//------------------------------//
// A New Journey 
// Story: The Ties that Bind 
// by the7Saviors 
//------------------------------//

Packing everything Ancient Scroll and fillies would need from the cottage had taken a good few hours and it was well into the night by the time they had finished.

Everyone had decided to unpack the kitchenware first and leave the rest of the unpacking for tomorrow, which left several boxes to be piled up in the sitting room. Thankfully there weren't too many as Ancient Scroll had only taken what he felt was necessary from the cottage -- many items of which were various books.

Once they had pack everything into the Vardo, Ancient Scroll had locked down the cottage with a series of complex spells that intrigued and mystified the fillies watching. With that done, everyone stepped into the caravan and they were off.

Before the Vardo had gotten too far however, Ancient Scroll had put the fillies to bed for the night and called Rouge And Yojimbo into the rather cramped sitting room for a discussion on what to do next. He took the opportunity to explain the situation regarding the fillies in full detail and they all proceeded to decided on a plan of action from there.

"Alright, so our final destination is the Royal Capital of Canterlot," Ancient Scroll explained to the cat and diamond dog sitting on the couch opposite him, "we'll need to make several stops on the way, as I can only keep the spell  moving this thing active for so long before it needs to be cast again."

"Not to mention the restocking of supplies," Rouge added, folding her legs and crossing her arms in thought, "and it might not be a bad idea to gather more information about what's going on in Canterlot before we get there."

"So we know what to expect," Ancient Scroll agreed with a nod, "that is a good idea."

"That's great and all," Yojimbo said as he leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees, "but where are we actually headed from here? Where's the next closest town?"

Ancient Scroll hummed contemplatively before rising out of his armchair and trotting towards the many boxes.

"Well technically the next closest town is Faranda Way Village," he said with a chuckle, "but we're more or less going in the opposite direction, and if I remember correctly..."

He rummaged through one of the boxes until he found what he was looking for. His horn lit up and a few large rolled up scrolls floated out the box wrapped in his green aura. He nodded and trotted back over to the armchair, unfurling one of the scrolls to reveal that it was actually a detailed map of Equestria. Rouge and Yojimbo gathered around as he traced a hoof across the map

"...the next closest town should be... here," he tapped the part of the map that showed a sketch of a small town further east of Faranda Way past a small forest, "about two hundred thirty miles east of Faranda Way, past this forest, is the town of Little Trot. That'll be our first stop."

"Have you been there, Ancient Scroll?" Rouge asked with an inquisitive raise of her brow, "is there anything you can tell about Little Trot?"

"I've only stopped by briefly so I don't much about the town," Ancient Scroll replied with a small shake of his head. He glanced over to Yojimbo, "but Yoji here actually has some family in Little Trot."

Rouge turned her attention to the husky who gave an affirmative nod.

"Yup, got a nephew who moved out there with his wife a few years back," he replied, "haven't heard from him in awhile, so I don't know what he's doin', but if he's the same dog I remember, I think he'd be willin' to help us out. As far as I know, the rest of the folk there are pretty friendly."

"Alright," Rouge said with a satisfied nod, "it sounds like a plan."

There was a brief moment of silence as Ancient Scroll used a few small tacks he had found to pin the large map to one of the walls. After a minute, Yojimbo leaned back on the couch and folded his arms. eyeing the stallion curiously.

"Hey, Scroll?"

The stallion in question turned a questioning gaze to his canine friend and the husky continued.

"What exactly is your plan," he asked pointedly, "in Canterlot I mean?"

"I'm assuming you'd want to find out more about what happened to little Twilight--" she paused and let out a small amused chuckle "--I'm sorry, I meant little Fia Starshine and her brother, but surely that isn't all, is it?"

"Finding out more about what happened to Twilight and why these ponies are looking for her is a big part of why I decided to go to Canterlot," Ancient Scroll comfirmed as he trotted back to his chair. "but I'd also like to find out more about the Princess herself."

"Oh?" Yojimbo replied, raising an eyebrow, "gonna see if what the Sunny pup said about Celestia was true?"

Ancient Scroll nodded solemnly.

"It's not that I don't believe Sunset -- far from it in fact," he responded, "but I need to know for myself just what the Princess is playing at with all this cloak and dagger business."

"I'm actually not too familiar with this Princess of yours," Rouge replied with with a frown, "but from what little Corona told you, I think she has ruled for far too long and seen far too much. To do something like that to a mere child..." she slowly shook her head and gave Ancient Scroll a grave look, "her mind is addled, Scroll."

She adjusted her position on the couch, crossing her arms as she spoke.

"She cannot continue to rule as she has been. I don't know who these mysterious ponies are, and I don't approve of their methods, but I would completely understand if their goal really was to bring down the Sun Princess."

"But wait," Yojimbo said with a bemused frown, "doesn't Celestia raise the Sun? If they knock her off the throne, what'd happen to that big ball of fire in the sky?"

"I'd think they'd have some sort of plan for that," Ancient Scroll replied, "assuming they aren't complete idiots who hadn't though ahead, that is."

"Well, whatever the case," Rouge said as she rose from the couch, "We can't let them take Twilight. I'm unsure of their plans for the little one, but I believe it would be wise to err on the side of caution as we travel."

"Indeed," Ancient Scroll agreed, "and that's exactly what the disguises are for."

"A fantastic move on your part, Scroll," Rouge responded with a smile. She made her way to the door and quietly pulled it open, "now if anyone needs me, I'll be in the kitchen making myself a midnight snack." 

"Oh, can you get me--"

"Make it yourself, Yojimbo."

Yojimbo gave a disappointed huff and leaned back on the couch as Rouge closed the door behind her. After a few moments of silence he turned back to Ancient Scroll with a smirk.

"I think she likes me."

"I think you've lost it."

They both shared a small laugh before Yojimbo took on a more serious expression.

"Seriously though, Scroll," he said solemnly, "you think those pups are gonna be okay once we really get going? I mean, as happy as I am to be on the road again with my oldest buddy, I've got concerns of my own about all of this."

"I know what you mean, Yoji," Ancient Scroll replied with a nod, "I get the strong feeling these ponies aren't ones we want to mess with," he idly stroked his beard as he thought, "as for the fillies... I'm sure they'll be okay. They're tough girls who've survived through some of the harshest things life has to throw at a pony."

He stopped stroking his beard and slowly turned his gaze to one of the boxes.

"There was one other thing I wanted to check while we were in Canterlot," he said after a moment of silence, "at first it was just out of curiosity, but now that I know there's somepony after Twilight, I think it's all the more important to find out."

"And what did you want to find out?" Yojimbo asked curiously.

Ancient Scroll didn't answer right away as he lit up his horn. One of the boxes shifted slightly and a small black box suddenly yanked itself out and over to the old stallion. He dropped it into his hooves and opened it, revealing the smooth translucent orb within.

"Twilight's mana wellspring isn't normal," he finally explained, "aside from a thaum count that would put many adult ponies to shame, her wellspring is a complete mystery to me."

"You do realized the average diamond dog would have aboslutely no idea what you're talking about, right?" Yojimbo said with a small smirk.

"Well then it's a good thing you're not an average diamond dog isn't it?" Ancient Scroll shot back with a chuckle, "there was a reason I drilled all this into that thick skull of yours, Yoji."

Yoji scoffed and leaned forward in his seat.

"So what going on with the pup's magic?" he asked, getting back on topic, "you said it wasn't normal?"

Ancient Scroll nodded as he looked back to the Orb of Insight.

"From what little I've managed to glean, it almost seems as though Twilight's wellspring... broke during her miraculous surge," he shook his head in bemusement, "no, that's not right... it's more like... there was some kind of... limiter that snapped when she cast the Teleportation spell -- at least that's the likeliest explanation I could come up with for what happened."

He sighed and placed the glass orb back inside the box before closing it. He stared at the box briefly before speaking again.

"I have no idea what happened to her wellspring, but that's not the only mystery I've run into with the filly," he looked from the box to the old dog across from him, "there's something fishy about her magical affinity as well, but I haven't been able to find even a hint as to what it may be."

Yojimbo scratched his chin as he hummed in thought.

"Well, it sounds like there's a lot more to the pup than meets the eye, eh?"

Ancient Scroll nodded and set the box on a small table between them.

"That there is," he replied, "and I'm willing to bet those ponies out there know more about what's going on with her magic than I do. Whatever it is they're trying to accomplish, i'm fairly certain Twilight -- or more specifically her magic -- is supposed to play an important role."

"And are you gonna find out what that role is?"

Ancient Scroll sighed tiredly as he rubbed a hoof across his face.

"Honestly, old friend... I'm hoping none of us ever have to find out."