The Beckoning of Nature (Re-Written)

The Beckoning of Nature, Re-written
Written by Syeekoh, Leapingriver, and Dragonborne Fox

Ten years had passed since that fateful day where two stallions were banished to a dark, hellish place during a public trial, and all sorts of rumors sprang up during that time. Ponies began searching for the fabled ‘Steel-Horned Alicorn’ as a response to one of the many rumors.

The problem was, where was this fabled ‘Steel-Horned Alicorn’ at? Some rumors proposed that she had locked herself away, waiting for one to claim her immense, unimaginable power or something. Another hefty bunches of gossip suggested she traversed constantly, making her exact location difficult to pinpoint at any one time. Still more even went so far as to propose that the 'Steel-Horned Alicorn' was in fact not within Equestria at all, but hiding herself in the boundaries of a different nation altogether. The even bigger problem: which rumor out of the endlessly-growing list was true?

Two stallions, both pegasi, trotted in the bright streets of Manehatten. The night sky above was cloudy, bits of light from the concealed full moon shining through and making the sky appear brighter. There were other ponies out and about as well, but the two pegasi were only concerned with themselves. Both were chatting with one another.

“So, Swift Wing,” Started one, brown pelt, blond mane, and teal eyes, “how was work today?”

Swift Wing, white pelt with red mane and blue-violet eyes, scoffed. “Shit, as usual. Boss made me work overtime because all my files were wrong.”

“Ouch.” Stated the other pegasus, eyes wide. “How much overtime?”

“Yeah. I have to work on weekends too, and my salary got cut in half too!!” Swift answered, eyes narrowing. “One of these days, I’ll show him overtime!”

“But you can’t do that without getting in trouble!” Complained the other, blinking.

“Maybe not alone. I’ve a plan.” Swift replied, a dark grin spreading across his muzzle.

“What kind of plan?” Asked the other, brow arched.

“You’ve heard of the ‘Steel-Horned Alicorn,’ right?” Swift inquired, his smile widening. "Plan on using her power, which I hear rivals that of the celestial sisters, to show my boss what for and make me a damned monopoly!"

“Yeah, I’ve heard of her.” Replied the other, blinking. “But how the hell are we supposed to find her? You didn’t think that through, did ya?”

Swift deadpanned almost immediately. “No...not really.” He answered, shaking his head.

“I thought so!” Hissed the other.

“Damn, Cloudy Sky, ya got me there.” Swift sighed as he and Cloudy turned into an alley. Just then, a door opened, and a pony covered head to hoof in black garments emerged from it. Attached to its midsection were saddlebags, and a scabbard with a blue hilt jutting out from its frame. The pony trotted deeper into the alley, away from the streetlights and the two stallions who just arrived.

“Who are you?” Cloudy asked. The pony stopped for a moment before it resumed trotting away without answering. The two pegasi exchanged glances before following after the pony, who seemed to have quickened its pace. Taking a few turns into the alleys, the duo found the pursued trotting in an abandoned street that was barely illuminated by the concealed full moon alone.

The two kept a distance from the pony, who sat on its rump and reached into its saddlebag before producing a piece of paper. “Tomatoes...apples...yep, I’ve just about everything.” The pony spoke, the voice distinctly masculine in tone. “Just about time to head back to the others.” It said, putting the piece of paper in its saddlebag. It then used its hooves to push its saddlebags back a bit, though not enough to let them fall to the ground.

“Who are you?” Cloudy asked again, once more not getting an answer from the cloaked pony. The moon, now free from its veil, shone its light much brighter just as wings spread out from the pony, a deep emerald green in hue. The pony rose onto its hooves, wings a-flappin’, and it took off into the sky.

“Let’s follow ‘im.” Swift murmured, spreading his own wings wide. Cloudy nodded, mimicking his companion. Both took to the skies after the cloaked pony, who seemed to have been flying away from the city for some reason. Swift Wing, true to his name, was a fast pegasus, but he was wide-eyed at the pony he followed--namely, the fact it was still ahead of him despite having saddlebags and a scabbard with a weapon in it weighing it down on the midsection.

Hell, how was a cloaked pony even flying like this to begin with? Practice? Patience? What was it that enabled it to fly as if unhindered?

“Where’s he going?” Cloudy asked as they pursued the pony outside the city. He looked down, then back to the pony, seeing that they were going along a path; one which followed the train tracks connecting towns.

“Fuck if I know.” Swift replied, shrugging his shoulders just before kicking his wings into overdrive. His companion did the same, and the pursued looked over its shoulder so it could accurately mimick the pursuers.

“Hey!” Cloudy called out to the pony. “Do you know about the Steel-Horned Alicorn?”

The pursued stopped its course entirely, still flapping emerald wings, then turned to its followers. “I have no clue what you’re on about!” It replied before resuming its course, flapping its wings as though panicked.

“Where are you going?” Swift called out.

“To home--what’s it to you?!” The cloaked pony called back, positioning its wings just in time to catch a current of wind. It rode on the breeze, moving further and further away from those who still kept following.

“Damn!” Swift groaned, doing the same with his wings a moment too late. He quickly had to began flapping again, lest he plummet to his certain death.

“Hey!” Cloudy called out, stopping altogether.

“What is it?” Swift asked, the only answer he had received was a hoof pointing in the direction they would’ve kept going. The moon, still unveiled, lit up a mountain and a castle in its grandeur of silver light, and near the very base of this mountain was a small town with a crystalline-tree structure.

“Ponyville?” Asked Swift, brow arched.

“Yep.” Cloudy nodded.

“Who’s nuttier than a rabid Ursa Major to go there with saddlebags, a weapon of some kind, and black clothes decking them out head to hoof?” Swift groaned.

“Beats me. Let’s head there and rest up, we’ll find the cloaked pony tomorrow.” Cloudy sighed, going off towards the town. His companion did the same, but neither saw any sign of the cloaked pony they had followed.