An Epic Adventure

"So where to next? Do you know where? Or are we just being random? Ooh! I love random!! What random spot should we go to next??"

I sighed, beginning to wonder if having Bluebell along had been such a good idea. Although, she had managed to keep Applejack and Rainbow Dash from tying me up and dragging me off as some strange being who was with the enemy. So there was that. And besides, her randomness was actually helpful in keeping me from stressing over this journey. Well, stressing as much, anyway.

"I suppose our next stop should be to find a place for supplies." I replied. "We're a little low. And we'll need more."

"I could supply us!" Bluebell bounced excitedly.

"Thanks, but we need more than just cupcakes and candy." I said, grinning. "No, we need some good food. But from a place that's out of the way, where we won't be as noticeable. Too bad a store can't just be randomly and unexplainably placed in the middle of these woods. That might help."

'Oh, you mean like the one you'll see right around the next tree?' Cap sounded highly amused and even a bit smug.

Before I could respond, Bluebell exclaimed, "Woohoo! Liz! A store!"

'Cap, what did you do??'

'Oh, I just uprooted a little store and then placed it where you could find it.'

The pony standing outside the little building looked dazed as we approached.

"What in Celestia's name is going on around here?" He demanded. "One minute I'm sellin' my stock, the next I'm here! Grabbed up and transported! Poof! Like magic! If I find who did it, I'll give them a piece of my mind!"

'Oh, how I can't wait.' Cap was laughing now. 'The old pony is furious. Ah well. I can put his little store back, just as soon as you and Bluebell are done.'

I huffed and looked at the store owner.

"My apologies. I think a friend of mine is responsible. But anyway, we need to purchase supplies, so would you mind if we buy them from you?"

"Oh, well, of course not." He answered, suddenly pleasant. "Help yourselves!"

I selected several types of vegetables and fruits that could easily fit in the knapsack I carried, and in Bluebell's saddlebag. After some deliberation, I added some dried fruits and nuts for snacking on.

"Here you go." I said, handing over the amount of bits I knew it added up to.

"Thank you!" He dropped it in the register and smiled.

Bluebell bounded over with several bags of candy...likely in replacement of the ones we had eaten the day before.

"Bluebell, do we really need all that? Where are you even gonna carry it?"

Bluebell grinned at me. "Where I always carry it, silly!"

So saying, she stashed it in her mane and paid the shop owner. I rolled my eyes. In her mane. Of course. How did I not see thatcoming?

We thanked the owner and left the store. Once we were outside, it vanished.

Bluebell's eyes were wide with astonishment but I just shook my head as I heard Cap laughing about his little magic trick.

We continued along the path we'd been following, keeping an eye out for danger. The woods we were in, after all, were not particularly safe from the Evil Side. I recalled Rainbow Dash's words of warning before we'd left the camp.

'They won't use thier magic on this side without any reason to. It draws attention to them. But if they can get you to thier side, then you're in trouble.'

"We should try to find Princess Twilight first." I decided aloud. "She might have heard of a strange creature mysteriously arriving. She might be able to give us an idea of where to go."

"Yeppers!" Bluebell bounced along beside me. "Y'know, we need an adventure song!"

"No, Bluebell, no singing! Not now. It may alert the bad guys and we do not want that."

"Oh, ok." Bluebell looked momentarily sad before she brightened. "I Spy, then!"

She was off on a list of stuff she spied before I could answer. I sighed.

'Look at it this way. It is not as likely to give you away as singing is.' Cap offered, amused.

'Maybe not. But it's a game that will be largely one-sided. I'm too busy watching our surroundings.' I looked around.

'You are uneasy, Liz.'

'Damn right. We're near the side that we are all against. What if we're being spied on right now?'

'That could be quite possible. Try to focus on meeting up with Twilight, and finding that leader.'

I was about to respond, when there was a rustling noise in the trees and a familiar violet pony appeared in front of me.

"Whoa!" I yelped, jumping back and staring at her.

"There you are!" She exclaimed. "I have been looking for you! You need to come with me immediately!"

"Twilight? Is that you?" I asked. "I was looking for you. I need to-"

"Yes, yes, tell me later! We need to go, now!" She insisted. "You're in danger. And you need to move before the enemy spots you. I know a safe place."

I looked at Bluebell, then back. "Uh, ok...but where? And who's after us? I didn't think news could travel to the bad side so fast."

"It can. Lets go! Hurry!"

We followed her, Bluebell trotting along humming a merry tune. I still felt uneasy.

"I'm not sure how you found us." I said.

"I have a network of loyal followers." She answered, leading us off onto a narrower pathway. "They kept me informed from the moment I knew you were here."

"Well, been keeping old Chrysalis mad." I said, smirking, thinking of the skirmish the day before with some of her changelings.

"Yes. We know."

The statement didn't sound all that nice, and I looked up, staring intently at her. It was then I noticed that as we walked, her color dimmed. I tensed, suddenly more uneasy.

"Where are we going, anyway?" I asked.

"To where you'll be safe, of course. Nopony will find you there, trust me."

Ok, I did not like her tone now, and told Cap that.

'Agreed. Something is up. Twilight would never...'

Cap grew silent. I almost asked why, until I noticed we were off into the most dangerous section of woods. The half where the evil side would use their magic without worrying about being discovered. I had a horrible feeling.

"Why are we in this part of the woods?"

The pony ahead of me stopped and stood motionless a moment, as her color became dull to the point of being nearly grey. She turned to me, and eyes as dull as her coat bore into me.

"Because it is time you were stopped."

Several buzzing shadows overhead suddenly dropped, and I saw to my horror that they were changelings, looking mean and ready to attack.

"Oh shit." I muttered.

Bluebell drew close to me, even as Cap put in his two cents.

'You're outmatched. They have magic, you don't.'

'Ok. Alright. Fine. One thing to do then.'

I braced myself, making sure I was situated between our enemies and Bluebell.

"Bluebell."

"Yeppers! I gotcha covered!"

I looked behind me to see she was brandishing cupcakes. Now was not the time to argue about her random nonsense.

"When I say go, run." I ordered, keeping my voice low.

"Gotcha!"

I looked back at Twilight, or Evil Twilight rather, and scowled.

"You want me? You'll have to catch me. GO, BLUEBELL!"

The last part I yelled out, as I spun and ran, dodging blasts of magic from Evil Twilight as well as her changeling troop. I saw Bluebell vanish into the trees with three changelings in pursuit, and could only hope she'd escape and find help.

A well aimed bolt of magic hit me and knocked me sideways into a large bush, which poked me in several spots, though it didn't smart nearly as much as that magic blast did.

"Ow." I muttered.

Noticing my pursuers closing in, I picked myself up and ran into the trees, hoping to lose them. I heard faint shouts, then nothing, so I ran a bit further before skidding to a stop and leaning over, hands on my knees, huffing and puffing.

'I'm out of shape.' I thought.

'Very.' Cap sounded amused.

I rolled my eyes as I struggled to get my breath. Straightening, I took a step forward, only to trip over a root and sprawl into the dust, hard.

'Tree root.' Cap was snickering. 'You lost your enemies only to be taken down by a tree root.'

Growling a little, I raised my head, hands braced on either side of me to push myself up off the ground.

'Oh...oh no. Liz...' Cap's tone was one of horror.

That's when I saw it.

A pair of dull colored hooves appeared right in front of me. I followed them upwards with my eyes until I was looking up into the enraged face of Evil Twilight, who had an ominous crackle of magic around her horn.

"Well, crap." I swore under my breath, before a shocking bolt of magic struck me, rendering me unable to move much at all.

"Let's go." Evil Twilight lifted me in her magic and started walking.

Her troop followed, and I looked behind us as we moved along the pathway.

'Bluebell, I hope you got away.'