//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Visitors // by Daring_Do //------------------------------// Prologue Sunshines licked ridges of the mountains last time and disappeared. They will come back tomorrow, of course, but now, night captured Equestria. Lonely pony was come at home at the dusk, exhausted, with matted tail. He wore a brown hat and cloak, and cutiemark peeked under it. Loup and footprint. Grim. This is his name. Joke of irresponsible parents or not, but he wanted to forget his family name. Grim was a detective of Equestria and this was another his disastrous day. It’s just no pony to catch at Ponyville. No cases at this little terribly nice and quiet town. Like the week before and another week ago. All he did it’s wandered around the town trying to find at least something, maybe one hint of a real crime. But unsuccessfully. He got a reputation of paranoid detective, although in the past he was the hero of Canterlot. In the past, it’s all in the past. Grim came to his house and pushed the door. He threw his hat on the hatrack and brushed his short ginger mane. Brown with red. These colors do not mix, even in the paintings of Van Gogh. But that’s irony. Grim has this colors. "Hey, Grim! Glad to see you! I started to worry, it is too late, I thought you lost! " "I walked around." He said casually, "Protected Ponyville peace ... I think I've found something." Pony turned to him, sitting in his chair. That's his room-mate. They rent this house for many years together. Dark green pony called Gros had to break away from the Sunday newspaper  "Equestria Daily". Last page. Fantasy and horror. Today they wrote something about obscure things in the Everfree Forest. "Oh? The real case? A crime? Will l hear the details straight from the horse's mouth? " "I don’t sure. Some fillies are hanging at the house in the forest. Sometimes a lot of them. I’m afraid if they forming a gang or something like that ... " "Yes ... they do.... You are definitely crazy, Grim. This is called a tree house, fillies playing there. " Grim abruptly rose from his chair, which took a second ago and sent a full of the irritation look at his roommate. "Criminals organizations, terrorist attacks borning just like that. They are problems! And I solves problems! Your and other pony’s deal is waving your ears and compete who will pull more wools over it! Read the newspaper. " "You're scaring me, maybe you should visit Canterlot? Or Menehattan? There must be a lot of interesting exhibitions in this time of year. " Gros was accustomed to such outbursts. He can understand. It’s awful when you can not fulfill your purpose. Meanwhile, Grim calmed down. "You pointing at the fact that I have a lot of spare time? Your point. I don’t know about Manehattan, but i really need fresh air. " Grim grabbed his hat and went out, slamming the door. "Do not be late! Or you will skip evening game!" Shouted from the house, but detective already left the place of... residence. He couldn’t found anything better than to go to Everfree Forest. Deserted place, easier to think. Is it nothing what detective could take? No more any case, criminals? Their time has passed? But Grim believed. One day ... he will fulfill his duty. For Equestria, and for the princesses. He catched a gust of autumn wind. Cloudsdale working even at night?. The wind brought to Grim damp smell of the forest, coolness, and... something else? Voice? "In the name of the goddess, who can walk near Everfree Forest? Except detective who lost his hope?"  Thought Grim. Echoes repeated. Something looks like cries of jubilation. Detective just couldnt left it behind. Voices clearly came out behind of the trees. Several of them. Pretty rude, maybe adult stallions. But he saw something stunning. Grim parted the branches and froze. The Portal. Flows of air came outside swirled and turned into a full wind. It almost blew his hat away from the head. "It's a success! Another world, but so looks like ours!" Said one of the creatures who stood next to the portal. It had a funny small mane on a small round head. But in fact they are somewhat superior to the growth of the detective. They all looked like that. And their coat grown selectively, as if they were bald. Coat covered the top of their heads only and some tufts on their muzzles. "More important thing that we must find something useful as soon as possible, our time is running out." Said another. This one was unique. The others stood around him, as if they waited the command to run from him. And they will obey immediately. Also, he kept something that emitting light. It wasn’t look like a candle. Light was smooth like a magic light. Magic Crystal? Maybe. "I need to collect a few samples. The air is clean, we can breathe, zero radiation. Frankly it’s mooore clearer than our. We can come here on vacation, yes, Rush? " "We know nothing about this world. Perhaps, we are in dangerous here, send few guns here " That was enough. Grim stepped out from the bushes into the clearing to a bunch of obscure creatures. They responded immediately. Luminous object turned at him at the same moment. At night it shone bright as the sun. "What is it? Animal?" "Seems not dangerous It’s similar to our horse" "Most looks like pony" "Why it closed his eyes by hoof? It looks weird...and funny. " "Watch him, maybe there are a lot of them. Let's go back to the topography of the ... " Aliens lost an interest to pony and returned to their map. "Hey! Who are you and what's going on here?" Grim began to lose patience, but he knew that it might be a new type of intelligent beings in front of him.  Guests of the portal froze. Then they slowly turned their heads toward the pony. "It talk?" "I heared it quite clear" Lantern turned back at the pony. "Name youself!" "Look, buddy, you visiting me, it’s my home, not your!." "You know, that’s point, Rush" Light from his magic crystal waited just a moment, then stepped aside. "You're right, where are my manners? Listen, little pony. My name is Leader Rush. We found this  miracle in the ancient ruins of our world and we would like to explore the place where we are now. So, where are we? " Said their chief. Grim straightened his hat. "Equestria, sir, the world of ponies, unicorns and pegasus." "There are a lot of you?" "Gosh, whole cities!" The second creature bent to his leader ear. "Mastering the architecture. Expecting the presence of mineral resources, that’s minimum. Also, possibly they have the government organization." Leader Rush narrowed his eyes. "Can you, my friend, speak for your nation? Can you represent it?” "Well said, sir. I can not. You have to talk with Princesses, I think. They rule this country. " "Excellent! Centralized power! Conveniently. Exactly what we needed. Can you bring them to us? " "Hold your horses, man. Who the hay are you? And what do you want from us? " Grim crossed his hooves. "We called humans. And we have come here in search of mineral resources. wood, water, fuel, and it seems that we looking for a new friends now" Rush smiled warmly. "We will not go too far from the portal, we going to build a camp around it, wile waiting your arrival with the princesses. But for now, conversation is over." "Heh… As you wish. I'll do as soon as I can" Two silhouette came from the portal, they brought a big box. And Grimm turned back and ran home as fast as he could. These humans are so fast. Looks like they are always in a hurry. Maybe it's the pace of their lives? It is possible. Nevertheless, it's really urgent case. Something couldnt hide from his careful eyes, some of humans stood with iron sticks and held it as if their lifes depends on it. Weapons! Guessed detective. Things comes from bad to worse. He can’t stop them alone, and ponies at the city wont believe to detective-paranoid. Remains one last thing. He really must go to Canterlot immediately. With this thoughts Grim opened the door to his house and began to rummage in the bedside table. He looked for the bits that he left  on a rainy day. "Wow! Friend, you're so excited! You decided nevertheless to go at big town for vacation or you found a new REAL case ... again?" Gros chuckled. He clearly delighted his successful joke. "Both, Gros! I'm going to Canterlot, immediately! " "Wow!  Will l hear the details straight from ... " "No time! Read the details in today's newspaper! On the last page!" And he closed the door behind. Gros shrugged and looked at the last page. The headline said "Hitherto unknown creatures have seen in Everfree Forest!" "His roof finally flew off ..." Thoughts rushed one after another like a reilway lamps behind the window. What he could do? Or he made right choice? Or he should keep an eye on that aliens from the portal and send to the princesses somepony else? Does he even seen them? Maybe he just dreamed? But what's done is done. Shock didnt let him go completely yet, but the train began to stop, and it means that he need to focus.  Night Express arrived at the station with the first rays of the sun. But it was still too early for city awakening. However, there was a deeper problem than crowded streets. Guards refused his wish to get in the castle. "Wait, pony. Castle closed to the public. " "Get off, serviceman, I have important news for the princesses, they need to know ..." But the guard did not agree with him, he blocked his path. "If I could take a bit from each pony like you, I could move to a rich quarter a long time ago" "I bet, you do..." Another goof who cares about his work and himself only. With the papers to have access to an audience, he can lose a week. Grim wanted to ask Twilight about help at Ponyville. She have a constant connection with the castle, but it turned out that she and her friends also somewhere in Canterlot. So, he is one. And Grim used to never give up. Half an hour was spent on the preparation. He found hook and rope. Protection of the castle were good, but not very attentive. Especially at early morning. The sun had almost risen, it means that at least one of the sisters is not sleeping. The hook firmly caught the stone window. Detective easily climbed inside. Even during depressive days, he did not forget about training.