“It's been nearly twelve hours,” Applejack grumbled as she stared out the window at the passing scenery. The train between Canterlot and Ponyville was by no means quick, but the numerous delays had significantly lengthened their trip. Applejack had tried to recall Zecora's lesson, but in the cramped train car, she could do little more than imagine.
It wasn't really helping.
“Why do sheep like train tracks so much, anyway?” Pinkie Pie rolled over in the bench. Her head and forelegs hung limply into the aisle.
“One of the great unsolved mysteries of Equestria,” Rarity said, waving a hoof with mock drama. She looked impeccable, as always, though her weariness was beginning to show, even through all her makeup.
“Don't worry girls, we're getting close. See?” Twilight pointed out the window. The train had just rounded another bend, bringing them out of the narrow canyon they'd been traveling through. Canterlot was visible high on the mountainside above. “It shouldn't be more than an hour now.”
Rarity rubbed her neck, resisting the urge to slouch. “Are you sure you don't know what this is all about, darling? Two days is not a lot of time to call together so many important ponies.”
Twilight shrugged. “All the Princess wrote is that it's important we all attend.” She thought for a moment. “Though it could have something to do with Fluttershy.”
Pinkie lifted her head. “Where is she, anyway? I haven't seen her in days!”
“Have you forgotten already? She left early last week to help Princess Celestia with something in Canterlot.”
“Oh!” Pinkie giggled and slouched down again. “I thought she just ate too much cake at our last party!”
“Tsk. Really, Pinkie, you were practically force-feeding it to her.” Rarity shook her head. “I must admit though, the spa has been a tad lonelier without her around.” Her eyes suddenly brightened, and she lightly clapped her hooves together. “Oooh! Perhaps we'll have a chance to catch up at one of the spas in Canterlot. That would be simply divine.”
Twilight began to reply, but was interrupted by the sound of screeching metal. The train slowly came to a stop. From outside their car, they could hear the familiar baying of sheep. A collective groan arose from the group.
Rainbow Dash, who had been snoring in the corner, awoke from her nap with a grunt. “Huh? Are we there yet?”
Applejack sat at the small hotel table with her friends, grasping the warm styrofoam coffee cup with both hooves. A crowd of ponies milled around them, all waiting for their chance at the breakfast buffet nearby. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep. A large plastic sun hung on one wall, mocking her with its perkiness. Yellow block letters below it read, “Neighs Inn: Start Your Day with a Neigh!” She took another sip.
The previous night had been a long one. The train had finally arrived in Canterlot after sunset, hours late. By the time they had hailed a carriage – a monumental task even for the bearers of the Elements of Harmony – and traveled to their hotel, it was after midnight. Applejack had collapsed unceremoniously on her bed and passed out.
“This breakfast has no love in it,” Applejack said as she reluctantly took another bite of her toast.
Rainbow Dash eyed her crescent roll suspiciously. “Is this what ‘continental’ means? I always thought it was, you know, the size of a continent or something.”
“I think it's delicious!” Pinkie Pie bounced over to the group carrying a tray full of day-old muffins.
“You think everything is delicious.” Rainbow gave Pinkie a playful nudge and took a bite of her pastry.
Pinkie giggled. “Maybe! I suppose it's not as good as Sugarcube Corner, though. But what is!”
Rarity looked up from the Canterlot Times she was reading with a mild expression. “Why exactly are we here, anyway? I expected that we would be staying in Canterlot Castle.”
Twilight swallowed her muffin before responding. “Normally we would, but with everything that's been going on, the castle is busier than it's been in ages. Experts and representatives from all around Equestria are in Canterlot to manage the Fey problem and help find a solution. Princess Celestia says she hasn't seen the castle so crowded in centuries, so I volunteered us to stay here.” Almost as an afterthought, she added, “Don't worry about the cost, she sent me a stipend.”
Rarity yawned. “Couldn't you have chosen a place with softer beds, darling? This is Canterlot, after all. There must be better accommodations than – egh – Neighs Inn.”
“I tried, believe me. Most of the hotels in the city are booked solid.”
“I've heard that ponies with the bits are taking 'extended vacations' here in Canterlot. Rumor is it's all to get away from the Fey.” Rainbow smirked. “Personally, I think they're scared and want to be near the Princesses just in case!”
“You shouldn't gossip, Rainbow Dash. It's unbecoming,” Rarity said with a tinge of annoyance.
“Hey, I'm not judging.” Rainbow made a dismissive gesture with her wing. “If Ponyville was over near Vanhoover – and if I was somepony less awesome – I'd want to get away too.”
Applejack chuckled, sharing a knowing glance with her other friends. “Just how is it you're so chipper this early in the mornin,' Dash? Hay, how did you even sleep last night? With all the nappin' you did on the train, I figured you woulda been more wound up than a pegasus on preening day.”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a master napster.” She grabbed her last piece of muffin and tossed it into her mouth.
After a few moments, Twilight rose from her chair and grasped her empty plate with her magic. “Come on, girls, we’d better get to the castle. We don’t want to keep the Council waiting.”
An hour later, the group arrived at the castle entrance. Twilight showed the letter sent by Princess Celestia to the guards, and they found themselves escorted to the upper halls of Canterlot Castle. Their path brought them through a series of grand hallways, cramped staircases, and even a hidden door or two to what must have been one of the most defensible rooms in the entire castle.
“I thought it would've been a little easier for the bearers of the Elements of Harmony to find a carriage in Canterlot,” Rainbow said to nopony in particular as they walked through a particularly narrow hallway.
“You know the kind of memory most ponies have.” Applejack rolled her eyes.
Twilight shrugged. “It took me almost a year to learn the Second and Third Changeling Invasions well enough to remember who fought in each one. With all the calamities that happen in Equestria, it's hardly surprising that ponies tend to forget things.”
“Forget what?” Pinkie asked, mid-bounce.
“Nothing important, dear.” Rarity patted her shoulder.
“We've arrived.” The lead guard motioned for them to continue around the corner. They found a long hallway that seemed sparse compared to the rest of the castle. There were no doors, alcoves, or other features, save for the heavy wooden doors at the end and the half-dozen ponies guarding it.
As they approached, they heard muffled voices coming from behind the doors, but couldn't make out what was being said until the guards cracked the doors to admit them.
“...still on schedule, Princess. However, there was an incident in Cloudsdale earlier this week where some kind of fairy seems to have gotten into the condensers, which dropped overall cloud production by fourteen percent. However, the deficit should be covered by other factories...” The speakers was a middle-aged pegasus with a sky blue coat and curly white mane. He occasionally glanced at the pile of notes in front of him. Twilight recognized him as the Weather Minister and quietly shared that fact with her friends as they entered.
The council room was magnificent. The domed ceiling rose 40 feet above their heads, lined with windowpanes that were enchanted to mimic real sunlight. They served to brighten what would have otherwise been a dreary bunker. The floor was a simple mosaic of white marble and onyx with a subtle gold filigree near the walls. Two large stone fireplaces sat on either end of the room. A broad, ovular table made of dark wood occupied the center of the room, surrounded by two dozen matching chairs of fine quality that looked to be more than a century old. The Princesses sat at one end in larger chairs more appropriate for ponies of their size.
The five newcomers quietly shuffled into the room, sitting in some of the extra chairs along the back wall. Twilight looked over the other ponies at the table and recognized the Ministers of Agriculture, Health, and Transportation. There were a few ponies in military uniforms, two scientists, and a number of diplomats. Even Shining Armor was there representing the Royal Guard. He sent her a smile and a wink when she caught his eye. This many important ponies in one room was certainly a rare occurrence. Whatever Princess Celestia had in store, it must've been important.
“...This is the first time that one of the Fey has been spotted in a cloud city, but given the patterns we've been seeing, I recommend stationing a Fey-response team with some cloudwalking capabilities in Cloudsdale from now on.”
“Thank you, Cirrus.” Princess Celestia gave a grateful nod. She looked across the ponies gathered at the table. “And thank you all for your patience. I promise, we'll come to the crux of this meeting soon.”
Celestia cleared her throat. “As you are all aware, Fey creatures have been appearing in Equestria with increasing frequency over the previous months. Luckily, we've been given the opportunity to contain the worst of these threats through new magic developed by my finest student. If you'd allow me an indulgence, I'd like for you to hear about her 'rune magic' in more detail.” She looked to the back of the room. “Twilight? Would you please show them what you've shown me?”
“Of course, Princess.” There were a few murmurs as Twilight walked to the front of the room and turned to face the council. “Greetings. My name is Twilight Sparkle: graduate of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, bearer of the Element of Magic, protégé of Princess Celestia, and inventor of Rune Magic.” Her horn glowed and a large, lavender screen formed beside her, taking the form of a rectangular grid displaying small, animated figures. “Today, I will explain the development of, and processes behind, rune magic. I hope you find it interesting.”
The display showed a unicorn surrounded by a magical shield, and a large bipedal creature made to represent a Fey. “One of the first observations made about Fey was their apparent invulnerability to a wide range of traditional spells, including some from all known schools of magic.” As the unicorn on the screen approached the Fey, its shield faded, and it was struck by the creature. A large frown showed on the unicorn's face before the display shifted.
“I discovered, however, that earth pony magic is much more similar to the Fey's innate magic than that of other ponies, both of which are very similar in character to the primeval magics found in nature. At the time, I theorized that these properties could allow their magic to affect the Fey.” Twilight paused and scanned the ponies gathered at the table, looking at each one in turn. “Admittedly, it was a long shot. I didn't have any empirical basis for my hypothesis, but field tests have conclusively shown that my theory holds true.”
Twilight's display shifted again, this time showing a pony adorned with runes. Small pulses of light moved over the body to show the flow of magical energies. She launched into her practiced lecture on the fundamentals of rune magic, detailing the various components that go into preparing runes, the technicalities of combining various elemental and shaping runes to form complete spells, and earth ponies’ natural affinity for primal elemental magic.
The figure on her display shrunk to a small point, then expanded to show a map of Equestria. Tiny points of light dotted the map, concentrated on the borders. “As far as implementation is concerned, we've been training earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi to work together in teams of three, in order to maximize their efficacy. Teams are assigned to regions with high Fey activity on a bi-weekly basis, returning home between assignments. For reasons yet unknown, most Fey sightings seem to occur closer to Equestria's borders, so that's where the majority of teams have been deployed.” The dots on the map grew and fused together, taking on different colors to represent the frequency of Fey sightings in each region. “At this point, the number of dangerous Fey encountered is typically one or two per week per region, but they appear to be increasing in frequency. Whether this is due to more Fey arriving, or simply a higher percentage of dangerous Fey coming through is uncertain. We're trying to get more teams ready for field duty, but training takes significant time and resources. At the observed rate, we–”
“This is ridiculous!” A gruff voice interrupted Twilight's presentation, punctuated by a hoof slamming onto the table.
Everypony jumped, then turned to look at the interrupting stallion. He was an earth pony with a light brown coat and a close-cropped, graying mane. A crisp, dark green uniform covered his chest, and a large stack of ribbons signified his high rank.
Princess Luna eyed him angrily. “We take it you have something to say, General Specific?” Her tone was one of annoyance, but the general didn't seem to notice.
“This 'rune magic' nonsense is a complete waste of time. We've spent who-knows-how-many bits training these teams, and it's gotten us no closer to solving the actual problem! Earth ponies casting spells... Feh! Throw a boulder at them and be done with it. Sure as shit worked at Griffon's Pass.” The general leaned back, smirking with satisfaction.
It was Twilight who broke the tension. “I think you might be overestimating the abilities of the common unicorn, General. For most, lifting something that heavy would be very difficult, if not impossible – not to mention unwieldy. The Fey's antimagical field makes unicorn-wielded weapons very hard to utilize.”
“Then we redirect the military and run them through with blades! I'd bet even a Fey can't live without a head.”
Princess Celestia glowered at the stallion. “We will not have ponies wantonly killing creatures we know so little about, General.” Her voice was calm, but tinged with anger and a subtle hint of regret. “I know all too well what happens when ponies are too quick to war.”
Not even the brazen general could resist shrinking under the intense gaze of the Princesses. “Yes, well... I must press the point, Princess, that we still aren't any closer to a final solution.” He spoke with far less confidence than before.
Celestia's expression softened slightly, and she smiled. “Of course, General, that is a completely understandable concern. I had invited one other to speak with us today on that very subject, but he hasn't deigned to show himself yet. However, I suspect he may be listening to us speak this very moment.”
Looks of confusion spread around the room. Before anypony could form a question, however, an oily voice echoed unseen. “I presume you're talking about me, Celestia?”
Twilight's magical display began to distort. The images twisted and stretched until they settled into the outline of a goat-like face with mismatched horns and a small beard. A single stray fang dangled from his mouth. Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Celestia smirked. “Tsk, tsk. You're getting predictable, Discord.”
The two-dimensional draconequus slithered out of the display. “All your influence, no doubt,” he said in his typical flippant tone. Color flowed into his figure as his mismatched feet settled on the chamber floor, restoring him to a life-like visage. He made a dramatic show of bowing to the Princesses. “Your Highnesses.”
“Princess, what is Discord doing here?!” Twilight's shock gave voice to the murmured complaints circling the room.
“Oh, why all the distrust?” Discord floated over to Twilight and bent down to look her in the eyes. “I'm reformed, remember?” He smirked and tapped a claw on her nose.
“Discord's ability to sense magical anomalies has proved quite useful so far,” Celestia said matter-of-factly. “I know that many of you are not yet accustomed to his presence, but he's given me no reason to distrust him, so I ask all of you to do the same.”
Discord gently floated into the air, reclining casually. “Quite right! I've been ever so helpful these past few months – a busy little bee – searching for your portals, watching the Fey, finding the First World–”
“Do you mean to say... you've found it?!” Luna wore a look of surprise.
“Well... no. Not yet.”
The ponies around the table gave him flat looks.
“It's like I've said before, that dimension is very difficult to reach from our local cluster. Reverse-interdimensional transversal is no picnic, you know!” He huffed and crossed his arms defensively. “Though, speaking of...” he said, scratching his chin and wearing a thoughtful expression.
With a snap of his fingers, Discord vanished in a flash of light, only to reappear at the center of the table wearing a polo shirt and sunglasses. He was sitting on a red-and-white checkered blanket, complete with a wicker picnic basket. “...it has been quite some time.” He grinned.
Most of the ponies looked at the scene with confusion. Celestia, however, simply chuckled lightly before continuing. “Please, Discord, why don't you update everypony on what you've been up to so far.”
“Well!” Discord turned and placed his hands on his crossed legs like an eager child. “It's a fascinating story, if I do say so myself. These portals – though 'portal' is a bit of a misnomer, more of a tear, really – point is, they've been terrifically difficult to find – even for me! But I persevered, and managed to find a few of them before they went 'poof!'” Another snap, and a small puff of smoke appeared briefly nearby. “The magic behind them is unmistakably Fey, but underneath that there's a certain... consistency, for lack of a better word. Like they're all somehow related.” As he spoke, Discord stirred the air with one claw, conjuring a small vortex of dull blue energy. He reached in and pulled out a cup of tea. He sipped, then raised the saucer and took a bite. After a few thoughtful chews, he said, “Hmph. You're chefs are getting stale, Celestia. This saucer is terribly dry.”
Celestia gave a small grin and snickered quietly. Luna just gave him an unimpressed look.
“I can also confirm what Twilight's been saying, that these tears are mostly happening near Equestria's border,” he said through a mouthful of fine china. He chewed a few more times and swallowed. “And I think it has something to do with the Tree of Harmony.” With a snap of his claws, Discord vanished again and appeared behind the alicorns, arms draped over their shoulders. “You know, the place you found your precious Elements?” He tapped a claw on his chin. “One more thing. These tears... there's something vaguely familiar about them. It's rather difficult to put into words, though...”
He rose and snapped his claws again. This time, he appeared dressed in a flamboyant, colorful outfit, a pair of maracas in his hands. “...Perhaps if I put it into dance?” He began to twirl about the room, humming a happy tune as he danced.
The ponies at the table watched for a few moments before exchanging more confused looks. Celestia cast a spell, and the sound of Discord's performance faded into the background. “I think we can move on to the reason I called everypony here.” She nodded to one of the guards at the door, who quietly left the room. A few moments later, he returned with a pink-maned, yellow pegasus.
Fluttershy looked at the group of ponies hesitantly, gulped, and quietly walked towards the Princesses.
“This is Fluttershy, bearer of the Element of Kindness,” Celestia said as Fluttershy approached. “She has been helping with an important information-gathering assignment, and two days ago, we had a breakthrough. That is why I've called all of you here today: I thought it only right that the entire council be present for such an important moment.” She looked to Fluttershy and smiled, motioning for her to speak.
The pegasus cleared her throat and adopted a relatively confident pose. “Hello, I'm Fluttershy.” She managed to put on a brave face, despite the intense gazes directed her way. “My special talent is taking care of animals, and part of that is being able to communicate with all sorts of creatures. It took a while, but I've been able to figure out what the Fey are saying. Mostly, anyway.”
“You've spoken with these monsters? How?” General Specific looked incredulous.
A look of shock rushed over Fluttershy's face. “How could you say that? They're not monsters!”
Applejack narrowed her eyes. “You sure we can even trust these Fey, Fluttershy? They're slippery bastards – I know.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I know there have been a lot of bad Fey recently, but that's not all of them! They're confused, it's not even really their fault – listen.” She turned and whispered into her mane. A small creature cautiously emerged. It had wild blue hair that matched its enormous eyes. Its pink skin was bare and partially covered by leafy garments, and a pair of gossamer wings were folded onto its back. A small, curious chirp rose from the creature.
Loud gasps filled the chamber. “You b-brought one of those... here?!” The Weather Minister shrunk in his chair, trying to hide himself behind the table while maintaining as much dignity as possible.
“Calm down, Cirrus,” Celestia said. “That type of reaction is exactly why we had to keep this matter a secret. There are far more to these creatures than senseless destruction.”
“They're actually very nice, once you get to know them.” Fluttershy ran a calming hoof through the Fey's hair. It purred contentedly. “This is Miglan. He's a pixie. The poor thing fell into one of those portals and ended up in our world.
“He wouldn't say much, at first, just little bits about the First World before things changed. He insisted that he needed to talk to our 'leaders.' It sounds like he has something important to say.” She gently coaxed the pixie out of her mane. The pixie floated near her with small flaps of its wings. “Here we are, little guy. What did you want to tell us?”
The pixie looked around nervously before breaking into a strange series of smooth chirps and flowing syllables. “Lye palurin nae n'ala vanima, ve'lle, nan'yassen n'ner eska. Nan... somthíen marta. Y'ksh tul e, san' ï' palurin kirise, ar'mellonea wanne.”
“What is he saying, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.
Fluttershy tapped her hoof to her chin. “He said that something happened in his old world. It was beautiful, but then it broke, and Fey started disappearing.” She thought a moment longer. “He says our world has lots of squares... buildings, maybe?”
Miglan went on, relaxing as he spoke. “Amin nae gorga sinome, rana. Nan'utue somthíen sinome. Lewintar. Ro nae wanwa an'n ago. Ro quena a'marta e'kaimela, nyara lye lye're varna sinome. Lye nowe ro nae ba, an'n wanwa.”
“He was lost and scared, poor thing.” Fluttershy loosely wrapped a wing around the pixie. “At least, he was until he found something they lost a long time ago... 'Lewintar?'” She pursed her lips, trying to figure out a translation. “Um... Dream Keeper? I think that's what it means.”
Luna's ears perked up at the name. “'Dream Keeper?' Pray, Fluttershy, ask him more about this figure.”
“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy translated her question.
“Lewintar naa iantago marta. Ron nyara narn ar'nyara quenta. Quena a'marta e'kaimela, karna sen varna.”
Fluttershy listened intently to the chirping Fey, translating as he spoke. “They're a very old Fey. Keepers of history, it sounds like. And they guard other Fey in their dreams.” She turned back to the Princess. “Sounds kind of like your job, Princess Luna.”
“Hmm...” Luna wore a thoughtful look, but said nothing more.
“He said something bad happened in his world. Can you ask him what it was, Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.
Fluttershy once again translated the question. Miglan grew quiet, fidgeting as though he were uncomfortable even naming the menace. Eventually, he spoke. “...Il Mori Roch.”
“What is 'Mori Roch?'” somepony asked.
“I'm not sure.” Fluttershy scratched her head. “The Shadow? The Dark... something.”
“Sounds bad, whatever it is,” Rainbow Dash rose from her chair by the wall. She approached the front of the table, followed by her friends. “So what is it? Do we have a face to kick in? Are we finally done playing whack-a-mole with these things?” Under her breath, she added, “Finally, a big scary monster to fight!”
Applejack rolled her eyes and whispered, “Like we haven't had enough of that already.”
“Mori Roch... ra–” The pixie started to speak, but beyond repeating the name, only an airy wheeze came out. “Ra túl...” He moved his mouth wordlessly, straining against some unknown force, but soon fell into a coughing fit.
“Oh no! What's wrong?” Fluttershy held Miglan close and ran a hoof along his back. He chirped a few more soft syllables, then buried his face in Fluttershy's mane.
“He said that thing used a curse to keep the Fey from talking about him. The Dream Keeper might be able to help if we can find him. He's strong.” Fluttershy wore a look of concern as she continued to comfort the pixie.
“How are we gonna do that? Does he know where to find him?” Rainbow asked.
“He's really worn out...”
Twilight put a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “We need to know, Fluttershy.”
“Oh, alright...” She gently nudged the Fey and whispered to him. Miglan muttered a bit more and buried himself deeper in Fluttershy's mane, sullen and exhausted.
Fluttershy shook her head. “I'm sorry, everypony, but whatever that Shadow-thing did to him really hurt him out. Please, give him some time.”
Twilight nodded and turned to face the Princesses. “With your permission, Princesses, I will organize an expedition to find this 'Dream Keeper.' It could be the key to everything.”
Celestia exchanged a glance with Luna, who nodded. “Since we're dealing with a powerful and unknown Fey, I'd agree that falls into your area of expertise, Twilight.”
Murmurs of assent came from the councilponies.
“It's decided then. Please, Twilight, be careful.” She placed a hoof over her student's and smiled.
Twilight nodded resolutely. “We won't let you down, Princess!”
“In that case, if there's no other business...?” Celestia looked to the various council members, who shook their heads in agreement. “I think we can bring this meeting to a close. Thank you all for coming.”
At that, sound returned to the chamber as ponies gathered their belongings and prepared to depart. A few groups hung back to have private discussions with other members, or with hopes of speaking to the Princess. Twilight and her friends gathered at one end of the table to discuss strategy, but were soon interrupted by Shining Armor.
“Twily.”
“Shining.”
The two siblings shared a casual hoof bump before breaking into smiles and embracing each other.
“You're really brave, sis. But you know you don't have to do this, right?” Shining Armor's usual confidence carried a hint of worry. “I know how you like to push yourself.”
Twilight placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Don't worry about me, Shining. I have one of the best and strongest BBBFFs around, after all. I doubt he'd let anything happen to me.” She winked.
“Darn right!”
She laughed. “You know, that shield spell of yours saved our hides in the desert. I'm really glad you insisted on teaching it to me.”
“Not that it took much convincing.” Shining gave her a playful nudge and shared her laugh.
“Twilight Sparkle, might I speak with you a moment?” Princess Luna approached the group with a solemn look on her face.
Shining Armor gave Twilight another hug before turning away. “I've got travel arrangements to see to anyway. Later, Twily.” He smiled.
Twilight waved goodbye, then turned back to Luna. “What is it, Princess?”
“It is this 'Dream Keeper.' We have... concerns.” Luna paused for a moment, seemingly conflicted on whether to continue. “We – or, I – am unsure if what I have to say will be of use, but I would be remiss to not mention it.”
“And...?” Twilight cocked her head, confused by Luna's reticence.
Luna sighed. “It happened many nights ago, as I watched over Equestria's dreams. At first I thought it nothing more than my own imagination, but I came to realize it was more than that... The signs were small: misplaced items, faint traces, half-heard sounds. I thought I was chasing nothing more than a wayward dream fragment. It wasn't until today that I considered other possibilities.
“I once trailed this creature to an ethereal swamp, though I never came close enough to actually see it. That place, though... it was unlike any other I'd encountered in the dreamscape. It felt foreign, and was simultaneously open to exploration, yet closed to all answers – as though the dreamscape itself were guarding a great secret, and would not follow my will.” She pursed her lips as she tried to summon her words. “I'm afraid I can think of no other way to explain it. In the end, I found nothing. However, I now believe this may be the realm of the 'Dream Keeper.' Perhaps this will help you in your search.”
“Hmm... There are some large swamps in Equestria that would make a good hiding spot. Not a lot of ponies live in those places.” Twilight scratched her chin in thought. “Thank you, Princess.”
“A word of warning, Twilight Sparkle: if this creature and my phantom are indeed one in the same, it may be very dangerous. We know very little, but to evade detection in my own domain is no small feat.”
Twilight nodded. “Thank you, Princess. We'll be careful.”
“Oh come on!” An exasperated shout from across the room interrupted their conversation. Discord had just noticed the disappearing guests. “Was nopony watching my dance?!”
“Ugh!”
Rainbow Dash spit another clump of spider webs out of her mouth. “I'm really getting sick of this swamp, guys.”
“It's barely been half a day. Quit your belly-achin.'” Applejack pushed another vine out of her path.
“I can't even fly in here without getting caught up in all these branches. Can't I do some scouting above the trees? At least there aren't any spiders up there.” Rainbow Dash swung her hoof at an insect flying around her head.
“Actually, there is a species of arachnid in this swamp that floats above the canopy with specialized web structures, Selenops grifilaticus, more commonly known–”
Rainbow grumbled and shot Twilight an annoyed look.
Twilight gave an embarrassed grin before she turned back to the map and compass she had been holding in her magic. “Ahem. Right... As far as scouting goes, this area has no landmarks and very little terrain. It's mostly just swampland. I'm not even sure how we'd find each other again if we separated.”
“Sorry, Rainbow, guess you’re stuck on the ground with us.” Applejack threw a foreleg around the perturbed pegasus.
Rainbow crossed her forelegs and pouted. “This sucks.”
Once again, Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash found themselves struggling through Equestria's uncharted wilderness. The Hayseed Swamp, however, was an entirely different beast than the southern deserts. They had traded dry, open dunes for a cramped forest inundated with brackish, stagnant water and oppressive, sticky heat. Clinging vines hung from the thick canopy overhead. Swarms of biting insects harried them almost constantly, allowing no relief aside from the murky pools of water hiding Celestia-knows-what other kinds of horrors. Applejack was silently thankful that Twilight had thought to bring hanging tents. There were small patches of relatively dry ground scattered throughout the swamp, but she had no idea how they would find one when they needed to make camp.
“Our first site should be somewhere nearby,” Twilight said as she scanned the map. “Miglan was more talkative once he recovered, and from what he said, this seems the most likely place for us to find the Dream Keeper.”
“And if he isn't there?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Twilight raised the map above her head so Rainbow could see the red circles she had drawn. “Then we move on to the next site. I've marked out a number of possible locations for the Dream Keeper's hideaway.”
“What did that Shadow-thingy do to him, anyway?” Applejack asked, pulling up beside Twilight.
Twilight furrowed her eyebrows. “I'm not sure, but I couldn't find any magical auras on him. I've read about some ancient spells that supposedly could alter a creature's destiny, maybe 'Mori Roch' put some kind of curse or protection on itself to avoid discovery...Still, for magic like that to cross dimensional boundaries, it must be quite potent.”
Rainbow Dash scratched her mane. “I had just managed to get all that sand out of my hair, and here we are back in the field already.”
“It is a pretty fast turnaround, I'll grant. But it's not like we have any choice – Equestria needs us. With any luck, the Dream Keeper will be able to help, once we find him,” Twilight said.
Applejack nodded resolutely and smiled. “It's a big job, but hay, it's the best lead we've had since the start of this whole mess.”
Even Rainbow managed a small grin. “Heh, it's not like I'd ever leave my ponies hanging. Still, I hope we come up with something soon, otherwise this whole situation is going to get way out of hoof.”
Twilight smiled even wider. “With the power of friendship, I know we can do it! Together!” She tried to step forward to embrace the ponies so dear to her, but her hoof had become stuck in the mud. Twilight tugged a few times, trying to free herself, and nearly toppled over when she did.
Rainbow smirked. “We can hug later. For now, maybe let's find a campsite?”
Twilight blushed. “Good idea.”
The moonlight struggled to reach through the canopy to the ground below. Normally, Applejack welcomed thick shade of trees as respite against the hot summer sun, but tonight she only found herself cursing the shadows that obscured her vision.
She was on edge. Nighttime in the swamp was vastly different from the watches she'd kept in the desert, and she'd volunteered for last watch. The terrain itself was so treacherous that Applejack didn't dare wander. Instead, she had found the best overwatch position she could, and tried not to stare too long at the tiny fire Twilight had managed to eke out of the few dry sticks they had found.
The chorus of frogs had established itself as the sun had set, and even now, hours after their debut, they showed no sign of slowing down. In the dense swamp, the huge variety of sounds blended together into a gentle cadence that swept over Applejack like a warm blanket, beckoning...
“Nope!”
Applejack shook her head. There were too many unknowns out there to fall asleep. She looked back towards the camp where the faint outlines of her companions' hammocks were visible in the fire's red glow.
“Gotta stay awake,” Applejack thought as she opened her saddlebag and pulled out her journal.
“Can't walk, can't sleep, might as well write. This is our first night in Hayseed Swamp. Everything's been fine so far, though RD ain't a fan of this place. Leave it to a pegasus to be restless.
“I can hardly believe that it took us a week to get down here, considering all we learned in Canterlot. Still, I guess there's a lot to get ready for a mission like this, not knowin' exactly what we're after. I'm not complaining, though; got to spend some time with the family, and had a chance to work on that new spell. I haven't showed Twilight yet, but I bet she'll be mighty pleased when I do!
“The boat ride down from Horseshoe Bay was interesting. The captain was nice enough, but these southern ponies are a mite odd. Real superstitious-like. He seemed nervous when we told him how far we wanted to go. Partway down he just stopped the boat and refused to go any farther! Somethin' about the birds flying and bad omens. We had to hoof him another 20 bits just to get him going again. Personally, I think he was just squeezing us for coins. I wouldn't be surprised if he were related to Flim & Flam, darn niblets.”
Applejack looked up. She could just make out a pair of stars peeking through the canopy. She set her journal aside and watched for a while. “If you two could see me now...” Applejack smiled.
After a time, she began to notice gray seeping into the edges of the black canvas above her. She looked back at her friends. The fire was a bit low, but still going. Applejack wasn't sure how Twilight had managed to make those little sticks burn for so long, but she was grateful for the unicorn's skills. “That mare's got a trick for everything.”
Applejack stood up. The coming dawn wasn't strong enough to cast much light through the trees yet, but she could manage. She stoked the fire and quietly filled a pot of water. After it was boiling, she started her familiar morning routine. A few minutes later she was sipping coffee in the fading darkness.
Once a little more light had filtered through the canopy, Applejack looked for an open space near the camp. It was more work than it should have been, but she managed to find a spot between two larger trees without too many branches in her way. She turned to where the sun would soon be rising and lifted herself onto her hind legs. Applejack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Breathe... mindfulness,” she told herself. She ran through the patterns that Zecora had taught her. As she finished with a final bow, she basked in the increasingly-familiar serenity she felt after completing her routine. A contented sigh escaped her lips.
Applejack turned back towards camp. She spotted Twilight's purple form sitting away from the fire, staring off into the swamp.
“You're up early. Sun's barely even started to rise,” Applejack said as she took a seat next to Twilight.
“It's the frogs. We never had that kind of background noise in Canterlot.” Twilight forced smiled. Her face still wore the weary lines of sleep. Her fur, despite Rainbow's best efforts to provide them with cloud-fresh showers, was already stained with brown. “What were you doing over there anyway?” Twilight motioned to Applejack's clearing.
“That? It's just the stuff Zecora's been teachin' me.” Applejack dismissed the idea with a wave of her hoof. “I've been tryin' make a habit out of it. Zecora says she uses it to 'greet the sun.' I don't quite get that part, but it's been doin' wonders for my stress level.”
“I'm glad to hear it. Maybe I should get Zecora to teach me sometime. Sounds like a nice wake-up technique.” Twilight chuckled. “Does that mean you've quit coffee?”
“Heck no! I'm about to start my third cup.” Applejack smirked. “Want one?”
“Please.”
After reheating the tepid brew, they sat together, admiring what they could in the swampy scene before them.
Twilight sipped her coffee. A degree of normalcy began to return to her face. “You know, I'm starting to agree with Rainbow – this place sucks.” The two of them laughed together.
“Kind of makes the San Palomino look like a vacation, huh?” Applejack caught a glance of her own coat as she lifted her mug. It had a noticeable tinge of swamp mud, just like Twilight's. She was no stranger to getting dirty, but Applejack was already looking forward to a proper shower when they got back. “Maybe Rarity's starting to rub off on me... heh.”
“You know, I have an uncle that used to work down around here,” Applejack said.
“Really?” Twilight looked at Applejack with a curious look. “Is there any place the Apple family doesn’t have roots?”
Applejack chuckled. “Hehe, I reckon we’re just about everywhere... Kooky Uncle Pine, we’d call him. They'd take boats up some of the creeks to pick swamp apples – not great eatin' plain, mind you, but they can make a mean fritter if you know what you're doin'.” Applejack patted her stomach. “I think he's up north somewhere now, haven't seen him in years. Uncle Pine always was a few sips short of a cider barrel.” She took another drink from her mug.
“He came to the reunion one year, told us kids all sorts of stories about life in the swamp. Folk tales, mostly. I remember one about some kind of glowin' lights that would lure ponies into the swamp and disappear... never to be seen again.” Applejack said the last sentence with mock spookiness.
Twilight chuckled lightly, then asked, “They weren't called will-o-wisps, were they?”
“Yeah, that's it.” Applejack smiled. “The stories he told...”
“They're actually real creatures, you know,” Twilight said with a small grin that Applejack recognized as her 'Here's-a-fun-fact' face.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Wait, seriously?”
Twilight nodded. “Mm-hm. They're rare magical creatures that live in swamps and feed off emotional energy. Luckily they're mostly harmless on their own, but there are a few reports of them making bad situations worse by enhancing negative emotions.” Twilight took another sip from her mug, unperturbed. “They're exceptionally rare, though.”
Applejack looked out at the swamp with a slightly more serious expression. “One more reason to get out of here as soon as we can, I guess.”
By now, the blackness of the night had faded from the sky, leaving a dull gray blanket of clouds above the trees. The chorus of frogs had faded and was slowly being replaced by the sounds of waking birds hidden in the dense foliage.
“Applejack... I've been meaning to apologize,” Twilight said as she set aside her empty mug.
“Hm? What for, Twi?”
“For all of this”–she waved a hoof at their surroundings–“I know how much you worry about your family when you're away, and this is the second time in a month we've gone off on a long mission in some far-off location.” Twilight nervously rubbed her hooves. “I never thought the situation would get this serious.”
Applejack shook her head. “Shoot, girl, you've gotta stop beatin' yourself up. It ain't your fault, I chose this.” She draped a foreleg around Twilight's shoulders. “Besides, I'm actually feelin' really good about this trip.”
“You are?”
Applejack grinned. “Bet your boots! 'Til now we've just been runnin' around playin' whack-a-mole. Now, we're actually gettin' on track to putting an end to this whole mess.”
“Even if we have to work with Fey?” Twilight looked at Applejack with concern.
Applejack's smile faded as she looked off into the swamp. She unconsciously flicked one of her ears a few times. “Yeah, I'm not too keen on that. It's hard to trust them after... you know. I know they're not all bloodthirsty monsters, but...” She sighed. “I'm tryin' to give them the benefit of the doubt. Way I see it, we ain't got much choice anyway.” She looked back at Twilight with a small smile and shrugged.
Twilight returned a small smile. “Glad to hear it. And you're right, we're making progress. Still, I can't help but worry where this is all headed. If there really is something behind all of this, it could get a lot more dangerous before we're done.”
“Whatever it is, Sugarcube, we'll handle it together.” Applejack tightened her foreleg into a comforting half-hug.
“That's what we're here for!” Rainbow Dash suddenly came from behind and wrapped her forelegs around both of them.
“Gah!”
“Whoa!”
Applejack gasped at the same time as Twilight. “Dang, Rainbow, I didn't hear a peep out of y'all!”
Rainbow pulled back and waved a hoof. “Pfft! I'm the scout, AJ, give me a little credit!” she said as she floated back towards their camp. “Now let's get crackin'!”
Twilight trotted merrily – at least, as much as one could through the mud and grass under their hooves. “Remember what we're looking for, girls, the–”
“Sorcerer Cypress,” Applejack and Rainbow Dash replied in bored unison.
“Right! And you'll know it by the–”
“Purple mottled leaves and elongated fruit,” they answered again.
“You only told us like a million times!” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.
“Just making sure you remember!” Twilight called back cheerfully. “From what Miglan said, it should have–”
“A carved circle over the entrance,” the other two ponies said, once again, in unison. Rainbow Dash raised a hoof to her face.
“Right!” Twilight grinned widely, seemingly unaware of her comrades’ annoyance. “They only grow in a small area near the coastal swamps here, so if we try hard and keep our eyes peeled, we should be able to find the Dream Keeper in a few days.”
“Is this it?” Rainbow Dash hovered next to a large tree with a circle about the size of a pony's head carved into the trunk.
Twilight turned around, eyes wide with surprise. She examined the tree with one eyebrow arched. “Huh. I was expecting something more like my library. This just looks like a plain old tree.”
Rainbow Dash knocked on the trunk. “Hello? Anypony home?”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Rainbow, I doubt–”
The bark on the tree suddenly shifted, revealing a pair of crude eyes and a large opening that seemed to be a mouth. A low rumble came from inside the tree.
“Whoa! Uh, hi,” Rainbow Dash began. “Are you – Hey!”
The pegasus was cut off by a large tree limb swinging at her head. She barely managed to dodge in time. “Watch it!”
A second limb came crashing through the foliage toward Twilight and Applejack. The unicorn's horn flared, engulfing the two ponies in purple light and teleporting them out of the creature's reach. The limb slammed into the ground where they had been standing, sending up a spray of wet dirt and grass. The impact echoed with a muted thump.
“I wish you'd warn me when you're doin' that.” Applejack blinked a few time to clear the vertigo assaulting her senses.
“I don't remember reading anything about this!” Twilight pulled a book from her saddlebags and began rapidly leafing through the pages.
The tree began to tear itself out of the ground, swinging another huge branch towards Rainbow. Applejack raised a hoof in their direction and green light began to flow through the swirling, vine-like runes on her foreleg. The foliage around them came to life, reaching out towards the tree-creature as vines wrapped themselves around its limbs, holding back its massive form.
“Now's not really the time for readin', Twilight!” Applejack said. “I can't hold this thing for long!”
“Gah! You're right!” Twilight quickly shut the book and put it back in her saddlebags.
“Just burn it, AJ!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she flapped backward away from the creature.
“I can't! The whole forest could go up!”
“It's definitely Fey,” Twilight said, her horn pulsing white with her detection spell.
The tree-creature opened its mouth and let out a strange, deep sound like wood grinding on stone. It struggled against the vines that were wrapped around its limbs, easily tearing them with its mighty strength. Only the sheer number of vines kept it from breaking free immediately.
“I got an idea! This way!” Applejack took off running through the swamp, dodging trees and nimbly stepping between tangled roots. “All those years runnin' the Sisterhooves Social are payin' off!”
She could see bursts of purple light on the edge of her vision as Twilight flashed in and out of reality, teleporting to keep up with her. Rainbow had flown up through the canopy and was following close overhead.
Applejack stopped when she reached a patch of relatively firm ground. She turned to face the oncoming creature. “Right here! Now stand back!”
The tree-creature was crashing through the swamp with savage recklessness, creating a terrible sound like a train bearing down on them and shaking the ground beneath their hooves. Its roots had twisted into surprisingly agile makeshift legs. A burning red glow had begun to shine from its eyes and mouth. Trees and shrubs alike were tossed aside effortlessly as the creature charged towards Applejack, ripping holes in the canopy with the vines hanging from its limbs.
Just before it reached her, the rune on Applejack's leg glowed once again, and a nearby tree suddenly snapped down, catching the giant's root-legs and sending it toppling forward directly towards her.
“Applejack!” Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked on in shock. It seemed as though their friend was about to be crushed. Applejack, however, wore a look of defiant confidence – she was actually grinning. At the final moment, she spun, planting her front hooves firmly on the ground and kicking her rear legs into the air, setting her entire body like a coiled spring.
A faint, white glow began to pour from from her hooves, filling in the barely-visible runes she had etched into their surface. The light grew stronger as she bucked, and when she made contact with the tree, a bright flash of light erupted between them.
“Look out above!”
Amazingly, the force of Applejack's kick sent the creature flying upward nearly thirty feet. It soared through the air, mesmerizing the two onlookers. It landed a short distance away with a loud crash and all but ceased moving. Splinters fell all around them like rain.
“Yeehaw!” Applejack reared back and cheered triumphantly.
Twilight stood agape. Applejack trotted by merrily and winked. “Reduced effect on Fey, huh?” She flicked her tail up to close Twilight's hanging jaw as she passed.
The tree-creature lay there, gently twisting and untwisting its roots and emitting a soft, pitiful sound. Applejack casually hopped up onto its trunk and began to cast her banishing spell.
“That. Was. AWESOME!” Rainbow cried as she flew back down to rejoin her friends. “I knew you were strong, Applejack, but WOW!”
“You never cease to amaze, Applejack,” Twilight said, having regained her wits.
“Glad y'all enjoyed the show.” Applejack grinned. The tendrils of her banishing spells reached out and began to engulf the creature. “I've been savin' that one for–” She stopped short as her spell faded. The creature hadn't vanished as expected. Instead, it had simply reverted back into a normal tree. “Huh?”
“Well done! Well done!” An unfamiliar voice echoed down from above them, accompanied by the sound of clapping. “I can see you are formidable warriors. Far stronger than I, certainly.”
The ponies' heads snapped to look at the source of the voice. They saw a small creature sitting on a branch. Its bottom half looked like the hind legs of a goat, while the top resembled a dun-colored feline with horns. It grinned widely, apparently pleased with the scene below.
The creature spread its arms wide. “Greetings! I am called Alterius.”
“Are you the Dream Keeper?” Twilight asked.
“The what?” Alterius tilted his head at an almost impossible angle, still grinning.
“Er... I think your word is 'Lewintar.'”
“Oh! Oh, no no no no no. I'm what you might call his...” Alterius looked off into the distance and tapped a finger on his chin, “...protector, I believe?”
Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at the creature. “What a minute! How can you speak Equestrian? You're Fey, aren't you?”
“Lewintar is a good teacher,” Alterius said, looking back down at them. “He's very shy. Doesn't usually like visitors, but expecting some soon. Perhaps you are they?”
Applejack stepped forward. “We are! One of our fairy friends sent us here.”
“That remains to be seen. You three are mighty, yes, but are you clever?” Alterius swung down to a lower branch, giggling with excitement. “Let us play a game!”
“Do we really have time for this?” Applejack whispered to Twilight.
“Let's just see what he wants,” she replied.
“You agree?” Alterius looked at the trio expectantly.
Twilight raised a hoof. “If we prove ourselves, you'll show us to the Lewintar?”
“Yes, yes!” Alterius nodded excitedly.
“Okay, we'll play.”
“Excellent, excellent!” Alterius clapped his paws bounced on his perch. “It's been such a long time. Lewintar is rather boring, to be true. So serious!”
“What do we have to do?” Twilight asked.
“It's simple: I ask a question, you answer. Easy!”
Applejack flicked her ears. “Go ahead, then.”
“How many trees are in this forest?” Alterius spread his arms wide as he asked.
Rainbow furrowed her eyebrows. “Is that supposed to be a joke? What kind of question is that?”
“It is mine.” Alterius shrugged. “The answer is yours. Do you have it?”
“Just a moment.” Twilight's eyes glazed over and she muttered brief calculations to herself. “Average stem density... hectares... carry the one... Best estimate, approximately 2.12 million trees.”
Alterius shook his head and laughed. “Wrong, wrong, so wrong! Try again! How many trees are here?”
Twilight stuttered in frustration. “But... it's impossible to know exactly how many trees are in the swamp!”
“We don't have time for this, girls.” Applejack pointed a hoof towards the Fey. “If he's here, then the Dream Keeper must be nearby. Let's forget him and find it ourselves.”
“I'm with AJ,” Rainbow said, turning to follow Applejack.
“How sad, too bad.” Alterius pulled out a set of wooden pipes and began to play. “Come back when you change your mind!”
The ponies walked off into the swamp with Twilight complaining about the various impossibilities of an exact tree count.
After an hour of searching, the ponies were no closer to finding their goal. Rainbow Dash had even flown over the area (with careful coordination and signaling with Twilight to avoid getting lost), but she hadn't seen any sign of the Dream Keeper.
“I'm a little surprised we haven't seen any signs yet,” Twilight said as she made another mark on her map. “Let's try a little further inland.”
As the trio walked, they began to hear the sound of cheerful pipes in the distance. They approached, and found a small clearing containing a half-goat creature playing a happy tune.
“It's you!” Rainbow Dash pointed an accusatory hoof as Alterius. “How did you get ahead of us?”
“Wait a minute, y'all... This is the same place as before. Look, there's that tree-thingy of his.” Applejack pointed to one side of the clearing, where an uprooted tree lay on its side.
“That's impossible! We were heading south. I checked!” Twilight glared at her compass and gave it a shake.
“Ah, ponies! You've returned. Come to play more?” Alterius set his pipes aside and clapped happily.
Applejack stepped forward. “Just what are you doin' with us, fella? You let us go right now!”
“You can go whenever you wish. The world is free, after all. However,”–a determined expression briefly passed over his face–“none may see the master without my permission.”
Just as quickly as it had appeared, Alterius' expression snapped back into a whimsical grin. “Now, the game?”
The ponies let out a collective sigh. “Hoof in a hay barrel,” Applejack muttered.
“I think we have to, girls,” Twilight said, rubbing a hoof on her temple.
Rainbow Dash groaned. “Really?”
“More fun? How fun!” Alterius played a brief, cheerful riff on his pipes. “The question remains the same: How many trees are in the forest?”
Twilight's eye twitched. “How are we supposed to know that?! It's impossible!”
“Would you like a hint?”
“Yes!” the ponies cried as one.
“The answer is seven. Now then, how many trees are there?”
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Uh, seven?” she said, a bit confused.
Alterius giggled. “Wrong! Ten!”
“But you just said...! Rrrr!” Applejack slammed a hoof on the ground.
“That was last time, not this time. How many trees, ponies?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Is this some kind of riddle? Hay, I don't know. Fifteen?”
“No! Four!” Alterius giggled even more. “Tell me how many trees!”
The rune on Applejack's cheek glowed with a threatening red light, distorting the air with heat. She spoke in an icy voice through clenched teeth. “Now listen here, Fey. I don't appreciate being jerked around, especially by your kind. I have half a mind to burn my way through this here test, consequences be damned.”
Alterius waved a finger. “Tsk tsk, pony, that's against the rules.”
“AJ...” Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack's chest, gently holding her back.
Applejack turned away and took a deep breath. The red light faded. “I'm fine,” she said, still clearly frustrated.
“There must be something we're missing...” Twilight scratched her chin and turned away from Alterius. She stared off into the swamp, thinking.
“You miss much, but in this case, only a little thing.” Alterius grinned, clearly pleased with his game.
“Can it, you.” Rainbow Dash glared at the Fey. “Twelve,” she added suddenly.
“No, five.” Alterius picked up his pipes and began to play parts of his song again between sentences. “Once again, how many trees?”
“Worth a shot.” Rainbow shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Too bad Pinkie isn't here, these two would get along great.”
“Wait a moment...” Twilight turned back to the group with a grin. “It's six!”
Alterius burst out laughing. “Yes! Well done, purple pony, well done!” He clapped.
“Huh?” Applejack and Rainbow Dash both gave Twilight confused looks.
Twilight smiled triumphantly. “It's a game, like he said. The question doesn't actually matter, the answer is just the number of words he uses to ask it! Unless there's a hanging introductory phrase, then you multiply – that part tripped me up.”
“That's our gal,” Applejack said with pride. She clapped Twilight on the shoulder.
“The Master will see you now.” Alterius smiled and snapped his fingers. Behind him, a tangle of vines parted to reveal a pathway covered with leaves.
“Finally!” Rainbow Dash said as she walked towards the path.
“Good luck! And do come back sometime, we'll play another game!” Alterius called after them. They waved, happy to finally be on the way towards their goal.
Twilight beamed. “Isn't this great? We've even ahead of schedule!”
Rainbow Dash was the first to spot the cottage. “That must be it.” She pointed towards the large cypress tree ahead of them, with characteristic mottled leaves. Nestled in a hole in the base was a piece of bark that seemed to be a crude door. The expected circle was carved into the trunk above it. Small charms made of bone, wood, and fur hung from the lower branches. Overall, it looked rather similar to Zecora's hut, but slightly more subtle in presentation.
Before they could say anything else, the makeshift door creaked open. From the shadows, a small creature emerged. He stood on two webbed feet and held a wooden cane. Green, frog-like skin was partially hidden under a roughspun robe and dark-colored veil. His head was wide and seemed to blend seamlessly with his neck. He paused, taking a deep breath through his nostrils, and spoke.
“You're late.”