//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Mother 2.5 
// by The Infinity Doctor 
//------------------------------//

	Ness walked out of the small bed and breakfast, his eyes downcast at the wallet in his hand. Aurora trotting beside him, glancing between the entrance of the hotel and themselves, confused. 

"I do not think I quite understand," Aurora stated, an ear flicking "why were we not granted a room?"

"Something about bits...." Ness replied, equally confused.

"As in...a small fraction part of something larger?" 

"I guess...I don't really get it, either," Ness said "it doesn't really help that there's no-one out here to ask."

"Indeed." Aurora agreed, glancing around the empty street.

"Well, there's always the forest..." Ness pointed out. 

"Nonsense, surely there must be somewhere that will accept your currency?"

"Not if these 'bits' are the only accepted currency..."

"Perhaps there is an exchange rate?" 

"Those things looked like pure gold, where am I going to get enough money to exchange about five hundred dollars?"

Aurora simply shrugged as the two of them now wandered the still-empty street. Ness took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, as if attempting to relieve the stress of the day.

Aurora suddenly stopped, and snorted, displaying his discomfort at...something...

The male alicorn then stomped, cracking the ground beneath his hoof something fierce. 

"ENOUGH of this!"

"Aurora?" Ness questioned, glancing back. 

"Back in my time, three ponies would take on an entire flock of griffons! Yet here, I see nothing but cowardice! Rethink thy choices, and make the correct one!" he shouted to the empty street, as well as the houses lining the street. 

"Come, Sir Ness," Aurora stated, trotting past him "I believe we need a bit to cool off."

"Uh...yeah...I think that'd be best..." Ness replied, confused at the alicorn's behavior. 

"Mayhaps there is a lake nearby," Aurora commented, once the two of them were just past the city limit "we could most certainly do with a wash." 

'I'd think that since you're an alicorn, they would've let us have a room.' Ness thought, walking alongside his friend.

"Ah, such luck!" Aurora cheered, trotting happily into a small pond. 

"Um...Aurora..." Ness stated, glancing with uncertainty at the cottage set next to the pond, that Aurora somehow managed to gloss over "I think this pond belongs to someone."

"Nonsense, this property belongs to Us, by royal decree."

Ness glanced worriedly at the cottage, the front door creaking open slowly. Ness gulped, and a feeling of dread came over him as he could only stand stock still in fear. 

A cream-colored pegasus with a light pink mane with a small basket in her mouth exited the cottage, heading right for them.