Twilight knew she still had to convince the others. Like before, it wasn’t enough that they blindly follow her somewhere they weren’t sure of.
She was fairly confident that they would be fine once she explained her reasoning – and it was certainly right that she do so, as she was asking them to come with her to a dangerous place.
She’d perhaps been hasty in assuming their support back in their meeting with Gryan, but she’d only been so sure because she’d also had no doubt that they could only succeed by all going together.
I need them. And I know they’ll understand that once I explain.
The six found a group of benches near the edge of town to sit quietly and undisturbed - they couldn’t allow the conversation. They were barely more than carved logs set on the group, but they were fit enough for purpose.
As different as the setup was, it still reminded the mage of their talk back in Stormwind in Trias’s house, where they had agreed with her suggestion to take to the field in the first place.
Had that really only been five days ago? It feels like so much more…
When they were all sitting down as comfortably as they could manage, she began. “Remember what we all learned back home. About friendship, trust, and our elements. I don’t think we’ve lost our elements just because we were pulled away from where we found them, and I don’t think we’ve forgotten our lessons, either.
“Okay, so this world is different from home. It’s so far removed from Equestria... It seems so violent, so cruel. But when you really think about it, just because the danger is a little different, is it really any worse?
“The rest of Azeroth might be. Those books told some terrible stories, nightmares that I hope we don’t have to face. But right here, can the Defias Brotherhood really be any worse than Sombra? Any harder to redeem than Discord? Were the bad guys we faced in Equestria any better just because they were aiming dark magic at us or turning the floor into chocolate instead of trying to kill us with swords?”
“Mmm… chocolate.” Pinkie salivated. Twilight pressed on, grinning a little despite herself.
“I didn’t find much studying portals at the tower or in the Stormwind library, so I’d like to experiment in this field a little. The Defias aren’t a magical or supernatural evil – they’re a group with a grievance that we might be able to sort out. If we can bring the light of friendship to this world, maybe it’ll grant us a way home, or maybe it’ll raise our profile enough so that we can find someone who can.
“And besides, the people here have been suffering because of the Defias – and maybe because of Stormwind too. I think we’re in a position where we can help them. Here to begin with – and then later when we’re up north again. And if we can, I think we should.
“So… what do you say?” she finished, looking imploringly at her friends.
Applejack and Rainbow shared a glance, then nodded at the same time. “Count us in, hon.”
“Yeah. Better we be up and about and doing something rather than just sitting around.”
She was thankful for their immediate support, especially as Rainbow had been the most reluctant to do anything but mope barely a week before. The two seemed to be bonding more than they already had back home, as evidenced by their early morning chat; perhaps due to the skills they had picked up being fairly martial in nature, or perhaps because of how bad they both felt about having taken lives. Either way, it was good that they had each other to lean on so closely.
She’d known from their prior conversation that she had nothing to worry about when it came to Rarity’s support, but still felt a little relieved when the fashionista added, “Of course, darling. You need only say the word.”
“Pinkie?”
“Well…” Pinkie said hesitantly, a look that Twilight couldn’t characterise spread firmly across her face, and for a moment the mage was worried that she would say no. Then… “Just kidding!” She winked and giggled, her spell broken. “Like you need to ask, of course I’m in!”
Twilight sighed, relieved. Which just leaves…
“W-we’re really doing this, then?” They all turned to the sixth member of the party, her downcast features hidden in shadow as she suddenly took a great interest in Wilder’s belly. Fluttershy had a natural tendency to fade into the background of any conversation – they tried to keep her involved as much they could, but sometimes the stronger personalities in the group drowned her out without even realising it.
But she’d learned not to go along with the crowd before, not to let those strong personalities browbeat her into something that she really didn’t want to go. She’d learned to be quietly assertive, not a doormat but not rude either. And even when she wasn’t being assertive the others knew well how to read her body language when she was reluctant to do something.
Especially as she’s got someone to look after here, now. Twilight realised, eying the wolf carefully as he reacted happily to the attention.
“Fluttershy, we don’t want to make you do something that you don’t want to do. And we won’t abandon you here. If you really don’t want us to do this, we’ll find another way to progress.”
Fluttershy said nothing for a few moments, thinking hard.
“No… you’re right.” She shook her head. “We can’t let these people down… even if the thought of going there scares me, I never allowed it to stop us before when we were back home. Like you said, we even managed to redeem Discord. I won’t let you all down now. But…
“I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to any of you, or Wilder, you know? He’s the same as Angel, and all my other animal friends. The kind of bond, I don’t know, I just can’t imagine how I would feel… hehe...” She giggled softly as he licked her face, his tongue wagging, but her laughter faded as she returned to wearing a serious, even pensive expression.
Pinkie leapt up. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy! Your auntie Pinkie Pie won’t let anything happen to you!” She punctuated her statement by wrapping the girl in a huge hug, drowning out Fluttershy’s annoyed response of I told you… I’m a year older than you.
“All right. We’ll gather our stuff and extra supplies and head southwest as soon as we can.” Twilight said, but resolved to keep a watchful eye over her friend as she noted how the girl's expression remained grim.
…another one. Rarity’s secrecy, Applejack and Rainbow’s feelings of loss and maybe shame, too, and now Fluttershy’s fears and insecurities coming to the forefront once more… It was her responsibility as quasi-or-not leader to keep them safe and healthy, both mentally and physically. Her chat with the warrior and the paladin the night before had reassured her, true, but she couldn’t help but wonder whether or not she would be able to really help solve their problems or only end up doing the equivalent of slapping a band-aid over a gaping wound.
The only one she hadn’t had to worry about so far was Pinkie – but most of the time it was impossible to know, save for the smallest of signs, exactly what was going on in her head. Still, she seemed to have coped the best overall with their changing circumstances...
Fluttershy’s was a problem they couldn’t exactly resolve without confronting the danger that had caused her to feel so concerned in the first place… or by running from it, but that wouldn’t help them get home at all. Surely it was worth a little risk?
Hmm… a little risk?
Her eyes lingered on the pink-haired woman as she bounced away to the inn.
I’ll have a word with Pinkie. Maybe she can help Fluttershy.
Anyway… She turned her watch over to the southwest where the town lay, concealed by the horizon. Moonbrook awaits.
They set off soon after with the morning breeze at their backs and the sun dipping low behind the clouds. It was still two hours until noon; Gryan had assured Twilight that their journey would not take them into the evening.
“Moonbrook is much closer to Sentinel Hill than the northern border is, and on a much more direct path. It should you take a few hours to get there, at a good speed; you’ll still have the sun to guide you, light willing.”
She was banking on that – it would be far too dangerous to search the town at night. They would make a good effort of it but head back at nightfall if nothing could be found – they could always come back earlier the next day.
Most of Westfall’s farms were further to the north, so they faced no trouble with the menacing harvest golems on their way. As a result, however, they ended up running into some of the wildlife that called the area home.
Coyotes, boars and big scavenger birds roamed the plains, hunting for scraps, wild plants and whatever else they could get to eat. The boars kept away, while the coyotes refused to go anywhere near a group of seven led in their eyes by a vicious wolf much larger than they.
Some of the buzzards they passed followed them idly for a little while, as if hopeful that they might be in for the meal of a year, but all eventually gave up and wheeled away, disappointed.
They took a break for lunch after an hour and a half, setting out a mat in a safe-looking location and feasting on the supplies from the quartermaster at the hill. Not planning on sleeping out, they’d stowed their camping gear at the inn but still had enough on them to form a windbreak. That was one of the problems with the prairie – aside from where the hills broke up the terrain, the gusts could be a huge hindrance to an impromptu picnic.
Renewed, they continued their march towards the town, now unobstructed and visible in the distance, but still roughly an hour away. Walking wasn’t something that they’d ever had much trouble with, but after a few days of it, even with their boots broken in, even freshly unencumbered and with a full night’s sleep behind them, it was still quite difficult to move over the terrain, especially for the less active of the group.
They didn’t stay too tightly packed together – the poor quality of the half-there roads, stony paths and bumpy hard soil made it easier for them to cover the distance spread apart, double file. Rainbow and Applejack fell in together at the front, with Twilight and Rarity in the middle and Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie bringing up the rear.
Fluttershy fiddled awkwardly with her crossbow across her back. She had it strapped up - unloaded for safety, with the bolts stored away in her bag - and it was proving to be an annoyance on the rough ground. She still hoped that she would never have to use it - but felt that she would be doing her friends a disservice if she'd left it behind.
She had donned the set of armour that the dwarves had given her for the first time too, and was regretting having not gotten used to it earlier. It was heavy, awkward and chafed compared to the more comfortable leather tops and chaps she had been wearing all the way from Stormwind and still wore as a base layer – but the two combined to only add to her discomfort.
She envied Pinkie a little; the priest was on her last set of clean robes but they looked incredibly lightweight. Even the staff she carried was at least made of wood, without any metal parts… though she suspected that Pinkie would have no problem carrying it either.
The woman at her side kept up a running monologue on topics ranging from their surroundings, the weather, and generally anything else that crossed her mind.
Fluttershy chewed her bottom lip as she half-listened. Something kept nagging away at her. Something she’d been wanting to ask Pinkie about it for a while, but just hadn’t found the chance, or perhaps the courage.
Eventually, with the relative privacy enforced by the terrain and the serenity of the plains also standing behind her thoughts, she found that she couldn’t stand it any longer.
“Um, Pinkie…” she started awkwardly in a small voice as the pinkette paused for breath.
“What up, Fluttercup?”
“...Are you… okay? About Gummy?”
Pinkie cocked her head. “What d’ya mean?”
“It's just... I know Applejack’s worried about Winona, Rarity kept looking down and expecting to see Opalescence when we were in Stormwind, Rainbow spent an afternoon panicking because she couldn’t remember whether she fed Tank, and Twilight mentioned not being sure about whether Owlicious would stay with Spike or just go off on his own... You've not mentioned him once. Aren’t you worried about Gummy?” she burst out at last with uncharacteristic forthrightness.
“Nope!” Pinkie answered at once, fidgeting with her staff as she walked, letting it slide along the curve of one arm before catching it as it approached the side of her head. “I miss him, but I’m not worried. Might be if it were anyone else. But Gummy’s a capable gator. And he’s got the Cakes, too!”
“I suppose.” Fluttershy frowned, then a thought came to her. “Oh… I’m sorry, Pinkie. You must miss the Cakes as well.”
“Yeah. My family, too. Ma, Pa, Maud, Limestone, Marble…” she trailed off, then shook her head. “Being upset isn’t going to help me to see them again. It can’t help anything. But I can remember them, treasure those happy memories, and live for them, and just hope we’ll see each other again someday. That’s just how I think, anyway.” She gave the other girl one of her shining smiles, a radiance that she seemed to exude bodily as well as in spirit.
“You’re right, Pinkie. Thanks, I… understand, now. Sorry for judging you…”
“Aww, I’m sorry too.” The party-lover pulled her close, an arm around her shoulder, the other clutching her staff to her side. “I didn’t mean to patronise you earlier.” She’d clearly taken notice of her friend’s earlier discomfort – she certainly could be oblivious, but she wasn’t always.
“Besides, if we hadn’t come here, I never would have met all my new friends in this world, never would have become a priest, never would have thrown the best cheese party Stormwind’s ever seen! Those are good, happy things, no matter how far we are from home!”
I suppose I never would have met those nice dwarves in Stormwind, either… or Wilder.
Those big, blue eyes filled with the wideness of curiosity. That boisterous youthfulness, the energy to run circles around her and yet the awareness to sense when she was feeling down and reluctant… Yes, Wilder had the potential to be a wonderful companion. He’d already come a long way since attacking them in the forest, and she was glad to see that the others were getting used to his presence too. Like he was really becoming part of the family.
“I’m not saying the bad stuff doesn’t happen or that you should ignore it, but if you let it be all you think about then you’re just missing out, y’know?”
Pinkie’s right. Not everything has been bad here. I’ve got my friends, old and new.
“I guess.” She gave a small smile, which Pinkie happily pounced upon.
“Just gotta stay positive, right? Ooh, that reminds me!” she suddenly gasped, struck by unknown inspiration. “I need to start planning the party for when we return to Stormwind! D’ya want to help? I could use a hand getting all the ingredients ready, and…”
Fluttershy let Pinkie ramble on with her plans, her gaze slowly switching between her friend, her companion below and the plains ahead.
What the future held could be scary, could be terrifying, but she was in good hands. She just had to trust in them, keep a positive outlook, and everything would be fine. Everything would work out.
“Yes, I think I’d like that.”
They made good time in the end, coming back together as a group once the ground evened out and they found a road again. Even with the lunch break adding half an hour to their journey time they still managed to reach Moonbrook by the early afternoon.
Twilight managed five paces towards the town before Applejack stopped her. “No offense, sugarcube, but you’re gonna want to let me and Rainbow lead.”
“…Why?” Twilight asked, confused. Does it matter who goes first?
“We don’t know what might be waiting for us in that there town, and your fancy robes ain’t gonna do much if some unpleasant type decides to aim their bow at you.” Her friend pointed out kindly.
Twilight winced inwardly at having not considered the practicalities of the situation, the image of an arrow piercing a chest flashing uncomfortably through her mind. She stepped to the side to let the warrior pass first. “I… hadn’t thought of that. Lead the way.”
The first thing they had noticed about Moonbrook, even from quite a way away, was how empty it seemed. Deserted, even.
Now that they were closer, they could clarify that impression slightly. Not just deserted. Abandoned.
It wasn’t particularly large, barely more so than Goldshire in fact. A few buildings here and there, a barn, an inn. All dilapidated and forlorn.
Not a person in sight.
And yet, the most striking thing about the town – what gave the game away, arguably – was the silence.
Their footsteps were the only thing they heard as they did a quick sweep of the town. But that by itself didn’t mean that they were alone – if anything it felt like the opposite.
It was too quiet. Unnaturally so. Not a bird chirping in the rafters or trees, no creaking of rusted door hinges or splintering wood floors.
“Anyone ever get the feeling that you’re being watched?” Rainbow Dash piped up uneasily as they competed the circuit and ended up back where they started, where the pressure, the intensity of a dozen gazes, seemed to lessen somewhat.
“It’s the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, isn’t it?”
“Yeah… same feeling as we’d get back when we were ponies… like on Nightmare Night in one of them haunted houses.”
“Oh, there were definitely people observing us as we walked through.” Rarity off-handedly affirmed. “I kept a careful eye on our surroundings, but I was still unable to spot them. They must be very skilled at avoiding detection.”
“Maybe we can get Pinkie to startle them with her party cannons.” Rainbow suggested dryly.
The party-planner gasped and fell over. “Oh no! I left them all in Stormwind. Should I have brought them?”
“I think we’ll get by, Pinkie.”
Twilight looked into the town again. If she’d had no intelligence about Moonbrook from Gryan, she might have been tempted to give up on it, but the reports sent in were all very clear about it being the centre of something big. And the feeling she had… something was out of place.
Before all those who sent the reports had disappeared anyway. Could that be our fate? Am I leading us all to our doom?
No. There’s nothing we can’t take on together. If we believe that, we can do anything. Including talking down the Defias.
“There’s something very wrong about Moonbrook. We need to conduct a deeper search.” She decided.
“Should we split into two or three groups? It’ll make the search go faster.” Rainbow offered.
Twilight considered the proposal, then shook her head. “No. If we are being watched, I’d wager that’s what they want us to do. We’ll stick together for safety in numbers, and be more thorough in our searches.”
Rainbow nodded, “Right. You’re the boss.”, and the group started down the road back into town.
The mage turned to Fluttershy as they walked. “Do you think Wilder will be able to help us search?”
Fluttershy gave a small shrug. “Um… Maybe. He’s not trained for this sort of thing, and it’s not really one of his natural instincts, but I can probably get him to let us know if he finds anything interesting that we haven’t noticed. He’s very intelligent, you know… but I can’t promise anything.”
“That’s okay, I’m sure we’ll be fine if he does the best he can.”
And so they searched, building by building. Applejack entered each one first with Rainbow at the rear to provide the group the strongest all round protection against an attack. Once inside, they turned over furniture, examined walls and picked over nooks and crannies. Fluttershy led Wilder methodically around each room, the wolf. Occasionally he would become excited about something, dragging his master all over the place after a scent only he could detect, but each time the trail went cold.
Where the outsides had provided no clues, the interiors showed some evidence of past habitation. A food wrapper here, a broken bottle there – the detritus of land recently forsaken. They found little of use in the housing aside from the waste, and so turned their attention to the bigger communal buildings of the settlement.
Nothing remained of value in the inn, which appeared to have been looted of its entire contents to the point that only a few rotting pieces of furniture remained. The same could be said for the barn, which nature had reclaimed the most of all. Weeds cluttered the inside and long ivy creeped up the walls.
Next they came upon a schoolhouse, with desks overturned and papers strewn across the floor, which they pored over for a little while in the hope of discovering something useful. As intriguing a discovery as it was, it ultimately gave them nothing related to the Defias, and the others eventually had to drag Twilight away from the otherwise valuable information so that they could stay on track.
After an hour they had searched every building in Moonbrook – every building, that is, save one. An unassuming shack stood to the southwest, tucked away behind several others that they had already checked, and which they only stumbled upon by chance.
It was immediately clear that something was different about the shack. For one, although it was built from the same materials as everywhere else and appeared to be in a similar state of disrepair, the path inside was noticeably better trod.
Indeed, Wilder burst into a half-frenzied fever of interest, his tongue lolling without a care, and it was all Fluttershy could do pulling on his collar to stop him from charging inside.
Beyond that, it also appeared to have been once part of a larger structure. A casual observer might have missed it, but Rarity’s keen eye alerted her to how the surroundings stood out. What might at first have appeared to be an errant brick or stone in the ground actually turned out to be part of the foundation for something big.
It seemed that the previous building had been downsized fairly recently. Perhaps in the hope that a smaller building would prove less conspicuous to a prying eye…
“The Deadmines… that was the name of their base. If they set themselves up in an actual mine, then presumably it would have had some kind of refinery or storage area for what was pulled out of it. And when the Defias took over, they wouldn’t want to make it too obvious that they were using it without using the mine, so maybe they had this put in its place.” Twilight mused, scooping up a handful of soil and then letting it slip out of her hands again. “This could be it.”
So they gathered and stared through the open door into the small area.
“Isn’t this ‘Defias Brotherhood’ supposed to be made up of like a couple hundred guys?” Pinkie asked. “How could they have such a big party in a space like this?”
“It’s the last place we haven’t checked, even if it is so tiny. Let’s be really thorough, and then we can take a break for some food.” Twilight told them. She and Rarity started walking around the perimeter of the shack, double-checking that they hadn’t missed anything, while the others, enthusiasm renewed by the prospect of food after, got to searching inside.
“That appears to have everyone fired up. Goodness knows I myself could do with some refreshment.”
“Hmm. Anything about this seem off to you?” The mage frowned, running a hand over the filthy timbers.
“Now that you mention it – and I know this is perhaps more Applejack’s field than mine, but still – I would say the proportions off this… ahem… hut, seem rather off.”
“Right.” Twilight agreed. It looked like it stretched out another metre, a metre and a half beyond where the wall at the back ended. “It’s almost like there should be more space inside than there is. Like there’s a second, hidden-”
Before she could finish the sentence they heard Pinkie’s voice inside. “Hey you guys! I found a switch, and-”
CLICK
“-I thinkWooaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
They moved as she was still crying out, only one thought racing through both their minds.
Pinkie!