The Incantation

"You imbecile!" Dark Storm raged at Steelwing when he'd informed him that Orion was left to get the girl.

This was at the rundown motel room Storm had rented in Appleloosa, the small southwestern town that marked the beginning of his search. It was bleak, dimly lit, and dusty, as if it hadn't been used in years. The bed was comfortable, at least.

Steel stood near the door, watching Storm throw a fit in front of the window overlooking the center of town. "I had no choice. The girl was a method of retrieving Emerald. I figured it would be too late to get her once I arrived her to tell you of the updates. Orion can handle himself, too. He's not a child."

"I do not care what you figured," Storm fumed. "You figured wrong. Orion is arrogant, as are you. But Orion is foolishly arrogant, tending to jump ahead of himself. Him attacking the girl will only arouse the interest of both her friends and Emerald." He turned around, glowering. "This is the very reason I specifically commanded you to come to ME!"

Steel lowered his eyes. "My apologies."

"Damn your apologies! You have nearly incapacitated my plans with your dim-witted 'figuring'! Now I must go deeper into the shadows to maintain secrecy and close in on my target!" he yelled in frustration, causing Steel to flinch. Storm was dangerous when mad. "This is why I so choose to work alone. In case fools like you counteract my own plans."

Steel cleared his throat. "All is not lost. And I can assure you there will be no more mistakes."

"You're right," Storm said, sounding oddly benign. "No more mistakes. If there are, consider yourself my number one target."

"Fair."

Storm to look out the window again, acting a little more composed. "Now - what exactly did you say Emerald was doing when you saw him and the mare?"

Steel dwelt on it for a moment. "He was walking about Ponyville, flirting with her."

"What were they talking about?"

"I do not know," Steel admitted. "I believe it was simple flirting, no more, no less."

"You heard nothing specific?"

"I believe I do remember their destination, however," Steel offered.

Storm turned. "Well? Speak up!"

Steel continued, noting Storm's impatience. "The Carousel Boutique."

Storm's eyes flashed. "The Carousel Boutique? The place where one of Equestria's best fashion designers resides and conducts her business?"

Steel shrugged. "Well...I suppose that's the one, yes."

Storm regarded him with a cold stare for a moment before once again turning to look out the window. "At this point, for your insolence, I should kill you. But, as gracious as I am, I'm willing to offer you a chance to prove yourself useful."

Steel was quiet for a moment. "Yes?"

Without facing him, Storm replied, "I need you to go to the Carousel Boutique. Talk to Rarity. Ask her if she's helped a male pegasus change his appearance drastically in the past few days. Then come back to me and report her response. Simple, easy, fun. No room for error. Understand?"

The order made sense to Steel as he understood what Storm was getting at. "It sounds easy enough, since she doesn't know me."

"And nopony shall ever," Storm warned him in an icy stare that cut like a knife. "There must be nopony that learns of you or our current mission. It would mean your life if information on all our plans somehow found it's way into somepony else's hooves."

"That is fair, boss," Steel agreed calmly.

Storm finally left the window, going to the dresser near his bed. "Order effective immediately," he grumbled.

Steel wasted no time getting out of there, and on the next train to Ponyville.

The train ride home was uneventful. Me and Fluttershy were safe, as far as we could tell. For most of the ride home, though, I was quiet, deep in thought.

Murder? When did I commit murder? I felt sick to my stomach as the princess's words came back to haunt me.

"We're still looking for a criminal who is guilty of far worse than attempted assassination..."

Why would anypony ever accuse me of such blatant nonsense? I would never harm a soul! Somehow, somewhere, lies have been spread. But how could anypony even lie about a murder? There'd have to be a body. Was there? Part of me didn't want to find out.

I suddenly became aware of Fluttershy's hoof on my arm. I looked over at her and seen concern blossoming in her eyes.

"What's wrong, Emerald?" she asked in her normally soft, sweet voice.

I sighed heavily. "Nothing...just...worried."

"About what, if I may ask?"

I looked out the window. If only I could actually tell you. "Just...about us. That attack was uncalled for and left me with a lot of questions."

"Me too," she agreed, following my gaze out the window at the land rushing by. She was silent for a few moments before she started talking again. "Are you worried it'll happen again?"

I looked back at her. She was the reason I was worried. I just didn't want to lose her or my new friends. But with each passing day, things grew increasingly difficult, the lies more elaborate, and the danger ever higher. I wondered if I should just tell her everything. Maybe she'd understand. Maybe she'd help me out of this nightmare that for some reason felt like it was just getting started. "There's no telling. I still don't know why they even attacked in the first place. And you, of all ponies. You didn't make anypony mad recently, did you?"

She shook her head. "No, not that I know of. Princess Celestia told us she was working on finding all that stuff out for us. She said she would send a letter to Twilight if she found anything out."

Of course. Princess-to-princess. "Did she? That's good." I glanced around the train car and back at her. I lowered my voice to just above a whisper. "In the meantime, you and I need to keep an eye out for trouble. Anypony could be the enemy."

She nodded without saying a word.

"What else did Celestia say to Twilight?"

"I'm not sure. Nothing about us, I don't think," she replied. "Twilight just told the doctor before she left what the Princess Celestia said to her."

The train rocked a little. "Well, as long as somepony's trying to get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, I'm half-tempted to go find out myself."

"Please don't," Fluttershy pleaded, wrapping one hoof around my upper forearm and placing her other hoof in mine. "What if you get attacked when nopony's around to see? What if they attack me while you're gone?" She shivered visibly.

I pulled my arm out of her grasp and instead wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her close to me. "I won't let anypony hurt you, okay?" I said. "I promise."

She smiled up at me. "Okay."

"Now - how much longer will this train ride be? I'm starving."

She laughed. "Not much longer, I think we'll be home soon and I'll make you some stew."

"Make some for us," I corrected her, grinning. "I'm not the only living in your cottage, my lady."

"My lady?" she repeated quizzically. "That's the first time anypony has given me that title."

"Well - you're getting that title from me...my lady."

She tensed up. "It doesn't sound right hearing you call me that."

"What's the matter," I asked, "nopony ever played role-play games with you?"

She shifted so she could look up at me better. "Well - yes. But I thought you were actually calling me your lady."

I chuckled. "Okay, obviously you didn't get it." I reclined back, pulling Fluttershy with me. "So instead, let's just role-play later."

I totally meant that in a non-sexual way.

"I guess..."

"And enjoy the refreshing cacophony of noises from this gentle train."

She gave a little laugh. "It's not that bad."

As if to contradict her, the train rocked and groaned.

"Not that bad, huh?" I asked humorously.

"Okay - maybe it's a little bit noisy sometimes," she admitted, her voice lowered. It sounded like she was getting sleepy.

"Oh, no you don't," I squirmed a little, trying to get her head off my chest. "You are not getting tired again. We need to stay awake."

She tried to snuggle back up to me, but I started tickling her.

She gasped and tried hard not to laugh as she attempted to get away from me, but it was too much. She eventually broke into laughter, loud enough to startle some nearby passengers, who gave me wary looks before returning their attention elsewhere.

"Stop it, Emerald!" Fluttershy said breathlessly, rolling on her back and pushing my hooves away. "That's embarrassing me."

I stopped tickling her and leaned over her, my face right above hers and only a few inches away. She looked back up at me with bright eyes and a tired smile. "Alright, I'll stop - for one teensy price."

"Okay...what?"

I leaned down and kissed her gently. She blushed back up at me. "That," I said in a whisper.

"I...um, it'll be a while before I get used to those..." she said before snuggling back up to me, and this time I let her lay her head back on my chest.

I kissed her on the forehead and said quietly, "Now you can go to sleep."

"I'm not tired anymore."

I grinned. "It had nothing to do with me - did it?"

"A little, yes."

"No way," I said dismissively. "I'm innocent."

"I don't think so, mister," she said in a motherly fashion. A few seconds later, she asked, "How did you end up homeless in Canterlot? Or without a job?"

Why is everypony so curious? "I was kinda depressed after my parents passed. I was calling in and not showing up too often. Eventually I got fired." I told her another lie. I was not calling in, I was purposely stealing from my boss, who never knew that for sure, but had enough evidence to just get rid of me.

"So, how did you survive without a job for so long?" she probed.

So damn inquisitive. "Well, my savings were pretty hefty, plus I sold some of my stuff." I closed my eyes, wishing this conversation would end.

But she went on. "You sold your stuff?"

I sighed. "Yes, my stuff. Stuff I can never get back."

She began running her hoof delicately across my chest. It felt so good I shivered. "I'm sorry you had to do all that."

Her apology only made me feel worse. "It's okay - I'm over it. Besides, I found something - or should I say, somepony - way better." I gave her a quick squeeze.

"Awww...thanks." She sounded even more tired. "I'm happy you aren't sad anymore."

I started stroking her mane as lightly as she'd done my chest. "So am I."

She fell silent, and was soon asleep.

I couldn't sleep, however. Not with what was on my mind now.

An assassin is out there, and I have no idea where, I told myself bitterly. I dragged Fluttershy into a mess she wasn't supposed to be a part of.

I glanced down, watching her sleep peacefully.

I'm sorry, sweetheart. As long as I'm alive, I'll do anything and everything to protect you.

I looked back out the window, seeing my reflection in the glass.

Anything.