Just One Wish

Any minute I was expecting it wake up and have mom berate me on my messy room. I’d expect dad to warn me about staying up to late or telling me how foolish it was running into the Everfree Forest. I could almost smell waffles being cooked down stairs in the kitchen as I took in a deep breath.

Instead the smell of blood and death filled my nostrils. Dried blood was matted to my fur. Blood dripped somewhere nearby as I could hear the screams coming back again in the back of my mind. I shot up as sweat fell from my body as my heart beat raced in fear. I found myself in the makeshift ward as other injured ponies were resting.

The dream was gone as my bitter reality reasserted itself as my wounds reminded me of my stupidity from yesterday. Groaning in pain I slowly moved myself off the bed and stumbled outside. How the ponies from the comics were able to keep it all in I’ll never know… of course it might be simply because it was all make believe.

I walked out of the make shift ward and glanced at the sky. The night air was cold, but you could see the stars. Tears formed in my eyes as I knew I was still awake. They ran down my face as I didn’t know why it still stung. I know I wasn’t back home. That instead I was stuck freezing my tail off in some twisted strange land, but I guess my heart still refused to believe it.

It refused to believe that I wouldn’t wake up from this nightmare and be back home. I tried to wipe them away so that nopony else would see my tears. I had to stand strong... or at least look strong.

“Are you are right little pony?” Topaz asked behind me.

I sniffed “Just a little bit homesick. How’s everyone else?”

Topaz simply patted me on the back “Sore but happy. A little worried, but filled with even greater hope.” I could hear the snow crunching beside me as he sat down “Better question is if you are alright.”

I looked down at my leg as I saw bandages wrapped around them. They weren’t red or anything and I didn’t feel any swelling. When I looked into the old diamond dog’s eyes I knew he wasn’t talking about that.

I sighed “I just… never saw ponies killing ponies. I never killed anything before and now it just seems to keep on pilling up. I keep thinking about what I could have done…” I felt bile in my throat “And just how such a twisted vision of Princess Celestia could have possibly been made.”

Topaz nodded “To us she’s someone from the past. Too some ponies they don’t even believe she ever existed at all, but to you could actually see her just a few days ago. Something many of us would envy if they knew about it.”

I looked at my cutie mark as the taste of bile touched my tongue. I quickly moved over and threw up as I didn’t dare look at my cutie mark again as the image burned in my mind. The lotus cutie mark used to be red… but now the blood was smeared over it leaving a darker flower in its place. A deathly red flower that filled me with fear.

I closed my eyes trying not to think about it. It sounded silly, but a cutie mark was a representation of yourself. Something that never changed… and seeing it turn red like that... it wasn’t something I wanted to think about too much.

Topaz simply lifted me up “Let’s get you somewhere comfortable.”

“Not the tent.” I muttered wearily “Please don’t put me back in the tent.”

All that blood… Those injuries and the amputations… I couldn’t handle it. Topaz simply carried me into one of the carts and rested my body on top of the pile of blankets. My eyes grew heavy as I fell back to sleep.

******

I groaned as the light hurt my eyes for a few seconds. A laugh rang about as classical music played. There they were again… Rainbow Dash was flying about doing some fancy trick. Applejack selling her wares in town as the apples shinned in her cart. Fluttershy was walking along side Rarity properly getting ready to visit the spa.

I was back in Ponyville and sighed. I already knew it wasn’t real no matter how much my heart wished it so.  So I turned around and saw Canterlot. Without any warning the entire place seemed to have shifted as I was now inside the castle.

I saw Princess Celestia talking to somepony as I didn’t bother listening in. I just watched her as I felt sorrow. There she was… a kind and gentle ruler. How anyone could mistake her for a cruel and ruthless tyrant was beyond me. Just looking at her told you that she wouldn’t tell anypony to slaughter helpless ponies… to set entire towns of fire and laugh.

“And there’s Twilight Sparkle” Said a voice beside me.

The pony beside me was dressed in a blue uniform. Not exactly Galloping Gala class, but very… interesting? Expensive? It was hard to pin it down, but it certainly made him look important. He was a light blue unicorn with a dark blue mane. On his side rested a very expensive looking sword that somehow covered his cutie mark.

I looked back at the purple pony beside Celestia and said “So who is she?”

The pony chuckled “Why Celestia’s personal student. The one picked at a young age with an entire destiny set up for her. To have been picked by a Goddess… what a moment it must have been.”

I turned around walking back towards Ponyville. I didn’t want to see this student. Picked by Celestia herself? Did that automatically make her better than me? If so then why the hay wasn’t she sent to this cursed land instead of me!

As soon as I left the castle I was back in Ponyville again. Mayor Mare was talking about some upcoming event. Everypony was listening intently as I ignored the speech as I walked through the crowds as if I was a ghost until I saw them again. Rainbow Dash and the others all set up in their little group.

It hurt seeing them here. It hurt seeing them do things I wouldn’t get to see. I had everything planned out. Travel through the Everfree Forest. Give the flowers and talk to the Zebra a little… tell the story to everypony else. I had even been training for the running of the leaves event. To run and get first place… or close to second at least.

From there Rainbow Dash would say something. I would respond… and then I could finally get a chance to strike up a conversation. Maybe if I was real lucky I could find something out. I always wanted to give racing a shot… but Pegasi seemed to have the market cornered. Unicorns had the schools and magic leaving earth ponies… with the dirt and plants. I didn’t want to be stuck in a house growing flowers for the rest of my life.

Every filly shouted for joy when they got their cutie mark… that special moment of understanding and how their destiny in life finally telling them what they always wanted to do. Not one pony looked back on a cutie mark story with regret… except me.

Me? I missed the once in a life time Rainboom. I got a cutie mark I barely understood… and unlike the others who shouted for joy? I tried to bleach it out in the hope that it would disappear! It was just my luck for it to wear out in just a few days. It was so unremarkable my parents didn’t notice it until the bleach finally wore out as I was left putting up a fake smile as they threw a party as I “finally” got my cutie mark. A party marking me as a nopony in a world full of special ponies.

The unicorn from Canterlot chuckled behind me “Raising the sun? Why the heck should it be special on one day instead of everyday?”

I rolled my eyes “Because it’s the Summer Sun Celebration marks the rule of Celestia and how she finally restored peace to Equestria. It isn’t just raising the sun, but marking the celebration of another year where Equestria is whole instead of shattered and torn apart by countless wars and disasters.”

He paused for a second as I swore he was staring at me. Which was silly. Nopony else noticed me… though it was odd seeing him in Ponyville. Wasn’t he supposed to be back in Canterlot? How did he even get to Ponyville so quickly? How did I? Stupid crazy dream logic.

I trotted towards the Everfree forest. I was stuck in a crazy dream so I might as well finish the job. I walked past the tree where I ran into the creepy person in the hood remembering that stupid wish I made as I tried to kick it as I walked past it. I continued walking as I went straight into the forest following the old path on the ground.

I had no idea who made it as most ponies wouldn’t notice it… or more likely avoid the forest in general, but I’ve been in the Everfree forest enough times to spot it now. It leads straight to Ponyville and you could also follow it to the Zebra’s hut… not that I ever went inside. Mostly I just looked around seeing the wonders the forest had and made sure to stick to the trails so I wouldn’t get lost.

Yes it was pretty stupid thing to do, but this is Ponyville. We built a thriving town right next to the only place everypony fears. The one place we can’t touch as the clouds ignore the pegasi. The plants ignore the earth ponies and the animals? Everything seemed extra resilient against pony magic in this place. Maybe that's why I liked it... the only place in Equestria that was unique like that. As long as you followed the trail or stayed close to it then you wouldn’t run into them… much.

The animals didn’t pay any attention to me as I followed the road going to my secret place. The place only I knew about that made me feel special. The one place I had ran into as a filly and called it my secret base. Nopony really talked about the old castle in the forest. Then again my parents never wanted me to even go near the forest much less this deep into it as my hooves went across the old bridge wooden bridge.

I stood in front of the old castle staring at it and muttered “I’m better off in here. Nopony around. No constantan reminders of what I’m missing.”

I walked straight into the old castle as I continued my rant “Not having to think about ponies I never worked up the courage to talk. No moments where I was just seen as just another pony. No sights of places I’ve never been to or that I may never get to see.”

I sniffed as I walked into the old throne room. The home of my little secret base. The one spot in this lonely castle where I used to play princess or possibly the valiant hero of some story as a filly. It was my little secret kept hidden from the world as I even tried reading the books of magic and the old stories written in the ancient library.

It was stupid really. Unicorns had magic. Pegasi had the skies… and what did that leave me with? Stories and foolish dreams. Like any books left here could actually let me use magic or let me do something special. If anything this castle was just like me… something that might have been special, but in reality it really wasn’t anything special.

“Why do I have to hide from the world in my own dreams?” I said to myself bitterly as I knew there was nothing here for me “It’s not like I can even do anything in here. Heck I can't even touch the books in here.”

The unicorn from Canterlot chuckled “You think your dreaming?”

“I..” I stuttered as I quickly touched the worn out carpet on the floor. It felt solid. I touched it again. I moved to the walls, the floor, the banners. Was I home? The unicorn simply levitated me back to his side before I had a chance to run out of the castle and find another pony!

He turned me to look into his deep blue eyes “I haven’t seen that look of innocence in years.” Seriously creepy moment “But before you ask… No you’re not back. This is simply a byproduct of Dream Drought.”

I looked back at the castle and then back at him. The regal looking unicorn from Canterlot was in this abandoned castle. What was he doing here? What was going on? I shook my head as I felt like racing back to Ponyville shouting to everypony that I was back home. That I was alive.

The unicorn looked at me in sorrow “You can see the past and sometimes even the present, but take too much… you can only dream in this void or of the forest, but never are you here… your just seeing a memory that you can never touch.”

He glanced at the room “What drives you to take such a risk?”

I lowered my head “I didn’t take anything…” My mind raced to my injuries after the ice monster “But somepony gave me something… and now. I just feel guilty.”

The unicorn sat me down on the floor as I looked out the door. It hurt just thinking about it. To have just seen everypony going about their old lives. Nopony seemed to care that I had gone missing. Nopony seemed to have noticed my disappearance. Sure I never had many friends… but was I truly just a ghost in Ponyville before I had disappeared?

It hurt just thinking about it. How little I was. How worthless my life seemed to have been and how costly it was now. It hurt even more so that I was just helpless. I was an observer who could only see but never act in Ponyville. An accident who could only watch, but never fix the problems as I was lost in this new land.

“I sang a song and people got hurt.” I continued. It was a dream after all “They were stuck in winter and I just tried to help them clean it up. I didn’t even expect much to happen.”

The unicorn smiled “You sang a song and stopped the storm. Doesn’t sound that bad to me.”

I nodded as I looked up at the two thrones. One throne had the sun… the other the moon. Two sisters. Two chairs. I never knew much about Luna before… but now I think I know why Princess Celestia called herself Princess now. She held onto the hope that her sister would return… where ever she was or what ever happened to her. Just like me clinging on the belief of home despite the odds before me. Or I was just projecting my problems onto her. How did that old story go anyway?

I closed my eyes remembering the most recent problem that plagued me “Yes but some white armored ponies took offence. They claimed they followed Princess Celestia… and killed a lot of ponies… and diamond dogs.”

The unicorn frowned “And you feel guilty. Would it have stopped them?” I opened my mouth to respond “Did you just sit back and watch them die.” I shook my head “Then if you tried to help them. Tried to make things better and tried to help protect them… What did you do wrong?”

I tried to say something. Trusting the white armored ponies was one of them. Maybe if I didn’t say anything the town’s ponies could have charged them before they waited to spring their attack?

Of course thinking everypony was still a good pony was another mistake I had made. Didn’t the incident with being thrown into a dungeon show me that the ponies here were nothing like the ponies back home! Or the evil bug ponies or the attack on the cart that sent me to the evil bug ponies?

I didn’t even think that the white armored ponies might have been those bug ponies called changlings ready to capture the town again! They had just pretend to be another army sent to protect the town when the fillynapped everypony the first time after all!

Yet all I could say was “I wrote a wish in a book.”

The unicorn shrugged “So why don’t you find that book and just simply remove it?”

I shook my head “Because I don’t know where it is. I don’t know what’s going on and I highly doubt that would work.”

“And yet you sang a song to end a fearsome storm.” He simply stated “It was a foolish thing to do and no one tried it before, but it worked. Sometimes we over think things when sometimes the best solution is actually the easiest one. So why not try?”

I sniffed as I felt a little bit better “I’ll add that to the list. Thanks crazy dream pony thoughts.”

He froze for a moment staring at me in confusion before he grinned “Though I prefer if you would called me Prince Azura. After all I do look the title.” He ran a hoof through her mane as it let it fall to his sides “I certainly do have the hair for it after all.”

“Sure.” I replied without much care. “Leave it to a crazy dream to finally make sense of things… even if I can’t enjoy it.”

Things seemed to dim as I heard him shout “Just remember it’s Dream Drought that brings this realm out when you sleep!”

Break—

I woke up shivering as the sun shined outside. Fillies were running around laughing as some of the ponies had started planting croups outside of their crystal sheds. Topaz and Shadow Tail were standing outside in front of his cart. As soon as I left the room I could hear them talking.

“No. I’ll say it as many times as I need to say it.” Shadow muttered in annoyance “Just because she told you it doesn’t mean you give you a free pass to go gallivanting around the world.”

Topaz simply cleaned his monocle “It’s a long journey and you of all ponies could use an extra hand. Do you really think her journey will just end so easily by dragging her across the country side?”

Shadow shrugged “Does it matter? I’m being paid to drag her around until she gives up and then back to the Frost Kingdom if she wants. Until then it’s just another paycheck.”

I couldn’t help but stare at them. Shadow had swapped out his armor giving him… a more griffin like features. His helmet was now shaped more like a griffin’s head as there were even claws attached to his front feet. His armor was kept to a slight shade of blue and white as the white wings rested against his side.

Shadow pointed up one of the mechanical claws. He was actually pointing at Topaz and said “So far we just managed to severally tick off the Protectorate and made an enemy out of the Scorn Imperium as each of those Reds will be out for her head if they see her! It’s easier to hide a pony than a pony and a diamond dog.”

“Especially when the one in charge has half a dozen disguises tailored for himself.” Topaz added as Shadow nodded “But it’s going to be a long journey.”

Shadow shrugged “I highly doubt it.”

Topaz smiled as he pulled out some small device “I just thought it might be nice to listen to a few tunes or listen to the radio for a moment.”

I have to give credit to Shadow’s work in equipment. The helmet’s red eye grew bigger as he stared at the arcane device as his clawed hand moved towards it. Topaz simply lifted it up out of Shadow’s reach as he pretended to stare at it.

Topaz chuckled “Latest from Pontecha. The PON3 radio and communications headset complete with multiple radio channels, scroll teck manual and” He cleared his throat “memory space to record favorite songs, or other various things for the user to copy or record to be used latter.”

I stared at the device. I didn’t understand most of the meaning, but it looked like some sort of blue bracelet to be put on a pony’s leg. Grant it that it seemed a little strange, but Equestria always did have what some other races called “A mix-mashed society.” Advance in entertainment and other random various technologies and we still have a few areas where trains were manually pulled my ponies instead of being driven by coal. No idea how the trains pulled by ponies thing works out.

Shadow took a few steps back “How? When?”

Topaz grinned revealing his sharp teeth “It pays to have friends. These things are not even supposed to be out in the public market for about… two maybe three years.”

Shadow sighed “Fine… you can come along. Just don’t expect anything fancy.”

Topaz handed over the device to Shadow as he quickly went back into his cart as the sounds of heavy machinery being used could be heard from outside. I blinked as I tried not to think about how the sounds were being made or just what exactly was making them.

Topaz smiled as he waved at me “Hope you don’t mind if I join you in your trip to repay a favor.”

I shook my head “Not to complain… but you don’t owe me anything.”

Topaz looked out at the village and said “Your brought hope to this village and saved them from trouble. The town ponies are on good terms with the diamond dogs now and I feel like going back on the road again. So I figured why not join you on your travels?”

I looked down at the ground “Because I might be crazy?”

Topaz just chuckled “Please. Sanity is over rated these days. If you didn’t think you might be crazy then I might have worried.” He put a hand over his eyes “Now comes the next question… Which do you prefer? Swords or guns?”

“Uh… I don’t know how to use either of them.” I replied only to see a shocked look on his face.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head “It’s going to be a long couple of days.”

******

Shadow Tail had us leave the village as soon as I was ready. The town ponies and the resident diamond dogs waved us goodbye before we left. The cart Shadow Tail was using was fixed, but it had felt a little cramped sharing room with Mr Topaz and all the items that Shadow Tail had picked up.

The first thing I learned was that Shadow Tail would take anything he could use as I spotted a few of the weapons and armor from the ponies that had attacked the town yesterday… complete with bloodstains and bullet holes. While killing ponies didn’t feel right with me I couldn’t help but feel that stripping them of… everything (clothing included)  was just going a bit too far.

Shadow drove the cart in his griffin armor as Topaz went over the exact details of certain weapons. The first task had been easy as he simply checked which melee weapons I could actually hold correctly. Swords felt uncomfortable while daggers didn’t give me the “range” Topaz wanted so we settled on what was either a short sword of a long dagger? The blade was jagged and held a very sharp edge as it was nicknamed “The Trench Blade” as it included its own sheath that slipped onto my body quite easily.

When we moved onto guns… I know there are many types of weapons. Canterlot guards can name the different types of spears and their assigned use. Some ponies can even name the various types of sword, origin, and uses for various sizes of length, blade, and shape. Guns were just point and shoot so it couldn’t have been that complicated? Boy was I so, so wrong.

Topaz shook his head for the up-tenth time “I know I should understand why… but seriously? At least tell me you know the difference between a 9 millimeter riffle round and a hollow point variant.”

Guns had types of guns just like swords had types of swords, but it didn’t stop there. It went deeper going into variants of those guns, to even variations of the types of bullets. It sounded like a lot of trouble to be going into, but guns hand one great alternative to melee weapons which was both good and frightening at the same time. You could learn how to use one quickly and it gave range or simply filled the area in front of you with lots of bullets.

Topaz simply pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed “Alright. Ground basics. Let’s just get a standard BB gun and see how well you go with that.” He grabbed one of the battle saddles and strapped me into it. “Now remember. The harness near your mouth is similar to the spear variant, but do not pull the harness. That allows you to fire the gun.”

I simply nodded as he checked me over making sure everything fit. Apparently if it wasn’t put on properly then when you fired the gun you might get muzzle burn on your side if you were lucky. You could shoot yourself or possibly graze with the bullet you were firing if your unlucky. Though if you’re really unlucky or the equipment is also faulty… you could have the gun simply blow up right on your side leaving lots of pieces of metal sticking in your side if not outright killing you. So naturally making sure you could make one fit you comfortably for long periods of time was important

The other important detail I knew as a fact was making sure it was tight… otherwise a pony might be able to use it against you. Like a quick buck and a trigger pull to ruin half of your face. I shivered just thinking about what I had did as I made sure it was tied on tightly to ensure it didn’t happen to me.

A buck’s voice came from outside “This is Resistance News with your host!” In the background trumpets played “Resity! Yes that’s what’s were going with so shut up and like it!”

Topaz smiled “Looks like Shadow is playing with his new toy.”

“Just trying to listen to the radio.” Shadow shouted from up front.

Resity continued “Now guys and gals. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Just because some folk are different from you it does not give you the right to grab, bag, and hang them. Yes I’m talking about you Pyromaniac Nut Jobs in the Protectorate.” I shivered at the name “Last week the idiots in white trudged down to Mystic Swamps and tried a Flaming Dolt welcome to their neighbors by torching the area down because they weren’t ponies! Never mind the fact the surrounding towns had been attacked by monsters for years until their new neighbors showed up and fixed the problem for them.”

I didn’t like them even more. Grant it ponies sometimes got off on the wrong hoof with other races, but we would always try to get along… or find some way to deal with the situation that didn’t involve violence or burning down the other pony’s homes!

Resity laughed “Well apparently the Gater Boys didn’t take a liking to being attacked and yes. They told me to call them Gater Boys. Just because they live in a swamp doesn’t mean their stupid and apparently the Dolts in White forgot the Gater Boys had over a dozen Cragadiles and a whole assortment of deadly creatures under their control. Needless to say it ended badly for the Dolts in White.”

At that Shadow laughed as Topaz looked grim. Apparently that wasn’t a good thing.

Resity coughed “But on a happier note. Boys and Gals mark your calendars because the wicked king has finally kicked the bucket!” The sound a bucket being kicked along with cheers of little foals in the background “Apparently bad old king Scorn tried to attack the Frost Kingdom and let me tell you… it was bad. A handful of knights and infiltrators sabotaging the city from inside with Scorn just a hop, skip and a jump right away from getting right inside the city!”

“Please don’t say it.” Shadow tale muttered “Please don’t.”

“Right up until a flower pony saved the day.” Resity shouted in joy as Shadow Tale shout out curses “Some brave little mare managed to get a Beserker Drake back up running and get this ladies and gents… She threw sneezing powder. I kid you not… *Freaking! Sneezing! Powder!** Crazy I know, but this little batch was made for Hydras of all things and threw it at the monster’s face!*”

A small foal asked “But Mister Resisty? Why is that important?”

Resisty chuckled “Because my little viewer that Hydra was guarding bad old king Scorn himself. With no monster to protect him he had a very angry Prince Frostmorn to deal with an equally angry ten ton metal killing machine. The Prince managed to make the blow slicing the foul king’s head off. He even has the body on display to show the world that *This** blighted monster from the past is dead and Staying dead! Personally I would have just thanked the pony and went on my way…”*

Shadow groaned as I blinked. I was on the radio.

Resisty laughed even louder “But apparently she must have left quite the impression because the king personally gave her the Beskerker Drake she fixed as a reward. That’s right. Out of the blue a stranger shows up and saves you and this brave pony *thanks them** instead of trying to throw them in jail or set their house on fire. Think about that next time when you meet somepony on the road. Maybe they’re just a friend you haven’t met yet. Now let’s hear some music DJ!*”

Music played on the radio as Shadow muttered a string of curses. Grant it Resisty wasn’t entirely correct… because I was thrown in jail. Still it was… nice? Interesting? Confusing? Well one of those words or a mix of them was how I was feeling hearing my name on the radio.

The cart slowed down as Shadow shouted “Here’s a good place to stop and to test her skill with a gun.”

Topaz started grabbing a couple of the guns “Why here?”

Shadow muttered out loud “Because I feel like shooting something since Resisty made my job a lot harder now.”

******

I looked through the little pointer set up on the riffle and tried to aim at the can. I pulled on the harness as the riffle kicked back knocking me on my butt as I could hear either Topaz or Shadow chuckling in the background.

Shadow’s wings lifted me back up as he said “Remember that some of the riffles tend to have a  kickback so if you need to stand your ground or crouched down on the ground… go right ahead. The Long Shot Riffle tends to have a bigger kick to ensure the bullet goes through it’s intended target.”

I nodded as I braced myself against the ground and took aim again. I could feel the weight of the gun as I tried to prepare myself for it suddenly kicking backwards again as I fired. This time the riffle pushed me back a little, but the shot hit the can tearing the top half to pieces. I felt a brief moment of joy... until I realize the can was just a few feet away.

Shadow didn't seem to notice as he continued on with his lesson “Still got a kickback, but you hit the target regardless. Want to switch to a larger riffle or go for more than one shot?”

******

I held the blade in my mouth giving it a few practice swings as Topaz watched me. It felt weird trying to go through the movements I saw in the comics. When I held one before it was simple. Hold the blade and charge until it hits something or swing it about like I was trying to hack away vines. Topaz called it running straight forward like an idiot or swinging it around like an idiot which was a small blow to me ego. I thought I wasn't that bad.

Topaz shook his head “Let’s try something else. Sometimes it is better to doge than to hit your foe… Follow my steps.”

I struggled to place the blade back in my hilt as I could still taste the leathery mouth and said “But you’re a diamond dog. Two legs. Not four.”

Topaz smirked “But not my steps in the snow.”

He stood up on his toes and moved gracefully… too gracefully. It felt as if he was defying physics as he practically danced across the snowy field and landed on the side. He pointed down at the snow as large prints were left there. I moved my hoof over one of them just to see it almost fit. Surely enough each hole was spaced far enough for me to move from spot to spot as if the holes were made naturally by a pony instead of a dancing diamond dog on two legs.

Topaz grinned revealing his teeth “Some ponies try to learn other styles. Some dogs try to learn new tricks.”

Which one was he? Obviously he wasn’t going to tell. I moved from step to step trying to fill in the steps.

“Start from the beginning.” Topaz spoke out loud as he pointed at my feet.

One hoof was out of place and he wanted me to try again? “Uh… why am I doing this first of all?”

Topaz shrugged “Because I do not know many pony styles. This one focuses on dueling. Move, doge, and react. I know the basics and it’s better to know how to stop if not doge an opponent’s attacks in case you do get attacked.”

I walked around to the starting line and said “Alright then…” First hole “one…” then twist to the next one “two…” move to the side “three…” over the rock “four.” And avoid the mistake.

“And again!” shouted Topaz as I overshot the next step.

******

Shadow lowered the next gun “This is a shotgun. Close and personal as you don’t even need much precision to shot.”

I pulled the harness as the gun rang next to my ears. A manticore charged out of the forest.

“Second lesson!” Shadow Tail shouted as the riffle on his side opened fire as the mechanical harness started to reload the riffle “Fire, reload, and fire again!”

******

Topaz dropped a log, a pile of leave, and a manticore stinger. He handed me the Trench Blade and a sharpening stone.

Topaz motioned towards the objects and said “Next step is survival training and use of your blade. Unlike others a Trench Blade is a multi-purpose tool. Not as sharp as a sword or the jagged use of a saw, but it has its own perks. Right now use it to help make us a nice warm fire.”

I grabbed the blade and took it out as I felt the log. The outside was cold and wet as clumps of snow was sticking to it, but the inside/cut side was dry. I moved the blade against the log and started cutting. It was not an easy task as bits of saw dust would hit my mouth, but I didn’t complain as Topaz watched me. The untold task wasn’t cutting the log. It was cutting the log without dropping the blade as my next task would be opening up the manticore stinger.

After a short while the blade finished cutting the log in half as I set it on the stone and placed the blade back in my sheath and muttered “I need some flint.”

Topaz sighed “Back piece of the hilt. Use it and the stone to create the sparks you need.”

I pulled out the blade and struck it with the rock. Surely enough a few sparks were made as I used the leaves to start a small fire.

Topaz grinned revealing his teeth as he said “Now cut open the stinger and remove the venom gland.”

I plunged the blade into the stinger as I felt a small splash of blood against my lips and tried not to hurl. Memories of having to kill the crazed Protectorate ponies surfaced as the taste of bile rose in my mouth.

Topaz chuckled “Now you see why I wanted to do the dance steps first instead of mouth in blade?”

I tried to repress the taste of bile in my mouth. Maybe I should have had Shadow Tale teach me how to use it instead.

******

Topaz sharpened his blade “Swords have history. Some magical ones even grow stronger throughout the ages.”

Shadow blew into his riffle “And guns make short work of the enemy. Instead of running against a stronger opponent or a tricky duelist you simply move, shoot, and fire again unless you have to reload.”

Both of them were doing maintenance on their equipment as I cleaned my weapon. Topaz used a sharpening stone on his sword while Shadow Tail used his mechanical limps to dismantle and clean each part of his gun leaving dirt rags and the smell of gunpowder in the air.

Topaz held up his blade inspecting his work “Swords continue to be used to this day.”

“and guns continue to advance along society.” Shadow countered as he started putting his riffle back together “A blade and even a magical one needs to get close. A gun even the non-magical ones don’t. Ponies had a hard time with bows and arrows, but guns make it even for everyone.”

Topaz shook his head not giving up “But what do you do when they get close? Many still prefer to give fliers spears due to their effectiveness. Few things are as terrifying as a squadron of flyers rushing down from above.”

Shadow somehow gave a grin of his own “That’s what the wings are for. To make sure they don’t get close. As for terrifying... obviously you've never seen the terror of being torn apart from the sky as flyers let out a hail of bullets from above.”

I rose my voice “And what happens when they do? I mean when they get close?”

Shadow’s wings scrapped against the ground as he replied “That’s why they’re made out of metal.” The feathers shifted reveling the skeleton like wing underneath and the sharp tips “To make sure they regret it.”

I nodded as I guessed Shadow wouldn’t be able to teach me how to fight. Apparently his method didn’t involve a sword in his mouth or a spear on his side. I certainly don’t want freaky metal wings drilled into my sides. Topaz and Shadow continued their talk about which was better as I focused on learning how to clean the shotgun next. There was even a small book with step by step pictures incase I ran into a problem.

******

The sky was dark as snow drifted down above us. Topaz was munching down on a roasted piece of manticore leg. I knew he properly wasn’t a herbivore, but it made me feel a little bit better knowing that the manticore wasn’t going to waste despite the knot in my stomach seeing him eat another living animal as I looked at my daffodil sandwich. The one that didn’t have a roam about with the possibility of foals waiting for it back home.

Which brought a question to mind “Hey Shadow? Aren’t you going to take off your mask?”

He turned to face me with part of the mark resting nearby. Apparently the bottom half could be removed leaving the face covered as he had a piece of manticore leg in front of his mouth. There were even a couple of bite marks in it. My stomach didn’t feel any better seeing it.

He spoke as his mouth was hidden behind the piece of meat “What? It’s good.”

Topaz rolled his eyes “Some ponies eat meat. You’re the only one I think that’s born part griffin without the beak.”

I shook my head “But don’t we have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables?”

Shadow nodded “And a nice roasting fire with fresh manticore meat only for tonight. The rest turns to jerky or our big jerk beside us.”

Topaz chuckled “And here I thought the meat was for me instead of you.”

At that I couldn’t help but chuckle as Shadow tried to deny it.

******

The light shined in my eyes as I was actually thankful for being awake. How screwed up must you be to be frightened of your own dreams? This time I was Ponyville being founded including a young Granny Smith. It was strange seeing Ponyville like that. Not exactly sure what to make up of that.

Music played out in the distance as I watched Shadow looking over a map. It wasn’t much like the songs I heard of before, but more like one of those songs that one DJ pony played. There was a tune of sorrow in the melody as he seemed lost in another world of thought.

I inched over trying to get a glance of the map. Maybe if I saw it I could figure out where I was. Maybe I could just simply point out where ponyville was or someplace close to the lands near Equestria. To my disappointment and confusion the map didn’t look like Equestria at all.

Instead I saw the same strange map I saw back in the Frost Kingdom. It didn’t look like much to me as I still couldn’t recognize anything… or find where we were or the importance of the few marks on the map represented. I could hear the song ending as I prepared to ask Shadow for help.

He turned around and faced me as his eyes widened in surprise. Mine also widened when I saw his face. Not the mask he wore or the various helmets he wore, but his actual face or most of it at least. He had a red coat and a dark black mane.  His brown eyes stared at me in shock, but his eyes seemed old. Granny Smith type old from having seen so much of the world change… but he still looked so young. Maybe just a few years older than me.

Instantly he grabbed his mask and snapped it back as the mask’s filters kicked in. I felt a small pain of regret for him hiding his face so quickly… and also for not checking if the horn on the helmet was part of the helmet or part of his face. His metal wings shot out pushing me aside as he took in a couple of deep breaths as if he almost had a heart attack or something.

When he finally calmed down he shouted “Don’t do that again!”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t expect to see you not wearing your mask.” I slowly responded.

Topaz screamed out loud behind us “Coal Dust! I leave for a few moments and I missed a chance to see it!” Shadow face hoofed himself as Topaz dashed over to me “Come on! You can tell me! What did he look like?”

“My mask was on the ground.” Shadow groaned “She didn’t see anything Topaz.”

I shivered as I felt that comment was more directed at me than Topaz. I didn’t see what the big deal was.

Topaz shook his head “Don’t mind the grouch. He’s the strangest pony I’ve ever meet. “Apparently” they think it’s improper to be seen without clothing or some sort of barding.” Topaz emphasized “Apparently” with small air quotes with his fingers “I’ve traveled with that grouch for five years and I haven’t even seen his face.”

Now I felt dying to know how the rest of him looked like! No! Bad Swift! Thinking thoughts like that could lead to some very bad misunderstandings! I just thought that before I saw his face he was some kind of robo-pony or something, but just seeing a flesh and blood face. It made him… it made him feel more real. More of a real pony than some random stranger.

My face blushed brightly as I realized I wasn’t wearing any sort of barding, clothing, or “Decency” that Shadow had grown up from. Did he think?

Shadow quickly interjected “Yes it was weird. Yes it was strange, and no I am not. I’ve been around the world long enough to get used to the other… traits and customs of other races, beings, and ponies.”

Now my face burned hotter as I tried not to look embarrassed. Was it really that easy to guess what my next question was? This is why you need to phrase things more clearly Swift! It helps avoid these types of situations!

I groaned as Shadow rolled up the map and said “So did you see anything on the map that you recognized?”

I shook my head as my face was still bright red “No.” Sometimes having white fur really worked against you “But the area with the mountains? Was it really the Storm Wind Cliffs?”

Shadow seemed to grin as he checked the map again “Yes… but how do you know of them?”

“Old griffin tale talked about some foreign land.” I replied remembering the old books from the Castle in the Everfree forest “It was some land off in the east or something.”

He sighed as Topaz shook his head “Let me guess. Trying to find some “old sites” to investigate again?”

Shadow shrugged “Matching old tales and rumors tends to be tricky. If there are myths about Equestria then it stands to reason they may have a few myths about us. The trick of course is matching the two up and finding what has been lost. Who knows… maybe I’ll even find the elusive Crystal Kingdom that had been lost to ages.”

This was a conversation I didn’t want to get into. More importantly I just realized how many things I used to use back home.

I tried to change the subject “Not to change the subject… Any idea where we can pick up gardening supplies?”

Topaz blinked as he stared at me. Shadow simply shrugged though slightly less confused  as he looked at the map and marked Storm Wind Cliffs as I couldn’t help but wonder what Topaz meant by dragging her along. Was Shadow Tail actually planning on helping me or did he not really care if I ever found a way back home or not?

Shadow sighed "Why do you need gardening supplies?"

A voice chipped on the radio saying “She’s the flower pony so obviously she going to need her supplies back in stock.”

Everyone including myself stared at Shadow’s device on his leg. The voice chuckled in a humors and amused tone. It almost felt as if the person on the other end was trying not to burst out laughing.

Shadow groaned “Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him.”

“Of course it’s me feather head!” sang the voice “And I need you to repay a little favor.”

“No!” Shadow shouted into his device “I already did enough favors. We are even and don’t even try to pull up that mess again or I will have to bring up the garden incident.”

The voice on the other end whimpered… in an almost comical fashion it seemed “But feather head. Didn’t you lose sight of Miss Swift over there when you left her alone on that mountain. You left her all alone when she tumbled down and was left in the freezing cold.”

I focused on the memory… I was alone. I did fall down a mountain side freezing cold, but I woke up having been captured by changelings.

“You where the one who left me to the changelings!” I shouted out loud “Why!”

The voice chuckled as I could picture a stupid grin on his face “Because obviously those ponies and doggies needed saving. I just knew you were just the pony who could do it! You even got rid of that nasty eye sour.”

Topaz looked at me and the device on Shadow’s leg. Shadow on the other hoof was banging his head against the cart. Considering the voice left me to nearly get eaten by Icesoar… the frozen yeti monster that attacked the towns causing problems for everypony.

“You were the one who sent that monster!” I screamed out again “It nearly killed me!”

“But fighting one nasty monster was a lot easier than fighting off an entire hive wasn’t it?” The smug jerk said with ease “Besides it all turned out alright in the end.”

Shadow groaned “What do you want you mix matched bas...”

“Language feather head. You have a young lady in your mists.” The voice berated Shadow “All I want you to do… is simply take a small detour. There are a couple of ponies trying to take care of an infestation of Twitermites.”

“Twitermites?” I couldn’t help but ask.

The voice cheered up “Small little bugs with a nasty jolt. The Lunar Republic likes to collect them to power every gizmo gadget they collect and make. I already marked the location on your map! Some ponies say they always existed and others say they were brought out of some filly’s dream from the Raven’s magic. Have Fun!”

The radio clicked off as Shadow unrolled the map. Topaz and I stared at it in confusion. A large black line raced across the map and circled a small area as what looked like a glove giving a thumbs up hovered over the area.

Shadow groaned “Let’s get this over with.”

Topaz shook his head “Your just going to listen to a random voice on the radio… How did he even?”

“He just does.” Shadow interrupted him “He’s just… a chaotic kind of guy who’s good with magic. It’s better to get his mess solved quickly before he finds some other way to mess with us.”

I looked at the map again as it and a small X marking our location with even a small you are here written above it… and a drawn line marking our destination. Sure I’m happy that somepony saved me from freezing to death a little while ago was nice… but finding you that you have somepony watching out for you for what seems to be their entertainment. Let’s just say I’m happy it’s in the morning because I certainly wouldn’t be able to go to sleep after hearing about this.