> The mystery of the Everfree > by Dark Nightshade > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Meeting the mystery > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Must find its meaning! But how? He probably knows, but I can't let him know I have it! I can't have those......whatever they are attack Ponyville! Ponies could die, judging by what they've done to the Everfree Forest animals. He checked his watch. Ok, I should probably go now. I need food, for myself and for the things. Plus, who knows? I could possible get some info about this thing. The guy looked at the staff one last time, and put his cloak on, ready to get to Ponyville. Fluttershy was searching for some supplies for her pets at the market, when she saw him. Who is he? The only place I've seen him is here, in the market! And he's always wearing that cloak. Is he hiding something? Fluttershy thought as the stallion went up to the information booth. He pulled a medium sized bag of bits a put it on the counter, and nervously glanced around. He looks nervous. Well, I better get back to buying the food and supplies! Angel doesn't like it when I take too long! So Fluttershy continued with her supply shopping. As she paid for the carrots, she turned around and accidentally ran into someone. "Oh my, I'm sorry!" she said as she stepped back. Then she realized who it was. It's him! she thought, and looked around. She realized that the booth she was at was across from the information booth. The one that the stallion had been at earlier. She was brought back to reality a few seconds later when the stallion cleared his throat. "You're standing on one of my papers," he said, pointing to her front left hoof. "Oh! I'm sorry!" she said as she lifted her hoof and backed up a little. The stallion tilted his head. "Are you ok?" he asked. "Yes! I'm fine!" Fluttershy squeaked. The stallion took a step closer. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes. I have to go now!" Fluttershy said, as she turned and ran home. What an interesting mare, he thought, and glanced at the sky. She might be in danger know. I must learn who she is to protect her if she is. When Fluttershy got home, Angel was waiting by his food bowl. "Sorry I'm late!" Fluttershy said. "The lines were longer then expected!" And that guy kind of threw me off, she mentally added. She filled the bowls up with food (Angel was first, of course) and otherwise just tended to the animals, when there was some nocking on her door. Who could it be? No one was going to stop by to adopt a pet! Fluttershy thought as she opened her door and gasped. It's him! "What? Is there something wrong with my mane?" the stallion asked. "No, sorry, I just wasn't expecting anyone to stop by!" Fluttershy said. "I hadn't originally planned to stop by," he said, examining the house. "How well protected is this place?" Fluttershy was confused. "Um, I'm not sure? I've never really wondered. Why?" she asked. The stallion shrugged. "You may need it," he said. Fluttershy frowned. "Are you planing on attacking my house?" she growled. The stallion took a step back, a shocked look on his face. "Me? Never!" he said. "I can think of some certain things that would." "Um, ok. So, is that all?" Fluttershy asked. The stallion nodded. "Yes, that is all. Oh, by the way, do you live here?" the stallion asked. "Yes. If you're going to ask why I live so close to the Everfree Forest, it's because of the animals," Fluttershy said, starting to get creeped out. "Hm. Ok. Thanks," he said, turning and started walking towards the Everfree Forest. What is he doing? she wondered. He walked into the forest, and didn't come out. He must be one of those Everfree ghosts that ponies are always talking about seeing, Fluttershy thought with a shiver. Still, just in case, I should see Twilight about this. "Hey Fluttershy! Looking for Twilight?" Spike asked. Fluttershy nodded. Spike opened the door so Fluttershy could get in. "Twilight! Fluttershy needs to see you!" Spike shouted up the stairs. "OK!" Twilight shouted down from wherever she was. A few seconds later, she appeared, using a teleportation spell. "Hey Fluttershy!" Twilight said. "What do you need?" "You have books with info about the ghosts of ponies that have been reported near the Everfree Forest, right?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight sighed. "Yes. You do know ghosts aren't really, right? Don't listen to whoever has been telling you about these 'ghosts'," Twilight said. They headed to the library and Twilight picked out a book and handed it to Fluttershy. She headed to a table and opened it. After skimming thru it, she looked at Twilight. "Is this the only one?" she asked. Twilight nodded. "Yeah. Why? What are you looking for?" Twilight asked. "Have you ever heard of a ghost that had blue skin and yellow hair?" Fluttershy asked. Twilight frowned. "No. However, he is from a story that Zecora told me. It was quite interesting." Twilight said, then frowned. "You're not saying that you actually saw him, did you?" Fluttershy nodded. Twilight sighed. “Fluttershy, I think you’re just imagining things,” Twilight said. “This guy is just a myth!" "But he's not! He's real! He actually spoke to me!" Fluttershy tried to say, but to no avail. "Fluttershy, try not to believe everything you hear, ok?" Twilight said. "But I've never heard of this legend! He's real!" Fluttershy said. There was some knocking on the door, but that wasn't heard by anyone but Spike. He opened the door to see the stallion from earlier. "Hi! What do you need?" Spike asked. "Just some information," he said. Spike nodded. "Ok! Try to ignore the girls upstairs. Fluttershy's trying to convince Twilight that she saw some stallion from a myth," Spike said. "Hm. Let me guess, Fluttershy is kind of cream colored, pink hair, has three butterflies as a cutie mark?" he asked. Spike stared at him. "Yes. Have you met her before?" Spike asked. "Sort of," he said. "So what kind of info do you need?" Spike asked. "I need to know how to properly defend a cottage," he said. "I have a.....friend, and I'm worried that she might be attacked or otherwise affected by a curse that follows me." > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why am I here? the stallion thought. I already know defense spells, and I have help! Eh, better safe then sorry, I guess. "Found it!" the dragon cried from his perch on the ladder. He jumped down a handed the book to the stallion. "This has some of the best defenses you can find!" That's debatable, the stallion thought. "OK, thank you," he said, heading to some seats to check if there were any new spells. About 10 minutes later, the buttercream colored mare he was searching possible new spells for came down the stairs. Hm. I wonder why she’s here. Actually, she’s probably here trying to find out who I am. I probably freaked her out, he thought. He went back to his search. About 30 minutes of studying later, he confirmed that there were no new defense spells. He put the book back, and started towards the door, when the new princess, Twilight, walked down. “Hello!” she said, momentarily frowning. She shook her head, and smiled again. “Need any help?” she asked. The stallion shook his head. “No, I was just leaving,” he said. He walked out the door and teleported to a spot he was sure Twilight wouldn’t see him. I can’t have her following me home! he thought. No one can! I don't think Fluttershy was imagining things, Twilight thought as she watched the stallion walk out the door. I hope he didn't notice my horn glowing. Twilight walked out the door and followed the trail that her tracking spell was making. The stallion teleported into the Everfree Forest near his house, which was actually built into a cave, and very well camouflaged and defended. "I'm back!" he called out. Finally! You know how boring it is to scan these activities by myself is? a voice responded in his head. "Yes, actually. Last time you took a physical form," he said. Oh yeah. I forgot about that, the voice said. "So, any new findings?" the stallion asked. Not rea-, the voice stopped. "Did you change to some random animal again?" the stallion asked. What have I told you? the voice erupted in his head. The stallion flinched. "About what? You say a lot of stuff about a lot of things!" he said. OK, good point. About making sure you're clean before you come back! What we're doing here is sensitive! the voice yelled. The stallion gasped. "Oh, man, I forgot to check! She put a tracking device on me?" he said. Yes! Fortunately, she doesn't know how to get in! the voice said. "Hello? What is this place?" Twilight called, walking in right then. You forgot to lock the door and put the hologram back, didn't you? the voice asked. "Dang it!" the stallion yelled. Twilight stared at him. "Who are you? What is this place?" she asked. "Why did you follow me here?" the stallion asked. "Why have you been freaking out my friend?" Twilight asked. "So I was freaking her out! I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to scare her," he said. "Yeah, yeah, what is this place?" Twilight asked. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that," the stallion asked. "Why not?" Twilight asked. "Because this work does not concern you, and the research being done here cannot be interfered with by nobility and/or any government," the stallion said. Twilight frowned. "Research? What kind of research?" she asked. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. At least, not until I know I can trust you. Can I trust her?," the stallion asked the voice. Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "Who are you talking you?" she asked. "Hang on a second," the stallion said. Hang on a second, let me see, the voice said. A few minutes later, he responded. Yeah, you can trust her, the voice said. "I can?" the stallion asked. Yeah. I just read her mind, and I think she's trustworthy, the voice said. However, don't tell her too much, if you have to at all. "Well, of course I'm going to be slow to trust her! Partly because I don't know her, and partly because it would quicken the plot a bit too quickly," the stallion said. "It is always wise to be slow to trust." "Who are you talking to?" Twilight asked. Me, the voice said. Twilight gasped. "How are you doing that?" she asked the stallion. "I'm not. That voice you're hearing is Eragon," the stallion said. "And my name is Shade." "Ok, thank you. You know who I am, right?" Twilight asked. Shade shrugged. "I know that your name is Twilight, that you're a princess, and that your smart and like to study, but other then that, nothing. Why?" Shade asked. "It's because of what you where just saying. I want you to know that you can trust me, and I will probably do whatever I can to gain it, as long as it's within reason," Twilight said. I like this girl, Eragon said. "Actually, where is Eragon, anyway? And how are you talking inside my head?" Twilight asked. "I am communicating to you this way because there is no other way," Eragon said. "And before you ask, I am not a pony. I am an magic cloud thing, and I must inhabit magic items in order to survive." "Wow, really? Wait, are you not able to inhabit unicorns?" Twilight asked. No. However, I am able to make a physical form, but that takes to much power, Eragon said. "So you can....create bodies?" Twilight asked uneasily. Eragon sighed. Yes. That freaks you out, doesn't it? he asked. Twilight nodded. "A bit, yes. Actually, that's kind of cool," Twilight said. "So, are there any ways I can gain your trust at the moment?" "There are a few things I can think of," Shade said.