Binks' Brew (The Prolouge)

  It was a queer, sunny summer day as the Sun has just risen over the countryside. The young human named Binks’ sat on the terrace along the mountainside, with a look of contentment on his face as he played a melodious tone on his banjo, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”  to be exact. The Human watched as the sun slowly rose into the sky, unnaturally so, that he thought what Treebreeze said about the whole, “The Princess controlling the sun thing” had some merit but,  he quickly disregarded that notion believing it to be nonsense of course.

Binks’ POV

“Hmm, guess It's time to head on out then but, first...” I said kneeling over his duffel bag and rummaging through its contents. “Ok, time for a quick run of supplies.”

5 sticks of beef jerky. Check

3 Bottled Waters .Check

First aid kit. Check

Magical Rubik's cube. Check

Magical Banjo. Duhhhhhh

Magical slingshot. Check

Pair of spare clothes. Check

“Hmm, thank god I have enough space for all this.” but, of course space is no problem when you have a magical duffel bag that can hold almost anything.

And the last item I pulled out was of course, a wooden flute. “Ahhh, here you are. For a moment I had thought I’d actually given him the real flute.” I said grasping the small item in my palm.

"Chirp."

“Huh?”

"Chirp. Chirp." In front of the human was a small, blue bird no bigger than the size of my fist.

“Oh, it’s you Twitter and where have the hell you been huh?”  I asked the bird. Get it? Because it's a blue bird and it's name's Twit- oh never mind...

"Chirp."

“Oh really, and how that go for you?”

"Chirp. Chirp."

“Well, good for you, then”

"Chirp."

“The wooden flute? what about it?”

"Chirp. Chirp."

“Oh, you mean the fake one I gave to that pony? Yeah, I’ma miss that one but, it’s no skin off my back.” The flute was apart of a little project I was working on every now and then mainly cause I was bored.

"Chirp.Chirp.Chirp."

“Oh, don’t you go lecturing me ok? I had no choice, I couldn’t just leave the guy like that I mean sure I may have lied about my dad being a sailor.” Lied was an understatement , I didn't remember no one from my past upon arriving in Equestria, much less my father. I could remember places and things but, not anything truly about myself. “And besides that guy needed a pick me up so, I figured giving him the flute would give him something to live for. I mean hell add a touching story and a sentimental item and they’ll eat it right up.”

"Chirp."

“Yeah, maybe I was jerk playing on that guys emotions but, it had to be done if I hadn’t done anything he’d committed suicide within the month.” I stated

"Chirp. Chirp."

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right--wait how you know about that anyway? You was out hunting for worms!” I accused in my best ‘Ha-ha caught ya red handed, bitch!’ voice that I could muster. Twitter chirped in an especially squeaky chirp. Oh definitely guilty.

"Yeah, me and you need to talk about boundaries."

"Chirp."

"Yeah, whatever stalker." I said as I rummaged through my bag, looking for a particular item. I pulled out a map that I had....umm 'acquired' from the bar.

"Chirp. Chirp."

"I didn't steal it. I'm just umm borrowing it for an indefinite period of time. Besides who's the real criminal here? Ya stalker!" I replied.

"Chirp"

"..Touché" I unfolding the map revealing a map of Equestria and beyond. It showed the country of Equestria and it's various cities, Canterlot being the capital in the center. All other surrounding regions and countries as well including, Griffonia and The Crystal Kingdom to the far north as well and to the archipelagos of South Equestria.

"The princess stripper is there." pointing to Canterot. " These pony puns are fucking ridiculous I mean 'Whoofsconsin' really? "

" Chirp."

"You said it buddy"

Glancing at the map, I noticed a particular location on the map..."The Dark Zone". I had remembered what Treebreeze told me about it during the party...

FLASHBACK(DURING THE PARTY)

I walked up to Treebreeze as the party raged on around us. She was talking to some random stallion, who was obviously trying to get some Pony-on-Pony action but, Treebreeze was oblivious to his efforts. I decided to step in, of course.

"Hey, Sherlock go get your dick wet somewhere else, I have business with this mare."

"W-why. I-I" said the stallion

"Beat it" I said as threating as possible. The stallion yelped and trotted away in a hurry. Treebreeze looked at me and gave me "The Evil Eye" huh didn't matter what species, all woman had it I guess something's are just universal..

"What's the big idea? I was having a conversation!" shouted Treebreeze.

"Trust me, all that guy wanted was to get under your tail."

"I Know! Do you know how it is hard to get some to get rutted around here!?" *Whoa.. didn't know SHE of all people had that side to here. it's always the quiet ones..*

"O-oh my bad then. Well I just needed t-"

"To rut."

"Yeah, I-- wait WHAT!?"

"Oh, don't be shy I'll be gentle~" she said with a sultry smile and half-lidded eyes.

"Nonononononononono...NO!!" I thought to myself.

"No way in Hell!" I yelled.

"Huh, why not?" she asked sounding somewhat desperate.

"Because your a Pony and I'm a human" I calmly replied.

"So?" she said indignantly.

"I'm not fucking you, Treebreeze." I may have missed a woman's touch but, I wasn't THAT desperate.

"Tch, fine. So what is that you wanted?" she asked.

" I wanted to ask you about 'The Dead Zone'." I replied in a serious tone.

"Why would you want to know about a horrible place like that?" she asked curiously.

"Please Treebreeze.. I really need to know.." putting on my best puppy dog face. She stood there for a few moments before answering "Fine, I'll tell you but, you have to promise me not go near that place"

"Why?" I asked

"Because I don't want what happened to Cannon Fire to you, you're a friend after all" She said with a genuine smile. A ..friend I was her...*friend?*

That word made me feel hollow inside for some reason.

"R-right your...friend. I promise that I won't go to The Dark Zone."

"Pinkie Promise" *what are you, 9?*

"Tch, fine"

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye! Just like that" she said.

So stupid. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" as I said that a cool gust a wind swept over me as a giggle could be heard. "You hear that?!" I said startled.

"Hear what"

...Why do I feel like I just sold my soul to the Devil?

"So tell me all you know." I said.

"Well, not much is none about it but, it's believed to be part of Tartarus." *WHAT?!*

"Wait, hold on, time out! You mean The Tartarusas in the Underworld?" I questioned.

"The same one" she replied with a chipper tone.

Holy crap...

"Wow...you don't here everyday that Hell's a real actual place.." I replied solemnly.

"What's Hell?"

"Nothing...please continue"

"..Like I was saying it's part of Tartarus or gateway so to speak , they say that even Celestia's Sun can't pierce the dark veil that surrounds that place, that magic is simply rendered...useless." she said suppressing a shiver.

"Can.. you show me?" I asked

"Sure if you have map that is."

I took out the map that I 'borrowed' from Old Pony Simmons private cabinet and place it across the table near to us. "Hey, this is Simmons's map how'd you get it?" the mare questioned.

"Oh, he gave to me as an apology about what happened earlier." I lied

"Oh well that was nice of him."

"It sure was.." she then brought out a quill from under her tail 'I don't even want to know'and then began marking three distinct locations on the map as big 'X's.

"The first entrance into Tartarus is somewhere in the wastelands" pointing to the first 'X' marked by the wasteland. "The second is deep within the Everfree Forest." pointing to the second 'X'. "And the third and perhaps most dangerous is, The Mountain of Darkness, St. Hooves or most commonly known as..-"

"..The Dark Zone" I whispered.

"Precisely"

"Wait if this place is so dangerous then why send ponies or anyone there in the first place." I questioned

"I though that myself it is very strange, now that I think about it" It wasn't just strange it's down right suspicious why send ponies to such a hazardous place, what was the point and more importantly...who and what were they looking for?

I was lost in thought Treebreeze's description, Cannon's story, the circumstances...and every time I think of it, it all goes back to that one word...Despair. I shook myself from those thoughts as saw Treebreeze looking at me in concern.

"You okay?" she asked

"I'm fine...and thanks for the info I appreciate it"

"Well, I know one way you can thank me.."

"Jesus, woman *NO MEANS NO!!"*

FLASHBACK END

"Chirp. Chirp."

"Yeah, yeah I know where do you think I should go?"

"Chirp."

"Humph leaving it up to me to decide eh? " I looked down at the map and grinned. " Well, I hear that Griffonia is nice this time of year"

"Chirp."

"Well, you know me I've always have been a bit of a thrill seeker, besides I'm in no rush. I want to explore, see what this world has to offer. " I said as I stared towards the horizon.

So Twitter..."staring down the blue bird"....ready for an adventure?"

**Meanwhile at the Golden Mare...**

Treebreeze was quietly sitting in the back of the bar as she heard Simmons's scream " WHERE THE HAY IS MA MAP?!" and all Treebreeze could say at that moment was..

"Uh oh"

****The End....for now..****