Wherever the Light Shines: Part 2

by MLPSolarDash1907

Chapter 43 - The impala village

For the next half hour, everypony followed their hosts through the flat savanna as rough ground surrounded it in the distance. Twilight gazed around the landscape and noticed something seemed off about it. She’d been noticing it for a while but now it’s becoming more than a coincidence.

There seemed to be naturally rough ground in one part of the landscape and yet there were some that seemed in a jumbled unnatural mess. There was a plateau where it looked like a large blast of magic had fired along the side of it long ago. It was worn by age but it’s there.

“You’re totally going to like the chief!” Berko suddenly said. Twilight turned to listen to him. “He’s open and welcome to everycreature that are friends.”

“Since you saved our lives, he’ll no doubt be very happy to meet all of you,” Ebele added. “Speaking of which, we’re here.”

Twilight joined her friends in looking past the siblings and saw the village gate approaching with every step.

“Let’s get out of this sun, ASAP,” said Sunset.

“What’s an ASAP?” Berko asked, confused.

“Oh, it’s just an expression! Weird saying!” Twilight spoke up.

“Okay?”

Relieved, Twilight gazed to the gate of the village, it’s made of thick bamboo, the rim surrounding it is constructed of two medium-sized white tree trunks stretching about ten feet tall. One stretched across the top of the bare trunks forming the gate. To the gate’s left and right, there’s a tall fence constructed out of tightly weaved together straw, bamboo, some thick, sharp sticks poking from the fence and some into the air that Twilight assumed was to keep the predators out.

Berko and Ebele opened the gate, and when they did so, they were greeted by many impalas. They received them with a warm welcome. When one saw the ponies, she tensed up in amazement and fear. The others saw what she’s looking at and they were just as surprised. All of them were standing straight and gazing at the ponies.

“Gee, they are a wary bunch, ain’t they?” Applejack whispered.

“That’s rude to say, Applejack,” Fluttershy whispered back.

Twilight awkwardly waved to the impalas while Mystic observed them with a neutral expression.

“No need to worry everypala!” said Berko, gaining their attention. “These ponies here saved both of our lives and are to be considered allies! Please treat them with courtesy and respect!”

At those words, the impalas surrounded the ponies, thanking them for saving the Chief’s son and daughter as they marveled at the ponies, too.

“Wow, nice wings!”

“Where did you all come from?”

“You all look worn out! Do you need some help?”

“Oh, that sounds lovely,” said Rarity, smiling a bit.

---

Twilight looked behind her outside the gate and saw Jia waving back at her. The alicorn nodded as she joined her friends, surrounded by the gawking impalas.

Twilight followed her friends to a decent looking straw hut. She gazed to her right and noticed several impalas gossiping.

“I hear they found one of their friends and she caused some trouble out in the wilderness,” said an impala.

“I heard some of them escaped the kudu’s village!” said another.

“I heard that one of them unleashed a bright flash of turquoise and damaged the surrounding trees!”

“Are they dangerous?”

As they rounded a corner, Berko chuckled.

“It seems that your presence in Oogundaa has caused quite a stir,” he said.

“Y’all knew ‘bout us ‘fore we got here?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, yes, we did,” said Ebele, “Word can travel fast and far throughout the land about outsiders.”

“I guess we should’ve figured that,” said Twilight.

“I jus’ hope we can stay outta more trouble from the local citizens and wildlife,” Applejack added, “We’ve been through enough already.”

“Here! Here!” Rarity added, “Not to mention we’ve got to get back home!”

Twilight gazed over at Sunset. She had a suspicious look on her face.

“Sunset, what’s wrong?” she asked.

“I’m not so trusting of them. We had the incident with the kudus, remember?” Sunset explained.

“You told me, yes.”

“I’m just keeping an eye out.”

“I don’t see anything suspicious about them.”

“Neither do I, yet,” Sunset glared.

Twilight sighed as they continued to follow their two hosts. She didn’t need to look at Mystic because that much is obvious.

Berko and Ebele led them to the hut, opened the door, and let the herd in. Berko entered and gazed at a couple of female impalas.

“These ponies need to get their strength restored for their journey home,” he said, “Please give them whatever they need.”

“Yes Berko,” they said in unison.

---

And so, the ponies were given food, massages, and blessings from the impalas. They were very friendly and helpful with whatever they needed and even talked with them a little bit. While the ponies were courteous, Twilight couldn’t stop thinking about Equestria. A couple of hours later, they were fully rested.

---

Mystic looked at Starlight sleeping in a bed. The poor thing looks completely worn out. She stepped back outside and joined Berko to meet the chief.

As they walked through the village, Mystic got a clear view of what makes it up. Unlike the decent straw hut, there are huts constructed with hard mud straw posts and straw roofs. The roads are made of red dirt. There are some dirty toys, balls, and tools around the different huts. Mystic spotted a small marketplace and a watering hole in the center of the village.

“I think the kudus have a more hospitable place,” Rarity muttered to herself.

“They were after us,” Sunset insisted.

“We don’t want too much unneeded attention drawn to us,” said Mystic, “And that’s beside the staring eyes around us.”

“Wheee! Hello, impalas!” Pinkie cried from the distance, “How about some streamers and balloons?”

“Pinkie!” multiple voices cried in unison.

Twilight noticed Pinkie bouncing happily among the astonished impalas as she spread a little cheer around. They didn’t seem to be taking it as she’d hoped though. They seemed on edge.

Pinkie didn’t seem to notice and rejoined her friends.

“Pinkie, please don’t bother them like that,” said Fluttershy.

“Why not? They looked happy!” Pinkie bubbled.

“I don’t think so...” Fluttershy pointed at them.

Pinkie looked at the unnerved impalas. She lightly frowned but shrugged.

Mystic saw the impalas kept staring at them, and she couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. Her suspicions of them being hostile were dwindling but she couldn’t keep her eyes off them.

A minute later, Mystic saw that she and the party had come to a crossroads.

“Chief Faraji,” said Ebele.

Mystic snapped her head to look in front of her. Walking towards them, was an impala that seemed a bit bigger and stronger than the others. His horns were longer and he wore a green robe with yellow trimmings. Two bodyguards stood beside him as he stopped in the middle of the crossroads. On each street, she saw that citizens were watching the meeting.

“Ebele and Berko,” said the chief. “These are the ones who saved you?”

“They are,” said Berko, “But this one,” he pointed at Mystic. “Is the one we’re most fond of.”

With a neutral look, the chief turned his gaze onto the orange unicorn.

“Ah, so you’re the one with the swinging blade?” he asked.

“Yes, I am,” replied Mystic, giving him a short bow.

“Hmmm,” the chief looked at her closely, narrowing his eyes. His gaze scanned the rest of the herd. Mystic took a glance to see that they were standing tall and with slightly nervous looks.

“Well,” the chief smiled. “Darn me to heck, I’m so thankful for the lot of you!” He trotted up to the herd of ponies. He outstretched a hoof, grabbing Mystic’s and shaking it, “Pleased to meet all of you!” He let go and patted the taken aback unicorn’s back. “My name is Faraji. I am the chief here.”

He turned to the others. “And I’m deeply honored to have such saviors of my children.”

“The pleasure’s all ours,” Twilight smiled, shaking his hoof.

“I do believe we have a lot to talk about, but I hope you’ve all been taken care of?”

“We have,” said Sunset, Mystic noticed her neutral look.

“Well, I’d like all of you to come to my hut so we can have a chat since we’re new friends here,” said Faraji, “So much to learn from one another!” He began trotting off in the direction he’d come from.

“What do you think?” Rainbow whispered to Twilight.

“I say we follow him,” replied Twilight.

“I agree,” said Mystic, going after him. “We could probably learn something interesting.”

---

Mystic looked around at the chief’s quarters. She’d never seen so many scrolls lined up along a back wall before. There seemed to be about a thousand, maybe more on the shelf. The chief’s desk sat in front of her with his wooden chair right behind it. She looked to the left and saw there were scrolls in barrels and a smaller shelf along the left wall.

She heard the door to her right creak open, and Faraji came in with eight glasses in his green magic.

“Sorry I wasn’t there to greet you when you’d arrived, but Ebele and Berko had to talk me into meeting you,” he said. “We impalas can be rather wary about who we trust.”

“I kind of know the feeling on that one,” said Mystic, taking a glass.

“Well, creatures all around can and do have things in common,” Faraji gave the rest of the glasses to the others that stood behind Mystic.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” said Applejack.

“You’re welcome,” replied Faraji, sitting in his chair.

Mystic couldn’t take her eyes off the scrolls. “Faraji...”

“Yes?”

“Can I have a look?” she pointed to the scrolls.

“Ah,” said Faraji. “Are you a historian?”

“Well, I’m an explorer. I love learning about the world and new creatures that may or may not be real,” she said.

Faraji smiled. “Sure. Go ahead.”

“Mister Faraji,” said Sunset, “Can you tell us more about the impalas?

Mystic didn’t pay attention to the conversation going on. She kept looking at the scrolls. All of them seemed like priceless treasures. She scanned the top of the shelves and noticed a scroll that looked different from the rest. It was even more worn down and had a black rim along its top. Curious, she levitated it down.

Mystic opened the scroll. What she saw wasn’t what she had expected. It seemed to be a drawing of a beautiful, luscious green Oogundaa, but there was darkness seeping from the sky. Citizens were running scared, some dead, and some vainly trying to fight back. Mystic looked up towards the sky to see the drawing of a black looking lion with ominous red eyes.

“Oh, you must have a keen eye,” said Faraji. “That scroll is very special.”

“Really?” Mystic asked, looking up at him.

“Yeah, there are folklore and tales that remain very mysterious and hidden for countless generations,” Faraji explained, gently taking the scroll from Mystic. “This is a tale of a lion so evil in Oogundaa’s day, it seemed like he was darkness himself. Villages burned and the wildernesses obliterated as dark clouds of smoke covered the sky above.”

“Yikes,” said Twilight.

Faraji rolled up the scroll. “It’s a tale long forgotten, but only known to me through this.”

“Can you tell us more about Oogundaa?” Sunset asked.

“If I do, can you tell me about your place sometime?” Faraji asked.

“Okay,” said Twilight.

Mystic continued to look up at the scrolls but she listened in on the conversation.

“Oogundaa was originally a place of disorder and creatures running amok,” Faraji began, “War existed between the hyenas, lions, buffalo, and many others for generations. However, one day the legendary Four Elders came together, each of them from a different species. A buffalo, a rhino, a kudu, and,” he looked at the others, “An impala.”

“Whoa,” Twilight marveled.

“Really?” Pinkie asked, surprised.

“Yes. The impalas are one of the species that founded the most powerful and successful government of Oogundaa. The Elders were able to work together and expel threats such as the lions and others who dared to disrespect the careful, hard work they’d put into their system. More villages rose, citizens began caring more for each other, even great cities eventually rose in Oogundaa’s majesty and beautiful landscape.”

Mystic couldn’t help but imagine a more beautiful, orderly Oogundaa as Faraji continued. “It was a well-deserved victory for those who’d worked so hard for it.”

Faraji sighed. “However, the enemies of the Elders continued to rise and fight against them disrupting the way of life in Oogundaa. Eventually, great evil rose from all around until the land seemingly shook and rattled until one infamous beast became the most feared and most whispered about for countless generations.”

“Who was it?” Applejack asked.

“He’s called by many names,” Faraji sat down in his chair, “But before him, there were many other beasts that the Elders had to deal with before they proclaimed the system they’d built.”

“It’s gotten to the point where nocreature bothers listening or trying to reason with one another because of our long, dark past. I want to do my best to bring peace back to Oogundaa, but as you can see...it’s not going so well...”

Mystic looked back at him to see Faraji pitifully hanging his head.

“We’ve spent so much time just not relying on anycreature else. However, the impalas, while great support, just aren’t courageous enough to make much movement in helping our once beautiful country.”

He looked at some sacks of corn, “However, while we don’t rely on anycreature else, we do have to give food to others such as nyala, waterbuck, oryx, and gemsbok as to not start any more conflicts...”

“You mean you give food to each other and not count on anycreature to work together?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“It’s the way it’s been for countless decades... and I fear we’re getting on the brink of another war between us herbivores because of the lack of food...” he growled, “And all because of those springboks constantly eating it all up! It’ll eventually dry up and start turning into a desert within a decade!”

“I can’t imagine a country having so much violence and hate towards others,” Fluttershy whimpered.

“Things might be a little quieter all things considered in the past, but the issues are still here as citizens try to proclaim as much as possible for themselves.”

“What about the kudu?” Sunset asked, “They have plenty of food.”

“Oh, they won’t bother sharing,” Faraji gazed up at them with some anger in his eyes, “Those foul antelope hate us and are too far proud to share with us.”

“But why?”

“There are a lot of reasons. But I do know they and other creatures here don’t like us, the impalas.” He stood up from his seat.

“Even the species that are teetering?” Fluttershy asked.

“We’re one of the most disliked creatures in all of Oogundaa,” Faraji explained, “We’re not sure why but they do hate us more than any other species...”

“That just doesn’t seem fair...”

“There are a lot of things that aren’t fair!” Faraji shouted, swiping his hoof across his desk. “It's been this way for the past hundred years! And with rising tensions, I just don’t think things will ever get better!”

Twilight frowned at the distraught impala chief. She glanced at her friends and all of them had a look of sympathy. Mystic just kept an accepting look as she observed the scene.

“What if we tried finding some more food?” Fluttershy suggested.

“I appreciate the offer,” replied Faraji, “But food is becoming more and more scarce with the springboks as I said. Too many of them eating too much food! No consideration for others!”

Mystic realized while the impalas will face conflict with the other species they will likely go after the springboks too. She was about to bring something up until-

“Faraji,” said Sunset, “I hope you don’t mind me asking... but these beasts you mentioned...”

Faraji’s face seemed to lose some of its color.

“What are they exactly?”

“Yeah,” said Applejack, “Ya seem a bit vague with some of the details and all.”

“Oh, I just...”

“I think it’d be interesting to know about them,” Rainbow added.

Despite the situation, an explanation would be good about that particular detail.

“I’d love to know too, Faraji,” Twilight nodded.

“Ohhhh,” Faraji groaned with a facehoof, “I wish I didn’t get into explaining the history of Oogundaa...” he turned and began hitting himself on the head, “Stupid! Passionate! Historian!”

Mystic waited for him to stop beating himself up. He hit himself a few more times before looking at them with an unnerved look.

“We don’t talk about them,” he said, lighting up his horns and magically closing the door and locking it.

“What about?” Twilight asked.

Mystic walked back around the desk to face Faraji. The impala chief bit his lower lip and held a hesitant look in his eyes.

“I don’t talk much about them and the impalas and the rest of Oogundaa prefer not to hear their species’ names at all,” he said, walked over to a nearby shelf. He pulled the scrolls aside and the locked box. Mystic’s eyes widened in fascination. “They were the things of nightmares back in their day led by their leader for about as long as they existed.” He unlocked the box, pulled out some scrolls, and placed them on the table.

“Promise me,” he said with a glare, “Promise me you won’t mention this to the others.”

Everypony nodded in agreement. Closing his eyes Faraji reluctantly unrolled the scrolls.

The ponies’ eyes widened at what they’re seeing. Sketches of bi-pedal hyenas surrounding their leader, who had a gold crown on, terrorizing the land, and raising their young to hunt.

“What are they?” Sunset asked as Mystic looked over her shoulder. She stifled a gasp.

“They’re werehyenas,” said Faraji.

“Not the werehyenas!” Pinkie shouted, causing Mystic’s hair to stand on end.

“Shhhh!”

Pinkie shrank back and whispered, “Oh! Sorry!”

“Thousands of years before,” Faraji began, “Werehyenas were the dominant species. Their civilization was founded by their leader they consider a goddess by the name of Shenzi.”

Faraji took in a breath, “These things are said to be demons in disguise, straight from the fiery pits of the outer darkness and have no care for others, even most of themselves. But they did try to ensure their survival so their Leader’s name may be known throughout eternity.”

He shifted the scroll some to reveal that there were fewer of them. “Their numbers did start falling when the wars continued throughout the years.”

He cleared his throat, “Even in the regular hyenas it seems as if these larger beasts still have a presence here in Oogundaa,” said Faraji. “That’s why hyenas are disliked and have become scavengers.” He shuddered. “Not that they have any problems with it being that way.”

“Is there anything else?” Mystic asked.

“There is... one werehyena you need to know about,” said Faraji.

He levitated the second scroll to reveal a dark grey werehyena with brownish patterns. Mystic and Twilight’s eyes narrowed looking at him as Faraji went on.

“The most legendary one, named the Kaftar, has been whispered amongst the citizens for countless years. Stories were passed down from generation to generation, all in different versions. However, I have deterred that there were others with him, such as a clan of hyenas, and jackals.”

Mystic unrolled the scroll further. What she saw next, was almost as if a bolt of lightning struck her.

It was a drawing of a werewolf.

“Uhm...” she said.

“What is it?” Faraji asked.

“Is... that a werewolf?” Mystic asked.

“Wait, a werewolf?” Rainbow asked.

Pinkie gasped loudly. Mystic heard somepony clap her mouth shut.

“Yes,” said Faraji. “I’ve researched Oogundaa’s history my entire life and he’s the only one throughout history.”

“We had an encounter with one!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Wait what?” Faraji’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.

“Yeah!” Rainbow added. “That beast imprisoned us!”

“Are you serious?” Faraji asked, his jaw dropping. “That can’t be! He’s only folklore!”

“Sure ain’t,” said Applejack.

Pinkie removed Applejack’s hoof from her lips, “And we fought the werehyena!”

“Pinkie!” everypony else shouted.

Mystic looked at Faraji. He was completely frozen. Standing up straight like an icicle.

“Now, look what ya done!” Applejack groaned. “Ya broke the chief!”

“Oops!” Pinkie blushed.

Twilight waved a hoof in front of Faraji’s face, but he didn’t move.

“There’s... he...” the chief squeaked.

“Oh, boy,” said Mystic, turning away.

“That creature is out there now?!” Faraji cried.

“And he’s conquered our home,” said Rarity.

As Mystic tuned out the conversation to where it became white noise, she began to think about the scrolls and the werewolf that she’d seen.

Tokuta... and Nightfall, together? She thought. The unicorn looked at the scroll again, unrolling the last bit of it to see the apparent image of Nightfall with two smaller werehyenas. The slightly larger one seemed to be cradling a baby in her arms.

“A family?” she whispered. Did Nightfall have a family?

Whether if it were true or not, the scrolls here were ancient and she couldn’t wait to look through them. Provided if the chief would snap out of his daze.

She turned to see Applejack holding her hooves around his neck and Rainbow fanning him with a hoof.

He’s fine, she thought as she began thinking again.

Suddenly, Something Mystic nearly forgot about hit her like a bolt of lightning.

The werewolf in the scrolls, she thought. Holding back a gasp, she stepped aside.

Mystic opened her satchel and pulled out the poster she’d gotten from the wolf society and the old scroll about the confession of the ancient evil in Oogundaa. The scroll that she’d finished reading before the adventure to Equestria began. She held them up and compared the writing on both of them.

They look the same... she thought, eyes widening, mentally confirming what she had suspected back in the wolf kingdom.

“Excuse me,” said Mystic.

Everypony and a wide-eyed Faraji turned to look at her. The unicorn walked over holding the documents she’d pulled out.

“I noticed that somecreature’s writing looks very similar to an old scroll I’d found,” said Mystic.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“I mean this,” said Mystic. She revealed the contents of the scrolls.

“Let me see that,” said Faraji, stepping forward.

“What’re you getting at, Mystic?” Sunset asked.

“We talked about a werewolf,” Mystic began, looking at her, “It can’t be a coincidence that only one of them has been spoken of in all of Oogundaa’s history.”

Twilight and some of her friends gasped.

“Tokuta wrote these?” Applejack asked.

“Y-You don’t think so, do you?” Rarity asked, nervously.

“I’m afraid that’s exactly what I’m saying,” said Mystic.

“Good heavens above!” Faraji cried. He turned to face Twilight and her friends. “This is a legitimate scroll about two thousand years old! And it has the same writing as this poster here.”

Twilight walked over and examined the scroll and poster herself. Her eyes got as wide as saucers.

“The fact that the werewolf and Nightfall went their separate ways after some tense issues,” said Mystic, “It fits directly with this scroll.”

“I-I can’t believe it!” cried Twilight.

“Tokuta was involved with Nightfall?” Fluttershy asked weakly.

“You can’t be serious!” Rainbow cried, running hooves down her face.

Mystic saw that Applejack’s jaw had dropped and Pinkie was just staring blankly with an astonished look.

“What does this mean for your loose acquaintances?” Faraji asked, astonished.

“The army or the wolves?” Mystic asked. As soon as the last two words left her lips, it was as if she were struck with lightning again.

“Oh, no...” Twilight murmured.

Comments

[sonicfan05]

Wait wait wait... hold on!

Tokuta, the leader of his wolf pack, is related to Nightfall!

If that's true, and one of Gunnolf's scouts is reporting to Tokuta...

Oh no!

[redmar]

This is a curious development and clearly related to why Tokuta doesn't want the wolves to enter Oogunda.