Just One Wish

Shadow drove the cart to our next destination as I opened up the book he had written again. Before I had skimmed… What? It’s a big book and I wasn’t expecting to stay here long! I need to know how to get back home instead of how to stay here.

I skimmed through the table of contents looking past each word. The Frost Kingdom interested me a little since it talked about the Crystal Empire… but I had finished the general overview and the book didn’t talk about it too much… Though Shadow trying to find it brought up a few questions. If the Crystal Empire was supposed to be in Equestria… then did that mean this land was connected to Equestria… there were old tales and rumors…. Well an old tale from an abandoned castle that linked the two together.

I rubbed my aching head and tried to forgot all the growing complications about rumors based on old stories only to feel it grow when I saw the Protectorate. The only use I saw for that section was for kindling… and apparently the “Short version” left by Shadow was only two pages long with one of the pages showing a picture. Apparently he had a distinct dislike of that group and I couldn’t blame him after my short encounter with them.

My eyes focused on the two sections that interested me the most right now. One was about the Raven… which might be hard to understand since it might be missing a couple of things that would have been considered common knowledge… like Princess Celestia back home.

I tried to skip past those thoughts and focused on the next name. The Lunar Republic which… kind of caught my fancy. A kingdom that hunted electric bugs and had made the fancy radio that Shadow now carried. Maybe they were a descent group in this twisted world?

******

The Lunar Republic is a kingdom is different than most kingdoms due to it’s unique government. While the merc nations have taken up various forms of governments (Including my own home nation) the Lunar Republic has made its own attempt.

Officials are voted into office starting from the lower communities or “towns” as some areas simply give the pony the job if they have a cutie mark towards that position. Then from there those individuals rise up and work or vote with each other to promote one of them up to the next position onward until you reach the end of the chain called The Lunar Senate.

The Lunar Senate is the main governing body of the Lunar Republic as most of the decisions that affect their empire happen here. This includes foreign trade policies, declaring war, and all the other assorted jobs that would normally be given to a King or Queen. So it tends to be somewhere between a lot of power, but not as much as people would actually think as the lower members of the senate can block/void actions made by the appointed leader. Apparently you would have to be a politician to fully understand it all.

I skipped through the pages as these seemed to be more detailed than the Frost Kingdom.

How the Lunar Republic was made… Unlike most chapters this is kept near the back due to its… controversy. To say one problem was the cause is an understatement and the fact its formation also coincides with the Protectorate… It’s one of the reasons why bad blood still exists between the two nations and why those! (Lots of scratches and marked out words) But I digress.

The main points was policies, technology, and division. Both sides had looked up to the Two Sisters and for the most part… they were fine and close to their *actual freaking representation! That’s right people! Not one screwed up line about fire and damnation!** Though it did say Celestia controlled the sun. But the rest is complete* (more scratches)

During the war against the Raven… Princess Felicity soon stepped up in her duties and moved some of the other aspects of ruling the kingdom to her subjects. Queen Serenity had ruled and was able to make a countless years of peace and currently they needed to go back to the methods of war… which required an Alicorn on the front lines with combat experience.

--See Fall of Raven Guard, Birth of Taint, and The Final Stand of Unity for more details.--

More books on the subject I didn't care about. Come to think of it would it have killed the writer or publisher to have simply removed the scratched out section of the book?

Princess Felicity’s started to make changes in their society as they encouraged advancement in both social and technological advancement including setting up the Lunar Senate to help deal with the countless reports. That way when morning came the reports that needed the Queen’s approval could be summarized and authorized without taking up most of the day.

For many this was the start of a new era that… if all went well might have prospered quite well… Sadly as we all know. We lost.

After the war ended both sides were divided and with both missing the Alicorns they had looked up. Without the noble line of Alicorns to take up the ruling the land… they fell back to the last two “remaining Alicorns” they knew of… which at this point consisted mostly of stories, rumors, and quite frankly wishful thinking.

Celestia became the deity of light and peace. Her “rule” was focused on the day and return of the old ways before the Raven war. While Luna on the other end became the deity of the Night and patron of advancement. Her “rule” was focused on the night and the new changes made during the Raven war as many cities had started running both during the day and the night or even going completely nocturnal in some cases.

Soon it became a debate between what had been lost and what had been gain. What should be dismantled or tossed away vs what should be recovered from the past or left buried in the past.

Many earth ponies felt threatened with some of their positions possibly being taken by the new industrial technology. It didn’t help that some unicorns even began to wonder the current purpose of the Earth ponies with the new advancements. They no longer needed family farms or the “Earth Pony Talents” with the new golems and farming advancements made during the war and the “Era of The Raven”.

The Unicorns felt threatened by the rapid advancement of magical equipment that the Earth Ponies had suddenly gained including the possibility of “Raven Gifts” seen during the war or the new “talents” some had suddenly seemed to gain overnight. Questions amongst the Earth ponies soon grew as they began to wonder why they needed a bunch of unicorns when they were fine without them since the unicorns seemed to stay in the cities and play nobility or law marker more than “actually lending a hoof” as some called it.

Without the guidance of the Alicorns they had relied on for so long divisions started to form as old misunderstands and grudges started to resurface. In the past ponies could barely tolerate themselves during the “Heartwarming Eve” until a set of friends stopped the harsh winter, but even they barely tolerated each other out of necessity (or be hit on the head by Pan’s frying pan). The earth ponies needed the unicorn magic and the unicorns needed the earth pony crops. Now the unicorns could make their own crops and the earth ponies… they found other means of magical assistance.

In time it might have been fixed, but the final and perhaps biggest nail in the coffin of all was fear and the dreaded fallout from the Frost Kingdom. Hundreds of Pegasi that managed to survive were forced out of the Frost Kingdom for fear and threat of death. For some it was because they managed to leave or escape when the “ground ponies” struck out.

In the past with guidance this would have unified the ponies… but the scars from both the Raven War’s and the changeling infiltrations still ran deep.

So they immediately assumed the worst and thought the other side would force their ideas upon them or end up doing exactly what the ponies in the Frost Kingdom did to the pegasi. So both sides split with lots of bloodshed and violence until they finally stopped trying to kill each other and simply built a massive wall dividing the territory between them.

Oh dear Celestia help me. This world is insane. They tried to kill each other and ignored the fact that everyone is supposed to work together. Sure I’m might have a slight bit of envy towards Pegasi and Unicorns. Heck my dad is one and I would love to do half of the fancy things he does! Looking back at all this… bloodshed... what was it for?

Simply because of a few disputes? The Frost Kingdom has Golems of their own and they didn’t replace the earth ponies. I could understand fear. I mean half of the ponyville is nervous about the Zebra in…

A shiver ran down my spine. What happened to the zebra in the Everfree forest? Did my disappearance make things worse? Did they blame her for my disappearance? She was just a weird stripped pony… oh dear Celestia I can see it now, but I don’t want to believe that it could be possible. Next page! Next Page!

As for the society in general… Like I said before they are a nation striving for advancement. New spells and arcane equipment could be called their central strive and goal. Ponytecha the figurative capital if not most recognized city stands is the center of new innovations and technologies that flow through their society only second to its oldest counterpart Skybolt.

Unicorns can do well in the Lunar Republic as their magic is highly sought after. Pegasi also tend to do rather well as their ability to manipulate the weather is even stronger and more prominent within the Republic’s borders. Many pegasi go to the Skybolt Academy to learn weather control and how to effectively use cloud control on the battlefields.

If you could sum up the Frost Kingdom as a nation of Ice then the Lunar Republic could be summed up as a nation of Lightening. In fact many… eccentric ponies tend to live their along with many schools of advanced learned and education. A few tend to have their mane stand up on end all the time due to all the electricity they mess around with.

Though the situation with the earth ponies has gotten better… Most are treated as second class citizens as certain… stigmas still exists. While it is better than exile or (shudder) death. At best they are seen as disabled… at worst they are discriminated. Some even forced to leave in hopes of finding a future that doesn’t involve crime. If you’re an earth pony… unless you have something to prove it might be better for you to check somewhere else like my home nation.

If you’re a Crystal pony… funny enough jobs are readily available for those with talents for crystal talent and manipulation. Though do be warned that it is not unusual to be checked for illusion enchantments as a couple of earth ponies buy glimmer spells to pretend to be or impersonate crystal ponies in hopes of a better standing in society.

******

I closed the book as I tried to get rid of the dark thoughts that haunted my mind.  Tribalist… a term rarely used and mostly phrased as an insult. The crazed belief that certain races were superior to the others, or in this case inferior. The lunar republic hated earth ponies… as the Protectorate hated unicorns… leaving the Frost kingdom to hate pegasi.

What did that mean for me now? It was blatantly clear I held no love for the crazed psychos in white. Did that mean my only place of safety was in the never ending winter storm of the Frost Kingdom? Grant it I might be able to help with the storm part but… What was it like being born as an earth pony in that society? To be hated for something done by somepony else hundreds of years ago?

What about the mercs? Each group seems to have their own demons from that old war. What was their secret demon? Their hidden horror? How would I get home? I stared into the mirror inside the cart trying to get a look at myself as I tried to see if there was some way to disguise myself.

I froze as I saw the strange mare looking back at me. It took me a few seconds before realizing it was me. My light pink mane had turned red… my first thoughts was that it was still matted with blood until I ran a hoof through it. The red hair seemed to have a life of it’s own as I could feel any… dried blood or matts stuck in it.

I took a deep breath trying not to freak out as I pulled out a comb and struggled to stay calm as I ran a comb through it. It felt like my hair… but more like it had been dyed. I held a hoof over my own mouth trying to get the image of how long my hair must have been soaked to get it this red.

I closed the mirror trying not to take a closer look as I took a couple of deep breaths. I tried to ignore the small ruffles in my fur. I knew they were properly small cuts… or possibly scars considering the freaky fire magic they used. I tried to close my eyes hoping that all I needed was a good night’s rest to clear this all up.

******

I awoke grabbing my heart as my body was drench in sweat. Sleep held no safety for me as I just woke up from a nightmare. No nightmare wasn't the right word. That would imply it was fake as I had just seen the Crystal Kingdom before it disappeared. Dozens of crystals ponies tortured… saddened… broken. They were kept in chains… I could feel the misery in the air as one Unicorn lorded over them all. A black unicorn who seemed to be the very persona of “evil overlord” as he even had a jagged black horn instead of the normal horns unicorns had.

I saw Princess Celestia and a smaller dark blue alicorn fly beside her. I didn’t see what happened to her as I was stuck staring outside. The crystal ponies looked up… and then went back to work. Back to their misery… their pain. They didn’t even notice or even seem to think that Princess Celestia could save them.

It left a lump in my throat. That was the pain they felt. The horror, the despair. I felt a lump in my throat… Dear Celestia she was there… Celestia herself. That meant this was a part of Equestria’s history. My home where ponies got along and peace ruled the land. A part of myself felt like slamming my head against the wall for not taking a look at the hills, mountains, or any land marks that could have helped me find a way home. The other half felt chilled to the bone knowing something like that happened in Equestria. I tried to push it out of my head. Crystal kingdom gone and everypony is a much better pony without any crazy evil magic overlords coming back from the grave.

Past Drought was what let me dream of the past. Past Drought let me see the events that had happened. I held a hoof over my mouth trying not to lose my lunch. Past Drought let one feel like they were just there. How hard would it be to bury the past… if you saw it. If you felt it and could almost relive it with just one drop of a crazy potion?

Maybe some things needed to be left in the past. Yet my own mind started to wonder how I could make it… possibly buy it. If there was a connection between this crazy land and Equestira… could I see a map? Something that said “here be Equestria. Dragons over yonder there!” or possibly some sort of magic… No Swift! That’s why other ponies are properly buying it and keep poking at the scars of the past and letting them fester. Just leave it alone!

I looked out the window trying to get my mind off it as a chill went down my spine. This wasn’t your average “It’s freaking cold outside!” but more like Everfree Forest kind of unnatural. It wasn’t the air… which was cold, but not freezing cold like the rest of the time. It wasn’t the pine trees… though how they could lose all their leaves leaving a spiky skeleton of a tree I had no idea.

Shadow spoke in a hushed town “Just near a forest of course. Please let it not be Raven’s Fall.”

I could barely whisper “What’s Raven’s Fall?”

Topaz spoke in fear “The only place one should truly fear.”

“Then why don’t we avoid it?” I couldn’t help but ask. Sounded simple enough.

Topaz shook his head “Because it’s full of the Raven’s magic.”

“Read the freaking book!” Shadow whispered loudly. I stared at him as he face hoofed before sighing out loud “Long story

short it’s a freaking forest that moves on its own!”

The image of walking trees came into mind. It sounded absurd… but so was Poison Joke when you thought about it and I still had some of it left in my saddle. A part of my mind began to wonder how one could grow Poison Joke outside of the Everfree Forest.

I opened the book about this ‘forest’ and found the page as the over abundant amount of warning symbols for the picture certainly didn’t help improve my mood.

Break—

Raven’s Fall. The final site where the Raven had finally been defeated. On the map… it’s just a hundred yards. Not much right? Well the Raven’s magic turned it screwy.

Raven’s Fall on the map is only a hundred yard circle. Raven’s Fall itself? So far it’s guessed to be as big as Equestria itself...which last time was guessed to be an entire continent as big as our own nameless land… I am literally serious. There are entire *kingdoms** ruled by the dammed. It’s is the Everfree Forest’s big cruel brother. The worst part of it all? It moves! It freaking moves!*

One day you look out and see the plains, desert, or whatever is outside your window. Next day? A forest of dead and/or creepy trees sitting outside without anyone noticing. Doesn’t matter if the ground is dirt, rock, desert, steel or a freaking housing development! The forest doesn’t give a (hastily scratched out words) for any law of reality.

So far there are countless theories for how this is possible. Some say the forest literally moves about. Others say sections of it teleports. Some eggheads in the Lunar Republic believe that the point on the map is the *original or "entrance/exit"** to Raven’s Fall. That it now exists as it’s own separate dimension and the parts that “Appear” are just sudden gaps or convergence points of our two realities.*

All you need to know is that this place is bad. Really bad. It’s filled with monsters. The “people” (and I use that term lightly) in charge are usually worse than the monsters. It’s a special place of pain and suffering that tries to turn itself into each individual person’s own nightmare. Many cruel lords control the place each one cursed in their own way, but those strong… or cruel enough are not affected by the cursed land or simply learned how to live with it or ignore it.

Many adventures travel to there trying to be heroes and slay one of the dark lords in control over Raven’s Fall. Most die as many turn back never wanting to talk about their experiences. Only a few actually succeed, but others sometimes are broken… and turned into the nightmares they tried to slay. This can be dying and having one’s body turned into a puppet for the dark lord… or falling and becoming a dark lord and being as twisted as the ones around them.

Many stories talk of how the forest was formed. All of them only agree on one thing. The Raven fought. The Raven lost. The land was cursed due to his death/blood/magic. It’s a bad place to be.

Of course…. Some stories tell that if you find the final resting place of where the Raven fell one could gain his power… or a wish… or possibly stop/defeat the dark forest once and for all.

All you need to know. Don’t go in. Watch out if it appears and if it does. Keep track of your surroundings and leave the same way you came in. QUICKLY! If you do get stuck… just follow your map and hope you can escape.

Not a pleasant place. Got it.

Last notes… The Wild Hunt. The worst possible moment the forest appears away from it’s marked position. These are the worst times. Shut your door. Bar your windows. Run away from the forest and return when it’s gone.

The Wild Hunt is when the forest isn’t just a spooky forsaken place. It’s when it’s filled with it’s (hastily scribbled out words) residents. To be more precise… It’s when *they leave** the forest to attack you and it’s always accompanied by something… Some prefer a horn. Others prefer a drum. In every event there is a warning. There is a resident leaving the forest to tell the unfortunate town that it’s about to happen. Then there is the attack. Don’t ask why they do this. Just be thankful you have been given time to bunker down or flee.*

Once the time begins they will attack. They will kill anyone they see and the few they don’t… are captured and dragged back to their cursed keeps. It is possible to save those captured and escape… but remember their weakness, the way back, and most of all… hope. Because that section of the forest isn’t your nightmare. It’s the ruler’s nightmare. Their punishment that haunts their daily lives. *Their nightmares** that plague the land. Their weakness that can be used against them. You will always have a chance as long as you have hope and find the way home. The forest during that time isn’t out to get you. It’s out for them.*

******

Know what? That wasn’t that bad. Messed up? Crazy? But not that bad. It sounded like one of those old mare tales told to frighten foals. It’s scary, and a lot more frightening in person… but there is a reason and there is something to blame.

I looked up again only to stare at the oddest thing I’ve seen yet. It was a small bug with what looked like a small lightning bolt for a tail. Topaz slammed a glass jar over it and sealed the lid quickly.

“Twitermites.” Shadow spoke with ease “Small bugs that can generate a lot of electricity. A pain in the butt to get, but the Lunar Republic pays a good amount for them.”

Topaz simply shook his head “Better to deal with Crystals and Gems.” He rubbed the gems in his pockets “Easier to deal with and they don’t bite back.”

Shadow chuckled out loud “And if everypony thought that way than half of us would be born with pickaxes for cuite marks. I also doubt your race would be too thrilled about that happening either.”

Topaz grumbled “Grabbing bugs for machines. It’s just as crazy as Rock Farms.”

Topaz looked at me apparently waiting for my opinion on the subject. I just shrugged and gave him my best “How should I know?” look. He smirked at that for a quick moment before the cart stopped.

Shadow Tail went back inside the cart and rummaged around… a lot of stuff that shouldn’t possibly fit back there… and pulled out what looked like a vacuum cleaner? He pulled out two more and tossed them at us. Topaz sniffed it once and looked at it in disgust. I waited to see if he was kidding.

I could practically see Shadow rolling his eyes underneath that mask as he said “We are here for finish a favor so we might as well get paid for it. Bits don’t work to well in the Lunar Republic Topaz and Swift!” I snapped to attention “This will give you some practice that won’t put us at risk.”

Topaz grumbled as he strapped the device on. Shadow moved over and watched me. I slipped it on only for it to slide around on my back. His wings moved above me holding it in place while I pulled on the straps making it tight. Apparently this thing was going to be my training wheels for learning how to use guns. How hard could sucking up a bunch of little bugs be?

Lightening exploded in the background as the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up! A small swarm was buzzing around as another bolt smashed through the ground. Why couldn’t things ever be easy?

Shadow flew out of the cart and activated his device. The bugs were quickly sucked into the machine leaving a clear sky and a bunch of glowing nightlights in a glass jar.

Shadow smiled at me “See it’s easy.”

I face hoofed. Shadow Tail… Swift Lotus has a very different definition of easy.

******

The forest started to liven up as we saw the reason for the skeleton trees. The Twittermites would either swarm to the trees with leaves and starting stripping them bare or accidently fry a couple of them with lightning bolts. They were strangely fascinating in the fact that one bug wasn’t a problem or a bunch if they were shoved into a jar. Yet get enough out in the open they create a “lightening cloud” and then lightning starts flying about.

Properly easier gathering them for electricity than clouds… which makes me wonder why the nation with pegasi and unicorns collected them instead of the Frost Kingdom who can’t control the clouds… unless they were here to steal them.

I shook my head trying to get the thought out of my head. Maybe they were being contracted or the cold interfered with the bugs or something. I shouldn’t be thinking they were here to steal them or something… I ducked to the side as a lightning bolt nearly struck me. More focus on the killer bugs now and focus on the random questions later!

Topaz jumped to the side as a bolt nearly stuck him as he shouted “This is your plan? Wonder around while crazy bugs try to zap us?”

Shadow laughed “Of course not. The Lunar Republic needs them so they will go to areas swarming with them. We are just grabbing an extra paycheck along the way!”

I kind of agreed with Topaz at this point as I struggled to change my new glowing jar with an empty one. My tail was singed. My mane was standing up on end and my eyes were kept scanning the sky for any stray lightning bolts about to hit me.

Dear Celestia I really wish I was a pegasi right now! They would properly have a better shot at surviving lightning bolts than me right now!

The clouds stormed above us as it started to rain. The Twittermites slowed down as more flew under the trees instead of above us leaving a massive swarm hovering above our heads. I strapped on the new jar and starting it up again sucking up the glowing swarm above me.

That’s when I saw the mass in the sky as if Celestia heard my prayers and decided to lend a helping hoof. A dozen of winged pegasi and griffons swooped down from the sky with similar devices on their back as they flew over the swarm sucking it up. The Twittermites started to scatter only for walls of light to surround the forest trapping them. I could see the unicorns hiding in the woods as they kept the swarm contained.

Two large mechanical golems stepped out with machines similar to our own except much bigger stepped into the clearing and turned them in. The Twittermites tried to fly away only for them all to be captured in a matter of seconds.

One Griffin landed on the ground shouting “That was a big swarm!” He laughed out loud as he grinned at us.

Shadow Tail twitched as he took a couple of steps back. Topaz stepped back to the cart standing guard over the Twitermites we had captured. I stared at the unusual griffin and saw a cutie mark on his side… The griffin had a pony back instead of a lion back. What is this creature?

Shadow Tail muttered “It’s a freaking Silver.”

The Griffin laughed out loud “My employers call me Silver. My foes call me Axe while my friends call me Thirsty! Nice to meet ya!”

I stared at his cutie mark. It was a silver great axe and a large wooden mug full of foam. He snapped the hose of his bug vacuum right onto his back as the other griffins and pegasi landed in front of us.  All of the pegasi wore blue armor while the griffins wore a brown leather uniform similar to Shadow Tail.

One of the unicorns stepped out wearing a blue uniform and shouted “By order of the Lunar Republic I must tell you to give us all the Twitermites you have collected.”

Topaz nodded “Just as soon you pay for them.”

The unicorn glared at Topaz “A diamond dog that can speak normally. One of the Twitermites must have finally made your brain start working.”

Topaz pulled out his sword as the two metal golem moved to protect the loud mouth unicorn. Shadow flew back to the cart as he placed his Twitermite jar along with the others never taking his eyes off them.

The griffin with the cutie mark groaned “Come on already. Just offer them a contract and they’ll be out of your hair Sour Cream.”

The Unicorn shouted “It’s Cream Crop as in the cream of the crop!”

I looked at him. He had blue fur and a weird green mane. If anything Sour Cream seemed to fit him better than his actual name.

The griffin turned to face me “Yes I’m a Hippogriff and a Silver to boot! Jealous?”

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

The hippogriff laughed out loud “You really don’t know? Perfect! I can finally tell someone about my extraordinary linage!”

“Don’t!” shouted a voice from above.

I looked up to see a pegasi tackle the hippogriff. She had a light blue coat and a silver mane. She was dressed more like the griffins as her cutie mark was of two silver wings. She quickly blushed as she shoved the Twittermite sucking device over her cutie mark as she tried to keep the hippogriff from talking.

The pegasi spoke in embarrassment “My name is Bright Wing.”

“Silver Wing!” the hippogriff managed to shout out with a hoof in his mouth.

The pegasi punched him as she turned to face us “We already took the job to clear this site of Twittermite infestation. Trying to keep them will only be counted as theft.”

You could tell Shadow was rolling his eyes as he replied “And we aren’t going to give them up for free. Besides we need some “proper” money for the border.”

The pegasi smiled “I’ll let Crimson Mustang know so you two can work out a trade.”

Shadow face hoofed himself as he muttered out loud “Silvers and Mustangs in the Frost Kingdom? This is going to end well.”

******

I waited by the cart as Shadow headed over to one of the larger camp sites. The soldiers had escorted us to their camp as most of them carried guns aimed at the cart in case we tried to head back. The crazy voice on the radio told us to come here and apparently the Lunar Republic didn’t take to kindly for us being here. The only question was what we were supposed to do here.

I stared at the hippogriff as he was already drinking from a mug similar to his cutie mark as a beard of foam rested around his beak. He waved at me with a big grin as I walked over to him. The mug reeked of hops as the drink itself smelled stronger than anything back in Ponyville.

The Hippogriff grinned as he replied “Never seen Storm Wind Ale before?” He shoved a mug in front of me “Have a taste!”

The pegasi… Bright Wing or was it Silver Wing? Well she landed in between us shoving the mug away shouting “Don’t you dare screw this up for us!”

The Hippogriff rolled his eyes “We were going to have a drink Sis. Besides you should be proud being a Silver.”

“My name is Bright Wing!” She shouted as she tried to move the bags on her side over her cutie mark “And it’s not something you want to flaunt about to potential customers.”

“Um… excuse me.” I couldn’t help but butt in “But how exactly are you two related?”

The pegasi frowned as the Hippogriff smiled as he said “Why by having the same mother of course! You should see my Sis the Griff and my Earth Pony Bro!”

I blinked as my mind tried to figure it all out. Somehow I couldn’t exactly figure out how they could be all related to each other… maybe they were adopted? Just to prove me wrong he shoved in front of me a picture. A black coat and silver mane unicorn with an eye patch with four fillies… no two fillies and two griffins… I mean griffin and a hippogriff. It made my brain hurt!

Bright Wing tried to shove her brother (By Celestia that sounds so strange!) away as I could see… some form of family resemblance from the pictures behind it showing older versions of them. Each of them had a hint of silver on them. The earth pony had a silver coat and a brown mane. The Griffon had a silver tuff on his tail and silver claws along with a painted on cutie mark of what was supposed to be a silver shield.

“Just how?” I started to stutter “How did she?”

Bright Wing kicked her brother back “How about something else? Like where are you from or why you are traveling without any barding?”

“Because some long time ago two Griffin kings were awesome!” the Hippogriff shouted trying to jump back to another topic.

I quickly turned my focus on him if only to avoid her focus on me. I didn’t have a story ready to explain why I didn’t know and I don’t think they would believe the truth. The Hippogriff laughed as he managed to pin his sister down to the ground. She struggled to break free as he put his full weight on her.

He cleared his voice and spoke in a dignified tone “Really, really, really back long ago” or tried to sound dignified at least. “There were two really great kings! One called Tender Winds and Another called… Silver… and no one really knew the last part because he really ticked off the Raven.”

He chuckled at that as his sister tried to hide her face “Tender Winds was a famous and powerful Griffin as he untied our people. He built fancy governments and made a kingdom of his own as every griffin was proud to serve under him.”

He tried to look serious as he told the next part “Then one day six ponies came along and demanded to speak to the king. Turns out the some idiot called An-Nar wanted him to step down. Naturally he told her to!”

“Language!” Bright Wing shouted “Civil tongue for civil story!”

It felt like I was missing something big here. Apparently this Griffin King was doing a good job and his subjects liked him. If both sides were at peace then that would have been a stupid move. If they were at war… that would be a really stupid move.

The hippogriff sighed “Then the next day An-Nar’s troops come in and used some fancy magic to strip Tender Winds of his power. Turns out the beloved prince was a pony under the Raven’s magic.” Not good “Not just any pony but a weak and sickly earth pony. The court was outraged as most of them though that An-Nar’s soldiers cast some foul curse to their beloved king!”

I flinched upon hearing it. That really must have caused a lot of problems.. Bright Wings looked shocked at the Hippogriff looked as if he was just told his birthday came early that year.

“Right on!” He shouted in joy before trying to look serious again “Well turns out the An-Nar’s forces were right. The raven was using his magic for something. The griffins didn’t like it as the queen told them to… ahem… less than civil phrases before she kicked them out the door. The queen then tells the other griffins they should be proud like she was. That her husband managed to beat the Raven and he had proven to be a good king. Turns out she was right and they let him continue to rule… though relationships with the city of Unity was strained because of it as the Griffins held a grudge against An-Nar for turning their strong king into a weak pony.”

Bright Wing shook her head as she spoke “From then on their children were cursed… or blessed depending on the story. Now the royal linage could not only give birth to griffin, but a hippogriff or a pony could pop up even with two griffin parents. The pony children from the linage could also do the same this marking the Royal Griffin lineage and like many after the war were feared, cursed, and despised due to their linage being tainted by the Raven.”

The Hippogriff shouted “Only because they were jealous! Only group that managed to last the longest! As for the Silver part…”

Bright wings buried her face in the dirt and muttered “The crazy hippogriff king.”

resident hippogriff had a wide smile as he spoke “King Silver flew around in his mighty sky fortress. With the lost treasure of the Griffins in his claws he led his fellow brethren and did many awesome things! Then the Raven grew annoyed at his constant antics and tried to stop him only to be thwarted each time by his clever genius!”

Bright Wing muttered “Loading your own castle with explosive booby traps is stupid idea. Trying to enrage a dragon by stealing from his horde just to attention on purpose is even worse!”

“But it worked!” He said with glee “In the end no one can say how the majestic and handsome King Silver the First died, but the raven cursed his linage to all bear a mark of silver upon their lives! To just mark how annoying he was for all future generations!” He grinned as he pointed at his own cutie mark “So that means I have BOTH kings in mine! Perfect material to rebuild their empires and become a king of my own or may name isn’t! SILVER AXE!” thunder boomed in the distance “Or Thirsty to my friends.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. He was a strange Hippogriff, but he didn’t seem like a bad guy. Over the top, eccentric, and properly completely bonkers and yet sane in his own way. He would have fit great in ponyville alongside Pinky Pie… if the two of them meeting each other didn’t destroy half the town after the first thirty minutes.

Both of them looked at me in interest as I said “Sorry. You kind of reminded me of somepony I knew. You two would get along or end up covering half the place in assorted pastries.”

Bright Wing blinked as she hesitantly said “That’s it? No grand questions or… no questions about cursed and crazy linage or even the Raven part?”

I shook my head and replied “So? You don’t seem like bad pon.. I mean people. What else is there to question though I can’t help but wonder how your brother will become king.”

Silver Axe laughed out loud “Why by having lots of money of course! Then I’ll just be eccentric because nobody can call the rich crazy!” He pulled out a bag full of metal coins “As for the castle… Well if some zebra can make one with picking up stones off the road then I can do it too but much grander and fancier!”

It was official. He was a crazy pon… I mean Hippogriff. It’s going to be hard remembering to watch my language. Bright Wing seemed to have cheered up as she sat at the table with us as Silver Axe started ranting about the various ideas and festive holidays he would have as obviously no one would trust him to run his own government.

******

Shadow marched out of the central tent in annoyance as a set of guards escorted him. I left the Silver siblings and tried to figure out what was going on. Both guards dumped two bags of coins at the cart and levitated the captured Twitermites back with them.

Topaz picked up one of the coins and said “Gold and Caps. It doesn’t seem that bad of a trade considering what we were doing was illegal.”

“Actually they’re the ones here illegally.” Shadow muttered back “The Mustangs have a grudge with the Crystal Kingdom ever since they conquered their lands and the Frost Kingdom hates them right back.”

Topaz blinked “So Mustang was?”

Shadow nodded “Former royalty. The kind that the Frost Kingdom would pay handsomely for their capture. The guards aren’t here to ensure we haven’t kept any Twittermites. They’re here to ensure we don’t tell the Frost Kingdom about them.”

I stopped as I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Now I could understand the tension in the air. They weren’t supposed to be here and we just barged in on their operation. Topaz waved for me to come closer as Shadow put his hooves around us.

He whispered “So to make it clear to everyone. We have a group of Mustangs with a grudge against the residents of the land along with a Silver.”

“Two actually.” I couldn’t help but add.

Shadow Face hoofed “Two! Freaking great…” He noticed my displeasure “Sorry. It’s just their linage is known for being in, joining in, or creating crazy situations. Now for the final piece of news for this disaster.”

He flipped his radio on as Resity’s voice flared on “That’s right folks. Crystal lake has just been attacked. Survivors explained what happened spelling bad news for anybody in the area. Apparently a section of Raven Fall or “Nightland” to those unbelievers is moving about. It already stuck a nearby town and apparently this Wild Hunt doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon so if you in the area. Get ready to lock the doors or run away if you see a forest suddenly pop up near you folks! The Frost Kingdom as already sent the army out to help protect the surrounding areas in case it pops up again. Resisty signing out!”

Topaz didn’t look happy and I couldn’t blame him. We were literally sitting on a powdered keg situation. It wasn’t hard to see just how badly this could all turn out. I could just see the Frost Kingdom finding them and then immediately blaming them for some of the attacks in the surrounding areas even more considering the fact the last town was attacked by Protectorate… I’m going to have to find a new name for them just that describes my displeasure about them.

Alright maybe it might be a little bit harsh judging them since I only meet them once and the book’s author also has a grudge against them. Maybe if I’m lucky that batch of ponies were just crazed individuals who were sent out in the freezing cold to die so they would infect other ponies with their brand of insanity?

Shadow spoke in annoyance snapping me back to reality “Just to recap. A group run by Mustangs with Silvers in the middle of the woods while the Frost Kingdom is sending out soldiers to the surrounding areas which we are in and to top it all off a Wild Hunt is going on and we are already in a forest so we might not even notice if it pops up next to us with all the Twittermite damage to these woods. Something is going to happen here even if we aren’t here. The only question is what?”

Topaz picked up a handful of coins and said “The border is nearby and we got paid for it so why not go? I wouldn’t mind seeing one pony get into trouble.”

Shadow shook his head “Would love to but can’t unless you want another unexpected house call from that pest. He properly already made himself comfy getting ready to watch the mess unfold.”

“Then why doesn’t he do something about it?” I couldn’t help but ask.

Shadow groaned “That’s why he sent us here. Besides I’m not even sure if he’s close enough to help out, but he is close enough to keep pestering us if he wants to.”

Topaz grabbed both bags of money and replied “I’ll be in the cart until then. Just let me know who exactly your friend is so that I know to avoid him in the future.”

I spotted the small bag of seeds as I just remembered about needing soil and said “I’ll just check to see if there is any good soil around. I still have some seeds left… but not a lot of plants left.”

Shadow nodded as he replied “Just make sure you let the guards know first and don’t wonder too far from the camp!”

I nodded and started getting everything I would need for my little trip in the woods. Another reason to go was that they hadn’t set up any bathrooms and I might have had one too many drinks. I quickly dashed over to one of the guards and whispered as his face turned bright red before giving what I needed and pointed at a general direction in the woods. I needed to go and as long as I avoided the wet parts I should be good for soil.

******

I looked around trying to get a feel of the soil and feeling much better after my small trip in the woods. I’ll admit that I wasn’t much of an adventurer and it was embarrassing to explain why I needed to take a trip out into the woods or to try to find some place to stop to… well two males. So with my first task done I set upon my next task of finding some nice soil… that hadn’t been used by the camp.

The soil around me was… lumpy, but rich. It sounded strange, but it felt more like the Everfree forest soil than pony soil. Pony tended soil tended to be… richer? Softer? Certainly less gritty, but not so moist. Or at least I hoped I was far enough away for it to be regular dirt moist.

A voice chuckled behind me and said “Do you really think tilling about in the mud will help?”

I groaned “Go away mister voice. Just trying to find some dirt for some plants.”

I recognized the voice. It was the same voice that told us to come here. The same voice that lead us to the current powder keg of a situation. He was properly just waiting to watch the fireworks go off as he tried to get away from the explosion when it happened. His taunting certainly wasn’t making it any better.

“Dirt? What’s wrong with trying to find some good dirt.” The voice said with amusement “Sometimes the best dirt is the one you find on people or that lovely splash you make after a rainy day!”

I had no idea where the voice was coming from now. It just echoed around me from all sides. I didn’t know much about him be it didn’t’ sound threatening or dangerous… just mocking and playful though mostly mocking. If anything I was expecting water balloons flying out of the trees than arrows… or bullets.

I tried to ignore him “Since the Everfree forest isn’t here it’s going to make growing these plants more difficult… Unless you know where some good dirt is?”

The voice went silent for a moment as I could almost swear it was grinning when it finally replied “I do… but where the fun would that be? Wouldn’t it be better to find it yourself or to use a bit of your magic?”

Seriously this voice was annoying as I spoke in a frustrated tone “Do I look like I have a horn on my head?”

“Well somepony is in a foul mood.” The voice bitterly responded back to me “Who says you have to be a unicorn to use magic? Or do you think it’s common to be able to grab clouds?”

“Not a pegasi either!” I muttered back “I’m just an earth pony trying to get back home.”

The voice sighed as if he was disappointed in me “Very well. Let’s try a more… proactive approach?”

Pain shot through my eyes! Oh dear Celestia why did he do that! My vision was blurry as it felt as if someone just fired off a set of fireworks right in front of me. I rubbed my eyes trying to regain my sight as I looked at the ground… was it always that green?

The flashes of light continued to flicker in my sight “What did you?”

“What did I do?” He asked innocently “Why all I did was let you open your eyes. Really? Might as well ask how are you walking or why the sky is blue.”

“And the glow?” I couldn’t help but ask as I saw the various lights in the objects around me. “What’s with all the?”

“Magic?” He quickly answered back “Why it’s magic of course silly pony. Did you really think magic was all flashy lights and fancy tricks for everyone to see? Sometimes it’s a bit more… subtle, but of course subtle magic tends to be an earth pony’s specialty. Did you really not find it odd just how easy it is for an earth pony to grow crops or get sudden bursts of strength or Celestia forbid the random acts Pinky Pie is capable of?”

“I can see magic?” I repeated dumbfounded. “Isn’t that a unicorn specialty or something? Also how do you know Pinky Pie?”

“You talk in your sleep.” The voice replied making me shiver “And you have some quite lovely dreams I might add. Well lovely when your not looking into the past.”

“Stay out of my head.” I muttered trying to get used to my new sight. “And my dreams.”

“But to answer you first question about ‘seeing magic’ and stuff. If you want the bland answer yes… but in truth anyone can or anypony in your case. It’s just a matter of getting a grasp of it.” He stated as if we were talking about something that was common sense “And your little blue flowers tend to grow better in soil with lots of magic. Surely you can find some now?”

Argent, condescending, and a great big pain in my butt… though he did help. Good thing the smug jerk is hiding or I would have felt a little guilty bucking him in the face. In fact I would still buck him in the face right now just in general principle.

I took a deep breath trying to calm down “How do you know Shadow Tail and how in Celestia’s name did you make me see magic?”

The voice snickered “If you’re talking about feather head… We had a difference of opinions … and then rest is history.” He didn’t answer my question “As for seeing? Where would be the fun in explaining it?”

His voice echoed around me as he laughed at me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as suddenly my eye sight returned to normal.

“Well it’s already gone.” I muttered in disappointment “Shortest trick in my.”

Something hit my face as I recoiled from the impact. It felt like somepony hit me with a wooden bat covered in frosting somehow. When I opened my eyes again everything was still normal, but more importantly I really wanted to buck that prankster in the jaw right now.

“Why simply take a deep breath and look around silly pony.” The voice mocked me “It’s really quite that simple just looking around you.”

I groaned as I took a deep breath and opened my eyes again. This time I felt something across my body… no something flowing through my body and resting in my eyes. The lights returned as the forest shinned in an array of magic again. Did this mean I needed to be smacked in the face by this prankster anytime I wanted to use this ability? Better yet should I even?

I pulled out my small potting shovel and moved to the brightest patch of dirt. The soil felt much… more like the Everfree forest. Don’t ask me how I know it. There are a couple of plants that are useful in the forest… well near the away from the areas where the giant pony eating monsters don’t roam about.

Once I finished putting away the last bag of dirt I looked around the forest “Do I owe you anything?”

The voice chuckled “Not this time. Just think of it as a gift… I’ll have enough fun just watching the chaos unfold."

And with that I knew the voice had left… in both a satisfying and slightly terrifying kind of way. My vision currently remained magical as I part of me was curious how everyone else would look in this magical sight as I went back to camp.

******

I’ll just say this… Magic sight is amazing. The hues… the colors. Describing the full sensation… I guess it would be like a unicorn trying to describe how they use magic or a pegasi describing flying. The camp had the brightest colors of them all and that’s when I noticed the other ponies.

Each one had their own magical glow and more importantly it was focused in certain areas. The unicorns had the brightest glow near their heads while the Pegasi had it in their wings, but when they were about to move a cloud some of it would shift to their hooves. Was that how they manipulated clouds? Just shift the magic to one’s feet.

I rubbed my head trying to stop the oncoming headache. No wonder certain unicorns spent so much time looking in books and asking questions. It looked so simple… yet complicated. Kind of like breathing. Easy to do and a lot more complex when you see just how it’s done after a biology class. I fought my hardest not to look at my own two hooves. Last thing I need is for them to think I ate a funny looking mushroom out in the middle of the woods.

I went back to the cart and saw Brigs… and he was a sight to see. Magic coursed through his body more like blood veins or something as they slowly gathered in spots. At the center at it all was a purple flame that burned where his heart would be. The other machines had magic… but it stood still… motionless like the rock or if it was painted on them. Brig’s own magical energy pulsed like a heartbeat.

I took a deep breath as my vision returned to normal as I felt slightly disappointed. The world didn’t look… vibrant anymore. It was weird, but it almost felt like I had cut off one of my own five senses. Still I couldn’t help but smile. Finally something good happened.

A shadow appeared behind me as Brigs changed to a combat stance. Swift Lotus? How many times in this crazy world do I have to say it? Keep your big mouth shut!