//------------------------------// // XVI // Story: Twilights Journey: Escape Equestria // by Merotik //------------------------------// "Braeburn?" Twilight said slowly as she looked to her surroundings. She appeared to be inside a wooden house. Western décor could be seen all around the room. The window shades were closed, leaving the room dimmed. A clock hanging on the wall told her that time was currently still broken. Yet she didn't need the clock to know that it was currently the suns turn to be placed into the sky. Looking at her body, Twilight saw a large white cloth wrapping something cold placed against her chest. She hadn't realized until now that she had bandages wrapped around her left shoulder, leg, and hoof. She assumed the left side of her body received the most damage, especially based off the sore, burning, painful feelings she felt on that particular side. The right side felt sore, yet not nearly as bad as the left. "Are you hungry?" Braeburn suddenly asked. He left Twilights side and into what Twilight assumed was the kitchen. She heard cluttering silverware and dished for a few moments. Then saw Braeburn return with a bowl of soup and water on a tray. He placed the tray next to Twilight on the nightstand, then gently helped Twilight to sit upright. "I hope you like dandelions. I never was much of a fan, but I heard you Pony Ville folk really enjoy these types a flowers" Braeburn said, smiling and offering Twilight the dandelion soup and a spoon. Instead of thanking Braeburn or taking the soup, Twilight stared at him and asked, "how did I get here?" Braeburns smile faltered slightly as Twilight showed no acknowledgment to the food he had prepared for her. He quickly regained his smile as he placed the bowl back onto the tray. "A couple a the towns folk found you lyin out in the desert. They brought you back here and luckily I was one a the first ones to reach you when they got here. I recognized you the moment I saw you and had the ones who found you bring you into ma home. I been takin care a you ever since. Your still gonna be sore for a few days, but that's what happens when you get trampled in the desert. Yer gonna get cuts, bruises, and burns. But I gotta say Miss Sparkle, that was a mighty brave thing you did back there. Risken yer hind quarters for Appleloosa by steerin away that stampede! Boy let me tell you, I ain't seen no animal wranglin like that since Aunt Amata tried to steer cattle over a canyon just to get ahead a schedule!" "Um . . . thanks?" "No, thank you Miss Sparkle! That there stampede coulda destroyed the whole town! You did us a huge favor takin care a that stampede. But I gotta ask, where did you learn to wrangle critters like that?" "Oh, I was just caught up in the moment. I let the adrenaline take over, if you know what I mean". "I getcha, I just thought maybe my good cuz back in Pony Ville been givin you pointers. Speakin a which, where is cousin Applejack? I thought she'd be with you if you were planin on makin a trip to Appleloosa". "Oh . . . I . . . Braeburn, you do realize what's been happening back in Pony Ville, right?" "Back in Pony Ville? A course we know what happened in Pony Ville! Who wouldn't!? That darn chaos spirits magic's been makin our town go all coockoo!" "Yes, well you se- . . . wait, YOUR TOWN!?!" Before Braeburn had a chance to stop her, Twilight leapt out of bed (ignoring the incredible amount of pain pulsing through her entire body) and rushed to the window. Twilight gasped as she pulled the curtains aside and saw the outside world. Buildings were upside down, animals with extended legs running everywhere, chocolate milk rained from cotton candy clouds, and from the distance Twilight could see that Discord had turned the desert into . . . a dessert? Twilight thought for a moment if Discord was trying to do a play on words before setting her mind back into the matter at hoof. "Discords magic has reached this far! But how? When I stopped that stamped his magic was miles away from here! It hadn't even entered into the desert yet!" "Well ya, but Twilight you've been out of it for a while now". "Out of it for . . . are you saying that I've been asleep the entire time it traveled to Appleloosa?" "Well that's what I meant when I said you were out of it, didn't you know what I-" Cutting Braeburn off, Twilight ran to Braeburn and placed her face close to his. "How long was I asleep for!?!" "Yer a bit close Miss Spa-" "HOW LONG!!!" "Four days!" Braeburn shouted, backing away from Twilight. Twilight froze as she slowly sat onto her hunches. " . . . Four days . . . I've been unconscious . . . for four days". "Miss Sparkle, are you alright?" "Ya . . . fine . . . just fan-BUCKING-TASTIC!" Looking around frantically, Twilight found her saddle bag hanging from a coat rack. Levitating and strapping it to her, Twilight proceeded to walk to the front door before Braeburn stopped her. "Whoa, whoa! Hold on there Miss, I don't know what's got you riled up but I can't let you leave. Not in the state that yer in". "I'm fine, I just need to- agh!" Twilight yelped in pain as she had tried to walk on her left leg. Rushing to the window and to Braeburn intensified the pain she had already felt on the left side of her body, she couldn't ignore it any longer. She nearly fell to the ground before Braeburn caught her. "See what I mean? You are in no condition to leave. Besides, Discords got the whole town in a doozy right now. If we leave, we might end up like the others". "Others?" Braeburn nodded. "Whatever Discords doin its affectin all a the towns folk. Turnin their fur gray and makin them not act like themselves. Ma own neighbor tried to steal my clothes so he could, and I quote, "savor ma scent". I don't even want to know what he meant by that!" 'Darn! Discords magic has completely taken over Appleloosa. If I was unconscious for four days, then Discords magic is most likely close to the edge of Equestria by now. I can't stay here, not when I'm this deep in his magic. But Braeburns right, I won't make it far when I'm this injured. I need to rest, but I can't stay here either! . . . What if I rest and leave at the same time? I'll need a new form of transportation, one large enough for a pony to sleep in. At the same time I'll need somepony to drive that transportation while I heal. Maybe Braeburn will be willing to help me? Ugh! Ask a pony for help, as if! I don't need anyponies help, I can do this on my own! But for how long can I do this on my own, not long I can assure that! But he'll slow me down! No, he'll make traveling faster and easier. You can get out of Discords magic and rest at the same time! But I don't want him to come with me! To bad, I'm asking him for help! NO! I don't need help! Yes I do! No I don't! Yes! No! Yes! No! YES! NO! YES!!!' "Miss Sparkle, are you alright?" Twilight broke from her thoughts and looked to Braeburn, who was giving her a very concerned look. "Of course I'm alright, why wouldn't I be?" "Well you were kinda mumblin to yerself, then you started sayin yes and no over and over again". "Oh, you heard that?" Braeburn awkwardly nodded. "Oh . . . well I uh . . . it's just . . ." Twilight sighed, "Braeburn the thing is, I need your-" Before she could finished, her mouth sealed itself shut against her own will. "Um, pardon?" Forcing her mouth open, Twilight tried to say, "I need your-" before her mouth sealed itself again. " . . . You uh . . . got somthin stuck in yer throat?" Twilight shook her head. 'Why can't I ask him for help? For some reason my mind is telling me no. Come on! Ask him for help! You can do it!' Using all of her will power, Twilight forced her mouth open and slowly said, "I . . . need, y-y-your!-"