The Stable

There is the sound of hooves, trotting in through the door; are these the hooves of a Pony, or the hooves of a Zebra? I do not , and I can not take the chance.

Something is holding me back, and I am hiding; remaining in the shadow, for but one more and final minute.

“Hiya, my dear Zoo Mare; worry not, for this is your opening!” the voice exclaims.

“Is that you, pink Ministry mare?” I inquire.

Maybe I should have held my tongue, but the voice had expertly summoned me, speaking like my mother.

“Ministry of Morale, or the MoM; sounding almost like mum, for mother!” I ponder.

“Oh, but for the trickery of that one pink maremare!” I continue

“The ministry mare is with you, through me!” a voice explains.

“Of course, at least; this certainly is no voice, of the malicious Zebra! I can recognize a Pony by the hairs of her tail!” I realize.

“I was told, to find you; to seek you out, and to ask you to follow me!” the mare now points out.

“You were told, by whom? To take me where, exactly?” I promptly inquire; still with apprehension and concern, to my voice.

“Excuse me, I forgot to present myself; I am Starlight Glimmer, the now former Overmare and founder of a stable!” she starts out, presenting herself.

“Pinkie Pie, the mare of the ministry of morale told me; after she predicted you would be here” she then responds.

“Pinkie Pie, the minister of morale? She told you, to find me here?” I respond.

“While she may be widely known, to care about her friends and every pony else; but as a mare of the Ministry, she still has the time to find me?” I then add, pondering.

“Apparently, she predicted that you would be here; indeed, and that you would need a safe place, away from the war!” Starlight responds.

“I have a stable, and it is far out on the fringe of everything! I founded a village there, for the obscurity and privacy the location stood to offer, I believe the offer still stands!” she points out.

“Very well, then; what are we waiting for, lead the way!” I respond.

Just as I follow her out of the building, I notice the charm in her necklace coming to life.

“Just one small detail!” she points out.

The flap on the saddle bag slips ope, a moment before a necklace just like hers floats out. The necklace slowly moves towards me, my neck. Slowly enough, for me to notice it is having my mark where the charm on her necklace would have been.

“She had a necklavce made for me?” I inquire.

“Yes, but of course! She obviously knew you were here, so she had the necklace made for you!” Starlight responds.

“I guess I should have been expecting this, if Pinkie Pie is truly behind this!” I realize, in stark shock.

I hasten my steps, following her out. Either she knows where she is going, or my life is already forfeit. No point in delaying it now.

“It is kind of odd, for her to rely on the magic of the necklaces charm; when she is a unicorn, with magic all of her own! Is her magic that weak, or is this all the work of the ministry mare behind this?” I ponder, as it is finally hitting home what I had just witnessed.

“The necklace is indeed looking just right around your neck!” I hear, the AI of Pinkie Pie states; with utter conviction.

“Thank you, Pinkie Pie!” I respond; “It is indeed!” I then add, as if I had been speaking to the Ministry mare herself.

“You are quite welcome, Miss Zoo!” she responds.

“Did I hear an amused giggle, to her voice?” I ponder.

“I heard that!” Pinkie exclaims.

“Had you been here, I should have been tickling you pink; but then I realize, you are already pink!” I mutter.

“I am right there, with you; even if you can’t see me, or touch me!” she points out.

“Had it brought you here; I could have agreed, to you riding me!” I point out; knowing full well, that would never happen.

“That would have been fun, brings back all the memories; of all the friends, and ponies I have been riding!” she points out; matter of fact, as if she had taken the offer seriously.

“Don’t tell me, you even took that seriously?” I inquire.

At first, I had thought, it is nothing more than a fancy necklace. The fact that it is sporting my mark, changed nothing. It is pretty, and nothing more.

“That necklace is so you, Zoo!” Pinkie chimes in.

“Thank you, Pinkie!” I respond, thinking little more of it.

“I asked Rarity, to help me with the design; ensuring the perfect fit and comfort; while still holding everything I wanted it to contain! I had to ask Twilight, about that part!” she then pointed out, matter of fact.

The matter of fact is scary and threatening, when it comes from Pinkie Pie. She is a master of threats, when she is in that mood. I just had never realized, just how effective she could be.

To make everything worse, the charm of my necklace is starting to glow. Just a faint glow and a weak hum. The pule is slow and steady, but it is reminding me of the ticking of a bomb; as if I had a collar bomb, around my neck.

I can’t take it of, but there is not even a point in trying with Pinkie Pie watching me.

I say nothing, trying my best to ignore it and pretend it is nothing.

“Zoo Maré, you’re safe with me; I would not bother gathering you, just to see you die now!” I hear Pinkie Pie pointing out, with utter finality to her voice.

“No?” I inquire.

“I have great plans for you, and you have a family to meet up with at the end of the road!” she merely points out.

“I had a family, a loving family; they all died, slain by the vile Zebras hooves!” I respond.

“I know, I saw it all; though I was not there, in person!” she points out, making a formal bow, marking the sadness behind the words.

“This rift, must be sealed; I just can’t tell her the future right now, she will simply have to wait and see it unfold!” Pinkie ponders.

“There simply is no end; to the enigma that is Pinkie Pie, the ministry mare of morale!” I ponder, as I continue to trot down the track with the united ghoul that is Starlight Glimmer.

I am forfeit, I could as well follow her on this insane ghost-chase? Maybe she did have something for me, at the end of the road? Something I could not see, or imagine at this point.

Then again, I have not gobbled down a tin of PTMs.