//------------------------------// // 287. Catch you on the Bright Side - Part 2 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// The Friendship Express chugga-chugged along as the two colthood friends gazed out at the passing countryside while Bright told his story, “After I started researching old legends, I felt... inspired! It made me consider taking up writing again, but I felt like just reading about them wasn’t enough.” “You wanted to see legends,” Midnight gathered, “check out the artifacts, the relics, the clues and remains of bygone ages and all that?” “You got it,” Bright smiled as he took out his notebook and leafed through the pages, “and recently, I’ve read an old history book in the Canterlot University library about the Castle of the Two Sisters. See, thousands of years ago, the royal capitol was built practically in the heart of the Everfree Forest! It made sense, of course, the forest was, at the time, thought to be the center of Equestria. “But see, I got to wondering, how could a royal capitol have existed and thrived in what is today considered to be perhaps among the most dangerous environments in the country? Well, it wasn’t exactly like I could make an appointment with Princess Celestia and ask, but then I considered the forest itself. Tell me, Midnight... “How did the Everfree Forest get its name?” “Hmm,” Midnight wracked his brain before he slowly answered, “If I remember my studies into historical lore... the forest was named after... Gaia Everfree, who is said to be the Spriit of the Everfree Forest, and also known as the Lady of the Wilds!” “Yes, but see, Gaia was also known by another name,,” Bright Side showed some notes in his notebook that detailed a few things, “the First Farmer, because legends say, Gaia was the one who first taught earth ponies how to farm, to lay down seed, to tend to the earth, and grow crops. It was perhaps the first major leap for ponykind towards creating their own civilization.” “It sounds to me that this is more about Gaia Everfree than it is about the Castle of the Two Sisters,” noticed Midnight. “Well, you see, I’ve done more research,” Bright leafed through more pages in his notes, “and there’s some old rumors and tales that after Princess Celestia banished Nightmare Moon and left the Castle of the Two Sisters, ponies have gone there a few times every century or two. Almost all of them reported back some strange happenings in that castle, supposedly perpetrated by a... Pony of Shadows. “But I have this theory, that perhaps this so-called Pony of Shadows is perhaps a manifestation of Gaia herself, scaring away ponies from her forest.” “Intriguing theory, I’ll admit,” Midnight rubbed his hoof to his chin, “so what’s the plan?” “After we arrive in Ponyville, I was hoping you could introduce me to a certain somepony who lives in the Everfree Forest,” explained Bright before pulling a smirk, “or rather, I should say... some zebra.” “I take it you’re talking about Zecora,” gathered Midnight, “I mean, she does live in the Everfree Forest because she’s an herbalist and skilled in making all kinds of potions and brews. I asked her once why she chose to live there and she explained it’s because the Everfree Forest is so rich with all kinds of herbs and ingredients with potent properties.” “I take it she knows this or that about lore or legends?” asked Bright hopefully. “She does give that impression,” Midnight considered, “and she’s shared a story or two once in a while when she visits Ponyville. Who knows? Perhaps she knows more about the Everfree Forest than we think.” The train whistle interjected and the PA system sounded as the conductor announced, “We shall be arriving in Ponyville in five minutes.” Bright Side smiled as he took in the sight of Ponyville, a humble town with humble beginnings. But now was regarded as among the most well-known places in all of Equestria, thanks to a certain bunch of heroes known as the Harmonic Twelve. Even from the station platform, Bright could see the Castle of Friendship, appearing as a giant tree with veins of crystal in its trunk, leaves that gave off a faint white glow, shimmering vines, topped with a splendorous moon and star, representing its resident prince and princess. “I gotta tell ya, Midnight, Ponyville looks amazing- Your castle looks amazing!” Bright stepped down from the platform, Midnight following, as Bright ventured forth, seeing the Ponyville residents going about their daily business with friendly smiles and giving each other friendly howdy-doos, pausing to shoot the breeze with a friend, all around just having a lovely day. “You’re quite lucky to live in a place full of friendly and happy-” “HIYA!!!” “BWAUGH!!” Bright Side reared up but his saddlebags, along with his belly, threw off his balance and he fell towards his side, only to feel somepony catch him and groan. “Oof, you’re a hefty guy, ain’t’cha, urgh...!” Cheese Sandwich helped Bright come down squarely on his hooves, the rotund earth pony panting a bit and feeling like he’d just lost a year or two from his life. “Uh, sorry about that, phew!” Bright finally calmed his beating chest, taking a deep breath as Midnight came over to fan him with his wing, “Thanks, Midnight. You two just came out of nowhere, how’d you do that?” Pinkie and Cheese shared a knowing look before cracking up as though the answer were obvious, to Bright’s confusion before Midnight chuckled, “Trust me, pal, there’s no figuring out our resident Party Ponies, Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich!” “Wait, Cheese Sandwich?” Bright perked up before giving Cheese an admiring smile, “I’ve heard of you in my travels, I have a friend in Baltimare who told me about the party you threw for his neighborhood!” “My Cheesy used to travel all over Equestria, throwing epic parties wherever he visited!” Pinkie nuzzled up against her stallion who chuckled at her praise. “But after coming to Ponyville, let’s just say I realized my place is here,” Cheese pulled Pinkie into a loving hug, “Even so, every once in a while, my Cheesy Sense tells me of a party in the making and I head off to where I’m needed” - he and Pinkie then shared a kiss and looked warmly into each other’s eyes - “but I always come home.” “Heh-heh, sounds wonderful...” Bright said although he didn’t seem so bright in that moment when Midnight cleared his throat. “So, Pinkie Pie, Cheese Sandwich, I’d like to introduce you both to Bright Side,” Midnight said with warm regard, “He’s a good friend of mine from back in our primary school days.” “Ooh-ooh! Two foalhood friends reuniting and coming here to catch up?!” Pinkie gushed. “Y’know what that means, Pinks!” Cheese added. “A PARTY!!!” they shouted from the rooftops; no really, they suddenly both appeared on random rooftops, shouting before pulling out flugelhorns and tooting a rallying melody that went ‘Do-do-do, DO-do-DOOO’, only for Bright to sheepishly smile and say, “Sorry, Party Ponies, not today.” The Party Ponies’ manes made a sound like the sputtering of deflating balloons but maintained some of their curly floofiness as Bright assured, “But I am up for some partying in a couple days or so. You can, I dunno, use that time to plan something out.” “Okey-dokey-lokey!” Pinkie accepted before she bounced away, “C’mon, Cheesy, to the Party Cave!” “Wait up!” Cheese hurried after her, leaving Bright and Midnight both to sigh in relief. “They mean well, and I betcha they’ll throw you a party you won’t soon forget,” Midnight playfully shouldered Bright, just like they used to as colts. “Oh I’m sure they will, and I’ll be looking forward to it,” Bright agreed, “especially after a dark, cold, and likely harrowing expedition into the Everfree Forest.” “Shall we? There’s a path just outside of town that leads into the forest and straight to Zecora’s home,” Midnight invited. “Lead the way, old friend,” Bright nodded and the two started off. Bright Side smiled with building awe and excitement at the sight of Zecora’s home. The walk there through the forest had been uneventful and that somehow made this imminent meeting all the more exciting to Bright as Midnight said, “Zecora’s a wise and kind Zebra mare, just... be patient.” “About what?” Bright asked as Midnight raised his hoof to knock. “Rhyming couplets,” Midnight gave three loud but polite knocks and stepped back a few moments before the door opened, revealing Zecora with a friendly smile. “Prince Midnight has come to say hi, but tell me, friend, what brings you by?” Midnight raised a brow and slight smirk to Bright who shrugged and then cleared his throat. "Ni nzuri kukutana na Zecora. Jina langu ni Bright Side." The zebra's eyes widened with surprise but then she smiled in a nostalgic way before responding, "Hii ni mshangao kabisa. Sijawahi kuzungumza na mtu yeyote kwa lugha yangu kwa wakati Fulani?" "Ninaweza kuandika, kuzungumza, na kuzitambua kikamilifu. Bibi yangu ana uhakika wa kuimarisha urithi wangu wakati anaweza." Bright answered. It was at this point Zecora noticed something about Midnight’s friend besides his fluent use of her native language. They’d been faint so she didn’t notice them at first. But now she saw the stripes that adorned Bright’s ample flanks, and she smiled somewhat giddy. Meanwhile as the two continued to speak, Midnight was at a bit of a loss. He wasn’t fluent in Afriskan languages but was able to pick up every third word or so. Still, he was starting to feel a bit out of the loop. "Kama napenda kuendelea kuendelea tunahitaji kurudi kwenye suala Zecora. Sasa wakati wowote ulipokwenda kwenye msitu umeona mahali popote ulionekana kuwa ulinzi na kufungwa?" Bright proclaimed. "Ninakumbuka kuwa ni sehemu ya misitu ambayo sikuweza kupata kwa sasa wakati ..." "Hey guys..." Bright and Zecora turned to look at Midnight, who respectfully asked, “I'm kind of only getting bits and pieces here. Think we could spare me some translation please?” The two sheepishly grin and chuckled at their mutual friend’s confused expression before Bright said, "Sorry about that, Night. I guess we got a little carried away there." “Please, inside we shall adjourn,” Zecora invited, “and we’ll see what I can help you to learn.” Bright marveled at the cultural Afriskan decorations and furnishings Zecora had around her homeland of Zebrabwe, as well as the many jars of ingredients, bottles and flasks of different potions, elixirs, and of the bubbling cauldron that centered it all. “Midnight wasn’t kidding!” Bright marveled, “Truly you must be an alchemist of great renown.” “Many a brew I have made, that is true,” Zecora nodded before taking a ladle and giving the cauldron’s contents a few good stirs. “But all too often fame is fickle, for many it leads to quite a pickle.” “Heheh, I hear that,” Midnight took a seat, “Now Zecora, I apologize if we dropped in on a bad time, but Bright here has some things he’d like to ask you.” Zecora looked Expectantly at Bright who cleared his throat, “Well, um... I’ve actually come here to the Everfree Forest to investigate any ruins or find lost relics, especially anything pertaining to the Spirit of the Everfree. I thought we should speak with you and ask how much of the Everfree you’ve explored or if you’d seen anything of archaeological significance, as well as any areas we should avoid.” “The Spirit of the Everfree, you say? Well, I shall help you on your way,” Zecora went on (in rhyming couplets, of course) to explain the ruins of what must have been a town from a long time ago not too far from the Castle of the Two Sisters but she had avoided it because of a feeling of dread any time she had gone near it, as though her senses were warning her. She made note of some areas they should avoid, such as an abandoned hut that was haunted by the wretched spirit of a hag, a boggy pit inhabited by something large with writhing tentacles that ensnared anything that wandered too close to the edge of the pit, the favorite hunting grounds of a pack of timberwolves, and the cave of an Ursa Major that was currently pregnant and thus especially vicious. “As for the forest spirit, well you see,” Zecora went on, “never once have I seen Gaia Everfree. But her gaze is ever watching, her heart cold like stone. If you ask me, you should leave her well enough alone.” “Hmm, that does match up to the legends and lore I’ve read up on her,” Bright rubbed his chin, “but as foreboding as it is, it just makes me all the more excited to find what’s out there to discover!” “Well said, Bright!” Midnight gave his friend an admiring look, “And you know you’ve got me to back you up.” “If truly you are determined, I shall see you well and ready,” Zecora went to and fro, grabbing some ingredients and quickly putting together some new brews or mixes. “Antidotes and repellant for the journey to go steady.” Zecora made sure to point out the contents of each bottle and explained what they were for and how to properly use them, such as an antidote for most venoms, a repellant for predators or poisonous insects, an elixir that completed rehydrated the drinker with one sip, a powder that when blown would create vivid flashes of light to temporarily blind and dazzle the eyes of any who looked directly at it, and so on. Midnight conjured a case to hold the containers and the contents Zecora had given them, along with his own saddlebags to carry them. Before long, the two friends stood outside Zecora’s door as she wished them well, “Take care, my friends, and visit some more. And Bright, I hope you find what you’re looking for.” “It was a real pleasure to meet you, Zecora,” Bright said before adding, “Nakutakia siku njema!” “Safari njema!” Zecora replied with a giggle before closing her door. “So then, where to, partner?” asked Midnight as they began walking down the path. “I’m thinking... let’s check out the Castle of the Two Sisters,” Bright suggested as they came to a fork in the path, “even if we don’t find anything, we could use the castle to get a better vantage point and maybe look for a direction to take. Honestly, I’m curious of the town ruins Zecora mentioned. I have this strong feeling that they are what remain of the village Everfree! It was so named not only after Gaia Everfree but because it was meant to symbolize how nopony would ever again be enslaved under the Sisters’ rule.” “Sounds like a plan,” Midnight agreed, “then let’s go. Perhaps there’s something I can show you while we visit the castle.” The halls and throne room of the Castle of the Two Sisters were... cleaner and tidier than Bright had been expecting. But still he marveled at the tapestries, the pedestals, the thrones that once upon a time served as the seats of power of the Equestrian nation over a thousand years ago. Due to how the throne room had been straightened up, aside from a collection of dust and a noticeable draft, it almost felt as though he’d stepped through time to a bygone age. “Absolutely amazing...” Bright was in awe as he took out his notebook and did a quick sketch of what he was seeing, adding notes to anything in particular that caught his eye. “Yeah, see, a while ago my friends and I came here to clean the place up a little,” Midnight explained as he stood back and let Bright take it all in, “Princess Celestia okay’d it and we felt this place needed a little dusting off. The history these walls have housed, it deserves a little respect, don’t you think?” “You can say that again,” Bright closed his notebook and then looked to Midnight, “shall we move on? As grand as this room is, I don’t think it’s gonna hold much clues to what we’re looking for.” “Then let’s try the old library,” suggested Midnight, “there are still plenty of books there and last time she was here Twilight worked some magic to restore some of them to better conditions. Heheh, honestly, when she checked it out the first time some of those old tomes fell apart on her and she freaked out!” “I can imagine!” Bright smirked and they both chuckled as they made their way to the library. Bright was glad to see the place was organized (”You can thank my Twily for that” commented Midnight), as it would make the research a little easier. For the next couple of hours, both stallions poured through the ancient tomes, searching for hints or clues about Gaia Everfree. Bright was however interested to learn a little more about the Castle, such as its history and the architectural plans that were used in constructing it. “Hmm, nothing really useful here, Bright,” Midnight commented while setting down the eleventh book he’d picked up to pour through. “Unless you count old pony tales about Gaia Everfree having teeth like craggly stone and leaving trails of gem dust.” “I’m not finding much either,” sighed Bright, “wanna try taking that look up in one of the towers? Maybe we’ll see something.” “Sure, follow me,” Midnight led Bright up one of the towers, one of which he’d previously okay’d to make sure it was safe. He had to give the architects of the castle credit in making a structure that had lasted well over a thousand years. Reaching the top of the tower, Bright breathed in the rich chilly air of the high altitude and gazed out at the forest that surrounded them. Most of it looked simply like a vast green carpet of the treetops, but there were irregularities here and there. Such as the nearby chasms, a distant field, some small mountains, and although they were so far into the Everfree they could just barely see Ponyville and the Castle of Friendship in the other direction. The position of the sun meant it was well into the afternoon and it would be dark soon. “I dunno, Bright,” sighed Midnight as he looked on, trying to see a sign of the Everfree Village, “There’s a chance the ruins of the Everfree Village are just gone.” “Well, Zecora did say they were hard to find,” Bright brought up, “but she also said that they’re not far from the castle. I’m sure if we look carefully, we’ll find something that can... wait! What’s that over there?” Midnight turned and went to stand beside Bright as he pointed towards a direction that was adjacent to the path that led up to the doors of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Focusing his pegasus magic to his eyes, Midnight furrowed his brows and looked carefully... until he saw what appeared to be a sign that lay broken upon the remains of a cobblestone path that was almost completely concealed by weeds and grass. “C’mon, let’s go check it out,” Midnight placed a hoof on Bright’s shoulder and FLASHED them down to near the broken sign. Bright groaned a bit, rubbing his belly with a dazed look, and Midnight flinched, “Sorry! Should’ve given you a heads up.” “No problem, but...” Bright stifled a belch and sighed, “I think I left my stomach behind.” Midnight gave Bright a teasing poke in the belly and laughed, “Nah, looks like it’s all still there.” “Very funny, now let’s see what we got here,” Bright went over to the sign and carefully stood it up. The sign was wooden and whatever paint or carvings that had been imprinted on it had long worn away from the elements. Part of it looked like termites might have gotten to it, some of it looked like it might have broken off long ago, and there was a distinctive odor of wood rot. “Ugh, I can’t tell anything from this!” Bright turned it around, hoping to see something on the back but it was as featureless as the front. “Hold on,” Midnight carefully levitated the sign to float upright in front of them, slowly rotating it as though it were a product display in a store as Midnight studied the remains and its shape. “Y’know... this looks like it might have once been shaped like an arrow.” “Really?” Bright gave the sign a better look. It looked like a ‘two by four’ with both ends broken or rotted but he noticed one end had a certain point to it, and when he imagined it he could see what Midnight was suggesting. “Huh. Do you think this might...?” “Only one way to find out,” Midnight cast a spell on the sign to set it where it was supposed to be, along with a reinforcement charm and ward agaisnt the elements. Then he looked at the remains of the cobblestone path the sign pointed towards and telekinetically cleared away the weeds and grass growing over it. The path wasn’t smooth, which was understandable, but now it was more easily seen, and so the two friends followed it onward. They walked in silence, eyes and ears on the lookout for anything that might be a threat. The birds tweeted, the underbrush rustled, everything seemed calm and fine. But as the sunlight began to dim through the treetops, the two friends began to grow more and more hesitant to venture forward since nightfall wasn’t far off. After walking the path for maybe half an hour, Midnight paused and Bright stopped to see his friend slowly looking around. “...What is it?” Bright asked in a hushed voice. “Listen...” Midnight continued to scan their surroundings and Bright looked around, trying to listen for anything unusual. ... ... ... “I don’t hear anything,” he commented. “Exactly,” was Midnight’s response, “No birds, no insects, not even the wind. It’s much too quiet, as though the whole forest is holding its breath.” “OK, that’s... disturbing,” Bright granted, “but what could...?” “Up ahead,” Midnight alerted and Bright whipped his head forward in alarm, but only saw the path and the trees and foliage ahead. But then he looked more carefully and through the trees, he could see what Midnight was seeing, an archway large enough to accomadate a two-lane road for wagons, and beyond that were the faint shapes of what could only be buildings. “Is that...?!” Bright looked excited but then remembered Midnight was on guard. “But if that’s Everfree Village, then what...?” “I don’t think we should go in,” Midnight stated, “not when it’s getting dark. We’ll make camp here and check it out in the morning when it’s light.” “Yeah, yeah, that...” Bright agreed that the suggestion was sound as the more he looked at that archway and those unmistakable shapes of buildings the more he felt a coldness settling uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach. “That sounds like a good idea.” The campfire crackled as Bright huddled in front of it, wrapping a blanket around himself to stay the cold night air trapped underneath the tree line. Using both Zecora’s repellants and Midnight’s wards, the prince was all but certain they’d be safe for the night. He’d formed a makeshift shelter of stone slabs forming two walls with a third stacked on top as the roof and charming it not to fall or break and he’d made some blankets and a couple of snug sleeping bags appear. For a long moment neither of them said anything as they just warmed themselves up and stared into the dancing flames, hearing the hiss of smoke, the pop and cracks of burning wood, seeing the embers float in whimsy moments before they died. It’d been a long and interesting day but now it was as though all the hype had deflated. Made sense, they’d hardly stopped to rest since early that morning. But the bitter reality sank in as they both realized that even though they were old childhood friends they couldn’t help but feel as though they were spending a night in a dark forest with a stranger. That made it hard for either of them to say anything, both uncertain of what should be said. Sighing, Midnight decided to break the ice and took a deep breath. “So what happened to you?” “Huh?” Bright looked up at Midnight, who was glancing at him from the corners of his eyes. “After you and your mom moved away. You went to Afriska, right? What was it like?” Bright considered it a moment, looking into the fire, before he leaned his head back, looking up but not at anything in particular, as though he were trying to peer through the leaves above to the stars in the sky and maybe spot a flash of his time back then. “Well, after my dad disappeared on a trip to go see his tribe, my mom decided to offer her medical expertise to refugees in Afriska,” he explained, “that, and she wanted for me to get in touch with me Zebra roots. I finally got to meet my grandmother and her and my father’s tribe, the Kambi ya buibui. My grandma taught me a lot about our tribe and shared some stories with me, especially one about a magical spider called Anansi who helped the Zebras vanquish the rhino warlords using cunning and trickery rather than brute force and violence. “It’s how I came to love stories so much. But a few years later my mom wanted me to get back to a formal education, so we moved to Trottingham. I met a wonderful stallion there who was an artist and he became my tutor in painting and drawing, and so I also found my passion in art as well.” “Sounds to me that you moved a lot,” noted Midnight. “Mmm...” Bright had a faraway look on his face, almost sad. “Eventually, I got my cutie-mark while attending school in Baltimare. But instead of settling down, I felt this wanderlust, partly because of these old maps of places he’d visited my dad left for me. So, I just wandered, traveling here and there, doing all kinds of things. I’ve been a writer, an artist, a nurse, a laborer, a gardener, I even work sometimes as a freelance journalist and write newspaper comics.” “Sounds like you’ve been around,” Midnight observed though he sensed there was more to it. “Hmm, I guess I inherited more than just these faint stripes on my flanks from my dad,” Bright nodded solemnly, “Even after he married my mom and they had me, he really couldn’t stay in one place for long.” “Bright... have you been doing okay?” Midnight asked out of nowhere, “I mean, it sounds like you’re fine financially, but... are you okay?” Bright opened his mouth to respond but paused, as though he didn’t know what to say. “Bright, do... do you have a home to go back to?” asked Midnight, concern in his voice, “I mean, you sound like you spend so much time traveling, and-” “I’m a drifter,” Bright finally admitted, a distant look on his face, “I can always go back to Baltimare where my mother is, but... I don’t really have a place to call my own. I guess I just bury myself in my work, whatever it is at a given time, so I can ignore it.” Those words left a lingering depression into Midnight as he registered exactly what Bright was saying - His friend from their colthood days was basically homeless. Sure, he had his mother to go back to but it also sounded like Bright was searching but didn’t know that he was searching or even what he was searching for. “It’s okay though,” Bright added with a shrug, “I mean, I’ve seen the sun rise on the eastern shores of Equestria and the sun set on the shores of the west. I’ve been to so many places, seen amazing things, met awesome ponies and creatures... It’s a great life, really, going around, doing all kinds of things, having so many experiences, making memories.” “Let’s um... let’s get some rest,” Midnight laid down onto his sleeping bag, “I have a feeling we’re gonna need it for tomorrow.” “Alright, good night,” Bright agreed but as the big earth pony was getting comfortable, Midnight was having a think. Bright Side was well named for trying to stay positive, even as he’d spoken of how he’d lived his life for the past number of years in a redeeming light. But Midnight couldn’t help but feel that his old friend had a yearning for a place to settle. A place to call home. He gave it some thought before an idea popped into his head- *SNNNOOORRRrrr....* Midnight’s eyes popped open, his brows furrowed, and he turned over to see Bright with his mouth wide open, tongue hanging out, as he sawed logs louder than chorus of chainsaws. *SSSNNNOOORK* “Oh you have got to be kidding me...” Midnight was glad to know the soundproofing bubble spell, casting it around himself and was relieved by blessed silence. But as the two stallions slipped away to dreamland, a presence looked on at them with disapproving eyes of yellow.