Equus: The Lurking Darkness

Who doesn't like to spend a day on the farm? - Reach thought as he lifted a big cube of hay into a cart - By God, me! I don't like to spend a day on a farm!

" Hey, sugar, is everything okay?" Spoke the country earth mare that was helping Reach to do his task.

"O yeah... everything is just... PERFECT!"

As Far Reach bent to lift another hay cube, he thought to himself how he got into this mess, but everything happened so fast that he just went with the flow.

Wake up, eat breakfast and then go to the address Chocolate Harmony gave him yesterday. Her family at the farm was extremely friendly with him and, after he told them that Harmony had sent him, welcome him with open arms.

The farm wasn't that big, having only a hay plantation and some animals, like those big birds those ponies used to ride and other farm animals, like pigs and sheep, that were used to produce raw material or to export.

As Reach had come to the farm really early, they still had a whole day of hard work and told Reach to wait a little till noon, but he, always helpful, offered a helping hand.

"I don't know, sugar, you don't look the type of pony who likes hard work..." spoke the matriarch of the house.

"Miss, trust me. I can do it!" was Reach cheerful response.

If he could interact with his past self, he would not speak to him, he would just hit him in the face right on the face. Either way, it was useless to think about his terrible life choices. Now he needed to focus on the work so that he would not bother Harmony's sister, Chocolate Evergrow, with his total lack of talent in hand works.

" Okay, sugar, you can take a little break now" Evergrow had picked his angry tone from before and, by the flicker of her ears, didn't want to bother him much "I have a better idea of what you can do to help us."

"Well, anything you say."

Evergrow then looked at the sky and smiled.

"You see, it's very hot today. Why don't you go to that cloud and make some rain for us?" She spoke with a hopeful smile, "It would be fantastic to get a refreshment now!"

Far Reach looked at her with emotionless eyes, then at the cloud she was talking about, blinked three times and spoke in a tone of resignation and defeat.

"Okay, let's see if I can lift more than one hay cube at the same time..."

Chocolate Evergrow was confused at his reaction, but thinking that he may have his reasons, let him work in silence.

It was finally noon, and the matriarch rang the bell announcing lunchtime. On their way to the main house from the hayfields, Reach and Evergrow spoke of many topics, and, in the end, Reach revealed his secret. He couldn't fly.

"So, you're saying that you can't fly."

"Yes."

"But you're a PEGASUS!"

"Yes."

"I have NEVER met a ground Pegasus before!" Evergrow spoke loudly and excited "I CAN’T believe in this!"

"Yes" at this point Reach wasn't even hearing her, answering as a mere reflex, didn't even notice that both were reaching the main house.

"A grounded Pegasus?" Suddenly, a voice from inside the house could be heard as the matriarch approached the door "That explains why you know how to work hard!"

Reach facepalmed, but it was useless to get angry, he knew none of them had any kind of malice in their comment, so he did the only thing he could do. He laughed. Loudly. The mother and daughter were confused at first, but followed him soon after with their own laugh. And with it, the trio entered to eat a well-deserved meal.

The table was small, with only three chairs and, on a large table by the wall, a great number of dishes stood. Reach didn't know half of them, but he promised himself to try all of them.

"So, Reach, what's your relation with my daughter?" Asked the matriarch.

"Ma'am, she is one of my best friends" Reach answered while eating, "I go to her café with Alloy almost every day!"

"Alloy?"

"Yes, the mare that changed my life!" Reach answered without thinking while eating many different dishes at the same time. It took him a second to realize what he spoke.

"Darn!" This time it was Chocolate Evergrow that spoke "And I was thinking she finally managed a good catch!"

Reach eyes widened. The only thing in his mind was *Am I a good catch?* And he would ask something on that line when the matriarch spoke.

" So, Reach, I believe you came here with something in mind besides helping my daughter"

"Of course!" The Pegasus smiled again, "I'm writing a book, and I want to know how it is to be a true earth pony."

"Hum... just that?" The matriarch quipped.

"Yes, just a quick interview."

"So it is a deal, we will do it." The matriarch then looked at her daughter and grinned, "after you help my poor Evergrow with ALL the animals."

Evergrow smiled while Reach felt as if he was going to die, but he was happy. Helping good people is always a good thing; besides, the food was awesome.

Celestia's sun started its descent in the sky to give space to the moon and, inside the captain's office in the barracks, three figures were getting ready for the eventuality of a fight.

"Light, Alloy." Spoke Gravel, still adjusting her wing to her armor,"Are you two ready?"

" Yes, Ma'am" Alloy answered quickly while putting her helmet and closing the visor "I already check my shield and my spear."

"I'm ready too" Night Light complemented." But you have to remember, Gravel, we are not to engage in combat."

"What are you talking about, Light?" Gravel opened her wings as she huffed in discontent." If we can make the arrest, we will do it!"

Night Light just shook his head. He was friends with Gravel Wing for some years now, and he always found her propensity to engage in fights first and think about lather rather... problematic.

" Listen, Gravel, Callaghan is not your run-of-the-mill criminal" Night Light looked dead serious at the captain's eyes while sheathing his long sword "We don't know what his goal is or if he has allies here. By Celestia, we have no intel on how strong he really is!"

"More reasons to stop him before he does something dangerous, right, Alloy?"

Alloy didn't answer, her mind was in a small floor's library, where a certain amnesiac Pegasus was writing a book.

"Alloy, are you there?" Gravel poked Alloy with the point of her bow, making her jump with a 'EEP' "you best stay alert during our mission."

"Yes, Ma'am." Sorry, Ma'am"

"Anyway, I will take my sword with the blacksmith, and then we shall go." Spoke Gravel with a serious tone. "I will also prepare our support team to be ready to enter the scene as soon as we need them."

" Yes, Ma'am." Night Light and Violet Alloy answered in unison.

But in his mind, Night Light had a bad feeling about it. About everything.