//------------------------------// // Chapter 7, Undercover // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 12 -- Sweep of Time // by shysage //------------------------------// First order of business that night -- we cried for hours... Everypony in this circle had suffered terribly these past three months. Family found out we didn't die at least. Still, Shysage had already mentioned quietly yesterday what I already knew... Were it not for his physical stamina and his own sacrifice, I would never have survived the winter. And it was like nopony in Canterlot even cared about that, I don't know... We were alive, and our family knew that, but there was just a huge amount of pain in all of our hearts, Shysage and I included. Well, maybe our daughter Ari especially... For her to not know anything... We just cried... Second order of business, I did what I should have done the night we escaped. I backed away, changed into a people, then changed back into my nameless, markless dark blue pony body. I wanted to do that when my family was around, so they would know to not expect the Phantom Alicorn, well, white and gold. I guess I felt we needed all the help we could get. The Portal was buried in Princess Twilight's castle after all. And we guessed (correctly) it was guarded now. After that, we cried together some more, maybe a long time. Ariel especially, this was hitting her so hard. What in Equestria had we done... Of course we wouldn't ask. We were pretty sure everypony had promised... We cried for hours... As the sun began to ever so slightly brighten the eastern sky, Shyna said quietly, crying softly, "Shysage, Summer, you both need to come with me. There is a dense group of trees near the castle, and I need to take you both there. I'll come back and get my family after that..." Ariel pleaded "Just a few more minutes..." I guess we all felt that, and we cried together a little longer. Still, a while later, we were on our way. Leaving our daughter and my Sis behind, and hurting so much, that was very difficult. But Shyna, Shysage and I were soon high in the air, heading to that town we were never to approach again. Well, we were heading there, whatever. We had to do something. Whatever 'it' was, well, it was causing such pain for our family. We couldn't not try to see what we could do. Shyna led us to an easy landing in a large field next to a clump of thick, overgrown trees. I could see the castle lights from here, we were very close. At least it was still mostly dark. Shyna led us through a very slight break in the branches and we were soon into the middle. Well, even in the dark, it looked like ponies spent time in here. Shyna smiled and said "this is my Cottage. Filia and Fiona, we..." Then she started crying again. We all cried together a little while more. Shyna then left, and flew back to our sanctuary, to Ariel and Fluttershy. I guess they would return to this town like they normally do, and try to live their normal, painful lives... Even thinking that hurt... Shysage and I found a flat spot towards the back, as best as we could tell, laid on our bellies, and were soon asleep. I woke later to the sound of our Ariel crying very softly. Shysage was hugging her as she cried, and I got up and joined them. Quietly, we cried together some more. But I also realized that we weren't the only ones in Shyna's Cottage. Shyna was close, but so were Filia and Fiona. And, I guessed the girls met here often. With the daylight poking through the thick leaves and branches, it was clear they spent a lot of time in here. Well, this was good. The four of them being here, maybe it wouldn't be a problem. "Ariel and I went for a walk..." Shyna said quietly. "My Sis and I went for a walk too..." Filia also said quietly. Well, her Sis was Fiona, and I, well that meant a lot to me. I love my Sis... After a minute maybe, Fiona said this, quietly, haltingly "Summer, Shysage, I need to give you something... Ariel said "It's ok", and Shysage and I both got up. Using her magic, Fiona carefully put a shield necklace on us both. I knew what it said. TF MPOF True friendship means putting others first. Shysage and I, we live for that, and were trying to do that even now. Still, I wondered if our Princess Twilight still felt what was included on the other side... And Fluttershy, Shysage and I still had Princess Celestia's ankle-bands around our left front legs, right above our hoof, but... I wasn't sure how much that would matter now. I tried not to think about that... Filia said quietly. "This is our passive agressive approach to handling what is going on. I think some of our grown-up pony friends need a little reminding, I don't know... This is such a dumb mess..." Only then did I notice that Filia, Fiona, Shyna, even our Ariel already had shield necklaces on. The six of us cried together, quietly, hugging for a while. At around noon maybe, we calmed down, and Shyna went over the 'plan' for tonight, for getting us to the Portal. Maybe an hour after Princess Twilight left for Fluttershy's Cottage for dinner, Filia and Fiona would distract the guards and Spike. Shyna would then run out here and get us both. We were to quickly head straight to the Portal, and go through. Everypony agreed there would be very little time. Crying, I tried to thank Shyna, Filia and Fiona, and we all cried together some more. Then I guess Filia and Fiona had to go. We cried with our Ariel some more, then she and Shyna left as well. Ariel was back to weeping softly not far from these trees. Shysage had this most disgusted look on his face... And he said it again. "This is rediculous..." I said quietly "I know we are not supposed to even be here, but our Ariel..." Then I was weeping softly again. Shysage hugged me as I cried, then said, quietly, and in old pony... "Evil oft arise from within the gates" Then he added "Well, we need to do something..." We found our spot at the back of Shyna's Cottage, and were soon asleep again. Shysage felt this was a good idea, because we had no idea what kind of maelstrom we would be jumping into, whenever in the Past we would find ourselves. We woke up hours later. Shyna, clearly out of breath... "Summer, Shysage, you gotta come now, there is little time!" Shysage and I were up quickly, and followed Shyna as she ran. between breaths she said "Fiona has the guards in her room because she said she may have seen a mouse. Filia is up in the look-out with Spike talking about stars." Well, we knew the way. These brave girls had already put so much on the line to help us. It was up to Shysage and I now. As Shyna followed, we ran up the steps, down the hall, into the Library, and straight to the Portal. We didn't even look to see who else besides Shyna was in there. This was an absolutely blind leap if there ever was... Ten seconds later, Shysage and I were people, holding hands, and the Phantom Alicorn squeezed the rough wood Portal frame. There was a bright flash, and we were gone...