The Travelling Argument

The next morning, Evening Flash is first to wake up. The unicorn sneaks out of the room so her morning exercises won't disturb her sleeping friends. She quickly goes outside and finds an enclosed courtyard and begins to go through the familiar forms. The Striking Manticore, the Diving Pegasus, moving into Griffin's Dance. Soon, the warrior has worked up a fine sheen of sweat and her muscles are burning from the activity.

"It's been too long. That was-" Evening paused, she looked around the courtyard. "Somepony is watching me... I can feel it."

"Bravo, my good mare. Bravo, I say! Your form is most excellent," called a voice from behind.

Evening turned around to face another unicorn. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"I'd be surprised if you did. I couldn't help but notice your skill in combat yesterday, and my reaction was... impressed, to say the least," answered the mare.

Evening smiled. "I am one of the best. But why were you watching me?"

"Why, I was just passing by the area of your inn when I noticed the disturbance. With most fights taking place in a back alley, I was interested as to the reason why you were out in the open. I never found that out, but what I did find was worth its weight in gold."

Evening tilted her head. "And what was that? Gold is pretty heavy."

"It's an expression, dear. Pay it no mind."

Evening hesitated and looked around nervously. "But the pony inside said I paid enough... all my gems are in the room."

The unicorn looked at Evening curiously. "Do not worry, brave one, I'm sure that your currency affairs are all in order. It would appear that you will need some education on the matter of metaphors."

"What's that?"

"A story for another time, it seems. However, I must ask: There is a training dummy in the courtyard that was not there yesterday. Yet, for your entire session, it has not been used. May I inquire as to why?"

"It's not hers," said Swift.

The unicorn gasped and turned to Swift. "Don't you know it's rude to sneak up on ponies?"

"If I abided by the rules of public decency, I'd be dead."

"That's right. I saw what happened to Sky Runner when she touched Swift's things. Good morning, Swift Blade!" said Evening merrily.

"I take it your practice went well, Evening?" asked Swift.

Evening beamed. "It did! Did you get back to sleep last night?"

"Slept as soon as I got into bed."

Tex walked into the courtyard and up to Swift. "Umm... Swift? Could I... ask you a question?"

"You can ask all you like, the question is 'Will I answer?'" answered Swift sarcastically.

"I was just curious... where are you from?"

The question caught Swift off guard. She hesitated before answering. "A graveyard."

"Um... did this graveyard have a name before... becoming a graveyard?"

"Trottingham!" exclaimed Evening. "Have you heard of it, Tex?"

Swift looked at Evening distastefully. "If you weren't a friend, I'd stab you so many times."

Evening looked back at their spectator. "So, you never said who you are miss?"

"Oh, silly me! My manners seem to have left me today. I am Star Swirl, apprentice wizard under the teachings of Archmage Star Sparkle," introduced Star.

Maboo walked into the courtyard with a mouthful of muffins as Star was introducing herself. "A vivarb!?" She swallowed her food and stared at Star even more strangely. "I mean, a wizard!? And one who studies under Archmage Sparkle no less? What in the hoof are you doing way out here?"

"According to my teacher, I am to study the world and research how those of the magical profession can best benefit those outside the school's walls. I have seen the cities such as Canterlot and Manehattan already, so I moved on to less fortunate population centers such as Fillydephia," answered Star.

"Soooo you skipped Ponyville on the way? I would have thought that to be a good place to see in a quest like that."

"Yes, but with the purpose of seeing places like it on my way back. It was my intention to study less developed areas first, but Canterlot was the place I'd grown up with. The fact that the school was situated there made it an obvious first choice. Manehattan was the next city on my route to Fillydelphia, and I decided to get it out of the way to prevent wasting time later."

"Oooh, that makes more sense. I always thought Ponyville would be a good 'Best for Last' place when travelling. Time travelling especially."

Valhalla finally made it outside and found the group. "Ah, what a lovely morning. Good morning, Evening, Maboo, Swift Blade. Are you all ready to help Tex?"

"I'm ready to go! We were just talking to this nice wizard, Star Swirl," said Maboo.

"A... wizard? Oh dear."

Star looked at Valhalla coldly. "You doubt me, zebra?"

"You assume too much too quickly. Are you sure you are a wizard? I'm quite sure a real one wouldn't do such a thing," answered Valhalla.

Star opened her mouth to protest but couldn't find the words. Instead she took a deep breath and calmed herself. "I am quite certain."

"Show me then, wizard. Can you create even the simplest of light spells?"

"Very well," Star wrapped herself in magic, and with a flash she disappeared and appeared on the roof of the inn.

Valhalla looked at her with disappointment. "That was not a light spell. Regardless, that is proof enough."

"Where's Willow? We really ought to be going soon," said Maboo.

"More importantly, where is our resident comedic relief? Last I saw of the white pegasus was in bed before my own rest," said Swift.

Not long after, Willow came around the bend. "Good morning, I trust that everypony had pleasant dreams? Umm, why are you all looking at the roof?"

Star looked down at Willow. "Greetings, cleric of the Two Sisters!"

"Oh, hello! What are you doing up there? Would you like some help getting down?"

"I'll be fine, dear." Star teleports down to the ground and waves.

"A real wizard? Outside of Canterlot?" Willow sat down and began to think.

Tex sat down and sighed. "Wizards... annoy me... uh, sometimes."

"I am sorry to hear that. Is it a general dislike of wizards, or are there certain ones who have inconvenienced you in the past?" asked Star.

"Well, Dragons toss magic around like it's nothing. Most wizards that show up around us were trying to be heroes and just ended up doing flashy light-shows before the elders ate them, or left them for the older... well, older 'child' dragons. Essentially every dragon older than me got to have fun with... I mean, killed, the wizards. I'm sorry, I'm trying to learn the," Tex cleared his throat. "'Pony way', but it isn't.... what I'm used to."

Star nodded. "Getting used to a new culture is hard for many. I had been told about the various species before leaving the school, but seeing them for myself made me throw up from shock. In addition, the way everyone else did things compared to us was something I had to learn for myself. Do not worry, it will become easier with time. Why did you have to kill those simply because they irritated you? Why not let them live in the knowledge that they had to do better?"

Tex frowned. "I would cry for those whom I never got the chance to know... but I have already cried enough for the disappearance of my sister. Fellow dragons consider it home invasion for a pony to enter the dens of dragons, plus... the wizards were trying to kill them. Nevertheless, the ruthless murder they performed outside of the dens is one of the reasons my sister and I left," He glanced at Swift and back at the ground. "I umm... perhaps I should be quiet."

"While I may not represent the entirety of the pony species, allow me to apologize for any grievances that we have caused, intentional or accidental."

Tex looked back at Swift. "In truth, I feel like I should be apologizing for what my family has done."

"You... you didn't?" gasped Star.

Swift looked at Tex passively. "I suggest that you leave within the next five seconds. Your time starts now: Five."

"No, I didn't! And I don't expect you to like me... or help me. And to be honest, I didn't even realize any of this until the nightmare last night. My father did it! I wouldn't expect you to help any family of the one who killed-" Tex turned around and began to sob. "You know what, just g-go a-ahead... just... just d-do it!"

"I said leave, not 'leave or get killed'. I was more thinking of throwing you."

Tex continued to cry to himself. "Well, there goes the chances of getting my sister back... I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. I'm sorry Gem."

"Time's up, kid." Swift reared her legs and gave a solid kick to Tex, sending him flying into the nearest wall.

"Did you really have to do that?" asked Star.

"That was nothing compared to what I first had in mind."

Tex sat up clumsily. "Ow... thank goodness I was born with scales, though... some are probably broken now." He rubbed his forehead and a small amount of blood trickled down his arm. He quickly passed out onto the grass.

Willow looked up as she saw Tex collapse. "What's going on?"

"Perhaps Evening is better able to explain the situation than I," said Star.

Evening took one of the muffins from Maboo and began munching on it, talking between bites. "Well, Tex asked Swift about where she came from. And they were going in circles, so I told him that she was from Trottingham.

"She told us that in confidence, Evening! How could you?" asked Willow furiously.

"But she's amazing... she survived Trottingham. That shouldn't be a secret."

"Let me get this straight: Last night, you witness an event. Said event causes me great distress. I explain why this event causes distress, to both yourself and Willow, under the assumption that others will be told if/when I am ready to do so. Suddenly, the next day, the idea gets into your head that YOU SHOULD TELL THE BUCKING WORLD!?" asked Swift.

Evening paused her eating and stared at Swift with a smile. "Yes?"

"ARGH!" Willow smacked Evening on the back of the head. "You staff swinging block head!"

"Willow, that kind of hurt."

"Thank the Sisters that I haven't started yet, else they'd need tweezers to pick up your pieces once I'm finished," said Swift as she turned to leave. "If you don't see me in half an hour, keep a close eye on your back."

"I don't understand... Swift? Where are you going?" asked Evening.

"You should probably just let her go," said Maboo. "I've had my eye on her for a while now, and she might think she's one of the best assassins in the world, but she's nuts if she thinks I can't spy on her without her knowing. I don't trust her. And give me back that muffin! Get your own!" Maboo swiped the half eaten muffin away from Evening and quickly swallowed it whole.

Evening frowned. "I don't get it. I didn't think I did anything wrong, but Swift and Willow are mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you. Vally's not mad at you either, right Val?"

Valhalla turned to Maboo and Evening. "Ehhhh."

"See? You might have done something wrong or not, but that doesn't make you a bad pony," said Maboo.

Evening smiled. "You mean it?"

"Of course I do. You're a great warrior! But you'll have to learn and accept that you haven't mastered every art of fighting, only few ponies can do something like that."

"Fighting's easy, Maboo. Ponies are tough."

"True enough. Is that why the Griffin Fortress was so easy?"

"That was something I understood. I didn't have to worry about them being upset with me, all I had to do was hit them."