"Is she gonna be alright?" was the first thing I heard when I woke.
"Don't worry kid, whatever happened, it isn't your fault." Blade said as I sat up.
"Hi miss! Sorry I made you faint. . . " said the little orange pegasus from earlier. Now that I looked at her, I noticed that her mane was a dark red of some sort, maroon, I think. Then I studied her eyes, they were the same color as Swift's eyes, a beautiful green.
"Please sweetie, call me Aurora." I told her, "And your name is?"
"Sempra." The pegasus answered, "Again, I'm sorry about startling you."
"It's fine Sempra." I assured her. "Blade, where is everypony else?"
"They are in a hotel nearby. These Saddle Arabians are rather friendly." Blade replied.
I hopped off the bed. "Good, tell them I'm going to speak to the leaders here."
"Can do." Blade said.
I looked at Sempra, who had her eyes fixated on Blade's metal hoof. "Sempra, do you know your way around here?"
"I sure do!" Sempra chirped.
"Do you think you could guide me to the palace?" I asked her.
"Oh, no problem." Sempra chuckled, "But I need to stop at my place first, it's on the way."
"All right, lead the way."
We had weaved through so many buildings that I would have been lost if I wasn't following Sempra. Her knowledge of the streets was impressive.
Soon Sempra slowed down, and turned to face me. "Stay here, I'll be right back."
With that, Sempra ran up a flight of stairs that seemed abandoned. I waited a minute before following her.
When I reached the top of the stairs I looked into her house. . . and I couldn't believe what I saw.
She had several rags in a pile, most likely her bed. There was nopony up here besides us. Sempra glanced around before making a chittering sound with her voice. A few seconds later a monkey dropped onto her shoulder.
"Hey Lorene." Sempra chuckled as the monkey started to look for something. "I have it right here." She said while pulling an apple out from under her wing. "I met some nice people. I'm taking one of them to the palace." She then looked down at her hooves. "Too bad I can't go in."
I decided then to back out of her hovel. As I waited for her to return, I made a plan. I would ask the King to take Sempra with me. Even if she wasn't who I was looking for.
Soon enough Sempra returned, "Ready?"
"Yep." I said with a smile.
And we were off again.
As we traveled, Sempra asked questions about where I came from.
"Is it dry like here? Or wet?" Sempra asked.
"Oh. . dry some months and wet on others." I answered.
"And is there trees and mountains?!"
"A lot of them." I replied.
"And are the Princesses really alicorns?" Sempra wondered.
"Yes, they are really alicorns." I agreed, watching the curious pegasus bounce around.
"I would like to see those lands. . . but I need money for that. . . . and I'm still too young for most places to hire. . . I'll never leave this sand bowl." Sempra sighed.
I couldn't help but smile as I planned to ask the King about that.
"Aurora! We're almost there!"
The palace was rather grand. Several towers sprouted upwards and a large wall surrounded the place.
A couple of the guards stood in front of the main gate. "Halt!" They barked.
We stopped.
"Name yourselves and your purpose for being here." One of the guards instructed.
"My name is Aurora Sky, I've come to discuss the upcoming war as the representative of Equestria." I stated in a loud, clear voice.
"I-I am Sempra, I just led her here." Sempra stated.
"Oh, it's another street rat. Leave, only guests with permission may enter." The guard said.
"I knew that, I just wanted to say good bye." Sempra huffed. "I'll see you before you leave." She told me, but she found a hoof on her shoulder before she could take off.
"What say I take her with me? Have her as a friend?" I asked the guards, praying for any bit of kindness from them.
"Fine, but if she misbehaves, it's on you." The guard said at last.
Sempra beamed at me, "Thank you."
I smiled back as the gate opened, and a pony that was about Slate's size approached us. He wore a ceremonial piece that was green with patterns, he also had a goatee. His coat was merely a few shades darker then Sempra's and his mane was brown.
"Welcome guests, to my kingdom." He announced in a deep voice, "I am King Omar, and I've been wondering when you'd get to me.
The King brought us to a dining hall where we waited for the rest of the group. When the others arrived Omar had his servants feed us, (even Sempra). He told us about the wars he's seen, and what he thinks will come of the current one.
"So for now I plan to stay out of this one." He finished.
"What?!" I exclaimed while Second spit her juice on Blade's face.
"I'm sorry Aurora, but unless this war threatened my people, I can not interfere." Omar sighed, "With a threat from Zebrica, I cannot spare the troops or supplies."
"The Zebras are threatening you?" Second asked.
Omar shook his head, "No, I haven't heard from them. This threat is a different one." Omar explained.
"Different how?" Slate wondered.
"The threats came from. . . dogs. . . I don't understand why they are amassing in the desert, but they are searching for something. They seem to leave us alone, but they are planning on invading." Omar told us.
"Did they tell you their demands?" Star Swirl inclined.
"Just that we do not pry into their business." Omar replied.
"I see. . . " Blade murmured. "Tell me, what was there position the last time you checked?"
"They were some miles outside of the border, why?" Omar asked.
"Sir!" A guard hollered, running inside the dining room, "The dogs have invaded, they are being led by a dark Alicorn!"
"That's why." Slate said before hopping to his hooves.
"To arms!" Shouted Omar.
"Aurora, what do I do?" Sempra asked me.
I turned to her and looked her in the eye, "You stick next to me, and don't lose sight of me, okay?"
Sempra nodded as the first explosion was heard.