The Incantation

“Open up, Emerald Rain! You’re under arrest for robbery!”

The deep authoritive voice rattled me out of a peaceful slumber. I bolted upright, my heart pounding. Oh, Celestia, they found me, they know…

Another heavy knock at my front door. “Come out quietly and you will not be harmed! This is the Royal Guard, and you have been identified as the suspect in a crime! Surrender!”

I leapt out of bed and silently began gathering what I could: the crown, hygienics, some food, and a few other things of importance. Still groggy from sleep, I stuffed them all in my saddlebag along with the only bits I had – enough to survive a week or two off of. I threw the saddlebag on and began looking for a way of escape.

“Open the door immediately, or we will have no choice but to use force!” the voice demanded, sounding impatient. How did he even know I was home?

After a few minutes of panicked searching, I determined the living room window was my best chance for escape. I frantically pushed it open. The front door was now being attacked. They were attempting to break it down now.

I took one last glance at the apartment I called home, sighed, and flew out the window, staying low. Flying was the only method for escape, as it was late afternoon, and the streets were much too crowded to be on hoof.

The destination on my mind, my only option – the train station. Staying in Canterlot was now too risky. With the Royal Guard on my case, I could never show my face here again. There would likely be a bounty on me soon. Princess Celestia didn’t play games when it came to crime. Fleeing arrest made me a more important target. It was important that I immediately distance myself as far as possible from Canterlot, although that wouldn't solidify my safety.

A few minutes later, I arrived at the train station and went to the booth.

The ticket master greeted me warmly. “Hello, good sir! What is your – “

“One ticket for the next train,” I said hastily, interrupting him. Time was of the essence.

I received a strange look, then he simply nodded. “One ticket for Baltimare.” After I handed him the appropriate amount of bits, he gave me my ticket, which I hurriedly grabbed and ran off for the train, which was thankfully just arriving to the station.

Cutting several ponies off, who protested, I threw my ticket at the conductor just as he opened the door and pushed my way past him onto the train. I immediately went to the caboose.

It wasn’t long before the other passengers were on board, and the train lurched forward.

I found a seat and utilized it. Wherever Baltimare was, I hoped it was safe, and the cityfolk had no knowledge of me or my wrongdoings. It wasn’t long before I grew restless and hungry, and so headed into the next train up in hopes of finding something to snack on. Usually they train had a large amount of small packages of peanuts, but since I was in the back, I wouldn’t be getting any unless I went up with the other passengers.

I opened the door to the next car and stepped inside. It was moderately filled. Benches were lined up along the sides of the car, and every one of them had three of four seats taken. Nopony seemed to notice me when I walked past them to a nearby table loaded with the packaged peanuts, as many were trying to rest or reading. It must be a long ride, I thought. I also found some water and hurriedly snatched up what I could. As I turned to make way back to the last car, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

A pony on the bench to my left was reading a paper from Canterlot – and the main headline was a picture of me with the title, “Thief in Canterlot Steals Artifact”.

How did they get my picture?!

The pony dropped the paper when he noticed me staring. “Can I help you?” he asked.

I snapped out of my reverie. “Oh, sorry.” I quickly made my way toward the door for the caboose.

“Hey, wait just a minute!” the earth pony with the paper called out to me.

I stopped dead in my tracks, but didn’t turn to face him. “...Yes?”

I heard the paper shuffle. “You know – you look just like the pony on the front of this paper," he said. Even though I wasn’t looking, I knew what he was talking about.

I swallowed hard and responded, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Now, I really must be on my way. Good day sir.” I opened the door.

“Wait – stop! You’re the pony on this paper! You’re the thief! Somepony, stop him! Don’t let him get away!”

At that, I bolted into the caboose and slammed the door behind me. I saw that it had a lock, which I decided to use. Once again, for the second time this morning, I’d found myself searching for an escape route. And there was only one way, unfortunately.

The ponies began pounding on the door, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. “Open up in there!” they yelled.

Fat chance, I thought. I went to the window, seeing the forest far below, at the foot of the mountain we were on. That was the Everfree Forest. Not a safe place for a fugitive, but better than a dungeon, in my opinion.

The windows were all open, and so I climbed up, putting my torso out the window. I seen that we were about to go through a tunnel. I had to act fast.

The pounding on the caboose door grew increasingly louder. They would be getting in soon. Giving the forest below one last glance, I hopped out and opened my wings, catching wind. I watched the train speed away, disappearing into the tunnel.

Looking down, I realized what I’d just gotten myself into. “Here we go…”

I would have flown, but my saddlebag was heavy, and I would’ve soon gotten tired. Plus, I had no idea how far away Baltimare was, so I might as well walk to whatever town was nearest. I decided to trace the mountain, following the train tracks. Surely they would lead to some kind of establishment.

When I lowered myself into the depths of the forest at the foot of the mountains, I immediately grew nervous. The Everfree was a vast, unexplored maze of trees, shrubs, and vines, not to mention creatures of untold horror. I already felt like I was being watched. The hot sticky summer air did nothing to help, either. And the noises sent chills up my spine.

I started in the direction the train was headed, always aware of my surroundings. I did not want to come across anything. Timber wolves were one of my main concerns, but there was clearly much more inhabiting the dark parts of the woods.

I kept my eye on the tracks above as well. They were my guide. If I were to lose sight of them and get lost…

I shook my head to get rid of that thought. I had to be hopeful. Maybe I could start a new life in this new town. I certainly couldn’t go back to Canterlot. The only way that would happen is if I were in chains – or a casket.

I pushed my way through vines that looked like little snakes. Through bushes that looked to conceal something dangerous. I kept expecting something to hop out at me, but it never happened, though it didn’t take away my concern that it eventually would.

Hour after hour passed, and soon the sun sank below the tree line. Not long after, it was night.

And I was scared.

The ambience had abruptly changed. There were sounds that frightened me, had me constantly looking over my shoulder. It was so dark, I couldn’t see my own hooves. I had to practically walk up against the mountainside just to ensure its presence remained. After a while, I determined that it was unsafe to continue in the dark, and found a small cave to spend the night in. First I had to run for my life when I was confronted by a swarm of bats upon entering the cave.

It was dark, moist, and smelled mildewy, but tonight it was home.

I took off my saddlebag and got out some crackers to snack on. When I finished, I pulled up my saddlebag as a pillow and laid my head down for sleep.

It didn’t take long.

Early the following morning, I set out. I was surprisingly well rested. The cave seemed to have provided supple protection from the unknown entities of the night.

A quick snack of cucumber slices and crackers gave me strength to power through the dense forest. I covered much more ground by dusk, it seemed. But by that time, I’d lost sight of the train tracks, and soon after, the mountains as well.

I was essentially blind.

However, the scent of food cooking – apples, to be precise – captured my attention and aroused hope. Civilization was most certainly nearby.

The dark curtain called night had fallen, and once again I was plunged into darkness. The sounds of the unknown picked up where they’d left off the night before, and I was again pitifully afraid.

But I kept pace.

If I wanted to make it to what I assumed was a nearby town, I couldn’t stop now. Not after all I’ve been through. I was too close.

Another strong scent filled my nostrils. Food again, but this time I couldn’t place the smell. Another fruit, most likely.

The forest began thinning. My heart pounded as I came across the edge of the forest moments later – and come across a tree-cottage at the edge of a stream. The lights were on.

“Finally,” I whispered, relieved.

I could not believe I’d just scaled part of the Everfree Forest and came out alive and in one piece. In all the years I’d been alive – all 21 of them – I’d never seen or heard of anypony making the journey and succeeding. It was the last time you’d ever hear from them or see them. But somehow I’d been lucky. I felt like a conqueror. Adventure was in my blood, after all. All of my family adored it. But as was plainly obvious, they’d always ended up dead.

Everypony but me.

Now I was in what I hoped was the outskirts of wherever, and maybe a place to stay.

The cottage before me was decorated with way too many birdhouses – an animal nut, I’m assuming. It also appeared to be two stories, and now, only the bottom seemed active.

Not far from the cottage was a fenced-in chicken coop.

Bingo.

It wasn’t very big, but it would suffice for one night. I’d slept in worse.

I made my way over to it, flapping up over the fence. I had to be super quiet as to not wake the chickens – which would surely wake the owner. I don’t know who lives here,  but I didn’t want to ruin my first night in my new life.

I reached the coop and stuck my head in.

It was definitely small. Barely enough cottage in time to see the upstairs bedroom light go out, and the downstairs out as well.

Good.

I slowly and silently crept inside the coop. When I got in, one of the chickens stirred, prompting me to freeze. It was just moving in its sleep.

I carefully laid down my saddlebag and extracted the rest of my cucumber slices from earlier that morning, but left out the crackers. They were too noisy. After that, I pulled out a lightly worn map to see where I was. None-other-than Ponyville, the town I'd heard so little and so much at the same time about.

After munching on that quick meal, I went down on my saddlebag and was soon fast asleep.