A Faraway Land.

Chapter 20

Into the Badlands

I couldn't get much sleep last night. Too much was on my mind and I had a splitting headache. Celestia and Luna helped me control my ruby. I wasn't able to do much, but at least I'll be able to absorb more magic.

I get out of bed and quickly put my shirt on. I walked out onto the balcony and overlooked the city. It looked like everyone was going about their daily lives. It made me wonder how often invasions happen here. I turned to a knocking at my door.

"I'm coming." I said while quickly making my way to the door. "Who is it?"

"It's me." Luna said behind a door.

"Hold on." I quickly unlock the door and opened it. "What's up is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is wrong.  We're all waiting for you." Luna smiled.

"Hold on let me get my stuff." I said while going back in the room and grabbed my things. "Alright, let's get going."

I followed Luna down the hall.  She knew I had a rough night, but that was okay.  I learned a lot about magic last night.  They explain to me why I get my headaches; luckily for me they will only be temporary.

"So how is your arm doing?" Luna asked while we walked down the hall.

"It's not doing all that bad.  It's much better after you help me." I said while giving her a smile.

"I'm happy to hear that.  Spike and I had a discussion this morning.  You told me what you did during the invasion and it was very brave of you." Luna smiled. "So where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I had a friend.  Her name was Samantha and she was a marine." I said while rubbing my neck. "I find it to be a little funny; she taught me a lot of my good fighting moves.  They are not much for offense but they're great for defense."

"I don't understand. Does gender have to do with someone's skills in your world?" Luna asked while she walked with me.

"No.  It has nothing to do with that. It's more of a guy thing, I really don't expect you to understand it."  I laughed.

"If you say so." I watched as Luna's horn started to glow. I look down the hall was a set of doors opened. "I hope you're ready."

"I hope I am too."

Luna and I made our way into the room.  Sure enough everyone was waiting on me.  I looked beside Spike and saw some bags. I walked over to the bags as Twilight and the others were talking amongst themselves.  I quickly made my rounds in every bag and found it was exactly what we needed.  Plenty of food, water, blankets and tents. I'm a little skeptical about the tens, but I did only read about the badlands in a book. Celestia has more knowledge about this world and it would be smart not ask questions.

"Are we all ready to go? " I asked while turning around to the group.

"I sure am!" Pinkie pie yell while bouncing around.

"I sure am partner. I just hope everything goes according to your plan.  I don't wana have to come looking for ya." Applejack said while adjusting her hat.

"So James, what did you learn from Celestia and Luna last night?" Twilight asked while walking over and grabbing a bag.

"I learned a lot." Rainbow dash quickly interrupted.

"What kind of magic spell did you learn?" Rainbow Dash smiled excitedly.

"Well, I can only make things glow for right now. "  Rainbow Dash quickly interrupted again.

"All that time and you only learned how to make things glow!? "  Rainbow Dash quickly rolled over in laughter.

I stared at rainbow dash for a few seconds.  I walked over to her slowly and she quickly stood up.  I looked down at her for a few seconds.  She looked up me and raise an eyebrow.

"Is something wrong? " Rainbow Dash looked on in confusion.

I bring my hand up; I watch as Rainbow Dash started to look at my hand.  I stretch my index finger and channeled my magic.  My finger started to glow with a gentle blue.  I watched rainbow dash's your eyes started to grow bigger.  I quickly put my finger in her nose; she backed away quickly as she figured out what I did.

"What the hay was that for!? "  Rainbow Dash yell while I smiled.  I quietly watched as she started to wrinkle her nose.  I started to laugh as Rainbow Dash began to sneeze uncontrollably.  "What did you do to me!?"

"I put a curse on your nose.  Within a day your sneezing will make your nose fall off."  I continued to laugh as the others joined in.

"I thought you said you can only make things glow!" Rainbow dash started to quickly rub her nose with her hoof.

"Did I?  Maybe." I walk over to the bags and picked one up; I placed it on Rainbow dash's back, as she continued to rub her nose.

"You were just joking about my nose falling off... Right?" Rainbow dash said as she stopped rubbing her nose.

"Of course he is silly.  There's no way he can make your nose fall off; right Twilight?"  Pinkie Pie said as she hopped over to the bags to grab one.

"No Rainbow Dash.  There are no spells that would be capable of making your nose fall off."  Twilight said as she chuckled. Celestia then stood up.

"Alright. You eight will be leaving on the train to Dodge City. From there you can make your way into the badlands." Celestia looked directly at me. "Be warned; once you go into the Changeling empire. My sister and I will not be able to help you."

"I understand." I turn to Twilight. "I will get more detailed on the plan while we are on the train." I turned to Spike. "Are you ready little man?" I picked him up and placed him on my shoulder.

"I sure am!" Spike looked around at the others. "Let's get going."

"Alright then; let's get going." I said while making my way to the door.

We board the train. I looked around and we were the only ones on the train. I took a seat in the middle of the cart; Twilight came and sat next to me. Spike quickly hopped off my shoulder and ran up to Rarity for some reason.

"So what did you have in mind." Twilight looked over at me.

"It might be a little hard for you to understand, so I will say it straight out." I looked out the window as we started to move. "If you find that a Changeling has taken my form. You will treat it like it is me. Give it no hint that you are onto it." I look at Twilight. "This is the hard part. You will leave without me. No matter what happens; you need to leave as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Twilight looked at the floor with her ears down. "Will you be alright?" Twilight looked back up at me.

"Of course I will be. I didn't come all this way just to stop here." I gave Twilight a smile. "Besides; I am looking forward to a welcome home party when I get back." Pinkie Pie interrupted.

"Did some pony say welcome home party!?" Pinkie Pie quickly jumped in front of me throwing confetti in the air.

"I sure did." I gave Pinkie Pie a smile. "Can I expect a welcome home party when I get back?"

"You sure can!" Pinkie gave me the biggest smile I have ever seen in my life. "I will invite all of Ponyville! We will have streamers, cake, punch, music and games! It will be the best party you have had yet!"

"That will be great Pinkie Pie." I looked over at Spike. "Yo Spike; come here for a second." I motioned with my hand to come closer. As Spike came closer; I picked him up and sat him next to me and Twilight. "Alright little man... About our little mission. I don't want you to do anything unnecessary. Just find my gun and get out." I gave Spike a smile.

"You can count on me." Spike pounded his chest with his hand. "I will be in and out before you know it."

"Alright Spike." Twilight gently nudged Spike off the seat. "I need to talk to James some more. I would appreciate it if you could leave us alone for a bit."

"Ohh I get you." Spike elbowed Twilight then looked at me. "Good luck James." Spike smiled and gave me a wink. I watched as he walked away.

"So..." Twilight looked me in the eyes. "You don't seem too enthusiastic about your plan. Is there something you are not telling me?"

"We have a saying where I come from. Plan for the worst and hope for the best." I looked back out the window as we passed Ponyville. "People have their own interpretation for that saying, but I try to think of what might happen. Besides; what can go wrong, will go wrong. There are a lot of unknown variables."

"You seem to know a lot about your plan. I bet you put a lot of thought into this, so I am trusting you." Twilight smiled. "I believe everything will turn out for the best." I watched as she got up and walked over to Spike.

"Hey James... Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked while she walked up behind me.

"I am fine. Why do you ask?"

"It looks like you are not expecting to return to Ponyville." Fluttershy hopped up on the seat. "Do you know something we don't?"

"I have been taken prisoner before. I think it would be best if you didn't know about that, so please don't ask." I gave Fluttershy a smile. "I don't think that this world is like mine, so I know it won't be the same. It just gives me bad memories."

"Oh. Well if you wanted to talk about it. I will be here."

"Trust me; I am not worried about this. It's just the bad memories that are keeping me down." I reach into my bag and pull out my water. I take a quick drink and held it up to Fluttershy. "You want some?"

"Oh no thank you. I am fine, but thank you for offering." Fluttershy smiled and relaxed next to me.

I put my water back into my bag. I looked out of the window and saw the landscape was quickly changing. It was obvious we were getting into a warmer climate. I opened the window and looked out. I saw a small village about five minutes away.

"Hey Twilight. Is that our stop ahead?" I asked while closing the window.

"Yep." Twilight and the others started to get ready to leave.

The train started to slow down as we entered the town. I made my way over to Spike. I picked him up and placed him on my shoulder. We all walked off the train as it rested in the station.

"We should rest in town for tonight. We can get an early start in the mornin."Applejack said.

"No... We need to get going now." Applejack interrupted me.

"But that heat will drain our energy in no time." Applejack raised an eyebrow at me. "We will be too tuckered out when it comes to the walk back."

"I need the cover of darkness to move in without being seen. We will stock up on extra water while we are here, but we need to move quickly." We walked into town.

"But didn't you say you were going to get captured? Why do you need to sneak in?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It doesn't make any since."

"It will be best to get as close to them as I can. It will give me a chance to collect information before I leave." We walked into what looked to be a store. "Collect all the water you can carry. I don't know how long we will be."

"What about food?" Twilight asked.

"Water is the biggest must. Food will come second." I made my way to the counter to pay for the supplies.

"That will be 30 Bits." The grey pony said at the counter. "So were yall heading?"

"Something was stolen from me and I intend to get it back." I gave the clerk a smile and turned around to the others. "Alright let's get going." We quickly made our way outside. "I am guessing we follow that path?" I pointed to a path that went in the direction of large rolling hills.

"Yep! You guessed it." Twilight smiled and started to walk on the path.

We walked on the path for several hours. I had to convince Pinkie Pie to stop bouncing around and walk normally two times already. Moving around in this heat will drain you quick if you make moves like that. We were doing grate on water. As I looked around the landscape. The book was correct; even down to the descriptions of the rocky outcrops. It would be perfect to camp by one of them; it would have held the heat of the day. It might be a life saver for Twilight and the others during the night.

As the sun started to set. We all saw a large mountain like structure. The best description I could give it was a castle made out of reddish rock. It was obvious that a lot of people lived there. It glowed with white lights all around it as the sun set.

"Alright." We stopped behind a rocky outcrop. "You will set up camp here."

"Why here? It is still hot on this side from the sun. Wouldn't it be better to sleep on the other side?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"It gets cold here at night. You will need the warmth of the ground when you sleep." I turn to look at the large rock castle off in the distance. "You can use this rock as cover. I don't think you will be bothered way out here, but just in case." I turn to Twilight. "Twilight; I need you to use your magic to cut slabs of rock off from the top of this outcrop."

"Why?" Twilight asked.

"Rocks will hold heat longer than the dirt. Rest your sleeping bags on the rocks for extra heat." I turned to spike. "Are you ready?"

"I sure am!" Spike smiled and walked up to me.

"I am going to need you to hide some food and water over there." I pointed over to a small hole in the rocks. "I will need it to return to Ponyville."

I empty my bag on the ground and take the blanket. I gently laid the blanket on the ground.

"Alright Spike. Hop on the Blanket." I watched as spike walked into the middle of the blanket. "This should keep you warm on our little trip." I started to wrap Spike up in the blanket. I picked him up and placed Spike into the bag. "You good Spike?"

"Ya I'm good! Ready to go!" Spike yelled as the blanket muffled his voice.

"Be careful James." Twilight said while she walked up to me.

"I will." I bent down and gave her a small hug.

I looked at Twilights tail. I gave it a quick thought. I quickly reach out and grabbed a small strand of her purple hair. I quickly pulled it out as Twilight pushed me away.

"That hurt! What was that for!?" Twilight yelled as her face turned red.

"It's an experiment I just thought of." I held up the strand of hair and started to wrap it around my pinkie finger. I quickly tied it off and held up my hand. "Watch for the hair on my hand. This might help you see if I am a changeling or not." I watched as Twilights face quickly turned back to normal.

"Right." Twilight smiled.

"Alright. All of you be careful. If you are going to start a fire. be sure to start it behind the rock." I walk over to the bag I had on the ground and picked it up. "Let's get moving Spike. I don't want to freeze out here."

"What are you talking about. I have been waiting on you." Spike replied in the bag. I turned back to Twilight and the others.

"Remember... If it is a changeling. Leave without me with no hesitation." I gave them all one last smile and ran off in the darkness.