The struggles of the forest kingdom to remain hidden.
Two princesses struggle to defend and hide the Forest kingdom from the horrors of the ever free forest, and outsider ponies. While the rest of Twi's friends search all over for their missing friend.
Twilight stood, leaning over a wood desk, in the corner of the library. Normally this desk would be covered in books, but was now topped with some surprisingly new looking maps, only a few books around the edge. One of the maps showed part of Equestria. From Canterlot to the end of the explored section of the Everfree forest. Another map only showed the forest, and yet another of the forest and surrounding settlements.
"I knew it." Twilight said quietly, glancing between the books and maps. "We have only explored less than half of the Everfree forest, yet we have explored all the way around it. According to this journal, these explorers reached the edge of where we have explored, then they encountered some trouble. Of course it doesn't say what the trouble was only that there was trouble. And that it was enough to drive the entire expedition back out of the forest." Twilight looked down and sighed." Why do ponies never write what happened only that something did happen?"
She focused her magic, brought over more journals, and opened them. "Every single one of these says the same thing. There was trouble, they left. But none of these say what happened after that, or what the trouble was, they just leave, no more trouble. No more nothing." Twilight stood, and started pacing. "Now I really want to know what is in there, before it was just a mild curiosity. But now? When nopony knows anything about this. Now I have to know." She started pacing in silence, soon a quiet knocking sounded at her door. Opening her mouth, she prepared to call for Spike to get the door when she remembered just what time it was. “That’s strange. Who would be up at this hour?” she wondered aloud.
The knocking sounded again, a bit more fervently this time. “I’m coming!” The unicorn called out, still wondering about the identity of her latest guest. Luna’s moon rested proudly in the sky, indicative of a time far too early in the morning for any sane pony to be up. Reaching her door, Twilight quickly unlocked the latch with her magic, and pushed the door open. “Hello?” she asked cautiously.
"Hello Twilight." Starlight Glimmer said quietly.
"Hi Starlight, why are you up at this hour?" Twilight asked.
"I couldn't sleep, and I saw the light on in your library." She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “May I come in?”
Twilight flashed the unicorn a reassuring smile. “Of course,” She answered. “Come inside."
“Thank you, Twilight,” the unicorn said with a soft smile as she stepped in through the library doors. “I see your collection of books has not grown any smaller.” She observed, glancing at the bookshelves lining the wall.
“Well most of them belong to the town,” Twilight explained, a slight blush coloring her features. “But I do own quite a few.” Both mares were silent for a moment before Starlight asked. "What are you doing up? I know that you reeeeally enjoy studying, but you've been staying up like this for the past few days." She looked over, around Twilight and saw the maps over on the desk. "And what are those maps for?"
Twilight sighed, and then yawned. "I'm just trying to find out what's wrong with the EverFree forest. Whenever anypony tries to go deep into it, towards the center of the forest, 'something' happens and they leave. I even found a book where Celestia was forced to retreat from whatever is stopping them." She yawned again. "Though, while Celestia was with the group, in that particular story, it says that Celestia herself convinced the rest of the expedition to return. She joined the group again only after they had almost left the forest."
"Why do you even care? I mean I know that you want to know about everything, but what made you start looking at this?"
"I started researching this, when I saw the most recent group return from their trip. I asked each member, individually, what happened, but none of them would give me a straight answer. Some said Timberwolves, some said star-spawn, and there were some who said that they saw ghosts. And that the deeper they went into the forest the more they saw." Twilight responded while sitting back down at the desk. Starlight started walking towards the door.
"Twilight, you should get some sleep. I'm going to try again." She said. "Goodnight Twilight."
"Goodnight." Twilight waved to Starlight until she left. She sighed again. "I would but I need to figure this out." Suddenly Twilight heard another knock at the door.
"Twilight?" Spike said, walking into the room, and blinking his eyes trying to wake up more. "Who were you talking to?
"Starlight. She couldn't sleep. You just missed her. I was telling her that no one has explored all of the Everfree forest, and that something seems to be stopping them..."
"Well can you please do it quieter? It's past midnight, and I need to sleep." Spike said, ignoring Twilight, and walking back out of the room.
"Oh. Sorry Spike." Twilight replied, looking over at the empty space where he had just been standing.
Twilight rushed back and forth around the library. It was a noticeably silent run, and she sometimes had to catch a book that had fallen of the shelves, to prevent waking up Spike again. Each time she went from one side of the library to the other she had more stuff, which she dropped into a quickly growing pile of objects. A random assortment of books, quills, rope, and some food. After a few minutes of running Twilight finally stopped and set a pair of saddle bags on top of the pile.
She stared at the pile and sighed. "This is going to take a while." Her horn started shining as all of the items were enveloped in a purple aura. With a small burst of magic Twilight organized everything, and carefully fit it into the two saddlebags. "Or not." She smiled. "Tomorrow as soon as the sun rises I'm going to find out what is happening for myself." She said as she placed the saddlebags beside the library door. Twilight looked over at the windows. "Why is it so bright in here? It still night." She walked over to the windows and looked out.
The sun had started rising from the East, and was barely visible over the horizon. "Oh. Grabbing all of those books took longer than I thought it would." She said as she levitated the saddlebags onto her back. "I guess I'll leave now. Starlight knows where I'm going so I shouldn't have to wake Spike." Twilight left the library and walked down the hallway towards the entrance room. She opened the doors with her magic and then left.
*****
Twilight stood at the edge of the Everfree forest. The weight of her saddlebags was uncomfortable but manageable. She looked behind her, but there was nopony there. I’ve done this many times before, so why does it feel wrong? She thought. Then realized it was probably that she had none of her friends with her. She hadn’t invited any of them because she felt that she could do this alone, and she didn’t really want to bug them this early in the morning. At least I’m not trying to go to the center of the forest. I’m just going to find what’s stopping all of the explorations. After all none of the reports said that it injured them, only that it stopped them.
The lavender unicorn took her first step into the forest.
*****
Two days, and many incidents with inhabitants of the forest later, Twilight had finally reached, what she assumed to be, the point where all other expeditions had stopped.
Over the past two days she had encountered Timberwolves, Star-spawn, and many other creatures. Usually she would find them, or them her, during the night. The star-spawn had just walked by her, but after her earlier experience with an Ursa Miner, Twilight knew better than to underestimate them. The Timberwolves had also seemed unusually docile. Instead of attacking her as soon as they saw her, they had just growled until she had backed off and let them pass her.
In front of her there was a large set of gates. They were made out of magically shaped wood, so that the wood was still alive, but arranged into the shape of a gate. In front of the gate there were two Timberwolves, and one small dragon. The dragon had dark green scales, and stood only about two ponies tall. In both hands the dragon help primitive-looking spears, but both of them were glowing with some kind of magical aura.
“Halt! What business do you have in the Realm of Kingdoms?” The dragon said in a commanding, feminine voice.
“I have just come to learn what is stopping all ponies from exploring this section of the forest.” Twilight replied, in what she hopped was a confident voice. In truth she was pretty scared by the Timberwolves. “Was it you? If not could you tell me what or who it is?”
“If I tell you than I will have to remove your memory of this conversation. Do you wish to continue?”
“Yes, the only reason I came here was to learn, so I might as well hear what this is.”
“It was me. Though I have not stopped even a single pony from entering the realm, I remove all of their memories after they leave. My spear, Elanterect, has the ability to remove desired memories from its victim.” She said while lifting the spear in her right hand. “While Shaldiur,” She lifted her left spear. “Has been enchanted to retrieve the memories lost, and return them if necessary.”
“Oh. That would explain it. What about the maps? All the maps are also blank when concerning the ‘Realm of Kingdoms’”.
“Another one of my responsibilities is to erase all written, drawn, or in any other ways inscribed, knowledge of the Realm.”
“You said the Realm of Kingdoms, what kingdoms? To my knowledge there are no kingdoms anywhere near Equestria.” Twilight said.
“The kingdoms: Alusia, Valinor, Relance, and the Forest Kingdom. The Kingdom of Alusia is the land of dragons. Valinor, the Constilii or star-spawn as most ponies from outside call them. Relance holds the Timberwolves, and all small creatures. While the Forest Kingdom is inhabited entirely by ponies.”
“Really? Ponies live here? Anyway if you’re going to tell me freely than why do you not want anypony that leaves to remember this place?”
“It is not my choice. That was decided by High King Winds Rest. He is the ruler of the Forest Kingdom, but has also gained authority over all other Kings in the Realm. If you wish to know more than you should seek his counsel.” The dragon stepped to the side. “If you wish to enter, continue. The Forest Kingdom is to the right of Xerian. When you enter you will be on the outskirts of Xerian, continue on the road you find until you reach the center of town. Then go right. My sister Tyreth guards the north gates of Xerian. Tell her that Kyren sent you to visit the King of the Forest.”
Twilight started walking forward. “Thank you Kyren. I only have one more question for you. Will you take my memories when I leave?”
“Yes, I remove the memories from all who leave, even the kings. But you will only forget what you saw in the Realm and most of our conversation. You will not forget anything else from your past.” By the time Kyren finished talking Twilight had reached the gate and was politely waiting for her to finish.
“Then I will see you later. Bye Kyren.”
“Farewell traveler.”
Twilight stepped through the gates; she saw a bright, white flash, and everything changed.
