//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 : Over The Wall // Story: Abhorsen : Friendship is Free-Magic // by MerlosTheMad //------------------------------// "FOR POOOONY!" Pinkie Pie lept off of her fashionista friend and straight at the evil mastermind behind it all: Abhorsen. The bewildered looks on the humans let her know she had caught the three of them by complete surprise; and she loved surprises, but especially the kind that led to downing a baddy. Even better, this meant for sure that they hadn't thought out their evil schemes very well. Something else, however, surprised Pinkie, and it immediately confused her. The smaller human, who seemed awfully young to be an evil mastermind, moved between her and the evil-doer she was in the middle of tackling. The sound of a tea tray clattering and ceramic shattering filled the hallway, along with several gasps. The scene was something else to behold. Hovering a stride up in the air above the ground was Pinkie Pie, her legs wedged into the doorway and suspending herself just inches from the girl in front of her. The little filly human stood resolutely, her arms spread eagle and blocking the taller adults behind her. The tall, grouchy looking mare had fallen over beside the girl and the other strange human stallion from back in the wheat field had taken up a defensive posture. In particular, the chief honcho Evil-Mcbadderson himself held a familiar bell by the clapper in one hand already. Pinkie's shocked and surprised expression became worried, and a little afraid too after spotting the instrument. She could see that he definitely had the upper-hoof, and was even more dastardly and clever than she had thought. Hiding behind a little brainwashed filly! That's like... as bad as every evil-baddy-I've-ever-fought-combined-into-one-evil! She scowled deeply over the dark haired head of the little girl and at the scruffy human stallion behind her. Her mouth opened up to begin her parley, perhaps trade herself for her friend and the poor filly... But yet another something else surprised her when the young girl spoke up first. Even wilder was what she said. "Leave my dad alone, you big bully! Is this how you treat your hosts or your friends—?" The filly was cut off as the stallion stepped forward and pulled her back a little. Thus far, the entire scene had taken place in just a few mere seconds. Pinkie Pie stared down, mouth agape, at the filly who continued to glare wickedly up at her from behind the stallion. The scathing words spoken rang in her ears, a strong sense of sadness and guilt welling up immediately. It was one thing for Pinkie to soldier through hardships, but it was another entirely for her if said hardship involved a child placing blame on her. Her hooves clunked onto the hardwood floor as she let go of the door frame and hit the ground. "W-What? Bully? No... What's going on? Is this... Is this a trick? It's okay, Pinkie, there's a logical, sane explanation for this." Staying weary, Pinkie searched her thoughts, but all she could come up with was, What would Twilight do...? "That's enough, Sabriel, I think there's merely been a very... interesting misunderstanding over all of this. And I must profess it is likely my fault, as well." The tall stallion looked down at Pinkie Pie, who was having a tough time keeping herself from quivering, and wasn't sure of what to do. Pinkie straightened up and put up her hooves in a defensive manner, one she'd learned from Dashie. "A-Alright, you may have the upper-hoof, buster, but I won't let you hurt my friend no matter what, or anypony else! Now release them from your wicked mind-mezmering-spell and I wont have to get mean!" "Are you crazy—" The human mare began, still planted on the floor. The 'dad' spoke over the other stranger towards Pinkie, who continued to glare defiantly. She didn't like making that face, but everyone was confusing her. "Ms. Pinkie, my family and the staff here at Wyverly mean you no harm, whatsoever. I promise you." The stallion's eyes were calm and level, but serious. "My name is Abhorsen, and this is my daughter, Sabriel." After a slight pause he helped up the lady, who was having difficulty. "This is Ms. Greenwood, a teacher here at this school." Pinkie Pie looked from him to the girl he had called Sabriel, then to the older mare, just now dusting herself off and standing up. The aged human harrumphed loudly and scowled back at her, creasing her couple wrinkles into a dozen. Pinkie narrowed her eyes slightly. Oh yeah, she's gotta be evil... Her features softened when the filly caught her own attention again though. Sabriel looked as though she were still angry, but had let her anger fade after her... father had spoken. She stared back with a hesitant expression, eyes flickering on and off to where Rarity was tied up in the room. "I... well, you have some explaining to do, because Rarity is... I mean..." Pinkie hummed loudly and put a hoof up to her chin, feeling very put on the spot, not to mention still confused. Well, maaaybe I got ahead of myself, and maaaybe not all humans are bad... Unless this is part of his evil trick!? Oh no, is his mind magic already working on me!? Her mouthed thinned into a long line and she looked up at the stallion again, her eyes studying him wearily one last time. "Mr. Human, did you brainwash my friend, and are you an evil Overlord bent on world domination?" She prepared herself for the inevitable 'yes'. But it didn't come. Abhorsen blinked and turned to look at the other adult human, then burst out laughing. The mare still looked less than amused, but the filly started laughing too. Pinkie Pie's 'intimidation face' faltered, her hooves shuffling until she sat back on her rump. Are they— Nope, that's a good guy laugh if I ever heard one! Either they're reeeally good at lying, like Chrysalis level of good, or this was a misunderstanding after all. A small, relieved smile began growing on her muzzle without a second to lose. Still laughing, Sabriel struggled to stay standing and leaned on the wall for support, while her father settled for leaning on his knee to keep from falling over. At the same time, Pinkie beamed around herself. After a moment, she shrugged, then joined in on the laughing. Behind the group, Rarity huffed around the bed sheets that gagged her, and rolled her eyes. "Wow, do I feel silly!" Pinkie Pie took another bite of the delicious crumpets; namely, three at once. They were only slightly covered in cobwebs and dust from rolling onto the floor. "Mmm, not bad. Missing som' 'ing though..." She was getting used to human food, or human bread at least, but she decided anything different was better than what she had eaten for nearly the entire week. Rarity, now freed, turned a badly chipped teacup over in her hooves and nodded solemnly to Pinkie, not quite listening. She was still huffy from indignantly being tied up against her will, even if her friend's intentions were in the right place. Sabriel was now smiling contentedly, while Abhorsen stood by the door with folded hands in front. "Myes, as you should..." Ms. Greenwood, the instructor for the school's magic classes, replied to Pinkie, watching in mild disgust at the show of gluttony the pink pony put on. "Now that this is all cleared up, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to in the school... Mr. Abhorsen, I turn them over to you. Please remember what we discussed. Sabriel, once your father and the ponies have left please return to your classes." Abhorsen looked up from where he had been studying the Equestrians, a rich smile creasing his weathered face. "Of course, madame, we'll take our leave very soon. I do not wish to be caught out before night sets in, true enough. Thank you for all you've done." Beside him, Sabriel wore a sad look, but nodded in acquiescence. Rarity's and Pinkie's ears both had perked up and listened intently to this trade between the two humans. They watched the blank nod which Ms. Greenwood gave them, which was accompanied by a slight smile towards Rarity, and a bitter frown aimed at Pinkie as she left the room. Rarity gave the mare a gracious nod in return, and a quiet thank you, while Pinkie made to give her an apology hug. "W-What are you doing?" Ms. Greenwood's frown deepened as the pink mare trotted up in front of her and stood up, forelegs outstretched. "Hugging you, silly! I haven't even apologized yet for thinking you were evil! That was so wrong of me, I feel bad, and nothing says sorry like a squeeze that says... uhm, sorry?" Pinkie threw on an enthusiastic grin, rolling past the stumble she made under the human's scrutinizing gaze. The woman, Ms. Greenwood, inhaled a breath and turned around to make her getaway through the door. "It was a pleasure seeing you again, Mr. Abhorsen. Please do visit whenever you feel the urge." She strode out of the doorway at a lively pace, as if worried she would be followed, or perhaps tackled. Pinkie Pie looked at Sabriel and nudged the filly with an elbow. "Is it normal for humans to not like hugs, or have I just been a really unlucky Pinkie?" Her looked saddened a bit more while she stared out through the door. Sabriel tittered and held a hand over her mouth. "It's uhm, well I don't think she likes hugs. Not like that, anyway, Pinkie." Pinkie turned her head and gave the human filly and incredulous look. "Well that's just—" "Pinkie Pie." Rarity interjected and gained the attention of the two speakers. "If it's quite alright, darling. I think we have more important things to discuss. Namely, just what happened to you? Your leg, and your poor, wonderfully pristine coat!" Her face had become worried and motioned a hoof towards the bandages Pinkie now wore. Underneath those, a scattering of wounds from glass, a knife and wood splinters lay cleaned and covered thanks to the military men still waiting outside. Pinkie's face darkened, then looked up and responded flatly to her friend. "I just... wasn't as lucky as you, Rarity. The humans I've run into weren't very... friendly. That's all." Rarity's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean— This wasn't a horrible accident?" She stood up on her hooves and looked around seriously at everypony else in the room. "I— Mr. Abhorsen if this is true, then there are... well, I don't mean to offend, but, very dangerous humans out there!" She glanced at Sabriel, who wore a reserved look. Sabriel was right all along about that... Fanny, character. "That is troubling, but they're no threat to you now, Ms. Rarity. Either of you." Abhorsen ran a hand over his short stubble, while considering whether the ones that had attacked the pink mare could be more than just locals. "There's little to be done under these circumstances, I'm afraid. To be on the safe side, perhaps we should leave sooner rather than later, though that was the plan to start with. I really must apologize... uhm, Pinkie Pie—" That was only the second time he had said the bewildering mare's name, and it didn't quite agree with his tongue. It sounded too... cute. Not something he was used to, at all. "You will have to travel injured as you are. Will that be alright? I can't profess to know much about... ponies." Pinkie and Rarity paid rapt attention to the gloomy man while he spoke, the pink mare glancing at her bandages when they were mentioned. "Oh, these little scrapes?" Pinkie waved a hoof and blew a raspberry to the air. "Yeeeeah, I've gotten worse while foal sitting. Now that's dangerous. These should be better in no time at all!" She winked at the human and raised her head proudly. Abhorsen listened with a level expression, that only just resisted faltering when the... creature that sounded just like a woman winked at him. "I see," he began with scholarly tone. "That is fascinating, the wound looked very deep, Ms. Pinkie. Do you heal very quickly or—" He coughed and straightened, realizing he had begun leaning forward. "Forgive me, now isn't the time to learn things. We should talk in the truck, and we will have plenty of time once we're on the road, if it pleases you both." Pinkie and Rarity traded an inquisitive glance after hearing the strange expression, the pink mare's look a little more exaggerated than her counterpart's. "Uhm, yeah, I'm pleased as cheese to get going! No offense, but I think I left something baking in the oven, and the cakes won't be happy if they get home before I can take it out. It's tough to get those charred baked goods off the pan once they cool." Pinkie grinned up at Abhorsen, who looked back with a lost expression. Rarity face-hoofed. "Well... very well then." Abhorsen replied in a befuddled manner, something that he wasn't very used to. "Oh, but do we have to leave so soon? We just got here, and Rarity said she got to have fun with a bunch of human foals! I can't let somepony other than me have all the fun!" Pinkie paused to wear a gleeful expression, the sort that would normally let everypony know exactly what she was thinking. "I think a big, happy, cheering up party is just what the Pinkie ordered—" Rarity laid a hoof on her friend's shoulder, attracting the other mare's attention. She showed Pinkie a wan smile. "I think it's best if we get going, Pinkie. We need to get home. Shouldn't we save the partying for then?" Pinkie Pie oooed and put a thoughtful hoof to her chin. "Hm, yeah, that sounds about right." She smiled calmly at the floor, then looked up grinning once more. "Good thinking, Rarity! We'll figure out this conundrum of epic proportions in no time. We just gotta keep our eyes—" With that, Pinkie leered towards the fashionista with one eye bulging out. "—on the prize!" Rarity leaned back slightly, smiling nervously. "Haha, yes... eye on the prize." Something came over Rarity then, while watching Pinkie be... well, Pinkie. She had to resist the overwhelming urge to give her reunited friend another tight hug. Hesitantly, she instead settled with sitting close beside her. Still smiling, Pinkie raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Rarity coughed and straightened up. "Well, if that's all done then. Mr. Abhorsen," she turned her head to look up at the human stallion. "If you would be so kind, please, lead the way. We can leave at once, I imagine? We have no personal belongings after all. I also don't relish the idea of any villains coming after us either..." The fact that other than her magic, they had very little to defend themselves with, she left out. In truth, what had happened to Pinkie put her on guard. She wasn't used to that, and certainly not without her friends being there. A touch surprised by the proper manner in which he'd been addressed, Abhorsen nodded. "Of course, I couldn't agree more. Sabriel, if you would like you may come with us to the gates, but then we have to say good bye." A tad awkwardly, the man led his entourage of two ponies and his daughter outside the room. The four beings walked—well, Pinkie Pie hopped—together through the hallways to the front of the building, and out onto the front grounds of the old school building. The entire way, Abhorsen had asked a multitude of questions. Not simply out of curiosity, but out of scholarly pursuit as well. The ponies, or rather, Rarity, explained a few simple things to him, such as not having a stitch to her name, and some of the circumstances that had brought her there. The description of the dark 'cave' as Rarity had called it, piqued Abhorsen's attention greatly. He knew immediately what it had actually been, or highly suspected at least. It sounded exactly like the realm beyond the wellspring of life: death. Upon arriving outside they were greeted by a uproarious bout of cheering from twenty or so girls. Rarity blinked in surprise in the sunlight, Sabriel looked around at all the faces trying to puzzle out the sight, and Pinkie Pie's shocked look lasted a split second, before becoming her best smile. Rarity gasped loudly in mock surprise, though she was indeed a little shocked by this gesture. Surely the teachers hadn't allowed this. She thought. "What's all this about?" Her voice rose to a louder volume in a cheery tone in order to reach everypony around her, while looking as quickly as she could at every smiling face. "We heard you were leaving already, Ms. Rarity." One of the older girls piped up quickly. Next, Sulyn spoke up. "So we all came down from Ms. Greenwood's class, though, it was the only one that got let go to come see you off..." The sheepish blonde rubbed one arm and stirred a foot on the ground. The smallest, cutest human filly present shuffled forward and stole a hug from Rarity. "Do you have to go?" "Oh you girls, you are all simply fabulous, I'm so sorry I have to go, really." Rarity smiled sadly at the show of kindness, but didn't let it touch her eyes. "Oh, what's this?" One girl had walked forward, an armful of what might be clothing in tow. "Well, you told us all about how you were a fascist-neesta, and we thought... that maybe you would really like some clothing to remember us by. It... didn't come out that great, but we did try really hard." The girl grinned happily and passed the Equestrian the Wyverly College girl's handiwork. "Why, girls I don't know what to say, that is incredibly thoughtful of all of you. Thank you so much." Rarity felt a little repulsed by the offensive scarf staring her down, but none of that showed on her face, just a surprised and beaming smile. She set the bundle of different articles down beside herself, her hooves quite full. "I really do mean it, and I wish we could stay longer, but, my friend Pinkie Pie here and I have to leave because we need to get home. It's very important, and we miss it. I will say though, if we could stay in your company for our entire time here, that would be simply marvelous. Isn't that right, Pinkie?" Rarity turned, still holding a foreleg over the first human filly, and looked at her fellow Element of Harmony. "Pinkie?" The party animal's tortured look broke into tears. "I hate good byes!" she sobbed. "Especially long goodbyes!" One of her fetlocks scrubbed at an eye. "I didn't even get to know everypony's names ye-het!" The girls surrounding Pinkie Pie all awed in unison, many of them shouting out their names to be heard. "There there, Pinkie, it'll be alright." Rarity grinned nervously and patted her friend on the back. She was running out of hooves with which to do things. Looking over she spotted the shuffling of nervous feet. Almost every eye was on the crying baker. "Girls could you please give Pinkie Pie here a warm, farewell hug? She's been through a lot and—" She hadn't been able to finish the sentence, as a torrent of laughing school children group hugged Pinkie—who began laughing immediately—without mercy. The girl that had hugged Rarity turned to join the fray, laughing and squealing along with them all. "Well, that went well." The fashionista smiled to herself, just before another big hug took her from the side. Standing by the entree way, Sabriel had grappled Rarity in a surprise hug of her own, encircling the pony's body with her arms. "I'm gonna miss you. I hope you get home soon, though." She mumbled through the violet colored mane. Rarity down blinked in surprise at Sabriel, but returned the gesture and hugged back. "I will, Sabriel, and thank you again. Nearby, Pinkie held her hooves up to her mouth, muffling an audible 'aaw'. She was accompanied by every other girl present that was paying attention. "AAaaaaaaw!" Sabriel scowled at them all, but Rarity smiled warmly. Then, a peculiar glint shined in Pinkie Pie's eye, a grin growing on her muzzle in size and intensity. She had been rather despondent over... everything that had happened, though she hid it. With what had filled the last five minutes though, she felt like herself completely. Rarity looked at her friend sitting amidst the chattering schoolgirls, their eyes still more or less on them. She sat back with a relaxed look, fully aware of what was about to happen. Pinkie Pie skipped cheerfully away from the group. They all quieted from the sudden pony related movement, except for a few mutters between them. "Ahem," Pinkie cleared her throat, smile still on her muzzle, then broke into song, slowly at first. "It was so nice to meet you all, to-day, hooray!" She flourished a hoof and gestured at the sky, some of the girls cheering. "But sadly I have already, gotta go, oh no..." A mock frown and sad eyes directed themselves to the girls, before instantly brightening again. "But Heeeeey!" Pinkie Pie began her trademark bouncing and dancing then, looking for all her worth more like an animate spring or toy than a pony. "Chin up silly fillies, cause weeping's not our game! And even though you aren't all ponies, I can tell that fun's your middle naaame!" Pinkie sang the notes with an increasing speed leaping to and fro between the humans, finishing by sliding under one little girl and tossing her up onto her back. "So with all that said and done, even though I've just begun! We've gotta leave you all now, so please don't have a cooooow!" She held the note, standing up, the girl holding on with her arms around her neck and giggling. After the tune slowed, Pinkie sang the next verse slowly. "Even though I'm not humanitarian..." Pinkie slid out from the girl's grasp along then ground and away, leaving her confused and surprised at how she'd done that. "But, I can at least say goodbyeeee!" Pinkie stood up on two hooves and swung around one lightpost on the walkway, a foreleg stretched up to the sky dramatically. "My feeeelloooow-!" She carried the note gracefully and melodically, leaving behind some of the hyperactive chirping that the earlier bits of song had carried. "-vegetaaaaariaaaans." Pinkie Pie slid off the pole, her back legs catching herself on the ground with a clunk of hooves. Everybody surround her clapping and cheered raucously. Many of the windows to the school were open, other girls all peering out, no doubt being yelled at to retake their seats. Rarity clopped her hooves together as well, even though she'd seen hundreds of songs sung by Pinkie over the years. Abhorsen had watched his daughter and the proceedings stoically, from the gate at the end of the walk. Behind him, waited the military truck and the accompanying soldiers with him, the lot of them looking over the school wall with wide eyed disbelief. Everything quieted down slowly, and final goodbyes were traded. The pink pony smiled widely at Sabriel, who was moments from walking to her father for her own final goodbyes. "Thank you again for taking care of my friend, Sabriel." Pinkie said in a kind, calm manner, one she rarely used. It still held a hint of the pony's normal, bright cheerfulness though. Sabriel bounced on her toes where she stood and grinned wider. "Oh, it was nothing at all. This is the most excitement I've had in forever! School is so boring, you see. You have no idea." Her eyes became stark to get the point across. "Feel free to come back and throw that party, Pinkie." Pinkie giggled and nodded happily in return. Beside her, Rarity laughed nervously, recalling the excitement the human spoke of. "Ahem, yes. Well, Pinkie, shall we go?" Cantering towards the gates, Rarity set off, leaving the other mare in the dust. "Ms. Pinkie?" One of the students still present tugged on Pinkie's tail. Both ponies stopped to listen. "That's me! What's up?" Pinkie gave her the same happy, lopsided grin she had everypony. "Humans are carnivores, actually!" The little girl chirped happily. "No we're not," scoffed an older girl with dark hair. "We're omnivores, we eat meat and vegetables." Pinkie Pie blinked for a moment, then ooo'ed. "Okie dokie lokie! Uhm, bye now." She waved a hoof, then spoke to Rarity. "Let's go, Rarity." Rarity raised an eyebrow, the other pony seemed to have increased her pace. "Pinkie?" Perhaps it was simply from the fact they had kept Mr. Abhorsen waiting. Or is it just Abhorsen? I wonder what his actual name is. Names in Equestria varied by the owner, but usually 'Mr.' implied a family name. "...and I will, Sabriel. Don't worry." Rarity caught the end of something the man was saying to his daughter as she trotted to the gates, still waving behind herself to the gaggle of girls slowly making their way back inside. Their chatter was punctuated by what sounded to be a very surprised, and angry headmistress. Rarity watched as Pinkie hurried towards the back of the truck, paused slightly after a soldier human turned to look at her, then she herself turned to look back cautiously. Oh dear, something's wrong. "Mr. Abhorsen?" "Yes, Ms. Rarity?" The man gave his daughter a final hug, and after a shout from the school, Sabriel gave a final wave to Rarity and Pinkie. "Oh please, darling— Goodbye Sabriel!" Rarity stopped to wave briskly after the dark haired girl, then turned her head demurely to the gentlecolt. "Just call me Rarity," she continued. "Is it alright if we get going then? I believe my friend might be getting antsy." She whispered the last bit, though she was sure Pinkie would hear it anyway. That pony had the hearing of a fruit bat. Abhorsen smirked and nodded in return. "Of course. Then please, just call me Abhorsen. Now, it's important we discuss our next move. I hope that's alright, so I'll sit in the back with you both. I'm afraid the cab doesn't have room for us all." Drat, I was hoping to get his actual name. It seemed to Rarity the man was definitely a professional type of some sort. She glanced over at the contraption to which he referred, and was remiss about riding in it; although she had ridden far stranger things in her day, the device was rather loud and bothersome compared to anything pony-made she was familiar with. All the same, Rarity responded with a cheerful, "That sounds just fine." By the truck's back, Pinkie Pie did her best to casually ignore the staring the human stallions seemed to be doing. That wasn't like her at all, either, even now she was torn between jumping up to try and match their height and introduce herself. "I guess we're riding in the back. Is everything alright, Pinkie?" Rarity trotted up, followed by their new friend. Pinkie nodded her head as convincingly as she could. "Of course, Rarity! Don't be silly. That's my job!" She gave her friend a wink and laughed nervously. Sighing, she turned and bent down, wiggled in preparation to jump, then made the leap up into the bed of truck smoothly. Her hooves thunked loudly on the wooden boards and metal as she trotted up to the front and sat on one bench. Rarity hummed, staring after the other girl. "Oh boys? If you would be such dears, could you assist a lady in getting a leg up? It's a rather tall height, after all." Surrounding the pony, the soldier's expressions had ranged from concerned, to blatantly confused as a result of being so close to the Equestrians. Now, upon hearing Rarity, they looked as if they'd seen a ghost. Point in fact, a few of them had seen those before. A pair of them stammered, while Rarity looked between them both doubtfully. "Allow me, Rarity, and forgive them, generally speaking even this far north everything they've seen has not quite compared to you." Abhorsen held out a hand, tucking his other behind himself. Rarity looked up at him, surprised. "Oh my, such gracious manners. I do believe I detected quite the compliment in there as well." She nodded, resting a hoof on Abhorsen's offering and pulled herself up into the truck bed easily. One of the guards broke into laughter over the exchange. "Alright! In the truck and stop gawking, we're behind schedule as it is, men." A shout from the corporal got the rest of them out of their daze of whimsy, loading them up. Rarity watched them with interest from where she sat next to Pinkie in one corner, between her and the humans. She wasn't sure, but the pink mare seemed put off by something. Abhorsen sat beside them both. With a rumble and a loud, banging noise that climaxed with a sickly cough, the human vehicle began to rumble forward. It pulled away swiftly from the school and began moving down the road. Rarity stared after the school for a long while until finally it disappeared from sight. Why can't Sweetie Belle be as well behaved as those human fillies? She let out a happy sigh, accompanied by sad eyes from the thought. I'll be home soon, sister. Don't worry, I'll be home soon. Pinkie all of a sudden inhaled as hard as she could, making herself look much like a balloon. She then grappled the collar of one stunned soldier sitting across from her, and shouted into his face. "Do you eat MEAT!?" The man was so shocked he just stared back and stuttered. Pinkie's scowl deepened and she pressed her head against his. "I said, meat. Do you eat it!?" "Pinkie Pie!" Rarity lit up her horn and tore her friend off the poor, defenseless stallion. "You can't just— What's come over you?" She gave nervous smiles to the other soldiers, noticing that all of them had lifted their weapons up in some fashion. Thankfully, only one of them looked angry, rather than surprised. Pinkie flailed her hooves beneath herself where she hung just above the floor boards. "They eat meat, Rarity! Didn't you hear that poor, evil little filly back there!?" Rarity sighed and rolled her eyes. Oh, Celestia give me strength. "Yes dear, I heard her, and I've known! It's... not as bad as I think you think it is..." She lowered her voice as much as she could, and put on a strained look. "What!?" Pinkie's eyes bugged out of her head and she thunked back onto the ground, Rarity having released her. Around them, the men all stared worriedly, a couple of them whispering, one chuckling. Abhorsen watched from beside Rarity quietly, sitting back in his seat after a moment. "How can you say that?" Pinkie gave Rarity a sad, incredulous look, and panned it over towards the men, though it hardened some. Rarity tsked audibly and pulled her friend back over to sit down. "Pinkie," she whispered. "This is just like every other time you over react about something. It isn't what you think." Pinkie whisper shouted back in Rarity's ears. "That's not true, it's exactly what I think! Besides, most of the time I overreact for fun! But this is serious. They kill things to eat them! Like. A. Timberwolf! Timberwolves, Rarity! Those are evil!" "Well the humans are not, evil, Pinkie." Rarity gave her friend a stolid look. "I don't really understand it myself, but from what I gathered it's just a part of their healthy diet..." She laid a hoof on the despondent mare facing aware from her. "Pinkie, I'm rather certain I've heard that alligators have been known to eat meat." Pinkie gasped for the third time. "What!? No way! Gummy's the sweetest, most nicest gator around, he'd never hurt a parasprite! I know what he eats, too. I feed him sugary treats balanced with a healthy serving of Apple family apples every morning. He loves them so much he won't eat anything else!" Rarity's reassuring look wavered into one of skepticism. "Well... Pinkie, be that as it may, it's not entirely unheard of for good creatures to eat meat, or so I've heard in whispers. I've... even procured fish before for Opal's birthday, and it's her favorite thing in the worl—" She was interrupted. Pinkie's widened eyes and aghast face pressed against Rarity's own, her voice unable to make sound. "Rarity, only, evil things, eat meat! Have you ever met a pony that ate meat? Nooo— and that's because it's evil!" The corporal in the truck poked his head out from the window in the cab. "Ahem, Ms... pony-ladies, if it wouldn't be too much to ask, could you—" Pinkie interrupted him and jutted a hoof up under his nose. "Evil!" The man scowled up at her, then roughly pulled himself back into the cab. By now, most of the soldiers were laughing, much to Pinkie's anger and dismay. "It's... not funny." She floundered, the unicorn present giving her a consoling look. "Pinkie, I don't understand it either," Rarity whispered quietly to her. "But we need their help, and they are helping us. Could this wait, please? Try not to let it effect how you act towards them, we are still guests after all." She patted a reassuring hoof on her friend's back, who returned despondent puppy dog eyes. "Everything will be alright." Abhorsen had been paying close attention to the floor while the two had put on the show beside him. His main concern was to keep anything from getting... interesting. He was glad that the enthusiastic Ms. Pinkie hadn't gone any further than voicing her complaints to her friend. The man's thoughts busied him once again after they had quieted. Mostly, the thoughts considered how little he knew of the situation. The not knowing was a very strange thing to him. He studied his two traveling companions as they occupied themselves with watching the countryside roll by over the sidewall of the truck bed. In the distance, they could just make out the city Bain, a fair ways away as they took the country roads around it. Abhorsen spotted the darkened look on the pink pony's expression. To his surprise, he thought he saw her mane... become smoother, more like Rarity's. Very curious. He had to resist the urge to speak to them openly in front of the men about that, not to mention the multitude of questions he had. It wouldn't be a terribly large inconvenience, but it seemed to him a wiser decision to wait. There will be time, he decided. Amidst silence and occasional trade of dialogue, the wind picked up some, and the air became colder, as if it were winter almost. The ponies were shielded by their coats, but the soldiers pulled out jackets and hats, throwing them on quickly from the change of temperature. They all rode in silence, until their first 'checkpoint' as it were, revealed itself around a bend. A short distance down the road lay a forest of guard towers and barbed wire that obscured the wall behind them. It was a curious sight to the Equestrians, as they didn't know quite what to make of it. What lay behind that though, got their attention. A tall wall of a curious design, which seemed to almost shimmer, stood high against the horizon beyond the other strange defenses. Without warning the truck ceased moving and began to roll silently down the road. After only twenty meters it ground to a halt. The men and soldiers began to climb out. "Uhm, Abhorsen, is this our stop?" Rarity gave a doubtful glance over the top of the cab towards the wall. Abhorsen looked back before jumping down himself. "Yes, actually. The charter magic is too strong and thick in the air this close to the wall. Technology won't work here." Rarity raised an eyebrow and looked down at the truck, now silent and unmoving beneath her hooves. She then looked at Pinkie, who broke her dour expression long enough to give the fashionista a befuddled shrug. "Very well then." Rarity exhaled a tired breath, and lit up her horn to assist herself in gracefully exiting the back of the truck. "So, I take we're on hoof from here on—" The blatant stare she was getting from Abhorsen made her pause. "Is something wrong, dear?" Beside her, the bundle of gifts from the Wyverly girls followed closely, wrapped in her magic's blue aura. Abhorsen was staring at her, a flat, but serious look darkening his face, before mumbling out a reply. "No, nothing. Merely interested in the type of magic you just used, I guess." Rarity looked up at the other soldiers. One of the humans seemed to have gone bug eyed a bit more than the rest while staring at her and her use of magic. "Is it really that peculiar? I've never thought much of unicorn magic, myself. Most of us only know parlor tricks or basic levitation. Take me for example—" She held a hoof to her front in a flourish. "I am but a simple clothes designer, nothing remarkable. Though, I do have a rather powerful gift with magic compared to say, my mother, but I only really use it to find gems and for my special talent: fashion!" Abhorsen smirked at her while offering to help Pinkie out of the truck. "I see. It is impressive, nonetheless. I can't say I've ever seen anything quite like it, and I have seen much." He looked up at Pinkie from Rarity. "Shall we begin moving out then?" he asked the other pony. The soldiers were already walking down the road, eager to return to their stations. The Corporal alone waited for the three strange folk. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie had drawn her muzzle out into a thin line and eyeballed the hand offered to her. Her Pinkie instincts told her to surprise the gentlecolt and leap into his forelegs, or arms, or whatever. That would be fun, after all. But she didn't, instead jumping down off to his side and kicking up a cloud of dusty road dust from the landing. "Pinkie, careful—!" A fit of coughing and a sneeze escaped Rarity. She gingerly tried to brush her hair with a hoof; already it was becoming travel stained. Pinkie grinned weakly. "Oopsie." "Honestly," Rarity sighed out. Abhorsen folded his arms behind himself. "Well then, my friends, lets follow the soldiers before they leave us too far behind." He stepped off, leading the other two, with Pinkie Pie bringing up the rear. Together, the never before seen party of men and... ponies, traversed the final stretch of road, heading straight for the wall that stood as the final barrier between the southland of Ancelstierre to beyond, and the Old Kingdom. They continued until the dusty dirt road came to and end, their new surroundings the maze of spun wire and tall posts. The Equestrians looked around themselves worriedly at the strange sights, listening absently to the humans that chatted busily and seemed to be trading military greetings and orders. It wasn't quite like the Canterlot home guardsponies, but was similar enough that the Elements of Harmony weren't confused by it. The soldiers quickly exchanged business and pleasantries with superiors, and left. A couple stole hoofshakes from Rarity, one was bold enough, or weird enough, to wink at her. He earned a giggle for his trouble. Another, was disappointed when the pink pony that had so happily been giving out hugs to the school children, refused to give him one. Instead, the pony trotted to wait by a gate that seemed their likely avenue to continue down. The corporal, who was happy to see the pink pony go, addressed Abhorsen. "I can't say I understand what is going on, Abhorsen. But I've heard about what you've done for us in the past, so you have my thanks nonetheless." The corporal nodded in finality to the older man, then turn to leave. Abhorsen gave the man a quick pat on the shoulder and a reassuring look. "I thank you for your time and efforts. You do a very important job guarding the north, remember that." He left the soldier then, not stopping to address his raised eyebrow. By the gate, waited the Colonel. Rarity waved goodbye to the last man cheerfully, they were being delightfully polite to her, though it did seem a tad condescending from a couple of them. Still, it was much appreciated, Rarity was never one to say no to attention. With a sigh, she trotted over to her wilted appearing friend. "Come now dear, buck up, you look absolutely dreadful." Rarity frowned and nudged her friend's side. Pinkie looked for a moment, then back at the ground sadly. "I guess so Rarity, but I just feel awful right now, not like myself at all. Everything is just so, so-!" She inhaled and raised her front legs up, then flopped them down in the dirt, sitting at the same time to lean against a fence post. "Dark," she finished finally. Rarity nodded to her, then, pulled her into a hug. "I know darling, but we have to stay strong, for Twilight and the others, okay?" Everything had been moving so quickly so far that day, she realized she hadn't spoken to Pinkie yet about the information they had been trading through dreams with Luna. "Pinkie, you know everything there is to know about Fluttershy and Twilight, don't you? That they're missing too?" Pinkie looked up, her muzzle drawn down an entire inch on one side in dismay. "Yeah..." She replied. "I do, I wish there was something we could do, too." Another depressed breath heaved itself out of her. "But we're stuck here, with a bunch of cannibals..." Rarity had nodded along sadly, until that last bit. Instead, she scoffed at her friend. "Pinkie! Please, darling, you- Look, they are not cannibals, I'm quite sure that's something else entirely different. Perhaps they do eat... flesh." She suppressed a sickly feeling, and tried to recall the nice little explanation that Sabriel had given her a few days past. "But that can't necessarily be evil, they're too nice. It- Animals here are different, and harmony seems to work differently as well. Don't you think?" Pinkie looked up at the alabaster unicorn, eying her friend's furry features doubtfully. "I guess... How does that make it right, though?" Rarity turned and searched the ground for the right words. She wanted to defend her new friends, make them seem... good. Even despite the ones that had attacked Pinkie, she did. The girls at Wyverly and Abhorsen were perfectly normal and friendly, after all. It was an uphill battle though, all the same, even to convince herself. "Sabriel and her friends explained it like this, it's called the circle of life-" Abhorsen interrupted her abruptly, drawing the gaze of both Equestrians. "It's time we made our way out, Rarity, Pinkie." He nodded to both. "Our business here is finished." His hands tucked a thick bundle of what looked to be paper back into his clothes. Rarity mumbled quietly, "I'll explain later, but trust me, okay, Pinkie?" Reluctantly, the other pony nodded. A tall, weathered looking human with dark skin and more wrinkles than hair on his head all but shouted at the three. "Come on then, We 'avn't got all day. Your personal 'ffects are up in the shack, Ab'orsen." The man's less squinted eye widened up after gettin a closer look at the ponies. "By the charter, what 're these? Horses? Hah, just like your name, eh? Ab-horse-n? Horses? I get it, hah!" Abhorsen stayed silent, but only because Rarity beat him to responding. "Excuse me sir, but I will not allow you to speak like that to my friend in such a fashion, you should be ashamed. We, are ladies, and you will treat us as such." Rarity tucked a hoof behind her other and turned her chin up at the taller creature eyeballing her rudely. The wrinkled man blinked in confusion, glancing for some odd reason at a metal flask he had hanging at his side. "Ahm- right." He scratched an old hand behind one ear and did a double take between Abhorsen and his companions. "Nevermind then, let's go then... Follow closely, Abhorsen." Rarity gave a smug look to Pinkie, who managed a weak giggle. They followed the human soldier, weaving through the other strange structures, burlap sacks that looked like bags of flour, and of course the wooden palisades and odd curly wire. As they got closer the greatest of the odd defenses, the slightly glowing wall, the ponies could more easily make out its true majesty. It was not enormous in height, perhaps the height of a dragon, but its length and breadth seemed to be entirely moving. All across the wall, glowing symbols shifted and churned, sliding over its surface as if it were water. "In the name of Harmony." Rarity breathed the words out in a hushed whisper. Her eyes were glued to it, the strangeness and brilliant wonder captivating her. "It's beautiful." She smiled and looked up with a silly grin at Abhorsen. The human wore a less than silly expression when he looked down at her. "It's what protects the south." They stopped at the aforementioned shed, and he began to pull out what looked to be several bags, as well as skis. "I forgot to mention, my apologies for that I've been... distracted, but it's the tail end of winter north of the wall." As he spoke he held and studied the skis, and Rarity and Pinkie, a moment, before then placing them back in the shed. "The seasons in the south don't always match up. The snow is still thick, and there was a fresh carpet this morning when I entered Ancelstierre." Rarity raised her eyebrows at what he'd shared about the weather, while Pinkie gave him a look like he was crazy. Abhorsen continued, a frown on his face. "I had some clothes and the like made for you before I came, just in case." He hoofed over clothing to Rarity and Pinkie. They looked at each other doubtfully after taking it. "We can leave them, if you don't need it, but I wasn't sure." Rarity smiled at him after breaking eye contact with her friend. "Oh no darling, this is-" she gasped, then shoved the cloth in her hooves up to her eyes. "This stitch work is amazing. Who made this!? I must know." The clothing in question had the look of being masterwork, threaded not only with spun silver at the hems and collars, but was perfectly proportioned for her figure. "My word." Sliding her forelegs through the sleeves was like a dream to her, the cloth insides smooth as silk. Abhorsen, at a loss for words from the reaction and Rarity's break from acting so demure, chortled out his response with surprise. "That would be my charter sendings. Magic helpers." He spoke as the ponies dressed, though Pinkie needed help from Rarity to get into the coat, being a little bigger than her unicorn friend. "They're eccentric things with some odd quirks, but very useful." "I see..." Rarity said with a twinge of sadness. "So not your wife, then?" She asked, and with a twinge of sad that the work had been done by magic. Abhorsen's laughter trailed off, and he gave Rarity a wan look that spoke volumes. "No, not my wife." His gaze slid to the side, then he coughed and set off down the path. "We should hurry if we want to get somewhere before dark." Rarity finished helping Pinkie Pie tug on the fur colored coat, her own felt marvelous in the deepening cold. It was colder than anything she had been subjected to before already, she couldn't imagine it getting worse. "Uhm, coming! Pinkie, shall we?" Pinkie inhaled a deep breath, which then exhaled in a wave of fog before her. "Ooooh," she giggled at it, breathed out again, then donned to respond. "Yep, let's go Rarity! Onwards, to Equestria!" Together, they smiled at one another, then trotted after their human companion underneath the tall entrance of the wall's gate. They looked back only once, until that too was behind them. The three travelers did not take notice, but overhead, circled a flight of crows, all staying high in the air and behind the clouds.