Ch.7: Nothing's Ever Simple, Is It?
Zero awoke first to find himself in the same position he went to sleep in with Twilight right next to him.
"Looks like I got up first, albeit a bit early for my tastes but I'd rather not risk her waking up…like this." Zero thought, figuring it was just before sunrise, as he could see light coming from the horizon through the window. He managed to get out of bed without waking her to see clothes for him and Twilight hung over some chairs. The clothes were all a bland brown but were warm-looking and slightly heavy. There was a note hung on one of the chairs so with little light in the bedroom he went into the brightly lit hallway to read it:
Thought you two could use some proper clothes for the winter. Meet me outback when you two are ready. It's time I pointed you in the right direction.
Conner
P.S. You work fast my friend.
"Next time I ever sleep in someone's house, I'm locking the door!" Zero looked at the clock in the hallway to see that it was around ten, before he walked back in and looked over to Twilight and remembered he was still magically chained to her. "Might as well wake her up." Zero smiled as a thought came to his head.
"She's kinda cute when she's asleep… No! Stop it head!" She starts to shake her with his hoof.
"Twilight… Twilight…" She only response is a grunt and turning away from Zero. "*sigh* I know that feeling. Unfortunately I don't have the patience for it." Zero grabbed the covers with his mouth and yanked them straight from the bed. Twilight immediately began to shiver at the loss of her blankets.
"Ugh… wha?" Twilight groaned.
"Morning sunshine! Ready for another fantastic day in Adeptus?!" Zero shouted with fake enthusiasm and a goofy smile on his face.
"What time is it?" Twilight asked, as she turned to look out the window.
"Ten o'clock." Zero said frankly
"Ten?!" Twilight sat straight up on the bed.
"Yeah, it's winter. The sun doesn't exactly get up early. How are you feeling?" Twilight moved her limbs around to check for any lingering pain.
"The pain is mostly gone. Nothing worth noting."
"Great! Now come on, Conner wants to meet us outside." Zero said, throwing Twilight's new clothes to her. The two began to change into the clothes, which covered as much of their bodies as possible.
"I don't think I've ever felt warmer!" Zero said, as he finished putting on his scarf.
"Yeah, although it's kind of itchy…" Twilight said, scratching herself uncomfortably.
"Well, now that we're ready, let's go see what Conner has for us."
"And hopefully a way to take these collars off…"
"Let's hope the Pegasus they sent had some luck." As they walked outside, they saw Conner sitting down on a bench waiting for them.
"I was beginning to wonder if you two would ever get up." Conner said as he looked over to them.
"Sorry but I'm more the pony to wake up AFTER the sun." Zero rebutted.
"Same here." Twilight agreed.
"Well I've got good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"*sigh* what's the bad news?" asked Zero
"The bad news is Blacklight got away and with him, the codes for the collars."
"Well, some pony as sleazy as him must have found a rock to hide under." Twilight said
"I'm sorry we were unable to do more to help get the collars off."
"Eh… Even if you got the collars off, we'd still be stuck together in this mess, so as much as I'd love to have this thing off and my magic back…I always know it could be a lot worse. Besides we still have the good news!" Zero said, trying to keep a level head and optimistic.
"Indeed! We know some pony that can help remove the collars! He also may be able to help you get the Savior's Fantasy!"
"Really?! Where is he?!" Twilight jumped with joy to know they have a chance to get back her magic.
"Follow me." Conner led the two to a downhill path that, since it hadn't snowed in a while, was clearly visible along with certain patches of grass underneath, to show them a pristine and beautiful city in the distance that looked nothing like what they were expecting. The path lead to a huge dense forest that Zero swore he couldn't see more than fifteen feet into.
"You will find him in Miracle City; one of the few cities that doesn't look like it's in a country ran by a tyrant. It's kept like that to keep the massive amounts of citizens happy."
"They only seem to care about the cities and not about the small towns." Twilight muttered, looking at the city.
"So, who are we looking for?" Zero asked, trying to keep focus on their main objective.
"No pony knows what his real name is, but he calls himself Sprocket. He's a unicorn that has mastered most, if not all, forms of technology and has often been one of the biggest problems for the military." Conner answered.
"So you're sure he can get these off?" Twilight was a bit skeptical that they would find him by themselves.
"If he can't, then no pony will!" Said Conner, insured that this will work. "But be careful. He's not exactly… all there."
"Awesome; I've always wanted to put my neck out for a loony." Zero sarcastically remarked, with a smirk that faded once Twilight's annoyed glare caught him.
"Because all trains have been cancelled and must stay in the cities, you two will need to go through the forest to get there. Stick to the path and you should arrive safely. Find a pub called "Paradise" and tell the bartender "New Life". He'll know what to do."
"Right!" Twilight exclaimed nodding her head. "Thank you for everything you've done for us, Conner!"
"So what are you guys going to do?" Zero asked.
"We'll be fine! It will take more than an army to stop us! All the other small towns have joined so we've basically cut off the major cities between. Today's the day we finally stand up against them!" Zero and Twilight both nodded with smiles, as Conner left to prepare for the impending assault.
"Conner: Destroyer of Armies!" Zero joked in very deep voice, prompting Twilight to roll her eyes.
"So we have to go through there?" Twilight looked at the forest as it reminded her of the Everfree forest.
"He said as long as we stick to the path, we should be fine. Besides, other ponies must have gotten through this forest unscathed if they wanted to connect the towns."
"You're right! What am I worried about? It's not like I don't have my main form of defense to help me in this time of need!" Twilight shouted sarcastically.
"Eh, it could be worse." Zero just shrugged and began to walk down the path towards the forest.
"You like to stick to that thought, don't you?"
"If I didn't, I would be panicking to you right now and then we'd both be screwed!" Zero said, stopping to look at Twilight." Now come on Light! The faster we get through this forest, the faster we'll be able to get these collars off and get your magic back!"
Zero turned back to the path and Twilight followed. They came to a sign just before the forest:
"Reckon Forest. Doesn't sound very threatening, does it?"
"Neither does Everfree forest but you'd be shocked what's in there!" They both continued into the fog-filled forest, unsure what to expect.
After a long time of walking and listening to all the creepy sounds of the surrounding forest, Zero finally spoke up.
"Why does every creepy places on this earth have to have fog?! And not just any fog! Oh no! It's the fog that's so thick you can barely see the dirt path in front of you! I'm afraid I'm going to run into a tree or trip on a root or something!" Zero proceeded slowly, trying not to run into something.
"I know what you mean! The Everfree forest back in Equestria had fog like this too sometimes."
*hiss*
"What was that?!" Twilight heard it loud and clear.
"It's just a snake… I hope." Zero said trying to keep calm.
"Zero… where's the path?" Twilight and Zero both looked down to see snow and grass but no dirt path.
"*sigh*… Dammit." Zero said bluntly, realizing he had just lead them off the path and into the middle of nowhere.
*HISS*
The hissing was getting much closer now and it sent chills up to Twilight's spine and now Zero was sure that it wasn't "just a snake".
Suddenly a giant blackish gray snake appeared without warning and circled the two, preventing their escape. The two thought they were dead and in their fear, huddled together.
"Do not worry. I will not harm you. It is sssafe to look asss I have no plansss on killing you today…yet." The snake hissed out.
"Did that snake just talk?!" Twilight asked, just realizing the talking serpent.
"Forget that! I don't like how he said "yet"!" Zero pointed out, as they both let go of each other.
"Why are you here then?"
"Sssometimesss we meet the thingsss we'll never be able to exssplain. I just want to play a little game. If you win, I'll lift the fog ssso you're journey through the foressst will become easssier. If you lossse, you're my dinner." The snake slithered up to them, sniffing his possible dinner.
"And if we refuse to play?" Zero asked, looking at the snake, as it circled them.
"You can wander aimlessssly through this foressst for all I care. I doubt you'll find the entranccce! And once you're bodies finally give out… you'll be nothing more than tasty morssselsss.
"What do you think, Zero?" asked Twilight.
"We could either wander forever with no sense of direction or we can win his game and find the path again."
"What's your choiccce?" The basilisk was beginning to become inpatient. Zero looked at Twilight with obvious worry.
"What's the game?"
"Simple: The first to tag the other wins. But there is one catch: you both have to tag me and I have to tag both of you." Zero looked into its eyes and notices the snake is blind.
"But you're blind. How can you even see us?"
"There are more waysss to sssee then just with your eyesss. Let'ss ssee if you can keep up!" The snake slid back into the fog as it grew denser and denser to the point where Twilight and Zero were right next to each other but couldn't see each other.
"How are we supposed to do this?!" Twilight shouted, as they were back to back on their hind legs looking for the snake.
"Shhh… Don't make a sound." Zero whispered calmly. He closed his eyes and listened to the surrounding area.
*hiss…Hiss…HISS…*
"DUCK!" Zero and Twilight both fell straight onto their bellies, dodging the serpent's tail. Zero jabbed his hoof to his left and hit the recovering snake right in the gut.
"Gotcha!" The snake hissed as he flew back into the fog.
"How did you do that?!"
"Twilight, listen. Not to me but to him. You need to focus not on looking for him, but on listening to where he is." Twilight got what Zero meant. That's how the snake could see where they were. Not by sight, but by sound. Twilight closed her eyes and listened. All of a sudden she could see past the fog in her mind and see only the snake thanks entirely to his hissing.
The snake tried to surprise them by staying low before attacking. They both sidestepped and while the snake flew by, Twilight got a hoof on him.
"We won!" Twilight shouted elated to win.
"*sigh* Very well. A deal is a deal." Suddenly, the fog completely lifted up and the path became clear. It was about ten feet in front of them.
"Wow, it was really that close?" Zero joked, his normal attitude returning. Twilight rolled her eyes again. She looked towards the snake.
"Why did you do all this?"
"Sometimes you need to make sure those you meet are ready for what lies ahead. You two performed well. But know this; sometimes you need to learn a new trick to defeat a new opponent." With that, the snake took his leave and slithered away, into the forest till neither one of them could see him.
"Come on Light. We need to get out of here before something else comes along."
"Right!" Twilight nodded as they both took off down the path in full gallop, hoping to get to the end faster. After about ten minutes of galloping they came to a clearing full of rocks. But right in the middle of the path, stood a tall ogre.
"Zero, look!"
"Oh, what now?"
"Halt! None get through unless they can defeat me!"
"Really?! More of this nonsense?!" Twilight looked around and noticed just how big the rocks were.
"Zero, I have a plan." She whispered her plan into his ear.
"Oh, you are a devious pony! Ok big guy! We accept your challenge!"
"Then prepare to forfeit your lives!" The ogre charged head first towards them. The two ponies ran in different directions to dodge. Zero bucked a small rock off of another rock and into the back of the ogre.
"Want some?!" The ogre roared as he charged right at Zero. At the very last second, Zero jumped out of the way and the ogre, unable to stop himself, ran head first into a boulder, demolishing it.
"Damn! Big boy got a hard head!"
"Not surprising since he has no brain in it!" Twilight surprisingly joined Zero in the mocking to get his attention on her now… and it worked.
"I have more brain then you think!" the ogre retorted.
"Then prove me wrong!" The ogre roared as loud as he could as he charged like a runaway train for Twilight. Zero almost couldn't look. Then just like Zero, she sidesteps and again the ogre hits a boulder.
"Come on! You can do better than that!"
"I don't know Zero! He seems to have problems thinking things through!" The ogre's fury had boiled over. He now grabbed a nearby boulder and through it at them.
"Look out!" Zero pushed both Twilight and himself out of the way as it landed, shaking the whole ground.
"What now?" Twilight looked over to see the ogre picking up the biggest rock of them all.
"Zero! We need to take out his legs!" Zero nodded and ran to the ogre, his back turned to them. Just as he picked it up over his head and turned to throw it, Zero drives his horn into the foot of the ogre, causing him to drop the rock on his head and fall to the ground unconscious. Zero managed to remove his horn in time to dodge the falling stone.
"AW! Now I have ogre blood on my horn!" Zero complained
"It'll clean off. Besides, who's fault was that?" Zero sighed as he knew she was right. "What do we do about him?"
"I say we leave before he wakes up." They both turn to leave.
"Halt! You have passed my test. Allow me to point you in the right direction." The ogre pointed to the middle of three paths.
"Thank you!" Twilight said nodding.
"You two proved you can use others weaknesses against them. But you're not out of the woods yet."
With that, the ogre crossed a stream and disappeared into the woods.
"Wait! What did you mean by that?!" But he was long gone.
"We should keep going, Zero!"
"What else is in this crazy place?!"
"I'm afraid to guess…" With that and in no particular haste, they set off for the next and hopefully final obstacle. They continued until they got to a part of the forest that looked different than the rest. All the trees looked like a forest fire came running through. What's more, there was a path of spider webs in front of them. Each path branched off onto another, creating multiple ways to get around.
"We should be on guard. I think we found our next problem."
"Indeed you have!" They both turn to the voice to see a chimera standing right behind them. It had the head of a lion, a goat's head coming out of its back, and a snake for a tail.
"*sigh* Ok, what's your game?" Zero voice was monotone, as he knew it was something stupidly hard.
"Simply make it to that gate over there." The chimera pointed to the end of the path to a gate.
"And the catch…?" Twilight asked, afraid of the answer.
"THIS!" Suddenly the chimera sent the surrounding trees ablaze, quickly spreading from tree to tree. "You best get going." The chimera began to cross the forest.
"What now?" Zero asked, looking at Twilight.
"We need to pick the paths with the least number of burning things in our way." The smoke started to make Twilight and Zero feel kind of weak.
"You ok?"
"I'm not sure…"
"How about I carry you on my back while you pick the paths?" Twilight nodded, as she got on his back. They began to work together to get out. Twilight would pick the paths that would offer the least resistance and Zero used his own physical abilities to get past without harm. After ten minutes they were finally home free as they had to just make it to the end of the path, but all the smoke and carrying of Twilight had taken its toll on Zero, as he collapsed and loss consciousness.
"Come on Zero… We're almost done…" Twilight pulled Zero by his tail and found out that he was actually quite heavy for his size. After finally reaching the exit, which was also full of smoke, she too collapsed.
"I'm surprised you actually made it out alive. It's been a while since some pony made it through all the challenges." The chimera that had waited at the end for them snapped its paw's fingers and the fire immediately began to die out. He carried them to a nearby stream and splashed them with water.
"*spitting water* What happened?" Twilight asked, being the first to regain consciousness.
"You two passed!"
"We did?" Zero seemed in disbelief.
"You proved that the most straightforward path isn't always the wisest. Sometime you have to take detours to get there safely. Anyway, take that path and I believe you'll arrive at Miracle City." They both looked into the direction of the path.
"Thank y-" Twilight was cut off, as the chimera suddenly gone. "Let's get out of this crazy forest."
"Before they change their minds and make more stupid hoops to jump through." Twilight and Zero galloped down the path and before they knew it they were at Miracle City. They looked like they had been through hell with the clothes they were wearing slightly torched. They noticed that guards were standing in front of the city gates, no doubt trying to keep the rebels back.
"So, now how do we get inside?"
"We're going to need to learn a new trick and I think I know just what to do." Zero noticed a drain pipe and pointed to it.
"Ugh… the things I have to go through are unbearable sometimes…" The two headed down to the corner of the town wall where the drain pipe was. They both climbed through and began their journey to find Sprocket, although they were in for quite a surprise.
*Meanwhile*
"Sir! What is the plan?" The soldier asked Blacklight who somehow managed to get to Miracle City before Zero and Twilight did. He was standing in a library looking over a glass box with a white jeweled cube inside it.
"We need to make sure that they never get the Savior's Fantasy."
"And how do we do that?"
"You'll see soon enough." Blacklight replied with a confident grin.