//------------------------------// // More of the Story // Story: A Story From A Dream // by FiMFigment //------------------------------// There was that sound again. "Ah, I see you have finally come to visit me." "Baron, dear!" the serpent cooed, "It has been such a long time since we last conversed!" "40 years, to the point. How you managed to evade me is beyond me." "Evade you?" she melodramatically said as she finally moved into my view, "What reasons would I have to try and avoid meeting my favorite spirit?" "That is exactly what I am trying to find out. Ever since you gave me your....opportunity, you have simply avoided me. It has been four decades and I still do not even know what my end of this bargain is!" Somehow, the snake smiled at that. A horrible sort of smile. A smile that tells of many promises that have ended in pain. I thought any sense a normal pony would have escaped me a long time ago....but that horrible expression made my fur stand on end. "Oh, my dear Baron, I do not have to tell you what your part in this deal is, when you are already fulfilling it." "What?!" A slow laugh escaped her lips, until finally, "Ah, Baron, you never cease to sate my hunger. Now, I must go." "Wait! You can't just go, I still need to know what you meant!" But she had already disappeared. Oh no. Why did I accept a deal as dangerous as this one. I had to take my mind off of her.....what should III- Oh! I'll go hunting again! Rabbits did have an exotic sweetness to them. She should NOT have gone into the forest alone. It isn't like she could get mauled to death by anycreature, but scary was still scary. You learn a few tricks in self-defense, sure, but a shield spell will do about as much against a scary movie as a- Did something move over there? "H-Hello? Is anybody there?" Lora would have stayed outside of the forest at all costs, but after weeks of arguing with herself, she finally decided to make the trip to Canterlot, Equestria's Capital. She could finally see where all of Rising's stories took place! Rising. She could visit...him... "Happy thoughts!" Um...maybe I can see Princess Sparkle! Ruler of Equestria since Celestia and her sister, Luna's, retirement. How much good would that do for them? I know Celestia has lived for thousands of years (heh, we have so much in common), so I think she is fully immortal. Why would you retire if you never die? If you never have a midlife crisis? Well, I guess you could get tired. She could get tired. And hungry... That was an unpleasant experience. "Ugh, I said happy thoughts!" "Why do you feel the need to remind the trees that they should be joyous?" That is actually a good point, when had she started talking to hers- WAIT...that wasn't a thought! "GAH!," she yelped. He flinched back. "Not so loud, cursed one," he chided her. He chided her. "Oh," she intoned, making sure anypony within a 50hoof radius could see her roll her eyes, "It's you. Back for round two of 'How shallt I kill the unkillable pony?'" He chuckled at that. "No, not really. That task was proven fruitless to me the last time we met. I must say I am a bit surprised that you recognized me so quickly, considering last time. And....what are you doing in the forest at this time of night?" Had he always acted so...clear? It feels like he became 20 years younger instead of older! "It isn't that hard to recognize the scary monster pony, stalking around in the forest," she joked, "And I am on my way to catch the morning train to Canterlot!" Now, should I tell her or not? Hmm.... (Tell her.) Ooh! A fellow spirit? Eh? Alright, but for the next opportunity I see, I will let her try to untangle herself from the spiderweb she flew into! "You know, you are north-bound, the train station is north-east of the village, though by now, you would have to trot due east." "Gah! Stupid forest, stupid, non-existent sense of direction, and stupid maps!" She still has the same temper as back then. Before... No, I promised I wouldn't let this continue to control me. I am in control of myself, not my anger, not my frustration. Just focus on your good memories. "You know, I studied at Canterlot for a short while. I haven't been there in a long time, but I know it hasn't changed for even longer. I could be your guide, so to speak. And...what are you doing there anyways? I hope you don't plan on hurting the princess." She huffed, "Ha, ha, very funny. No, I am not there to plan any sort of attack on anybody. I am sorry, ok! I am sorry for what I did to you, it still haunts me sometimes, and I will not do anything of that sort ever again. As for why I am there I am....visiting a friend." Something changed in her, he hunched down a bit, her eyelids sagged a little, and her voice seemed to....deflate. Ah, now I know who you are. She stopped walking for a moment, and nigh whispered to me, "But I would like you to accompany me." She perked up. It was almost unnatural to see. I should ask her what techniques she uses to lift her spirits. What she said next should really have been more insulting than it felt. "But only if you look nicer!" "Okay, just give me a moment to pack!" I-in f-front of her w-was a wolf, all of a sudden. "Meep," was all she could muster to say. "Calm down, I just have far better stamina like this. And also, you wanted me to look nicer," he finished off with a toothy....too toothy grin and ran off. What am I gonna do now? She waited.... About 5 minutes, before she decided to head eastward. If he wants to, he can find me pretty quickly, I assume. "Other way!" she heard a yell over the tree tops. "....right," she mumbled before she was off on her merry way. (More of a scary way, being all alone again.) A solid 5 hours later, two odd passengers were the only ones in Cube's food car. The old mare was never one to judge others, based on their appearances, but the way they looked was simply unnatural! A younger mare and an older stallion, she looked like the had not slept properly in months and he looked like he was sitting somewhere between gentlecolt and great grandfather, but somehow neither. It was just something about the way he carried himself, it didn't match anypony she had ever met. (Not to mention that their emotions seemed calm on the surface, but deep down, she could taste how they were seeping in angers, sadnesses and frustrations, revolting.) Yet, she decided to approach them, a job is a job is a job, afterall. "Good morning, you two! I am Kandis Cube, and I will be serving you on this trip. Would either of you like any coffee to start off with?" I immediately don't trust her. It isn't the attitude, sweeter than pure sugar, or the fact that her name has Germane origins, it is something else entirely. She feels like a spirit, or at least like she is part spirit, but I can't tell wh- "Oh, I would like a....how late is it?....ooh, still before 11! I would like a cappuccino, please," Bella Flora almost beamed. It is creepy how quickly she goes from one state to another, one moment she is half dead due to lack of sleep, the next she is full of sunshine. Like way back when... (Kandis seems to have also noticed, judging by her scared look.) I don't trust that pony! (Oh, now THAT is a scared look.) Got it. "I would simply like sparkling water," I said, but as she started to leave I quickly added, "Oh, but I don't want you to have to carry all those drinks yourself, here, I will come help you!" "Oh-kay, but are you sure? I am quite alright with carrying your drinks myself!" "No, no. Please, I insist upon helping you!" "In that case, follow me, please." She started to leave, and I followed. I gave a quick glance to Bella to see if she seemed....unaffected, though I do not know what it would be like if she WAS under any sort of effect. I studied magic, not fantastic creatures and where to locate them! But she seemed alright, if not a little confused. We stepped into a segmented off compartment of the dining car, which seemed to be the drink station. Nothing suspicious was going on here, and Ms. Cube started to prepare the coffee.....maybe I had misjudged? No. There was that feeling again! And I am NOT letting myself be fooled by trust again. Kandis was making the coffee as she had a few dozen times, since she acquired this job. Ponies tend to ignore coffee on long trips where they can't expend the extra energy. It worried her how insistent the stallion had gotten after his burst of anger and something else...she was still trying to figure that one out. She tried feeling for him again. He was still behind her. Now it was time to foam the mil- There it was again! It tasted like....suspicion. And then it was gone. She turned around, only to realize that she had not been in time, before being slammed into the ground by a....WOLF's paw. "What the-" was all she could muster before being silenced by a paw to the muzzle. "Now, you will tell me exactly why somecreature like you is still in going around in disguise!"