//------------------------------//
// A New Journey 
// Story: The World that Came After 
// by Aslfrasle 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2 A New Journey

It had been a week since the incident with the madpony, and Appleoosa was abuzz with theories and opinions. Some believed that it was some divine power guiding the next step in pony evolution, though these folks were normally laughed at and scorned, while others believed that it was fierce retribution for not trying to rebuild their once verdant and peaceful world. The worst were those who did not vocalize their thoughts on the matter. Most of these ponies had originally lived outside of Appleoosa and unknown to the other townsponies they had seen this before. In their fear, these townsponies started a local militia and went door to door looking for any information they could find on these abominations. The mobs of Appleoosa spent nearly every day searching and prowling the town, arresting anyone who they thought might be one of them. Other ponies had gone to the sheriff for help to stop the madness, though he said that so long as they don’t commit crimes they couldn’t be stopped. However one stallion seemed calm and unfazed by the madness overtaking the town, quietly sitting on the roof of the bar taking a nap. He sat up and peered over the edge at the ponies scurrying about below.

“One little incident and suddenly it’s New Manehatten all over again…” Grey Matter had seen this kind of mob mentality once before. It never ended well.

He figured he had spent enough time basking in the warm glow of the sun. He got to his hooves as he shook the dust from his coat, “Time to get to work, I guess.”

Extending his chocolate brown wings and glided from the roof to the ground below. He looked around, searching for his destination, “Now, where was it again?” His pondering ceased when his target, the Appleoosa clinic, came into view. “There it is,” he said, “let’s see what he’s up to today.”

As he cantered over to the clinic he pondered his strange problem with directions.  He’d always been great at creating mental maps of cities and towns, knowing where every road twisted and turned, as well as every secret back alley and hidden tunnel. Yet ask him to point out where each individual building on the mental map went and he was stumped. He navigated more through what was near, as well as what he knew was in the relative vicinity, though that wasn’t much help when he was in a new town or needed a specific building instead of a relative location.

He arrived at the clinic and pushed the door open, hoping there wasn’t too many problems plaguing the ponies of this town today. He was still working off a hangover from the night before and wasn’t in much of mood for loud, screaming ponies or medical work. Sadly the former was what assaulted his eardrums the moment he stepped inside.

“What the hay do you mean you’re not going to let me?” a buttermilk colored mare shouted.

“Now, ah’m sorry miss but in yer condition it’s far to dangerous for you to go out and do anythin, and ah know if ah let ya go you’ll just end up gettin yerself killed,” responded the doctor, a male zebra with a slicked back mane, wearing a slightly blood stained apron over a doctor’s uniform. 

“Ugh, Zed what’s with all that racket,” asked Grey Matter, “I’m kinda working off this wicked hangover, so if you could keep a lid on whatever that is I’d be grateful.”

“Well, excuse me, ah didn’t know Mister Fancy Pants himself had graced mah humble clinic this morning. All Ah see is a part-timer who’s just showed up late for work, with a hangover no less…and that’s Doctor Zed to you. I didn’t get that fake doctorate on the wall over there just for everypony to ignore it,” the doctor said in an intentionally loud tone. 

A moment passed until both stallions broke out into raucous laughter.

“Ah’m just kiddin ya Grey, ah had a pretty crazy time last night too, though ah’m guessin yers involved a lot less slightly illegal medical experimentation.” Zed said in between his laughs.

This was why Grey had stayed in Appleoosa for longer than he had spent in most towns. Zed was a fun zebra once you got to know him. Grey was the only pony in town who was privy to the fact the he was not actually a real doctor. However, in a world where the Blight took ponies every couple of weeks, and those that survived probably get in a stupid fight over drinks, honor, or even legends, no one really cared if he was a real doctor so long as he worked like a real doctor. He was willing to patch up anypony, no questions asked, on the condition they don’t ask what he may or may not do with whatever he lops off or sews back on.

“So who’s the mare ‘Doctor’ Zed, and what’s she going on about?” Grey asked.

“See when ya say it like that it just don’t seem right, like it’s even less believable … well the mood’s ruined now, so onto more important things.” Zed grabbed a chart off of a nearby desk with his mouth and tossed it to Grey.

“She says her name’s … oh dang it, ah just had it…it’s something fancy. Any seco—” He was cut off by Grey reading the chart.

“No-ir E-toil? What kinda name is that for a pony. It sounds like some machine one of the town’s founders would have built.”  Grey had never seen any kind of foreign language in his life so this was all new to him. During his short time in Appleoosa he had learned that it managed to stay afloat during the Blight crises thanks to Flim and Flam and their inventions. Their crazy machinations and gadgets ensured a small stream of revenue that helped keep the town running. Now everyone regarded them as the founders of the town.

“That’s Noir Etoile thank you very much!” The mare said indignantly. “I was originally from Prance, though from your garb and mannerisms I can tell you’ve probably never seen someone from such a cultured and high-class place. I managed to make it here before fear of the Blight closed all travel for fear of further spreading the sickness.

“And why pray tell would a fancy mare like yourself want to come all the way out to the Blight-lands of Appleoosa? Out of all of Equestria to travel you go an choose one of the most Blight-cursed places. Now that the Blight has receded it’s gotten better and it’s easier to live here, though it’s still mighty close to the blighted Ruins of Canterlot. From what I heard Prance got the least of it and is still clinging to most of their old ways of life,” asked Grey as he walked over to the nearby bench that was Zed’s ‘waiting room’ and lay down. He thought about how quickly he had seen the common decency of ponies go out the proverbial window once the Blight started corrupting and poisoning the landscape. He’d seen people who were the best of friends murder each other over a moldy sandwich, and young boys forced to kill their pets just to fill their hungry bellies. It just weren’t right.

“I came here to fi—” was all she got out before Zed began to loudly clear his throat.

“Ah was just about to get to that before you two started yer little game o’ twenty questions over there,” said Zed, “she came in here yesterday while you were out at the bar asking if there was anything strange going on, like strange lights and abnormal amounts of energy. Ah told her about them odd glowin lights ah’d seen by the old General Hospital outside town. Before ah could warn her against it she was already off, only showing up later that night covered in cuts and bruises, nearly unconscious. Ah patched her up, and we were arguing about her going back when you came in. That reminds me, how did you get that hangover anyways? I thought you said you weren’t going to drink last night.”

“I got it because I needed something to keep my mind off of what happened yesterday night. What was she looking for that was so dangerous that she got that hurt anyway?” asked Grey.

“She was searching fer a relic or some other,” Zed responded while wiping the blood from his medical tools, “not sure why but she said something about a wish of some sort.”

Upon hearing the word ‘wish’ Grey leapt to his hooves as he realized what she was looking for. That memory he had so readily dismissed as a farce might actually be true if other people knew about it, and he severely doubted such a sophisticated mare would be as smashed as he was at the time. Maybe, just maybe it was true and he could actually find a wish. He didn’t know much though as the memory of the announcement was very blurry, though with a little fast talking and some tricks he could get what he needed from her. He hoped it would be easy as he did not favor the alternative way of finding out. 

Now, how I am going to get her to give up the location? he pondered as he truly looked her over for the first time since meeting her. She’s actually quite good looking, though nothing to risk your life for. What puzzles me is how she managed to find and almost collect one of the lost bits. She doesn’t look that tough, body seems too lithe and petite for her to be a brawler. There’s got to be something I’m missing. Grey gave her another once over, checking to see if he missed anything. Female … unicorn….blonde hair, blue eyes … cream-colored coat … hmm, she seems like your everyday average mare. That was when he first caught sight of her cutie mark. It was a strange shape he had seen a couple of times before, though only in scientific books in forgotten libraries and hospitals. A gravity well.

Unless she’s some kind of scientist or physicist, which in this kinda world is doubtful, she was probably one of the Umbrae. The blight had carried more than just death and decay with it when it came, some ponies unlucky enough to get hit by it died as all do, only to be resurrected later with different cutie marks, hazy purple eyes and toxic green irises. These folks had been bathed in the corrosive nature of the Blight, their blood replaced with the same toxic ooze the Blight brought with it. Cutie Marks were always one of the best ways to distinguish one, the eyes were easy to hide with magic or lenses and the blood could have its color changed with a simple spell, cutie marks however were unaffected by magic.The Blight toxins caused a chemical reaction in the bodies of those with abilities, making their cutie mark, or changing it if they already found it, into something based on their abilities. From the gravity well on her flank, Grey figured her ability had something to with manipulating gravity or messing with weight.

Grey wasn’t very fond of the idea formulating in his head, though it was the only lead he had to find those lost magical bits. While he was debating his options, the two behind him had gone back to their arguing. They shouted at each other, going back and forth, neither of them giving an inch until Grey cut through the clamor with a decision he would come to regret. Unfavorable alternative it is then.

“…I’ll take her,” he sighed as his mind screamed for him to stop and throw away this foolish plan. 

“What was that Grey?” the Doctor asked.

“I’ll take her to the ruined hospital. You said it was too dangerous for her to go alone, so it should be fine if I go with her. She can find what she’s looking for and I’ll make sure to look after her and keep her safe,” Grey said as he explained his plan.

“Grey, that place is a wreck and you ain’t got no clue what could be in there. Heck, half of the place is covered in Blight clouds so it would be impossible for you to search there,” said Zed.

“Yeah, plus I don’t need a babysitter, I’m a grown mare who can take care of herself,” said Noir.

“Listen lady, Zed isn’t gonna let you leave here if you plan to go there alone. Unless I’m with you there’s no chance you’ll find what you’re looking for, no matter how powerful your abilities may be.” Grey put extra emphasis on the word ‘abilities’ to show that he knew what she was. “It doesn’t matter what might be in there Zed, you know I’m plenty capable of keeping myself safe, plus there’s probably plenty of supplies in there that the town, and more importantly you, could use. Like it or not I’m going Zed, all that’s left is whether she wants to come and whether you have anything you could spare for this little expedition.”

Zed left out an exasperated sigh as he gave in, knowing that it would be impossible to stop Grey once he was so dead set on something. “There’s some gauze and rubbin’ alcohol in the closet over there in case of any light wounds, as well as a first aid kit for the more serious stuff.” 

Grey grabbed the gear and placed it into the rucksack hanging by his side. Once he had everything he thought would be necessary, he made his way towards the door of the clinic. As he opened the door, he turned to Noir, still standing in the same place she had been.

“You coming?” he asked. She had a look of annoyance on her face as she nodded her head in agreement. “Well, what are you waiting for, an invitation?”

He thought he heard her grumble something under her breath as they left, though he paid it no mind. As he slowly walked out of town in the direction of the hospital, there was a singular thought going through his head. 

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this… Babysitting was not in his job description, especially when it came to snobby, holier than Celestia french mares. They always had to be the top of society, at the height of all social and fashionable trends and it irked him to no end how self-absorbed and self-righteous they are. He dreaded the upcoming trip as it meant spending the next couple of days completely alone with this spoiled little rich mare in the middle of the Appleoosan desert. It was his only lead though and he could not let it slip by, and if that meant he had to babysit a brat then it would just be a suffering he would have to bear … at least until he knew what and where he was looking for. A devious grin crossed his muzzle as he considered the idea of leaving her, weighing the pros and cons in his head. He decided that, as he was not a ‘heartless’ stallion he would keep her safe so long as she was useful and not too annoying.