A Romantic Poem Reading by Octavia

(An Appropriate Tune of Music)

It finally gets dark, so you, Robin, and Goodfellow are all carrying torches as you all continue to tread through the Everfree forest, with Berry Punch taking the lead.

You probably had no idea that an entire adventure would unfold from just one silly prank, but don't worry, because neither Robin or Goodfellow had seen this coming. As far as they were concerned, the possible connections between playing a practical joke on Octavia and being chased by an Apache helicopter were zero. Nevertheless, here you all are, hiking through one of the most dangerous forests in all of Equestria, with your only guide being Berry Punch - somepony who you all feel is less than trustworthy in pointing you all in the right direction as of now.

If you took out your phone to check the time, you'd see that it was about 11:08. You wouldn't be surprised either, because you're all starting to feel tired.Very tired. As in, hiking long into the night and you're feeling both exhausted and tired enough to "hit the hay" as it were.

Berry Punch suddenly stops trotting forward and looks around. She looks a little confused; then, she looks a little worried.

"Hey Berry, is something wrong?" Robin asked.

"Uhh... I just need to think for a minute..." she replied. "Oh, and, we're NOT lost! Just, you know, putting that out there."

"Wait, what do you mean 'we're not lost'?" Goodfellow responded.

"Well, I mean that if I can think for just a sec, then I'll know where to go next. I think."

She continued to look around, trying to get her bearings, but she was clearly not getting any closer to knowing exactly where she was. At all.

Well, now you can all decide whether or not a nicer death would be to starve in the Everfree, or to have been nailed by a couple of missiles from an Apache. Besides, being trapped in the Everfree, you've got all the time in the world.

Interrupting your thoughts is the sound of some rustling leaves coming from behind you. Everyone looks, and sees a dark green pony wearing a safari hat climbing out of a bush.

"The name's Treeberry." she said, "I was sent by the 'need-a-professional-getaway-because-my-X-is-after-me' hotline. I heard you were all trapped in the Everfree so I was given the job of taking you all to Zecora's hut for a quick detour and briefing."

"Briefing?" Robin responded, "What are be being briefed for?"

"No time to explain." Treeberry replied, "just follow me."

Since there was nothing else to do, considering that Berry Punch was apparently lost anyways, everyone decides to follow Treeberry. Treeberry begins taking the lead by trotting through some trees, vines, and quagmires, until she brings you all to a large tree with candle lights flickering from the inside.

"Alright." she stated finally, "here is your destination. You'll have to go inside and talk to Zecora about what you'll need to do next." Treeberry turned to face Berry Punch. "Can you take it from here?"

"Sure, Treeberry." Berry Punch said smoothly. Treeberry decided that response sounded legit, so she left you all with Berry Punch once again as a leader.

"Well, I guess we just go inside then." Goodfellow said. He looks at the rest of you. "Is that what you're all thinking?"

"Pretty much." Robin replied.

So you all walk towards the hut and come to the door. After knocking a couple times, a voice replies:

"Come in, come in,

I don't want to keep out

any friendly kin."

Shrugging, Robin opens the door and trots in first, along with the rest of you entering behind him. Once inside, you can see tiki masks of sorts decorating the walls, and a large pot in the middle of the room. In no time at all, Zecora trots in from a back room and smiles at you all warmly.

"Can you all sit around the pot, if you please,

And rest your hooves on a cushion to put yourselves at ease." Zecora says.

And so you all do just that, grabbing a cushion and sitting on the floor, and feeling much better to be sitting down rather than hiking through the forest.

"So, Zecora... Why are we here, and what kind of "briefing" are you giving us?"

Zecora laughed briefly before replying, "Briefing is more of a vague term, hiding under the ground like a worm. Giving you an explanation, would be a much better word for this situation."

"Alright," responded Goodfellow, "what explanation do you have then?"

"You are both the colts who played the prank on the minstrel - now you are the two colts who must run and hide from her missiles. But you see, this event is not as chance as you think - for all of Equestria's future is now on the brink. For this is all destined to be, young heroes - you must run to Dodge Junction to save Equestria, mischievous fellows."

"Wait, wait... wait." interrupted Robin, "you're telling us that running to get to Dodge Junction in order to lay low from Octavia is our destiny, and that the fate of all of Equestria is resting on our shoulders?"

"That is correct, my friend - for if you fail, it will be the end."

"...That doesn't make any sense!" responded Goodfellow, "we just played a stupid prank on Octavia, and now the fate of Equestria rests on our shoulders? In fact, how does this have anything to do with Equestria's future?"

"If you sit and you listen, I will explain - you see, if Octavia catches you, she will send nuclear fallout rain."

"...WHAT!??!" both Robin and Goodfellow gasp.

"You see, if you are safely in Dodge Junction with nowhere to go, she would not dare to send those missiles, and so, by running to Dodge Junction to safely hide, in the barrels of their cannons those missiles must reside."

"But what does that have to do with this being our destiny? How does this make us heroes if we caused this in the first place?"

"Well..." Zecora replied, "It is a long explanation, and it, I cannot hide - but you would not believe it, even if you tried."

"Try me." Robin responded.

"...Alright." Zecora replied, before she gave her explanation.

"Eons ago, in the depths of space,

A battle clashed in a robot pirate alien race.

They fought to decide who would win, but no one did,

So they decided to annihilate a planet instead.

It was meant to be a bonding experience between the two,

But of all the planets they chose the one with Equestria, which would have been very bad for you.

But fate does not give up planets easily,

Nor does she allow them to be ruined too breezily,

Because fate loves her planet collection

And she would tear her hair out if one was destroyed by dessimation.

And so to protect her precious hoard,

She decided to bring two colts a sword

And this sword, a sword of mischief,

Was meant to test the unstable handkerchief.

The handkerchief, as legend has foretold,

Is the moving hand of the space pirate aliens of old.

And it is your destiny as those two colts with the sword,

To protect fate's beloved and cherished planet hoard,

by running to Dodge Junction in good time,

To prevent Octavia from causing a natural crime,

And to put a stop to the robot pirate alien race

By shoving a prank right in their face."

*cricket cricket*

"Wait. What?" Goodfellow replied.

Zecora's eyes went half lidded. "Robot pirate aliens are trying to destroy the world by getting Octavia to destroy all of Equestria with nuclear missiles, and it is your destiny to protect it because the world we live in is a part of Fate's precious planet collection and she would have a heart attack if she lost any of her planets." she said flatly.

"Oh. Wait, WHAT?" Robin responded.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Goodfellow added.

"That is your fate,

How ridiculous it is, I do not discriminate." Zecora replied simply.

"But... But..." Robin stuttered, trying to find the right words to respond to this 'destiny'.

Pointing out the door inspirationally Zecora continued to speak:

"Now, go and fulfill your destiny, young heroes, by going to Dodge Junction!

To fulfill your destiny, so that Fate's planet collection may still function!"