At the beginning, anyone who first heard of Clever Quill and Astute Writer would think that they were brothers, but no, it was far from the truth.
Indeed, they were both unicorn stallions, of red mane each (with Clever Quill being more vibrant than Astute Writer) and orange coat the two of them (with Clever Quill being orange like the fruit while Astute Writer was more like the carrot); it was true that they both loved writing and that they were both fans of the same heroes, they had the same interest in fiction and they even shared the same writing style. They even shared the desire for committing mischief and joke around the college to the point of, had they been physically identical, actually considering trying to switch lives from time to time. But, despite all of this, they weren't brothers, no, they weren't even related neither lived on the same sociological area.
Clever Quill was born in Los Pegasus and earned a scholarship to study in Canterlot after writing a series of short stories about the struggles of living on an area that restricted you from even leaving your home. Here is where he met Astute Writer, born in Fillydelphia and payed his inscription on the same college as Clever Quill after working for a lot of journalist and many other writers who helped him to develop abilities to create novels on a quickly fashion.
They were intelligent and always managed to get good grades at their classes. In the end, once it came the time for vacations, they talked with their friends, Quick Thought and Embracing Love, and agreed on meeting in Equestria's other coast. Clever Quill and Astute Writer, being the lovers of writing and always searching for inspiration, decided to take the scenic route, hoping to find something worth studying that could earn them a good grade for next year or, once they graduated and started their writing career, they could use as a source of inspiration for novels or newspaper.
And so, they went into the territories that has given birth to many legends, whose figures enjoy the freedom of not being under Princess Celestia's gaze, ever protective of her ponies.
As they went through, the pair of non-related brothers reached the end of the train station that went the furthest to the east. Leaving them just a few kilometers from the coast and a couple kilometers above the meeting place, in a little town known as "The Manticorite" and this two non-blooded brothers, were now debating what was the best route they could take to reach their destination as enjoyable as possible.
"I suggest" -, commented Astute Writer, - "that we should take the southeast route to enjoy the sight of the ocean and how the terrain can reshape itself as we travel. Not only that, but it would make up for any lost time we could have lost for taking the wrong train route."
"A valuable suggestion" -, Responded Clever Quill, - "but the beach isn't a sight that changes too much and it can only be enjoyed when resting, not when traveling."
"I suppose you've never been on the beach then."
"Please do not interrupt me."
"My apologies."
"What I propose, as an alternative, is for us to take the southwestern route, so we can enjoy the plains and how the terrain changes as we travel through the multiple landscapes on this side of Equestria. I'm certain that this will aid us to get the most out of this coast that we only see in photographs but never on a first account."
And so, they disagreed and argued for about half an hour until they decided to ask the local populace for what was the best route to take. Thankfully, there was one stallion, whose facial features were hidden under his robes, who was kind enough to listen to them and clear their doubts.
"The beach is the safest road, it has no mean intended individuals and the nights are wonderful, but unless you have plenty of food and water, all you will find in there is hunger and death will haunt you with thirst. The plains, meanwhile, are plentiful with water and places to fish but, should you decide to take that road, beware from those who may attempt on your life."
At this, the two scholar ponies flinched, worried on the difficulties ahead of them. But they, nonetheless, decided to thank the stallion for his services.
"You welcome" -. Said the Stallion. - "I wish you for the best."
The two young scholars, searching for more places to pass by on a future time, decided to ask him for a name or place to visit in the future. He remained silent but, whether it was because the two young stallions looked trustworthy or because he was on a good mood, he then answered.
"If you happen to pass through Lagüiña, you can search for me, just go to the Hacienda Romero and ask for New Harvest."
His tone then grew lower as well as the volume of his voice.
"But I do warn you, should you take the route of the plains, do not rest on any house you happen to find. For only death will be there to greet you."
The train's whistles then started to sound, indicating the robed stallion that it was time for him to go, leaving the two scholars wondering what kind of danger was he meaning.
From that, Clever Quill and Astute Writer started to discuss whether to move by the beach or to go through the plains.
"If we go by the beach" -, commented Clever Quill, - "we can ensure our safety, but we lack the funds to properly eat and drink."
"But" -, added Astute Writer, - "if we go through the plains, we'll have the food and water for free. All we have to do, is to be careful about any thief that could try to endanger us."
They moved around the place and asked about any caravan or group of ponies going through the plains to the south and, to their delight, they heard of a caravan that left not too long ago, about half an hour before they reached the station on train, and that they could reach it quickly if they moved fast enough.
After hearing the indications and route taken by the caravan, and analyzing a few maps, the two non-related brothers decided to take a shortcut that would allow them to pass by the caravan and all they would, later, have to do is to walk back the terrain until they could meet back with the caravan.
And so, they moved to the unknown, not understanding the true meaning of the stallion's warning.
Through the whole day they moved by the rivers and ate the occasional fish they could catch, always enjoying the views they could find and the peaceful animals they could see on a safe distance. They took notes of what they found and tried to think of the adventures that could be created on these calm yet dangerous lands.
They imagined of young, and energetic, farmers growing up just to desire to have a nice home after meeting a nice mare, and of courageous mare warriors trying to enact revenge against the thugs that killed her husband and raped her. Their minds had no limits to the stories they were making, but that would have to wait for the time where they returned to civilization.
Eventually, as the sun was setting and dark clouds were gathering, signals of a storm coming up, the two scholars found the road where they were supposed to meet the caravan and, if their calculations were right, they were just a couple kilometers ahead. All they needed to do was to move back and meet them, ensuring a safe road for the two of them.
And so, instead of camping where they were, they decided to move on the night, risking themselves by being in the open field, at the sight of any dangerous creature that could be watching them.
As they moved through the plains, the only thing gracing them was the moon's light, filled with the promising protection of Princess Luna's abilities. But that gracing protection was scarce as the clouds were gathering, sounding as if they were ready to release a storm, much to the pair's worry.
That is, until they saw a two floor house in the distance with a very inviting light within it.
The pair was originally glad of seeing something like that but they then remembered the stallion's warning, prompting them to try and pass by as inadvertently as possible, hoping that whoever was living in there wouldn't notice them.
As they got closer, they noticed how the house had a very old style of architecture, centuries old, but it still looked as if it was built just a few days ago. It was like seeing a two hundred years old house on Vanhoover. The sight just clashed with everything else, which was very telling when the building was just standing there, in the middle of nowhere.
But despite all of that, both Clever Quill and Astute Writer tried to pass by the house and ignore it, which it was very hard since the most delightful and tastiest meals could be smelled coming from the house. From carrot cakes with pumpkin pudding, to hot bread with daisies followed by bananas bathed in sweet anís and fish fried with wheat powder.
Still, the two young ponies passed through the house and ignore the smells coming from it as well as the comfortable sight it created.
They were leaving the house's surroundings when they heard the most seductive and beautiful, almost silk like, voice they ever heard in their life.
"Greeting young boys, where are you from?"
The two stallions turned around to see one of the most attractive mares they have ever seen in their lives. She was an earth pony mare with a reddish purple coat that reminded them of wine, scarlet eyes that resembled rubies and a deep, well combed, black mane that could easily combine with the starless sky. But what they could notice the most about her, was how well shaped her body was, those firm legs, that moon-like rear and such a fine and fragile face adorned with very enticing lips.
Suffice to say, the two scholars found her very hard to ignore.
"Greetings, young mare!" -. Shouted Clever Quill. - "We are a couple of young scholars that are trying to meet up with a caravan that should pass by us very soon. Nothing to be concerned with."
By the distance, it was hard to tell the readings of her face but the mare looked quite interested in them.
"Is that so? Well, I have the good news for you that I haven't seen any caravan passing by, so you should be meet them if you keep going on that direction, but I do warn you that the rain is coming by and this plains aren't very nice to those who wander through them on complete darkness, especially under the rain."
The two stallions looked at her, then at each other, and wondered if it was better to ignore her or to stay with her. They were about to debate once more when, to their chagrin, rain started to pour in, forcing them to enter the house and into the mare's intoxicating embrace.
As they moved in, they saw how the house was adorned as if it once belonged to a great family, including a large table filled with the most tempting of foods one could see. All of them recently cooked and still smelling great.
"Is your family going to eat here, miss?"
She simply laughed at Astute Writer's question.
"Oh no, how I wish my family was here. No, this was going to be all for me" -. The two stallions turned to look at her with strange looks as she simply smiled. - "Just kidding. Remember, a caravan is going to pass through here, so it's better to have all of this cooked for them, so I can earn some bits from the ever moving ponies, and I can eat the leftovers."
She then started to move in front of them as she moved her tail on a very seductive manner.
"But you can feel free to eat anything your eyes can see, after all, I'm a very inviting mare."
The two stallions took the hint, but they still remembered the warning given to them in the morning, and the idea of camping outside the house was still sounding very nice, sadly, just looking at the winds blowing through the plains with it's tempest was enough to tell the students that they no longer were under Princess Luna's protection. They were now at their host's hooves and the best they could do was to be as careful as they could possibly be.
So they moved to the table, and started to eat whatever they could, enjoying foods that they only heard being served on the Princesses' Castle.
"Would you like some wine?" - The offer alone made the two colts worry but she quickly added. - "Don't worry, just one cup, to smooth things up."
Since the offer was of just one cup, the two colts accepted, thinking that it wouldn't be that bad considering they have already drank stronger drinks on college, so they saw her filling up their cups and they drank some wine.
"So, where are you from?"
"We're from Canterlot."
Hearing Clever Quill's answer surprised the mare.
"Oh, I've never met somepony from Canterlot" -, she then eyed the two stallions very slowly and focused on areas that mares tend to find very important, at the time of analyzing the looks of the opposite sex, and added, - "and I see they are quite handsome."
The remark made the two colts blush, who decided to sip some more wine, and decided to eat some more.
"I wish I could have gone to Canterlot when I had the chance, I always wanted to make a good life in there, but that opportunity was lost and now I have to take care of this house."
The two scholars turned around to look at the mare but, if she had a sad frown, it was already gone because all they saw was how she was moving to a closet and taking something out of it.
"At least I didn't waste my life in here. I did learn how to play some instruments" -. She then closed the closet as she held on her back a small guitar. - "And this one right here, is my favorite" -. She then seated down in front of the boys with her legs crossed, in such a way that her marehood was hard to ignore, and asked them. - "Now, let's see if I can still touch this well. Does any of you know a song you want me to play? I'm quite skillful with my hooves."
The colts didn't ignore the innuendo, making them blush, but Astute Writer decided to ask her to play something local, at which the mare decided to sing a song about a mare bathing on a river, while a peeper saw a crocodile 'with as many horns as 5 antlers' and 'as many teeth as 10 alligators' getting eerily close to the mare. The peeper quickly went to advise his friend, who happened to be the mare's husband, but, by the time they came back, the mare was gone and the crocodile was sleeping soundly with his belly upside down.
"That's a very sad song" -, commented Astute Writer, - "to think that the mare was eaten by a crocodile."
The mare simply giggled as she simply added in a quite childish way.
"Oh, that's so sweet, you think the song talked about an actual crocodile."
Both Clever Quill and Astute Writer wanted to ask more, but they preferred to sip some more wine and let the subject to rest. They would think about it in the morning. The mare, meanwhile, decided to propose, with a coy smile on her face.
"I know, what about we play a game?"
The game was simple, the three of them would make a quick song, which would be followed by the next pony with another song that acted as a response to the previous one, but the trick was that the consonant must always remain the same, so the most important part was always to keep it rhyming, with the only way to change it was in the middle of the song and by keeping the rhyme. The losers would have to drink a lot of wine.
The two scholars accepted, emboldened by, either, the alcohol or their desire to impress the mare and for a while, they all did alright the mare quickly found herself losing and drinking two whole bottles of wine in one go. Leaving Astute Writer and Clever Quill to sing against each other for a while.
It was unknown how long they both sang but, surprisingly enough, they managed to keep the rhyming for a good amount of time until Astute Writer managed to change the consonant, making Clever Quill the loser by not being able to keep the singing. His penalty was to drink five whole bottles of wine.
It was a very good one though, good enough to keep his mind working, despite his body having motor problems, well enough to remember the following conversation:
"Oh, would you look at that *hic* he cannot move from the couch."
"And the headache he'll have tomorrow will keep him very annoyed for a while."
"Well, in the meantime, is there anything else you would like to do? *hic*"
"Oh, I don't know, I think I ate well already, so I think I should stay vigilant in case the caravan passes by."
"Don't worry about that, *hic* they won't move from wherever they are until the storm is gone *hic* but I think there's one last thing I can show you tonight."
"Really? And what is it?"
"Just come with me and I'll *hic* show you."
The last thing Clever Quill heard was the two ponies going upstairs, closing the room, and probably some moans, but he lost consciousness at that point.
For how long was Clever Quill knocked down, he never knew, but the next thing he remembered when he woke up was that all the candles were off and the storm was no longer heard from the outside. His mind felt heavy and it was a pain to move, thankfully, everything was dark, so his eyes were well rested but there was one sound he was hearing, the one that woke him up.
*Crunch*
He moved around and tried to look up, noticing how the food, as well as the plates, were now gone, as if they were never there to begin with, and the only thing left were the cups of wine... which were completely filled.
*Crunch*
Clever Quill tried to make sense of it, he remembered drinking sips of wine through the night, he never remembered the mare getting close enough to refill their cups, but here they were, completely filled as if they were never drank from.
*Crunch*
He wanted to shout for his friend, but something within him was advising against that idea. Nonetheless, he remembered his friend going to the upper room, so he decided to move up and see if he could take a proper look at him.
*Crunch*
Fear took a hold of him as he noticed the crunching noise coming from the room where the two ponies were spending the night. He moved as carefully as possible, always trying his best to not be heard, and slowly opened the door.
*Crunch*
What he saw was a view of horror.
He could see how the mare was now bigger but, where there were once hooves, there were now claws of which could only belong to a manticore; the tail was no longer braid and well cared, it was ruffled and moving the same way a predator's move when they are enjoying their meal; the floor was filled with bones of many kind of sizes but seeing one of Astute Writer's hooves on the bed told Clever Quill all he needed to know about his friend's fate.
*Crunch*
He slowly went down, grabbed his saddle bag, as well as Astute's, and started to go to the exit door, hoping to be safe from this monstrosity once and for all.
*Crunch*
But, as Clever Quill was opening the door, a giant creak sounded, telling the creature upstairs that the stallion was trying to run away.
*Bump*
Clever Quill heard the door in the upper floor opening and, to his horror, saw how the mare's face was now filled with many teeth that looked sharper than a manticore's and as numerous as a cragadile's, her ears were the only thing resembling equine but her eyes no longer looked natural, they were now an intense yellow with a deep, pulsating, red where the iris should be.
Clever Quill quickly ran for his life as he heard the monster running for him as well. The chase lasted just a couple of minutes, but those were the most intense minutes of Clever Quill's life, as the sun finally started to rise up.
As He ran, eventually, Clever Quill managed to meet the caravan and he remained with them through the rest of the trip but he would never forget the experience and his mind would never forget the last thing he heard from the monster, in a very clear voice, as he ran from it that night:
"The sun may have saved you today, but you won't be so lucky the next time you meet La Fiera!"