Meeting the Talking Tree

The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky a soft orange as Arthur continued his walk out of Ponyville, glad to have escaped Pinkie Pie's madness. After what seemed like hours of walking, with only trees and bushes around, Arthur began to feel fatigue. His hooves were tired, and the thought of taking a break was too tempting. Spotting a small clearing, he finally decided to stop.

Arthur sighed and plopped down at the foot of a large tree that stood in the center of the clearing. The shade of the tree provided a respite from the heat of the day. He closed his eyes, leaning his head against the trunk, and exhaled deeply.

“At least there are no balloons here... or flying cakes,” he muttered to himself, with a mix of relief and sarcasm.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from the tree, like a soft whisper. Arthur opened one eye, confused.

“What...?”

The sound came again, louder this time, as if the wind had taken the form of words. Arthur, still lying down, raised an eyebrow and looked around.

“Who’s there?” he said out loud, but got no response.

He shook his head, thinking maybe it was just tiredness. But just as he was about to close his eyes again, he heard a sort of deep murmur coming from the tree itself.

Arthur sat up straight. “Wait, wait! Don’t tell me this tree… is talking.”

The tree remained silent for a few seconds, until a soft, hoarse voice, like the creaking of branches on a windy day, answered:

“What you see is not always what it is, weary traveler…”

Arthur blinked, completely incredulous. “Excuse me? Did you speak, or am I really losing my mind now?”

The tree, or rather, the hollow trunk through which the wind passed, made another deep sound, as if it was trying to imitate a wise voice. Arthur, realizing the absurdity of the situation, decided to play along.

“Okay, okay… let’s talk, what do you have to say to me, oh wise tree of the forest?”

The wind blew softly through the trunk, creating a sound that almost seemed like a mystical whisper. Arthur crossed his arms and, as if he were in a deep philosophical conversation, said:

“Why can’t trees talk normally, huh? It’s always with that mysterious tone… If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

The tree (or so Arthur thought) whispered again:

“The path you’ve walked… it’s just the beginning. The winds of doubt surround you… but the truth will always be rooted within you…”

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Ah, right, the classic deep, meaningless talk. Should I write this down on a scroll or something?” Because if this is advice, I've heard it before... in a fortune cookie.”

The “talking” tree continued its strange whispers, and Arthur, fully into the role of frustrated philosopher, decided it was time to bring the tree back to seriousness... in his own way.

“Listen, tree friend. I've been through worse than a mysterious forest, okay? Have you tried running from ponies that literally throw exploding cakes at you? Or outrunning a party band with balloons chasing you? Trust me, your 'winds of doubt' don't impress me.”

There was a long silence after that, as the wind died down and the trunk remained still. Arthur leaned back again, satisfied that he had won an argument with a piece of wood. But just when he thought the moment had passed, the trunk let out one last, almost inaudible whisper:

“...time is the keeper of all answers…”

Arthur jumped up. “Oh, come on! “Can’t you just leave it there? Time? Really? It’s always time…”

Arthur looked around, waiting for an answer. But the clearing was silent, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the branches. No one else was there. Finally, he let out a tired sigh and shook his head.

“Perfect. Now I have wise trees that speak to me in riddles, too. Of course, because what I was missing was a little more confusion in my life.”

He turned to leave, but couldn’t help but cast one last glance at the tree.

“You know what? I like you, tree. At least you don’t throw pies.”

And with that, he walked away, the wind once again rustling softly through the leaves, as if it had been part of a cosmic joke that only the tree understood.

The Mad Dogs, Take 2

After resting for a while, a relief that was scarce before escaping Ponyville, Arthur decided it was time to move, after all he still had a mission. Although he just wanted to relax for a little while longer.

As he continued his way towards what he believed to be Canterlot, he came across a small clearing filled with forest animals. Squirrels, rabbits, birds, all of them were looking curiously at the base of a bush.

With curiosity activated, Arthur decided to take a look at what caught their attention so much. When he got close enough he could only be surprised by what he saw. It was the automatic guitar that Turner had given him when they played in the town.

How did it get there? He wondered, he had left it with the decoy in Ponyville but with a quick glance at several animals around, he simply assumed that some curious animal brought it here with them. Something he learned from this world is that you don't have to think too much about the details.

Arthur smiled slyly. “What's wrong, guys? “Do you look like you’re up for a good rock show?”

The animals stared at him in silence, blinking. They didn’t seem to understand a word he was saying. But that didn’t discourage Arthur. In fact, a spark of inspiration struck him at that moment.

“Perfect. This is a sign! If there’s one thing these woods need, it’s a little rock and roll.”

Arthur picked up the automatic guitar that was perched on top of the bush waiting to be activated. He had no idea how to actually play, but that guitar, modified with Turner’s inventions, would do all the work for him.

“Welcome, boys!” he exclaimed as he climbed onto a small mound, “To your one, only, spectacular concert by the… ‘Mad Dogs’!”

“Unfortunately the other members are absent due to illness,” he said, looking to the side. “But that won’t stop the show!”

The animals looked at him with the same neutral expression, but Arthur decided to ignore them and pressed a button on the guitar. Immediately, the instrument began to play electrifying chords, and an epic rhythm filled the clearing. Arthur began to move to the beat, letting himself be carried away by the music.

“Yes, yes, we feel the power! We feel the music! I feel… I don’t even know what I’m saying!”

The guitar roared as Arthur, in his usual exaggerated style, decided it was time to sing. And so, with the energy of a thousand heroes, he began to sing his personal “anthem.”

The Ballad of Arthur, the (Not So) Hero

"I'm the world traveler, the one who escaped chaos!
I fought flying cakes, I survived the hugs of the crazy tree!
I faced parties that never end, but here I am,
Arthur, the bold, the only one, the one who always... survives!
I fought balloons, I dressed up as a robot,
and even if fate wants to crush me...
Nothing brings me down, because I'm... a MAD DOG!"

The guitar beat became more and more intense, as Arthur launched into singing with all his heart. His movements became more dramatic, raising the guitar as if he were playing the most epic solo ever heard. The animals of the forest began to fidget, their eyes growing wider and wider at the intensity of the show.

Arthur, delighted with his own performance, decided to add an extra touch. With a heroic pose, he shouted to the sky:

"Mad Dogs, forever! We are the band that defies the heavens, the cakes, and even the squirrels!"

The rabbits began to back away, the birds flew up into the treetops, and the squirrels, hearing the last distorted and exaggerated note of the guitar solo, ran away in terror.

Arthur lowered the guitar, panting, but with a big smile of satisfaction on his face.

"Yeah, guys, I get it... Too much rock to handle in one sitting, huh? Not everyone can handle 'Mad Dogs'!"

The animals were gone. The clearing was now empty, save for the echo of the last guitar note resonating through the trees. The silence that left the concert was absolute.

Arthur sighed dramatically, feigning disappointment. "And here I thought we had finally found our perfect audience. I guess the rock world isn't ready for us."

He put away the automatic guitar, taking one last look at the empty clearing. “Well, at least they didn’t throw pies at me. That’s something.”

And so, Arthur, with the ego of a true rock star and the confidence of someone who had just given a concert for a non-existent audience, went on his way, ready for the next madness that fate had in store for him.

The Chosen One Who Didn't Want to Be

The Chosen One Who Didn't Want to Be
Arthur walked slowly through the forest. The ground was covered in tangled roots, and the treetops intertwined so much that they barely let in any sunlight. As he walked forward, he heard the sound of a gentle trickle, and soon he came upon a small waterfall that gracefully fell into a clear stream. Stones littered the riverbed, forming a natural passage that seemed to invite anyone to cross it without difficulty.

“This seems easy at last, a breather perhaps?” Arthur muttered to himself as he carefully walked over the stones, crossing the stream without much effort.

But just as he reached the opposite bank, he stopped. In front of him, a huge rock with one completely smooth side blocked his path. The rock looked ordinary, until suddenly, it made a deep rumbling sound.

Arthur frowned. “What the hell was that?”

Before he could react, words began to appear etched into the surface of the rock. It was as if an invisible hand was carving into the stone before his eyes.

“Welcome, noble traveler. You have arrived at the sacred place where fate has brought you. You, Arthur, are the chosen one.” said the message on the rock.

Arthur blinked in disbelief and instead of being amazed, he let out a sarcastic laugh. “Chosen one? Me? No thanks, I don’t have time for any more last-minute magical adventures.”

A message was written on the rock again “You cannot escape your destiny, Arthur. The kingdom needs you! Only you can free the sword that lies in the rock and claim your place as the hero and king destined to save us from darkness.”

Arthur sighed deeply. “My, my… the typical sword in the rock. Look, buddy, I’ve dealt with endless parties, flying cakes, and tree hugs, I’m not interested in becoming the next ‘King Arthur’. It’s too cliché, even for me.”

“But this is your destiny. Only you can wield the sword and bring peace. Only by doing so will you embrace your true power and fulfill the prophecy that has waited centuries.” said the message on the rock.

Arthur rolled his eyes. “Prophecy? I see how this goes… I’m sure I’ll become an alicorn too, right? Crown and all! I’ll pass on that. I’ve had enough trying to survive in this world without being assigned magical tasks.”

The rock, seemingly ignoring Arthur’s indifference, let out another rumble, and in the blink of an eye, an ancient, shining sword appeared stuck into a small rock formation next to the large stone.

With a bright light, another message was written on the rock “Wield the sword, Arthur, and accept your destiny! By doing so, you will be proclaimed king, hero of all peoples. Only you can do it!”

Arthur stared at the sword for a few long seconds. The sunlight reflected off its blade, and the air around it seemed to grow more solemn. It was as if the forest itself was waiting for him to make the decision.

And then, Arthur took a step back.

“Nope,” he said in a calm but determined tone, turning in the opposite direction. “No way. I'll pass. I'm not falling for this trick. I don't need any more titles, crowns, or legendary swords. It's not my style.”

“Arthur, you can't run from your destiny! The kingdom needs you!” said the message on the rock.

Arthur waved his hand as if he were dismissing an annoying old friend. “Yes, yes, whatever you say. You'll see how they find another, more enthusiastic candidate. I'm sure there are hundreds of ponies ready for glory. I'm leaving.”

And without looking back, Arthur began to walk away from the talking rock, leaving the sword shining and the prophecy unfulfilled.

Behind him, the rock let out one last desperate message:
“Arthur, come back! Destiny...!”

But Arthur didn't stop. In his mind, there was nothing more ridiculous than becoming the next hero of an adventure he hadn’t asked for. And with a self-satisfied smile on his face, he continued walking, whistling a cheerful tune as he left behind another ridiculous scenario that, for once, he had managed to avoid.

“King? Ha, right… that suits a talking tree better. Now, where was Canterlot?”

The Complicated Rabbit

Arthur walked with his head down, tired and a little annoyed by the amount of turns he had already made without success. "I just need to know where the hell Canterlot is. Is it that hard?" he muttered to himself as he made his way through a clearing in the forest.

Just as he was about to give up, a white rabbit came bounding in front of him. She was larger than the average rabbit and had a decidedly haughty expression on her face.

"Hey, you! Are you lost?" said a talking rabbit.

Arthur looked up, managing to see a talking rabbit. By now he's so desperate and used to it that he won't ask why.

"Do you know how to get to Canterlot?" he said hopefully.

The rabbit looked him up and down, with a paw on her chin, as if she were sizing him up. Finally, she nodded slowly. "I know where it is, but I won't tell you that easily."

Arthur sighed, suspecting what was coming. "And what do you need?"

The rabbit smiled mischievously. "A few favors, nothing you can't handle."

"What kind of favors?" Arthur asked.

The rabbit, eyes closed, began to say her favor. "First, I need you to pick carrots. But not just any carrots, just the ones at the end of the valley... they're kind of hard to pull up."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, but decided not to complain. "Just carrots? Well, that doesn't sound so bad."

Little did he know that the valley's carrots were embedded in the ground like rocks. After an hour of pulling on a single carrot, his muscles exhausted, he finally pulled it up and ended up covered in dirt.

When he returned with the carrot, the rabbit looked at him, satisfied. "Good. Now, I need you to clean my burrow."

Arthur looked at the rabbit's small burrow, thinking it would be quick. However, upon entering, he discovered that it was an underground warren of tunnels filled with tiny furniture and ridiculous decorations, all covered in dust. It took him hours to make it presentable.

Arthur came back, panting, and the rabbit looked at him in amusement. “Now, my last favor.”

He could only squint wearily. “And what is that?”

The rabbit came closer, with a mischievous smile. “You’re going to be my boyfriend.”

Arthur took a step back. “What?”

“My parents won’t stop pestering me to get one, so you’re going to help me. Just for a little while, until they leave.” The rabbit said as if it were a normal thing.

Arthur gaped. “You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend? Really?”

The rabbit nodded, giving him a push to start walking towards the burrow again. “Don’t worry, just smile and say you love how I arrange the carrots.”

He sighed deeply and, resigned, decided to go along with the plan. Inside the burrow, two older rabbits watched him with critical eyes as Arthur tried to look as convincing as possible.

“Uh… yeah, your… way of arranging carrots is… unique.” Arthur said with a stutter, still not believing what he got himself into.

The rabbit’s parents nodded slowly, reluctantly approving the relationship. After what seemed like an eternity of awkward questions and uncomfortable stares, the parents finally left satisfied.

As Arthur emerged from the burrow, exhausted and mentally drained, the rabbit smiled widely at him. “Good job, ‘boyfriend’. Now I’ll tell you how to get to Canterlot.”

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally.”

The rabbit pointed her paw into the distance. “It’s there. Right there.”

Arthur followed the direction she was pointing and his face fell when he saw that Canterlot, with its towering spires and elegant buildings, was literally hanging off the side of a mountain on the horizon, clearly visible.

Arthur brought a hoof to his face in frustration. "All this time it was just there!? How did I not see it before?"

The rabbit shrugged. "I guess you were too busy being my boyfriend."

Arthur simply shook his head and began walking towards the mountain. "This is ridiculous... absolutely ridiculous."

With the mountain in sight, he waved goodbye to the rabbit without looking back, as she watched him walk away with a small smile.

Author's Note

The rabbit is actually one of the Easter bunnies seen in G5, that's why he can talk.

Four short comedy clips of Arthur wandering around in search of Canterlot as a break while I develop the next story arc.

For now I can assure you that Arthur will continue to get into trouble and continue with his absurdities.