//------------------------------// // Distorted Beginnings: Chapter Two // Story: Distorted Resonance // by Tangent //------------------------------// The group trotted into the library and found that Rainbow Dash had Twilight Sparkle pinned to the wall. With a sigh, Crystal wrapped her aura around the angry pegasus and lifted her bodily off of the scared unicorn. “Hey! What gives!? You said she looked like she knew what was going on! Doesn’t that make her a spy? Wait… You gave that letter to the badguy! You’re in cahoots with her, aren’t you!?” “Oh, wow, Rainbow,” Crystal snarked back with half-lidded eyes. “That’s two for two. Two completely wrong assumptions that is. Let’s try this again.” Pointing a hoof at Twilight she continued. “Unicorn from Canterlot. Arrived on an official sky chariot pulled by Royal Guards.” Then Crystal pointed at herself. “Unicorn who has lived in Ponyville for the past ten years, the first two of which spent in therapy so I could learn how to use my hooves and mouth properly. So of course we must be master spies.” “Ooh… You’re good!” Pinkie stated in awe. Crystal put her hoof to her face. “That was sarcasm, Pinkie.” “Oh. Well, that was good sarcasm then!” Pinkie smiled. “Alright, alright! You’re not spies! Can you let me go no-wagh!” Rainbow Dash fell to the floor with a thump. “Ow…” “You all right?” Applejack asked Twilight as she helped the unicorn to her hooves. “I’m fine, thanks,” Twilight responded as she steadied herself. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to find a book…” “Myths and Legends should be in the reference section, third stack, second shelf up,” Crystal told the lavender unicorn, earning a stare from everypony put Pinkie Pie, who went to fetch it. “What? What else could she be looking for after an ancient mythological figure popped up in the Town hall?” Not that Crystal wasn't aware that Twilight was probably looking for a different book relevant to the situation, but Myths and Legends would direct them back to the proper book anyway. Hopefully, anyway. Somepony had misfiled it recently, and she had yet to find out where it had been placed on the shelves. “Actually,” Twilight corrected, “I’m looking for ‘The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide’, which isn’t where the filing system says it should be.” “Found it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed cheerfully, as she fetched that book as well, then presented both of them to the group. “It was under ‘E’!” “I miss Codex Libram,” Crystal groaned. “Ever since she moved away, everypony has been putting the books they borrow wherever they think they should go instead of looking up the right location in the catalogue…” Not that two years worth of illegible notes and another eight of mix-and-match memories had anything to do with her irritation. Not at all. Really. Yeah, Crystal didn't believe herself either. *O o O o O* Nightmare Moon spied on the small group of ponies from the window of the Mage Tree, still in mist form. While she couldn’t hear everything they said through the wards, they were loud enough that she caught the gist of what was happening. Those were books, most likely referring to either her or the Elements of Harmony. The ponies were a diverse group of types and personalities, almost the very definition of ‘rag-tag’ as she last recalled it. Any second now and… yes, one of the white ones was bringing saddlebags of gear up from the cellar. This was a questing party. Bemused by the situation she found herself in, Nightmare Moon drifted off towards the forest that had grown around the castle she and her sister used to live in. On the one hoof, the one unicorn had gifted her with a picture of herself as Princess Luna, surrounded by happy ponies. On the other, the same unicorn was also obviously joining the band of would be ‘heroes’ that had chosen to try to win back the day. Seven ponies were even an auspicious number for such an endeavor. If they had any hope at all in actually succeeding, she’d actually be worried. But no, she’d been back to her old home already. The Elements were useless stone now, and one of them was even missing. Their quest was doomed to failure before they could even begin. Thinking of the happy ponies in the picture, Nightmare Moon was almost disappointed. Well, she supposed, even if their quest is hopeless, there was no reason not to make it memorable. Let them feel that they’ve tried their hardest. To rise to the challenge and possibly even win, if not their original goal, then some other suitable reward instead. Maybe then, they would find it in their hearts to one day be those same smiling ponies in the picture… *O o O o O* “Okay, we’re in your workshop, which is inside a boutique for some reason,” Twilight Sparkle stated impatiently. “Now would somepony please tell me why we stopped here when we should be heading into the Everfree Forest?” “Because we’re going to be heading into the Everfree Forest,” Crystal explained calmly as she started rifling through various drawers. “Which, on top of all the other problems associated with it, is a forest. Which we will be entering at night. And my sister owns the boutique and I happen to live with her. Having my workshop in part of her basement is convenient.” “There is a road that leads straight to the castle,” Twilight pointed out. “And we have three unicorns in the party. We don’t need a flashlight.” “And I’m not getting one,” Crystal replied agreeably. “Besides, each of the wilderness survival kits I got from the library’s basement should have one of those anyway. What I’m getting are… ah, here they are!” Seven crystals of various sizes floated from the most recently opened drawer, each crudely fastened to a clip. “What are they?” Twilight asked, curiosity pushing aside her sense of urgency. “Automap Crystals!” Crystal stated proudly. “These are all just basic prototypes, but each of these passed the stress test and their memory caches have already been cleared, so they should be up for the job. Automap Command Prompt: Form and Synchronize Group Set: exe.” Crystal then took one between her front hooves as she set the rest on the work bench and removed her aura from them. “Automap command prompt: set user: Crystal Synergy: exe.” “Auto…” Twilight parsed, and then her eyes widened. “You made a real time personal cartography spell? And made it capable of synchronizing with shared data!?” “Actually, the second part was much easier than I thought it would be,” Crystal commented as she passed the remaining six crystals out. “The hard part was getting the cartography bit stable enough to map Pinkie’s movements over the course of a week.” “It was fun!” Pinkie Pie put in perkily. “Earth ponies should not be capable of non-Euclidean movement, Pinkie,” Crystal commented dryly. “What do éclairs have to do with anything?” Pinkie asked. “I suppose-” Crystal started, only to get interrupted by Applejack. “Focus, Crystal. I can see how these here doohickeys would be mighty useful in the Everfree Forest, so just tell us how to work them so we can get on our way. Daylight’s not comin’ any sooner the longer we lollygag about.” “Fair enough,” Crystal replied agreeably. In short order, everypony had their new devices set, activated, and clipped somewhere on their bodies. Leaving the Carousel Boutique, the group continued on their way. *O o O o O* “Um…” Twilight began hesitantly as the group approached the night-shrouded forest. “If nopony who enters the Everfree Forest ever comes out again, who maintains this road?” “It’s the same road that leads from Ponyville to Canterlot, predating Ponyville and even the Everfree Forest itself,” Crystal replied. “The road markers have wards set in them running in a series all the way from Canterlot. I wouldn’t trust that all of the ones between here and the old castle are still in place though, or even in good condition. Which is another reason for the automap crystals.” “Good thing too,” Applejack noted. “We’ve only just entered the forest and I can already tell that the quality of the road under our hooves has dropped from fair to passable. Most likely we’re gonna run into some sections were the road just ain’t there no more.” The seven then fell into silence as they entered the forest proper, immediately feeling a pall of gloom as the dark canopy overhead blocked out the light of the moon. Twilight Sparkle wondered how her friends back in Canterlot were faring… *O o O o O* “‘Have a research party at Twilight’s place’, you said,” Moondancer stated accusingly. “‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ Well, apparently the worst that could happen was getting arrested for breaking and entering and accused of burglary for stealing my own birthday gifts! No, wait, the worst that could happen was getting arrested after barely getting any of the research Twilight was depending on us to do for her done! Oh, wait, it gets even worse than that! After waiting all night in a holding cell, the sun fails to come up and we get accused of being Nightmare Moon cultists! And I’m apparently the ringleader of our hypothetical little band of loonies because my name happens to have the word ‘Moon’ in it! This is the worst birthday ever!” Minuette was cowering in a corner of the cell, as far away from Moondancer as she could get, her eyes pinpricks of terror as Moondancer vented her rage and frustration. Truth to tell, Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts weren’t feeling much better about the situation they had found themselves in either. All four had just spent the remainder of what might just have been the last day ever and the possible beginning of everlasting night in a holding cell wearing prison quality magic suppressors, feeling that they had let their friend, Twilight Sparkle, who had been depending on them, down. In short, they were frightened, miserable, and emotionally frayed. They all jumped, startled when the door leading to the holding cells opened abruptly, and each of them couldn’t help but wonder what new accusation was going to be added to ther list of charges. “Alright, you lot! We just got word that the Captain of the Royal Guard wants to see you four personally, so you’re no longer my problem. Now stand up and get in line so you can be fitted with collars, shackles, and chains. I’m going to deliver you straight to Captain Shining Armor myself, along with the report, the evidence, and the list of charges. I may even get a promotion out of this.” *O o O o O* Crystal tried to remember what order the obstacles had happened in the original canon. She was pretty sure she remembered what they were (a collapsing ledge, a manticore, scary trees, Steven Magnet, and the Shadowbolts), but ten years of faded memories had left her unsure of which ones were encountered in which order. Or when, for that matter, as they’d been trotting for over an hour now. Ah, the curse of trying to apply the faded memories of a kids’ show that had to fit within half-hour increments to a real world setting. Crystal was fairly sure that the order the episodes were aired didn’t match up with the way Equestria really worked either, considering that the order of the seasons always remained the same, and autumn had never followed right after winter during any time in the past ten years she had been living in Ponyville. Not to mention that the Running of the Leaves was named for the time of year the event took place in rather than for any actual effect it had on the rate dead leaves fell from trees (which amounted to none at all) Distracted by her thoughts, Crystal failed to notice that they had veered south, away from the road, a faint sound of woodwind pipes caressing her ears with a seductive melody even as a heady, musky scent caressed her nose… *O o O o O* “Sergeant Sparks Roughly of the Canterlot City Watch reporting with prisoners, Sir!” “Prisoners,” Captain Shining Armor stated evenly, his expression unreadable. “I was not aware that any charges had actually been filed against these mares. The report I had received earlier only indicated that they were being held for questioning." “I have a more detailed report and corroborating evidence right here, Sir,” Sergeant Roughly passed the report and a mid-sized parcel over with his aura. Shining Armor dutifully accepted the report and carefully read it on the spot, comparing it to the ‘evidence’ that had been in the parcel. Sergeant Roughly stood confidently as he waited by the four prisoners. The mares for their part, miserably waited for whatever terrible fate was about to befall them next with resigned despair. “Tell me, Sergeant Roughly,” Shining Armor began speaking, careful to maintain the same controlled, even tone as before. “By any chance were you present when these mares were found in the suite assigned to Princess Cellestia’s personal student?” “Um… No, Sir. I wasn’t present at the arrest. I came on shift once they were already in custody.” “And were they already in a holding cell when you assumed your duties?” “No, Sir,” Sergeant Roughly admitted nervously, wondering what was going wrong here. “They were being held in an unsecured interview room.” “Interesting,” Shining Armor commented. “That is precisely where the first report I received about them said they were being held. As ponies of interest. Would you like to know why I was contacted about them?” “Er… Because they were found in that particular suite, Sir?” “Well, yes, that is part of it,” Shining Armor admitted. “However, the main reason I was contacted as quickly as I was, and believe me, I really wish I had been contacted even earlier than I had been, was that nopony had been able to contact the resident of that particular suite in a timely manner. And there is a very good reason why the later takes precedent over the former in this case.” Shining Armor barely shifted his stance at all, but suddenly he seemed to loom, his very presence bearing down on Sergeant Sparks Roughly, making the Watchpony feel tiny and insignificant. “You see, I know these mares, even though they have yet to be introduced to me. I’ve known about them for years because of who they associate with. I have detailed files on their activities and personal habits. I know their hopes and dreams, in as much as they’ve ever told anypony else what they were. I know these things because I am Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard; brother of Twilight Sparkle, who is Princess Celestia’s current personal student. I know these things because I care for my little sister very much, so I pulled myself away from dealing with a national emergency as soon as I could spare the time to check on a more personal situation and get it out of the way so I could return to my duties with a clear head.” If anything, Shining Armor’s presence became almost overwhelming, leaving Sparks Roughly paralyzed by the shear weight of disapproval alone. All the more impressive as he still had barely moved at all. “So, please explain to me, Sergeant Sparks Roughly of the Canterlot City Watch, why is it that my little sister’s friends, who had merely been taken into custody as suspects and possible ponies of interest, were brought to me as prisoners wearing heavy chains and suppressors normally reserved for dangerous criminals?” Sergeant Sparks Roughly couldn’t speak, he was so terrified. He didn’t even register the golden puddle forming at his hooves… *O o O o O* Seven mares smiled serenely as they wandered into a clearing lit by torches, fireflies, and drifting wisps of pale light. A picnic spread lay off to one side, with plates of fruit and vegetables, sandwiches, and pastries. Various drinks were there too, in bottles, flagons, steins, mugs, and glasses of all sorts shapes and sizes, not one of them making any pretence of being anything other than alcoholic in nature. And dancing there in the middle, playing reed pipes, was a hooved biped with goat-like legs, a torso and arms reminiscent of a centaur or minotaur, and a head resembling some strange primate. He was as handsome as he was hideous, and very undeniably masculine. Noticing them, he stopped and smiled invitingly. “Ah, ladies! I bid you welcome! Please, come join me! Have some food! Have some drink! Indulge yourselves in a game or two to pass the time as I get to know you! Surely you can take a break from your troubles to relax for a while as I entertain you? I assure you that I can be very charming when the mood strikes me” The mares met these claims with empty smiles and vacant eyes as they approached the strange male. “Yes, I can be very charming indeed…”