Author's Note

"Everything's going to be alright, because the things we fear the most have already happened to us! The only thing that we have to fear now is fear itself!"

-Savannah

Quelling the Fear

Hours of walking down the path surrounded by greenery left the party exhausted. With home far behind them and no civilization in sight, they were forced to make camp for the evening. After Brandon cooked some of the food his sister had packed, they settled in. Maria and Emily lied together against a tree. Maria removed her coat and placed it over them for warmth. Brandon took the first shift as a lookout, his axe at the ready.

"We'll switch out in a little while."

"That's fine. Be careful. They're everywhere."

"Night."

"Night, bro."

The already dim world grew darker behind their eyelids. All they could hope for was to see another day...

A cool breeze flew over Maria's skin. Opening the blue eyes hidden behind her hair, she noticed the air was considerably warmer than before. Examining the environment, she realized they weren't in the city outskirts anymore.

"Wake up, kiddo. Something's going on."

"FREEZE!"

Three armored equines appeared before Maria. There were no other people around.

"You can talk?"

"And it appears you understand."

"I'm assuming you're law enforcement, right?"

"That is correct."

"I'll cooperate. Just let me wake up my friend first."

"Very well, but no tricks. Understood?"

"Yeah."

Maria nudged Emily again. The young girl spoke in a groggy tone.

"What's going on...?"

"We need to follow these guys."

"Horses...?"

"More or less."

"I'm tired..."

"We'll be able to rest more soon. Just stick it out a little longer."

The residents of the passing town gawked at the pair in a mix of awe and confusion. Eventually, the guards led Maria and Emily to a set of railroad tracks.

"The train will be here shortly."

"Where are you taking us," Maria asked.

"To the highest authority in the land, Princess Celestia."

"At least that'll cut out the middle man."

"You seem awfully calm."

"Nothing can surprise me anymore."

"..."

"Hello. I assume our soldiers have told you about us?"

"Us?"

"My younger sister is attending to her duties as of now. I will conduct this interrogation myself."

"Ask away."

"Please state your name and age for the record."

"Maria Drake, twenty years old."

"And you?"

"Emily Joseph, ten years old."

"By now, you must know why you are being questioned. What species are you?"

"Human," Maria answered.

"You wouldn't happen to be from a planet called Earth, would you?"

"Yes. You're aware of it?"

"We've sent field agents on reconnaissance missions there."

"If they're over there right now, they're in trouble."

"Please explain."

"A bunch of whackjobs in clown costumes went on a killing spree less than 48 hours ago. We're a group of survivors, but right now, my brother is missing."

"Who is your brother?"

"Brandon Drake, twenty-three years old."

"May I ask how you and Emily fell in together?"

"I met her and her family using a personalized messenger computer program in 1996. Her parents were eaten by feral animals the next year. My brother and I retrieved her from the hospital after she confronted them."

"Does that explain the weapons we found in your possession?"

"Yes. They are explicitly for training and self-defense purposes."

"Did you intend to harm any of my subjects?"

"No. I was barely aware we weren't on Earth at the time of our apprehension."

"Do you know how you got here?"

"All we remember is closing our eyes and ending up in this place."

"Equestria."

"Right."

"I'm a believer that actions speak louder than words. We will undo your restraints, but I must warn you, any attempt at aggression will result in extreme resistance."

Though the princess couldn't see it, Maria gave her an emotional gaze.

"It's okay. We mean you no harm."

The assurance in Maria's tone softened Celestia's doubts. Celestia motioned for the guards to remove the pair's binds.

"Thanks."

"Both of you seem extremely sturdy for such young people."

"I've been training for four years. Emily's been training for three."

"What about your brother, Brandon?"

"On and off. He's done enough to keep himself in shape."

"What's your relationship with him?"

"He took care of me when I had nowhere else to turn. How could I be ungrateful for that?"

"I see..."

"You alright?"

"Yes. Forgive me. I apologize for the inconvenience. Years of unrecognized threats have left us on edge."

"It's cool. I'd be jumpy too."

"We will instruct the guard to search for your missing brother. Please, make yourselves at home. I will show you to the guest quarters tonight."

"You sure it's no trouble?"

"None at all..."