to time. You are close friends, I presume—enjoy each other's company.
"And, I think, that is truly all I can say for your instruction and encouragement."
The four ponies bowed down again.
The guards followed suit.
Luna smiled a little, her mane and her eyes glistening under the colored sunset's light.
And doors slid closed.
The wheels accelerated slowly but surely as speed picked up from a stable still through a manageable jog to a galloping sprint—streets and buildings and street lights (some of them already open close to the night) and ponies whizzing by, becoming a blur to whoever looked out the train's windows. Soon, the model engineering of Canterlot—with its fancy style and fake nobility living with real nobility—was but a strange patch among a singular gathering of mountains.
With that, the sky underwent that daily and routine but still illustrious change—the sun finally set behind the hills, plunging the orange sky into a dark blue night. The stars twinkled softly into view once again and the moon rose, shining its smooth light upon the land. Gone was any trace of the sun's heat—it was now a little cooler, a little colder, somewhat chilly, even.
A few windows were open, letting in the fresh scent of healthy grass in their plentiful fields, the occasional cottage appearing here and there before almost instantly moving away from view.
A variety of passengers were seated on the cushioned seats of the carriages divided by space and green, transparent dividers that were curved. Beside the windows—some curtained shut, some wide open, others halfway—were lights that looked old yet not ancient. Above the windows were tiny yet noticeable images of a flower—the same images, but it gave the train's inside a lovely consistency. On the blue ceiling were more modern lights—flat and circular. Connecting each carriage were blue doors with a window on them, giving anyone looking in a good and clear view of what was in the next part of the train. Running through the middle of the carriage was a green carpet of easy and simple design—curved lines of green and sections of green.
The passengers were different as not only their appearances and looks were quite diverse but also the activites they were busy with were diverse as well. Over there, right beside a door to another carriage, several colorful changelings and a lone brown pony with grayscale mane were wearing the same adventurer's outfit, all of them either holding a Daring Do book or having one near by; their talk was made up of much discussion, elaboration, and the occasional spice of heated argument before one of them intervened and called for a peaceful resolution before things would "get very bad" as one changeling quipped. Over here, at the other end of the carriage and also beside a door to another carriage, a fancy couple
of unicorns was sitting alone; the stallion was of white coat, blue hair, suit and lavender bowtie, fine mustache, and monocle—the mare was of white coat (too), pink hair, and was, with the stallion, looking out at the lovely landscape past the window; not a word was said between the two of them. Right at the middle of the carriage, at one set of seats, an informal grouping of Crystal ponies—as could be seen by their polygonal, diagonal sparkles and shines on their eyes—were laughing together, some covering their hooves which did not do anything to stifle the laughter at all; one of them let out "That was a good joke!" and that finally caused some heads to turn their way and some eyebrows to be raised and knitted their direction.
However, the four ponies that had begun this—no doubt—considerable and significant job about Winsome Falls were gathered together in an inconspicious position: over there, not at either end and not close to the middle, too. They were just seated there as if randomly but not so. Dally News, Wakes Week, and Isobar had their eyes closed—Isobar was snoring loudly, annoying the pony in front who gave Onion a mean look before she went back to reading her newspaper under the bright wall and ceiling lights.
Onion shivered a little before he went back to normal.
He then looked out past the window without disturbing his friends—making sure that his movements were delicate and calculated so as to not even make any sort of contact with them.
He gazed upon the starry sky with its moon. He then looked at the grass, the trees, the plants, the distant towns with their own bright lights.
His eyes blinked slowly.