> As The Songbird Sings > by chief maximus > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Arrival > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue "What?" said Apple Bloom in disbelief. "You mean ta tell me y'all have never heard the story of the yellow-eyed pony eater?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat opposite the campfire beneath the starry night sky. "I can't say I have..." Scootaloo replied, now well over her fear of ghost stories. Besides, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were a few paces away, asleep in their tents. They would surely scare away any 'yellow-eyed pony eaters' that might happen by. Apple Bloom smiled, glad it was finally her turn to tell a scary story Sweetie Belle couldn't ruin by giving away the ending. "Good." She dimmed the lamp and put on her scariest story telling face. "A long time ago, when Ponyville was still just a few farms and a fruit stand, my granny said she'd hear something shriek out in the woods!" Her two friends sat quietly. "She'd tell me her Pa had always said that if you leave the woods alone, it'll leave you alone. He said there were things in Whitetail Woods that no pony need mess with—not even the princesses themselves!" "Wait, hold on a second," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "You're tellin' me something in these woods is too scary even for the princesses?" She shot Apple Bloom a skeptical stare. "I don't believe it." Apple Bloom's face twisted in frustration. "Ah let you finish that lame story about split-ends that no shampoo could ever cure! The least you could do is let me tell my story!" Scootaloo chuckled behind her hoof as Sweetie Belle folded her forelegs in a pout. "Thank you. Now, like Ah was sayin', somethin' just awful lived in them woods, and sometimes ponies heard a terrible noise nopony could explain! Everypony was content ta just let it be... until one night, it came out of the woods!" Apple Bloom waved her forelegs menacingly, making both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jump. "Granny says that one night, during the harvest festival, Mr. Carrot had a brand new organ he’d wheeled out ta play so everypony could dance. Everythin' was fine for the first few hours, but as the cider started flowin', the shriek of the yellow-eyed pony eater echoed from the woods!" Her friends were now leaning forward a bit, their faces in eerie shadow as the fire began to die. "Everypony just ignored it at first, but nopony had ever heard it so close before. Then, out of nowhere, it flew out of the sky!" "Hang on, so it can fly now?" Scootaloo asked flatly. "Yes, it can fly. Now hush, and let me finish my story!" Apple Bloom demanded. "Anyway, it flew out of the woods, and all anypony could see were its yellow eyes! Some swore they were red! But, since it was dark, nopony could get a clear look at it, until it swooped down and smashed Mr. Carrot’s organ into a million pieces! Granny says she saw it for a half-second, but what she saw was somethin' so horrible, she'd wished she'd stayed home that night! It had big wings, like a dragons, but it was shaped like a giant sparrow. 'Cept it had four legs, like a pony! But on the end of its legs were horrible claws that could rip a stallion in half!" Sweetie and Scootaloo gasped. "Granny said it cast one of them yellow eyes on her, and it was all she could do to hide beneath an apple cart until it left. Nopony ever talks about it, and hardly anypony believes it anymore, but Ah can tell ya, you won't find none of the old folks campin' out here." Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. "So, is that it?" Apple Bloom's expression fell. "N-no, she also told me he likes ta eat the horns right off unicorn's heads!" "No!" Sweetie Belle covered her small horn with both hooves. "Yes! And he'll gobble up pegasi wings for dessert!" Scootaloo drew her tiny wings close to her sides. "But I haven't even gotten them to work yet!" "All right, that's enough, Apple Bloom," Applejack said from her tent, her sudden intrusion startling all three fillies. "Quit scarin' your friends with Granny's old ghost stories and come ta bed." "But Granny said that one really happened!" she protested. Applejack rolled her eyes. "Granny says a lot of things, sugarcube. Now c'mon ta bed. That goes for the rest of y’all." Apple Bloom entered the tent she shared with her sister, settling in to her sleeping bag. Once Applejack zipped up the flap and got comfortable, she whispered, "So, are you sayin' Granny wasn't tellin' me the truth?" Her older sister rolled over and smiled. "Naw, darlin'. Granny just has trouble rememberin' things right sometimes. She wouldn't lie to ya on purpose." Only the chirping of the crickets filled the tent for a moment before Apple Bloom spoke again. "So... do you think the yellow-eyed pony eater is real?" Applejack laughed. "No sugarcube, he ain't real. It may have just been a dragon. There were a lot more of them roamin' around back then, ya know." "Okay..." Apple Bloom sighed, rolling over in her sleeping bag. "G'night, AJ." "Goodnight, Apple Bloom." She closed her eyes but hardly managed five minutes of sleep before she swore she heard a faint, barely audible shriek echo through the woods. A flash of lightning illuminated the cobblestone streets of Canterlot as torrential rain poured down on the capital. After a second flash, two ponies appeared in the middle of the street. They sported lightly tanned coats, almost khaki in color, as well as auburn manes. The mare wore a rather old-fashioned, olive green dress and emerald tie, while the stallion wore a similarly colored sport coat and tie. One could be forgiven for thinking they were twins. "Well, this is a fine spot for us to arrive," she said, looking toward her companion. "Oh my." He glanced over his female counterpart. "’Oh my’ indeed. It appears this place is much different from the others." "I must agree. Curious that he would have been sent to such a peculiar place, brother." He nodded, their manes still inexplicably dry and tame in the harsh weather. "Curious indeed. I can hardly imagine such a locale. A world in which equines are the dominate species," he mused. "Still, probability allows for all types of alternates. I suppose ones we haven't considered are still viable." She looked down the empty street in both directions. "Perhaps we should make our way to an inn. This weather is simply dreadful." "Assuming these creatures are familiar with such concepts," the stallion beside her commented. She smiled at his assumption. "Come now, brother, they've built a city; surely they would have need of an inn. Let us hope it is not a mere stable." A crack of thunder startled Celestia from her slumber. Her wide eyes sagged as she realized what had awakened her. Though she knew it necessary, nighttime thunderstorms were of the most annoying variety. However, she had approved it herself, so she had nopony to blame. She stared at the top of her four-poster bed, trying to will her eyes closed again. Two more flashes illuminated her chambers. She bolted upright in bed. Something was... wrong. The feeling had hit her like so many bolts of lightning outside her window. Alien though the feeling was, something about it felt... familiar. Yes, that's what she'd call it. Familiar. She pondered for a moment. Where had this fleeting familiarity come from? It was not recent, that much she knew for certain. Perhaps nearly a century ago—not an obscene amount of time for somepony who'd lived for as long as she had, but certainly a considerable length for her subjects. It was a feeling as though something was in Equestria that didn't belong. Two somethings, if she had to guess. But what? However, these things—whatever they were—did not mean Equestria harm. Or so she felt. Her thousands of years of life had endowed her with a near sixth sense for danger. Even during times when it appeared to all others that she was oblivious, she could sense an upcoming event. Whether it was beneficial, like her student’s ascension to princess-hood, or detrimental, like the changeling attack, remained to be seen. Celestia got out of bed, a guard swiftly knocking on the door upon hearing her hoofsteps on the marble flooring. "Your Highness, is everything alright?" he called from beyond the door. "Yes, everything is fine," Celestia replied. She levitated her royal regalia onto her hooves, neck and head before opening the door to her bedchamber. "Your Majesty!" one of her guards yelped in surprise. "The sun is not due up for another five hours. Is there something we may do to aid your sleep?" "No, I shall be in the library. You are to retrieve me when it is time for the dawn to break." They snapped a crisp salute. "Yes, Your Highness." Celestia trotted down the hallway. The feeling she'd experienced began to fade, though that certainly did not mean the things that didn't belong had left. She did not know from whence these feelings came, but she would certainly find out. "Well, that was certainly unnecessary. Why couldn't we have just gone here in the first place?" The stallion and mare stepped into the lobby of a small inn on the eastern side of Canterlot. The front desk attendant pulled himself from his magazine to find both ponies looked remarkably similar. "Because this is the only timeline in which the Songbird exists. No others, or did you forget the last ninety-seven years of our search?" she asked, as they both bickered in the lobby. The stallion stifled a chuckle. "Ah, surely you of all people—er... horses, recall the passage of time is merely—" "A matter of perspective? Recall who you're talking to," she quipped. The pony behind the front desk took the lull in their conversation to address them. "You two looking to rent a room?" he asked. They turned slowly toward him, then faced each other once more. "It appears as though they speak the King's English. I suppose you win again," the mare said calmly. "You know, it's just not as satisfying as I envisioned." "Yes, well, they can't all be, can they?" The desk pony cleared his throat rather loudly. "So is that a 'yes' or...?" "Perhaps we should take care of this," the stallion suggested. "Perhaps you're correct." She stepped to the desk and glanced at the attendant. "Yes, we would like a room for exactly one night." He smiled. Now they were getting somewhere! "No problem. That'll be ten bits." She looked back to her stallion companion. "I don't suppose we have any 'bits' do we?" The look on the stallions face was one of mild surprise. "A variable we hadn't accounted for? Impossible." She sighed, turning back toward the attendant before digging a purse out of her dress. "Well then I suppose this will have to do." She dropped ten large, silver coins onto the desk. The night shift pony stared at the coins blankly. They seemed to have a large eagle on one side, and a... thing on the other, he wasn't sure what. He certainly had no time for games, however. "Look lady, it's ten bits, as in Equestrian money," he insisted. "Now if you don't have any, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you." The mare looked back at the stallion. "Well then, I suppose we'll have to go with our contingency plan, won't we?" "It appears that way. It seems you've won this round," he admitted with a sigh. She turned back to the innkeeper. "Tell me, if we had these 'bits' which room would you have given us?" He was a bit taken aback by the request, but saw no harm in answering. After all, without a key, they weren't getting inside anyway. He glanced down at his registry book, reading off his next available room. "Uhm... it's room 110, but I don't know why..." When he looked up, the two ponies had vanished. He hadn't heard the door open, nor heard hoofsteps leave the lobby. "Huh... no wonder nopony wants to work the night shift..." > Heads Or Tails?* > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heads Or Tails? "I've made it quite clear I don't support this experiment," she said, laying on the bed of the room they'd occupied. The rain continued to pour, but the innkeeper was none the wiser as to their commandeering of his space. "You were just as unsupportive the last time, Rosalind," he replied. "And just look how splendidly that turned out." She turned her nose upwards as she munched on the complimentary peanuts provided on the bed. "Yes, well, I'd hardly call a dead man a resolute success." Her stallion companion sat quietly across from her in an dusty armchair, reading a book titled: A Brief History of Equestria "Lest we forget the reason the man had to die in the first place?" He shot an accusing glance at her before continuing to read his book. "Let's leave the past where it belongs, shall we?" He nodded silently. "What have you discovered about this place?" she asked. "Quite a bit. As we earlier theorized, equine creatures are intelligent, but not exactly the dominant species; at least, not as men are where we've been." He closed the book and set it on his lap. "In fact, these creatures refer to themselves not as horses, but ponies." Rosalind raised her eyebrows and flicked her tail. "I must admit, the term fits. By chance, did you notice the mark on the innkeeper’s flank?" "Indeed, it is the mark of a special talent that pony possesses. Similar to the caste system of India, though not as rigid, it seems." She hummed in comprehension as he continued. "It appears they are ruled by a diarchy. Two creatures with both the wings of a pegasus and the horn of a unicorn, as we seem to have. The purpose of these horns seem to be... magic." She couldn't help but laugh. "Magic? Have you gone mad?" "Perhaps there is a scientific explanation, but in the context of this book, it simply states that unicorns are magic." "So am I to suppose we're magic?" He smiled gently. "I suppose so." "Curious," she replied, eating a few more peanuts from a pile that seemed to never grow any smaller. "I suppose we would seem magic to the uneducated. After all, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "I daresay Arthur C. Clarke has not said that yet," Rosalind replied. Ignoring her criticism, he continued to relay his findings. "It also appears these creatures name their offspring either using one word or two—usually a series of nouns and actions." "Well, I assure I won't be changing my name." "I don't know, I might give it a try," he said, relaxing in the armchair. "Robert is such a dull name." "Nonsense. It's the proper name of a gentlemen," she countered. "Semantics aside, is it time yet for us to meet the royalty?" She checked the clock on the wall of their room. "Not yet. It will be a few more hours now." Robert moaned. "It certainly is an inconvenience to wait on time." She popped a few more peanuts in her mouth and replied. "Indeed." Fluttershy was lost. No two ways about it. Worse still, it was dark. Ordinarily, she wasn't one to get lost in the woods. She knew her way around the Everfree almost as well as the animals that lived there. Fluttershy hadn't spent too much time in the Whitetail Woods, but she had enough to know the tastiest mushrooms could only be found there. That, and a particular variety of cabbage Angel seemed to love. Unfortunately, she'd deviated from her standard route into the forest and gotten hopelessly turned around. She was certain she'd never gone this far before. In fact, now that it was dark, she doubted she'd recognize a familiar landmark if she came across one. She'd pulled a muscle trying to catch a trio of eagle chicks from falling out of their nest earlier in the week. It was nearly healed, but the doctor had recommended she not fly for at least two. The order was not something she had a problem following. Unlike Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was patient. Ordinarily, she took walks in the woods to ease her nerves, and this time was no exception. Though she was a friend to all creatures, she couldn't deny that some of her nocturnal friends could be quite scary. Their calls were unusual and their eyes usually reflected any light. Though she knew they meant her no harm, the thought did little to calm her nerves. As she tread carefully through the underbrush, Fluttershy noticed her hoofsteps being echoed by something behind her. She was being followed. Fluttershy turned quickly and called out into the dark underbrush, only a few mushrooms and a head of cabbage to offer her attacker in exchange for her life. "H-hello?" Her call received no reply. She stared into the darkness for a moment longer before deciding to continue onward. Though Pinkie's song about giggling at what scares you echoed in her ears, it did little to assuage her fear. After a few more shivering steps, the following began again. Before she knew it, she had broken into a run, her pursuer keeping up with her just as easily as she fled through the underbrush. Limbs and wiry branches snagged and grabbed at her wings and mane, though she sprinted through the pain. Fluttershy wished she'd taken up Rainbow on her offers to train with her, as soon she found herself out of breath and beginning to slow down. Her hoof caught on a root, and she skidded against the dirt, cutting her face against the twigs and rocks on the ground. With a whimper, she brought herself to her hooves, turning to face her attacker with nowhere else to run. Out of the darkness stepped a timberwolf. Its loose twigs and branches jutted out in all directions as it took a step forward, wooden fangs bared. She knew very well timberwolves had no interest in vegetables or fungi. She squealed piercingly as the timberwolf swiped a paw across her body, flinging her into the underbrush and causing her cries to change pitch as she tumbled. The air now completely out of her lungs, she gasped for breath as the hungry creature began towards her. "P-please Mr. timberwolf... I don't mean to hurt you..." she gasped, though her pleas fell on deaf ears. She could feel the hot breath of the beast over her face as it prepared to make a meal of her. Then, as if it came from the forest itself, a shriek like that of an eagle, falcon, and buzzard all mixed into one split the quiet night. The timberwolf froze in place, looking toward the sky in time to see a bright red eye swooping down from the heavens. The silver glow of the moon illuminated the dragon-sized creature’s bat-like wings and bird-like head. Fluttershy caught a glimpse in slow motion of the massive thing from the sky as it snatched the timberwolf in its claws and took it a few feet into the air before ripping it in two, showering her with splinters and twigs. She watched in terror as the beast circled around for another pass, landing with an earth shattering thud on the ground next to her. It seemed to look at her closely, its head moving like a pigeon's would; in short, punctuated movements as an eerie light shone from its eyes. The creature’s body was like nothing she'd ever seen. It was dark, no fur to be seen. No feathers, either. A few areas seemed to be held on by belts and clasps. Was this... a real animal? Was she seeing this thing correctly? The sickeningly mechanical sound of metal on metal echoed through the woods as the creature's eyes went from red, to yellow, and then to green. The light intensity never changed, but the colors certainly had. Whether through confusion or sheer terror, Fluttershy lost consciousness. The last thing she remembered was the creature's cold grip around her sore torso. Celestia had studied early into the morning, though it was still not time for the daylight to arrive. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep during her research. It seemed her faithful student was a bit more well suited for late night reading than a thousand year old princess. Curiously, she was awakened not by one of her guards, as requested, but by... music. A repetitive song being played by a pipe organ of all things! In a library! She shook the sleep from her eyes and began to trace the source of the noise. As far as she knew, there were no organs in the library. Or anywhere in the castle, for that matter. Thought the storm had cleared, the sound of a light rain still echoed around the library as she peered down a long hallway. At the end, sat one pony in an olive dress, while another stood by the organ, seeming to criticize her playing. As Celestia approached, they seemed to be arguing. "I've already told you, it's 'C', 'A', 'G', and then 'E'. How can you not remember this when I can?" he asked. "It has been a long time since I've needed to play it, you know," she replied, not at all ruffled by his criticisms. "Just what do the two of you think you're doing playing an organ in my library?" Celestia demanded. How had they even managed to get such a large instrument inside in the first place? The mare on the organ bench checked a watch on her foreleg. "Oh dear, it seems it's about that time, brother." "Time for us to meet a diarch?" he asked, paying Celestia no attention. "Time indeed." They turned to face her, extremely calm in the face of the unamused deity. "Princess Celestia, is it?" she asked with complete disregard for proper etiquette. Celestia was about to reprimand them for addressing royalty in such a casual manner, especially after trespassing in the private library, when the feeling of unease she'd felt in her chamber came rushing back. "You... you two are the things that don't belong..." she whispered. They glanced at each other with a smile. "She's sharper than we gave credit," the stallion said. "Quite, but I suppose it wouldn't be the first time we underestimated someone's intelligence," she replied. "You two are not ponies, are you?" Celestia asked. "Right you are, Your Majesty," Rosalind answered. "We're travelers... of a sort. It is safe to assume that we are not from around here." "From a considerable distance, in fact," the stallion added. "But we've come here—" "To give you something. We have researched the troubles of your kingdom, and we know of the encroaching nations of the other species looking with envious eyes towards the lands your people—er... ponies claim." Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What do you know of the struggles of my kingdom?" "We know that you cannot defend the kingdom by yourself, and without an army to match the empires that threaten you, your kind will need a weapon to use for defense—" "Or perhaps offense," Rosalind completed. "What you do with the weapon we give to you is entirely up to you." The princess was growing tired of their cryptic talk. "What weapon? Speak plainly, or I shall have you imprisoned!" The duo simply smiled at her, as though she had told a mildly amusing joke. "Come now, no need for that. We have what you need right here. But before we give it to you, we must ask you a question," said the stallion. "Heads or tails?" The princess grew more irritated, though they insisted they would give her this fantastic new weapon, so long as she answered this simple question. She paused for a moment. Looking at the coin being held out to her, and then back to the two unicorns. "Heads." She flipped the coin, the strange pair allowing it to land on the ground. "Heads it is," the stallion said smugly. "Not as satisfying as it usually is, honestly." "How can heads be a constant, even in this universe?" the mare complained. "If you’re going to be a sore loser, I won't participate again," he replied before facing the princess. "Here is the key to your weapon." He levitated a small piece of parchment with four letters written on it. Celestia briefly stared down at it. Cage? she thought to herself. "What does this—" By the time she'd raised her head, the two ponies had vanished. Celestia scoured the library, sensing no trace of a teleportation spell. She even called in her guards to search the premises, but they found nothing. Celestia took the parchment back to her chambers, wondering whom she'd just encountered, and how the word cage could be the key to any weapon. > Mr. Bird > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Bird Fluttershy's head pounded sharply, her skull throbbing with every jolt. As her senses came back to her, she felt cold stone on her back and beneath her awkwardly positioned wings. Her eyes flittered open, squinting against the bright rays of the early morning sun. As the world came into focus, she realized she was in a cave. An east-facing cave, but a cave nonetheless. Ignoring her headache, she tried to get to her hooves. Her ribs hurt as she gasped, collapsing onto her belly causing her even more pain. She tried to recall the events leading up to this point. She seemed to remember running from something... a timberwolf! She had been out foraging and gotten lost! Unfortunately, that was all she could remember. Her ribs ached with each breath she drew too deeply. Her muscles were sore, but no more than if she'd run a long distance. Fluttershy glanced around the cave. It seemed like something lived here, but she wasn't sure what. There was no hoard of gold or jewels, so she could rule out a dragon. However, there was something that struck her as odd. In the corner, there seemed to be a straw figure of some kind, though it wasn't a pony, or any creature's form she was familiar with. It seemed to stand the way Spike stood, on his hind legs, freeing up his arms. Except, this thing wore something blue over its straw body; tattered pieces of blue cloth made into what looked like a primitive garment. Darker straw rested at what she guessed was the figure's head, but it lacked a face, ears, or fingers. Other than the odd creation, there was not much in the cave, just a few shiny gems neatly arranged in piles and a large straw bed with a depression in the middle, resembling a nest of some kind. Fluttershy looked behind her, and to her surprise and joy, her saddlebags lay against the cave wall. Whatever creature had taken her here was kind enough to leave them for her. She scurried to her bags and sighed in relief. The few provisions she'd managed to find before her encounter were still there. Fluttershy wolfed down the mushrooms and cabbages she'd meant to share with Angel upon her return to the cabin. She'd hope the little bunny would understand, given her situation. She stretched her legs as best she could manage before stepping toward the mouth of the cave. The sun illuminated the landscape, revealing that the road she'd lost track of was only a few hours away! Unfortunately, the cave was on the side of a rather high rocky outcropping. She'd have to fly down, but she knew her wings were still not up to their full strength. As she contemplated her choices, a familiar shriek echoed through the forest. She nearly jumped out of her coat, and decided that this time, her wings would just have to take one for the team. Fluttershy opened her sore wings and glided off the cliff face, landing in a clearing and mumbling gentle 'ow' and 'oh's to herself as she carefully folded her wings beside her. She took one last glance toward the mouth of the cave in time to see a black and brown blur fly inside. Her heart jumping to her throat, she galloped with as much strength as she could muster in the direction of the road. If I could only get back to it, I could get somepony's help! she thought, running as fast as she'd ever recalled, though her legs demanded she stop. Another ear-splitting shriek echoed out of the cave. Fluttershy continued running, not daring to look behind her. All she had to do was make it to the road! Surely a passing merchant or pony would be traveling along it! As she darted through a clearing, a shadow overtook her, growing larger with each passing second. She turned to face the sun, the massive wings of the creature she'd seen only minutes before heading straight towards her, its talons forward, ready to snatch her from the earth and take her back to its lair. Fluttershy froze. Her breath caught in her throat and she could do little more than whimper, only able to brace for the cold metal talons sure to cut through her. "But who would want to kidnap Fluttershy? It's not like she's rich or anything." Rainbow asked, hovering above her gathered friends in Twilight's library home. Twilight's wings fluttered nervously. "That's the troubling part. Whomever did this would have to know the Princesses would get involved in finding a vital part of Equestrian national security. I can't think of a single kingdom or empire that would risk a conflict with us..." "Oh, but what if she's in trouble right now, and we're just standing here talking?" Pinkie suggested frantically. "We all want Fluttershy back safely, but we simply can't charge in without a plan," Rarity cautioned. "Although, even if we did have a plan, we still don't know where to charge." "I still think she just got lost. I mean, she went to Whitetail Woods! The deep part," Dash explained. "When we were camping, we were just on the edge!" "Well, lost or not, if that's her last known location, then that's where we should start," Twilight suggested. "Everypony on board?" They nodded. "Then it's settled. Spike, can you hold down the library while we're gone?" Twilight asked, as Spike saluted. "I'll also make sure Princess Celestia knows where you're going in case you need help," he said dutifully. "Right, then let's go find Fluttershy!" Celestia scribbled her signature on one document after another. Such was the menial work of a ruler. Though she tried to comprehend the recommended tax adjustments to the sale of grass fifty bales or over she simply couldn't get those odd ponies out of her mind. The notecard they'd given her still sat on her dresser, taunting her with its simplistic message. She tore her eyes away from it, forcing herself to review the next item in her docket. It seems unverified groups of griffon bandits had been harassing her subjects near the border her kingdom shared with the Grifaria. She knew the griffon high command would never acknowledge the training and arming of such disruptive forces, but the townspony's insistence on the added security of an army division would no doubt stoke Grifarian suspicions of an invasion. Celestia had no plans whatsoever to invade what amounted to a rocky spit of a country with little strategic or material value, but far be it for them to believe her. The griffons would be no problem in an all-out war. It was their backers, the dragon territories, that could turn the tide of a conflict. The dragons didn't like griffons, but knew they were relatively harmless. However, the dragons saw a united pony-kind as a threat, should they ever get on bad terms. Thus a defensive pact was formed. Celestia was sure it would be honored by either side. Undeterred, Celestia authorized a division of infantry to be stationed at Amalga, a border town receiving the brunt of the harassment. After the flourish of her signature, she sat back on her cushion, releasing a heavy sigh. Once again, she found herself staring at the parchment the strange unicorns had given her. When she rang her bell, a guard appeared snappily by her door. "Yes, Your Highness?" "Is that organ still in the library?" The guard searched his thoughts briefly before answering. "I believe it is." "Assemble it in my conservatory," she insisted, looking out over the gardens beyond the window of the royal study. "And fetch my afternoon tea." "As you wish, Your Highness." The guard took his leave just as a scroll wrapped in a green flame appeared in front of her. Fluttershy marveled at the surprising softness of the creature's grip. It had fingers, like Spike or a griffon would, except they were more round and certainly softer. As she flew over the landscape, she looked up toward the thing carrying her. In the daylight, it was not as terrifying as before. It was otherworldly, and certainly still scary, but not faint-inducing. It seemed to have a bird’s head and wings, though without feathers. The smoothness of its skin was like that of a cow's hide, except hairless. A few buckles and clasps held on what appeared to be gloves and boots, though from the looks of them, she doubted they'd ever been removed. A curious thing about the creature was the hose running from where a bird's beak would be. It ran along his back to parts unknown, but by far the most interesting feature was its eyes. They cast an eerie glow from behind a glass lens, and Fluttershy recalled they'd had the ability to change color, somehow. Before she could continue her analysis, they landed in the cave. The beast set down with a thud, though it was very careful to let Fluttershy walk under her own power back inside. It seemed to have prepared a smaller nest for her. Fluttershy took a few cautious steps back into its lair, glancing at the nest she assumed was hers. "Uhm... thank you for the nest Mr..." She hadn't thought about what to call this thing up until now. "Bird." Not exactly creative, but it would have to do for now. Besides, it didn't seem like Mr. Bird was in any position to do much talking. He took a step toward her, his yellow eyes switching over to green in the mechanical crunch she'd recognized from the night before. “You're certainly more docile this way..." she commented. He folded his wings and hopped as a pigeon would, sending soft vibrations into Fluttershy's hooves. He dug into the larger circle of hay with his beak. Before long, he'd produced a number of berries, edible grasses, and—to Fluttershy's horror—a few small, dead mammals. He nudged them towards her with his head, before hopping back and turning towards the peculiar figure Fluttershy had noticed earlier when she'd first awoken. She smiled. She couldn't deny she was hungry, and certainly wouldn't say no to the berries and grasses. She quickly downed her meager meal while leaving the dead creatures and trying not to think about how much she hated seeing dead animals. Mr. Bird turned back from admiring figure. His sharp, punctuated movements turned his eye from his offering to his captive. "I-it was really quite good... except, well... I don't eat other animals." He seemed to realize she would not partake the rest, as he scooped up the two squirrels and a fox and hurled them out of the cave, much to Fluttershy's shock. She'd at least wanted to give them a proper burial! The beast thought nothing of it as he went on puttering about his lair, adjusting and scrutinizing his various treasures. Only then did Fluttershy realize that among those treasures was something quite peculiar. "Are those..." She squinted, not wanting to move from her nest, lest she upset Mr. Bird. "Books?" “Alright, I think the quickest way we're going to find Fluttershy is if we search in teams." Twilight instructed as the group arrived on the edge of the Whitetail Woods. "Since there are only five of us, somepony will have to stay here, in case Fluttershy finds her way out. Any volunteers?" Rarity was about to raise a hoof before Pinkie beat her to it. "Oh! Me! I'll have a picnic ready for us by the time you girls find her! And if she finds her own way, they we'll have a picnic while we wait for you!" "Okay then." Twilight nodded. "Applejack, you're with me. Rarity, you're with Rainbow. Meet back here by sundown." The teams split up, Rarity stifling her complaints about traipsing through the dirt and withholding her gripes about Pinkie raising her hoof faster than she was able. "How on earth could Fluttershy get lost in the woods?" she asked as Rainbow hovered a few feet above her. "Ya got me. She spends more time in them than anypony," she grumbled. After all, she'd skipped a valuable day of practice to look for Fluttershy! Not that she didn't hope she was okay, but at the same time, she wanted a pretty good explanation for having her routine interrupted. "You... you don't think she's hurt out here, do you?" Rarity asked as they continued down a marked path. "Nah, she can practically talk to animals!" Dash reasoned. "If she ever got hurt, I'd expect her to get a grizzly to carry her to the hospital on its back before just leaving her there." Rarity hummed in agreement as they continued deeper into the woods. The further they journeyed, the deeper an intrusive thought began to creep into their minds. Rainbow dropped to the ground beside Rarity to walk beside her, the dense foliage making flying difficult below the treetops. What if Fluttershy wasn't okay? Suppose something happened to her? Rarity shook the intrusive thought from her head. For what felt like hours, they walked in silence. Eventually, Rarity stopped, and Dash bumped her flank. Before she could protest, Rarity's put a hoof over her mouth then twitched her ears. "Do you hear that?" She removed her hoof as Dash listened intently. "Is... is that... music?" Dash asked. "It sounds like it. But, what on earth would music be doing playing out here? We must be miles from civilization!" Rarity wondered. Rainbow took a few steps ahead of Rarity. "Only one way to find out." She followed the sounds like a bloodhound on the trail of a fugitive before coming to a small clearing. A phonograph sat spinning idly in the clearing while a mare and a stallion in very proper dress attire danced as though they were at the gala itself. No camping equipment, not outdoor gear, and no way to indicate how they'd managed to drag a phonograph this far into the dense woods. They seemed not to notice the interlopers as they continued their waltz, all while carrying on a conversation only they could hear. "Uh... excuse me? You guys seen a yellow pegasus come by here?" > The Unbroken Circle > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Unbroken Circle "We've seen many things, haven't we?" the mare asked, not missing a step as she continued her dance. "Absolutely. Things that would drive a lesser being mad." Rarity and Rainbow exchanged glances before stepping forward. "Okay... so have you seen a yellow pegasus come through here or not?" Dash asked again. "She's in these woods, that I can assure you," the stallion replied. His partner snorted, stifling a laugh. "Come now, can anyone really be assured of anything?" "Of course they can. I was certain the Songbird ended up here, and I assured you he was." The mare sighed. "I suppose you're right." They continued their dance as though they weren't being addressed, lost to the world. "But I don't believe finding your yellow friend will be as easy as you think, considering her company." Rainbow stomped forward. "Will you two whack-jobs quit being all mysterious and just tell us where she is? You're gonna be in big trouble if Celestia finds out you had something to do with this!" "We had little to do with your friend's disappearance," the stallion said calmly. "Though in a way, I suppose we did have a hand—or should I say hoof—in the matter," his partner completed. "Your friend was taken by a being not of this world, but I can guarantee she is safer now than she's ever been before. South is always a good direction to begin searching, in my experience," said the stallion, still locked in his constant dance with his partner. Rainbow and Rarity glanced at each other, as if to confirm they were both hearing and seeing the same thing. When they turned back to the clearing, the dancers and their record player had vanished. "Who in Celestia's name were they?" Rarity asked, stepping in front of Dash and examining the area where the two had just been waltzing. "A couple of weirdos. I bet Whitetail Woods is full of them," she replied, stepping toward the edge of the clearing. Rarity looked up as Dash started back into the woods. "You aren't actually going to listen to them, are you?" she asked incredulously. "I don't want to, but what choice do we have? They said they knew where we could find her, and that's been our only clue so far." "But it could be a trap!" Rarity answered, chewing her lip as she contemplated signaling Twilight. "They could be waiting in the bushes to kidnap us, or worse!" Dash scoffed. "You've been reading too many books. None of that junk happens here, and it definitely won't happen to us. I bet those other ponies are miles away by now." As Rainbow worked her way into the woods, Rarity gave a whinny of defeat before following her companion back into the forest. "I must admit, I thought this door would be rather dull, but you've proven me wrong," Robert said as he walked beside Rosalind. "As I told you, simply because a dimension isn't populated by humans doesn't mean it can't be amusing. I find their society mirrors our own in many ways," Rosalind replied as they walked through Ponyville's busy town square. The other ponies paid no mind to them, though a few of the animals noticed something wrong about them. "Now, we know Songbird is here," Robert commented. "We simply need to lure it out." "Yes, but it must wait until we can construct the device. Finding Songbird serves no purpose without having the device functional first." Rosalind nodded. "That's true, but how will we construct the materials and equipment?" she asked as the two of them strolled through town, oblivious to the goings on around them. Robert stopped, tilting his head slightly as he looked at his companion. "Magic, of course." She rolled her eyes. "You know good and well I don't believe in such foolishness." "I'm aware, but just because one does not believe in something doesn't mean it isn't real." As the Lutece twins approached an apple cart with a large red stallion behind it, his small dog began to growl. "Winona!" The stallion scolded. "What's gotten inta you?" As they took a few more steps, her growl morphed into a whimper and she withdrew behind the cart, tail between her legs. "Sorry about that. She's usually real friendly with strangers. Name's Macintosh Apple. See anything ya like?" he asked, stepping aside to show them his wares. The strangers took a moment to scan his cart, seeming to search for the perfect fruit. "Ah, here it is," The stallion said pleasantly, gripping the apple in his magic and hovering it towards his sister. "You're certain this is the one from before?" she asked skeptically. "Positive. Care to wager against me again?" he proposed. His sister simply rolled her eyes. "No, the odds are not in my favor this time." "Very well," the stallion replied in a bored tone, setting the fruit back into Mac's cart. "So... do y'all want ta buy somethin' or not?" "Unfortunately not, but we shall pay you for your trouble," the stallion replied, producing a small golden coin. "But before we do, I must ask you one question." The mare turned to Mac, looking him in the eyes. Something about those shining green orbs fixed on him sent a chill down his spine. In a near whisper, she asked him: "Heads or tails?" "Ah gotta agree with RD on this one," Applejack commented as she followed Twilight up an incline through a beaten path through the forest. "Ah just can't see Fluttershy gettin' herself lost in the forest. She's practically more familiar with the outdoors than me!" Her words rang true in Twilight's head as she continued to blaze a trail into the wilderness. "I know, it doesn't make sense to me either," she replied, using her magic to cut down any shrub or tree blocking their path. "But she hasn't come back, and we know it's not like her to just disappear." "It ain't like anypony ta just up and disappear," Applejack answered. Twilight ruffled her wings as she stopped at the crest of the hill. Applejack stepped up beside her, surveying a small part of the valley not obscured by the trees. "Consarnit, she could be anywhere!" Applejack swore, stomping a hoof in frustration. "How are we gonna search all this?" For one of only a few times in her life, Twilight was at a loss. "I... don't know." She bit her lip in frustration. "But I know that if it were one of us, Fluttershy would search high and low." Applejack nodded. "You're right, Twi. Where should we start?" "How abou—" An incredibly powerful shriek cut her off and she fought the urge to cover her ears with her wings. It felt as though it came from miles away, yet was strong enough to carry through the forest. "What in tarnation do ya think that was?" "I don't know, but if there's a monster in these woods, chances are it found Fluttershy! Let's go!" Twilight dashed toward the sound followed closely behind by Applejack. They crashed through the underbrush, heading in the direction of the sound and hoping whatever made it hadn't anything to do with their friend's disappearance. Twilight had dealt with forest monsters and mythical-ish beasts before, and none had proven too much for her to handle. Every other time she'd charged into battle, a numbing confidence washed over her. This time, something was different. A weight rested heavily in the pit of her stomach, and grew with every step she took towards whatever had made that sound. She'd studied the calls and roars of many wild beasts in Equestria, but none of them shrieked like that. There was some unknown actor out there, and if there was one thing Twilight hated, it was the unknown. The organ had been reassembled in her conservatory, though she had no time to inspect it, nor the mysterious note given to her by the two who didn't belong. The events had been so strange, she'd have thought it a dream if not for the instrument now waiting for her. Try as she might, she simply couldn't get the mysterious figures out of her mind. Where had they come from? Why were they here? Why did they appear to her, and not the Griffon chancellor, or the Dragon King? She sipped her tea, sitting on one of the many plush pillows in her chamber. As the last rays of sunlight began to set, she patiently waited on her sister to change the guard. Although normally she disliked being kept waiting, this time she took the opportunity to ponder the puzzle left to her by those mysterious visitors. Cage? she thought. What does a cage have to do with a weapon? She drew the card they had given her off of her desk. Celestia examined it closely, scouring for any hint as to what it might be used for. As she wondered, a gentle knock roused her from her thoughts. "Come in," she said softly. Her sister strode in, ready to take on her duties for the evening. Usually, she was quite chipper during the start of her work night, but this night, she seemed somber. "Luna? Is something troubling you?" Princess Luna sat quietly on the seat across from her sister. "The borderlands have been raided again." She spoke plainly. "The griffons are responsible, I just know it!" Luna snapped. Celestia nodded. "It's common knowledge in my council chambers, but without hard evidence linking the raiders and Grifaria, we have nothing to bring to the war council. If we retaliate, we look like the war mongers." Luna scoffed. "Retaliate? With what? We have nary enough ponies to raid a pantry, let alone a country!" Celestia bit her lip for a moment. "You're correct. We haven't had need of an army for a thousand years. Our magic kept the kingdom safe." She looked out of her window and over the town of Canterlot sparkling like the stars in the night sky. "Now I fear our enemies will soon outmatch us, even with our magic." "We could raise an army," Luna suggested. "We have the numbers, and in a few short months, we could field an army grand enough to make Syrell's ragtag bunch of bandits cower in fear!" Celestia had not forgotten about the griffon chancellor, Hogar Syrell. He was the constant thorn in Celestia's side, and the one she knew to be ordering the raids on Equestria's border towns. But, with no way to prove it, all she could do was plot as he strode around her castle with her citizens' blood on his talons. It infuriated her to no end. "We could, but it would raise their suspicions. We don't need an arms race." "Then what do you propose we do?" Luna asked, her annoyance at having her hooves tied by international politics clear in her tone. Celestia opened her mouth, and closed it. She glanced down at the card she'd been studying. "How about a show of force?" "Rainbow, are you sure you know which direction is south?" Rarity asked, swearing to herself that they'd passed the same tree four times. "Of course I do! Pegasi have an excellent sense of direction—" Rarity and Rainbow jumped and shrank down as a distant, otherworldy shriek suddenly echoed through the trees "What in Celestia's name was that?" Rarity asked, shielding her ears against any repeat performances. Rainbow shrugged. "Let me take a look." She hovered above the treetops, scanning across the forest. As she was about to descend, she spotted a dark shape with dragon-like wings rise out of the trees. In its talon, she caught a glimpse of yellow and pink. "It's a dragon! It's got Fluttershy!" Dash screamed as she raced toward the beast. "Rainbow! Wait for me! You don't know what you're getting into!" Rarity pled, cutting through the bushes and trying her best to follow her companion. As Rainbow Dash sped towards her enemy, the creature came into focus. It was no dragon. > Deal With the Devils > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deal With the Devils Rainbow Dash streaked toward the monster in the skies, trying to comprehend what exactly she was chasing. It looked like nothing she had ever seen before. Her first thought was that it was some kind of horrible experiment of a mad scientist gone awry. It had talons like a griffon, and wings as well, but its size alone dwarfed even Grifalia's largest champion. It's sheer size gave Rainbow pause, but the limp form of her friend Fluttershy restored her wits. Dash pushed forward, swimming in the sky as close as she dared to get towards this otherworldly monster. With a flick of its head, a bright red light shone into her face. Before Rainbow could react, a fist like a cudgel crashed into her. An unearthly screech rang in her ears as she recognized the rushing wind whip past her ears. Rainbow caught glimpses of the ground and the sky, flashing awkwardly before she met the ground with a thud. Rarity had watched the entire scene, wasting no time in racing to Rainbow's last location. When she arrived, Rainbow looked to be in a bad way. Her wings seemed fine, but her shoulder was twisted awkwardly. Rarity cast a glare up at the monster as it flew away, growing smaller in the sky as it retreated towards the mountains. She made sure to remember where it was going. They'd find it, and Fluttershy. Of that, she was certain. But for now, she had to do what she could to help her friend. Not a moment later, Twilight and Applejack burst through the wood line. "What in tarnation?" Applejack exclaimed. "What happened?" Rarity looked back towards the sky. The monster was gone. "Rainbow went after Fluttershy." "You saw her? Where was she?" Twilight asked urgently. "A monster had her. Rainbow went after her, and it swatted her like a fly..." Rarity seemed just as dazed as Rainbow. A groan from the crater snapped the other ponies out of their conversation. "She needs medical attention!" "I'll teleport her back to town, will you two be alright to find your way back by yourselves?" Applejack and Rarity nodded as Twilight stepped next to Rainbow and disappeared with her in a flash of purple light. After she had left, Applejack turned to Rarity. "So, you saw what took Fluttershy?" Rarity looked back at her, what little color there was drained from her cheeks. "Yes. It was... it was a monster." Applejack scoffed. "A monster? You sure it wasn't a dragon or—" "It wasn't a dragon!" Rarity snapped. "I don't know what it was... but it wasn't a dragon." Fluttershy's head was pounding as she found herself on a straw bed. As the world swirled into focus around her, she realized she was back in Mr. Bird's cave. "Oh dear..." she mumbled to herself. The sound she made drew a green light. Fluttershy shielded her eyes with a wing as her eyes adjusted. Mr. Bird was calm again, hopping around his cave as he had been doing before. He brought her more berries and grasses, and much to Fluttershy's relief, no dead animals. He pushed the meager food towards her. "Oh, thank you Mr. Bird," she said softly. Fluttershy happily ate her rations, but also began to contemplate how she was going to get back to her cabin. She had animals to feed, not to mention how upset Angel would be at having missed his normally scheduled meals. Fluttershy could understand animals fairly well, even without them being able to talk to her directly. This, however, was a different matter entirely. She wasn't even certain this... bird-like creature was an animal. but, she might as well try. "Uhm... Mr. Bird, you have a lovely home, but I have to get back to my home." She spoke directly to him. He focused on her, and tilted his head to one side. "Do you understand? I have other animals that need my help." She lifted a hoof and stroked Mr. Bird's head. It leaned into her hoof. Though it remained silent, she recognized the body language. It seemed it had been a long time since Mr. Bird had felt the contact of another caring creature. Taking a bold risk, Fluttershy stood from her straw bed. Songbird raised his head, watching her as she slowly stepped toward the mouth of the cave. The mechanical crunch followed a yellow light glowing from his eyes. Fluttershy knew she had to show him that he was welcome to come with her. In fact, at that moment, she realized why he was so protective of her. "You're tired of being alone, aren't you?" she asked. Songbird stepped forward, lowering his head before her. She stroked the strange material of his hide. Though it felt alien, she was certain he could feel it. "You don't have to be alone anymore. If you come with me, and promise not to hurt anyone, I can keep you safe." Songbird raised his head, and stared at her. "Would you like to come see my home?" Fluttershy turned around and spread her wings. She looked over her shoulder and motioned for Songbird to follow. His eyes flicked from yellow back to green. Her wings still hurt, but she was certain she could make it back to her cabin if she could glide for long enough. She faced the setting sun and took a deep breath. She leapt from the cliff face and for a brief second, awaited the grip of Mr. Bird and his ear splitting shriek. Instead, she turned around to see him gliding after her, his eyes still as green as they were before. Fluttershy smiled and set a course for her home. She was certain Angel would get along fine with her new friend. "Rainbow?" Someone was calling her name. The voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it. She cracked her eyelids, a blurry purple shape standing over her. "Ow." As the blur came into focus, Rainbow noticed it smiling. "Hey Twilight..." "You took a pretty hard hit up there." Rainbow sat up in bed and put a hoof on her bandaged head. "It feels like it." She looked to Twilight. "What happened up there?" Twilight sighed. "I wasn't there at the time, but Rarity said she saw what took Fluttershy." "What was it?" "Well... she doesn't know." The sound of the door opening drew their attention. Rarity and Applejack stepped into the room. "Glad ta see you're alright, sugar cube." Applejack stepped up to the side of her bed. "Looks like you faired pretty well." Dash smiled. "Yeah, you're not the first pony to say that." Rainbow shifted uneasily in her bed. "What happened to Fluttershy?" Her friends exchanged glances. "She's still missing?" "I'm afraid so," Rarity replied. "Do you remember what it looked like?" Twilight asked, putting a hoof on Rainbow's bed. Dash closed her eyes, thinking back to the last thing she remembered. She could see it plainly enough, but to put it into words would be a challenge. "I do... kinda. It was this huge black and brown thing, like a bird. But, it had these crazy eyes... like they had lights behind them or something, and they changed colors while it was flying." This sounded like no creature Twilight had ever heard of, in legend or in a textbook. "I think perhaps I may be of assistance." The ponies whipped around to face the owner of that very maternal tone. Princess Celestia ducked her head beneath the doorframe and stepped inside, her mane and tail shimmering in the sterile hospital lights. Instinctively, the standing ponies bowed, even Rainbow managed to bend her head down as the matriarch of their kingdom strode towards them. "Arise, my loyal defenders," she said softly. "I apologize for my unannounced visit, but when I received word Fluttershy had been kidnapped by some kind of beast, I knew I had to personally investigate." She turned to Rainbow Dash striding toward her bedside to rest a hoof upon her shoulder. "Are you alright?" Dash nodded. "I got pretty banged up, but I've had worse." "So I see. Tell me, would you describe this beast as, not of this world?" "Yeah. It was pretty freaky." "It is as I suspected," she whispered to herself. "And this beast still holds Fluttershy hostage?" "As far as we know," Twilight replied. "I would like you girls to cease your efforts to find Fluttershy." A gasp filled the room upon her request. "Princess, we can't just leave her in the clutches of that hideous monster!" Rarity insisted. "Nor will I. I will send five companies of my finest guards into the Whitetail Woods. They will not stop until she is found, I assure you." Rainbow sat up fully. "Princess, I can't just sit here while she—" Celestia held up a hoof. "No, I cannot risk even more element bearers. I must ask that you trust in me." Uncomfortable looks passed back and forth across the room before Twilight spoke up. "As you say, Princess." "Thank you, girls. We will find her, and she will be okay." Celestia stepped away from the bed. "I wish you a rapid recovery, Rainbow Dash." She turned to Twilight. "May I have a word with you, my student?" Twilight nodded, following her mentor outside the hospital room. "The beast that has Fluttershy is quite dangerous," she said bluntly. "It is not of this world, and yet has lurked in the shadows, unseen, for eons." Twilight stood aghast. "What do you mean, not of this world?" "It came to our world through a doorway, opened by powers beyond my understanding." If she wasn't confused before, Twilight certainly was now. "Beyond... your power of understanding? But... how is that possible, you're the smartest being in the entire world!" Celestia chuckled. "Oldest does not equal most learned. I must ask you to keep an eye out for two suspicious looking ponies. They are two unicorns with auburn manes in very proper dress." Now Twilight was just confused. "Why? What do they have to do with the beast?" "I don't know as of yet, but I believe they are from whatever world this beast originates. They seem to know more about this creature than anypony." Though the fog of her confusion still lingered, Twilight nodded. "I will." "Thank you, my student." "What about the other girls? Should I tell them to keep an eye out for these ponies?" "Yes, but tell them not to attempt to apprehend them. They posses powers not of a normal unicorn. It is possible that they are extremely dangerous if threatened." Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Then what do we do if we find them?" "Alert me. I will be there in an instant." "Heads." The coin flipped, and landed in Rosalind's hoof. "It seems there is not a universe where the coin toss has a different outcome." Robert smiled. Rosalind glanced at Mac's coin purse, seeing it was somewhat empty on the counter. "The business of selling apples is sparse, I take it?" Mac glanced at his coin. "It's been a slow day..." "Perhaps it has been for quite some time?" Robert questioned. It was true, but there was no way they could have known that unless they'd been watching his stand for the past week. Still, the payments on the farm weren't going away, and he was still short a few hundred bits. "What's it to ya?" he asked, looking over the two suspiciously. "You have a barn on this farm of yours, correct?" Robert asked. "Yeah..." he answered cautiously. Rosalind reached into her pocket and produced a giant sack of coins. She dropped them on the counter, some spilling onto his cart. "Silver is valued here, is it not?" Mac's eyes went wide. "Eeyup!" There had to be at least fifty thousand bits worth of silver coins in that bag! Robert straightened his tie. "We are in need of a large space, but only for a short time. We were wondering if we—" "Could borrow your barn for a few weeks." Rosalind completed. Mac paused. He certainly got a creepy vibe from these ponies, but the farm sorely needed the financial boost this much silver would bring in. Ordinarily, he would consult with his sister on something like renting out the barn. However, he was sure she would appreciate the financial windfall. In an instant, he made the decision. "Alright, we can rent it to ya for two weeks, but then we need it to store hay and cider." The Luteces smiled. "Wonderful. We will be moving in shortly," Robert replied. Mac looked around the two ponies. "Y'all have any bags?" They looked at each other and smiled. "No, we simply need the space for construction." Mac raised an eyebrow. "Construction? Of what?" Robert brushed his hoof against his jacket. "Let's just call it, a doorway." "A doorway that you need not worry about. Once it is complete, you will never have even realized we were there," Rosalind completed. Mac reconsidered. After all, what kind of weirdos rent a barn just to build a door? Still, they weren't trying to make drugs as far as he knew. And, though they were certainly weird, they seemed harmless. "All right then. I've got a few more hours still ta sell, but you're more than welcome ta browse around the square till I'm done." The ponies smiled. "Excellent." Fluttershy smiled as her cottage came into view. She fluttered down in her backyard with Mr. Bird landing with a sizable thud. The animals normally puttering about in her yard were nowhere to be found. "Where is everyone?" She asked herself as she looked around the empty birdhouses and silent dens. A rattling of pots inside her house grabbed her attention, followed by voices from within. "Oh my! Burglars!" she whispered, shrinking back in fear. Songbird sensed her fear and stepped forward, offering a massive yet gentle hand to her. She looked at the hulking beast and wrapped her forelegs around his thumb. He stroked her mane and set her behind him, his eyes shifting from green, to yellow, to red. "Room, at ten-shun!" The stallions of the royal guard regiment 556 snapped to their hooves. "As you were," Captain Shining Armor said as he took his seat at the head of a very long table. "The Princess has assigned our company to search for a missing pegasus." As he spoke, another unicorn projected a picture of Fluttershy on a blank wall. "Fluttershy, the element of Kindness has gone missing." The other stallions nodded, but Shining could tell they still didn't know exactly why they were being put on a missing pony case. "She isn't just missing. She was abducted by a monster." Murmurs raced through the room as Shining kept talking. "I know how that sounds, but this came straight from the top. I don't know about you, but I take the orders from her Highness seriously." Shining turned to two bored looking stallions near the end of the table. "Sargent Shield, you will take Private Spear to investigate Fluttershy's cottage, the rest of you will follow me to hunt for the beast." Shield sighed. It was no fun being on the captain's shit list. Ever since he got caught sleeping in during a battalion run, it was all grunt work. Even worse, now he had to take the company bumbler Private Spear along for the ride. "Yes sir," he said with fake sincerity. Once the meeting was adjourned, he found his private and headed out toward the hole-in-the-wall town of Ponyville. Why what amounted to the superheroes of Equestria all lived in the middle of nowhere, he'd never understand. "So sarge, you think they're gonna find that monster?" He sighed. If they were lucky, but somehow, he doubted it. "Maybe." If he kept talking, this was going to be a long flight. Mercifully, they made it to Fluttershy's cottage only to find it Fluttershy-free. They knocked, but no one answered the door, save a small white rabbit. Thinking it odd, they stepped into the house, despite the rabbits apparent protest. They set him outside as they began to scour her house for clues. Not that Sgt Shield expected to find anything. After all, someone has to babysit Pvt Spear. "You think we'll find anything here?" Spear asked. "I don't know, just try not to—" A clatter of pots and pans cut him off. "Break anything." "Sorry Sarge, I..." He paused, mid sentence. "Did you hear something?" Sgt Shield listened, swiveling his ears this way and that, stepping toward the window and accidentally kicking over Angel's copper food bowl and creating another loud clatter. A strange mechanical sound echoes from outside the house as Private Spear came to the window. What he saw put ice in his veins. "S-sarge... you better come look at this!" > The Monster From the Forest > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Call for backup immediately! Get the entire division down here, now!" Sargent Shield said, rushing out of the door, brandishing his spear as it hung in his magic. Once he rounded the corner of Fluttershy's cottage, he recognized the mare they were looking for. "Miss Fluttershy! Get away from that thing!" The Songbird stepped forward, causing the earth beneath their hooves to tremble. He balled his fists, revealing the razor sharp blades on his gloves. "Mr. Bird, please don't hurt them!" Fluttershy cried. It was as if the beast heard her tone, if nothing else. For a split second, it paused, as if to consider the feelings of its new friend. Songbird slammed his fist into the ground, gouging out a massive hole in the ground with his claws. Before either guard could react, they found themselves scooped up in the iron grip of the monster they'd been searching for. Fluttershy gasped, fearing the worst of Songbird's intentions, until she noticed a flash of green from the mechanical eyes of her angry new friend. Songbird gently placed the two petrified guards in the hole he had dug and buried them up to their shoulders, leaving them dirty and immobile, but unharmed. They sprouted from the ground like a pair of dandelions. "Sorry about that!" Fluttershy called as Songbird carried her around to the front of her cottage, leaving Shield and Spear alone. "I'll come dig you up as soon as I can! "Well, the captain is going to love hearing how we got into this mess," Shield groaned. "Uh, Sarge? I got a bigger problem." He looked to his charge. "And what is that, private?" "I have to pee." Mac walked silently beside the odd ponies renting his barn. Their dress seemed a bit outdated, but not unusual. However being as warm as it was, he thought they'd be hotter than blue blazes in those clothes. To his surprise, they hadn't so much as broken a sweat. "So, where are y'all from, exactly?" Rosalind turned to him. "We're from... out of town." "Whereabouts?" "The capitol," she answered quickly. Mac nodded. Something about them just didn't seem right. By all accounts, they appeared to be normal ponies, but he just couldn't place his hoof on the uneasy feeling they inspired. "Tell me, Mr. Apple. Is this farm quiet? We desire solitude and privacy above all else while we work." Robert asked, finishing the apple he'd been eating and tossing the core to the roadside. "Well, I live there with my family, but it's just me, my two little sisters, and my Granny," Mac said. "But I'll let 'em know ya rented out the barn, so they won't bother you." "Very good, it is of the utmost importance that you and your family stay away from the barn until we have completed our doorway. It's for your safety, as well as ours." Mac stopped. All of this was just getting too weird. "Now, hang on a minute. I don't want you building anything dangerous in my barn," he said sternly. Rosalind smiled gently at him. "Mr Apple, I assure you, what we are building in your barn, we have built countless times before. The only unsafe condition that could exist, is if someone without the required knowledge of theoretical physics entered the barn and touched or tampered with something they shouldn't. I can assure you, that once our time is up, you won't even notice we were there." He looked over the two ponies. Still not completely convinced, he agreed regardless. The farm needed the money, and he believed he could keep Apple Bloom and Applejack out of the barn for two weeks. Cresting the last hill before home, the house and barn came into view. No matter how many times he'd seen it, something about his ancestral home in the apple orchard put him at ease. He sighed contently as he pushed on. Weird though these ponies may be, he was certain he had nothing to worry about. After all, he'd just made the farm a hefty sum! Short of blowing the barn sky high, there wasn't much these two ponies could do to take the wind out of his sails. And even if they did, he'd just gather his cousins together and build another one anyway. Once they reached the grounds, he pointed to their rental space. "Go on and make yourselves at home. I'll try an' have my tools out by the end of the day." Robert smiled as he stepped toward the large, empty space. "That won't be necessary, we can move them out for you. Trust me when I say we must not be disturbed." Another strange request, but one he would honor, regardless. "Alright then, will y'all be joinin' us for supper?" The ponies glanced at each other. "Yes, that would be lovely," Rosalind replied. Rainbow hated the hospital. The boring rooms, the boring doctors, the boring beds, the boring everything! How she was the one who always found herself laid up like this was beyond her. Every adventure she went on, it seemed, she was usually the one coming back in bandages. "Stupid pegasi bones..." she mumbled, folding her arms. She had at least one more day of observation before the doctors let her out, and she was already climbing the walls. She'd read her flying magazines cover to cover, and all her Daring Do books were at her house. On top of that, all her friends were still out looking for Fluttershy, leaving her alone to recover. Dash glanced outside. It was the middle of the day, yet a shadow darkened the ground outside her window. "What the..." she got out of bed and trotted over to the window. Her jaw fell open. High above the clouds, the monster that kidnaped Fluttershy circled town. She dashed out of her room, tearing off her gown and bandages, running past nurses and doctors demanding she return to her room. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as she bolted out the door and took to the sky, wincing as she did. As she grew closer, she breathed a sigh of relief. The beast still had Fluttershy, and she seemed unharmed. Wisely, Rainbow kept her distance. She tried to take in the monster's form, but it was simply mind-boggling. It was as if it was some kind of Griffon-demon created by a mad scientist in a castle on a stormy night. It had wings like a bat, yet the talons had five claws, and its eyes glowed green as if light by an unseen light. "Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted. She turned her head, as did the creature. The beast cut a sharp turn, heading right towards Dash, a talon extended to gut her as its eyes switched to a blood red hue. She dodged just in time, the razor shard blades harmlessly cutting a feather off of her wing. "Mr. Bird, stop this right now!" Fluttershy demanded, pounding a hoof on his hide. It seemed to get his attention, as he flew south, back to her cottage. "Wow, that was too close," Rainbow said to herself, tailing the beast, going from cloud to cloud to make sure she remained hidden. "You aren't getting away from me this time." "What you did to Rainbow Dash was very mean!" Fluttershy scolded as Songbird landed in front of her cottage. "She's my friend, and you are not allowed to hurt anypony!" Songbird slammed his fist into the ground, his eyes shifting back to yellow. She wasn't sure what those glowing orbs could see, if anything, but the stare had never failed to calm an upset animal before. Fluttershy stared him down. For a moment, there was silence. The clanking of mechanical gears changed his eyes back to a soft green as he bowed his head to her. She stroked the strange material soothingly. "There, there, you must control that temper. Ponies are your friends, they would never do anything to hurt you." No sooner had the words left her mouth, a chain lasso cinched itself around its neck, followed by three more. Fluttershy gasped and looked behind her large friend. A regiment of the royal guard, lead by none other than Shining Armor, stood with spears and shields ready for combat. "Fluttershy, get away from that thing!" She stepped in front of him, tugging weakly at the chains. "Take these off of him, you'll only make him—" It was too late. Songbird roared, the stallions sent to subdue or destroy him dropped their weapons and covered their ears. His eyes were crimson once again. With a flick of his neck, the ponies holding onto the chains were lifted up and flung into the wood line. Once Shining recovered, he grasped a spear in his magic. "Destroy it!" Spears flew from the ranks, most clattering harmlessly to the ground, but more than a few finding their marks. "Bring up the capturer!" Shining commanded. A unicorn mage stepped forward, his ornamental armor glowing with ethereal magic. A bright light shot from his horn, a green jet of magic, capable of ensnaring even the most unruly of dragons raced toward the rampaging Songbird. As soon as the beam made contact with the creature, it dissipated out of existence. The mage's jaw nearly hit the floor. He composed himself and fired again. The same result. Now the beast had had enough games. With both talons out, he began swiping and clawing at the guards foolish enough to go near him. Fluttershy pleaded with him and the guards to stop, but above the clanging and clattering of war, her voice was lost. Within minutes, the guards beat a hasty retreat. Rainbow observed the entire battle from her cloud, amazed that an entire company of royal guards were utterly routed by a monster no larger than an adolescent dragon. "I gotta warn Twilight!" she said, bolting from cover and racing towards Twilight's home. As the guards retreated, Songbird once again grabbed Fluttershy and took off into the clouds. Only this time, she had no idea where he was taking her. Spear and Shield watched the beast take off into the sky, still buried up to their shoulders. "She's... she's coming back, right?" Rosalind's ears perked up. She knew that sound. She shared a glance with Robert. "It seems as though the Songbird is closer than we thought." "Indeed. The sooner we complete the doorway, the better off we'll be." Rosalind laid out the schematics for their device on Mac's workbench. "I must admit, relying on the horses to track down and capture Songbird while we build the doorway was a brilliant idea. How ever did you know they would go for it?" "Well, in nearly every universe, they did. Law of probability and all. However, as you know, we mustn't dally. This universe won't be able to hold Songbird and the two of us and be stable for very long." She nodded. "Of course. We don't need any more temporal rifts than are necessary, lest this universe go the way of the one that gleaned us this information." Both of them shuddered. "Well then, let's begin, shall we?" Robert shook his head. "Oh, we simply can't begin yet." Rosalind raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?" "We promised that lovely young horse we would join his family for dinner!" She stared flatly at him. "Really? After the talk we just had about not dallying?" "Come now, aren't you the least bit curious as to how these creatures eat?" She had to admit, she was curious. They had passed a flatware store in town and could not figure out for the life of her how it would stay in business. "Very well. One meal."