//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Last of the Dragonlords // by Fluttershy20 //------------------------------// The sun shone bright over the railway line as the ‘Golden Unicorn’ rumbled over a small bridge, passing a junction that went to Trottingham and Hoofington. Smoke billowed out of its small chimney as the great steam engine roared down the line. Fluttershy caught a glimpse of a small station race by through one of the windows, with a fleeting glimpse of the village it served. She turned her head back around to face the guard, who was leading the six mares through the train. “The ‘Golden Unicorn’,” he explained, “is Celestia’s private train built for her by the engineers of Hoofington works. So I strongly advise that you do not touch anything, please.” He emphasised the statement by glaring at Rainbow Dash, who was about to touch a pair of goggles given to the Princess by The Wonderbolts. “Now,” he continued, pointing behind them, “a bar is located at the back of the train, in the observation carriage. It serves Ale, Wine, and Cider, strong and soft. Punch and juice.” He swiftly guided them into the next carriage. “Food is made in the front carriage and serves just about anything, so feel free to go to either if you’re hungry or thirsty. Bathrooms and toilets are located in the second carriage, fourth and six.” He moved the mares into the third carriage, which were their quarters. Three beds ran along each side, while above them were two chandeliers that swung about as the train went around bends. “This in incase we have to stop for the night. I will let you settle. Enjoy your trip, ladies,” he said as cheerfully as he could, and walked towards the back of the train. With him gone the six mares spread out and choose their beds. Fluttershy moved to the one nearest the engine and laid spread out on her back, her eyes focused on one of the chandeliers, daydreaming about what will happen when the arrived. She hoped they would find him there, give her the diagnosis, then give her the cure she wanted, and then they could go home and she could enjoy her life. She rolled onto her stomach to see what the others were doing. “Wow these beds are sure springy, Dashie. I bet I can jump higher than you,” Pinkie said to Rainbow as she jumped up and down on the bed. “Is that a challenge?” Rainbow asked. Pinkie nodded with a beaming smile. Rainbow grinned mischievously. “It’s on.” She jumped up on the bed next to Pinkie’s and started hopping on it, Pinkie following suite, both ponies going higher and higher, laughing all the while. Fluttershy betted on Pinkie to win due to her seemingly endless energy. Rarity was reading a magazine she had picked up whilst they had been in Canterlot. “I might use that colour on a robe I have planned,” she muttered to herself. “Well, I’m not gonna just stand here and let free drinks go to waste. I’ll be at the bar if anypony wants me,” Applejack said and trotted out. Fluttershy watched her leave and quickly decided she might join her. She hopped off the bed and started walking after Applejack. She stopped when she noticed Twilight reading something. It was a book on world territories. It had a black cover with a picture of an artist impression of what the world looks like from space. “Twilight?” Fluttershy said quietly so she didn’t startle the unicorn. Twilight brought her gaze off the book and looked at her. “Yes, Fluttershy?” she asked. “I was wondering what you were reading. It looked interesting.” Twilight looked at her book again. “Oh, this. Sorry, I should have said something about this to you earlier. I found this in the library yesterday; you see I was intrigued about Firewing’s mention of Horsca, for I never heard of the place. So I went back to the library and found this.” Fluttershy nodded. “And what have you found out so far?” “Horsca is the land of the horses,” Twilight stated. Fluttershy’s eyes widened. “I thought horses lived in small territories, like tribes. Not an entire kingdom.” “Some do, they’ve emigrated to other countries like ponies do sometimes. But their homeland is older than ours, and way more hostile.” “Hostile?” Fluttershy shivered. Twilight nodded. “The country usually has ferocious winters according to the book, and that many mountain ranges and valleys that makes up the country have snow throughout the year, making mountain crossing dangerous at times. The land is filled with wide steppes, marshlands and thick woodlands; it does mention beasts of different sorts as well roaming old roads. The horses there also don’t control their weather like we do and don’t have magic abilities, but they follow our sun and moon movements so they follow our times.” Fluttershy nodded again. “Okay, so anything important there?” Twilight shook her head. “I don’t think so. They’re country might be older than ours, but they don’t seem as different, nor do they seem to possess anything that we can’t find in Equestria,” Twilight said, then adding, “So why he’s got an interest in Horsca escapes me.” “He did mention something about an ancient tomb?” Fluttershy pointed out. “He did, didn’t he?” Twilight flicked through the book and found a page dedicated to the cities of Horsca. “It says they bury their dead in large tombs underground, but nothing really mentions ancient tombs.” She paused to close the book. “So what’s so important there?” She wondered aloud. Fluttershy shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Now, I’m going to join Applejack,” she said and trotted out of the carriage. She found Applejack easily; she was sitting at the back of the observation car, staring out the window, lost in thought. “Hey, Applejack,” she called and joined her at the table. The earth pony’s head turned towards her and a smile crossed her face. “Howdy, sugarcube.” She turned to the unicorn bartender behind the bar. “Excuse me, miss, could we have two juice bottles over here please.” The bartender nodded and used her magic to pass two bottles and straws to their table. “Thanks, miss,” the two ponies said and sipped their drinks. “Applejack?” Fluttershy began. “I have a feeling you want to say something to me, I’ve known you long enough.” A small silence followed. Eventually Applejack sighed and nodded. “I wanted to ask ya something, but I didn’t want to ask ya in front of the others.” Fluttershy smiled and placed a comforting hoof on Applejack’s own. “You can talk to me about anything, Applejack. What did you want to know?” Applejack took a deep breath and said quickly, “What did it feel like to die?” Fluttershy blinked and cocked her head slightly to the side. “I don’t understand?” “That day a month ago, when the dragon killed ya, I’ve been meaning to ask ya about it for a while. Don’t worry none if ya don’t want to answer, if it’s discomforting.” Fluttershy looked away, deep in thought. What did it feel like? She knew the answer but wanted to lie about it for a moment, so as not to disturb her friend. But she knew Applejack could see a lie a mile away. So she looked back at Applejack, stared at her dead in the face and answered, “I felt a lot of pain, Applejack. I was in agony as I felt my skin get ripped off me. I couldn’t even scream. It hurt for a few seconds and then, nothing. My mind went black, all pain ceased, and then I found myself walking towards Twilight, and then nothing again.” Applejack winced at Fluttershy’s story. “So, you felt nothing after ya died?” Fluttershy nodded. “So, my parents wouldn’t have felt anything either,” she said before looking away. Fluttershy jaw dropped. “Oh Applejack, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” She put her hoof on the earth pony’s. Fluttershy knew that Applejack’s parents were no longer with them, but didn’t know what happened to them. Applejack looked back at Fluttershy with a smile. “Don’t be, Fluttershy. I asked, ya told me. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” “If it’s all right to ask, what happened?” Fluttershy asked, and then added, “You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want to, if you’re uncomfortable with it.” Applejack’s smile faded a little. “My mother died giving birth to Applebloom,” she answered. “My father’s was an accident. He fell off a cliff into the river, and was found dead up river.” She frowned and her head slumped. “I’m glad to know anyways, so thank ya kindly, Fluttershy. You’re a good friend, and I’m glad you’re with us still.” After a brief silence fell between them. Fluttershy said, “You know, I envy you a lot.” Applejack raised her head to look at the pegasus and blinked. “What?” “You knew your parents. You have a grandmother, a brother, a sister, a whole family.” Fluttershy paused to gaze out the scenery. “I didn’t even know my parents. I didn’t know any of my family.” Applejack gasped. She suddenly reached over and hugged the pegasus tightly. “Oh sugarcube, I’m so sorry to hear that. Why didn’t ya tell me?” “It seemed unimportant to me later in life. It wasn’t the greatest time in my life and I didn’t want to keep thinking about it,” Fluttershy replied, taking a sip her drink. “Does anypony else know?” asked Applejack. Fluttershy shook her head. “And I would like it to stay that way.” She sipped more of her drink. Applejack reluctantly agreed. “I promise, for you, I won’t tell anyone else. But ya know, no secret stays hidden forever, they’re find out sooner or later.” Fluttershy said nothing and continued to stare out the window. The train rolled through some thin woodland, with a small farm in a clearing where sheep grazed in the field. The sheep waved to the train, to which Pinkie waved back frantically. Later they passed a small windmill with some wetlands alongside. Switcher, the engine driver, loved this part of the Equestrian railway. It was smooth and fast. He could see for miles in front and would be well aware of any danger even before he was close enough. Switcher knew that soon they would be approaching a large girder bridge that crossed the river Pablo, then another hour till Strutford, and a nice long rest and drink. “Hey!” his fireman, Stoker, called, “I’ve never seen fog move in this quick before, especially around here!” Switcher took his gaze off the front and moved across to where Stoker was looking at. Fog was moving at an alarming speed towards the line. Before Switcher knew it, the track ahead disappeared and so did the bridge. “Blimey!” he said. “That hasn’t happened before!” The train moved into the fog; he strained his eyes to see but couldn’t make out anything, even the front of the engine. “We’d better slow down,” he said to Stoker. “I know there’s a signal up ahead and if we pass that at danger we’re glue.” He used his magic to push the regulator down, while Stoker closed the firebox doors. The train slowing down wasn’t unnoticed by the ponies on board. “Why we’re slowing?” Fluttershy said. “I don’t think we’re there yet.” Applejack shrugged and opened one of the windows, then put her head outside. “Oh nelly. I’ve never seen fog move in so quickly,” she said. Fluttershy opened the window next to her and watched with a gasp as the train began to creep into the fog. Applejack couldn’t make out any of the carriages in front, but Fluttershy could see the outlines of the next two. The two felt lost, alone, in a moving carriage heading somewhere. The train crept slowly forward, the only sounds that were heard were the exhaust of the engine as white smoke gushed out from the chimney every five seconds or so. A red light illuminated in front of Stoker and he called, “Red light, stop!” to his friend, who waved a hoof in acknowledgment and put on the brakes and pulled the reverser lever back. Stoker put on the handbrake. The train screeched to a gentle stop. Switcher moved to the other side where Stoker was and waited for the signal to go up. “Try giving a large blow on the whistle,” Stoker suggested after waiting for more than a minute. Switcher nodded and pulled a large chain at the top of the cab, letting loose a sound that echoed across the valley and beyond. “That should get some pony’s attention,” Switcher said, confident they would be soon on their way. Another two minutes later and still nothing, and the two ponies on the engine and the six ponies on board were beginning to grow impatient. “Oh dear, what can the matter be?” Stoker sang. “Johnny’s so long at…” “Never you mind about him,” Switcher laughed. “I better check with the Strutford signal box on what this is about.” Switcher jumped off the engine. He walked below the signal and picked up the phone with his magic and pressed it against his ear, waiting for someone to pick up. “No sign of damage!” Stoker shouted to him. He had jumped down and checked the signal connections and track quality. Switcher waved a hoof in thanks and talked into the phone once he realised somepony picked up. “Hey Bobby, is that you? Switcher here with ‘The Golden unicorn’. We’ve come across a red light near the river Pablo, and as far as I know we’re the only things running on this line. Are there any problems up your end?” “Hey, Switcher,” the reply came on the communicator. “I’ve got the signal still active but I can’t seem to unlock it. There must be something blocking the line up ahead.” “Well can you get a team down here to move it? We’re on a tight schedule,” Switcher asked. “I’m afraid not, lad. All the workers are busy I’m afraid, working on the line towards Hoofington, and I don’t think they would be able to get to you till tomorrow.” “Tomorrow! So you’re saying we’ll be stuck out here all night!” “Afraid so, lad. Still, It’s Celestia’s private train your on, so there should be beds available.” Switcher sighed. “Okay. Thanks, Bobby.” He put the phone back in the box and turned towards the train. “Porter!” The guard’s head poked out of the closest window. “You called, Switcher?” “Bad news, I’m afraid. It seems like we’ll be stuck out here until tomorrow,” Switcher said plainly. “Tomorrow? But these ladies need to get to Strutford by tonight!” Porter shouted. “I know I know, but I can’t do anything and neither can they.” He pointed towards the city, wherever that was. “Just tell them they would have to get comfortable in their beds.” Porter opened his mouth to protest, but a stare from Switcher made him nod and head back on the train. “Why do ya think we stopped?” Applejack asked Fluttershy. The pegasus shrugged. “I don’t know, but maybe the guard will tell us in a minute.” A few minutes later the guard came through the passage, and seemed to breath a sigh of relief when he found them. “Ah ladies, listen, don’t worry about the train, its perfectly fine. However, I’m afraid to tell you all that the train is stuck here for the night,” he explained. Fluttershy’s head slumped and her ears dropped right down to her head. Applejack saw this and stepped forward. “Is there anything we could do to help?” Applejack asked. The guard shook his head. “Unless you have very good eyesight to find something blocking the line, and have a basic railway safety pass then no,” he replied. With that he turned and left. Applejack looked at the devastated pegasus with sad eyes and put a comforting leg around her shoulders. “I wouldn’t worry about it, hun. We should be fine. Heck, it’ll be like a slumber party, hopefully this one will be better than the last one, though.” She shuddered as she remembered the arguments she had with Rarity at Twilight’s. Fluttershy didn’t listen; she was deep in thought about what the guard said. Good eyesight? Wait, she had the best eyesight in Equestria! Not bragging, of course. Her face lit up with excitement and calmly trotted to the nearest door, Applejack eyeing her with curiosity. “Fluttershy, what are ya doing?” Fluttershy didn’t answer; she reared up and pulled the window down, then opened the door and hopped off the train. Applejacks eyes widened in horror. “Oh no! Fluttershy, come back!” She hopped off the train and cantered after her. “What’s the problem?” Fluttershy asked Stoker when she arrived. “Well you see the-” he stopped and noticed Fluttershy looking at him with big eyes. “Hold on a second you’re a passenger on this train! I can’t allow you to wander in there. That would be against safety regulations.” “But if I don’t we’ll be stuck here all night. Oh please? I’ll just go forward a bit and see what it is, then come back for you if I need help.” She gave him big puppy dog eyes and a wide grin. Eventually he caved in. “All right,” he said with a growl. “But be careful, the Princess would have my flank if something happened to any of you.” He stepped out of the way and Fluttershy walked forward. Before she could get very far, however, she felt a tug at her tail. “Hold it right there, sugar,” Applejack said as she spat out the loose hairs from her mouth. “There’s no way under Celestia’s sun that I’m gonna let ya walk in there all by yourself. I’m coming with ya.” Fluttershy opened her mouth to protest. Before she knew it however she found her vision clouded by an orange earth pony’s face and her eyes glaring into her own. “No. Buts.” Fluttershy nodded weakly and soon the fog ate her and Applejack, leaving only the sound of their hooves hitting the ground. “Well isn’t this a lovely start to a holiday,” Applejack said humourlessly as they followed the railway line. She was next to Fluttershy who was starting to quiver a bit. “Don’t worry non, sugarcube. I’m right here with ya, and our friends our counting on us.” Fluttershy nodded and felt a pang of bravery go through her once again and broke into a trot, Applejack following suite. Fluttershy’s ears were completely upright, hoping to hear something to make her feel safer, save Applejack trotting by her side. She never liked complete silence. She found it unnerving. She always loved hearing the birds sing to make her feel easy, but there weren’t any birds this time. A part of her wanted to race back and hope they wouldn’t mind staying after all. But no, they needed to get to Strutford, as soon as so they couldn’t delay, and she couldn’t let them down; everypony on the train was counting on them. The two ponies suddenly came across something big lying across the railway line. Applejack whistled. “Wow, I wonder how a humungous bolder managed to get on the railway line?” “Probably fell off one of the trains,” Fluttershy suggested. “Shall we try lifting it?” Applejack scrutinized it carefully. “I don’t know, sugars. It looks mighty heavy. Are ya sure ya want to try?” Fluttershy nodded and moved closer to the boulder. She spat on her hooves and rubbed them together, Applejack watching with an amused expression. “Ya know, after all this time ya still surprise me. If Rarity saw ya doing that she would probably die of shock.” Fluttershy giggled. “Just don’t tell her I do that sometimes… well, most of the time.” Fluttershy moved her hooves to fit under it, but upon touching it her eyes widened and with a squeal ran behind Applejack. “What in tarnation? Fluttershy, it’s just a boulder.” Fluttershy shook her head. “No, it isn’t. T-touch it.” Applejack snorted and walked over to it, placing a hoof on the ‘boulder’. “See, there’s nothing to be… wait, is this thing moving?” The ‘boulder’ began shifting, prompting Applejack to back away in alarm. “Fluttershy, get behind me now!” she barked. Fluttershy jumped behind the earth pony and the two began backing away in fright. The creature lifted its head and with a dark green eye gazed at the two ponies, who were now shivering in fear. It shifted its whole body around and faced them directly. By now the two ponies were certain what the ‘boulder’ was. A dragon. “Get back ya devil!” Applejack roared at it, rearing up and thrusting her hooves at the creature threateningly. “Ya ain’t hurting any of my friends again.” The dragon didn’t seem to pay attention the earth pony, instead, its eyes seemed to go through her and bear down on the pegasus pony behind her. Fluttershy peeped her head from Applejack’s back and looked eye to eye at the dark green-eyed monster. “Are you going to kill us?” the pegasus asked, her voice trembling. She could see and feel Applejack lightly trembling. The dragon laughed. Its laugh echoed across the valley and the bridge seemed to shake under its laugh. “Of course not, little pony,” the dragon said. Its voice was hoarse, yet powerful and ancient and showed signs of great wisdom. “After all, we are the same.” With that, the dragon spread its wings and took off, disappearing into the fog without a sound. “Come on, let’s get back to the train,” Applejack said, turning to go. She looked back to notice Fluttershy hadn’t moved, and groaned in frustration. “Come on, Fluttershy! We need to get back on the train.” When she moved in front of Fluttershy her frustration disappeared in an instant. Fluttershy’s eyes were wide and full of fear, her breathing was short and quick and she was shaking. Applejack wrapped her legs around the pegasus in an attempt to comfort her. “It’s okay, sugarcube. It’s gone now.” Fluttershy immediately relaxed and returned the hug. “Sorry, Applejack,” she said with a smile. She pulled away. “Now, let’s get back onto the train.” The two galloped off the track and were soon back in front of the train. “There you two are. I was beginning to worry,” Switcher said. “You both did it anyway, whatever you did.” He pointed to the signal, which had moved up and into green. “Right, everypony, back on board! We should be in Strutford in an hour!” he shouted out, and then jumped back onto the engine. “Fluttershy, please explain to me what the hay just happened back there?” Applejack asked again as they walked back onto the train. Fluttershy shook her head. “I know just as much as you, Applejack.” “But that dragon.” Applejack said, pointing towards where they found it. “Why was it there, and what the hay did it mean when it said to you, ‘we are the same’?” “I’m not sure either,” Fluttershy replied, her voice shaky. “Nor do I think I will.” As she finished speaking the train jarred, nearly toppling Applejack to the ground. Fluttershy saw out of the window the train began picking up speed and smiled. Like the driver said, they should be in Strutford in the hour. “‘We are the same’. That’s a weird thing to say. What is it suppose to mean?” Twilight asked when Applejack told the others what happened. While Fluttershy layed on the bed on her back being blitzed with questions. “I don’t know, Twilight!” she snapped, getting aggravated after for what felt like the fiftieth time she’d been asked that. She sighed and rubbed her forehead as a small headache made itself known. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t know, and I don’t think it should matter. The sooner we’re in Strutford, the better.” She rolled onto her stomach and blocked out the others talking, staring blankly out the window. The phrase spoken by the dragon kept nagging at her, though. It’s meaning she said was unimportant, but deep down in her stomach, she knew it would have a purpose later in this adventure. The train arrived in Strutford exactly an hour since they had stopped. The six passengers looked out the windows on both sides; amazed by the city they were going through. The city’s buildings were similar in design to Ponyville’s, but were attached to each other and created long lines of houses, bakeries and other shops. In the centre of the city stood a giant domed structure that was completely white and gleaming in the low sunlight. Below them were the city’s canals, where boats of different shapes sailed through, all of them were connected a larger river that divided the city in two. They saw a large steamship with four funnels waiting to go, while smaller ferries under its shadow took ponies across the river The train came to a large station with around ten platforms. With a gentle turn of the brakes, Switcher stopped the train. Once it came to a full halt, he and Stoker relaxed, glad to be in Strutford after a long day. Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow and Pinkie jumped off the train and thanked the driver, fireman, and the guard, and walked out of the station and into the city proper. “I didn’t think that the city would be this glamorous!” Rarity squealed with joy as they walked out the station and onto one of the main streets. Around them, ponies in different fashion designs: suites, dresses and some in their born coats, walked on with their daily lives, not noticing the six ponies’ arrival. “Right,” Fluttershy said. “What’s everypony doing?” They looked at each other and thought about what they want to do. To go with Fluttershy or explore the city? “It’s alright if you all want to do something else. I’m just going to see the mayor and see whether Firewing passed through.” “Ya sure, Fluttershy?” Applejack asked. Fluttershy nodded. “Okay then, why don’t we look around the city, see if we could spot him, and then meet back somewhere. Agreed?” The five ponies nodded their heads. “Look,” Rainbow pointed, “there’s a inn over there. We’ll meet you in there.” Fluttershy looked to where she was pointing and saw the name, ‘The Cantering Filly’. “Okay, Rainbow, I’ll meet you girls in there, then. If I don’t get lost,” Fluttershy said with a giggle. Twilight chuckled. “Not if we get lost first. See you later.” With that the six ponies went their different ways. Fluttershy heading down towards the square and Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie went up towards the main river. Fluttershy dodged her way through the large crowds of ponies and walked along the sidelines, glad to be out of the large crowds and in her own space. She walked to the edge of a small road and waited for the carriages to go by. A police pony walked up next to her. Fluttershy found him to be intimidating for he was massive in size, but he might know where the mayor’s office is. She extended a hoof and poked him lightly on the side. With a grunt he looked down on her with cold eyes. She shrank under his gaze. “Um…” she gulped. “I was wondering where the mayor’s office is in Strutford? You see I’m new here and…” she was interrupted by his answer. “That big domed building over there is the mayor’s office, you can’t miss it. The bigger it gets the closer you’d be.” He pointed towards the large building they saw on the train, and then looked forward again as if she wasn’t there. “Oh… okay. Thanks,” she said and trotted over the road and towards the building. Hoping to get there before sundown. She passed quiet roads and bridges over the small neat canals, stopping for a few seconds to say, “Hello” to some swans, who replied cheerfully. She arrived at the mayor’s office before the clock struck four, and stared in awe at the size of the building. Wasting no more time, she nimbly walked through the main entrance and walked up to the reception desk. “Hello, I’m here to see the mayor of Strutford. My name’s Fluttershy.” The mare behind the desk looked at her with narrow eyes and then looked down at a scroll hidden from sight. “Ah yes, from Canterlot. The mayor’s been waiting for a while. Head up the stairs and turn left, last door on the right,” she said. Fluttershy nodded in thanks and flew upstairs. She landed on the path on the left and walked to the last door on the right. She gave a small tap with a hoof. “Hello, may I come in?” “Enter.” Fluttershy opened the door and saw the mayor. She was around middle age, a dark green coat with a red and black striped mane and tail. Dark blue eyes and a cutie mark similar to that of Ponyville’s mayor, except the ribbon around the scroll was red rather than blue. “Well hello there, you must be Fluttershy from Ponyville,” she smiled warmly as she got up and shook the pegasus’ hoof. “Charmed to meet you, I’m mayor Struttinhoof.” “Likewise,” Fluttershy greeted her with a smile. “Sorry I’m late, by the way. The train was delayed.” “That’s all right, Fluttershy. It’s better safe than sorry, I suppose. Now come, walk with me,” the mayor said, leading Fluttershy out of her office and through the building. “So you’re the great Fluttershy of Ponyville. To be honest I expected you to be older, with your fame and all.” Fluttershy looked at her, surprised. “You… you know me?” “Yes, well, you and your friends. The famous bearers of the Elements of Harmony, the six ponies who saved Equestria twice. Yep, I know of you.” The mayor led Fluttershy down the stairs and past the receptionist, heading through a door on the right of the main entrance. “I also know of why you are here, but what I can’t understand is why?” Fluttershy tilted her head to the left, and looked at her curiously. “I don’t understand?” “Why are you after this Firewing fellow? And why is he important to you and the Princess?” she asked. “Well, mayor, you see…” Fluttershy paused, wondering whether to tell her, a complete stranger. But she could see in her eyes she could be trusted and continued. “Firewing might know of a… condition that I have and I would like to see him to be cured.” Now it was the mayor’s turn to look confused. “I see, but I would of thought a doctor would be better suited to treat you of this… condition. Not some wanderer. Would you like me to set up an appointment?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh no, thank you. It’s a bit complicated… and a bit ancient.” “I see, so why don’t the Princess know of this… condition?” “She said she’d never heard of it, but she pointed Firewing to me, so that’s why I’m going to find him.” “I see,” the mayor said with a smile. They came to a pair of doors; with a push of her forelegs the mayor shifted them to move inwards. Inside were shelves of large books that had dark red covers. “These,” the mayor explained, pointing to them as they walked into the archive, “are censuses. They’re written to record the ponies that live here and the ones that pass through. It’s to make sure we could track them in case they went missing.” “So you're saying Firewing’s name could be written in one of these books?” The mayor nodded. “If he passed through in the last five months, then it would have been recorded.” She turned to leave. “I hope you find him.” she closed the door behind her, leaving Fluttershy alone with all the censuses. Fluttershy looked at the one nearest to her, and saw the date went back to three years ago. She realised that the census Firewing must have taken part in must be at the far end of the shelf, from five months ago to now. So she walked slowly, watching the dates carefully so she could hopefully find the right one. The dates went down: one year, eleven months, ten months, nine and so on. Until she came to one dating back five months ago. “Well, here goes nothing,” she said to herself, and picked up the book with her teeth. She walked to a small desk and started flicking through it. Her eyes darted down then right, passing every name that didn’t begin with ‘F’ and slowed down to those that did. She was around half way through when she found his name written, along with his signature. Fluttershy got out his diary and noticed the signature was written the same way as the writing in the book. Fluttershy grinned. “Gotcha,” she said, mimicking the way the Princess said it at the brunch where she met Philomena. She noticed that next to his name was duration of stay; it seemed he planned to stay for four months. Four months! Fluttershy wondered why he wanted to stay here for four months, and not in Canterlot, which is better in everyway compared to Strutford (no offence to the mayor). She put the book back and picked up the most recent one. She found his name again, this time the duration of stay said overnight. She looked across and saw he was heading to Detrots, like he’d planned in the diary. She wrote it down in the diary and put the census book back. From this she learnt she was gaining on him, and if they were lucky they could catch him at Detrots; do what they need to do then go home. She wore a large smile as she went back to the mayor’s office. “Thank you, mayor, for letting me have a look. It’s been a big help,” she said as she walked in. “You’re welcome, dear. I hope you found what you were looking for.” Fluttershy nodded. “Yes, it seems he left for Detrots less than a month ago.” The smile on the mayor’s face faded. “Why of all places in Equestria would he want to go there?” she asked aloud. Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with it?” she asked. “It’s a bit rough, so to speak. It’s on the border of Horsca and Equestria, and soldiers are garrisoned there in case the horses there like to invade us at some point,” the mayor explained. “Did it say why?” Fluttershy shook her head. The mayor sighed. “Well, I hope you find him, then put some sense in him to come back from there.” “I’ll try, thanks again, mayor.” With that she turned and left the room. By the time she left the city hall and was making her way back towards the station, the sun was nearly gone, and the first stars were appearing on the cloudless sky. Fluttershy preferred walking through Strutford in the early evening; there weren’t as many ponies about on the paths so she could trot freely down the path, humming to herself. By the time the stars were out Fluttershy arrived outside ‘The Cantering Filly’ and went inside, hoping to find her friends already here waiting for her. It was loud. Ponies were laughing, talking and singing noisily. She put her ears flat on her head, as the noise was dreadful to her – especially to her. She slid her way through the bar and looked around. Unfortunately she couldn’t see or make out any of her friends. With a sigh she walked to the front and waited to be served for a drink and food, since her belly started to rumble. “Uhm, excuse me?” Fluttershy called to the waitress behind the bar. The waitress was a unicorn; she was a dark grey with a light brown mane and tail, and a cutie mark of a beer mug. The waitress turned around and when she saw Fluttershy she grinned. “Why hello, gorgeous,” she commented, making Fluttershy blush heavily. She’d never been commented on her appearance before. ‘Either that,’ she thought, ‘or she’s flirting with me.’ “Um… thanks,” she squeaked behind her pink mane. “Um… I was wondering if I could get some food and a drink, please?” she asked. “Sure thing, hun. What would you like?” she asked, passing her a menu. Fluttershy flicked through it. “I’ll have the lettuce burger and hay fries please. And a apple juice please?” The waitress wrote that down. “Sure thing, hun. Sit down and I’ll deliver it to you.” Fluttershy nodded and glanced around the room. She noticed a table for six for free. “Hmm, that’s fortunate,” she said to herself. She walked through the crowd and sat at the far end of the table, facing the door. She spent the next few minutes thinking about what to do when they get to Detrots. If he weren’t there would they return to Ponyville and hope he might come through one day? She hoped he was, for her friend’s sake. She knew after a while they would want to go home, and they certainly wouldn’t want to go to Horsca. She knew at some point that she too would want to go home. But something inside her wanted her to keep going, make it through to the end, even if it meant going to the edge of the known world. “Hun,” the waitress brought her out of her chain of thought. The unicorn had a plate with her meal and her drink held with her magic. “Your dinner’s here.” “Oh sorry, I’m just thinking about something. Thank you,” she said as the waitress placed the meal in front of her. “May I ask something?” the unicorn said. Fluttershy nodded, gesturing for her to sit, which the waitress did so. “What’s a nice, cute pegasus like yourself doing out here in this town alone?” “Well,” Fluttershy answered, another pink blush forming, “I’m not alone. My friends are around town at the moment. They should be here soon.” The waitress nodded. “But why in Strutford, if you don’t mind me asking?” Fluttershy thought about whether or not she should tell this complete stranger, but she seemed nice enough, if not a bit flirtatious. “I’m looking for a pony, a stallion.” She could see the unicorn's smile fade a little. Fluttershy giggled. “Not like that. I need to speak to him about something. His name’s Firewing.” The unicorn’s head shot upright and her eyes widened. “You know Firewing?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Well no… wait, do you know him?” The waitress nodded. “Yes, he worked here for a while. Had some rather good cooking skills so he was in the kitchen for a while. Said he needed the bits.” Fluttershy’s jaw lowered very slowly and her eyes lit up with joy. “Oh thank you, thank you very much.” “You’re welcome, hun.” The waitress noticed she was being watched. “I’d better get back to work. Enjoy your meal, hun.” With that the waitress walked away. She looked back and gave Fluttershy a friendly smile, which Fluttershy returned. She had nearly finished her meal when she heard the familiar voices of her friends through the crowd. “Over here, girls!” she called as loud as she could, and waved her hooves to show she was here. Rainbow pointed her out and they clambered past the ponies and joined her. “Hey, Fluttershy!” Pinkie squeaked as they sat around. “Hello, Fluttershy. I trust you found what you were looking for,” Rarity said Fluttershy nodded. “Yes, he’s not here I’m afraid. He went to Detrots about a month ago.” “A month!” Rainbow exclaimed. “That’s a good thing isn’t it? I mean we’re catching up with him already.” “I hope so, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “The map he wrote out said he was going to Detrots and that’s it.” Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “The waitress told me…” she pointed over to the unicorn, who saw her looking and winked at her. “Um… right,” she said, blushing again. “Anyway, she said Firewing worked here for a while. She said he needed the money for something.” “Why would he need the money if he’s able to stay here?” Rarity said. Fluttershy shrugged. “I don’t know, but we’ll ask him when we find him.” Applejack yawned. “Well I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’m tired. We’ll set out to Detrots then in the morning, huh?” The others agreed and they bought a room for six in the inn for the night. As they walked up to their room Rainbow looked at her pegasus friend with a smirk “Hey, Fluttershy, did that unicorn waitress wink at you earlier?” she asked. Fluttershy nodded sheepishly and squeaked behind her mane. Rainbow sniggered, and then couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh, this is precious. Fluttershy getting hit on in Strutford. I’m never going to let this go, ever,” she said between breaths. She glanced at Fluttershy, who was giving her the ‘stare’. Rainbow squeaked in alarm and ran inside the bedroom, Fluttershy following suite. “We’re on our way, from misery to happiness today,” Pinkie sang as they walked (Pinkie hopped) out of the city and on the dirt road towards Detrots the next morning. “How long until we get to Detrots, Twilight?” Rainbow asked as they walked. Twilight was up front, with Rainbow and Fluttershy flying beside her, with Pinkie annoying Rarity and Applejack at the back with her cheerful singing. In front of them were miles of meadows and woodlands; while in the distance was a large group of mountains that dominated the skyline. “By my calculations, it should take at least a day and a night to get there. So we’re gonna have to camp out tonight.” Rarity heard her and froze. “Camp?! Outside?! In the muddy grass?! What madness is this?! Couldn’t we just find a nice inn along the road, there should be one? Shouldn’t there?” Twilight looked back and shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Rarity. Nopony really ever takes this road, so there aren’t any inns at all, or else they would all be out of business.” “Don’t worry, Rarity,” Applejack smirked. “It’ll be fun, sleeping under the stars for once, it’s relaxing.” Secretly she couldn’t help but snigger. The six ponies passed rows of meadows and woodlands alongside the road. The day went by quickly for them; they filled it with jokes, singing, and talking about how everypony in Ponyville was getting on without them. “To be honest,” Rainbow said on the subject, “I bet the mayor’s pleased I’m not there. I’ve caused enough damage in the last few months than that dragon did in one day.” “Well I hope my family can get on without me,” Applejack said. “I know Big Mac will do well, but I sure hope Caramel has learned to buck straight.” Eventually they found themselves under the shadow of the mountains. They were massive and black as night, with a small rocky path winding its way through them. To their right was a small river that flowed down towards Strutford. “Black Mane pass,” Twilight announced, stopping to take a look around. Rainbow dashed forward to scout the path ahead, a few seconds later she came back. “The path is starting to get a bit rocky and the mountains look treacherous. I think we should take it, and I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth, slowly,” Rainbow said with a sigh. With that, she set down behind Fluttershy and walked through the tricky, steep path. “How come you aren’t flying?” Twilight asked to her, upon noticing Rainbow was trotting. “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to fly?” “Well, yeah,” Rainbow admitted. “But when you’re an awesome pegasus like me who thrives in danger, then sometimes you would want to take the harder route.” The five ponies she was with rolled their eyes. “Oh, I hope there won’t be any danger where we’re going,” Fluttershy said, hopping from rock to rock. The mountains drew further apart from each other as they walked, mostly due to the appearance of a large lake that made up half of the pass, and some dead trees on the other. Most were cut down and harvested for timber, but most still stood. Fluttershy noticed the pass starting to disappear and new trees and grass that grew; they were now back on the main road. “Girls!” Fluttershy called to Rainbow and Applejack in front. “I think it might be best if we stop here for the night. Some of us are getting tired,” Fluttershy suggested, motioning to Rarity and Twilight, who were now lagging behind. Applejack looked to where the sun was; it was starting to descend over the horizon. “Ya right, Fluttershy. By the lake here would be a perfect place to stop.” “I’ll get some firewood!” Rainbow called. With that, she raced into the nearby forest, while Fluttershy flew over the water with a flask and got some water. It was clear and rich in taste so it should be fine to make some nice tea. Fluttershy checked the bucket quickly so that no small fish got trapped inside. Satisfied, she returned to the camp, where an exhausted Twilight put up her sleeping bag. “I got some water from the lake. Don’t worry it’s fresh. I thought I’ll make some tea for you all,” Fluttershy said. Twilight smiled. “That would be lovely, thank you, Fluttershy.” Rarity agreed. Rainbow came back a minute later, her hooves and teeth full of wood. She set it down and stacked it up in a pile. “Anyone know how to make a fire?” she asked. “I do,” Applejack replied. “Just stand back and in ten minutes we’ll have a roaring fire going.” Rainbow yawned and looked at Pinkie’s party watch. “Gee, Applejack, I’d hoped you knew the difference between ten minutes and half an hour!” Applejack was still rubbing the two pieces of wood in her hooves together, frustration edging its way across her face. Finally the wood caught alight and the fire began to crackle in earnest. “About blooming time!” she shouted, while placing some more wood on to keep it going for a bit longer. By the time the stars had appeared the fire was burning brightly and the six ponies crowded around it in a bid to keep warm. Fluttershy brought out a small tripod from her saddlebag and placed it over the fire, getting some tealeaves and placing them in the flask. “Tea’s ready,” she said once it had boiled. The five ponies were given some mugs by Fluttershy and drank their teas in silence, admiring the sound of the fire and the clear bright night sky above them. After tea, they got out there sleeping bags and got ready to set down for the night. Suddenly Rarity screamed. “Oh no! I forgot my sleeping bag! Oh Nononononono! Of all the worst things that could happen! This is the. Worst. Possible. Thing! Oh, woe to me!” she cried. She began shaking as the night drew colder. The five ponies looked at Rarity with great sympathy, but they couldn’t give or share theirs or they would be cold as well. Fluttershy then had a great idea, one she’d do later, but now Rarity was the main concern. She took her sleeping blanket and laid it over Rarity, who instantly stopped shaking. She opened her eyes and noticed the blanket on her. She looked towards Fluttershy, who walked back to the opposite side of the fireplace and cuddled up closer to the fire. Rarity was at a loss for words. “Fluttershy, I… I can’t take this. It’ll seem selfish of me that I’m here warm and you are sleeping out in the cold.” Rarity was right; the night was colder than the last few nights. Fluttershy shook her head “And I would feel terrible if my friend was left in the freezing cold too, Rarity. I’ll be fine, I just hope it’s comfortable for you.” Rarity tried to get comfortable; Applejack thought she would be fussing for about an hour, keeping everypony awake. But to her and everypony’s (except Fluttershy’s) surprise, it took a few seconds for Rarity to get comfortable and she rested her head on the grass. “Fluttershy, this blanket is so comfortable!” She rubbed the texture of it. “And amazingly smooth, where did you get this?” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh one of the carers at the orphanage made it for me. She knitted it from one of her sheep at the farm she worked part time.” The others looked at Fluttershy with complete shock. Fluttershy realised what she just said and brought her hooves on her mouth and squeaked in shock. “You never told us you were an orphan?” Rarity said, wide eyed. Fluttershy eyes moved to look at Applejack who mouthed, “I told ya so,” at her. Fluttershy sighed. “Because it seemed unimportant to me,” she answered. Rainbow gasped, “Well it is to us!” Fluttershy flinched at her outburst. Rainbow sighed. “Oh come here.” She walked up to Fluttershy and gave her a big hug. Pinkie followed behind, Twilight and Rarity and finally Applejack, all came together in a big hug. “I’m so sorry to hear this. What happened to make you lose your family, Fluttershy? Don’t worry about it makes you uncomfortable,” Twilight asked. Fluttershy gestured them all to sit down and she told her story. “No it’s all right, Twilight, I’ve kept it quiet long enough, even if there isn’t much to tell. I never knew my mother and father, I don’t even remember them. One of the carers said she found me outside the front entrance of the orphanage early one morning. She brought me in and raised me in her image. She was kindest gentlest soul I ever knew, never raised a hoof on any pony, and especially not me.” She looked at each of her friends, who gasped. “You’re saying… that there were ponies that hit you?” Pinkie said with a trace of anger. Fluttershy shook her head and gave Pinkie an assuring smile. “Not me, no, but other orphans were hit sometimes. She was furious, though, and they were sacked instantly. No, I kept myself to myself.” “Then what happened?” Applejack asked. “The years passed, every time two ponies came to adopt, they turned me away, thinking I’m a freak.” Twilight snorted in disgust. “Who would have the audacity to think of you as a freak?” “You must understand, Twilight, that at ten I wasn’t able to fly properly, while most ponies at that age whizzed by me. They wanted a filly or colt that could fly well, and I was never any good for them.” She paused for breath. “I was enrolled into flight school when I was eleven. I kept myself to myself, shy as always, until I met Rainbow.” She looked at the cyan pegasus, who saluted. “She taught me to fly better than the teachers ever did,” she commented on Rainbow, who started to blush. “Oh stop it, Fluttershy, you’re embarrassing me here,” she waved a hoof. Fluttershy giggled. “Then I got my cutie mark, and managed to fly back to the orphanage. When I showed that carer who found me she leapt for joy.” She smiled at the memory. “She made me that blanket and gave it to me the next day, and this.” She fished something out of her saddlebag and showed it to them. A single golden medallion, thin and shaped like an egg, with a string that went through a hole at the top. The others looked at it with wonder. “She said she found it on me when I was a foal. Must have been given by my mother or father. She said it gives me good luck.” She paused again, this time her smile faded. “And then s-she died. Gone just like that. When I was told I never cried harder than I did that day and that night.” She noticed Pinkie sniffing up tears. “I was beginning to like her,” Pinkie sniffed. “Four years later, I received a letter. It turned out I had an auntie. She only found out of my existence, but passed away before she was able to get me, so she left my name in her will, and left me her cottage. So I packed what I had and moved to Ponyville,” she said. “Wow,” Applejack said. “So your auntie lived there before ya. When I was little I dodged that place, was too close to the Everfree for my liking.” “I know,” Fluttershy agreed. “I admit it was pretty scary when I moved in, but a few re-decorations here and there did the trick. I renovated it so I could look after my animal friends. And that’s it really, not much else to tell,” Fluttershy finished. The five ponies looked at her with wonder. “That was incredible. Why didn’t you tell us before?” Rarity asked. Fluttershy looked away, ashamed at herself. “Because I was afraid to. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier everypony, especially to you, Rainbow. I guess I should’ve trusted you earlier than I do now.” Rainbow smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Fluttershy. You didn’t know me too well at that age anyway.” “It’s okay, don’t worry about it,” Pinkie, Rarity and Twilight said, one after the other. Twilight suddenly let out a long yawn; followed by Pinkie. “Oooo,” Pinkie said. “Your yawn’s infectious.” “Guess it’s time we go to sleep. Goodnight, everypony,” Twilight said, and crept in to her sleeping bag. Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie followed suite. Rarity went under Fluttershy’s blanket. “Thanks again, Fluttershy. You’re a good friend,” she said and quickly fell asleep. Fluttershy waited until they were all fully asleep. Once they began to snore she started her plan. She crept away from the group and gathered more firewood. She returned with a large group of sticks in her hooves and mouth and tossed them into the fire, creating a large inferno that, she hoped, would keep burning for some time. Stage one was complete – time for stage two. The fire was still burning brightly as Fluttershy brought her left foreleg over it, stepping onto it. She then placed her right foreleg onto it, trying to be careful so not to damage the fire. She then moved her hind legs on it. The fire still as intense as it was when she stepped on it, as if she wasn’t there. She set down on her stomach, bringing her legs towards her stomach and relaxed. Fluttershy never felt safer before than she did now. She felt warm, and found the feel of the fire soothing, and made her sleepy. She rested her head on the grass and fell quickly asleep, excited and nervous about tomorrow’s arrival and what they would find in Detrots.