//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Two Sides // by Venomsbite //------------------------------// I have to run away. Nothing that noisy could possibly be good for my health, or the health of any unfortunate ponies near. Distantly, I can hear ponies yelling, but I don't know what they're saying. I hope that they can run fast, for their sake. As for me, I have absolutely no clue where I am going. If only the memories of Nightmare Moon stayed, maybe I would be more familiar with these woods. As it is, my legs are getting tired and I need to find shelter and food. Faust knows I won't be accepted back into pony society, although I suppose that is for the better. I dread to think what would happen if I transformed again in the middle of a town. I suppose I should slow down, and assess my surroundings. Lighting up my horn, I look around. "Let us see... Trees, Trees, and More Trees. Wonderful. We suppose thou above are laughing at our plight, huh?" I inquired into the open air. Resting my tired legs, and lungs, I sat down onto a relatively clean area. Although it still dampened my hindquarters. "Lousy forest," I muttered. Taking this moment as a breather, I tried to do something about my current predicament. I don't have any tools or clothing for warmth. The only thing I know is magic, and I would never be fool enough to try that, lest what becomes of the surrounding area or myself. Well, I suppose I can at least try to ma- "I may believe you a fool," a ghostly voice spoke from behind me, causing me to jump out of my thoughts and twirl around to face whatever attacker is there. There they were, a cowardly pony in a cloak, too afraid to even show their face! I started to get ready to charge as they approached. "To come into the forest without a single tool," they continued, slowly revealing their face to be that of a.... zebra? How far south was I? Apparently, the fact I hadn't charged my horn made this zebra feel emboldened, as she continued to speak. "Come, let us get you of the dirt, before you seriously get hurt," she rhymed. Am I being kidnapped? I have to find a way out of this. "Before thou addresses us so casually, explain your intentions!" I said to her. Apparently, these zebras are unused to interactions with royalty, as she staggered backwards. Taking a moment to regain her composer, she continued her strange rhyming scheme. "Now Princess, please do not be loud. I assure you there's no reason to shout." Do all zebras rhyme now? Surely not, right? If I am to survive, I should do my best to not escalate this situation. She seems friendly enough, so maybe I should consider this a weird farce of diplomacy and try to emulate her speech? Although, something she said was nagging me that I cannot allow her to pass. Dropping the royal voice, I hesitantly spoke my thoughts. "If we are supposed to trust thou, tell us. Thou knew our station how?" Maybe I should have paid more attention to Celes- No. We are not thinking of her right now. Focus on the present. "It is written in the stars, Princess Lunae Systema Solis," The zebra said. "Safety, known as Zecora's Hut, lies before us." Was that her name, Zecora? It certainly sounds Hippotigrian, but with how her very speech is so different, it still is a mystery to me. "Safety, thou says?" I ask of her, baring my fangs a little more. I need to make sure she isn't a threat before I follow her anywhere, no matter how much I want to. "How do we know thou won't slit our throat in the night?" I sincerely hope I can eat soon. One thousand years doesn't do too much for a full belly. "If I was to attack, there would already be a knife in your back." Zecora confidently stated. "I mean you no harm, but the same cannot be said for what lurks near your arm." Slowly, I let my gaze travel down to where she was now pointing. Oh. It's just a leech. At least she is attempting to prove her statement of amnesty. Reaching down to pluck it with my other arm, Zecora moves with frightening speed to stop me. I begin to believe that her comment about ill will was truthful. "Do not pluck him so eagerly, for if you do, illness will set in quite dearly," the zebra warned. "Do not fret, for I have a potion already set." As soon as she finished, she started walking away without giving me a second glance. Considering I have no other good options, I set a course after her, hoping that she truly means her words. With the problems Luna running off into the Everfree forest created, I almost wished I still had to fight Nightmare Moon. Almost. For now, I have to not only find her, but make sure that she is safe and create a plausible excuse to delay all my political duties until tomorrow. That conversation with Raven promises to be more of a headache than Monkey See. For now, I need to bolster the local town to make sure that, in the worst case scenario, a full return of Nightmare Moon does as minimal damage as possible. I also need to consult with an expert on the modern creatures inhabiting the forest, and for all of that, I need to travel to the Canterlot College to speak with Professor Zecora and the Head Guard. Drifting down in front of the barracks of the castle, I spotted my first target: Punkt Schildes, the current head guard. Landing in front of him, I was greeted with a wave of salutes from those around. Not paying them any mind, I immediately spoke to Punkt. "It has come to my attention that there is a threat of major damage against a local town, Ponyville. It is quite urgent, although I can not be certain if it can not be defeated through other means. As such, I want you to take an entire company and spread throughout town, with a focus on the side facing the Everfree forest and form a final line of defense for the town in the case I fail. You are expected to be there as soon as you can and not a moment later. Do you accept your orders, Punkt Des Schildes?" I spoke in something just short of the age old royal voice. As I gave him his orders, I saw multiple jaws drop out the corner of my vision. Of course, to order an entire company of 130 guards anywhere, but especially a small town like Ponyville? They must think me insane. It just goes to show the professionalism I have raised in my guards that no one spoke while I did, and Punkt never wavered from his resolute glare, his only response being a brief "Of course, your highness. I'll get to it on the double and protect the citizens of Equestria" and turned to issue a long stream of commands to his guards. I have enough confidence he will get this done with minimal leakage to the press, or I hope. Next on the list is Raven Inkwell, my new aid. I sincerely hope her inexperience will not shine at this moment. I took off, with my new target being my own castle. Approaching the west wing where her quarters are is quite a small flight, so I was there rather quickly. I flew in through a side window into the wall, and approached the solid oak door leading to Raven Inkwell's chambers. Giving a quick, hard rap to the door with my hoof, I spoke loudly. "Dearest Raven Inkwell, I apologize for waking you at this hour, but I must have your skills now. I am going to open the door in 1 minute, so please make sure you are presentable." I spoke at the hard wood. A muffled "Wha-?" greeted my call, and I allowed a small smirk to grace my features before quickly returning to the gravity of the situation. After a minute of quite a lot of shuffling, the door opened precisely before I was about to do it. A sporadically bobbing orb of purple magics appeared behind the door, and quickly let me in to a quite orderly foyer filled with various books, papers, and writing equipment I am only familiar with in the vaguest of senses. As I sat down on a cushion laid around a table in the center of the room, Raven Inkwell spoke. "P-princess Celestia! W-what an H-honor!" Raven stumbled over her words, not quite rambling. "For you to s-seek me at this hour, s-something must be truly w-wrong!" The poor mare almost curled into herself as she spoke, and I leveled my gaze at her, channeling my best caretaker look I could. "Please, Raven, be at ease. I suppose that with everything that happened tonight, I found myself stuck in Princess mode. Please, allow me to explain why I have awoken you before you kick my flank to the door," I cracked her a smile as I ended, hoping that a joke would help her preform her duties well. A quite and timid chuckle heralded success. "I s-suppose it would only be r-right to hear you out, Princess," Raven replied. Taking a quick breath, I readied myself. "Raven, I am going to ask you to do something that I do not envy of you. Please delay all my engagements for the coming day, and if so requested for reparations, tell them I will personally look into the soonest I can speak with them officially if the event permits, and extend my sincerest apologies. If further pressed, I grant you permission to grant each party a maximum of 1000 bits." I spoke. Seeing her look incredibly nervous, frantically writing down every word, I decided to save myself some headache in the future. "Raven, please do not immediately offer 1000 bits, and instead, only only offer bits if every other avenue has exhausted itself, and try to minimize exactly how empty my wallet will be after the fact, ok?" I smiled at her, hoping she would calm down so I wouldn't have to deal with another disaster today. "O-Ok," she shakily replied. "I'll get right on drafting the required letters, and managing the court officials for today." As she spoke, I could feel my smile slowly become more genuine. As I stood, I heard her quietly mumble to herself "You got this, Raven. The first steps..." and her voice slowly trailed off as I left to my next destination: The University.