Chapter Three
Return to Equestria
The occasional drip of water is the only sound I can hear in the tunnel, aside from mine and Night Gleam’s hooves clopping on the stone floor. All I can see is the soft lavender glow of his horn illuminating what little it can of the path, but I can see just how narrow the walls are.
The stallion’s broader body takes up more room, but I don’t feel claustrophobic.
Thank Phauste for my petite little frame.
“Doing okay back there?” He whispers.
“Still following your giant flank,” I say, “And why are you whispering? Are we not the only ponies who know about this passage?”
“We are,” he confirms, “but, we do not know how thin these walls are. There may be guards listening.”
“Are we not below ground? And why would there be guards down here when they all seem to be fighting outside?”
He doesn't answer, and I smirk with smug satisfaction. I love being the smart one.
“I think we are nearing the end; I can make out light over there.”
My grin grows at his hasty attempt to change the subject. Unicorns are so fun to mess with.
True enough, though, I can make out slivers of white past the lavender hue. That’s definitely daylight.
When we reach the wall, Night Gleam slides his hoof across it, like he did before in the cell. And like before, the wall opens outward like a door.
Seems he wasn’t just talking out of his flank—This time.
My ears flick as I can hear yelling and the clashing of steel, but it’s fainter than before.
He dims his horn and peeks his head out for a few seconds, taking a look around, before gesturing with his hoof to follow him outside.
I squint as the daylight hits my face, though I have much more time and less pressure to compose myself. It takes a few seconds before my eyes adjust to the brightness.
The first thing I see is a grassy plain, with a dense-looking forest not too far into the distance. Behind me is one of the towers holding the wall of the town, which is still the scene of battle, by the sound of it.
“We’re just outside Forthüf,” Night Gleam states the obvious, and uses his magic to take a rolled up scroll from his bag and unfold it in front of his face, “From the front gates, Gaskin will be… south-east from here.”
I nod. At least we have some idea of where to go. “Okay, we’ll need to be careful. Those royal guards are still around.”
“As well as the damned Sunstar, I’d imagine,” he spits, scowling as he starts walking toward the forest, “We should go through that forest, we’ll be harder to track.”
I accept that logic with a nod and walk alongside him.
The fighting from beyond the wall is providing great cover for us. So far, it’s going great!
“Nightwinds!” A mare yells from behind, and I look back to see an armoured unicorn leaning over the top of the wall, “Archers, stop them!”
Crap. “Run!”
Night Gleam breaks into a sprint while I fly low alongside him. The whistling of arrows is close, and out the corner of my eyes, I can see them hitting the ground inches from my face.
I look back and see a number of arrows a good quarter of the way into the ground. I do not want that in my body.
I look at Night Gleam, who’s doing a great job keeping my speed. “Okay, new plan! Duck into that forest, and if we’re split up, just make for Gaskin!”
He nods, still looking ahead. “I’ll meet you back at the hideout!”
I nod and and lower myself to the ground, hitting the grass galloping, and disappear into the darkness of the trees.
“I’m sure one of them went this way!” A guard yells to his companions, stopping from their gallop to catch their breath.
“Are you sure?” A mare asks, “I don’t see her anywhere.”
“Or her friend,” Another stallion adds, with an exasperated sigh, “Let’s just head back, the Captain will understand.”
“Aye, Nightwinds are slippery buggers. She won’t be coming near Forthüf again, I can tell.”
“At least she won’t be giving us anymore trouble. Come on, no doubt we have some cleanup to do.”
With that, the trio of unicorns walk away, and I can’t help but snicker into my hoof as I watch, perched on a branch just over their heads.
Unicorns are so stupid!
I take a sigh of relief, giving silent thanks to Umbra for my lucky escape.
I can’t see or hear any sign of Night Gleam. I suppose he’s on his way back to Gaskin already.
I reach into my saddlebag of holding and pull out a piece of parchment, rolled up with a small piece of string. I untie it and allow the paper to unfold, and from shifting patches of sunlight, I can see small routes and names of towns.
At least, for a moment.
The images on the map start brightening for me to see. Outlines of routes, rivers and settlements glow a soft but bright white, with names in a moderate grey so I can read them clearly. A tiny arrow is pointed downward, as if sticking out of the map itself toward a doodle of trees beside Forthüf, meaning it’s showing where I am.
Some settlement names are showing in a royal blue hue, others in blood red. I came to realise a while ago that blue means the territory is run by the Royal Unicorn Army, while red means the Pegasus Empire are in control. Forthüf, for example, is written down in blue.
Enchanted maps, my only source of political news. And at a five-wingtip discount too. It’s not like the Winghelm general store couldn’t spare just one, right?
I press my hoof down on the trees the arrow is pointing too, watching with foal-like wonder as it passes through me like air before going back to focus.
Okay, so I’m here, and Gaskin is…
My hoof slides down and right in a diagonal motion, remembering Night Gleam’s original plan. My hope for a swift return home is getting slowly impaled the more my hoof goes across the map.
It stops on Gaskin, written in red on the most southeast border of the Equestria land before the shimmering lines that signify the sea. Whereas the arrow is near the centre, close to Riverhoof.
...there. Oh, Tartarus.
Forthüf is near the centre of Equestria, the nearest town being the fishing village of Riverhoof, and then the trading town of Ponyville not far off. A journey to Gaskin, on hoof, would take over a week!
I bite my lip and let out a quiet, exasperated groan. A week of walking does not sound fun.
But, until I find a cart driver willing to take me there, it’s all I’ve got.
Riverhoof won’t be hard to find. The river is just a mile north of the forest, so I can just follow it to the town.
I roll the map back up and tie the string around it, the light disappearing and letting the darkness of the forest return to cloak me.
I put the map in my saddlebag and rummage inside for something. Among my things, I can feel something soft and felt-like against my hoof.
“Good,” I mutter, and pull my leg back out, “Still there.”
I close up my saddlebag and sit idle for a few moments, ears pricked up to attention. They flick at the slight rustling of leaves in the wind and the warbling birds flying among them, but aside from that, no noise.
Perfect.
I creep down the trunk, keeping my ears pointed up just in case any… unsavoury types decide to make themselves known.
After making sure I’m still alone, I start heading northward, using the compass in my saddlebag to keep me in the right direction.
If the Nightwinds do one thing perfectly, it’s be prepared.
The forest isn’t exactly huge, according to the map illustration. Just a small collection of trees that should clear up in a bit.
I hope.
After about half an hour’s worth of walking, I’m met with a blinding sunlight as the last bunch of trees are put behind me.
I’m far too used to working in the dark.
Once my sight has adjusted, I take another look at the compass.
The needle is pointing ahead, which means I’m definitely facing north, and according to my fresh memory of the map, Riverhoof should be east of here. And not too far, either.
Whisper, when did you get so good?
I almost break into a strut for the road when I catch myself mid-step.
Nightwind armour, in the middle of an exposed trading route, in broad daylight. Why don’t I just put a sign over my head that says ‘Hello, I’m a master thief! Will die for free sword!’?
Good thing I always come prepared.
I pop open my saddlebag and pull out the felt item from before. A fetching blue dress, with small silver jewels around the hem. Well, technically they’re little rocks painted silver, but who cares as long as it looks nice—Classic Canterlot fashion, hasn’t let me down yet.
I quickly take off my armour and replace it with the dress, becoming a whole new pony. A harmless young mare named Cherry Wine, who’s off enjoying the sunshine with a walk through the countryside.
That alibi hasn’t failed me yet, but keeping my dagger sheathed underneath is never a bad second plan.
Some silly bandits learn the hard way.
The dress also keeps my wings nicely hidden as well. Best to stay on the safe side, since earth ponies are neutral to the war.
With my armour stowed away in my saddlebags—also tucked away beneath the dress—I begin my little walk toward the path and head eastward.
The trip to Riverhoof is taking longer than I anticipated, judging by the blue sky starting to take on a red and purple hue.
I squint to try and see what is ahead, but all I can make out is a pair of figures coming my way. Ponies, for sure.
As the figures and I approach each other and they get more focused in my sight, my heart sinks as I see who they are.
Sunstars.
We’re meters away now, and from the looks on their faces, the stallion and mare are not in the mood to mess around.
I start praying to Accipere that they don’t want my attention when we pass each other.
I keep a straight face as we pass by, and I inhale for a sigh of relief.
“Excuse us, miss?” I hear over my shoulder.
Damn it, Accipere, you had one job.
I let out a quiet groan before turning my head. “Yes…?”
The two Sunstars look at me, stone faced, before the mare asks, “We’ve just received word that a pair of Nightwinds are on the loose. You haven’t seen any ponies in pure black armour, have you?”
The door is locked, but I can slip through the window!
“Nightwinds, you say?” I ask, feigning surprise, “And around these parts?”
“Unfortunately so,” the stallion answers, “one was a prisoner, while the other was a spy. A mare and stallion, respectively. Do you know anything about them?”
“I cannot say I have,” I lie, then point my hoof back the way I came, “Though, on my way down the road, I could swear I saw something in the little forest back there, near that fort.”
“Of course!” The mare exclaims, “One of them must be using it as cover, and keeping so close to the crime scene as well! Clever, except they’ve let themselves be seen. Those little pack rats are getting sloppy.”
“Thank you, citizen,” the stallion smiles, and uses his magic to levitate a small sack out from under his armour, “Please accept a little token of appreciation from the Sunstar.”
“Oh, thank you kindly!” I chirp, taking the sack in my hoof, hearing the pleasant jingle of bits from inside, and feel its weight, “Oh, could you tell me how far Riverhoof is from here?”
“Just another few miles or so,” the mare says, “On hoof, it might take another hour to arrive there. Have a good evening.” She and the stallion nod gratefully.
I return the gesture. “You too, and good luck!”
The unicorns trot down the road, and I snicker while counting out my reward.
Good luck indeed. Night Gleam will be miles away by now, so they’ll be in that little wood for hours looking for something that’s not even there. How is Princess Platinum running Equestria if unicorns are so dumb?
Thirty bits for a wild goose chase. I’ll have the Royal Unicorn Army bankrupt in a matter of months!