The tribes

After following the path down the mountain, River and Leaf arrived at the border between the two tribes. Beside themselves, nopony was in sight. They followed the pathway across the border.

"Don't you think we should probably put on our hoods?" Asked Leaf, nervously looking around as if ponies would jump out of nowhere and attack them.

"Of course not." Replied River, confidently. "We'd look pretty suspicious and once they'd find out we're unicorns, they'd probably think we're sent to spy on them."

"I see. We need to show them we're not here in secret." Agreed Leaf. "But still... Are we going to be okay?" She slowed down a little bit as she said that.

River looked back at her. "Leaf," She started reassuringly. "Of course we'll be okay. Besides, you agreed on coming, so you should half-expect everything."

"R-right."

They walked on the road that entered the village, with heads low. Even though they were trying their best not to draw any attention to themselves, ponies from every directions stared at them fearfully. They moved out of the way of River and leaf, like if they were sick and very contagious.

One orange stallion pony even yelled, "What do you unicorns want from us?!"

River and Leaf kept walking on the road, trying their best to ignore the protests coming from the crowds around them.

The Chancellor's castle was now in view. The screams roared from the crowds even more when they realized where River and Leaf were going.

" What do you want with our Chancellor?!" Yelled a purple pony.

Two ponies, covered in silver armor stood in front of River and Leaf.

"Halt. What is your purpose for being here?" Demanded the guard on the right sternly.

"Um... we'd like to speak to Chancellor Serenity, please." Answered River, trying to sound polite.

Leaf couldn't stop staring at the guard on the left. His grey eyes just kept staring ahead, like he couldn't see them. The right one hesitated, but then nodded.

"I will take you to him. But do any sudden movements and I doubt you'll return to you tribe." He threatened. Leaf gulped nervously at his threat.

The crowds of ponies started to thin out as the storm became stronger. They went home to hide from it and find their families. River even noticed a few sorrowfully look out the window at the village, which will soon be destroyed. River felt sorry for them. They will all get punished for what one pony did. Or two. Maybe Chancellor Serenity really wanted this to happen. But why would he send the inventor up there, in the sky? Did he really want to spy on the pegasi?

The Righty guard led them on the road to the castle, which was getting pretty close. As for the Lefty, silent guard, he was at the rear of the group.

Finally, they arrived at the gate of the castle. Guards were everywhere.

"Who's there?" Demanded one of them.

The Righty guard was the one to answer again.

"It's me, Sword Blade and Shining Shield! We've brought visitors from the unicorn tribe." He told them.

There was silence. Then the huge gates opened with a loud scraping noise. When they walked in, they saw every guard staring at them.

"I don't really like all this attention." Leaf whispered in River's ear.

"Just try to ignore them." Replied River.

"Ignore? How can I possibly ignore a bunch of hostile tribe guards staring at us like we're the most dangerous ponies ever?!" Leaf whispered-yelled in River's ear.

"Silence." Ordered Sword Blade.

Inside the walls, there was a long hallway with a green carpet leading to a few stairs, and then, the throne. Above the throne hung a tall tapestry. It was mostly brown and green and there was an earth pony watering crops on it. Behind the wooden throne were more stairs going up.

Guards were looking at them from every side. The Chancellor was sitting on the throne, also looking at them ungratefully.

"Guards," Called Chancellor Serenity tiredly. "Why did you bring unicorns in my castle?" He looked at the two guards who brought River and Leaf.

The two guards staggered at Chancellor Serenity's stern question. Sword Blade stepped up.

"We... they..." Sword Blade briefly paused to catch his breath. "We found them in town, sire. They asked to speak to you." He bowed his head before stepping back.

The Chancellor said nothing. The only sound was the wind howling outside and thunder banging so loud, River thought for a moment that the castle was hit.

Finally the Chancellor talked. "Are you here to talk about Gear Turner, who is currently imprisoned by the pegasi? If so, I suggest you leave immediatly."

Gear Turner?Thought River. Wait! He's still... alive? I didn't think the pegasi would imprison him though.

But River refused to leave now. She stomped her right hoof on the ground, and it echoed in the hall.

"I am not leaving now!" She said defiantly. I need to get more information. I am not leaving until I do. She told herself.

Leaf stared at her with big scared eyes.

"What are you doing? The Chancellor is going to hate us and we're right where we can either get imprisoned like Gear Turner or even killed."Leaf said frantically.

"I'm afraid your little friend is right." Stated Chancellor Serenity, raising his voice. "Take them away! And if they resist, you can kill them." He ordered his guards, who started advancing on them. River glared at every one of them.

"And I'm afraid we're not going anywhere!" Said River, angrily.

Leaf dispatched a bottle of dark grey liquid. She took it with her magic and threw it on the ground, in front of the surprised Chancellor. The glass bottle broke into a million pieces and the liquid started evaporating immediately and spreaded everywhere in the hall. Everypony coughed with tightly shut eyes except for Leaf and River. Leaf had made a magic barrier around her and River, protecting them from the smoke.

They ran across the hall to behind the throne. "The other door is guarded by coughing guards! And even if we get out, more guards will be waiting for us. We'll take this way!" Yelled Leaf over the sound of coughing, wind, thunder, and now, rain.

River and Leaf ran-climbed the stairs with torches flashing besides them. Once she got to the top, River stopped. Leaf crashed into her from behind.

"What's wrong?" She called from behind River, who didn't answer.

They must've been where Chancellor Serenity usually worked because there were desks with quills and a lot of scrolls.

A scroll was unrolled on the desk with half the space used. Chancellor Serenity must've been writing a letter to somepony. Also, River knew who he was writing to. The pegasi tribe commander, Strom Wing.

River darted towards it and grabbed it. Leaf gasped.

"What are you doing?!" She yelled.

River rolled up the scroll with her magic.

"I'm not leaving without more information, and now I have some." Declared River.Leaf shook her head.

"Whatever. We need to get out of here first."

After she said that, a shadow crept up the stairs and stepped out of the smoke. Chancellor Serenity.

"Well, well. Trying to escape, are we?" He said with an evil grin. "You're stuck now. No where to go."

River looked behind her. He was right. There was only a window and she knew there was a river just outside of it. But they were on the highest floor in the tower.

Rain was pouring outside and thunder boomed now and then. River also didn't want to lose the letter. Suddenly, she remembered that a few weeks earlier, she was reading an alteration book. One of the spells was on waterproofing objects. River hadn't paid much attention to it, thinking she wouldn't need it. Well, who would've thought. She tried to remember the spell.

Please! Remember the spell, brain. She thought.

River looked back at Leaf, and briefly pointed her head towards the window. Leaf nodded as soon as she got the message. She ran and jumped out, quickly followed by River, who cast, what she hoped was actually the good spell. River felt Chancellor Serenity's hoof touch the tip of her tail as she dove down the tower. She heard his yell almost as loud as the rain.

River wanted to scream, but was too scared to do so. She felt nothing but wind and rain pelting on her and heard thunder above her. Her fear quickly made way to panic as she splashed painfully in the turbulent river. She couldn't breathe while her hooves flailed around her, trying to catch something to hold onto. It then felt a rock and pulled herself out of the water. No way is she ever going to feel safe or calm around rivers again. As soon as she got out of the river, she looked around for leaf.

"River!" Screamed a familiar voice.

River turned around in the direction of the mountains. Leaf was running towards her. Her eyes were wild with fear. Leaf caught up to River, and they started walking towards the mountains. River heard a huge crack and turned around to see a tree giving way to the wind and toppled over, crushing a house.

It's not right, thought River. Why should all of them suffer for Gear Turner and Chancellor Serenity have done. The Chancellor is obviously not serene.

River took a look at the scroll she had stolen. It was still dry, even now, under the still pouring rain. This was the first time River actually cast a spell correctly.

River and Leaf reached the base of the mountain, where the rain was a little lighter. They found a cave and decided to shelter there for the time being. Leaf lighted the cave with her magic. There were stone spikes hanging from the ceiling and reaching out from the cave floor. The soothing light rain sounded outside and calmed River and Leaf.

River unrolled the scroll, and to her surprise, a second fell out. They must've been rolled up together. The second scroll was also a letter. Only, this time, it was full. The second letter was from the Commander Storm Wing. River started reading it.

"Serenity,

I have received your little gift. I am not exactly pleased, so he won't be coming back down to your dirty tribe. I do wonder, however, how long it's been since you sent him up here. No matter, I still won't forgive you this easily. And I am afraid I will not let this slide without any proper punishment. In return to your gift, I shall send a better one in return. Enjoy the beautiful rain, Serenity. I can't wait to see you and your tribe at the Meeting.

from, the best tribe leader, Storm Wing"

On the top right corner of the ragged letter, there was the pegasi stamp. So, Chancellor Serenity knew about the storm even before it was brought to his tribe.

"We're going to see what will be decided at the Meeting." Mused Leaf. "They're probably going to try to provoke each other."

The Meeting was to take place every time conflicts took place between the tribes. Even if one had nothing to do with it, like the unicorn tribe, still had to come. At the Meeting, the three leaders tries to find a way to reason with each other.

River picked up the other letter and began to read it.

"Storm Wing,

your little storm is nothing for my tribe. The pegasi are so weak, they even depend on another tribe. mine. Which proves you, pegasi can't even live by yourself. Do what you want with Gear Turner. I don't need him anymore. My tribe will prevail. Your tribe will perish as time passes. And as for the snobby unicorn tribe, they will-"

"Oh, come on!" Yelled River. "Why does he stop writing at the mention of our tribe?!"Leaf looked thoughtful.

"I don't think he'd just intend on ending in the middle of a sentence." She started, as she laid down. "He must've been interrupted."

She closed her eyes, leaving River to look outside, nervously. Then, the soft rain lulled her to sleep.