The Text choices its victims carefully. This time a member of Camp Arrowhead Staff has been chosen, bringing with him his wits, skills, and sarcastic attitude.
The Text choices its victims carefully. This time a member of Camp Arrowhead Staff has been chosen, bringing with him his wits, skills, and sarcastic attitude. Let's watch as a story of survival and rising high from almost nothing unfolds before us.
The sun was high in the sky over Camp Arrowhead, the work season was just coming to a close as the Handicraft Director was busy locking up his black footlocker. “That’s all of it,” he muttered to himself as he checked his watch. “So, if it’s only two in the afternoon and my ride isn’t getting here for another five hours. I think I’ll go for a hike and enjoy the day.”
The tall young man then began down the hill toward the forest trails. The sunlight filtered down through the trees casting a gentle green glow upon the man’s camp uniform. He was wearing a bomber jacket on top of the uniform as well as having various items in his pockets and attached to his belt. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, as he did so he noticed the sounds of the forest and the light upon his face had vanished. “Okay Tanner, stay calm you’ll get through it.” he muttered to himself before he opened his eyes to look out upon a dark blank expanse as words started to form in front of him.
Where do you wish to go?
“I could ask to go anywhere?” Tanner asked in a curious tone.
Anywhere.
“Then may I get sent to Equestria? I would rather be able to spend my days in simplicity,” Tanner stated as he placed his hands upon his hips in a patient manner.
You may take one object already of your possession with you.
“Then I will say that I want my footlocker, locked and sealed the way it is.” Tanner said, “That is assuming that what I’m currently wearing doesn’t count toward that one object?”
You are correct, and due to the usefulness you see within the contents of that footlocker. You will be starting somewhere less than satisfactory. You may only place it from its condensed state once.
With that the scenery around Tanner changed into that of a forest. He felt something in his hand, finding it to be a small rubber ball with what looked like his footlocker within. “Okay, first things first, figure out my rough location and then set up camp.” he muttered to himself as he took a glance around. To his left the ground went upward toward a mountain peak that could be seen through the trees. To the right the land went downward and the trees denser. Tanner then worked quickly, using his right hand he pulled his phone out of his pocket putting it into airplane mode and dimming it to conserve power, while his left hand put the ball with his footlocker into his coat pocket. Next, his left hand reached for the radio at his hip and turned it off as he pocketed his phone with his right.
Tanner then started walking forward, his task of setting his electronic devices to save power complete. As he moved along through the trees a smile crept upon his face as he thought about how it was a totally different sun shining down upon him. He listened to the area around him for the sounds of a creek, yet all he heard was the jingling of the keys attached to the carabiner on his belt. Frowning, Tanner grabbed the keys to silence them, taking them off the carabiner and stuffing them into his tight front pocket.
The sun then had lowered to the point it was able to shine into the man’s eyes past the brim of his hat. “I should probably start setting up a camp for the night,” Tanner muttered to himself, raising a hand in defiance of the light in his eyes. He started walking forward once again, hoping that his lack of hearing from being around construction sites would be enough to hear a creek. He soon happened upon a small and pleasant clearing, “Good a place as any that I’ll find tonight.” Tanner pulled out the rubber ball with his footlocker within and gently tossed it upon the ground, with a whoosh of air it became his footlocker in its fullest.
His hands then set about the practiced motion of grabbing his keys and opening the locker. With the last few hours of daylight Tanner worked diligently on setting up a simple and efficient camp site.
Booksalot sat at a table within the Belfry in lower Canterlot, before him laid a book of magic for beginners. “One thing I hate is having to relearn magic every time I step outside.” he muttered to himself.
The goat’s coat was the color of dirty cream, and his cloudy, unfocused eyes were the color of dead salmon. To the casual observer it might appear that he was being led by the burgondy lunar mare at his side as he approached the table. “Please excuse the low light, we like the dark here. I have come across a most vexing artifact, Librarian.”
“Did you watch me come out of my Library?” Booksalot asked curiously as he set the book aside with his magic and a smile.
“This card.” The goat flipped the card for only the briefest, guarded moment. “I know every card from my deck. I remember every deal and every pony, and every attempt to escape the price of their own desire. This card is a mystery to me. It does not belong. It portends ill, that much I can see clearly.”
The Goat produce a mixed deck of tattered cards in one cloven hoof, effortlessly flipping the top card onto the table. “The Carnival of Sin. A shadow descends over Decanter. What is coming cannot be stopped. What and who comes after must heal the soul of Equestria. I must know where this card came from.”
The tri-colored maned unicorn looked at the card and gave a small chuckle, “You should consider yourself lucky that an item of the Dreamscape decided to let you hold onto it for so long. Especially with one from a Nightmare.” and with that Booksalot then took a sip from his glass.
The goat swept a bottle of bitter ale in his cloven hoof and took a long drought. :”I assume you are aware of the recent… fractures in our history?”
“The History section in my library grew three shelves, and the unsolved artifact search book grew thicker with more artifacts to find.” Booksalot says calmly, “In short it added to my work load, not like Celestia or Luna are giving me any more bits for the extra work though.”
“My sympathies. I charge dearly for my work. The cards will take their own cost. Let those ponies who wish to bend fate pay, and pay dearly.” The Goat nodded calmly. “I was approached by a changeling filly. A proto-queen. She grieved for a human who died in a coma-dream before he ever set eyes on Equestria. She wished to undo death. The cards set their price and she paid it.”
“And then what happened?” Booksalot asked as if he knew something about the story he was being told.
“The cards called the pieces into place. A unicorn prodigy set on revenge. A displaced element of laughter born of a living nightmare.” The goat sighed. “All to set up Discord’s grand joke on the court of Celestia. His counter for the shining Silver Prince. Two lost souls were brought back into our world. One twisted in the image of chaos. And it seems they were not the only ones to escape from the chains of destiny.”
“Hey don’t look so down the ending gets so much… “ Booksalot stopped and laughed nervously, “Spoilers, I can’t say them. Anyways what do you want me to do with that Card? I could easily put it into my Library within a case that will suit it.”
“You presume much Librarian.” The Goat replied coolly holding the card in the air with one cloven hoof. “Let it be the providence of the writing between the walls.”
// Another favor? There’s no reason to ask what you’re willing to pay at this point, William.
The words were gone as soon as they had appeared, and the card with them. “Do you think there is any kind of happy ending to the path that card marks? Ponies and their rainbows. The shadows of fate strangle your rainbows in their cradle, Librarian.”
“Then let some other pony worry about finding those rainbows.” Booksalot stated simply, “And what I can tell you is that everything eventually gets better after they’ve been at their darkest.”
“Optimism is a luxury that can be ill afforded in the shadows of your shining city.” The Goat muttered in annoyance. “The ponies of Upper Canterlot will suffer little until the end of it. And then for you it will be rainbows. Equestria will have need of healing, it is the youngest who will need this most. Find your maker Librarian.”
“I believe in knowledge and facts young Goat,” Booksalot said as he finished his drink. “and I will be the one to bring the knowledge back when everything goes to Tartarus. Now what is it that you know about the man that saw me across the Multiverse and deemed me his OC?”
“He taught the foals of his world from his camp.” The Goat carelessly flipped a card revealing a baboon pitching a tent amid a gaggle of monkeys. “You will find him in his camp in the mountains of foals.”
“Why should I go and find him? He likes solitude, if he chose to come here it’s because he doesn’t want to deal with the rest of his kind.” Booksalot asks.
“Billy,” the burgundy lunar pegasus returned, speaking in an urgent hush. “The stage is set, the curtain goes up and we’re on in five.”
“My time is valuable Librarian.” The Goat rose easily and turned to leave. “You might as well ask why you should breath. I have no time to answer that question either.”
Booksalot nodded in understanding before he rose to his hooves and he picked up the Beginner's Guide to Magic in a slight flaming aura, “We shall speak again I’m sure. Just leave a note with Zilla if I’m not in and I’ll come as quickly as I can.” With that the elder unicorn trotted on out the door of the Belfry and toward the train station.
I’ve been watching you. I’ve been talking to a friend about your adventures. We would like to finally meet you face to face. Now since I know that you still are acting Ambassador to the Humans I feel that you will be happy to know that there is a human out in Foal Mountains that’s finally ready to join in with Equestrian Society. He’s been by himself, except for my occasional visits, for the majority of a year, and it would do his mental health some good to talk to new ponies. He has requested you bring the whole family to come and talk to him. That means you, all you’re wives, the kids, and their kids, (If there are any he was a little vague on that). Whenever you’re ready to go meet me in the Library.
Sincerely and with Hope, The Librarian Booksalot
Dear Booksalot,
Oh my! I don't think I have grandchildren yet, and even as I write this, I realize that's not true, seeing as my adopted daughter adopted a son of her own, shortcutting that entire process. I'm glad to hear you're giving succor to a human in need and hope he's treating you kindly in response. I know they can be tricky at times, but they are a species capable of great love once you get past the rough exterior. Bringing my entire family would be quite a challenge. As you may not be aware, I am a prince, and my wives number no few princesses. Asking them all to go anywhere at once would put the country in peril. I can come, of course, but I can't promise the rest. I hope this would be acceptable, and look forward to more exact details.
Walk in Peace, Prince Silver Watch
Dear Silver Watch,
I am highly aware of your social status as I am employed under you and I already tried explaining it to this human and his exact words were “Then let the Ambassador come with his favorite wife and the kids.” So yet again please come find me in the Library with whomever will journey out to meet this man. I will be sitting at the circular desk in the public sector.
Sincerely, The Librarian Booksalot
Dear Librarian Booksalot,
I will come with my first then. She is reliable and is not often reserved about such trips. If I can get any others to peel away, I'll see about bringing them too. Does your human have a name? I suppose it's a silly question since I'll probably be there before the reply gets to me.
Have a Fantastic Day, Prince Silver Watch
Booksalot was sitting behind the circular desk as he said he would be, his flaming ruby magic was holding various books within its grasp in a grand display of finesse pulling them off the self in order checking them, and returning the books to new homes in the library. “Some ponies just don't know how to keep the public areas organized properly.” he mutters aloud to himself after he finished reading the latest letter.
A squeal was the first hint that others approached. The door opened with a silvery glow visible to some and a little foal scurried inside, his eyes taking in everything eagerly. Behind him came a marginally more sedate little filly. Fortunately, the little ones are not alone as their caretakers, Silver Watch and Fast Change, came right after them.
Silver let Fast chase after the little ponies for the moment as his eyes darted to the other pony he saw. "Hello there." He approached swiftly and smoothly. "Are you Book…" The name was lost. "We exchanged letters?"
“Booksalot, you can call me Books for short if you wish.” Booksalot stated with a smile and a flare of his horn and the books all flew back to their shelves. “Could Samantha and her child not make it today?” he asked as he stood from behind the desk and came around to properly greet them all. A smile grew upon his red muzzle anyways as he continued not waiting for a reply, “Anyways, Welcome to the Library, Equestria’s largest source of knowledge and powerful ancient artifacts known to ponykind.”
Silver gave a restrained snort of a chuckle. "Libraries seem to draw intelligent ponies, full of curiosity. Good ponies." He shook his head then. "Afraid I came with three. Fast Change, Clear Twilight and Morning Glory."
As he named them, Fast Change approached. She wore her 'natural' form, ruddy red unicorn mare, with the foals floating in her magic grip. "Hey there. Where's the human hiding? Wait, are you the human?" She squinted at Books. "You could be. Humans have a habit of going native."
“I know how to take a human form but I was born Equestrian. Maybe not this Equestria, but still, you gaze upon my natural form.” Booksalot said with a chuckle of his slightly aged lungs. “This way, it will be faster to get to Foal Mountain using the Warp Gate I set up.” he said as he started to lead the way through the shelves of the Library toward the back. “I know you asked about his name Mr. Watch, but I’ve only been permitted to tell one of his three last names. I also believe you should know that he is at his best and worst in life at the same time.”
Fast Change perked right up, ears going fully erect and her body leaning forward towards the new pony. "You know the spell for human shapes? Show me! You have it written down? Show me!" She was quite focused, almost bouncing in place. "Oh please!"
Silver put a hoof in front of her. "Relax. He heard you the first time and if he wants to share, he will, but we're not here to pressure anypony, just greet a lost human, which is my job."
Morning Glory gave an excited squeal as if understanding somewhat what was going on, or perhaps just enjoying being bounced around in Fast's grip.
Booksalot chuckled lightly as they came to an open area in the shelves with runes inscribed upon the floor and the wall in what looked like an archway, “Maybe later dear Changeling Princess.” he stated as his horn flared to life with flame and caused the runes to light as well. “Have you ever used one of these before?”
Fast suddenly looked awkward. Her voice dropped to barely a whisper, "I'm not a…" She looked away.
Silver leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You're a princess to me, no matter which way this goes." He looked back to Books, shaking his head. "Afraid I don't know what we're doing, but we'll follow you."
Booksalot took a small mental note about Fast’s reaction to his words as the portal opened in a gust of roaring flames that held at the edges of the doorway that now existed. On the other side were trees and music could be heard coming from the other side. “Everypony through first, it’ll close after I’m through.” Booksalot said as he waited.
Silver's magic felt outwards, near invisible to even his own eyes with the diffuse nature of his feeling, exploring the edges of the portal as he took the foals from Fast and tucked them close. "Ready?" The two nodded in reply and he chuckled. "Still gets me how foals do that." And on he went, trotting through with Fast just behind.
Booksalot followed after and let it close behind himself, “Toward the music, a song I believe he thinks you’ll recognize Silver.” He then took the lead and headed toward the whimsical windmill like music. As they got closer the music got louder and a clearing came into sight. To one side was a hammock and a tarp with a footlocker near it, near the middle was a decent camp fire with various ceramic bowls around the edge of it. Sitting upon a stump wearing green cargo pants, a tan button up shirt, and a navy blue bomber jacket was the man they had come to see.
His eyes were closed as he bobbed his head to and fro with the music, letting his hands move as if he was conducting a symphony. The song was coming from a small speaker that was on the stump next to him then ended and with that the man reached down, turned the speaker off and opened his eyes to look upon his guests with his pain filled green eyes. “There seems to be a lot of the family missing.” he stated more curious than anything.
"Zelda music?" Silver mused as he approached the human. "Oh, yes, apologies. Did you hear of them from someone or another?" He twitched his left ear before he lifted each foal in his magic. "This is Clear Twilight, and this, Morning Glory. Beside me, Fast Change. Lastly, I am Silver Watch, and it's nice to meet you…?"
Fast had her eyes more on Books than the human. "So, about that spell…?"
“It’s a mite complicated child.” Booksalot replied with a kind hearted smile.
“Horton, That’s the only name I wish to go by anymore,” said the man with a soft smile, “I was hoping you would bring Night Watch, Samantha, and Moonbeam as well, I cooked a lot of sausage to share with you all.” he then reached over and grabbed one of the larger ceramic bowls and brought it closer to them all.
Fast Change stuck out her tongue even as warm green flames rushed over her, leaving a lunar mare behind. "One, I can enjoy a bit of meat as well as anyone else. Two, shapeshifing spells are my specialty. Tell me you have it written somewhere?"
Silver shook his head as ha approached. "Thank you for that, Horton. Please forgive me in advance if I forget that. Names, not my strength. How has Equestria been treating you, and welcome to it!"
“Anything can be found in my Library if you look hard enough.” Booksalot said smiling.
“You can’t really tell me welcome now when I’ve been here for a little over a year.” Horton said raising an eyebrow, “And the land itself has been wonderful, about three other humans were giving me some trouble until about a month ago.” Horton then turned and picked up some of the long grass beside himself and he started to work them together, beginning to create something.
“Anyways, to answer your previous question I've read about you all. You've been through a lot Mr. Watch. I hope that we can become close acquaintances as season seven starts.”
Silver shook his head. "You've been here that long?" Wait, what? "Read about me? I didn't know any ponies had started writing about me." He looked quite perplexed. But then there was more. "We're up to season seven?"
"Season what now?" asked Fast, blinking at the exchange even as she took the foals from Silver's limp magic grip. "By the way, you invited me, so I'll be plundering that library of yours when we get back until I find that spell."
“Zilla should be able to help you find it.” Booksalot said calmly.
“Yes sir, season seven had already aired before I arrived and the movie came out after I left. Anywho, I've read about you from Fimfiction.net. I probably even know somethings about your adventures that you weren't aware of.” Horton said in response.
Silver blinked dumbly at the person a moment. Bits of his past, almost entirely forgotten, were forced to the front. "They made a … I suppose that doesn't matter." He glanced left and right. "I hope you're not planning to throw things any more off-course than they might be? I can't see the show to know."
"Seriously, what are you talking about?" Fast sat on her haunches and set down the two foals. "You two stay in sight, got it?"
“I am referring to something from the human world that we are from.” Horton said as he held up the freshly created grass rose and turned it in his grasp to inspect it. “I don’t plan on changing anything to much, but I do wish to venture across the country side and I think I should take care of one place before the next major thing happens around Twilight and her friends.” Horton then set the rose aside and started working with more grass as he spoke.
"Neat trick," complemented Silver as he approached. "I never got into oragami, more of a writer, back in the human days." His ears fanned forward. "What are the odds? I just got a mission relating to that, but that's beside the point. What brought you… to me?" he asked with building uncertainty. "Was… I mean… What did you see?"
Horton stopped his work and stared at Silver raising an eyebrow, “One, it’s weaving. Two, I’m making you all a gift for coming. Three, I’m a craftsman, I don’t have a mission for you.” He then returned his attention back to the work in his hands, “I have a request to borrow Gaea Shield, the Solar Pegasus in the Lunar Guard.”
Booksalot smiled at Morning Glory and Clear Twilight as he conjured up a fire imp to dance around them and keep them occupied. While it amused them, Fast was responsible enough to make sure that fire wouldn't harm her wards.
Silver's attention was on Horton. "Shield isn't technically mine to give away, temporarily or otherwise. That would be up to Luna. What's up? If it's straight forward, it shouldn't be an issue. Also, you kinda didn't say what you saw?"
“When did I ever say I saw anything?” Horton asked curiously, “I know I said I saw season seven, but I’ve simply read about you and some of the other humans that have found themselves here because of the Text. Most of what I know is current with the timeline now, therefore I can’t spoil anything. Well, unless you wanna know where a one Mr. John Smith ran off to.”
The little imp then leapt up into Fast’s mane and nestled down, surprisingly not catching her on fire. Fast let out a yelp of surprise, drawing the giggles of the foals.
Silver glanced back at her. "That's what I meant, reading, seeing, experiencing, let's not get bogged in terms." He shuffled from foreleg to foreleg. "Am I in a book?"
“Timeline wise we are currently in the fourth story about you and your adventures David.” Horton said with a chuckle, “I’m sorry I just haven’t talked to anyone in a long time, the most recent I’ve been this close to someone was a month ago. Right now those men are all taking a dirt nap about three miles that way.” Horton lifted a hand from his work and gestured to his left before picking up the rose and adding it to the bowl that had been created.
That made Silver recoil quite abruptly. "W-what?!" His ears pinned back against his head. "What happened?" Why did Horton seem so unbothered by it? Silver didn't like it, and his magic began to reach out preemptively, feeling the area and preparing for an attack.
“They tried to kill me, I defended myself.” Horton said bluntly. “I left a knife in one, and my sword has a few purple spots on it now.” He then gestured to the black footlocker. “You’re using your magic so I know you can probably tell that I locked all my knives and my sword in the chest for now.”
Silver took a slow step back, wings fluttering fitfully on his sides. "If you know so much about me, why don't you know this sounds like the wrong kind of thing on basically every level? What were you before you came here, a soldier?"
“Scout,” Horton said pulling back the edge of his jacket to show the Boy Scouts of America sewn into his shirt. “Summer camp had just ended and I was ready to go home when the Text got me.” He then looked up at stared at Silver, “And I am aware of how it sounds, because those men did die at my hands. I won’t sugar coat anything. Men are dead, I killed them, now I have to live with that until the end of my days.”
Silver glanced away and back quickly, as if uncertain to let the man out of his sights even a moment. "How many others have there been, before those three?"
Even Fast could feel the edge around Silver and she quickly gathered up the foals, tucking them under wings she didn't have moments prior.
“None, I had only ever killed fish and the occasional squirrel or rabbit for food.” Horton said as he released a sigh, “When I first arrived I was thinking about starting a camp that ponies could come to to learn various crafts and survival skills. Once, I killed those men I knew I couldn’t do that, mostly due to how you and your wives would react to the news. That’s why I want to go on a little trip around the country instead, I want to start by looking in the Everfree Forest for a certain hut that won’t want to be found.”
One of those ears inched upwards. "Look, if they… attacked you like that, you have the right to defend yourself, but…" He frowned a little. "What happened? Start at the start and walk me through, if you can?"
“Do you really want your foals to hear something like this?” Horton asked as he pointed to Fast and the foals. “I know this wouldn’t bother Booksalot because he’s been in a few fights in his own travels, and you had that dream world that you died in. Am I wrong Prince Silver Watch?”
The hairs on his withers stood up as the tension grew. "Just a dream, as you said. Some of it… nevermind that. We're here for you, one way or the other. Stick to the facts. Neither of us… should… be interested in gorey details."
“I’ll tell you the short version then,” Horton said as he closed his eyes, “It was calm night, I was sitting in this spot as the fire had just gone to embers. I was starting to fall asleep when one of my perimeter traps went off making a lot noise telling me that they were coming. I assumed it was them because they had kept trying to steal some of my things to help their lives be better.” Horton then crossed his legs and opened his eyes before continuing. “I had been carrying the sword with me to use as a machete, a tool to help me gather things or to act in self defence if a wild animal tried attacking me. I walked toward the trap that had gone off…”
"--Stop there," cut in Silver. "If they were bothering you already, why didn't you do… anything? Go to a local town, report them, move away, just about anything more than… nothing? You knew they were there and it escalated to this, if I'm not misunderstanding."
“The closest town is Canterlot and Ponyville, they are both two or three days away by walking.” Horton replied, “So I made the traps, I flintknapped some arrowheads tied them to sticks and buried those so that if you walked in some areas it would be painful and annoying but not kill anyone. I also attempted a bear trap like one but that one never worked right so I threw it into the bottom of the river. I chose not to leave because I didn’t really want to carry the two-hundred and fifty pounds that is all my stuff and the foot locker.”
"So you made a choice, just to be clear. You decided your stuff was important, important enough to kill for, in the end." His wings spread wide. "That was, in the end, the decision. You didn't know what the intruders were capable of in either direction. They could have shot you dead just as easily. You valued your things more than their lives or your own. Was it… Was it that valuable?" His magic reached to see, slipping into cracks and corners to feel at what might be there.
“When I went out to confront them one of them jumped me and got me in the side with a small swiss army knife. They were going for my life to get my stuff so that’s when I defended myself.” Horton stated. Silver could feel many things within the foot locker, ranging from clothing, to a few what seemed like trinkets without being able to see them, to a collection of pocket knives and the sword, all locked within. “If you want I’ll work on rewriting my journal so that it’s more legible and send it to you so you can see my whole life while I’ve been here.”
"When I look my wives in the eye and tell them that humanity is, by and large, friendly and empathetic souls that would rather avoid conflict, am I a liar?" He rose to his full standing height. "If you know me, then you know I started on two legs, just like you. I thought most people preferred that, peace. Good neighbors over bad. Cooperation over violence. That's just… It's not even natural. Wild animals don't like violence, too dangerous." He laughed at that. "Ironic in a way, isn't it?"
Horton crossed his arms and watched Silver with a mostly unamused expression. “I agree.” He finally said cutting some of the tension in the air, “You aren’t a liar Mr. Watch, I personally would rather find a peaceful solution to a problem than go right to violence. But why dwell on the past? What’s happened has happened and we can’t change that. I wish to better myself and try to avoid such a situation from happening again.” Horton then removed his jacket and set it to the side as he stood up and gave the scout sign, “I promise on my honor as a scout, for that is all I have left.”
Fast came up beside Silver, looking between him and the human curiously. "That's kind of a big deal, I mean killing anything that can ask you not to, right?" She perked an ear. "Never did that myself."
"I have…" confessed Silver. "Not on purpose… Not even while awake… I never want to even be that close again." He stomped a hoof. "So here's a stupid question." He thrust a hoof at the footlocker. "Why did you come prepared for this?"
“I had been camping, I was working staff and had recently bought my solar charger for my phone and my water purification system.” Horton said lowering his hand and sitting back down with a slight wince. “The knives are all my pocket knives, the scout motto is Be Prepared, and every one of those knives were originally intended to be tools for survival, not weapons. And the sword was in my footlocker because I was showing it to the other staff, with it being my very first of what was going to be a collection. When the Text asked what I wanted to bring I said my foot locker because I had just packed it up to go home.”
"Then he got you." Silver slumped a little. "You took something dangerous, and he got you. The Text got rid of someone else he didn't like, and got the blood all over your hands. They came because… He killed them, with you. You were his sword."
Fast blinked softly, trying to parse that. "Want to try that one more time?"
“The Force that brought you your husband Miss Fast Change.” Horton says with a soft smile, “The Text is its name, and it also brought those other humans to Equestria, and since it didn’t like them or they had just asked for a bad path. I became a tool to get rid of them.”
"Does that make you happy?" asked Silver. "What does it make you feel? Be honest."
“What is there to feel? Regret at killing something sentient? Anger at being used? Frustration toward not having peace?” Horton asked then shook his head, “I’ve already been through the emotions, I like what Morrie had to say on the subject. Did you ever read that book, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’?”
Silver shook his head. "Afraid not, but that's beside the point. You're a Scout, or so I thought? You act like a soldier that's put it all behind them, and that's a little… unsettling, if you don't mind my saying."
Fast nodded at that even as Clear Twilight broke free and flopped to the ground. "Come back here, you," called out Fast as she wandered off after the lunar earth filly.
“I don’t mind at all.” Horton said as he watched Clear and Fast for a moment. “A lot of people always told me I seemed older than I really am because of that attitude.” Horton then paused for a moment before continuing, “So, about me going looking for a hut in the Everfree Forest, yea or neigh?”
Silver blinked softly. "Look, you are either dangerous, or hurt, possibly both. You need help, and I'm willing to help you get it, but I'm not here to force it. You've been through a terrible thing, and you're burying it under a mountain of machismo. It might feel right… but it isn't. You were used, hurt, physically, mentally. May I help you?"
“You’re the first to notice.” Horton said with a chuckle, “Yeah, I’m hurt, I never had any friends, wasn’t really close to my family even though I still miss them to heaven above, and I just don’t fit into social norms. Being out here by myself with limited interaction has both helped and hurt me. And of course I’m dangerous, if you made me choose one thing about myself that I’m scared of the most I would say my patience. So, if you wanna help me I’ll gladly accept it.”
Silver's face unfolded into a smile, a hopeful smile. "Do you need help carrying your things? It would be awful to lose them after all that." He didn't move to snatch the foot locker. It was obviously precious to the human. "We'll bring you to Canterlot. You'll be cared for. Once you start to feel again, I swear to help you get wherever you want to go, though I would caution against the Everfree, still, your life in the end."
“I think that teaching me a new skill would help me get better.” Horton said with a smile, “Give me to the blacksmiths and let me learn. Books pack up the camp!” he said as he pulled the key to his locker from his hip and threw it to the aged unicorn who grabbed it in his flaming aura along with the foot locker, the hammock and its gear.
Silver glanced at the unicorn curiously. "No harm in learning a trade, but how did you two get in contact." He snatched the fleeing Morning Glory from the ground with his magic, to Fast's releif. She had the other giggling foal. "I never learned how to smith, but I guess you know that?"
“The Goat from the Belfry told me I should come look for him after he asked me to come answer a question for him.” Booksalot said simply as everything was gathered and he started trotting back the way they came.
“And Booksalot was my OC so I was fine with him showing up every once in awhile like he did.” Horton stated as he picked up his jacket and the woven grass bowl he had made during their talk.
That made Silver relax a little. "My own OC was quite a help when I first arrived. I thought I was the only one, but I guess that was just me thinking I was special." He turned back to where the portal was, bumping into Fast along the way. "Let's get back. We can chat along the way."
Horton took one last look around the camp before he started to sing as he kicked out the fire and followed.
“On a hill Above the river In amongst the trees Flies the flag of Arrowhead Waving in the breeze.
Hail, to Arrowhead Hail, to Arrowhead A place to work and play Where a scout learns better scouting All the live long day.”
Booksalot listen and joined in with humming the same tune when Horton did as they continued their walk.
Horton stepped into the cell he had been escorted to for the evening. “Thank you kindly for the accommodations.” he said to the guard as they locked the door with a huff and lumbered off. The tall human took a few steps around the cell humming lightly to himself.
Some… thing… stirred in the shadows of the neighboring cell. It was almost the shape of a pony, but the horns were… a goat maybe? “Can’t you shut up? Some of us are trying to sleep!”
The pony-thing slunk into view with a feline swagger, Revealing the chitinous form of a changeling, but still slightly wrong. The black, chitinous face of a young changeling queen grinned through the bars, her smile bisecting her young face to reveal rows of shark-like teeth. Her head was crested by not one but two goat like horns. “What are ya in for?”
“Straight up murder.” Horton stated as his humming ceased and he bowed toward the new face. “How about yourself dear Diane?”
“Oooo, keep dropping spoilers like that and you’ll burn in hell.” Diane chuckled. “Never knew I was famous. How many did you kill? How many pieces did they find? Human, huh? You’re not one of the Anons? Naw, they wear the stupid masks. Did you know that if you try to put the guards head in your mouth they’ll give you tranquilizers?”
“You’re just as mad as me.” Horton stated as he stepped over and crouched in front of her. “The name is Horton, I read a little about you in the world I came from. I killed three humans, not a single piece has been found of the bodies, and because I memory is terrible dear friend, some of that terminology is lost on me.”
“Yeah,” the changeling said with a heavy slur, “You killed three of you’re own kind? Are you sure you’re not an anon?”
“I would like to think I’m not Anonomous.” Horton contemplated as he twisted and leaned into Diane’s cell. “I am the man that knows many things and yet not enough. I have a plan, but execution is required. I also know many a little song.”
Diane violently clamped her vise like jaws onto the shoulder of the unexpecting human. “I’m good at execution, murderer. I’m here for ripping apart the Nopony and all his lieutenants. Unrepentant killers. Just like me… heh… just like you, mister ‘secrets and spoilers’.”
Horton hissed lightly in pain as he listened to her talk. When she finished speaking he simply said, “I was hoping to pass this jacket on to my own off spring someday. I got it from my grandfather long ago.”
“Did you leave a will?” Diane snarled, tightening her grip. “Who sent you? I don’t know what they told you about me, but they obviously didn’t care enough to warn you about my personal space.”
“Again bad memory.” Horton told the pony attached to his shoulder, “but no one sent me and I don’t have any children yet. Now did you happen to taste of something slightly strange compared to blood.”
“Gah!” Diane spitefully ripped gouts of flesh as she snatched back her head. “Damn you! What did you poison me with?!?!”
“It’s just Sassafrass.” Horton tells her as he goes back into his cell hissing at the movement of his now highly injured shoulder. “Your lips, teeth and tough will be numb for about two weeks at most and the diaria will last probably just as long.”
“Hey what’s going on in here?!?!” A burly unicorn guard burst in. “Nightmare in the moon! We need medical help immediately!”
Diane stumbled back, foaming slightly at the mouth, “That stupid human reached in my cell and poisoned me! I was only fighting back!”
“I did nothing of the sort Deary!” Horton called out as he worked on taking off what remained of his shirt and jacket before he pulled a bandana out of the pocket and started personal first aid. “I just happen to still be covered in particles from the forest. It’s a trick I learned so that the large predators would learn to leave me alone.”
“Get the human out of here, he needs a doctor!” The guard captain dirrected the steadily arriving guards, before turning to the changeling. “You’re only hurting yourself, miss. Well, and him I guess, you definitely hurt him.”
“Jeez! Why’d you have to get of close enough for her to bite you?” One guard scolded Horton, as he carefully moved him to a gurney.
“I don’t need a doctor just bring me the medical kit.” Horton said as he got right back up from the gurney and kept working on tying the bandana to his shoulder.
“Yeah, like we’re just gonna leave you in here to bleed.” The guard rolled his eyes. “Look, it’ll go better for you if you just go along with it. That goes for you too Diane. Sheesh, what subgenius had that bright idea of putting the two psychos next to each other. Now be a good human and lay back down.”
“One request and I’ll gladly go to the medic.” Horton stated as he finished his self aid.
“What’d ya think, Cap?” The guard tossed his head in the direction of his superior.
“I don’t see the harm in it, if it’ll get him to go quietly.” The guard captain rolled his eyes. “We’ve gotta wait till someone shows up to tranq her highness over there anyway you look at it.”
“I wish to speak with The Goat.” Horton stated
“The goat?” The guard smirked. “Sure, I’ll just send him a message and I’m sure he’ll be right over. Because, you know, he’s well known for coming out and visiting complete strangers.”
“Seriously?” Another guard laughed. “Do you want an audience with Princess Cadance while you making unreasonable requests?”
“Actually,” the first guard noted, “that might be more doable. She’s in Canterlot right now. I gotta give it to you though, that’s a pretty gutsy request. Obviously, we’re not going to haul you down to a bar in Lower Canterlot.”
“Then give a message to Booksalot the Librarian and have him go get the Goat to meet me in the Medical Ward. Since I’m sure that this injury is going to take more than just a few minutes.
“Sure, yeah.” The guard rolled his eyes. “I’ll pass a note to your coltfriend in the library as soon as my shift ends. “Just relax and let us get you stitched up, okay?”
“Hey! I’ve been poisoned over here.” Diane retched in the adjacent cell.
“Again it’s Sassafrass there’s nothing to be done but wait for the symptoms to go away in a week or two.” Horton calls over to Diane before he gives the guard a death glare, “Refer to my relationship with that stallion like that again and you may find yourself waking up itching in places you didn’t even know existed.”
“Okay, tough-guy, have it your way.” The guard snorted. “From where I’m standing, you couldn’t even make a few hours for Celestia to give you a fair hearing before you picked a fight with a school-filly. A fight you lost. Honestly, this is pretty much what we expected out of her. But the Prince said he really thinks you might be reformable. From what I’ve seen… pft. You want trouble.”
“I’m gonna get out of this eventually, monkey.” Diane snickered, the slimy refuse of her sick dribbling softly from her chin. “One day, when you’re not expecting it, I’m going to peel all those tasty little spoilers right out of your ugly skull.”
“See, now you’ve got her all riled up. Jeez, Sunflare, who’s bright idea was it to put these two together in the first place?”
“Hell, I don’t know, Sky, I think they were supposed to talk things out and realize the error of their ways, you know because, ‘friendship’.” The guard captain replied drily.
“They aren’t spoilers if it’s things that have already happened.” Horton stated as he started to chuckle madly, “And whoever said we had gotten into a fight? If so then who said it was over.”
Horton took a deep breath and looked around at the ponies of Canterlot enjoying the park on this beautiful day. “Dependable weather sure is nice,” he said to himself as he stood and stretched the soreness out of his body and rotated his shoulder. “She sure had quite the bite. Luckily pony magic can do wonders on fixing that kind of thing.” The young man then took off at a brisk walk toward the artisans district, which happened to be on the edge of Upper Canterlot nearest Decanter. He soon came to a building that had a sign hanging in the front reading ‘The Wright Stuff: Where stuff gets forged right!’
The building itself was as large as a warehouse, which made sense to Horton as it was only a few blocks away from the rail line. He went inside with a small jingle of a bell above the door before hearing a feminine voice calling from a back room. “Welcome to The Wright Stuff! I’ll be out in just a moment so if you don’t mind waiting.”
“Not at all Ma’am” Horton called out as he took a look around the front of the shop which had various pieces of metal work both functional and decorative pieces. His gaze then fell to the door that a bright pink pegasus was trotting through with a smile on her muzzle. Her wing tips were black from soot and burns, her cutie mark was a black semiquaver, her mane and tail were both tied back in deep blue messy buns. “I honestly wouldn’t expect a musical note to be the cutie mark of one of Canterlot’s best blacksmiths.”
“You have to be able to hear the music within the metal as you work.” she replied, “I’m Forge Wright, proprietor of this smithery. How can I help you today?”
“My name is Horton, I was told that my apprenticeship was going to be taking place at this smithery.” He gave a bow before standing upright once more.
“I got a letter from the crown saying something along those lines.” Forge replied with a slight giggle, “Let’s go ahead and get you started since it’s still only morning.” She then began to lead the way toward the back, as Horton followed he felt the heat from the various forges and then started to hear the almost overbearing and recognizable sound of a hammer hitting hot metal. As his eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting of the work floor Horton noticed a singular minotaur striking away at a piece of hot metal. “Hey, Regular, put down the hammer and come meet the new appearance.” Forge called out over the noise.
The minotaur looked up and gave a nod before he put the hot metal on the edge of the fire to keep it warm before he walked closer. Upon his bare chest was what appeared to be a tattoo of a changeling. “Hi, I’m Regular Pegasus, you are?” he asked as he held out a hand.
“Slightly confused on your name and tattoo currently.” Horton replied as he took the offered hand to shake it firmly.
“It helps that it isn’t a tattoo.” the minotaur replied before being engulfed in green flames leaving a black holeless changeling behind. “I’m a changeling.” he continued in a voice filled with chittering.
“Now that introductions are out of the way, can you work on moving the ore from the loading dock over there, to the storage room over here.” Forge requested as she gestured to the different spots she was talking about.
“I would love to but I got this bite on my shoulder yesterday evening.” Horton said pulling his jacket and sleeve out of the way to show his new co-workers the scar from Diane. “The Doctors say that I should avoid anything to strenuous. It’ll be alright in a day or three.”
“Okay then, Regular you get to moving that ore. I’m going to teach Horton here the paperwork side of things first.” Forge said with a grin as she headed back for the front.
“Dam it, I highly despise the paperwork I’ll wind up having to do.” Horton said as he turned to follow, and Regular chuckled.
Within the Library, Booksalot was moving through the aisles doing inventory when we came across an empty slot on a shelf. “Hey Zilla, where’s “Runic Transformations: the Human Venture”?”
“Didn’t that changeling queen take it? I remember seeing it within her grasp as they left.” came the sweet voice of Zilla.
“Did Princess Fast Change talk to you about the spell and finding it?”
“She never spoke to me honey.”
Booksalot let out a sigh, “I try helping and she just didn’t pick up on the fairly obvious hints I gave her.” The greying unicorn then looked up at the sound of hooves to see the long legs that led up to the rest of the mare’s dark purple frame. Her wings fluttered slightly as she gave Booksalot a questioning glance. With a toss of her blond and purple mane she kept trotting down the next aisle.
“Your hints are never obvious enough for the common pony.” Zilla told him as she gave a teasing flick of her tail before it disappeared around the corner. “I need your help in Fria’s Office.”
Booksalot chuckled as he started to follow the gracefully aged mare. “Why, we only ever dust that room?”
“There’s a warning in the dust my love.” Zilla replied cooly as green bale-fire covered her from revealing a black changeling with holes in its hooves and deep purple streaks running through the mane and tail. “I believe Fria’s ghost has been able to see something is about to drastically change here in the Library.” she continued with a chitter in her voice.
Booksalot picked up his pace and they both were soon standing within the unused office. His gaze fell to the chard lettering upon the dust covered desk, “The one who sacrifices will wander the aisles of knowledge in search of prey when new students are made and friendship has had a castle for some time.” he read aloud.
“What does it mean?” Zilla asked curiously as she leaned closer. “Some of it kind of makes sense but the whole “one who sacrifices” part does…” The changeling was then interrupted by a loud and echoing yowl. “What was that Books?”
“Menhit.” Booksalot then pushed Zilla out of the room shutting and locking it with his magic. “Run, go for the main entrance and go out those doors. Make sure to inform Prince Silver Watch that the Library has fallen.”
“What about you Booksalot?”
“The Library lock down is meant to keep things out, not in.” He said as his horn lit a flame as various spells started to layer around the various books, scrolls, and artifacts within. “Avoid the Anugypt Room on your way out Zilla.” The red unicorn then burst into flames that began to travel in the direction the yowl had come from.
Zilla lifted a hoof ready to follow him before she let out a sigh quickly changing back into the pegasus she had been previously and flew over all the shelves of the main floor toward the front door. As she flew she could see the torches lining the walls steadily changing from yellow flame to red toward the door. She just managed to get through the door before it got slammed shut and engulfed in purple flames that soon died away leaving a deep purple glow that filled the hall bathing its light upon Zilla and the two shocked lunar pegasus guards that had been standing there to witness the flaming doors.
Booksalot careened around the shelf and took off at a full gallop through the large doorway that lead into the even large room that contained statues, large vehicles, and a few other mysterious artifacts that were to big or unsightly to keep in the main section of the Library. The bipedal shape of Menhit came around the shelf next, in one hand was a Khopesh in the other an egyptian ax. “Get back here and face my blades, Gelding. They wish for blood after being contained for so long.” the lioness headed goddess called out as she ran after the fleeing equine.
“Never bitch, I’m too old to die today.”
“I’m a lioness!” Menhit roared out as she chased the Librarian deeper into the room. She followed him around a corner, only to stop dead in her tracks at the sight of a large metal tube in front of her. On the other end Booksalot was seeting upon a chair with a smug grin as a faint whirring sound started. “What is the meaning of that loo…” Menhit said before a Deafening bawhoomph filled the air along with stone dust. When it cleared Booksalot was looking upon empty space at the end of the machine before he looked up and watched Menhit fall to the lower levels.
“Well that worked better than I thought it would.” Booksalot cheerfully said as he jumped down and went to the edge looking down to the darkened floor below. “I forget what’s down there,” he pulled a map over from a nearby shelf as he sat back. The sound of thunder rose from below causing Booksalot’s ears to drop, “Of course she found the instructions to the Mechas.” he deadpanned before taking off at a full trot to find something else useful for his fight with Menhit.
“And closed. So what did you think of your first day Horton?” Forge asked with a smile as the human in question was slowly getting up from the chair he had been in for the majority of the day.
“My brain is dead, please don’t request any sort of higher level brain processing while it reboots.” he replied. “Is there anything interesting we can go off to do to for a bit before hitting the hay?”
“There’s all sorts of things across the rails in Decanter. We can fly over and take a walk around to see what’s happening tonight.” Forge suggested as Regular came out from the back and shook off soot from his wings. “Let’s go over to Decanter and show our new friend some fun things to do.”
“Sure, sounds like fun.” the changeling said as the group stepped outside. The two members with wings started to fly before Regular looked down and noticed Horton watching the train that had just appeared on the middle line blocking his way. “We forgot he can’t fly.” he told his employer.
Forge Wright turned around muttering a curse under her breath before calling out, “We’re going to have to wait for these trains. There’s a few more coming right now.”
“There’s no reason to wait when I’m going to try something stupid right now.” Horton called back.
“What do you mean by ‘I’m going to try something stupid’?” Forge asked Horton as he calmly walked the opposite direction of the tracks and the growing sound of the approaching trains. The human reached into his jacket pocket turning his speaker on allowing a fast and deep bass line to emit from it. He then turned around before taking off at a full sprint in time with the beat toward the tracks. Regular Pegasus looked over and watched as the track closest to the shop had a second train upon it before he looked back at the running human finally realizing what he was thinking.
The changeling dropped down to try and catch his new coworker only succeeding in landing behind the sprinting human. Horton then leapt into the air and with his left hand reached out and grabbed the train. It started to carry him down the line as he gently pulled himself onto the car’s walk. Once steady on the swiftly moving object he sprinted the short width of the car before leaping onto the train headed in the other direction and back toward where he started. From there he leapt off landed with a roll upon the ground before he casually walked forward across the third and final track right before a new train came roaring past.
He reached back into his pocket and turned off the speaker before he looked up at Forge and Regular who were now flying over head and coming down, “So, we were going to go do something?”
“Why the name of Celestia would you do that?” Forge Wright yelled as she came down on top of Horton, pinning him to the ground as she continued. “That was honestly one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen anypony or even sentient creature do. Whatever got into that tiny little head of yours that it was at all a smart idea to try something like that? I was scared that something bad was going to happen to you once I realized what you were doing.”
“Forge, calm down, he’s okay, mostly stupid it seems but okay.” Regular Pegasus said as he landed next to the other two.
“How am I supposed to stay calm when this human that I’ve been put in charge of watching tries killing himself?” Forge Wright asked turning on her employee with harshness in her voice.
“I’m still right here ya know.” Horton sarcastically commented from underneath Forge. “How about you demount me and we take a walk to talk this all out like ordinary living beings?”
“You’re right Horton,” Forge sighed as she stepped off of him, “Now can you please explain why you would do something so stupid?”
“Simple, I didn’t feel like waiting or walking around.” he said as he stood up and began walking down the street with both the pegasus and changeling looking at him in confusion. They started to follow as he continued, “So really in all honesty guys, I know when something is stupid but if I don’t try then I’d just wind up living a boring life. That’s something I know I don’t want.”
“Okay then that’s something I am willing to respect.” Regular chittered out as they walked past a bright and colorful changeling.
“I don’t mean to pry but is there a reason that you are still a classic changeling instead of the colorful colors of what happens when one gives love?” Horton asked noticing the newer kind of changeling.
“Because it’s easier to hide the soot on a black carapace.” Regular shrugged as he changed into a bright green pegasus stallion with a changeling cutie mark. “I’m also willing to follow some of the rules of the local hive like I have to wear the changeling face whenever I change and can only eat freely given love. The rest just annoys me because I’m not a part of that hive.”