Author's Note

Alright sorry about the long break but I've had some major writers block that I just couldn't figure out how to write for a good while. Anyway this chapter is going to focus on Markus, Caleb, and Indie.

Home?

The walk to the Nekos' base is long, boring, and hot. Their journey first leads them into a open area in the Everfree. Something that three of them was thought never thought of.

"Finally! Something more than trees!" Caleb yells out as he's the first to walk into it.

"I thought you were starting to like nature." Markus says with a snicker.

"Yea. I was. Until we passed the five billionths pine tree..." Caleb growls his arms igniting on their own in irritation.

"Calm down there hot head." Indie says shaking his head, "Don't need you burning down the plains. The only thing that doesn't have a billion trees."

"Indeed." The Franklin says his tail swishing in amusement.

"Hm... Something doesn't seem right." Fluttershy says looking around the area as she stands at the edge of the forest and the plains, "I don't remember this being here..."

"I'm sure it's nothing." Markus says patting the horse on her head, "If something happens, we'll be sure to hop into action."

Fluttershy smiles up at him. She has really gotten to know these three over the time that they've been traveling together. With all the joking and the trading of tales, she feels just like one of them. A fugitive on the run from heretic, but at the same time a person looking to make a change.

"Hey Fluttershy!" Somebody calls out.

She looks up to see the group still walking through the plains. She was really starting to get lost in her happy thoughts for a moment. She giggles to herself before walking out into the plains. The sun beats down on them, yet something feels off. Unnatural really. Fluttershy spreads her wings and is about to fly up, when two thing are realized. One, she can't remember how to fly. Two, she can't remember where she was going.

She stops dead in her tracks and watches as the other in front of her slow down their travels as well. They start looking around as if looking for something. Something lost perhaps?

"What the hell..." Markus says scratching the back of his head, "Something is... messing with my head..."

"What the hell are you on about?" Caleb asks walking up to him.

"I can't seem... to remember which way we were going. Hey Franklin? Do you know?"

"Yes. But first. How are you faring against the Everfree?" Franklin says sitting down in the grass.

The other Nekos do the same thing. They seem so calm about all of this. As if used to it. Though some seem slightly confused on why they are doing as their leader does. Than something seems to hit them and they take back on a passive face.

"What?" Caleb says speaking up first.

"Have you not noticed things happening?" Franklin says smiling, "I wouldn't be surprised. But I'm sure your pony friend should know what I mean."

Fluttershy gives him a confused look. She can't really remember much at this point. All she knows for sure is that she's happy. And peaceful. She just wants to be lazy and be taken care of by the sun and the grass underneath her. The sun feels super nice on her back and outstretched wings.

"Though, she seems a bit preoccupied." Franklin says noticing how she's currently checking out her wings, which she had just rediscovered; "But I'll tell you this. Everything in this forest isn't what you see."

"Oh really now? Next you're going to tell me that this field is actually some kind of trap." Caleb says rolling his eyes.

"Well. You're actually right. This is a trap." The man says clapping his hands, "I'm surprised you're taking this so well. Your buddies seem to be a having a harder time."

"Well. Unlike them, I don't really keep track of things. I act on instincts." Caleb says confidently while pounding his chest.

"I can see. That's why we are unaffected as well. Now, there are a lot of things in this forest that are harmless as well as deadly. Here's lesson number one. Our homes is very close, but we are surrounded by many traps that we can easily get through. You'll have to learn where to spot traps that naturally lay based on our training. We'll teach you many things that you'll hopefully remember." Franklin says rising up, "Alright. Let's get our friends out of here before they become lost."

They all nod and start to help Indie, Who had forgotten even who Celestia was, and the rest out. Caleb didn't really need help seeing as his instincts have kept him from forgetting.

Markus shakes his head glad to be free from the Everfree's spell.

"Next time. Just give us a heads up on a lesson.." Markus says shaking a bit.

"Hehe. At least you did better than those three." Franklin says still leading them on till they reach a manmade dirt path, "And now. We are here."

The people gather beside the leader and look down where many houses sit surrounded by foliage on all sides. Most of the homes seem to be carved into giant trees. They're not flashy, unlike pony homes, and are very down to earth. Literally. People still walk about and the Nekos beside the travelers start going down to the village with happy smiles and warm greetings.

"Welcome home." Franklin says looking at the three boys, "As long as you want to call this home."

Markus smiles happily with Indie and Caleb on either side of him. The amount of happiness they're feeling right now is... beyond what they can put into words.

"Thank you. For everything. We promise we won't let you down." Indie says facing Franklin, "We'll do everything we can for you and your people."

"It's nothing. We share a common goal. So our friendship shall flourish and make us strong." Franklin says nodding his head, "Just don't lose when we face her. That's all I ask in return."

Caleb gives a maniac's grin, "You go it! That'll be the easiest thing for us!"

Markus shakes his head with a smile on his own, "Just a bit of training and learning about everything... We'll be unstoppable."

The sun shines on a brand new world. A world were hopes and dreams may come true.

Twilight lays on her stomach quietly. She wants to sleep because it threatens to overtake her. Yet she can't. Not yet. Not till she gets a sign. Any sign.

She looks to her right to see her friend still "sleeping" on the able beside her. Her left fore hoof is still laying off the side of the table as if she's dead. But Twilight knows better to assume somepony is dead just because they're sleeping for so long.

"Any day Rainbowdash." Twilight says looking up at her, "I would like to sleep."

Twilight takes her sight away from table to the area around her. This is where she has been living for the most part. Nopony seems to ever come in her and by the voices, nopony seem to walk near here either. It's just been her and Rainbowdash for the past couple of... days? Twilight has a hard time in figuring out time when she doesn't play close attention in it. Plus time means nothing. As long as she has friendship and power, it doesn't matter how long it takes. The job will be done.

"I wonder how the girls are doing." Twilight muses to herself, "Perhaps we'll return there first to gather them up. Than we'll look for Fluttershy, if she's not there of course, and hunt down the humans. I'll probably have to come up with a spell. Maybe tell Celestia I'll personally hunt them down and get the spell she was probably going to use to get them herself. What do you think Rainbowdash?"

No answer.

"Maybe. Though I highly doubt that with the speed and velocity you'll be going that you'll simply pick them up and fly them back here before they realize what's going on. You would probably kill them. And no. That is not an option."

"I don't care how bad her burnt you Rainbow! We have to return them Alive! It's Celestia's orders... So unless she says otherwise."

He ears twitch at the sounds of the outside world. Somepony is walking by again. Probably on another dare or looking to have some fun with their special somepony. She keeps quiet and listens for the sound to pass. After awhile is finally does.

"I keep quiet cause I don't want them knowing that we're in here."

...

"I know. But she hasn't appeared, so she doesn't know yet."

...

Twilight stands up and looks Rainbowdash annoyed, "Stop arguing. If you weren't injured, I have the right mind hit you upside the head..."

Twilight has a small blush coming across her face, "Shut up! I am not!"

She fumes and looks away embarrassed. She hated talking to Rainbowdash sometimes. But at the same times, she can't help but to. She has always been the more interesting of the group besides Pinkie. Plus Rainbowdash is more... sane. Despite her ego, she's actually a very good friend. So even despite being stuck here, she's glad she's stuck here with her.

"Alright. You can rest up a little bit more... Just make sure you're ready by tomorrow."

Silence reigns once again as the sun still hangs high over head.