First Case: Blackwood's Dilemma

(??? POV)

The hairs on my neck stood up as a foreboding sense took over. I don’t have that sixth sense were I know when I’m in danger, but I do have something similar. It’s called: the ability to know when someone is paying attention to me. What’s the difference? Someone has their eyes on me, and I don’t know if it’s good or just idle curiosity – noticed how I didn’t say good?

I scratched the back of my neck and slowly, with much trepidation, turned my head to the left. The blue door on the far wall, some ponies checking class cases attached to the walls with a strange artifact inside, and there’s still the pedestal with the empty glass case inside. Turning to the other side is the same thing - minus the door and pedestal.

Everything looks…safe.

Maybe I’m…imagining things. It has been a day with too many emotions. ...Yeah, there’s no other way to describe it.

Leaving the sense of dread to worries seems right. After all, if I had such an abnormal day - even without the pony part -, I would have gone straight to bed to forget everything that happened. But that’s something I can’t do for...I fought back the sigh, and decided to forget where that statement was going.

I lowered my hoof down and focused back on the glass case in front of me. Inside is a steel mask with an oval shape, but there’s something different about this one. It has one of those rectangular labels with the words “Embrace the sins by forging a better future.”

…I don’t know why it says this, but at least I understand what it means. It was also the only one to have a label.

The others ones were…neat, I suppose. One of them was a kind of stone thing; it was shaped like a strange sun, even the paint on it looked worn out. The orange-red in the center, and the yellow, unmoving flames look worn-out and dark. Then there was this pendant with a ruby at the end...but this one I can say it’s peculiar, because around the ruby is a clear layer of diamond. It looks like if...it grew naturally.

The other artifacts were weapons like the first I saw; they also were strange in the sense, but that’s just it, they were weapons. Except for the pendant, the sun-stone thing and this mask.

I tried thinking of why, just because it was feeling like a test. A test where I’m not graded. The thought almost made me smile...had the feeling of probing eyes not come back. I stood still and held the need to look at the sides. Okay mind, stop worrying and relax. Nothing will happen here. It’s safe! …I think.

Enough of that! I shouted to myself, more of a mental argument than anything, This is a museum, what’s the worst that can happen?

That didn’t help, however. I began feeling uncomfortable and shifted my weight around.
Please, let this be my wariness finally getting to me.

I wanted my logic to be right for once…but it looks like I can’t even have that. So I risked it and glanced at the sides, but didn’t see a pony that would be acting strange or anything.

Alright, relax. This could be paranoia. That would be a first actually-but that’s not the point here! So, yeah, paranoia. I’m in a world filled with magical ponies and whatever else is out there, sooner or later I would have start losing my mind. So why not now?

Then a second voice in my mind spoke, “But what if someone is looking at us, judging us as the strangers we are.” As much as I hate to admit it, that voice has an argument.

What’s worse, I had no way of knowing who is-Wait. I do have that little trick.

I remembered something. A memory actually – a boring one at that.

It was during my brother’s tenth birthday. It was just like the others: filled with laughter, innocent smiles and big brother being the center of attention. It was a fun, social gathering after all, and me? I was inside the living room, watching tv while the party was outside in the front yard.

I could have been outside…sitting on one of those plastic chairs like the last five birthdays…just watching…anyways, it’s the thing I did afterwards that’s important.

Once I got bored of watching television, I got up and headed for the stairs. As I did, I passed by the main doors – dark oak with systematic flower carvings on both sides, and a window on each that were polished with such a clarity, that I’m having trouble believing the glass is even there – that were open at the time. It wasn’t a wild guess when I say it was probably the butler – a young man by the name of Winston - who left it open, so he could come in and out with refreshments and snacks in both hands.

I tried forgetting there was a party outside. Why listen to it if I’m not a part of it, I told myself. I hadn’t made it halfway through the forty-two-step staircase – yes, I counted them – when I heard them talking close to the doorway.

In normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to listen with the other voices also flowing in, but I did, because it’s always the same line whenever people see me with big brother.
“Hey, do you know who he is?”

“I don’t know? Do you know?”

I stopped for a second before continuing, but that fueled their curiosity.

“Did ***** invite him?”

“I don’t know, but why is she in there? Won’t his parents get mad?”

Thinking back on it, it’s pretty funny the way children speak, so simple and so innocent.

A small pain shot through my head as something tried to come to mind. Something important…like…like…a name?

It felt odd to think of something like that as important; I ended up shrugging it off.

Anyway, back to what’s important. I learned an important lesson on that day, and that’s: people talk about you behind your back.

…It could be very risky, but I could finally find out if it’s really paranoia or not.

Somehow, finding out that I gone a bit crazy is better than finding out that I might be in danger.

Without further delay, I turned and took the first step towards the only door in my room. I stiffened my ears so they wouldn’t perk up – can’t let the one who’s watching (if someone is) know I’m trying to find him.

“-a while back.”

“-how’s your stay?”

“-his here I-”

“-is this-”

Listening to so many voices is a pain, but I only need to hear those key words – ‘black coat’, ‘white mane’ or ‘who is she’ – and the suspicions I fear the most will come true.

I kept a casual pace, and for the most part I think it’s working.

My stop came quicker than I wanted, because I was one step away from colliding with the door.

Huh? T-That was quick. Only now I noticed how fast my heartbeat is going, but that’s just the tension I imagined.

So, this is going to be a bit silly, but I guess I can turn around and just…watch the remaining artifacts. At least no one is watching me.

I lifted one hoof, but settled it down afterwards. My eyes went wide as my thoughts went blank. I stood motionless while something pulsed inside my head.

I wanted to be scared. …Scared of what though? The unknown? This world? Ponies? No, I know what I wanted to be scared of, but I rather not want to, yet…it feels right for some reason.

But, why should I be scared of-

I winced as I lowered my head after a painful throb.

As I turned around, I smiled, and I do mean normal, relaxed, small (probably a bit too small), and above all, genuine smile.

However, it didn’t last once I completely turned.

For a brief instant, I saw the pony in my line of sight glance at me.

It couldn’t have been accidental. It was too quick for it to be, and those eyes, I felt how they inspected my body in that moment. Like if I was some sort of study material.

It was even worse with how unnatural they looked. Heavy, judgmental with no hesitation to show, and like the idiot I’m, I stood there.

It didn’t take long for the pony to focus back on me. Only this time her eyes didn’t leave me.
I did the only thing I could in this position. *Gulp*

I pressed a hoof against my forehead, already feeling the pressure alleviating incoming headache. Why does it hurt-wait! It’s gone.

It was instantaneous, like if was never there. I don’t know if I like to have more of those...Things, if it’s just going to hurt like that.

I put my hoof down and wondered of all the similar things I saw, First that lightning thing that nearly killed me, then I saw Mr. Woods say the same things twice, and now I-

I didn’t finish, mostly because I couldn’t. I couldn’t see them, but those eyes are boring onto the back of my head right now.

It is like if it’s trying to crush me with some invisible pressure.

Then I realized the idiotic mistake I did, twice if I count the vision. I stood still for too many seconds.

…I really am an idiot.

Taking responsibility of my actions, I did the only thing that came to my mind.

Raise a hoof, grab doorknob, turn, pull, walk, close door and sprint.

I was already panting at the start, and my heartbeat began pounding louder after every step. Logic was overtaken by instinct, already ordered my hooves to take me far away from…from her. Not caring how sore the muscles will be after this.

I made it halfway towards the exit/entry before the ground shook on its own. I tried stopping, but the vibrations made me stumble all the way to the wall.

It was more like if I was pushed onto it actually; I leaned on it the best I could until the…earthquake? No, not earthquakes…tremors?

It feels more to that of a heavy object crashing down, only to be followed by another one a second later.

It stopped as abrupt as it started, and I didn’t waste precious seconds like before, but I also didn’t wait to regain a sense of balance.

I sprinted again, nearly tripping on my hooves a few times. It was like I had no idea how to walk on four legs.

When the distance between me and open-air became mere feet, I extended my hoof to the handle, and that’s when I actually tripped – with the floor clean and no objects littered around, or even a slippery floor for me to direct the blame.

My vision fell downwards. The floor approaching dangerously close.

Acting on the moment, I turned my head and moved my other hoof under it.

*Crash*

It wasn’t the softest thing to land my head on, but it hurt less than I thought – that may have been adrenaline talking though.

I ignored the pain and stood up, rushed the next few steps and grabbed the handle.

After I pushed it down, I should’ve run from there, but…curiosity ended up betraying me.

I turned to see how much I should be scared by the distance between us.

It’s a good sign that she stood on the hallway, just outside the partly opened door, but the advantage I had didn’t seem to matter when our eyes locked.

The fear I experienced isn’t the same as when I was near Nightmare Moon. How could I forget? The cold void that grew from my chest, seeking the warmth and (the little) hope I had, only to drain it faster than I could hold onto it. I felt empty, like I never experienced a single emotion.

This fear right now is…judgmental. As if piercing into my soul the moment our eyes met. The confidence I had crumbled as I wondered what lengths this girl will go to catch me.

Without looking back, she wraps the end of her tail around the doorknob and closes it with a pull.

The click of it closing filled the silent hallway and snapped me from my trance.

I pushed the door open and made a run for it.

(Third POV)

Even as the door burst open, only a pair or two of eyes glanced as the outlander sped out of Tribe Conjunction.

Nopony paid heed to the pony’s wobbled dash. He nearly collided into someone - earning him a short glare - as he swayed to the sides.

His mind, though running faster with adrenaline, didn’t consider which side to take.

As his hooves realigned themselves instead of stepping near the other one, he already turned left. Unknowingly heading deeper into the town.

A mishmash of curly, tangled, and straight bangs swayed over his eyes, nearly blocking his vision.

At this point, the wooden door to Joint Conjunction is about to close, until a different figure tackled it open. The pony lands on all fours and inspects her surroundings. Spotting the black coat and snow-colored mane was easy enough; her navy blue eyes narrow before she breaks into a gallop.

Already she began gaining on her target, and few ponies got in her way as she made a beeline attempt. She did, however, recognize one or two odd glances, but quickly dismissed the notion of anyone stopping her.

After all, what harm can someone like me do to a grown mare? That thought drew a smile from her stern expression.

As she kept her eyes forward, she noticed something useful.

Her target passed it: a simple looking cart with being pulled by a stallion. He may have been doing it to give samples of the food store he’s working for, but that doesn’t matter to her. What matters is the fabric positioned on top thanks to two wooden supports in each side.

This will do. Measuring the distance between herself and the stallion is twenty hoof-length and ten inches plus eight centimeter. Not the longest distance she was forced to jump; one that’s also shrinking.

In a beat, her hooves left the ground. She sailed in the air for a moment with her hind legs ready, landing both back hooves on the stallion’s head and makes a short leap towards the fabric.

The stallion, on the other hoof, was irritated for a very good reason. He was used as a stepping stone; that for him is an insult. Had she weighed more, he would have unhinged himself to rush towards the filly and give her a piece of his mind, but he has a job to do, which he’s not going to lose for something he can just brush off – so to speak.

It wasn’t complicated for her to position all four hooves on the fabric, then using as a mini-trampoline just as she wanted.

She already passed him, and is about to land with the intent to trip the suspect down with a hoof, then allow gravity do its work.

That’s what she would have done had not a pony, carrying a barrel full of water on his back, trotted on the exact landing spot as he whistled without a care in the world.

Seeing this, only two words could properly explain how she’s feeling, Gaia dammit!

The barrel shakes after an outside force dives in, breaking the equilibrium and forcing the stallion to stop and shift around to counter the vibration. While this happened, water splashed around in random amounts, but when the barrel shook to a certain side, it threw a fistful of water to a pony who was about to run headfirst into the stallion.

With reflexes of a scared kitty, he shrieks before sprinting to the side for an alleyway.

Soon after, two yellow hooves shot out of the barrel’s water and latch onto the rim. The pony inside hurls herself out, landing soaked and mane damped.

The stallion found the equilibrium shortly after. He smiled in relief, which ended as he turned to give the pony an earful, “For Heaven’s sake. You got any idea who this water is for?”

He arched an eyebrow as he noticed her attention is focused on something to the side. He didn’t bother to look however, for the focus of his ire is right in front of him. So he failed to see the black coated pony already halfway through the alley. He failed to see how the pony looked back and locked eyes with his pursuer once more. What he did see is how the pony in front of him breaks into a full gallop.

“H-Hey!” One rushed step is all it took for the barrel to topple over. He winced as the contents spilled over the grass. Anger gave way to fear as he spied his package from the corner of his eye, “…Maybe I can order more if I hurry back.”

Back on the chase, the ‘runaway’ pony is about to exit the alleyway after his pursuer already entered. He turned his vision in time to see a mare passing too close to the exit.

He stomped his hind hooves in the ground while trying to back-peddle with the front ones. Had he done it a second later, he could have crashed into the wide-eyed mare who realized the danger she trotted into.

Her yellow wings flared up as she raised a foreleg in reflex. *Eep!* She tried keeping her voice calm as her body tensed, but seeing the panicked look on the other mare, made her forget her own fears. “Oh, um, are you-”

She never finished. The mare looks behind, and after a quick gasp, he rushes past the pony. Her soft push made the pegasus yelp in surprise, and leaving her confused as she watched her head down the street.

That quickly changed to concern as she’s left pondering on what happened, “I-I hope I didn’t scare her.” She cowered behind her pink mane and lowered her gaze, “If the girls find out, what am I supposed to tell them?”

Lost in thought, the brushing of cold fur elicited another *Eep*. This time she leaped to the air, her wings beating and keeping her steady despite the suddenness.

This earned more than a few stares, nearly every pony – except for the fillies and colts – in the street stopped to give Fluttershy a puzzling stare.

She in return, gave them all a meek smile. Her mouth open to say an apology, but died in her throat as more ponies seemed to join.

Her smile deflated as she slowly drifted into the alley behind her.

With her view completely gone, two stallions – one wearing a hat and the other a fedora.

The one with the hat – and a cutie mark of an open door with bits flowing out – tipped the front up, “Was that one of the elements of harmony I been hearing about? She looked too soft to belong with The Arcwinds.”

The fedora stallion – with a cutie mark of a knife with a sharp edge – doesn’t move his gaze, “…What we just seen, is an authentic Equestrian. Let’s pray no trouble ensues because of their presence.”

What they didn’t see, because it wasn’t as important as a startled Bearer of Harmony, is the pony with the wet mane and fur that startled her in the first place. Shortly after she brushed against the pegasus, she stood still. Facing the side in which the black mare took.

The problem at the moment is that her suspect is nowhere in sight, and the two opposite colors weren’t exactly easy to miss.

…One of two things happened. The mare entered one of the adjacent alleys. It couldn’t have been from the other side. She didn’t have time to run to the other side without me noticing. A small scowl made way to her features, In the case that’s true, I wasted enough time for her to escape, but that’s if I’m not right about the second option.

She shifts her attention between the ponies walking out from the two buildings ahead of her.
The one near her walked out a local mare; she could tell because of the scarf she sported.
On the other building, a presumable couple walk out, but both sport confused looks. They even glance back and share a look.

The sight is a pleasant one for her; it’s enough to draw a small smile, That’s where you are hiding.

(??? POV)

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

Physical exercise and me…don’t get along. It’s not that exercise is bad; it’s me.

I rested my head over my forelegs, which rested on a round wooden table at the corner – away as possible from wondering eyes – that is next to the long wide window of the restaurant.

A restaurant might not be the best of places to hide, but I desperately needed to sit down.

My hind legs are aching, and I can’t move them without burning in pain. The sweat hardly bothered me, and it’s not like it will show much against my dark fur. What will it do, make it darker?

Minor issues are nonexistent for me at this point, I-I hope I lost her.

My ear twitched at the noise of heavy wood grinding against the floor, but that means one thing: somebody took a seat in front of me.

What kind of man…well, stallion, is it this time? It isn’t the first time somebody sat in front of me because of…reasons.

I raised my head, slow and easy, as my back protested. I gave the pony in front a tired gaze as the image started to become clearer.

The moment yellow became the dominant color, pain became the last thing in my mind. I straightened my back, and directed my full attention towards her!

The pony, in appearance, didn’t look remotely intimidating. She’s about half my size; her coat is yellow and her short, white mane - but now that I notice it’s a little wet - with a gray streak in the front.

It’s definitely her; the one who chased me all the way here. As I said, her appearance isn’t what scared, but her eyes. They are definitely older, sharp too, nothing like a child’s should be.

I felt a sweat roll from my forehead, down to my cheek. Only to end hanging on the bottom before dropping completely. For a moment I wondered if that was from the exercise I just did, but her scrutinizing gaze is making me feel smaller than her.

“Are you two here to order or…”

I turned to the left, and standing next to our table, is a pony with a maid outfit with a tray perfectly balanced on top. She’s got that curious look, combined with the outfit, I’m tempted to say she’s cute.

“Onii-chan wanted to come here.” For the next few seconds, I was too stunned to move. I could hardly believe where that voice just came from, but when I recovered, I wondered if my eyes are playing tricks on me the moment I saw her adorable pout.

The cuteness factor grew stronger as she crossed her forelegs high above her chest. Almost as if she’s trying it for the first time. “I didn’t wanna come here, but noooo. He kept saying something or the other of a mystery fruit juice. I’m so telling mom and dad after this.”

My jaw went slack and my thoughts numb as I tried to process this. This thing that looks like a little girl, scared me – not in the same level as Nightmare Moon – the enough to run for my life, is now playing innocent.

It didn’t take longer for my mind to function again, This is why I never leave the house, bad stuff always happens to me.

“Oh, I see!” I tensed at hearing those words, but I could hear my heart sink when I turned to see the maid’s smile, “I will be right back with your special order, mam.”

W-Wait, don’t leave me alone with this…this thing! That’s what I wanted to say, but apparently I lost my voice some time ago. Also, when I opened my mouth with nothing coming out, she giggled in such a cute manner that made me blush.

That was the last thing from her as she turned and went to get my ‘special order’.

It didn’t take long for those eyes to bore onto me again. I wanted to run again and find a hole to hide into, but if she found me after I had a head start, I don’t know what she do to me now that we’re this close.

It’s a bad idea, but very slowly, I turned to meet her gaze. When I did, I pushed myself onto the chair, every little centimeter between us counts.

Her childish pout is gone, and arms crossed but on the table, “So,” her voice does sound like a kid’s though, “I don’t know what your game is, but one way or another. You will tell me why you had this with you.”

She lifted a hoof, and at the base is the same piece of paper I was forced to carry, only darker…and wet.

Did…it get in the water? “T-That…that…I picked it up on accident.”

Her demeanor didn’t change, but she did put her hoof down, “…Let me get this straight. You picked it up, and dropped it in a place full of ponies that would eventually find it.” She glared at me, as if daring me to answer, “Tell me, what part of that doesn’t sound suspicious to you?”

I lowered my head, blocking most of the view with my tangled bangs, That…does sound suspicious. “I-I promise. I’m not lying. I-I just picked it up, p-please believe me!”

That last part may have come out stronger than what I wanted, even so, I don’t think it was strong enough to attract attention. That’s what I last need at the moment. Once again I’m reminded of how I’m the alien here, an outsider, an…outlander as Wild’s said.

So why…why would anyone help a nobody like me.

“…What’s your name.” I blinked, I just noticed the tears in the corners of my eyes.

I wiped those off while honestly replying, “I-I don’t remember.”

Once I put my hoof down, I dared take a peek. Those judgmental eyes are still there, but not much change, “why don’t you have a cutie mark.”

Again, it’s not a question, but more like an order, “I-I don’t know.” I wonder if she’s getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over…I sure would.

“What do you remember then.”

By the sound of it, I’m stepping on the thin line between a harsh glare or a punch, “I…remember…” this is one of those times where my gut tells me something bad will happen to me if I answer, but it’s also telling me something bad will happen if I don’t answer. It’s really one of those lose-lose situations. “…I remember waking up in Lo-Sunshine Forest.”

I know what I said before, but I rather not give her a reason to get…violent. We might be in public right now, but I can’t stay here forever, and she could use her appearance as a weapon to get me kicked out.

I can almost see it really. She could start screaming of where are her parents, and why can’t she see them. Questions would be brought, and everypony will side with the one that looks like a sweet little kid.

“…Is that true?”

Her voice sounded odd, a little uneven. I took another peek, but what I saw kept me from moving them away.

“If what you say is true,” her grin kept twitching, every time moving a little bit higher, “then you are somepony I want to spend time knowing.” The excitement in her eyes is clear as day, she even leans forward and with a mirth in her tone she says “Up to the last detail.”

…Good stuff is supposed to happen when you’re honest. That’s how the world congratulates you, so when this kind of stuff happens to me, I can only blame myself for trying.