//------------------------------//
// Chapter 21: Unexpected Company 
// Story: A New Life 
// by arc5162 
//------------------------------//

July 12, 3965 BBB (Before the Battle of the Bell)

Today started like any other day, Wake up from sleep mode, preform a system diagnostic, check the perimeter cameras, say good morning to the villagers, and check the shops and farms to make sure everything is running smoothly. Today was the textbook definition of normal. But then, something unexpected happened. 





Ever since Redwood and Daisy had their children, other couples started having children as well. Not only were there more deer-cow hybrids, there were now deer-sheep and cow-sheep hybrids as well. The deer-sheep hybrids looked like normal deer, but they had a sheep's tail and were covered in wool with deer speckles on it. The cow-sheep hybrids looked like a perfect joining of cow and sheep, with cow spots on their wool and cow tails with fluff on the end. 

Yes, everything was running smoothly. That is, until I picked something up on my long range sensors approaching from the northwest. 

Something was getting close to the barrier.

I quickly went to the very edge of the barrier to see what was approaching, and what I saw was odd. I saw a female unicorn walking straight towards the barrier. It's like she was coming this way because she knew that the village was here.

"Should we do something king?"

"No need, I'll go talk to her myself."

After saying that, I proceeded to walk through the barrier to go talk to this mysterious unicorn. But as I got closer, I began to recognize her. This was Gusty the Great, the very same unicorn who overloaded Grogar's systems and put him into extended stasis. She looked just how I remembered, having a very light almost white coat and a green mane and tail with a pink stripe running through the middle. Both her mane and tail were moving like they were in the wind, a symbol of her great power. Her cutie mark consisted of leaves blowing in the wind and she had a light purple bow tied onto her tail.

When she saw me coming, she was startled at first. But eventually, she smiled and spoke up.

"Hello there, what's your name?"

"My name is Lugh, what are you doing out here?"

"Well, I was out here investigating where the Timberwolves were coming from. after a week of watching them, I saw that they came back to this part of the forest. I was worried that Grogar made these creatures as well."

"As well?"

"He created all sorts of monsters to attack everyone so that any attempt at rebellion would be destroyed."

After saying this, she stopped for a moment and looked behind me.

"Why are you out here, there's nothing out here except trees."

Could I trust her with the secret location of my village? She did defeat Grogar, so she has everyone's best interests at heart. After contemplating it for a minute or two, I decided to tell her.

"Well, this part of the forest is where my village is."

"Really?"

"Yes, no-one has found it because it is hidden from the rest of the world by an invisible barrier. It creates the illusion that the village doesn't exist."

"Neat, can I see it?"

I suddenly froze when she said that. I had never allowed an outsider to see the village before, but now there was one. I was unsure of how to respond for a minute or two as gears started turning in my head. I thought to myself, "Maybe I can trust her, she did gather all the ponies together to defeat Grogar after all." After thinking for a few more minutes, I decided that I could trust her.

"Ok, I can give you a tour, but on one condition."

"Sure, what is it?"

"You must promise to never tell another soul about this village, it must remain a secret."

"I understand, I promise to never tell anyone, but can I write about it in my personal journal?"

"Of course, as long as no-one reads it but you and as long as you don’t write down the location."

"Only I read it."

"Good, then let me show you my village."

Then, we both walked through the barrier, her face a mixture of curiosity and excitement.