Valley of the Fog

When Coyote awoke, he found himself cold with his body shaking and shivering. His form slowly rose to a sitting position were he found himself deprived of his clothing. Coyoty frantically swiveled his torso left and right, eyes fixated on the green grass searching for his beloved Sweatshirt. Jumping to his hooves, Coyote opened his imposing wings and stretched them as far as the could reach. He drew his head close to the soil and flew to the sky before diving off the cliff and explored for his longed garment. After a short legwork, Coyote managed to find his personal garb atop a lush bush. It was never a difficult search, seeing as the world was painted in a colorful scheme of light colors and his life was more accustomed to dark and gray. The day was still beginning, the sky was decorated in a gray-blue texture and the moon was slowly fading behind the large crystal like mountains in the far distance. It was a beautiful start to a new day.

Coyote drew higher to the sky before descended towards the town hall where he last left. His hooves touched the ground gracefully while picking up a small portion of dirt and throwing it a few centimeters away. He walked up to the steps of the large building and grabbed his belongings that lay under the wood platforms of the Town Hall. Everything was in its respective spot. He opened the daypack, nothing was unruffled. But a certain plastic bag was lacking. The only noticeable object that seemed to be missing was the picture between his canteen and MREs. He rummaged through his daypack. The photo was not found.

Coyote grabbed the side of the pack with his teeth, zipped up the pack, and threw it over his shoulders. The heft landed perfectly on his back. He trotted back to the fountain from last night where he met the three mares. He walked around the fountain, but nothing was found. He began to panic. He reached the top of his head with his hoof and scratched his scalp.

“Where is it, where is it!?” Coyote quietly mumbled to himself with worry. “Where!”

From behind, a small bell rang along with the sound of a creeping door. He turned around expecting to see the same pink mare from last night only to notice Twilight walking out of the pastry shop with a saddlebag over her back with a sleeping bag hanging out of said saddlebag. She stopped to look back into the shop before waving a hoof to an off scene pony. Coyote found himself face to face with the purple alicorn from yesterday.

“Hello, Coyote!” Twilight Sheepishly smiled, waving a hoof at the stranger.

“Hey, Twilight” He waved back at the mare. “Have you seen a photo around here?” He calmly asked, pointing a hoof at the ground next to the fountain. “I Lost a photo of my friend and family?”

“Yes!” She quickly answered. “Pinkie has the photo, Pinkie said she was going to keep it at Sugarcube Corner until she found you!?” She said, walking closer to the stallion.

“Thank you,” He sighed with relief, knowing that his only source of memory was in safe hooves. “Do you mind directing me to Sugarcube Corner ma'am?”

“Of course?” She smiled.

Even as she pointed to the building across the road, Twilight still decided to follow the brown hooded stallion into the bakery. As the door to the bakery opened, a small bell rung above their heads, signaling the owner of the shop of their presence. The pair walked up to the counter. A pink blur exposed itself from behind the glass case with a large smile and open arms.

“HI!” She yelled, startling Coyote. “Are you looking for this~!?” She said closing her eyes, grabbing the photo from her cotton candy mane with her hoof and waving it in front of the stallion.

Catching the pink pony off guard, Coyote quickly snatched the photo from the mare's hooves and placed it in his bag at lightning speeds. Both Twilight and Pinkie held the look of astonishment.

“Thank you” He nodded. “And Thank you, Twilight,” He gestured to the purple mare, walking towards the front door of the building. Away from the two females. “I think I should go now,”

“Wait!” Pinkie Pie Dramatically yelled, raising her hoof in the air. “You didn’t have anything to eat!”

As if on cue, Coyotes belly rumbled. He clenched his stomach with his hoof, cringing at his irritated organ. He looked back at the pink mare. Below her, in the glass casing were a variety of cakes and sweets. Saliva dripped from the stallion's mouth, he could almost taste the strange treats that taunted him behind the glass cover.

“W-Well…” He hesitated, watching the sweets shine and glitter inside the clean counter. “I guess?” He walked back to the counter and put his daypack down next to a random seat in the store.

“So What would you like!” The pink pony jumped up and down with excitement. “You can do it!”

“I-I…” Another stressful situation for the stallion.

“I’ll have a muffin, Pinkie.” Twilight cut in, proceeding to point at the brown pastrie behind the glass  counter. “Just one please” She smiled

“One muffin coming right up!” She shrieked, running into the kitchen and make every possible noise she could.

From out of view, Pinkie grabbed Twilight and pulled her to the side, away from the brown stallion. A private conversation started between the mares as they whispered to one another.

This gave time for Coyote to think to himself and ponder what he would eat so he may exit the strange pastry shop. All the sweets seemed delicious and obviously tasty. The smell was also enjoyable. Nothing caught his attention, not even the cake, seeing as all the pastries were large. He was never one for sweets. He could not eat a single one, not in the amount of time he wanted of course. That, and he did not know the currency of Equestria. He decided the take the same item as the purple mare. A muffin.

“What!” The recognizable voice of Twilight yelled.

Coyote directed his attention towards the two ponies to find that Pinkie had a wide grin while Twilight’s cheeks appeared burning red. Twilight moved her head away from the stallion and back to her friend, whispering angrily. There conversation quickly came to an abrupt end, Twilight walked back to the counter, next to Coyote where she would receive her treat. Pinkie rose from behind the counter with the same wide grin.

“I’ll have the muffin too please?” Coyote said with composure.

“Two muffins coming right up!” She yelled, pulling out two brown paper bags from behind the counter, placing them gently on said glass counter in front of both Coyote and Twilight.

Coyotes left eyebrow arched. Amazed at the pink ponies quickness and stealth.

“Thank you Pinkie,” Twilight smiled. The brown bag was suddenly enveloped in a purple aura which slowly rose from the solid surface and hovered over the body of Twilight.

Coyote was astounded by the display of magic potential. Coyote grabbed his order with his mouth, clenching the end of the bag between his teeth. He trotted over to the table where his pack lay lazily next to and placed it on the table. He looked over at the front door where Twilight waved her hoof back and forth, bidding farewell to her cheerful friend.

“Ms.Sparkle!” He called to the mare. Twilight turned around, looking back at the hooded stallion with an appealing expression. He struggled for word. His throat began to itch and ached, his voice was scratchy and his hooves were shaky. He shook his head, shaking the feelings off as just shyness. “May you sit with me Twilight?” He asked. Coyote stood up, pulled out the seat that posed on the other side of the small round table, making it difficult for the purple alicorn to decline.

Twilight, as well, hesitated with words. The alicorn looked back at her pink friend for advice. She drew her head back with surprise and glared at her with frustration. Coyote turned around, finding Pinkie with both of her front hooves on the counter, giving off an innocent look while looking up at the ceiling. Coyote turned his attention back towards Twilight who was still pondering his words. Twilight nodded and trotted towards the table.

“Sure” She said with a smile.

Sitting down, she placed her bag on the table and opened the wrapped paper revealing a brown muffin. She dug her teeth into darkened piece of bread. Coyote took his pastry from the bag as well and bit into it. It was amazing, delicious, fantastic. If Coyote could use the best word to describe the greatest dish. He would have no hesitation using it on this one treat. About ready to inhale the bread, he stopped himself and took a normal bit. He took out a napkin from inside the brown bag and carefully placing it on the table, treating the small paper as a fragile piece of art. He place the muffin on the napkin making sure not to let the pastry touch the clean table.

Coyote anxiously tapped his hooves. I need a plan His mind drifted to thought. Twilight is next to you, so you need to think fast. You need information on this world and its contents. The best place to find this is either in a library or an info-tower! He looked up at the mare, ready to talk to the purple alicorn. “Ummm… So Twilight” His voice was scratchy and sore but also gentle and soft. “Can you possibly. Help me around ponyville?” His gaze motioned to his left, keeping eye contact to a minimum.

“Of course!”

Coyote glanced back at Twilight. Her instant reply towards his request was unexpected. “Really?” He contested. “A-Are you sure that won't be a problem?”

“I’m sure. I may be a princess and all but that doesn’t mean I can't help a fellow pony around Ponyville” She calmly smiled. Crumbs from the muffin fell from the mare's lips as she took another bite from the pastry.

Coyote's eyes widened and his jaw slightly dropped. A princess! He was flabbergasted. The princess of equestria was here in front of him!? He was astounded how such a high royal could be in such a town without guards protecting her or even spying on her for that matter. Was this alicorn a royal descendant of Celestia, possibly her foal? It was a mystery. Questions rolled around in his head, the only Princesses he knew of were Celestia and Luna. The true rulers of Equestria. While he did not like the idea of having this mare be Celestia’s daughter, he needed to keep his mind set on the mission at hoof. Finding information about the world he stood in was more important.

A purple hoof swung up and down in Coyote’s field of vision. He shook his head wildly, bringing himself out of his daze and back to reality. He stared at Twilight who seemed to scan his emotions. “I’m guessing you~ Just found out that I was a princess” She giggled. “It’s ok though. I get that look a lot”

“S-Sorry!” Coyote apologised.

As he rose from his seat to bow to the newly acquainted princess, Twilight struck her hoof out, signaling the stallion to stop where he stood. “It’s ok!” She hollered, jumping out of her seat. Twilight immediately noticed the stallion stop and swiftly sit back in his chair with a neutral stare. “That was close,” Twilight sighed with relief.

Coyote tilted his head, confused by the situation that happened before him. “Uhm?”

“Please. it’s ok. I don't need ponies bowing for me” She said shifting her wings. “Let's just pretend we are normal ponies having normal breakfast. Ok” She said clamping her hooves together while closing her eyes with a smile.

A princess who is not acquainted with royalty? He thought to himself indecisively. His previous thoughts on the mare were now neglected, seeing as she was sceptical about him bowing to her. She also did not seem comfortable about royal greetings? Is she really a princess? He hesitantly questioned. He drew back to reality and reversing to talking to Princess Twilight Sparkle. “Sure” He said after moments of silence. “So” Coyote started. He scratched the back of his head with his hoof in embarrassment. “Can you help me?”

“Of course I can help you Mr.Scavenge. What do you need help with?"

"I was wondering if there was an information tower around Ponyville, or maybe a library that could tell me some history on Equestria?"

Twilight’s eyes somehow shined in the semi-dark shop. She gasped with excitement and leaned forward. “A library!” She screeched.

The brown stallion leaned back, keeping distance between the mare. “Y-yes?”

Twilight quickly noticed her intrusion on his personal space and sat back in her seat. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “Sorry,” She apologised. She put her hoof near her neck and cleared her throat. “So you said you are looking for a library!?”

“Yes ma’am”

Twilight giggled with excitement, her chilling body shook with passion and joy. “Well you're in luck sir. Ponyville does own a library -- Well. Used to own a library?”

“Used to?”

“Well Yes, but now I own it,” she pointed a hoof at herself, indicating that she was the new owner.

“I, don't understand ma’am?” Coyote shook his head with confusion. His bangs swaying left and right. “Why did you mention that Ponyville used to have a library?”

“W-Well”

“Becausetwilightwashavingasuperduperawsomedaythanonedayabigmeanywentaroundhutingalotofponiesastwilightwaslikenoansthwbigmeanyblewuptwilightdhomewhichisthelibraryyouwantedtoseesowedefeatedhimwithrain-”

Her voice seemed to suddenly appear over their conversation and heads. The pink pony’s mouth was then struck with a purple hoof which belonged to the bookworm alicorn. She appeared from under the table when Pinkie started her one word story, her mouth was quick and fast when explaining. Most of it, Coyote could hardly understand.

“Pinkie” Twilight sheepishly smiled with a hesitant giggle. “That's a bit personal,”

“Oh sorry, I was just really excited to tell the story Twilight!”

Coyote slightly rose his hoof from behind the table, signaling the girls next to him.

“Oh! Right!” Twilight perked up.

The princess gently pushed herself away from the light colored table, she placed all four hooves on the floor below her and approached the exit of the pastry shop with a hysterical smile. “Come on, I’ll show you!” She said, trotting out the door and into the open world.

Coyote quickly shoved the remaining crumbs of the pastry down his empty mouth, unable to savor the taste and flavor before throwing his daypack over his shoulder and strapping it to his back. Using one wing, Coyote sweeped the remaining trash on the table into the crumbled brown bag he held in his hoof. Making his way towards the door, the pegasus threw the brown bag into the nearest bin. He opened the front door, exiting the pastry shop. When he stepped hoof out into the early day, the light from the yellow sun distorted the stallions sense of sight. Squinting, Coyote placed a hoof above his eyebrows to shield from the burning sun. Seeing the towing drowned in the disgusting sun made his bones shake.

“Are you ok sir?” Twilight asked with a voice of concern. Her hoof ready to reach out to the male if he stumbled, but thankfully this did not happen.

Coyote opened his muzzle and continued to follow Twilight. “I’m fine ma’am?”

“Are you sure, you look like your not use to the sun?”

“No ma’am, I’m not,”