A Faraway Land.

Chapter 26

Twilight's Watchful Eyes

I woke up to a gentle breeze on my face. I slowly opened my eyes and saw a partly cloudy sky. I saw what looked to be Rainbow Dash. She was flying over to the clouds and kicking them. I slowly sat up and stretched.

"So did you have a good night's sleep?" I looked at the window to Cadence.

"It wasn't half bad." I got up and started to fold the blankets. "How did you sleep?"

"Great! Thanks for letting us sleep in your bed." Cadence smiled.

"It's not my bed; its Twilight's bed." I walked over to the window with the blankets. "Excuse me please." I climbed through the window as Cadence moved. "Thanks." I gave her a smile as I set the blankets down on the bed.

"Hey James; you ready for a hard day's work?" Shining Armor asked while he walked up the stairs.

"I should be asking you that. I get the fun part of the job." I laughed. "I was going to go to Sweet Apple Acres to get some stuff. I am going to see if I can snag some apples for breakfast. Is that alright with you Shining Armor?"

"Yeah, I am perfectly fine with that." Shining Armor smiled as we both walked down the stairs.

"Hey Twilight. Me and your brother are heading out now."

"What about breakfast?" Twilight looked over at me.

"We are going to snag some apples over at Applejack's place." I walked over to the door and put my boots on. "That's okay with you, right?"

"That's fine; just don't do anything to hurt yourself." Twilight walked up to me and started to poke my side. "Remember what I told you... I don't want to have to do anything drastic."

"Alright Twilight." I laughed a little. "I will be careful today. I don't plan on getting hurt today."

"None of us do." James walked out the door. I quickly turned to look for Spike. "Spike!"

"What's up Twilight. Do you need something?" Spike quickly ran up to me.

"Watch out the window and tell me when James is a good distance away." I quickly levitated my bag over with some paper and quills.

"So you are going to follow them?" Cadence asked with a smile on her face.

"I sure am! James is always getting himself hurt. I need to make sure he stays safe today." I quickly packed the papers and quills neatly in my bag and placed it gently on my back. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Would I!? That sounds fun!" Cadence smiled while jumping around. "What can I do? I have never done anything like this before."

"Just make sure you don't get seen." I looked over at Spike. "How does it look Spike?"

"I think you are clear Twilight, but I don't see why you are doing this." Spike rolled his eyes. "You could have just asked to help him out."

"It's not about helping Spike." I opened the door. "It's about studies!" I smiled.

"But Twilight; what does studying have to do with James being safe?" Cadence laughed. "I think it has to do more about James than you are willing to tell us, but you can't fool me."

"What are you talking about!?" I quickly turned away from Cadence. "It is only for my studies; that's all!" I look off in the distance. "Hurry Cadence; he is getting away!"

We quickly caught up to James and my brother. We quickly jumped into a bush to hide. I watched as they walked into Sugar Cube Corner.

"Why are they going into the bakery?" I quickly take out some paper, ink and a quill. I started to write some notes. "Didn't James say they were going to Applejack's?"

"Maybe they wanted to get some sweets for breakfast. I wouldn't mind getting some myself." Cadence gave me a smile. "I haven't had anything to eat too."

"Shh! They are coming out." I watched as my brother and James walked out of the bakery. I looked carefully at James and saw he had two large bags resting on his shoulder. "That's not taking it easy James..."

"You should be easier on him Twilight. He has been through a lot since he has been here." I looked at Cadence as she smiled.

"Maybe you are right." I looked at the ground.

"Twilight; they are getting away. I think we should move."

"Right..." I quickly put my notes back in the bag with the quill and ink. "Let's go." I looked back at Cadence and smiled. "We should still keep an eye on them. I want to know more  about the thing James is making."

"So do I." Cadence quickly followed.

We followed them to the edge of the river next to Fluttershy's house. We quickly hid behind Fluttershy's house. I took out my paper and started to take notes.

"Why is he dropping the stuff by the water?" Cadence pointed towards James.

"I don't know, but something tells me that this is worth writing down."

"Twilight... They are coming this way." Cadence whispered.

"Hurry... Move around back so they don't see us." We quickly go around so we wouldn't be seen. I listened as they walked towards us.

"So we can go to Applejack's now. She makes the best apple pie I have ever tasted. I am going to buy myself a pie. If you want one I will buy one for you too." Cadence and I watched as they walked past.

"That would be great. I can't say I have ever had her pies."

"Yeah... You haven't lived until you tried them."

We watched them as they walked further away. Cadence and I quickly followed them. We made sure we were far enough not to get caught, but close enough so we wouldn't lose them.

"So the way they were talking; they must be going to Applejack's farm now." Cadence said.

"That's what I am guessing too." I quickly levitate some writing supplies out and take some notes. "I don't see how they are going to build anything with what they already have. What could they get at Applejack's that they couldn't in town?"

"I don't know, but this is fun. Let's keep watching." Cadence giggled.

We followed them down the path while taking cover in every bush we could. I had no doubt they were going to Applejack's farm now. They quickly made their way up to applejacks house. We watched as Applejack let them inside.

"What do you think they are doing Twilight?" Cadence looked at me.

"I don't know, but we know they are picking up some apple pie." I quickly retrieve my writing supplies again. I started making some notes on where they have went. "Do you thing Applejack might be helping them with the build?"

"I don't know." Cadence put her hoof to her chin. "How much do you want to bet they will be getting some apples for his drink."

"Two bits says he doesn't." I quickly take out my binoculars and watch the house.

"Deal." Cadence giggled.

I continued to watch the house for about ten minutes. I then saw James by the window. It looked like he was talking to somepony, but I couldn't see very well. Shortly after I see James and my brother walking out the door with Applejack. We continued to watch them as they went into the barn.

"What do you think they are doing in the barn together?" Cadence brought her head up for a better view.

"I don't know, but they are coming out." I quickly put away my stuff and watched.

It looked like James was carrying a lot of metal tubes. My brother has a couple of barrels levitating by him. I continued to watch as Applejack handed James a large bag. James swung the bag over his shoulders and started to walk besides my brother.

"What do you think is in the bag?" Cadence poked my side.

"I don't know, but why would they need all that metal tubing? I don't understand his thinking." I put my hoof to my chin. "Why..." I whispered.

"Shh. They are coming closer." Cadence whispered as we listened carefully.

"You think you can to that for me Shining Armor? Your magic would help that process go by much faster. It would be a pain if I had to do it by hand."

"Yeah; I don't mind James. Anything you need."

"So how was that pie? Wasn't it the best you have ever had?" I watched James as he smiled.

"Yeah! You were right on her pies. I almost want to get another one."

"We can go back if you want another. I don't mind it." James smiled.

"No, I couldn't. You have already done so much for me today as it is." Soon after; they were now too far away to hear.

I watched as they made their way down the path. It looked like they were heading back into town.

"That's so sweet." I looked at Cadence as she smiled. "My Shining and your James are getting along very well."

"We are going to lose them; let's go." We quickly ran out from the bush and followed them.

We followed them back into town. They made it back to the river by Fluttershy's house. I watched as they both put their stuff down by the river. It looked like James was talking to my brother, but I couldn't make out what they were talking about. I watched as my brother started to walk to the Everfree Forest. I looked back at James and saw him doing something with his pants. It looked like he was folding the legs up.

"Where do you think he is sending my Shining?" Cadence continued to watch my brother.

"It looks like he is going into the Everfree Forest." I continued to watch James.

James started to walk around in the river. It looked like he was looking for something, but I didn't know what. Shortly after he got in the water; he started to move his hands around. I watched as he started to pick up some large rocks. He tossed them on the bank of the river. He took about fifteen rocks out of the river. Soon after he got out of the water; my brother came back.

"I think they are going to start a fire." I pointed at my brother. "He brought wood with him." I watched James pull something out of his pocket.

"What is that in his hand Twilight?" Cadence pointed at James.

"I don't know. I have never seen it before." I continued to watch as my brother set up the wood.

I watched as James set the stones around the wood. He put his hand down in the fire with that strange shiny object. James suddenly pulled his hands back from the wood.

"What did he do Twilight?" Cadence asked.

"I don't know." I kept watching.

James then bent down to the wood and started to blow at it for some reason. He continued to blow at the wood. He quickly pulled back as the wood quickly burst in flames.

"How did he do that..." I quickly pulled out my writing tools and started to take notes.

"That's impressive... He made a fire with no effort. I must know how he did that." Cadence looked over at my notes.

"Shh. They will hear us." I quickly whispered at Cadence. "It would be meaningless if they find us out now."

James started to prop up one of the barrels above the fire. It looked like he was using rocks to hold it up. I looked over at my brother and saw him bending a tube in an odd spiral shape. I looked back at James and saw him filling the barrel up with water. He then added the bags into the barrel. My brother quickly attached a straight tube to the barrel. He angled it downward and attached the spiral tube. I looked back at James and he was adding apples to the barrel.

"Ha! I win Twilight." Cadence said with pride.

"Yeah..." I took two bits out of my bag and levitated them to Cadence. I looked back over at James.

It looked like he is putting the other tubes in the water. James gently placed the tube over the one attached to the barrel. I quickly get my binoculars and looked at the tube. I could see water dripping from the tube. I watched as James walked over and laid down under the spiral tube. It was strange; only steam was coming out of the tube. How could he drink steam?

I continued to watch James as he waved his hand at my brother. I watched as my brother lowered the tube further into the water. Soon after; water poured over the tubes. I looked back at James as he quickly got up. It looked like water was now dripping from the spiral tube. James quickly moved the second barrel under the dripping water. I watched as both my brother and James started to walk towards us. We listened quietly as they walked past us.

"That worked a lot better than expected!" James smiled. "As soon as we get our cups; we can have a celebratory drink! How about it Shining Armor!?"

"That would be great!" Shining Armor and James both passed us.

"What should we do Twilight?" Cadence asked.

"We should wait. They will be back soon."

We waited for about five minutes. James had four cups in his hands. I watched as they returned to the thing making water. James put three cups on the ground. I continued to watch as James dipped one cup in the barrel. He then picked up another cup and poured some water in the other cup. He handed the cup to my brother. I watched as they both tapped each other's cups and quickly drink the water.

"Whoo hoo! That's good!" James yelled. "Hey Twilight, Cadence! You want to join us!" James waved in our direction.

"How did he know?" I looked at Cadence as she walked out from the bush. I followed Cadence out from the bush and down towards James.

"So how are the both of you?" I smiled at Twilight.

"How did you know we were following you James?" Twilight sounded disappointed.

"I didn't." I chuckled a little. "I just had this nagging feeling of being watched, so I gave it a try."

"But you waved straight at us. If you didn't know; how did you know where we were?" Twilight looked at me for an answer.

"It's simple Twilight." I gave her a smile. "There is only one side of the river people can hide in." I pointed to the forest. "I don't think you would want to hide in the Everfree Forest, so I did the next best thing." I looked at Twilight, as she looked at me in shock.

"That's not fair!" Twilight started to get angry.

"No point getting angry Twilight." I laughed. "You want to smell the drink and see if you like it?" I offered her my cup.

"Sure." Twilight levitated my cup up to her nose.

I watched as she smelled the cup. I couldn't help but to laugh when she quickly pulled it away.

"I didn't think you would like it." I held my hand out for my cup.

"Why would you drink something that awful!" Twilight looked inside the cup.

"It's a drink that helps people relax. It's nice to relax at the end of the day. Some people have beer and others like harder drinks." I smiled while still holding my hand out for the cup.

I watched her as she swished the cup around. She looked up at me and then back to the cup. She then quickly drank my moon shine in one gulp.

"What the hell are you doing Twilight!" I quickly grabbed the cup. I watched as she started to cough.

"Why does it burn?..." Twilight continued to cough.

"It probably wouldn't have burned that bad if you hadn't drank a whole cup..." I put my cup by the barrel. "You are supposed to drink it slowly Twilight." I turned to Cadence. "Do you want to try some? Or did Twilight scare you out of it?" I smiled while holding up a cup.

"I will give it a taste." I watched as the cup glowed baby blue and floated towards Cadence.

"I feel funny James..." Twilight said while wobbling.

"Just lay down for a bit Twilight." I walked over to her and helped her down. "You are a real light weight." I laughed.

"Are you making fun of me?" Twilight gave me a funny look.

"Not at all!" I laughed and looked at Cadence. "How is it Cadence?"

"I don't know." Cadence wrinkled her nose. "It burns, but the after taste of apples are wonderful." She levitated the cut by the barrel. "I never tasted anything like it before."

"You mind helping me get Twilight to the house Shining Armor." I asked.

"Not at all." Shining Armor smiled.

Shining Armor and I helped Twilight to her feet. We made our way back to Twilight's house. It was a slow and wobbly process, but we managed to get Twilight to the house. We helped her up the stairs and I put her in bed.

"I am going to get my moon shine before it gets too dark." I made my way down the stairs and grabbed a couple canteens. "I will be back soon." I quickly ran out the door.

"So you and James are getting along very well." Cadence smiled.

"Yeah; he is a good guy. He has a strange taste in drinks, but I think I could come to like it." Shining Armor smiled.

"You are weird Shining." Cadence smiled. "I think I am going to call it a day. All this spying made me tired."

"I don't blame you." Shining Armor smiled. "I think I will get some sleep too."

"Good night Shining." Cadence said with a smile while getting in the bed.

"See you in the morning." Shining Armor gave cadence a smile before going to sleep.