Autumn

by Domaldo

Hairy Revelations

“Ah, this is much better,” sleeping on grass sure beats sleeping on the ground. Doing my morning stretches and back cracks, I got up from my grass bed. And boy was I hungry!

“I got berries, and some berries, and, *GASP* even MORE berries…”

As much as I liked them, I needed to balance my diet with something with more protein. But where could I get something small enough for me to hunt, but good for my stomach?

Maybe I could try and get some of those turkeys, but they ran too fast for me to catch them. I needed something to help me catch that stupid bird. I raised my hand to scratch an itch on my bea-

HOLD ON!!!

…

… Is this…

… Is this what I think it is…?

To confirm my suspicions, I pulled my necklace out, and held the back of the amulet towards my face, creating a golden mirror.

“I have a beard! Sweet Darwin this is a dream come true!” How on Earth did I managed to grow one was beyond me, but I guessed it was a nice trade off from this ridiculous hair.

I went towards my favorite contraption, looking through the recipes, and… huh?!

“There is an even BETTER machine?!”

Well, there is nothing wrong with knowledge right?

Hmm…!

Oh great… this new ‘Alchemy Engine’ will be tough to make, but if it’s half as good as this one, then it’s worth it.

I began to refine my materials into something more useful than just logs and rocks. Taking one of the sharpest rocks, I used it to chip the logs into smooth boards. It took little to no effort as I stood next to my machine. Making the squared bricks of rock was also incredibly easy, same with the gold circuitry.

How do these machines get their power I did not know, but as long as it was there I wasn’t going to questioning it until I had the proper equipment to examine them once I got back home from crazy-horse land.

After some time, I had at least half of the components I needed, but I was far too tired to continue.

Then I heard something in the distance, somewhere in the direction from the fancy palace on the edge of that lonely mountain, it sounded like a frustrated scream.

Right, the weird talking horses… If they built that thing, or the castle I was standing on…

I was scared…

Hopefully these creatures lived on some far off island secluded from humanity so well, they have never been found, because I didn’t want to entertain the idea of being stuck in another world.

Well, until I knew for sure, I will try my best to find a way out, until then though, hmm?

I needed meat, my mouth might be delighted with them, but my stomach was getting tired of berries. Walking outside the castle, I went around the clearing. There were some more ruins along the way, a few flower gardens, but not much else.

Then I found another of those dammed birds, gobbling away at some berries. I couldn’t just punch it to death, and running after it won’t work either. I needed a weapon.

I quickly got back inside, and looked through some recipes the machine had to offer. It looked like I could craft myself a simple spear from just flint and sticks; the only problem was tying them together. Using some of my grass, I made myself a small length of rope, and used it to tie it around the sharp rock and a stick I had left. With my new weapon, I ran towards the direction of the dumb animal, hoping to find it there. And lo and behold, it was still gnawing at my precious berries.

Taking careful aim, I hurled the spear towards the animal.

I missed... I never was the best at sports...

The spear got caught in the ground next to the over-sized bird, startling it. It ran towards the ruins, but I wasn’t going to let it get away from me this time!

Running to get my spear, I picked it from the ground and ran towards the bird. I managed to corner it between two walls, it couldn’t escape me now!

“I will destroy you!” I battle-cried while charging towards it, and before it could doge me I used the pointy end smack him. After a few hits it went down. Cringing, I took its massive corpse, and dragged it towards the castle. I didn’t really like to kill that bird for food, but at least I was going to eat well today.

Everypony was quiet, not daring to speak a single word. Their youngest princess was now crying openly, and they could only watch as her sister came to her side and wrapped a wing around her.

“I’m, I’m sorry… we didn’t mean to…” Twilight began, but she couldn’t voice her thoughts out.

“Tis-” *sniff* “-tis not only our nights-” *sob* “-our moon won’t-” *sniff* “-won’t answer to us anymore,” she barely managed to say, truly saddened by the fact that her nights where taken from her.

“I’m afraid my dear sister wasn’t the only one affected,” said Celestia in a somber tone, catching the eyes from everypony present.

“What do you mean?” Asked Twilight, then Fluttershy added, “is… is there something wrong with the day too? Because… um, it looks fine to me.”

“Well, I wasn’t the one who raised the sun today,” she said, her head looking down slightly while still embracing her sobbing sister.

Collective gasps from everypony present was heard.

“Which is why we want this conversation to never leave this room. The panic it could create is immeasurable, so please, we implore you, to keep this to yourselves,” Luna said after she regained some of her regal composure, casting a look towards the mares and dragon in the room.

All of them nodded, most where shaken from the situation. “Don’t worry your majesties, we won’t say a word to anypony,” declared Rarity, and with no objections to her statement, the princess continued.

“I’m glad we can count on you, but since we may be facing something completely different I will take precautions.” Celestia looked at them, Twilight in particular.

“I’m sending the royal guard to your town, make sure that you are safe. If you are to pursue this matter into the Everfree further, make sure to take your brother with you,” she stated while staring at the purple unicorn, getting some odd looks from the mares, except Twilight herself and Spike.

“Wait, you are going to send in-?”

“Although he has other matters to attend to, I believe this is far more important than an old legend of a broken kingdom,” she finished.

“Hold on a second, you have a brother?!” “Ah didn’t know yeh had a sibling” “Wow a new pony! I can’t wait to throw him a welcoming party!” “Why darling, you never said you had a brother, what does he do?” And so on most mares bombarded the poor unicorn with questions.

“Yes, I’m sorry I haven’t told you about him, you can throw him a party, and he is captain of the royal guard”

“WHAT?!?!” The ponies present blurted out loud, the princesses and zebra watching with amusement.

“We are sorry to hear of your plight, but now we must part before we lose our sight,” finished Zecora, pointing outside showing the sun setting.

“I’m sorry girls but I believe she is right. I wish you good luck my little ponies,” -She turned to the dragon- “and Spike,” -She looked at the zebra- “and you too Zecora.”

Celestia fared them goodbye, but before they had a chance to leave, she trotted towards the massive throne room’s doors, and called out.

“Guards!” Celestia called her royal security.

A couple of guards showed up, bowing before her.

“Yes your majesty?” Both said simultaneously.

“Go get Captain Shining Armor and tell him that he must leave his previous assignment to gather a small platoon of onehundred and go with them to protect Ponyville.”

“At once your majesty.” They bowed again, and left through the hallway.

Everypony bowed before their rulers, and traveled back home before they ran out of sunlight.

After eating the bird I killed a few hours ago, I felt better. I also realized I needed to cook my food somewhere better than just hovering it over my fire. That and I needed some sort of place to put my food in.

I approached the Science Machine, and found the recipe I needed, but I was lacking the fuel to make it.

Using my spear to take some of the already burnt logs from my fire I let them cool down on the stone floor. No need to burn the forest down just so I can get some coal.

In the meantime I worked on the Alchemy Engine, which was coming along nicely. Sure, it was confusing at times, and was taking its sweet time, but I persevered. I wanted to see this project of mine through and through.

After an hour I felt tired, the coal was ready, and all the parts were made, all I needed was to assemble both and I was done, but I felt my bed calling out to me, so I obliged and sat on my grass cushion.

I pulled my amulet from my vest and turned it over, looking at my bearded face. I looked good in a beard, so there is no way I’m shaving this!

Having little else to do, besides fawning over my beard, I fell to sleep.