First Case: Blackwood's Dilemma

(??? POV)

I should consider myself lucky. Lucky that I look like a girl I guess. …I really have to speak up. It already going to be awkward just telling him I’m a guy; if I don’t, it’s going to be even more awkward if he tries some sort of cliché move on me.

I shivered as something from the back of my mind began to stir, almost propping open a box where I stored...sensible memories. I stopped, closed my eyes and controlled my breathing.

I inhaled for three seconds, then exhaled for three, and kept the number as I repeated it three times.

By now I already have a method of relocking the mental chains on the box. Why I have that? If I got something to stop it, it just means I don’t ever want to remember it, and the fewer problems I have, the better.

When I opened my eyes, I checked my surroundings. The grassy road, half-filled with ponies looks quite nice, and what I mean is, I’m tempted to take bite when nobody is looking – because I got a feeling it’s like picking something before the three second rule (who knows where these ponies’ hooves have been). On both sides there’s a row of wooden structures – not bothering to know what they are actually –stretching alongside the road for …I can’t see the end of it actually.

This place is bigger than what it looks. Weird…wait, didn’t I give up on that word? …I think I did. Even with that settled, the headache in my head said the contrary. I started rubbing my temple-and failed to remember it’s the same one with that soft piece of paper. Seriously, why hasn’t this fallen off already.

I walked for more than ten minutes already and it still hasn’t fallen off! Why is a piece of paper so annoying! This only helped worsen the headache. I put that hoof down and used the other one instead.

*Siiigh* So much better.

With how my life is going so far, I need a distraction. I already have a ride to a place that might – key word here is might – solve my problems, all I have to do is wait till the day is over.
So…what do I do? When nothing really came to mind, I decided to do something…stupid – because it’s not like my life can get any worse.

I made my way to the corner of a building, then sat and slid my saddlebags off. I opened the bag with the book and took it out. This is a really stupid idea. But…what do I got to lose?

More of your sanity. I countered myself, and as much as those words hold water, the same question comes up, What do I have to lose? It sounded more monotone the second time, but maybe my stomach has something to do with it.

Even though the pains and the growling stopped, I still have the urge to eat a whole mountain of pizza, bacon, eggs, pasta-I had to stop in mid-thought to wipe some drool off.

Enough distractions, focus! With both hooves I held the book up and opened it to a random page in the middle.

I looked at the left first, “Empty. Was I expecting someth-” A quick glance to the right made my attention shift to it.

Tribe Conjunction ended up being…fun.

I blinked, then again for good measure, yet the words are still there.

Yeah, this is a magical book, but what does it do exactly? I searched the rest of the page but found nothing else. I wanted to flip some pages and see if I can find the words from yesterday, but…it took more effort than what it looked to just open it, and I didn’t want to try setting it down, then try picking it up until some pony took pity on me and did it for me.

It happened once already, and it was Pebbles who took pity on me…

Tribe Conjunction… The more I thought about it, a nice little distraction would be nice, and the book did say it was fun.

I shouldn’t be doing this, but What do I got to lose? The thought sounded more…alive than before. With some real excitement growing inside me, I shut the book close, and I…fumbled as I tried to put it in the bag again.

As before, I used my nose first to raise the saddlebag and slid it onto my back, but before I turned towards the street, a single sign on the building in front makes me wonder what the book is exactly.

Tribe Conjunction

Haven for unity

All carved in a darker shade brown over the sign that camouflages well with the structure.

…I’m already here… What else am I supposed to think? I knew nothing was going to make sense, but this…is downright scary. At least I don’t have to ask where it is.

I am beginning to have second thoughts about this.

Maybe I’m supposed to come here. A voice in my head argued, Maybe…there’s something that can help me get back home. It’s a silly thought really. It’s silly enough that its laughable. I cringed at my own rudeness. ...I’m too tired to remain positive.

After a shake of my head, I walked over to the front door – a double set of glass doors with a darker shade of brown for its body – and probably the entrance of a good distraction.

Now for the hard part. Thankfully the yellow handle was simple enough to use: raise a hoof, push the handle down and then push forward.

That was easy. A short jingle is heard from the bell perched on top (I didn’t see it, but where else would the sound come from?). What I see first is a well-polished wooden wall, on the left and on the right are hallways that lead into a single red and blue door respectively. As I led the door close behind me, the second jingle is heard-

“Nooneisaloudhere!”

*Eeeck!* Three seconds (I seem to have a thing for the number three) inside the building I’m already getting scared out of my wits…there should be a record for that.

I jumped to the side and turned to face a unicorn giving me the stink eye. “Whyyyyy…” As she began gritting her teeth, I took the tense, but silent seconds to get a good look at her appearance.

Her coat is a light indigo with a darker shades on the sides. The left eye is a color of a shiny gold while the right is a clean sky blue. Her mane’s a strange combination of a puffy yellow on the front, on the sides are two long, dark indigo streaks that fall to her shoulder, and I can’t see what the back looks like, but it’s a safe bet it’s a different hairstyle too.

Her voice sounds around someone in their twenties, a tone of maturity but still soft around the edges. At least her voice sounds like it should be. I tilted my head to the side to look at her cutie mark: A manne-mare...marequin’s head with a wig of six-to-eight hairstyles bundled into one.

“Did you listen to a word I said, Outlander?” She spoke through clenched teeth, each word shaking with a bitterness I can’t place, but there’s something that confused me.

“O-Outlander?”

“Great. So aside from being a lesbo you’re clueless too.”

I took a step back, shaken by the implications of that word, “L-l-lesbo? I-Is it because I looked at your cutie mark? I-I thought it was just a formality-”

Her glare froze me on the spot. “Hmph.” With a whip of her hair, light-yellow strands swing from the back to hang alongside her leg.

That’s a very…peculiar hairstyle.

“If you think my hair is weird, just say it outright,” I shivered as a cold run on my back, and those eyes that would like to see me on fire are not helping.

“I-I would never say-”

Her eyes widened but held a fury that promised pain if I hid the truth, “But you thought about it!” The dark spots on the side as pincers ready stab me. In panic I jumped back and almost fell to my rear.

“W-Wings!” Unfortunately, what scared me was her wings unfolding. But at least my stammering was ignored, or she just pretended not to hear it. Most likely the first one. If not, she would be red with anger.

“It’s always the same with you outlanders,” she took a step closer, “always judging our culture,” then another, “always trying to buy our province.” With the last, our noses are pressed together as I try to shrink out of existence. “We already got enough trouble in our hooves with Lady Amber. We don’t need someone like you stirring more for the heck of it.”

“I-I-I,” tears began swelling up behind my eyes, ready to burst free with a final verbal lash.
“And you know what else-”

“That’s enough Ms. Wilds,” I almost couldn’t believe it, but…somebody came to my rescue.

Ms. Wilds shook from where she stood, and remained there as I stared into her wide-open eyes.

From behind, comes the same voice that holds a tone of patience, “Now, if you would be so kind to step back from the visitor.”

She blinks as if regaining her senses, then returns me my personal space. She blinks again and furls her wings this time, “B-but she-Lady Amber and…”

I had my share of stuttering, but it never got this bad...I think.

“I think it’s time you apologize,” said the same voice that appeared next to me! I shuffled away – more like skidded with how fast my hooves moved – and got a better look at the pony. A polished gray coat, wings like the other pony (I noticed them because one is holding a wooden cane), silver eyes, and short, curly dark mane that is not covered under that dark top hat. And a cutie mark of a tree with a single leaf.

He’s looking straight at me with an honest smile, Did he say that to me? Not wanting to get into deeper trouble, I let out a stammering apology, “I-I’m so-”

He raises a hoof, signaling me to stop, “Not you.” He turns his focus to Wilds, “Her.”

The other pegasus must be trying to think of a proper response, because her eyes are shuffling between me and…I don’t what to call him but the other pegasus.

When I looked at him again, his smile disappeared, but his eyes remain gentle and…is he sad?

“Ms. Wilds, please, Blackwood is facing extinction. Lady Amber’s valuables have been stolen despite our guards employed full time.” He takes a slow, deep breath, and exhales in the same manner, “If this were to be end of the town that held such a bright future once, I rather have outlanders leave with pleasant memories. Do you understand?”

And just like that, her eyes were crestfallen as she took a long glance at the wooden floor before answering “Yes, Mr. Woods.”

When I looked back at Mr. Woods – yes, I’m just looking back and forth like a spectator (again) – his lips curved into a small smile, “Now, how about that apology?”

I blinked, Is this really happening? Just a minute ago she was kinda screaming at me, is she really-

“H-Hey,” after I turned back to her, she refused to meet my gaze, and when she finally does, she began rubbing her foreleg while trying to keep an even tone, “i-it’s that…Blackwood Town has, well, things haven’t been…easy lately.

“Problems never seem to end for us, and now Blackwood’s annual flyer’s race is not just short in contestants, but now we realize it’s going to lead it to its downfall. But...what I’m trying to say is…”

Whatever she’s trying to let out, I can see the telltale of regret (probably for lashing out at me), sadness (this is probably going to be a thing around here), and some traces of anger (like the rest of the ponies I saw on the street) all bundled together in a sobbing pony who threw herself at my hooves.

…Wait, what?

“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I swear I’m so soorryyyyy!!!” She pressed her face against my foreleg, even wrapping her hooves around it. And all I got to say is…

“Um, this isn’t…really necessa-”

“BUT it is!” Faster than what I could react, we’re almost snout to snout as her hooves came onto my shoulders, but looking at her bloodshot eyes made me want to back away – if only her grasp wasn’t so strong –, “You won’t believe the kind of stress I’m under! And I’m just the assistant of the Mayor’s assistant! I shouldn’t be having this kind of stress. BUT! I! AM!”

The streams started up again, this time pressed against my neck as she leaned on me for support.

I, on the other hoof, shifted my weight so hers wouldn’t push me to the floor.

*Hic* *Sniiif* I could feel the hot tears soaking my fur, and even more running down my neck, but I ignored it because there is a woman-well, mare, crying her heart out.

Um, I managed to retain that inside my mind, but beyond that…I got no clue of what to do. This is the first time the roles are reversed.

After a slight tap on my shoulder, I moved my gaze to the right to meet Mr. Wood’s. His wing shuffling the cane back into place. As I stared, he lifted a foreleg up and arcs it around the air for some reason.

Um. This time I mouthed the words and he managed to pick up my confusion. With the tip of a wing, he pointed at the crying mare, then moves it over his hoof.

I try to understand what he wants me to do, but…is that…a hug? Without overthinking it, I can see the embrace he’s holding.

My eyes widened in panic. They darted to the mare who’s tears kept running, then back to him. He nodded and I finally understood what he wanted me to do.

I, with the zero experience with girls of any kind, found this…overwhelmingly awkward. “Um…” I looked down at her, but her mishmash of hairstyle is all I can see at the moment.

“D-Don’t worry…” After much effort, my hoof slowly rose. I mentally scolded myself for taking at least five seconds before it patted her head. Even that looked awkward as it moved mechanically rather than from a natural motion. “I-I should have known-”

“How could you have known!?” I flinched, but managed to keep the motion of my hoof going.

Um… DAMMIT! I became frustrated at myself for how useless I can be in these sort of situations, if I’m being honest I would say in general (which is a frequent thing in my daily life).

Needing assistance, I looked back at Mr. Woods, only to see him smiling at me. I realized he was trying to tell me something; I could tell because I obviously needed the help, but what I could not understand is what he wants me to do. He keeps smiling. His hazel eyes have the same gentle tone,…and another emotion I rarely see. At least, it’s the first time it’s directed at me; I always saw that expression around my big brother. All those people (like I’m) encouraged my brother on almost any challenge he set for himself, because we were confident he could pull through – like always.

So that’s why...I couldn’t understand why he was giving me that kind of support.
The sobbing of a girl snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked back down and could only see her wild arrangement of hairstyle and color. The tears have nearly stopped, but that doesn’t make it easier to hear, and now her body is trembling for reasons I don’t understand.

I really want to help her, to say something that will make this better, But what? By now, my hoof stayed still on her head as I tried to think of anything useful.

Then, something warm began gathering around my neck; it’s hard to explain what it is, but if I just had to say what I’m feeling, it would be like this. The warmth caressing my neck moves to the rest of my body, slowly taking away the uneasiness and replacing it with a gentle feeling that promises “Everything will be okay.”

“H-How can you be s-so sure,” her voice almost cracked in the middle, and her struggles for not sobbing are too painful to listen – and this is ignoring the fact that I voiced my own thoughts to begin with.

“Because you still haven’t given up, that’s why.” Why…am I talking like this. So confident…so calm…what’s wrong with me?

“Giving up doesn’t sound too bad…at least I could go to bed earlier.” That sulking tone, and despite her shaking has ended, is already a bad sign.

She really is giving up. But then, why-

“Why are you still here?”

She flinched, whether from the meaning behind my words, or if it just sounded plain rude to her.
Pressing harder on my shoulders, she rose a little from her position. She moves her muzzle up, brushing against mine for a second before staring at me with a dejected look. The corners of her lips already curved downwards as even her eyes lost some color.

Just like staring at a mirror before going to bed.

“W…what do you mean,” her voice is no different, but at least I got her attention.

“If you really wanted to give up, then why are you still here?”

She is genuinely surprised. I don’t think she expected a random stranger – or an outlander as she called me – to talk to her with a tone of concern. But even that banished as she focused her gaze to the side, “Why does that matter?”

“Because it matters to you,” her eyes returned to me, a bit of life returning to them, “you told me how things are going bad for this town, even if the locals don’t show it.” Before I entered, all I saw are ponies going about their everyday life, no panicking, no one shouting that the end is near. Makes me wonder if they’re just putting up a brave face. “You, and everypony else is brave. Did you know that?”

Her eyes shot wide open this time, and I could see a little red on her cheeks. She backed away a little quickly, almost falling to the floor with the first step she took, “O-Of course we’re brave!” She puffed her chest while turning her nose up, and a smile swelling with pride grew instantly, “Father didn’t raise his ponies to mope over little things like probably losing the town. Heh, he taught us to never act like chickens when it comes to the future of Blackwood. ‘Stand strong to adversities, keep your eyes looking forward and with time you will eventually get somewhere.’”

“E-Eventually?” I couldn’t keep my hoof from scratching my cheek. Something about ‘eventually’ sounds like something a stubborn old man would say.

“Yup,” Her smile descended until it became a small grin on both ends, “that’s Father’s persistence passed down to his children, and it’s a teaching we take directly into heart.”

“Um, I been meaning to ask about that, but why does every-pony keep saying Father. Did he-” I clasped my mouth shut with both hooves before I said something I regret – possibly costing me my life –, but it did cost my chin and the floor to meet in a painful manner (for the second time). I scurried back to all fours and made the effort to shut my mouth, waiting for those words to die out before I let anything out.

When my eyes focused back on hers, I saw the last remnants of her glare before it turned into a stare, “Hmmmm, common misconception that our Father actually bedded with multiple mares. Understandable mistake for an outlander.”

“Oh,” my tone lowered more than what I would have liked to. If I still had fingers, and the ability to stand on two legs, I be playing with my fingers at this moment while looking down – the last part I can still do though.

“Perhaps a brief history can help.” I looked to my right to see Mr. Woods kind smile. To be honest, it did bring my mood up a little. “Mayor Dawn Wood – my Father – constructed Blackwood around twenty-five years ago. But why such a place in the middle where life has trouble growing? The answer is simple.” He raised his cane up; his eyes slowly traveling up and down on its surface, as if not risking to miss a single a single crack or split, “It was to stay close to his cousins, the Brightwood Family.”

“Huh?!” I stood upright. T-They didn’t tell me they had cousins…then again, I never asked…and we didn’t have the time to.

A short gasp from my left made my head turn in that direction. Wilds’ mouth is hanging open for flies to fly in, and her eyes widened in levels that made me fear they would pop out of their sockets.

I’m getting the impression that I shouldn’t have reacted so strongly. Turning back to Mr. Woods, his head is tilted slightly while his eyes are more curious than anything, “Forgive me for prying, but where have you heard that name before?”

I think prying is a little too much of a strong word. “N-No, not at all. I-I heard that name before I got here.” Great! I couldn’t have been more vague even if I wanted to. Now he’s going to ask another question. What do I do? I can’t tell him I saw their ghosts. He would laugh, and he have a good reason for doing so-

“Hahahaha,” after breaking from my thoughts, I see Mr. Woods hunched down while clutching his stomach with a hoof. “T-To think-hehe-their name still lives even outside this village’s province. That’s…that’s…” Even before he lifted his face, I could already picture that sad smile.

Mr. Wilds lowered his hoof down, but his head took longer to rise. I got to see his eyes first: gaze fixed to the floor, an air of melancholy fixed on them, and then that fake smile which stung just by seeing it. “That’s a relief.”

Huh? What was…I was trying to think of what I just saw, but Mr. Woods already began moving, so I had to pay attention to him or risk ignoring something on accident.

Mr. Wilds lowered his hoof down, but his head took longer to rise. I got to see his eyes first: gaze fixed to the floor, an air of melancholy fixed on them, and then that fake smile which stung just by seeing it. “That’s a relief.”

Wait! What did…what just happened? But before I could think of a logical (if that’s even possible at this point) explanation, he continued.

“As I was saying before…” He tried to bring up a genuine smile, but ended up looking to the side, avoiding my gaze completely, “He did it to stay close to his cousins. At least, that’s why he did it at first. After some years, the second became” he meets my gaze again, and his lips pull up a playful grin “to hitch the fillies that dreamt of a strong stallion at heart.”

My cheeks instantly reddened.

“Let me tell you. Despite his old age, being mayor and the creator of the province around Blackwood made him a celebrity. Especially among the singles left in town.”

The heat began to cover…well, everything of my face, “Isn’t that a little p-private?”

This got a chuckle out of him, “Nonsense. As a guest, you have every right to be treated as one of us.”

And quicker than when it came, my face cooled, “That means receiving all the animosity.” I clammed my mouth shut with one hoof this time. I could feel my eyes turning wide as my mind became boggled with questions. Why did I just say that? Why did I just say that!? WHY DID I JUST SAY THAT?!

The question kept bouncing back-and-forth until I felt a small tap on my shoulders. I jumped back in panic, “EECK!”

I pressed a hoof on my chest; my rapid heartbeat becoming known as well as my need to pant for air.

In front of me, Mr. Woods’ hoof is in midair. His smile replaced with a frown, but I don’t feel it’s directed at me – I know when something is meant for me (but I rather not go into detail).

I can guess he just tried to comfort me, but as usual, I manage to ruin things. …I should apologize. After controlling my heartbeat, I said “I-I am s-s-”

“Sorry.”

To say I’m surprised is not enough, because for me, this just feels…wrong. “B-b-but-”

He shook his head, lowered his hoof, and before I could resume, he spoke, “I won’t ask you to forgive us, but to understand. Even on our worst days, we were never hostile to travelers. But a few months ago, we received messages from ponies claiming they could relink our province with Animus’ ambient magic.”

“HA!” The amount of raw anger boiling underneath makes the word sound more like a spiteful remark. Turning back to wilds, I see her snout is pointing sideways-up, while glaring at me from the corner of her eye, “We were desperate yes, but they were the foolish ones to think we fall prey to third-rate mockery of Nature Teachings.”

I took a hesitant step away. That look on her eyes tells me I should shut up and not provoke her in the slightest.

“Ms. Wilds!” That wasn’t for me, but the volume alone made me flinch. A quick side-glance was enough for me to see the mayor’s disapproving frown, and a rare mixture of disappointment and anger in his eyes.

The combination of words and expression made Wilds stumble back in what I can only describe as shock, “I-I didn’t,” her gaze went to me, but I looked to the floor, knowing the thing can’t glare at me in any way. “I…I didn’t want to,” I could at least be respectful and look at her…but that woman scares me. “…I’m sorry.”

I heard the small clatter of the bell afterwards, signaling someone opened it. Then it came again, meaning the door closed.

What follows is a silence I grown used to, but it felt different. ...Coward, why am I such a coward? She wanted to apologize to me, but I was an inconsiderate-no, ungrateful (yeah, that’s the word) alien that was being explained important information about this town and some of its magic. Yet, I managed to ruin even that: listening.

A hoof rested on my shoulder, and I didn’t have to see to know it belonged to, “This is too late to ask but, will you be okay?”

I began wondering what my face looked like right now. Depressed? Somber? Void of almost any emotion? I’m going for the latter on this one. “Yeah.” At least my voice resembled my state of mind.

“…I don’t want to leave you here alone, but Wilds – as her name implies – is prone to wild outbursts of emotions. I need to get to her before she does or say anything she will regret.”

“…”

“…*Sigh*I’m deeply sorry for leaving you like this, but I have a pony to look out for.” After the sound of hoofsteps over the floor, the bell rang again, but the second one didn’t come. “…Please, take a look around in the museum. It’s not at its prime now, but it will keep your mind occupied until I come back.”

“…”

“…Sorry. For not being more useful.”

The second, and last ring finally came. Leaving me alone to my own thoughts.

Occupied? I mentally snorted, All I want is a miracle. Now silence reigns both inside and outside. With nothing better to do, and lack stuff to think that doesn’t kill the last of my spirits, I began walking forward. Not caring what exactly is inside the museum, but if it does keep me ‘occupied’ until midnight comes, then that’s better for me.