GIFTED
It’s been a week
Rover’s log
May 14 1034, AD
3:12 PM
Eastern Tunnel 34-F
It’s been a week since we found that unbelievable, giant amethyst crystal. I still drool just thinking about it. It was like an an angelic gift from the gods themselves. We found it perfectly preserved under 34-D. It reached about forty meters high. Its pulsing white glow and the the purple sparkles that floated around it, everything about it was unbelievable. Then that idiot Max made that stupid crack in its side when we tried to move it. I decided to just leave it where it is. No one else is taking it any time soon.
Darn, I’ve been spending every day since finding that thing just babbling on about it in these pages. I need to write about the more important business. We’ve had a few of the dogs acting up after finding that godly gem. At first I thought they were just excited; I know I was, but now I’m starting to think something is wrong. Scratch that, something is wrong. Rex started telling everyone in the caves he was invincible. Now I know that sounds like standard boasting to try to be the alpha male (like anyone would ever beat me), but he wasn’t lying. We started with punching him, his bruises healed a second later. We threw rocks at him, his cuts patched themselves together. One dog went at him with a blade, same result. We kept going farther and farther. As a leader I should have made them stop. The next day they started crushing and ripping off his limbs for fun. He kept screaming and begging, but they would all just say, “You’ll get better”. He did of course. Each limb would reattach. Then, they dropped a boulder on his head.
He didn’t get better. That and we’re still cleaning the blood.
6:54 PM
I’m getting more and more worried about Fido. He seems to be going a bit crazy. I know plenty of dogs had a crazy week from being in the caves so long, but Fido has been at this for fourteen years, there’s no way that can be getting him. He’s just shouting at other dogs. Random accusations, defending himself from unsaid insults, and crying a lot. I tried to talk to him today about a simple ruby and he screamed, “I’m not an idiot, stop talking about me!” He started crying and ran away. He also claimed Renton stole a stash of sapphires out of absolutely nowhere. Everyone was silent and then he just blurts it out. Maybe I’ll check Renton tomorrow. I want to have some faith in the little guy, he’s my best friend. I think I’ll need to check with the other alphas in the other tunnel systems. Maybe they’re having the same problem.
Alpha 3, Rover.
Celestia
Canterlot, Royal Castle
May 14th 8:00 AM
“Wonderful, it’s been a week without any incidents. That’s probably a record since Luna has been free.” The grand, alicorn princess of Equestria lay across her scarlet-sheeted bed. She sipped on warm orange tea as she read over her recent crisis report list. A new disaster seemed to be going on somewhere in the kingdom all the time. This weeks report was completely void of any immediate issues.“I think I should hold a party. That would be most wonderful. I’ll invite Twilight and we’d finally get a nice chance to talk. Actually,that may make my crisis for the week. At least I’d be there.”
Bang, bang, bang. “Your majesty! Your majesty, you need to see something immediately.” The guards rarely interrupted the princess when she was in her bed. It had been one of the few things to anger her over the years. The guard continued to pound on her doors. “Seriously urgent! Code red urgent! Explosively urgent!” Celestia’s magic opened the doors allowing the unicorn guard to tumble into the the room. Her chamber was not much else aside from her bed. A red carpet and a scarlet mattress covered the decor. “Please princess, look at this. We’re having troubles from-”
Celestia’s hoof covered the guards lips. “Oh, let me guess, Ponyville! It’s Ponyville isn’t it?” She snickered a bit before removing her hoof.
“No, well yes, but not just Ponyville. We’ve got a few reports of odd behavior from several cities. The oldest one is dated back seven days ago in Fillydalphia. Mayor Mustang swears he saw a young filly by the name of Feather Duster flying.”
The princess took a light, quiet sip from her cup. She put on her characteristic mysterious smile. “Fillies fly all the time, Fillydalphia has a high number of pegasi for a ground city. She even has a pegasus name, Feather Duster.”
“No, no princess, Feather Duster is definitely an earth pony. I checked the girl’s birth records. He says that he saw her flying near a cliff while using his hot air ballon. According to him, she floated there for about ten minutes before she flew away, Another report from Manehatten points at a pegasus named Motor Pipe who melted a bike she was working on. In Ponyville, a young filly was seen standing on water. The list goes on princess. There are about ten more claims and reports about ponies with peculiar abilities.” The guard began to sweat bullets as he continued to read the different reports. “Something is happening to these ponies.”
Celestia took another sip of tea. She no longer wore her smile. It had changed to somewhat flat expression. “There wouldn’t be this many reports at once if they were all simple mistakes. Anything particularly scary in those reports, Knightly?” She magically poured him a cup of warm tea. Knightly took the tea with his own field of levitation and took long, loud slurps till the cup had emptied. She poured him another.
He took a slower sip this time and paused. He rearranged the stack of papers and took a second calming sip. “No reports, but we believe one may be connected to Miss Spitfire. You see, her house caught on fire four days ago. Soarin’ and Rapidfire were with her at the time of the fire. Both of them are still in the hospital with burns covering most of their bodies, but Miss Spitfire is completely unharmed. No signs of injury at all.”
“That sounds rather lucky for her.” Celestia took sip, when she lowered the cup she was wearing her smile of mystery again. “Knightly, I want you to organize several groups of psychiatrists and doctors. Issue each group to every town and city. I’ll read over the reports myself. There will be a list of what they need to check for tomorrow. They’ll have to examine every single pony.” She levitated the the papers away from Knightly. The guard pony left with his orders for the day and closed the wooden doors behind him. Celestia put on a pair of reading glasses. She quickly shuffled through each paper just glancing through the words. “Please don’t let Twilight and her friends be any part of this.” She mumbled to herself over and over. “Oh darn.” Her eyes locked on Ponyville report number three.
Mayor Mare
This is a report taken directly from our town’s finest educator, Cheerilee. “My students were playing in the playground as usual today. I watched the boys fool around near the trees as they always do. Snails and Snips found some rocks and decided to play with them. I didn’t pay them much mind; scrapes and bruises from rocks and sticks are normal for kids their age. The parents are far too overprotective. So instead, I directed my attention to poor Apple Bloom. She was getting teased again. I was prepared to stop the children when a rock shot straight into her flank. String Shot, our little class marksman, had taken Snips and Snail’s rocksand used them as ammo for his slingshot. He’s suspended of course. We can’t really expel him with nowhere else to go. Anyway, I took Apple Bloom away before any pony could see her wound. It had gone a lot deeper into her body than I imagined. I was trying to figure out what to do when the stick had suddenly just started pushing itself out. Then I watched the hole in her flank just repair itself . It was sort of like watching her deteriorate in reverse. I’m really not sure what to do.” We have decided to keep this incident a secret for now, until I can get a response from the castle.
Apple Bloom
Ponyville
May 17th 9:14
“Hello there, little Apple Bloom. You’re the first pony we get to check out today. Doesn’t that make you feel special?” Apple Bloom sat restlessly on a red exam table. An iris coated unicorn mare with curly locked mane levitated a clipboard and quill. This wasn’t her usual pediatrician. Despite the cheery, colorful paintings that decorated the room, it was still a hospital and it was still scary.
“N-now, why is the princess makin’ us all get check ups today? And why can’t Applejack be here with me; she’s always here when I get my check ups.” Apple Bloom clung to her seat as hard as a pony could with hooves. Applejack was waiting right outside, but that did little to ease any of her worry.
“It’s just part of a new free health-care plan for Equestria. We’re giving annual physical and mental check ups to every pony for free. I’m Dr. Rosemary. Dr. Inkblot will be here in a bit. He’s a psychiatrist, just in case there's anything to work out.” She glanced over her clipboard, mumbling while making occasional glances at her patient. “You look fine for young girl your age, but most have their cutie mark by now.”
“I know. I’ve been tryin’ to get that thing to appear for about a year now.” The little farm-girl gave her flank an aggravated stare. “Darn thing just won’t show up, even got cutiepox once just tryin’ to get it!”
“Sounds like you go through an awful lot to get that mark. A lot of kids harm themselves in a lot of crazy ways trying to get their marks, but getting cutiepox takes the cake.” Rosemary readied her quill. “So, do you get hurt very often in these attempts?”
“Well yeah me and my friends get hurt all the time ... and covered in sap.” Apple Bloom blushed a bit as she licked a small speck of sap off her leg. “We’re out of school all the time for gettin’ better so it’s not that bad. There’s nothin’ wrong with me right now though. Last time I got hurt crusadin’ was last month. Broke my left fore hoof.” She flailed the hoof a bit. “Yep, fine.”
“Nothing too out of the usual. Most kids break a leg at least once.” Rosemary had started looking through the cabinets. “I’m real sorry, I just don’t know where everything is in this hospital. I need to find the needles.” Apple Bloom’s eyes dilated then darted to the door. She could make a run for it; if she was lucky she’d be able to outrun Appplejack and never have to take a needle. Then the door opened. “Oh, Dr. Inkblot, you’re here. We’re checking up on little Apple Bloom here first.” The doctor was a white earth pony with a cutie mark that reflected his name. He wore a labcoat and had a slightly cracked pair of glasses.
“Apple Bloom?” Inkblot produced a document from his coat. He examined it for just a second and then looked back towards Apple Bloom. “We already know about her.” He kicked the door behind him shut. “This one regenerates if the reports are to be believed. She heals to put it simply. Based on the report, any wound and presumably any form of injury or sickness will repair itself immediately.”
Rosemary tapped her hoof to her chin “Hmm, I’d assume some sort of accelerated cell reproduction. Of course it’s not like I have anything to examine.” She shrugged with a light chuckle.
A grin crept across Inkblot’s face. “Oh don’t worry about that. We’ve generously been given permission to take samples and tests when necessary. Part of our job is to help figure out how these work.”
“Umm,” the filly gulped and shook in her seat. Nervous sweat started rolling down her face. “What are y’all two talkin’ about and what y’all need a sample for?”
Inkblot passed Rosemary the document. Apple Bloom kept careful watch on the psychiatrist as he shuffled through the cabinets and drawers. “Apple Bloom, do you remember getting shot with a rock during school?” The filly nodded, “And the rock pierced your flank correct?” Apple Bloom nodded again, but more slowly. Her suspicious eyes were watching the other doctor who seemed be pulling out some awfully sharp objects. “Well according to this paper your body expelled the stick and completely repaired the wound.”
“I don’t know how I did it; it just happened,” Apple Bloom blurted. She looked back at her flank. “It felt all weird like worms were crawlin’ around in me till they fixed everything. Is there something wrong with that? Is something wrong with me?”
“No, no, no.” Rosemary extended her warm open hooves towards Apple Bloom. The filly trembled and inched back against the wall. Rosemary’s forelegs wrapped around the little girl’s shaking body. “There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re a fine healthy girl. You’ve just been blessed with a little gift.” Her soft voice was like hug that relaxed Apple Bloom’s body “Not everypony can just heal from something. You’re a very lucky pony to be gifted with something so wonderful.”
“It’s ... a gift? Then who sent it to me? I couldn't always do that. I just told ya how many times I have to stay home to recover from crusadin’. Why can I do this now?”
Dr.Rosemary placed a sympathetic hoof on Apple Bloom’s shoulder. “We don’t know. But don’t get worried okay. We just want a little sample of your blood. It might help us understand something. I’ll get a needle. You’re not afraid of needles, right?”
Apple Bloom looked down at her hoof that clenched to the seat for dear life. “No. I’m a big girl! What should I be afraid of a stupid ol’ needle for? It can’t hurt me anyway.”
“All we need is that you try your best to keep your gift a secret. Ponies have a tendency to panic.” Rosemary turned back to her partner. The snow coated psychiatrist held a lustrous scalpel in his mouth. “What are you doing with that? I need a needle, Dr. Inkblot.”
Dr. Inkblot spat the scalpel onto the counter before clearing his throat. “ If you bothered at all to read our briefing papers you would know that we have to test the ones we know about. Which means we have to examine her healing ability. What it looks like, how long it takes. Details such as that.” A smug, smarmy grin covered his face. He suggestively pushed the scalpel in Rosemary’s direction. “Now I’m a psychiatrist, so I’m not exactly qualified for this.”
“Qualified for what!?” Apple Bloom jumped in her seat, “What’s he got? You’re just usin’ a needle right!”
Rosemary’s horn glowed faintly as she turned back towards Apple Bloom. “Dear, I’m afraid there’s been a slight change in plans. I think this will probably be a bit easier if you close your eyes.”
The filly started scooting back towards the wall again. Her eyes darting between the two “What are you levitatin’? I thought I saw something metal. You just needed a bit of blood, didn’t you?”
“Please just close your eyes while I do this and it will be a lot easier. I promise it will be short, just like the needle. It’s only going to sting a little bit.” Rosemary took hold of Apple Bloom’s foreleg. The filly’s eyes widened as she saw a glint of light reflect off the scalpel. “Bear with me. I have to do this. If you’ll be a big girl and try to stay calm, I’ll give you four lollipops, ‘kay?”
Apple Bloom immediately cringed and snapped her eyes shut after getting another glimpse of metal. “Just make it quick!” Her eyelids twitched as she began to whimper and shake. She visualised the sharp, menacing blade floating closer and closer to her leg. A quick, icy sting pierced through her leg and left just as swiftly. She yanked her arm back to her chest. Her eyes cracked open; the cut was tiny like an average scratch. Apple Bloom’s heart pounded as both doctors stared at her new wound. Not a single drop of blood came. The skin pulled itself back together sewing together a rip in fabric. “It just like that last time.”
Both doctors continued to stare blankly. “Insane. . .”
“If that’s all y’all wanted can I go now?” Apple Bloom moved her other hoof over where the cut used to be. “I really just want to go back home.”
Dr. Rosemary snapped out of her shock induced trance. “Oh! Sure, just after we get a few simple samples of blood, urine. That stuff. You’ll be out of here real soon. Inkblot get me a needle.”
Gilda Auld
Munfinch, Knossopia
9:40 PM Knossan time
“Man, check out what Gilda’s doing! It’s sick! Really freakin’ sick!” A call was shouted in Knossan language from the basement of house in the east side of Munfinch commercial district. “Really, you gotta come down here. You will never believe this.”
The gryphon upstairs tossed her book aside. “Shut up, Orich! I’m on my way. It better be worth it I’m going to tear you a new one.” She wore black eyeshadow and had her forelegs covered in dark, metal studded bands. The basement was a thrashed mess of clothes, food, and things all over the floor. Orich and Gilda sat on a couch in front of a coffee table. One grimey glass cup sat alone on the table.
“Great you finally came down, just sit there by the wall and watch this!” Orich kept hs talons wrapped around each other, shaking with anticipation. The dark gray feathers on his head were ruffled from his own excitement, and a spiked collar hung loosely off his neck.
“Fine Gilda, what are you doing that I just have to see?”
“Okay, okay, Sterling check this.” Gilda extended her open talon toward the cup. She turned turned her wrist as her eyes concentrated on it.
“Gilda, what in the world are you doing?”
“Just watch, darn it! I can do this.” Gilda twisted her wrist just a bit more. The glass trembled, tapping loudly on the tabletop. Trembling turned to fierce shaking. The glass inched towards her hand in jittered spastic twitches. She yanked back on her wrist. The cup flew into her talon as if it was tethered by a cord.
“Gilda...,” Sterling’s talons covered her face aside from her eyes.
Orich leapt from his seat. “Sterling, it’s amazing she just lifts things!”
“Orich shut up! Your pranks aren’t funny.” Sterling snapped, pointing a demanding, “What sort of crap did you just pull? Do you have one of those invisible wire things? I don’t have time for pranks when I have to study!”
“No, Sterling it’s for real!” Gilda stared at her talons in wonder, “I’ve started doing this like three days ago. I think, I think I have super powers! I mean just ... check this!” She whipped her arm towards a busted clock before pulling it back. The clock shook, before busting on the floor. “See, theres no way I could set that up.I have some sort of radical ability.”
“Sterling, come on she’s moving stuff with her freaking mind. It’s incredible!”
“No, no! It’s not incredible,” Sterling shouted. Orich softly descended back into his seat. “It’s not normal and you need to stop before anyone finds out.”
Gilda cracked a laugh, “Come on don’t be dweeb about it. If I can think of something to do with this, the three of use could be unstoppable.”
“Exactly, if other gryphons learn you can do this they will be afraid.” Sterling latched her talons on to Gilda shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes “What do people do when something scares them Gilda?” She closed her eyes. Her tone shifted to a stern, quiet voice. “They kill it. They capture it. They do anything they can to it to make them feel safe. The three of us need to keep this secret. I don’t want to see you do that again”.
Orich flapped over towards Sterling and placed a claw and her shoulder. “Come on, you’re overreacting. No one is going to kill her.”
“I’m not overreacting, you two are underreacting!” Sterling took her talons off Gilda before retreating towards the stairs. “Just, try not to get yourselves in trouble. I’m gonna fly home and just think. I don’t know.” The basement door slammed behind her.
Orich stared at the door before turning to face Gilda. “Do you really think people would try to kill you? I mean, it’s just telekinesis. Don’t those wimpy pony types do that?”
“Unicorns, unicorns do it.” Gilda stared blankly at her talons. “But those guys use magic with their horns. They always have this weird glow when they do anything. When I do it, it just happens. Orich.”
“Yeah?”
“I think you should go home while I practice.” Gilda sunk into the ragged couch. “And don’t tell anyone, got it? Sterling is right for a nerd. I’m going to have to think about this before I screw up.”
Spitfire
Wonderbolt Mansion, Upper Canterlot
3:45 PM
Spitfire’s room was decorated in serene pictures of fire. The walls were painted in warm shades and the furniture all had an earthy natural colour. Spitfire lay on her bed, her hooves reaching towards the sky. A detailed mural of the sun in lunar eclipse covered the ceiling. Fire engulfed her fore legs and then dissipated. Ignite ,extinguish. Ignite, extinguish. She stared at her legs, repeating the process over and over. Knock, knock, knock.
“Hey, Spitfire,” Soarin’s voice called softly from the other side of the door. “I’m not angry. Just let me in, please.”
Spitfire refrained from looking at the door. She sighed, closing her eyes. “It’s not locked.” Soarin’ slid the door open as little as he needed to inorder to get inside. His left side was covered in bandages. Patches of blue fur were darkened to indigo, especially around the hooves. He nudged the door shut with his tail and slunk over to the bedside.
“What are you doing here, just burning yourself?” He smiled. “You still have practice to do.”
“I am practicing,” Spitfire said as her for legs blazed. “I’m reminding myself I’m in control of this. Sixteen years. Since I was I kid I could handle this. The last time I lost control of it I was eight. Why the heck am I suddenly having emotional wildfires now?!” She slammed her hooves against the sheets, extinguishing them. “I’m more mature than that. I gained control over my emotions because of that.”
Soarin’s hooves wrapped Spitfire’s as he leaned over the bed. “You had an accident. Don’t get upset about it. I’ve stuck with you since you first sparked up the school in first grade. Your brother and I have stuck with you and kept it a secret all this time. We could never be mad at anything you do on accident. I even made sure everypony thinks I did it.”
“You did what?”
“Well, when your house lights up the media sort of jumps on it. I just told everypony that I’m a really bad cook. And that I should never be let in the kitchen if they want to keep their house.” He snickered a bit before letting go of Spitfire’s hooves. “So yeah, no harm done. We’re healing just fine.”
“Thanks, but I think I’m still going to work with my flames for a bit.” Spitfire breathed a ring of flame from her mouth that quickly faded away. “I’m not too sure, but I think my fire got stronger. I want to know why, but first I have to remaster it. I can’t let myself get angry and lose control again.”
“Well, it’s nice to see you’re determined, but remember to get to practice. I’m gonna rest, okay? They said my burns should be healed in three days if I stay still enough.” Soarin’ nuzzled his snout in Spitfire’s cheek. The stallion stopped himself halfway as he passed through the doorway. “Hey, Rapid says that he’s sorry for what he said about Mrs. Sparkle. See ya.” His tail lightly shut the door behind him on his way out.
“Dude, how is she?” Fleetfoot sat on the living room couch with a bowl of icecream. The blue coated mare wore a yellow shirt, and kept her white, windswept mane tied with a pair of goggles. “I’ve only seen her come out her room to eat, and all she did was mumble to herself. She’s gonna get fat.”
“Says, Miss Ice-Cream-Belly. You need to be heading to practice just like her.”
“I have a high metabolism Mister Eats-Pie-Off-The-Floor. Plus, there’s no training today. Everypony else is at some sort of city wide health checkups. I got out early. Spitfire was supposed to go too but whatever.” She shoved a spoonful into her mouth. “Now answer my question. How is she?”
“She’s better. I think we all just need to leave her alone for a while. She’s busy doing some thinking. She had a little falling out with Rapid and she’s feeling bad about it now that he’s injured. Tomorrow should be better.”
Fleetfoot put down her spoon. “What in the world did they argue about? Spitfire’s pretty much an emotional rock. Like, perpetual chillness.”
Soarin’ jumped into the long sofa back first next to Fleetfoot. “Just some personal stuff, sort of goes back too when the three of us were kids. You wouldn’t really understand unless I told you the whole story. It’s a pretty long story.”
“Then tell me.” Fleet dropped a spec of ice cream on the stallion’s nose. “I’m pretty much gonna be down here all day, eating out the snacks.”
“Sorry, can’t tell you. Too personal. I’m sure Spitfire will tell the rest of you one day, but until she and Rapid agree to tell, my lips are sealed.”
The Elements of Harmony
Library, Ponyville
9PM
Twilight and the others sat on pillows that corresponded to their colours. The library wasn’t as neat as it usually was. Books lay crooked, some chartres were not organized in perfect alphatbetical order, and the shelves weren’t dusted.
“This place is really horrible tonight,” Twilight said, grimacing at the shelves. “Spike and I were at the hospital all day. Can you believe Spike was last on the list of patients? I read at least every magazine there about hundred times.” She was met with the collective stares of her friends except Rarity.
Applejack said, “Twilight, that library has hundreds of magazines dating back to Nine twenty three. How in the hay did you read all that a hundred times.”
“I read fast.” She grinned. The girls snickered, except for Rarity.
“What was up with those check ups anyway? I had a lot of parties planned today. I had a jam to organize and rave to bust moves at.” Pinkie revealed a ring of multi-coloured glow bracelets. “What am I supposed to do with these now? Just light ‘em up for no reason? Actually that sounds fun!” Crack, crack, crack. “Everypony take one!” Pinkie tossed each of her friends a shining glow bracelets. Applejack caught hers with her mouth, Twilight with magic, Rainbow and Fluttershy with their wings.
“Ouch.” A blue glow bracelet thumped against Rarity’s head. “What was that for? You should warn somepony before you throw stuff Pinkie.”
“Well maybe if you weren't so out of it, Rarity, you’d able to see it instead.” Rainbow taunted, taping her green stick against Rarity’s horn. “What’s with you anyway, you’ve been zoning out since we were in the waiting room.”
“Oh, have I really been distracted that long? I’m just looking at the dust.” Rarity’s eyes darted across the room. “There’s just so many of the little specs floating around it’s distracting.”
“Rarity, how in the hay can you see the dust? All the lights are on; I can’t see a darn single one.” Applejack said.
“I guess I just have superior eyesight darling.” Rarity boasted. Her eyes focused on Applejacks hat for a moment. “ Also you should wash your hat, there’s dirt in the fabric just about everywhere ... and your hair too.”
Applejack tilted her hat in attempt to hide her mane. “Let’s change the subject before you decide to get distracted with anything else tiny,” she grumbled. “Did anypony else find those check ups a mite bit queer?”
Fluttershy tapped her hoof at the floor. “Well, Dr. Cross Stitch did ask a lot more questions than usual. Like, if I’ve been feeling any unusual sensations, pain, or if anything different has happened.”
“Yeah, mine asked if I’ve done anything ‘magical’ recently. Do I look like I’ve got a horn up here?” Rainbow said tapping her forehead. “ He also said something about any ‘supernatural behavior’. Seriously, weirdest checkup ever.”
“Girls, please,” snapped Twilight, “You shouldn’t complain about a new free healthcare program. The castle has just given us free check ups, dental, and even some free treatment. I even wrote it one of my reports before: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Well shoot. We ain’t complaining Twi. That’s a lot out of Granny’s expenses. All I’m saying is that that check up was downright strange. Never before have I been asked for a blood sample, hair sample, hoof sample, spit sample, and urine samples in one visit!”
Pinkie chuckled. “They never got to all of that with me. They asked me the first question and then they kicked me out after I talked long enough. Score: one point Pinkie Pie, zero points doctors.”
“Hmm,” Fluttershy looked at the spot on her hoof where the needle pricked her. “I’m still pretty scared of needles to be honest. I wonder what they’re going to do with that many samples though.”
Some road outside of Ponyville
10PM
“Why are we pulling these things all the way to Canterlot? Don’t we have trains for this sort of stuff? When I was assigned to protect this transport, I didn’t think this is what I’d be doing.” Two royal guards pulled a carriage full of vials and test tubes up a the steep Altai mountain that Canterlot rested on. The night left them with no visibility. The only light came from the unicorn guard’s horn.
The unicorn groaned. “Because the princess wants these delivered discreetly and securely. We aren't supposed to draw any attention to ourselves. It just has to look like a normal cake delivery. Everypony knows how much she likes cake. Hey, do you hear something?” They stopped in their tracks. The night was silent, except for the distinct sound of hoof steps. “Sounds like he’s coming towards us. Probably a bandit, get ready.”
A green unicorn with a black fedora walked into the guard’s light. His blue eyes glimmered in the and a shiny grin crept across his face. “Oh, I am so sorry to interrupt you gentlemen. I’m just on my way to make a little business trip.”
“Alone on the roads at this time of night? Very likely. Step aside, we have freedom to take down any bandits we see.” The unicorn flashed a bit of his sword from its sheath. “So I’d suggest you follow orders.”
“No can do, sir. You see, my business trip is to meet up with you guys.” The fedora wearing unicorn’s grin grew into a full smile. Rocks began to tremble at their feet, accompanied by an intense roaring rumble.
“What is this?!” The two guards fully drew their swords. “What are you doing.”
“It’s a business trip. I’m a geologist.”