//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 Going Native // Story: The Terra Affirmation // by Silver Eyes //------------------------------// “Where did we go so wrong” the guard said dramatically putting a hoof to his forehead in mock distress “the day is certainty dark my stallions if we have foals fiddling around with locks”. As the other guards laughed at their comrade’s performance Shadow slumped down in his cell trying to get comfortable in the rotten smelling windowless room. He had been practising his skills in picking locks when the guards caught him and arrested him for accused theft. Though tired he at least was at peace of mind in the dimly lit room with four grown stallions taunting him, he had been practising with that particular chest for an hour before it finally clicked and in hindsight he was a lot quicker in his second attempt before being accused of stealing the contents of the merchant’s locked chests. He calmly put his head to the vile smelling floor and tried to drown out the sound of the guards’ banter. This was his seventh month living in the village and although he was staring at the reinforced bars of iron meant to keep ponies captive before their trials things were looking up for the charcoal coloured colt. The small fortune Rising Dawn had amassed had finally run out just as the final days of winter ticked over and the innkeeper, and now proud owner of a speakeasy some of the town guard secretly sanctioned, was no longer threatening to throw out some of their belongings after a series of quick sales made entirely by him. And perhaps the best of all events during the seven months he had been living in one spot, an ongoing record by about six months by his count, he had only stole twice. The first instance for him was a barrel of vinegar from a very wealthy travelling trader just a day after arriving. He needed the liquid more than any pony in the crowd and after four weeks of usefulness he felt no shame when he offered the remainder of the liquid to the graveyard ponies, paying tribute to the gods with their pyre funerals. The second time occurred two months later and in retrospect the only difference for him was the absence of a upset stomach or a constant tremble in his hooves afterwards. Winter was a usually a tough time for everypony and without any fruit to pick from trees he feared the worst with little money available, this all changed when the town Mayor returned from a raider encampment pulling a wagon of food, armour and weapons. Feeling elated and unusually generous he offered whatever wasn't made of metal or tanned hide to the town and in the excitement Shadow made off with far more food than he would deem generous. Along with some vegetables that happened to be unguarded at the time, though nopony in particular would miss some less than spoiled cabbages when they were going to just throw them in the faces of ponies in stockades. Under any other circumstances he might have felt guilty knowing he was betraying the unwritten earth pony code though stealing but he doubted any cleric would scoff at his crimes where nothing of value was taken and nopony was afforded any grief. A smile found its way to his parched lips as he lay motionless; the winter he had faced was undoubtedly one of the hardest he could remember. Even with a roof over his head for the most of it, the cold bothered crops more than anything and even the animals stockpiled their food leaving little in trees to scavenge. But despite the danger neither howling dire wolves nor marauding gryphon war parties had kept him from his meagre prises of fruit bushels. And even when his forest failed him his friends prevailed, the word was still alien to his young tongue but he could not deny that since he met with Red Thread and Grinding Stone he had become somewhat close with the pair. Red when she could donated some pieces of cloth to use as bandages for Rising’s leg and for his part Stone usually waited patiently at the edge of the tree line to carry his bounty of fruit home, he had also offered him a job working as an apprentice with his father when the demand for a metalworker suddenly rose with mayor Durning’s return. The village was alive with change and activity and for once this did not startle Shadow, as much as it did before. With such hard times he found himself venturing to the forest in the peak hours of dawn and dusk looking for food and in the reminder of the day either sweltering in a forge as a metal smith’s assistant or a mouser chasing down vermin on the expanding farmland. In his few hours of daylight when he was not working he was caring for his still weak mother changing bandages or bringing her food and drink, she would need more care over the next few weeks but she was finally stretching her limbs and could walk short distances without too much pain. Life was relentless work and sleep was a nearly forgotten comfort when his nagging mind kept whispering worries and worst case scenarios about next week’s rations while he lay. Despite this thought the colt was more than content; he had his friends, his family and his forest to ease his mind whenever it troubled him. One of the guards was doing now doing an apt impersonation of how one of Druning’s favourite mares would react to finding him rifling though their belongings while his comrades were chuckling along. Ignoring their antics Shadow closed his eyes and tried to sleep off the rest of his time before they finally found him innocent. To his dismay though his body was exhausted his mind was still active, and as per usual he faced something worse than the disturbing vocal pitches of the town watch. Boredom. Opening his eyes he looked around the cell he was in, he probably could escape from the cell with these four watching him, the bars were not meant to hold prisoners his size as the villagers usually favoured the stockades to keep ponies captive. He would simply wait until the excitement died down or call one guard over, slip though the bars, steal a knife from the table or from a scabbard, use the knife on the guard then flee back toward the Inn, arrive home before dinner. This was merely a collection of 'what ifs' to him though, his musings of elaborate thefts and daring escapes rarely came to his mind in the rare moments when he was doing nothing. He preferred his dreams which were often surreal rather than vivid, where he imagined being dressed in armour and usually found himself saving a damsel in distress, who was more often than not one of his friends in an unbelievably tall tree. He shuddered slightly at the memory of one evening waking up in a cold sweat and being unable to look Stone in the eyes without snorting with laughter after he climbed atop a giant citrus tree and slew a giant feathered beast and rescued a well dressed 'princess'. After the initial shock though he had to admit Stone did look good in a dress for a colt, definitely better than the stuck up unicorn he remembered walking though the market years ago wearing the same attire. His regret though soon subsided as he joined the guards with a quiet, dry laugh of his own as he imagined explaining his dream to Stone, the poor colt would probably faint if he told him while in the company of anypony else save perhaps Red Thread who had become almost akin to a sister to him. His rumination was interrupted when something rattled against the bars "you awake" came a commanding masculine voice "no" he replied hoping the guards would tire of talking to him and return to their idle chatter "oh good, that means you won't mind if I keep doing this then". The stallion continued to drag the his own metal object over the bars as Shadow put his hooves over his ears in an attempt to drown out the noise "oi" another voice shouted "stop with that racket or ill have you join him". Confused he opened his eyes wondering why the comrades where so quick to turn on each other, if living in town taught him anything it was that groups stuck together "yes sir, sorry sir" replied the colt standing in front of the Shadow's prison. Satisfied with his authority over the small colt the guard turned back to his story as the alabaster colt turned back to face Shadow with accusing eyes "you stole from ponies". "Accused of stealing" he corrected "so you tossed the belongings away, you're still gonna be hung" He snorted in response becoming tired of the colt's presence already "what? No famous last words scum". Shadow opened his eyes and looked calmly at the colt "I won't be saying anything but thank you, after my I leave here" he said casually "you can prove you're innocent then?" the colt asked, both knowing full well that his chances of doing just that were slim to none "I can prove i'm, not scum" he replied standing up and walking toward the colt. This usually worked on ponies he didn't like and 'the walk' as Stone called it was a work in progress, he had learned to stroll in a particular manner that had a specific effect on ponies, namely they no longer regarded him as a child when they were older and younger or similar aged ponies usually backed away. It was probably some earth pony magic as Red had him believe, though he was inclined to think it had something to do with the second attempt Stone's tormentors made a few weeks ago. "A stinking thief like you, unlikely" the colt remarked "its simple really, I'm really surprised you missed it" he said trying his best to intimidate the colt. So far he had yet to flinch as Shadow sat down directly in front of him, this called for a special piece of advice his mother used when ponies started to question her right to be a leader as a mare, and so far it had rarely steered her wrong. "Scum doesn't look anything like me for starters" the colt tilted his head probably wondering what he was trying to say "and what does criminal scum look like" he said confidently "dark green, usually around lakes" he started staring above him in mock deep thought "obviously" the colt replied unamused "has a blue mane" he started taking a small pause to enjoy the colt's confusion "well I have only met her twice". He let the colt look at him like a madpony for a few seconds more before replying. "Pond Scum, the mare who cleans out lakes to keep her frogs healthy, and sometimes gives away free herbal brews, I'm guessing she would wear her winter robe if she ever wanted to steal something but you can't really fake size so there, I don't look like Scum if she ever turned to the life of crime". The colt scoffed "its a wonder they haven't hung you yet" he replied hopefully joking "well they were nice enough to hold of the nose until they found some actual evidence". The colt's expression immediately darkened as the words left Shadow's lips "don't count on getting free, they town watch will find your stolen goods" Don't want to be friends then? Very well no skin off my nose "Oh the please if the guards really thought I was guilty they would have put me in the stocks not some piss poor excuse for a prison" the colt's brow immediately furrowed at Shadow's reply "who do you think you are" he growled "I happen to be a really nice pony who had the misfortune of stumbling across a pair of inept defenders". The colt pushed his face against the bars forcing Shadow to recoil "coward" he taunted as Shadow regained his composition "amusing that you say that from outside the bars isn't it" he said. Before the colt could respond Shadow grabbed his head and yanked it through the bars "help" the colt cried. "Guards my fellow inmate is threatening me" as the guards stopped their conversation and looked at the cream coloured colt with his fore hooves against the metal poles struggling to pull his head out of its prison. Two of them quickly broke into laughter as the sight while the third went to help him "keep out of trouble Cross" he said as he removed the colt's head between the bars "just don't stick your head into other's businesses and you will be fine" Shadow quipped sending the two guards back into a fit of laughter. The colt scowled at the two only causing more laughter at his expense. As the guard walked off the colt sat away from the cell bars and continued to scowl at Shadow "don't be so dull" he said sitting back down on all fours "I am really not that bad of pony once you get to know me". The colt said nothing and looked at a nearby wall. Sighing Shadow lowered his head and prepared to get some sleep, if he was lucky he might be set free with the arrival of the mayor, if not then the evidence was in his favour. Even with his status as an outsider and the towns only pony that had to catch his food in a forest meant he would receive some mistrust from social stigma against wanderers and his lack of money did peg him as a suspect. But being at found at the other side of town with Red and Stone perhaps a minute after the goods where reported missing was hard to argue with, especially with some of the town on his side at least if his friends could stallion up and speak to the guards. Satisfied with his safety he tried his best to get comfortable and catch up on some much needed sleep. Despite his hopes though his thoughts kept drifting to the colt he just shrugged off. He shook his head in attempt to clear it, only having a bog iron cluster appear on his flank, he quickly banished the thought of becoming like Iron Pelt, it was mere self defence and humiliating somepony did not equal to physical violence let alone years of it. And yet I embarrassed him in front of in front of the town watch. He watched the colt sitting opposite the his cell peering at him and the room focusing on the corners, doors and the bars. Probably still thinks I intend to escape, the bars were easy enough to slide though after all despite being the funniest thing he had seen admittedly for months though he could feel the unfamiliar sense of guilt as the colt quickly glanced back at the chuckling guards. He was beyond denying that he saw the admiration expressed by the colt, the quick to defend nature when his role models was threatened and of course the longing expression when he looked at the guards joking with one another. "Since you are so keen on keeping me contained here would you mind telling me who sent you here" he asked trying to get the colt talking "no" he muttered narrowing his eyes at him "what is somepony paying you large sums of coin for secrets". The colt's expression didn't change as he simply said "rot in the ground" and resumed glaring at him Oh for the love of the stars please don't be another Grinding Stone Shadow thought, his patience was wearing thin due to exhaustion from his daily work and the last thing he needed was another enemy. Running out of ideas he prayed silently that the colt was as tough as he looked as he began speaking "well whoever is paying you to watch me clearly knows he stuff if a colt can keep an eye on something better than a guard" the colt didn't respond. He cursed his guilty conscious and kept talking hoping to get a response "after all it seems like you could probably think up a better means of keeping me here, what say you random wannabe warrior what would you do to keep me locked away". "Get a gag" the colt replied bitterly "fair enough" he replied smirking "but then how would I confess my imaginary crimes". "Like the one where you beat up three ponies" the colt replied damn it he knows about the first time "then tried to so called 'cleave them in twain' with a bow knife" and the second time he corrected watching the colt look at him with convicting eyes "I did not try I merely threatened to". "Same difference, they came to the guard post almost shaking after you chased them" Shadow cocked a brow at the mention of a guard post. The only places guards congealed was at the city markets, the towers along side the gates and the mayor's homestead. And who spoke in such a ridiculous manner. He pushed the queries from his mind and focused on clearing his name "any chance I could share a funny story then" "By all means, don't count on anypony hearing it" the colt said turning away from him "excellent, it is a fine morning as far as they come and I happen to be next to my good friend's farther cutting arrow shafts for the guards. I am on my fiftieth when I notice the Grinding has been gone a bit longer than usual for a quick errand and ask go find look for him". "I find him just behind the newly built hut being held by the neck with his back against the wooden wall by three older and larger colts, the same older and larger colts I had to misfortune of meeting just shy of a month ago for a savage attack outside the notice of any ponies, town watch or simple resident. I ask him to let my friend go lest I call the town watch and when they simply laughed at me and challenged me to a rematch I ran away" "Typical" the colt scoffed "I'm not done yet, when I demand they leave once more Iron decides to break our agreement to leave us alone, us being Red, Stone and myself and claims he will have me thrown in jail, like this one may I add, and then kill my lame mother in her sleep". The colt's ears fold back as Shadow closed his eyes and continued talking with an apparent sense of dread. "So I reach into my saddle sack and pull out the fletching knife that I have been using for the past hour and politely inform him that if he wants to make death threats with a sinister smile on his face I could give him another to match". The colt blinked while Shadow simply scowled at the memory. The blade was blunt to the point where he doubted it could be used to pick teeth, and both the colts staring him down looked ready to kill, and the most terrifying part of it all was they could, he was an outsider after all and these things happened all the time "maybe you didn't hear me the first time I said this, walk away or I swear to the stars I will cut you a second sm-" his sentence ended when Stone suddenly lashed out and kicked the colt in his already bruised groin. Iron howled in pain and dropped the colt. Stone landed roughly and almost managed to crawl away before his accomplice grabbed him and held him down, to far away and to inexperienced with a blade to do anything Shadow tossed it aside and charged into the fray tackling the colt and shoving him of Stone. They were about to run when a vice-like grip restrained him "you are dead" the colt rasped bringing his own leg up in preparation for another beating "oh Iron" came a the high pitched voice of a scarlet filly "what's your favourite colour" she asked innocently twirling the knife in her fore-hooves He shuddered as the memory ended and opened his eyes to see the colt staring at him like he had grown a horn "it was not pleasant no" he remarked as the colt struggled to say something "I take it you didn't hear their side of the story" he asked while the colt continuously mouthed words "they threatened you with the life of a wounded wounded mother" he said after a good minute of searching for his voice "and a mare no less" Shadow mused as he fought to keep a straight face watched the colt's expressions shift through confusion and disgust. "I cannot actually, you have proven desperate enough to pull my head between these bars what is to say you are not just lying to save your own pelt" "Because that would be as pointless as carrying around baskets of rocks in my mouth" "That is training cretin, if I wish to wear protect my town I must be strong enough to swing a swing a spear" "And what of the other duties of being a protector, vigilance, integrity, half of a brain" he asked gesturing to the trio of soldiers who were still talking among themselves "say I wanted to squeeze though the bars and leave, do you think they would notice" "There is a raider camp not half a day's walk from here" the colt exclaimed hoping his words would be heard by the stallions behind him "if the mayor is the only thing that stands between us and a band of raiders than who is supposed to protect us when he takes a short leave to discuss trade with another village?" "Nice of him to tell his loyal soldiers rather than the dozens of farmers who live outside the walls" "Have some faith in the town watch, we can keep order around even with the mayor's absence" "The mayor expects this lot to keep order" Shadow said gesturing to a guard trying to balance an empty mug on the back of his hoof "that is not faith that is stupid or desperate" "The guard is not completely useless" the colt replied. Spears against the door, no archers in the guard towers let alone the entire village itself and sharpened tree trunks to keep out flying opponents, good work town guard I feel safer already. "My friend you came in here without any prior knowledge of my supposed crime and demanded a confession, I can forgive your mistakes but not a grown stallion's" "You where caught trying to break into a merchant's chest" "In full view of ponies who notice if I even opened the accursed thing, I was looking at the lock itself because I have a near death mother and would like a lock on our door lest someone decide take her or our belongings" "And why didn't you ask the blacksmith or perhaps the innkeeper" "The Innkeeper’s broke and the only unicorns can make locks that are trustworthy" "And why not just ask somepony for help" "Oh really" Shadow laughed "did you come in here assuming I was a nice pony, the merchant threatened to call the guards when I passed by" "That has nothing to do with your reputation things were stolen and he was simply being cautious" "That is exactly why I am here, because somepony immediately goes looking for the outsider when something gets taken, because somepony who risks life and limb to take food from the forest every morning instead of a nearby farm is more suspicious than somepony who was born here". "And why should I believe someone who could be just another thief that pins the blame on pestilence" "Because I will always have eyes on me thanks to Iron and his friends, I will always have a guard question me about the cabbage I'm holding if I don't get Red to bring it home for me, or somepony refuse to buy the items I make for them unless Stone said he made them himself". The pair sat in silence as Shadow continued to breathe heavily after his rant "I mean no disrespect" he said finally breaking the pregnant silence "I must be more tired than I realise, I apologise for insulting you". The colt sat quietly as Shadow got lay down with his legs underneath him and rested his head "thank you for at least listening, and taking the time to find out what happened" "No problem" the colt said as he turned and left. Shadow watched him walk right to the doorway and pause half way though the entry, the colt looked at the spears leaning against the wall for a long moment before turning back toward his cell. "How easily can you fit through the bars" the colt asked "as if they were never there" "Prove it" the colt said backing up "don't worry about them they won't care" he assured as Shadow got up on two legs "if you insist" he said fitting his right foreleg though first then angling his head through. To the colt's amazement and slight disgust at some sections of his body like his barrel Shadow stood unharmed before him at the opposite side of his cell "I believe that is all of me" he said jokingly running his hooves over his body and checking the bars for any bits he might of left behind. The colt nodded as a smile crept to his face "now what" Shadow asked. Still grinning the colt causally walked up to the guards table and tapped one "they found the vegetables the prisoner is free to go now" the guard nodded once and returned to his conversation. Still cautious Shadow crept behind them and quietly made his way outside "thank you" he whispered to the colt "don't let me catch you in here again blank flank" he replied sternly "right, see you later mysterious saviour" "Cross" the colt said "pardon me" "My name is Cross Guard" he replied extending a hoof toward him "Shadow " he replied accepting the hoof-shake "just Shadow" "My name makes me sound more like a thief or follower, and it is rather unusual for descendant of a northern tribe" he admitted "when I say Rain Guard what comes to mind". "Pegasus" "Then you know what my brother has to deal with, tell me" he sighed and looked back at the guards "Seizer" he said confident that nopony else had heard him "and I know it is an odd name don't ask me why it was given to me". The colt nodded and turned back to the prison hut "have a nice day Shadow" he called walking inside "actually Cross one more favour if you will". Cross stood in the doorway looking at Shadow quizzically as the colt walked to the doorway next to him "just stand back would you" he asked clearing his throat "AT ARMS" he bellowed turning tail and running out of sight as the guards scrambled from their out of reach weapons, some falling over in the process. Though he was quickly disappearing from sight Shadow caught a glimpse of Cross laughing as the guards yelled profanities as they rushed to give chase. He rounded a corned and fell back to a slow trot to disappear into the market crowd easier. The day had gone better than expected, he was still exhausted from his earlier labours but sleep at this point would be impossible with adrenaline running though his body. With his mother still walking stubbornly around town to keep try and regain some of her lost muscle mass and both of his two friends busy with their own lives he had some time to kill. Taking a small detour the city gate route he walked near the mayor's house and counted the guards stationed around it. The usual four stallion patrol walked around the building while two guards stood near the door to redirect ponies who wanted to seek advice or give their meagre taxes to the pony keeping them safe from the raiders. Satisfied that nothing was out of the ordinary he slipped behind a nearby building and started pawing at the ground. Taking one last look around to make sure he was unseen he retrieved his small woven pouch from beneath the pile of dirt and walked off to the forest. As he passed the gate guard he gave his usual friendly wave to the on duty ponies, today was a special day and he intended to spread some positive sprits, even with mere gestures. The swamp was a small collection of willow trees and wild grass that kept most travellers away with the repugnant smell alone. There was one pony who lived there though, in a run down old shack next to an immaculately cleaned pond free of wild plant life save for a few lily pads that gather around one side. Pond Scum; the mare who resided here was rarely present despite having no job and living off the nearby fruit trees giving Shadow a perfectly secluded area to read. Gently placing the scroll onto a patch of grass he settled down and began reciting the verses of unicorn songs. The mayor by all purposes shouldn't have these otherwise rare pieces of written word, a small village was hardly the place to find anything to read and to say he had been ecstatic to find them was an understatement. The amounts of effort he had put into liberating the parchment in front of his very hooves had been staggering, guards had to be avoided, distractions had to be timed perfectly, and the chests of coin and countless wealth had to be ignored. The whole process to remove one tightly wrapped scroll had almost ended as a full scale robbery, his eyes constantly flicked back and fourth between the small bookshelf and the piles of coin sacks, his ears twitched when guards told the pony carrying more carrots than he could count to leave it with them. And perhaps worst off all the weight of the paper when he picked it up, it felt heavy, unbearably so when compared to the leather bound book beside it. He had promised himself he would not steal anything when he entered the building, he was only there to read and nothing more. He sighed as he looked at the parchment in front of him, the sight of gold, the pleasant smell of lavender heads decorating the office, the sound of crunching carrots all proved to much for him. He pocket the scroll and silently made his way outside the building by knocking over a book and sneaking out the door when the guards finished their meal and came to inspect the room. They had been vigilant and were probably the most dangerous ponies in town aside form the mayor himself. Fortunately though they were still ponies though and the smell of a juicy carrot never failed. It was only after he had left the premises that he noticed the scroll was in his bag, the sudden implications of his actions suddenly dawning on him. He quickly hid the bag and went back to the forge to continue working. He promised himself that he would return the scroll come the following morning once he learned to remove the locks on the mayor's door, unfortunately though he managed to end up being accused of stealing from somepony else preventing him from carrying out his promise. He sighed as he stared to read the aloud, the language was not too different from his own native tongue and only had more strict conjugation rules along with entirely new letters. The room for expression was wonderful and although confusing at some points the colt began to recite the words quicker with more accuracy, today was a good day. And tomorrow he would return the scroll, when he was finished.