//------------------------------// // Chapter Two: Make haste // Story: Here come the elephants // by Centurion9289 //------------------------------// As Twilight and her friends walk through Everfree Forest, she finds herself wondering about everything Celestia had said. Soon enough it becomes obvious to everypony that she is in deep thought. Spike looks to Twilight with concern as he rides on her back. “What’s wrong Twilight?” Twilight sighs deeply and turns her head to answer Spike and to address the girls. “I can’t help but think that there’s a lot more to this than we thought.” Dash spins in flight towards Twilight and positions herself just above her side. “We haven’t even left Equestria yet and you’re already thinking too much into this? Ha ha ha! Good old egghead Twilight!” “Well, there is a lot to think about because there’s a lot we don’t know about.” Applejack stops her walk and rubs her chin with one of her hooves in deep thought and with skeptical eyes. “Do any of ya’ll reckon that maybe the Princess is hiding something from us?” Rarity chuckles lightly and levitates a small handkerchief to wipe a tear. “Why, Applejack! Princess Celestia would never lie to us! Goodness, the very idea!” “I ain’t saying she’s lying, I’m saying maybe she knows more than she’s letting on. Didn’t she say there was only one guard willing to talk? Why didn’t she bring him?” Rarity sighs sadly. “That is a shame indeed. He sounds like a handsome and strong fellow...” Rarity bats her eyes up at the sky daydreaming. Fluttershy perks her head up. “Maybe he was too frightened to come. I don’t know what he saw but I’m sure I wouldn’t want to see it again if I were him.” Rainbow Dash hovered back to Fluttershy and Applejack. “I’m with AJ on this one. I mean if that guard knew something, it would help if he was here to tell us anything!” Pinkie Pie stops bouncing and rises up on her hind legs while raising her forelegs moving them as she talks. “Maybe it’s all part of a big fun surprise! Like a welcoming party, a diplomatic party, a left and right wing party, a military party, a national party, an international party...” Twilight listened to all of her friends intently. Twilight did see that Applejack was on to something but lying seemed so unlike Princess Celestia. Discord is the one who lies. He lied about not having anything to do with the dark plants attacking Ponyville, capturing the Princesses, and the Tree of Harmony! But despite him being difficult, in a way he did help. And though Twilight is a Princess instead of a student, there is probably still a lot to learn. She hopes that if Princess Celestia is indeed hiding something from her, it will be for the sake of learning to be a Princess. From the sound of it, this is going to be a serious undertaking of international importance. Twilight turns her eyes back forward to focus on their current objective at hoof. And as though right on cue, she sees Zecora’s hut in sight. “Well, here we are!” Twilight was the first to approach the door. Raising a hoof, she knocks on the door three times. “Hello? Zecora?” Twilight knocks again but again there is no response. After a few moments of silence, Twilight turns back to her friends shrugging her wings. Spike steps down from Twilight and walks to the window to take a peek. Fluttershy cocks her head at the door. “Maybe she isn’t home?” Spike jumps up and grabs a hold of the window pulling himself up to look inside. He looks around to see that the place seems to be a little messy with pots, vials, and potions all over the place. He sees Zecora’s large cauldron with steam rising from it. The bubbling liquid inside appeared to be orange. The sound of hoof steps catches Spike’s ear and he spots Zecora approaching the cauldron with with what appeared to be make-shift goggles above her head and ear-muffs. Then she places them on her eyes and pulls up a small bag with one hoof. With the other she pulls some kind of yellow dust and sprinkles it into the cauldron. Spike turns to the girls to let them know about Zecora. Unfortunately, as he turns his head he fails to notice that Zecora has ducked down. “Well, looks like she’s here! But it looks like she’s kind of busy...” BOOM The force of the explosion resonates throughout the forest, shaking up the hut, and knocking Spike down from the window. The noise was enough to startle the girls and a bright light had also shined from Zecora’s hut, making them react by shielding their eyes. Their ears ring and they’re practically blinded. Once the light dies down, Twilight removes her wings from her eyes to see Spike down on the ground. She wastes no time running to him. “Spike!” Once the girls notice, the gather around Spike too with worried faces and concerned eyes. Twilight places her hooves down to help Spike get back on his feet. He groans and holds one claw to his head. “Oh, Spike. Are you alright?” “Uuuggh...” “Spike, are you hurt?” Suddenly Spike perks his head up and raises a hand to his ear. “WHAT?” Twilight and the others look down at Spike with puzzled expressions. “I said, are you alright?” Spike cocks his eye at Twilight in confusion, blinking after a few moments. “WHAAAAT?” Out of nowhere Pinkie Pie sticks her head down to Spike’s ear with a loudspeaker. The force of her amplified voice seemed to push Spike backwards. “SHE SAID, ARE YOU ALRIGHT???” Spike helps himself back up and looks at Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and the rest of the girls. Patiently they wait for him to respond but he continues to look at them blankly. After a few moments of silence and occasional blinking, Spike again puts a hand to his ear. “WHAAAAT???” Suddenly a loud creak of a door catches the attention of the girls as they see Zecora walk outside with her goggles on and her ears covered. She raises her goggles above her eyes and lets out a relaxed sigh. Then she moves her hoof to remove her earmuffs. As she does this, she turns her head to the direction of the girls and her eyes widen when she realizes the scene before her. She gasps and runs over to them analyzing the state of Spike. “We have no time to waste, bring him inside!” With haste, everyone went inside of the hut with Spike in tow. Twilight places Spike onto the bed and watches as Zecora rapidly puts some kind of potion together. It happened too fast for her to notice but she could have sworn she saw colors changing and small puffs of smoke rising. Zecora yells out to Twilight as she continues working. “When I give the word, have his mouth open wide!” Twilight nods and looks to Spike with worry while Spike looks around with confusion. Then Zecora turns and raises a funnel. Twilight takes this as a sign and turns to Twilight, slowly mouthing out so he can read her lips. “Spike, say ahhhh!” Spike seems to understand and does as she says. “Aaaaa...mmph!” The funnel is stuffed into his mouth and Zecora begins pouring her concoction down into it. Spike makes loud gulps as he swallows. Then as he finishes, he begins to make disgusted faces, looking like he was about to be sick. Then he lets out a loud and long belch with green fire spouting out of his mouth and steam puffing out of his ears. Twilight, Zecora, and the others take cover. As he finishes, Spike sits himself up and shakes his head. “Oooohh...” Twilight looks at Spike waiting in worry. “SPIIIIIKE, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” Spike winces and covers his ears. “Aaah! I hear you loud and clear, you don’t have to yell!” Twilight grabs Spike giving him a big hug as the rest of the girls cheer in joy and relief. Though Zecora seems relieved, she looks to Twilight with apologetic eyes. “I thought I was careful, I did my best. Please forgive me, I was not expecting guests.” “Spike’s alright, that’s all that matters. Thank you, Zecora.” Rarity turned to Zecora and looked at her potion. “But do tell, what in the world happened?” Zecora walked over to her cauldron, the liquid now turned into a violet hue. “As you can see, I was working on a concoction my friend.” Zecora then stretched out her hoof to present her goggles and earmuffs. “But I had to be prepared, lest I be blind and deaf for weeks on end.” Twilight looks at the cauldron cocking her head before turning to Zecora. “Blind and deaf? But he could still see us.” “If he shielded his eyes or turned away, then his vision was only in slight disarray.” Spike brushes a hand over his head as though to wipe away sweat. “Whew, that was a close one!” Zecora smiles warmly and chuckles lightly. Then she looks to Twilight and the rest of the girls. “It is good to have company and not be alone. What brings you all to my humble home?” Twilight lets go of Spike and stands up in a more official stance. “The Royal Guard Watchtower in the south has been attacked. Princess Celestia is sending us to find out who or what is responsible. And we need your help to do it.” Twilight waited patiently for Zecora to respond. Zecora then said it plainly. “This is serious news that you have brought. But in terms of joining you, I simply cannot.” Twilight stares at Zecora in disbelief. She had come to her many times before for help and Zecora never turned her down. “But we’re going to be heading into lands unknown! Well, actually we’ve been down there before, but we need a guide. Somepony, um, somezebra who knows her way in the wilderness.” Zecora walked over to some shelves pulling down flasks and empty bottles. “While I would gladly come to your aid, there is much to be done here and many more brews to be made. For example, I have here a potion to heal wounds and scars. And also some foul-tasting medicines disguised as candy bars.” Pinkie Pie sticks out her head towards the mentioned bars with wide eyes. “Ooooohhh!!! Did someone say candy bars???” Pinkie Pie snatches one and gobbles it up in seconds. Then seconds after her eyes go bug-eyed and her nose scrunches up. With a closed mouth she tries to sound out words and points to her mouth. She runs to the window and sticks her head out spitting the bar out. “Bleeeeccchh!!! Eeeew, eew, eew, eeeeeeewww!!!” Zecora smiles and shakes her head. Twilight cocks her eye at Pinkie for a moment and turns back to Zecora. “But what if we lose our way out there? What if something happens?” “Princess Twilight, you have journeyed far and faced many dangers of all kinds if I recall. You are resourceful ponies, I am sure I am not needed at all.” Twilight realizes that there is some truth to what Zecora had said. Though there were those times Zecora proved to be a big help to Twilight and her friends, there were many more times when Twilight and her friends took on challenges head on. Not to mention the Princess did give Twilight updated maps. But Princess Celestia did seem to strongly want Zecora on their team. Then something catches Twilight off-guard. Spike taps Twilight on her wing and stands up on his toes to whisper. “Twilight, the letter!” “Oh! Right!” Twilight’s eyes widen in realization and she uses her magic to pull out the letter from the small pack. She walks over to Zecora giving her the letter. “Well, thanks anyway for your time. And thanks again for helping Spike. Before we go, this is for you from Princess Celestia.” Zecora takes the letter in her hoof and smiles at Twilight. “Safe travels on your journey, Princess. I wish you and your friends all the best.” Spike climbs up onto Twilight’s back and in single file Twilight and her friends exit the hut. Zecora smiles and waves to the girls as they leave. When her front door is shut, Zecora looks at the letter flipping it twice in her hoof. She opens it up and begins reading. After a few moments of carefully scanning the letter, her eyes widen and she drops the letter raising a hoof to her mouth as she lets out a loud gasp. ----------------------------------------------------- Twilight and her friends are still walking through the Everfree Forest back to Ponyville. Though Twilight’s head is not hung low, she does have disappointment on her face. Spike notices and tries to reassure her. “Hey, don’t worry Twilight. It was worth a shot, right?” Applejack moved up to catch up to Twilight. “Besides Zecora’s right. We are quite the group of ponies! We’ve traveled to all sorts of places, faced many nasty critters, and took down all sorts of no-good villains!” Rainbow Dash flies up with a hoof in the air striking a pose. “Yeah! We can take on anything!” Fluttershy raises her head and smiles as her wings flap lightly. “Yaaaaay...” Rarity raises her head proudly smiling at her friends. “Hear, hear! Considering everything we have accomplished and come across, I am sure we will do just fine!” Twilight smiles with some comfort. “You’re right, girls. But it’s just that this is a big wide world and maybe it would have helped to have a friend who can help us. There’s bound to be something out there that’ll surprise us.” “SPEAKING of surprises! Look everypony! Look, look, look!” Twilight and the rest turn their heads to Pinkie as she catches everypony’s attention. Pinkie Pie bounces around them in a circle before stopping behind them and pointing her hoof opposite of where they were walking. Twilight and the rest look towards the direction of Pinkie’s pointed hoof. Something was coming behind them and fast. When it came close it enough, it did surprise everypony when they could clearly see who it is. “Zecora?” They all say in unison. Zecora catches up to them with fully packed saddle bags and a small wagon behind her. Despite the fact that she ran a good distance with all of that in tow, she does not seem winded at all. If anything, she seems to be filled with a newfound sense of purpose. She walks toward Twilight and stood firm in front of her as though she were a soldier. “In concern of your request, I have had a change of heart. Please tell me, when can we depart?” Twilight can’t help but smile brightly to see her friend before her. “Spike, take a note please! Inform Princess Celestia we head out at once!” Cheers, yells, and soft yays rise from Twilight’s friends as Spike sends his letter. ----------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle and her friends including Spike and Zecora are gathered in front of the Library with packed bags. Twilight looks around at her friends scanning their bags. “Everypony ready?” Each of her friends enthusiastically respond, lined up side-by-side. “Ready!” “Um, yes...” “I should say so!” “Let’s do this!” “I’m ready-eddy-eddy!” Twilight smiles and spreads out her wings and rears back. “Then let’s move out, girls!” Spike moves and jumps onto Twilight’s back as they begin to go back into the Everfree Forest. Twilight turns her head to Zecora. “Lead the way, Zecora!” Zecora nods and moves a head further in Twilight’s sight so that everypony in the group can see Zecora as they move. Spike turns his head to Zecora. Though he was glad to see her come along, something was nagging at him in the back of his mind. “Soooo Zecora, what made you change your mind about joining us?” Zecora turned her head back at Spike, then back towards Ponyville. Twilight was not sure but she almost seemed...paranoid. “There will be plenty of time later to explain and shed light. Perhaps I can share once we stop to rest for the night.” Pinkie Pie bounced along behind despite carrying what looked to be very heavy bags and her welcome wagon. “OOOH!!! Like a campfire story! I love campfires! They make some of the best outdoor parties! I’ve got plenty to share, tell me when we stop to make camp!” Rarity stops momentarily to brush her hoof through her hair and flutter her eyes. “It has been a while since we have had such a lovely trip to the outdoors. I do hope I didn’t forget to bring my lotions and bug sprays.” Zecora turned her head back towards Pinkie and Rarity in a serious manner. “Take more care in yourselves than your brands. We shall be heading into dangerous and unknown lands. Or at least unknown to ponykind. Heed my word and do not fall behind.” Rainbow Dash confidently glides past Zecora with her back facing the ground and her front hooves behind her head. “Yeah, about these lands being dangerous and unknown...we know. We’ve travelled through crazy forests and dark caves to get to that nasty Changeling Queen.” “That may be so Rainbow Dash, but our path is different so we cannot afford to be brash.” Rainbow Dash widens her eyes and turns at Zecora, watching as she continues to march on. She hovers next to Twilight sticking her head out near her ear. “Pssst! Hey, Twilight! What’s got her tail up in a knot?” Twilight turns and whispers back. “I’m not sure myself. She’s always been wise and mysterious but right now she seems almost...” “Cranky?” “Distressed.” Rainbow Dash raises an eyebrow at Twilight. “Distressed?” “I’m thinking maybe it had something to do with that letter I gave her. Whatever was in it must have really convinced her to come. Maybe even scared her...” Suddenly the air feels warm behind Twilight and loudly by Twilight’s ears is another one of Spike’s fiery burps. Right before her is another letter. Twilight catches it with her magic just in time before it fell to the ground. Rainbow Dash scrunches up her nose and her eyes widen. She places her front hooves over her muzzle. “Jeez, Spike! What’d you have for lunch?” Spike blushes and rubs his claw behind his head. “Eheh...sorry.” Twilight waves her hoof in the air to get rid of the lingering smell. Then she opens up the letter. Spike leans beside Twilight’s head to look at the letter. My Dearest Twilight, Thank you for sending me the news of Zecora joining you on your journey. I am confident she will help you on your way through whatever path you take and face whatever you may come across. Let her know that I am grateful for her aid. And there is one last detail I forgot to mention in my haste. I have sent for Sentinel Alaris to join your company as well so that he may shed light to what happened. He will be waiting for you at the Entrance into Macintosh Hills. From here on out, everything in this journey will be left to your decisions. Good luck, my dear friend. Princess Celestia. Twilight blinked and placed the letter into her pack. “Huh. Looks like we’ll be meeting Sentinel Alaris after all.” Suddenly all of the girls stop for a moment when they hear Twilight, even Zecora stops to turn her head back. Rarity’s eyes widen and her front hooves rise to the sides of her face as she gasps and nervously laughs. Then with her magic she pulls out a brush, a mirror, and perfume. “Oh my!!! I’m not properly dressed! I need to change my hair, I ought to be wearing my newly imported perfume!” Applejack places a hoof onto Rarity’s shoulder. “Take it easy, sugarcube. By the time we get up to the mountain, all your prettyin’ up ain’t going to do much good.” Rainbow Dash does a light flip above Applejack and Rarity. “Besides, those guys are always so serious! He might just stare straight ahead all day! Ha ha!” Rarity blushes and slowly puts her stuff back into her bag. Fluttershy smiles lightly and hovers up for a moment. “It does sound nice to have a Royal Guard joining us. He could be a big help against scary monsters!” Zecora shuts her eyes and shakes her head as she moves forward. Twilight speaks aloud to catch the attention of everypony. “Actually, he’s a Sentinel! Though he probably had standard training like my brother, his role in the Guard is quite different. He’s trained to be stealthy as he keeps a sharp eye out for enemies but he’s also expected to fight alongside them and in some cases even lead them. I suppose you could say he’s like a scout, soldier, and leader all in one!” Pinkie Pie pops up with widened eyes and a big smile. “Ooooooh! Sounds like he’s quite the package! Kind of like a chocolate ice cream cake! You get the best of all three!” Suddenly a voice catches the attention of everypony and they all turn their heads to see Zecora far ahead of them. “Follow me now, this way! We have no time to delay!” Twilight turned to her friends and they all looked at each other, some of them shrugging or lowering their heads. They pick up their pace to catch up to Zecora. Spike cocks an eye at Zecora as they get back on her trail. He crosses his arms and mumbles to himself. “Jeez, I know we’re on a schedule but there’s no need to be pushy. I mean, what’s the big rush anyway?” ----------------------------------------------------- Far past the Macintosh Hills down in the grasslands where the Southern Watchtower once stood is now a large pile of rubble. Not too far from the ruin are broken spears that were wielded by Guard Ponies. Though the area is small compared to a castle and no corpses are present, it still has the look of a devastating battlefield. A small bird is hopping on one of the spears sticking out of the ground. It tweets a few times turning its head to different directions. The bird does not seem to notice that the spear is lightly shaking. As moments slowly pass the shaking begins to intensify to the point where it threatens to knock the bird off. The bird finally flies away from the spear, just in time as a large gray foot smashes the stick into splinters. A low but loud rumbling growl fills the air and the sound of metal and chain-mail clashes with the noise. Reflected in its eye is the sight of the Macintosh Hills. As it finishes growling, it lets out a loud and frightening bellow.