Seeking

Chapter 6

Picklock lightly knocked on the door.  Was this Crow’s room, it’d be awkward if this was the wrong room, for the seventh time.  Canterlot Castle was a big place and even after several years of living here Picklock still got lost in its vast halls.  Some of the “friendlier” guards would tell him stories of ponies who got lost in the castle and that they were never found again.  Picklock felt an uneasiness in his hooves.  His body ached, but that wasn’t anything new, he always felt stretched and worn…like he was wearing a tight suit.  But then again, that was a side of effect of-

Crow’s door swung open, hitting Picklock back onto his rump.  Crow quickly went to Picklock and helped him up.

“Sorry bud, you ok?”

“Yeah, I guess.”  Picklock rubbed his head, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“So what’s up?  Do you need something?”

“Yeah, do you think we could talk?”

“Oh course!  Come on in!”

Crow lead Picklock inside to his room.  Scattered across the floor were papers with strange writings on them and old leather bound tomes.  Then there was Crow’s bed, it was a complete mess, his sheets were to one side of the bed, his blanket was bundled up and thrown in the corner of the room.  The only thing in Crow’s room that wasn’t a mess was a small wooden table in the center of the room.  The only thing on the table was a Crow’s trademark Lantern, which was the only thing in the room giving off light, but even with such a small light source the room stayed well lit.  How anypony could live in such a mess was unknown to Picklock.

“So, what do you want to talk about my good buddy?”  Crow asked sitting down at the table.

Picklock had always appreciated that.  He and Crow didn’t know each other very well, but Crow still considered him a close friend.  Picklock sat down at the opposite side of the table and looked at Crow.

“I wanted to talk to you about the expedition, if that’s ok?”

“OF COURSE!”  Crow’s smile grew bigger, “What would you like to know?”

“Well, I actually had a few questions, but if you’re too busy I understand, I can ask another time if you can’t answer them now.”

Crow shook his head, “I already said it’s fine, I always have time for a friend.”

“Ok then, well…um…I was wondering who else was going on the expedition?”

“Well, Twilight gave me a list of about fifty ponies that could come.  I think I have about fifteen in all, including the ones already here.”

“So who did you pick?”

“Oh jeez, let me think for second.”  Crow took a pause to remember the ponies he recruited.  “There’s me, you, Sparrow, Pepper, the two pegasi I recruited from Ponyville, and then this morning I recruited one of Luna’s bat ponies.  That’s who’s here and the ponies who aren’t here…”  Crow took another pause to think about who else was coming.  “There is also Lightweight, he’s a strong earth pony, he’ll be pulling one of the supply carts.  Then there’s Quick Wit, a pegasus who will be pulling the other supply wagon.”  Crow smirked, “The next two I’ve worked with before and they’re great, I love them.  Their names are Shovel and Spade, a brother and sister who are very good at digging, couldn’t have an expedition without them.  And finally there’s a griffon, Talon, another unicorn, Arcane Arts, and another earth pony, Scratch.  Those three will be guarding us alongside Echo, who will be in charge of security.”

“That sounds like a good team, I hope.”

“Of course it is, best team I could hope for.”  Crow gave Picklock a reassuring smile.

“Thanks.”  It made Picklock feel better knowing somepony like Crow was in charge of everything, “Speaking of the team what will I be doing exactly?”

“On this type of expedition it’s very important we have some free hooves, so really you’ll be doing whatever you asked.”

“Oh, I guess that’s ok.”  It was a bit of a relief to Pen knowing that he wasn’t expected to do much.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t ask you to come if I didn’t want somepony like you.”

“Thanks, that means a lot.  I appreciate it.”  Picklock smiled uneasily.

“Anytime, do you have any other questions?”

“Yeah, I just have one more question, sorry.”

“It’s no problem, ask away!”

“Where exactly will we be going?”

There was a long moment of silence, during which Crow just stared into the flame of his lantern.  It felt like an eternity passed of just silence.  Finally after what was actually a minute of silence Crow sighed.

“We’re going to the Badlands, you’ve probably heard that, but…there is a place in the Badlands very few ponies dare tread, you might have heard of it.  It’s called The Hive, the capital of the changelings.”

Picklock flinched at the name of that dreaded place.  His body began to shake, he felt like he was gonna be sick.

“What’s wrong?  You look like you’re gonna show me what you had for breakfast.”  Crow got up and put his hoof to Pen’s forehead.  “You don’t feel sick, are you feeling alright?”

“Yeah…I’m fine, it’s just…”  Picklock paused and looked down at his hooves.  They didn’t seem like his, they looked like somepony else’s.

“It’s just…what?”

“It’s The Hive, I know that place.”

“You do?  How?”

“My parents…they were killed in The Hive.”

Crow smiled somberly, “Heh, I think we could be good friends, that’s another thing we have in common, my dad died there.”

Picklock looked at Crow, he was smiling, but there was something about it.  It was false, he wasn’t smiling, he was crying, at least on the inside he was.

A loud knocking came from Crow’s door.  The two pony’s heads turned to the door that slammed open.  Sash skidded in nearly bumping into Picklock.  He was breathing heavily, it was obvious that he had been galloping for a while.  He looked at Crow and let out a noise that was supposed to be words.

“Cromas is herrre, comquiK.”  He gasped for air.

“What?  Take a moment to catch your breath, I can never understand you when you’re like this.”

Sash took a moment and sat down on the floor.  He rubbed his head with his metal hoof and let out a large sigh, “She’s here, she really wants to see you now, she’s waiting in the throne room right now.  Twilight Sparkle is distracting her, but…ya know how she can be.”

“I was wondering if she would show up.”  Crow looked at Picklock and patted him on the back, “Come on buddy let’s go meet the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria.”

Sash led Crow and Picklock through the halls to the throne room, somehow, to Picklock’s surprise, Sash had successfully led them to throne room without getting lost, a task he had never accomplished before.  In the throne room an older, blue unicorn in a cape and witch hat laughed with Twilight Sparkle.  The two mares turned to the three ponies who quickly trotted in.  The three of them were greeted by warm smiles from each of the two mares.

Twilight giggled as she saw Crow gallop toward the wrinkled unicorn.  “Ah Crow, I do believe you two have met before, correct?”

“TRIXIE!”  Crow gave Trixie a tight hug.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie is very glad to see you my young apprentice!”  Trixie said returning Crow’s tight hug with an even tighter hug.

“Great and Powerful my arse, you know I surpassed you long ago!”

Trixie pushed Crow back, “Hmph!  Trixie is wishing she had a better student, one with more respect!”

Crow sighed, “I’m sorry Master Trixie, I wouldn’t have wanted any other teacher, you are definitely the best teacher in all of Equestria.”  Crow looked up at Twilight, “No offense to you of course.”

“Ha ha, no worries Crow, I understand.”

“Hmm, Trixie supposes you weren’t the worst student she has ever had.”

Picklock took a few steps forward interrupting Trixie and Crow’s conversation, “Um, I thought earth ponies couldn’t use magic, why did Trixie-”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie.”  Trixie corrected Picklock.

“….sorry….Why did The Great and Powerful Trixie train you if you can’t use magic, Crow?”

“Oh that’s simple!  She taught me how to read runes, perform rituals and several other skill of that sort.  OH!  And she taught Crow how to talk like THIS, WhooOoooOooo!”  Crow said in a mocking tone and striking a pose.

Trixie’s horn began to glow a blueish color and it sent out a small shock to Crow.

“Ow!  Ha ha ha!  Sorry Master Trixie.”

“Trixie…I forgive you.”

“Haha thanks, anyways, what brings you to Canterlot Master Trixie?”

“Twilight Sparkle sent word that you were departing to the Badlands and Trixie wanted to give you something that will help you on your journey.”  Trixie smiled.  Her horn glowed and there was a flash of light causing everypony in the room to flinch.  Next to Trixie a small, well decorated chest appeared.  Crow looked at Trixie in shock.

“Are you sure?!”  Crow leaned down and took a closer look at the small chest.

“Of course, you might need it, the Badlands are a dangerous place.”

Crow bowed his head, “If you think I am ready for such a thing, then I will use it with great respect and caution.”

“Trixie believes you will.”

“What is it?”  Picklock asked.

“Don’t worry about it my good looking friend!”  Sash said putting his metal hoof around Picklock, “Maybe I’ll tell you later, if we’re both lucky!”  Sash put his hoof down and looked at Trixie, “Did Zecora send me anything?”

“No, your master didn’t send you anything, she said your skills and knowledge would suffice for your journey…except she had said it in a rhyme that took Trixie a little bit to understand.”

“Ha! Sounds like something she would say.”

Crow gave Trixie another tight hug, “Thank you for believing in me.”

“Of course, my faithful student.”