• Published 27th Apr 2019
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The Equestrian Odyssey - A Tale of Two Worlds - Kamahido



Twilight accidently brings a human from Earth to Equestria. Will he be able to coexist with the equine inhabitants of this new land?

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Chapter 12 - Unlikely Sources

Stepping onto the sigil in the corner of the room with the others, Dinky powers it up. A split second later she regrets that decision as they appear on top of the stacked up food, scattering it across the room. Arc’s squad rushes in with Max in the lead.

“What happened?!”

Dinky sighs as she looks around. “Let’s just say that we should’ve walked back and leave it at that.”

Apple Bloom groans. “Yeah.”

Sweetie Belle lays on her back. “We feel kinda silly right now.”

Sereb chuckles. “At least no one was hurt.”

Xenos grins. “In any case, let’s get this mess cleaned up.”

Hugh nods. “Right.”

A short time later the provisions are restacked on the sigil. Dinky pulls out her father’s gauntlet and hops up on the pile.

“I’ll get this stuff over to the village.”

Sereb frowns. “And us?”

“As soon as I can I’ll open the portal.

Sweetie Belle waves. “We’ll be waiting.”

Dinky grins and powers up the sigil. A moment later both she and the food vanish. Reappearing on the sigil back in her hospital room, Dinky moves to hop down. However, the pile shifts and she crashes noisily to the floor. Doctor Lighthoof runs into the room.

“Dinky?! Are you…?!”

She stops talking as her eyes rest on the pile of food.

“What’s… where did…?!”

“Um… it’s kinda complicated.”

Lighthoof helps her up and sighs.
“It’s still very early, you know. I’m sure your friends would like to sleep a bit longer. Please try not to wake them. Now then, about this…”

“They’re already up.”

“Oh? How do you know?”

“Because we… um… left for a bit.”

Lighthoof puts a hoof on Dinky’s head. “Now, now. You shouldn’t be going outside in your condition. It’s not safe.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I don’t understand.”

“One second. I need to get my friends back here first.”

Dinky channels her magic into the gauntlet and opens a portal. Doctor Lighthoof gasps.

“What is…?!”

“You’ll see.”

A few moments later Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Sereb walk through. They look to Lighthoof as Dinky closes the portal. Sweetie Belle grimaces.

“Uh oh.”

Apple Bloom gasps. “We can explain!”

Sereb sighs. “Indeed. But it will not be simple, I assure you.”

Dinky nods. “You see… we need to be moving on. But at the same time, all of us wanted to repay you for your kindness.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

Sweetie Belle frowns. “Yes, we did. None of us would have made it out of the forest without everypony’s help.”

Sereb smiles. “And you tended to our wounds. For that, we thank you.”

Apple Bloom gestures to the pile. “Consider this a gift from the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

Lighthoof raises an eyebrow. “The what now?”

Dinky giggles. “Sorry. That what we call our little group. Please see to it that this food is properly distributed.”

“I… um… I will. But you four really shouldn’t leave just yet. Your wounds are still tender.”’

Apple Bloom rubs her backside. “We’ll be okay.”

Dinky nods. “Right.”

“Well, thank you very much for the food. All of you are welcome here in Safe Haven anytime you need a place to rest.”

Sweetie Belle grins. “We might take you up on that someday.”

Sereb gestures to the floor. “Might we leave this sigil here?”

“That circle thing on the ground?”

Dinky nods. “Yeah. We can use it to come back later if need be.”

Apple Bloom turns to the doctor. “Having a link to an out of the way hospital might come in handy at some point if we run into trouble.”

“By all means, it’s the least we can do for you!”

Dinky appears relieved. “Thanks. Well, take care of yourself, Doctor Lighthoof.”

She opens a portal and motions for the others to walk though. Lighthoof calls out to her.

“Dinky?”

“Yes?”

“Who are you really?”

“I’m just Dinky.”

“You have to be more than that! No filly is as brave or thoughtful as you!”

“Honestly, I’m just a filly who’s looking for her dad. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

Lighthoof smiles. “And I hope you find him. Be safe.”

Dinky nods and steps through the portal. The doctor looks at the food for a long time. Eventually she smiles and turns to leave the room.

“The chief will be very pleased to hear of this.”

Meanwhile, Dinky steps out of the portal and walks over to her friends.

“What are we doing at the Winsome Falls, Dinky?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s really pretty and all. But we have a job to do.”

Sereb nods. “I am sure you have your reasons.”

Dinky walks over to Sereb’s saddlebags. “Right.”

She pulls out the scrap of her father’s cape. Unwrapping it, she looks over the items they’ve found thus far. Putting the gauntlet back with the other mementos, she returns the wrapping to its place in the saddlebag before turning back to the others.

“The trail’s gone cold in the forest. While I get the feeling my dad was there, I know he wouldn’t want us traveling through there by ourselves.”

Apple Bloom looks around. “What does that have to do with this place?”

“We know that Captain Decimus was there when my dad was thrown out the window. So he knows the truth regarding what really happened back then.”

Sereb nods soberly. “Indeed. However, I do not believe he would tell us were we to ask.”

Sweetie Belle shudders. “Right. Nor is he out here.”

Dinky turns and looks toward the falls. “Well, if I can’t ask him, I’ll do the next best thing and ask a friend of his.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “Who?”’

“Tempest.”

Sereb growls. “What?!”

Sweetie Belle looks around cautiously. “She lives around here?!”

“In an abandoned village a couple hours walk from here.”

Apple Bloom gasps. “How do you know that?!”

“We found it during our family vacation to the falls.”

Sereb growls. “How?!”

“My dad thought he heard voices during the night. The next morning we just started walking as my dad followed his instincts.”

Apple Bloom sighs. “That was a lucky break.”

Sweetie Belle groans. “Or not, considering who Tempest is.”

“Well, I know she and Decimus are friends. And it’s normal for friends to tell each other their deepest, darkest secrets. So she might be the only other pony in all of Equestria who knows what actually happened.”

Sereb frowns. “But will she tell us.”

Apple Bloom shakes her head. “Probably not.”

Sweetie Belle shudders. “Right! She’s a really mean pony!”

Dinky sighs. “That’s true. But we really don’t have any other leads to follow.”

Sereb looks toward the tree line. “If you can give me directions I will carry you three to your destination.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You’re not exactly fully healed yet.”

“Neither are you three.”

Sweetie Belle nods. “He raises a good point.”

Dinky turns to Sereb. “Kinda. Are you sure we won’t hurt you, Sereb?”

“I am. The three of you are much lighter than anyone else to ride me in the past.”

“Let’s take him up on it. We’ll get there that much quicker too.”

“But be sure to let us know if you need to take a break.”

“Very well, but that goes for you three as well.”

Mounting Sereb, they make their way in the direction Dinky indicates. Eventually Sweetie Belle points a hoof ahead.

“Hey! Is that an old road?!”

Apple Bloom pulls out a paper. “There isn’t anything on the map.”

Dinky grins. “Trust me, that fact came up last time I was here too.”

Sereb turns to the fillies. “If we follow this, where will it lead?”

“A forgotten town called ‘Stableton’.”

Apple Bloom looks over the chart. “I don’t get it. How could an entire town just be left out on the map.”

Dinky sighs. “Because everypony living there disappeared a long time ago.”

Sweetie Belle gasps. “What?! And we’re GOING there?!”

Sereb frowns. “So it would seem.”

Dinky nods soberly. “Right. But you two can’t tell anypony where this town is, or even that it exists.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Because its sole survivor wouldn’t be too thrilled.”

Sweetie Belle appears nervous. “You mean…?”

“Yes. Tempest Shadow.”

Following the path, they eventually reach the edge of town. Apple Bloom gasps.

“There really IS a town way out here!”

“I can’t believe it either!”

Sereb growls. “We would do well not to stay here longer than absolutely necessary.”

Dinky frowns. “Yeah, well… we can’t leave until Tempest tells us something we can use!”

“Where should we start looking?”

“It’s not a very big town, but…

Dinky hops off Sereb’s back. “Tempest’s house is this way.”

“While I’m almost afraid to ask this, but… how do you know that, Dinky?”

“I’ve been there before with my dad.”

Sweetie Belle groans. “What for?!”

“We stayed the night. She may be kinda scary, but Tempest isn’t exactly the cold and calculating mare everypony makes her out to be.”

Sereb growls. “I have only seen the screeching banshee in that light before!”

Apple Bloom turns to Sweetie Belle. “Well, we did see her in Baltimare helping feed the hungry.”

“Maybe she isn’t really all THAT bad then.”

Sereb shakes his head. “Doubtful.”

Dinky leads them down the overgrown road. Eventually they come to Tempest’s house.

“I think the rest of you should stay on the road. She might not take so many visitors at once very well.”

Sereb frowns. “I do not like the idea of you going to that door alone!”

Dinky sighs. “Neither do I. But Tempest kinda respects me due to our… shared history, I guess.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m confused too.”

“Back at the New Beginnings Orphanage I really impressed her. She thought that I’d be something special someday.”

Sereb nods. “Your father believed that too. However…!”

“Sereb, I… I need to do this. Now please stay back with the others.”

“…very well.”

Dinky walks up the steps and over to the front door. Taking a deep breath, she knocks loudly. A few seconds later Light’s Bane stabs through the door about a foot or so over Dinky’s head. Pulling the spear back inside, the door flies open and Tempest looks around. Turning her gaze down, she glares at Sereb and the others as the wolf frantically pulls Dinky back with a Telekinesis Spell.

“I have you!”

“What are YOU doing here?!”

Dinky frowns as she walks forward to stand on the porch again. “My friends and I need to talk to you!”

“About WHAT?!”

Dinky narrows her eyes as she looks up at Tempest. “I think you already know.”

There is a long and tense silence which none of them attempt to break. Eventually Tempest throws her spear over her shoulder and turns to walk inside.

“Come in.”

Dinky motions to her friends to follow. They slowly enter the dim house together as Sereb positions himself between Tempest and the fillies as their host walks toward the fireplace and sits down on her haunches.

“Sit with me, Dinky.”

Sereb growls. “I don’t believe…!”

“NOW!”

Dinky calmly walks toward the mare and sits down across from her. They look at each other for a long time before Tempest cracks a smile.

“You’re just like your father.”

“How so?”

“He was one of the few stallions in my adult life to be able to look me in the eye without his knees knocking.”

“You don’t scare me.”

Tempest grins wickedly as she looks to her weapon. “With just a flick of my fetlock I could end your life.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“And that thought doesn’t frighten you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I know you won’t.”

Tempest laughs as she tosses the weapon behind her.

“From the moment I laid eyes on you, I could tell you were special.”

“Thanks. But I didn’t come here to talk about the orphanage days.”

Tempest nods. “I figured.”

“What do you know about my dad?”

“That he’s no longer among the land of the living.”

Apple Bloom gasps. “How do you know?”

Sweetie Belle appears frightened. “Did you see his body?”

Tempest shakes her head. “I did not. However from what Decimus told me, he couldn’t have survived both his wounds and the fall.”

“What exactly happened?”

Tempest shrugs. “I don’t actually know.”

Sereb growls. “We’re wasting our time here, Dinky!”

“Maybe. But I think Tempest is hiding something.”

“What reason would I have for lying about it now? Nopony could take me in, nor would it bring Arc back.”

“Maybe not. But my friends and I are looking for him.”

“Chasing after ghosts now?”

“Either we find him alive and well, or we bring his body back to Ponyville to properly lay to rest.”

Tempest nods soberly. “Very noble of you.”

“So can you help us?”

Tempest sighs. “I honestly don’t know, as I wasn’t there.”

Sereb seethes. “But you’re the mate of Decimus! He HAD to tell you!”

“Honesty, I was as upset about that whole matter as your four were.”

She sighs and stands to walk over to the window.

“Arc meant more to me than you know. But I doubt you came here to listen to me talk about adult matters.”

Dinky nods soberly. “Tell me.”

“Alright then. In all honesty, I owed your father a great debt.”

Apple Bloom gasps. “You did?”

Sweetie Belle looks to the mare, clearly skeptical. “How so?”

“There was an incident back in Ponyville some time ago. I became… infatuated with Arc via magical means. Back then I could think of nothing more than having him breed me.”

Sereb bares his teeth. “Miserable banshee! Arc would never…!”

“He didn’t take me!”

Dinky speaks in an even tone. “Why not?”

“Because he was a true gentlepony. I was cared for and cured by him back then. Later there was the incident with my sister…”

Sereb scoffs. “When you stabbed her?!”

Tempest sighs. “Yes.”

Apple Bloom nods. “It didn’t look like you did it on purpose from where I stood.”

“Had Arc not acted as he did, I would have killed her. He took her to the hospital for treatment and then back home. She became enamored with him after you and the others visited Baltimare and helped us feed the poor.”

Sweetie Belle grins. “That was fun!”

“Was it?”

Apple Bloom nods. “Yeah!”

“Why?”

Dinky sighs. “We just liked helping out. Same as you, Tempest.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re trying to protect this world and everypony in it. My dad was no different in that regard.”

Sereb rolls his eyes. “Methodology, perhaps.”

Dinky turns. “Sereb!”

“No, he’s right. But you need to understand that Decimus and myself… were the same. We’ll do whatever it takes to safeguard this land. No price is too high to achieve that goal. After all, what point is there in victory if everypony is dead or homeless?”

Dinky shakes her head. “Simple. We can rebuild. Those left would make Equestria a land of light and hope again. “

Apple Bloom smiles. “It wouldn’t happen overnight. But I’m sure that by working together anything is possible.”

Sweetie Belle shudders. “That and I wouldn’t want to live the rest of my life knowing I sacrificed others for the sake of our continued survival.”

Tempest grins at Dinky. “I see your friends are just like you.”

“We’re a team. But with the trail cold, we’ve run out of leads. That’s why we came to you. Now then… can you help us?”

“I honestly don’t know for sure what happened, as Decimus isn’t talking to me about it. However, I do have something that… belongs to you.”

Sweetie Belle gasps. “What is it?”

“Give me a few minutes.”

Walking over to Light’s Bane, she picks it up and slashes at the air in front of her. Opening a dark portal she walks through it and vanishes from sight. Sereb growls.

“We would do well to leave while she is away!”

Dinky shakes her head. “But she might really have something!”

Apple Bloom gasps. “Or she could be going to get somepony to help her take us out!”

Sweetie Belle shudders. “I don’t think she would need help to do that.”

Tempest returns in short order with a sack slung over her shoulder. She drops it in front of Dinky.

“You should have this.”

Opening the bag Dinky reaches inside. Her eyes grow wide as she pulls out the large object inside.

“M-my dad’s helmet?!”

Tempest nods. “Decimus took it from the scene before anypony else arrived. He’s been keeping it ever since.”

Sereb glares at Tempest. “WHY?!”

“As a trophy, I guess.”

Dinky holds the helmet to her chest and smiles.

“Are you there, Miss Cherry.”

Cherry calls out sadly. “Yes, Dinky. I’m here.”

Tempest frowns and steps back, her spear at the ready.

“What was that?!”

“Miss Cherry. She and my dad were going to get married before she… um… passed away.”

Sereb snarls. “By one of your own, Tempest!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Cherry calls out. “It was General Wind Rider. He killed me in an attempt to get to Arc.”

Tempest frowns. “I never liked that coward. However, I’m not taking responsibility for his stupidity.”

Sereb scoffs. “We wouldn’t expect you to.”

Dinky looks at the helmet’s front. “Miss Cherry. We need to know something very important.”

“So do I. What happened to Arc?”

“We… don’t really know?”

Sereb sighs. “The official story is that he was killed by Celestia in self defense.”

Apple Bloom nods soberly. “Yes. But we can’t accept that.”

Sweetie Belle sighs. “Our hope is to either find him safe and sound, or bring him home to Ponyville for a proper burial.”

Dinky grimaces. “But we’ve run out of leads. Can you tell us exactly what happened that night, Miss Cherry?”

“It… all happened so fast. One moment Arc was talking to Captain Decimus and Admiral Gaston. The next he was…”

Cherry’s voice breaks as she struggles to keep it together.

“…he was stabbed in the back!”

Sereb roars. “WHAT?!”

Apple Bloom gasps. “By who?!”

“Princess Celestia herself!”

Sweetie Belle’s eyes grow wide. “But she would never…!”

Dinky holds the helmet tightly. “Miss Cherry, are you ABSOLUTELY certain of this?!”

“Yes! I saw the whole thing happen! She stabbed your father with her horn before throwing him aside!”

Tempest frowns. “But why would she do that?!”

“I don’t know! Decimus said something strange and the princess… she… she shot Arc with all her might!”

Apple Bloom groans. “That just doesn’t make sense! After all, everypony knows Princess Celestia is a kind and honest ruler!”

Cherry scoffs. “Well, in that moment all I saw was a vicious ANIMAL!”

Sereb frowns. “Can you explain, Miss Cherry?”

“She didn’t appear to be herself. I don’t know if it had to do with what happened to her on Earth, or if she somehow just lost it, but… but that was ANYTHING but princess-like!”

Dinky looks to Tempest. “We have to tell somepony about this!”

“Nopony would believe you.”

Sereb growls. “Says the traitor!”

“Think about it, you beast! You’d be accusing the legitimate ruler of Equestria of committing cold-blooded murder! Do you really think anypony would believe that?!”

Sweetie Belle shakes her head. “I heard it straight from an eye witness and even I’m having trouble.”

Apple Bloom puts a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe my sister could tell Miss Twilight! She’d know what to do!”

Dinky sighs. “But she’s also the personal student of Princess Celestia. There’s no way she’d take our side over hers!”

Tempest grins at Dinky. “Sounds like Celestia’s little stooge won’t be of help to you.”

“Right.”

Cherry gasps. “We have to do SOMETHING though?!”

Sereb nods soberly “And we will!”

Apple Bloom shrugs. “But what?”

Sweetie Belle turns to Dinky. “We need an airtight case before we can bring our accusations forward.”

Dinky nods soberly. “Right. And it seems to me there’s only one other person who knows exactly what happened then.”

Cherry sighs. “That’s not possible, Dinky. We were the only witnesses to the act.”

“No. My dad was there too. If we find him, he can march straight in to see Princess Luna and tell her about what her sister did.”

Tempest shakes her head. “You amaze me, Dinky. All this talk of toppling a ruling monarch is just plain madness.”

“What else can I do?! She tried to KILL my dad!”

Cherry sniffles. “In all honesty, she may have been successful. The spell she used against your father was unlike anything I’d ever seen or heard of before, Dinky. It literally obliterated Arc’s hydra scale armor!”

Apple Bloom nods. “We’re still with you though, Dinky!”

Sweetie Belle steps forward. “Right!”

Sereb growls. “I will not rest until this matter is fully laid bare for all to see!”

Cherry calls out. “Take me with you too! I’ll help if I can! Even if it’s just to testify against Princess Celestia.”

Tempest nods approvingly. “Very brave of you. She may retaliate against you for your treachery.”

“Seeing as I’m already dead, there isn’t anything she could do to me that would scare me into keeping quiet!”

Dinky sighs. “I guess we’ll have to go back to the forest and keep looking.”

Tempest raises an eyebrow. “Which forest?”

Sweetie Belle sighs. “The Southern Hayseed Forest.”

Apple Bloom waves a hoof. “Sweetie Belle, hush!”

Tempest frowns. “You’re going BACK there?!”

Dinky nods. “We don’t have any other choice. If there’s ANY chance my dad is there, we have to keep trying.”

Tempest sighs. “I’m guessing there’s nothing that will dissuade you.”

“Right!”

“Very well.”

She reaches out and pulls Light’s Bane to herself.

“Then I’m coming with you.”

Sereb roars. “WHAT?!”

Cherry screams. “NO!”

Dinky appears confused. “But why, Tempest?”

“I owe your father for all he’s done for me. Even though this is clearly a fool’s errand, he wouldn’t want you to get hurt, Dinky.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow. “So you’re going to do… what exactly?!”

“Watch your backs. I’m fully aware of every species of animal that dwells in the various forests of Equestria.”

Sweetie Belle forces a small smile. “That’s… almost reassuring.”

Tempest looks them over. “Judging from the bandages on all of you, I’m assuming things weren’t going well over there for you.”

Dinky grimaces. “We got attacked by a big snake. It shot some kind of poisonous spines at us.”

“I’m surprised you survived. But you would do well not to rely so heavily on luck. That and I do have an idea of where we could go for some help.”

Sereb turns to Dinky. “What should we do?”

“You’re asking me?”

“This journey is yours. We will follow you to the end of it. However the choices we make now must be yours.”

Dinky looks to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. They smiles at her.

“Whatever you decide to do, we’ll follow.”

“You haven’t led us astray yet.”

Sereb nods. “Do what you believe is right.”

Cherry sighs. “And know that Arc would most certainly approve.”

Dinky nods and turns back to Tempest. She looks at the mare for a long moment before speaking.

“Very well. You can join us, Tempest.”

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