As The Songbird Singsby chief maximusChaptersArrivalHeads Or Tails?*Mr. Bird The Unbroken CircleDeal With the DevilsThe Monster From the ForestArrivalPrologue "What?" said Apple Bloom in disbelief. "You mean ta tell me y'all have never heard the story of the yellow-eyed pony eater?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat opposite the campfire beneath the starry night sky. "I can't say I have..." Scootaloo replied, now well over her fear of ghost stories. Besides, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were a few paces away, asleep in their tents. They would surely scare away any 'yellow-eyed pony eaters' that might happen by. Apple Bloom smiled, glad it was finally her turn to tell a scary story Sweetie Belle couldn't ruin by giving away the ending. "Good." She dimmed the lamp and put on her scariest story telling face. "A long time ago, when Ponyville was still just a few farms and a fruit stand, my granny said she'd hear something shriek out in the woods!" Her two friends sat quietly. "She'd tell me her Pa had always said that if you leave the woods alone, it'll leave you alone. He said there were things in Whitetail Woods that no pony need mess with—not even the princesses themselves!" "Wait, hold on a second," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "You're tellin' me something in these woods is too scary even for the princesses?" She shot Apple Bloom a skeptical stare. "I don't believe it." Apple Bloom's face twisted in frustration. "Ah let you finish that lame story about split-ends that no shampoo could ever cure! The least you could do is let me tell my story!" Scootaloo chuckled behind her hoof as Sweetie Belle folded her forelegs in a pout. "Thank you. Now, like Ah was sayin', somethin' just awful lived in them woods, and sometimes ponies heard a terrible noise nopony could explain! Everypony was content ta just let it be... until one night, it came out of the woods!" Apple Bloom waved her forelegs menacingly, making both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jump. "Granny says that one night, during the harvest festival, Mr. Carrot had a brand new organ he’d wheeled out ta play so everypony could dance. Everythin' was fine for the first few hours, but as the cider started flowin', the shriek of the yellow-eyed pony eater echoed from the woods!" Her friends were now leaning forward a bit, their faces in eerie shadow as the fire began to die. "Everypony just ignored it at first, but nopony had ever heard it so close before. Then, out of nowhere, it flew out of the sky!" "Hang on, so it can fly now?" Scootaloo asked flatly. "Yes, it can fly. Now hush, and let me finish my story!" Apple Bloom demanded. "Anyway, it flew out of the woods, and all anypony could see were its yellow eyes! Some swore they were red! But, since it was dark, nopony could get a clear look at it, until it swooped down and smashed Mr. Carrot’s organ into a million pieces! Granny says she saw it for a half-second, but what she saw was somethin' so horrible, she'd wished she'd stayed home that night! It had big wings, like a dragons, but it was shaped like a giant sparrow. 'Cept it had four legs, like a pony! But on the end of its legs were horrible claws that could rip a stallion in half!" Sweetie and Scootaloo gasped. "Granny said it cast one of them yellow eyes on her, and it was all she could do to hide beneath an apple cart until it left. Nopony ever talks about it, and hardly anypony believes it anymore, but Ah can tell ya, you won't find none of the old folks campin' out here." Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. "So, is that it?" Apple Bloom's expression fell. "N-no, she also told me he likes ta eat the horns right off unicorn's heads!" "No!" Sweetie Belle covered her small horn with both hooves. "Yes! And he'll gobble up pegasi wings for dessert!" Scootaloo drew her tiny wings close to her sides. "But I haven't even gotten them to work yet!" "All right, that's enough, Apple Bloom," Applejack said from her tent, her sudden intrusion startling all three fillies. "Quit scarin' your friends with Granny's old ghost stories and come ta bed." "But Granny said that one really happened!" she protested. Applejack rolled her eyes. "Granny says a lot of things, sugarcube. Now c'mon ta bed. That goes for the rest of y’all." Apple Bloom entered the tent she shared with her sister, settling in to her sleeping bag. Once Applejack zipped up the flap and got comfortable, she whispered, "So, are you sayin' Granny wasn't tellin' me the truth?" Her older sister rolled over and smiled. "Naw, darlin'. Granny just has trouble rememberin' things right sometimes. She wouldn't lie to ya on purpose." Only the chirping of the crickets filled the tent for a moment before Apple Bloom spoke again. "So... do you think the yellow-eyed pony eater is real?" Applejack laughed. "No sugarcube, he ain't real. It may have just been a dragon. There were a lot more of them roamin' around back then, ya know." "Okay..." Apple Bloom sighed, rolling over in her sleeping bag. "G'night, AJ." "Goodnight, Apple Bloom." She closed her eyes but hardly managed five minutes of sleep before she swore she heard a faint, barely audible shriek echo through the woods. A flash of lightning illuminated the cobblestone streets of Canterlot as torrential rain poured down on the capital. After a second flash, two ponies appeared in the middle of the street. They sported lightly tanned coats, almost khaki in color, as well as auburn manes. The mare wore a rather old-fashioned, olive green dress and emerald tie, while the stallion wore a similarly colored sport coat and tie. One could be forgiven for thinking they were twins. "Well, this is a fine spot for us to arrive," she said, looking toward her companion. "Oh my." He glanced over his female counterpart. "’Oh my’ indeed. It appears this place is much different from the others." "I must agree. Curious that he would have been sent to such a peculiar place, brother." He nodded, their manes still inexplicably dry and tame in the harsh weather. "Curious indeed. I can hardly imagine such a locale. A world in which equines are the dominate species," he mused. "Still, probability allows for all types of alternates. I suppose ones we haven't considered are still viable." She looked down the empty street in both directions. "Perhaps we should make our way to an inn. This weather is simply dreadful." "Assuming these creatures are familiar with such concepts," the stallion beside her commented. She smiled at his assumption. "Come now, brother, they've built a city; surely they would have need of an inn. Let us hope it is not a mere stable." A crack of thunder startled Celestia from her slumber. Her wide eyes sagged as she realized what had awakened her. Though she knew it necessary, nighttime thunderstorms were of the most annoying variety. However, she had approved it herself, so she had nopony to blame. She stared at the top of her four-poster bed, trying to will her eyes closed again. Two more flashes illuminated her chambers. She bolted upright in bed. Something was... wrong. The feeling had hit her like so many bolts of lightning outside her window. Alien though the feeling was, something about it felt... familiar. Yes, that's what she'd call it. Familiar. She pondered for a moment. Where had this fleeting familiarity come from? It was not recent, that much she knew for certain. Perhaps nearly a century ago—not an obscene amount of time for somepony who'd lived for as long as she had, but certainly a considerable length for her subjects. It was a feeling as though something was in Equestria that didn't belong. Two somethings, if she had to guess. But what? However, these things—whatever they were—did not mean Equestria harm. Or so she felt. Her thousands of years of life had endowed her with a near sixth sense for danger. Even during times when it appeared to all others that she was oblivious, she could sense an upcoming event. Whether it was beneficial, like her student’s ascension to princess-hood, or detrimental, like the changeling attack, remained to be seen. Celestia got out of bed, a guard swiftly knocking on the door upon hearing her hoofsteps on the marble flooring. "Your Highness, is everything alright?" he called from beyond the door. "Yes, everything is fine," Celestia replied. She levitated her royal regalia onto her hooves, neck and head before opening the door to her bedchamber. "Your Majesty!" one of her guards yelped in surprise. "The sun is not due up for another five hours. Is there something we may do to aid your sleep?" "No, I shall be in the library. You are to retrieve me when it is time for the dawn to break." They snapped a crisp salute. "Yes, Your Highness." Celestia trotted down the hallway. The feeling she'd experienced began to fade, though that certainly did not mean the things that didn't belong had left. She did not know from whence these feelings came, but she would certainly find out. "Well, that was certainly unnecessary. Why couldn't we have just gone here in the first place?" The stallion and mare stepped into the lobby of a small inn on the eastern side of Canterlot. The front desk attendant pulled himself from his magazine to find both ponies looked remarkably similar. "Because this is the only timeline in which the Songbird exists. No others, or did you forget the last ninety-seven years of our search?" she asked, as they both bickered in the lobby. The stallion stifled a chuckle. "Ah, surely you of all people—er... horses, recall the passage of time is merely—" "A matter of perspective? Recall who you're talking to," she quipped. The pony behind the front desk took the lull in their conversation to address them. "You two looking to rent a room?" he asked. They turned slowly toward him, then faced each other once more. "It appears as though they speak the King's English. I suppose you win again," the mare said calmly. "You know, it's just not as satisfying as I envisioned." "Yes, well, they can't all be, can they?" The desk pony cleared his throat rather loudly. "So is that a 'yes' or...?" "Perhaps we should take care of this," the stallion suggested. "Perhaps you're correct." She stepped to the desk and glanced at the attendant. "Yes, we would like a room for exactly one night." He smiled. Now they were getting somewhere! "No problem. That'll be ten bits." She looked back to her stallion companion. "I don't suppose we have any 'bits' do we?" The look on the stallions face was one of mild surprise. "A variable we hadn't accounted for? Impossible." She sighed, turning back toward the attendant before digging a purse out of her dress. "Well then I suppose this will have to do." She dropped ten large, silver coins onto the desk. The night shift pony stared at the coins blankly. They seemed to have a large eagle on one side, and a... thing on the other, he wasn't sure what. He certainly had no time for games, however. "Look lady, it's ten bits, as in Equestrian money," he insisted. "Now if you don't have any, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you." The mare looked back at the stallion. "Well then, I suppose we'll have to go with our contingency plan, won't we?" "It appears that way. It seems you've won this round," he admitted with a sigh. She turned back to the innkeeper. "Tell me, if we had these 'bits' which room would you have given us?" He was a bit taken aback by the request, but saw no harm in answering. After all, without a key, they weren't getting inside anyway. He glanced down at his registry book, reading off his next available room. "Uhm... it's room 110, but I don't know why..." When he looked up, the two ponies had vanished. He hadn't heard the door open, nor heard hoofsteps leave the lobby. "Huh... no wonder nopony wants to work the night shift..." Heads Or Tails?*Heads Or Tails?* Heads Or Tails? "I've made it quite clear I don't support this experiment," she said, laying on the bed of the room they'd occupied. The rain continued to pour, but the innkeeper was none the wiser as to their commandeering of his space. "You were just as unsupportive the last time, Rosalind," he replied. "And just look how splendidly that turned out." She turned her nose upwards as she munched on the complimentary peanuts provided on the bed. "Yes, well, I'd hardly call a dead man a resolute success." Her stallion companion sat quietly across from her in an dusty armchair, reading a book titled: A Brief History of Equestria "Lest we forget the reason the man had to die in the first place?" He shot an accusing glance at her before continuing to read his book. "Let's leave the past where it belongs, shall we?" He nodded silently. "What have you discovered about this place?" she asked. "Quite a bit. As we earlier theorized, equine creatures are intelligent, but not exactly the dominant species; at least, not as men are where we've been." He closed the book and set it on his lap. "In fact, these creatures refer to themselves not as horses, but ponies." Rosalind raised her eyebrows and flicked her tail. "I must admit, the term fits. By chance, did you notice the mark on the innkeeper’s flank?" "Indeed, it is the mark of a special talent that pony possesses. Similar to the caste system of India, though not as rigid, it seems." She hummed in comprehension as he continued. "It appears they are ruled by a diarchy. Two creatures with both the wings of a pegasus and the horn of a unicorn, as we seem to have. The purpose of these horns seem to be... magic." She couldn't help but laugh. "Magic? Have you gone mad?" "Perhaps there is a scientific explanation, but in the context of this book, it simply states that unicorns are magic." "So am I to suppose we're magic?" He smiled gently. "I suppose so." "Curious," she replied, eating a few more peanuts from a pile that seemed to never grow any smaller. "I suppose we would seem magic to the uneducated. After all, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "I daresay Arthur C. Clarke has not said that yet," Rosalind replied. Ignoring her criticism, he continued to relay his findings. "It also appears these creatures name their offspring either using one word or two—usually a series of nouns and actions." "Well, I assure I won't be changing my name." "I don't know, I might give it a try," he said, relaxing in the armchair. "Robert is such a dull name." "Nonsense. It's the proper name of a gentlemen," she countered. "Semantics aside, is it time yet for us to meet the royalty?" She checked the clock on the wall of their room. "Not yet. It will be a few more hours now." Robert moaned. "It certainly is an inconvenience to wait on time." She popped a few more peanuts in her mouth and replied. "Indeed." Fluttershy was lost. No two ways about it. Worse still, it was dark. Ordinarily, she wasn't one to get lost in the woods. She knew her way around the Everfree almost as well as the animals that lived there. Fluttershy hadn't spent too much time in the Whitetail Woods, but she had enough to know the tastiest mushrooms could only be found there. That, and a particular variety of cabbage Angel seemed to love. Unfortunately, she'd deviated from her standard route into the forest and gotten hopelessly turned around. She was certain she'd never gone this far before. In fact, now that it was dark, she doubted she'd recognize a familiar landmark if she came across one. She'd pulled a muscle trying to catch a trio of eagle chicks from falling out of their nest earlier in the week. It was nearly healed, but the doctor had recommended she not fly for at least two. The order was not something she had a problem following. Unlike Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was patient. Ordinarily, she took walks in the woods to ease her nerves, and this time was no exception. Though she was a friend to all creatures, she couldn't deny that some of her nocturnal friends could be quite scary. Their calls were unusual and their eyes usually reflected any light. Though she knew they meant her no harm, the thought did little to calm her nerves. As she tread carefully through the underbrush, Fluttershy noticed her hoofsteps being echoed by something behind her. She was being followed. Fluttershy turned quickly and called out into the dark underbrush, only a few mushrooms and a head of cabbage to offer her attacker in exchange for her life. "H-hello?" Her call received no reply. She stared into the darkness for a moment longer before deciding to continue onward. Though Pinkie's song about giggling at what scares you echoed in her ears, it did little to assuage her fear. After a few more shivering steps, the following began again. Before she knew it, she had broken into a run, her pursuer keeping up with her just as easily as she fled through the underbrush. Limbs and wiry branches snagged and grabbed at her wings and mane, though she sprinted through the pain. Fluttershy wished she'd taken up Rainbow on her offers to train with her, as soon she found herself out of breath and beginning to slow down. Her hoof caught on a root, and she skidded against the dirt, cutting her face against the twigs and rocks on the ground. With a whimper, she brought herself to her hooves, turning to face her attacker with nowhere else to run. Out of the darkness stepped a timberwolf. Its loose twigs and branches jutted out in all directions as it took a step forward, wooden fangs bared. She knew very well timberwolves had no interest in vegetables or fungi. She squealed piercingly as the timberwolf swiped a paw across her body, flinging her into the underbrush and causing her cries to change pitch as she tumbled. The air now completely out of her lungs, she gasped for breath as the hungry creature began towards her. "P-please Mr. timberwolf... I don't mean to hurt you..." she gasped, though her pleas fell on deaf ears. She could feel the hot breath of the beast over her face as it prepared to make a meal of her. Then, as if it came from the forest itself, a shriek like that of an eagle, falcon, and buzzard all mixed into one split the quiet night. The timberwolf froze in place, looking toward the sky in time to see a bright red eye swooping down from the heavens. The silver glow of the moon illuminated the dragon-sized creature’s bat-like wings and bird-like head. Fluttershy caught a glimpse in slow motion of the massive thing from the sky as it snatched the timberwolf in its claws and took it a few feet into the air before ripping it in two, showering her with splinters and twigs. She watched in terror as the beast circled around for another pass, landing with an earth shattering thud on the ground next to her. It seemed to look at her closely, its head moving like a pigeon's would; in short, punctuated movements as an eerie light shone from its eyes. The creature’s body was like nothing she'd ever seen. It was dark, no fur to be seen. No feathers, either. A few areas seemed to be held on by belts and clasps. Was this... a real animal? Was she seeing this thing correctly? The sickeningly mechanical sound of metal on metal echoed through the woods as the creature's eyes went from red, to yellow, and then to green. The light intensity never changed, but the colors certainly had. Whether through confusion or sheer terror, Fluttershy lost consciousness. The last thing she remembered was the creature's cold grip around her sore torso. Celestia had studied early into the morning, though it was still not time for the daylight to arrive. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep during her research. It seemed her faithful student was a bit more well suited for late night reading than a thousand year old princess. Curiously, she was awakened not by one of her guards, as requested, but by... music. A repetitive song being played by a pipe organ of all things! In a library! She shook the sleep from her eyes and began to trace the source of the noise. As far as she knew, there were no organs in the library. Or anywhere in the castle, for that matter. Thought the storm had cleared, the sound of a light rain still echoed around the library as she peered down a long hallway. At the end, sat one pony in an olive dress, while another stood by the organ, seeming to criticize her playing. As Celestia approached, they seemed to be arguing. "I've already told you, it's 'C', 'A', 'G', and then 'E'. How can you not remember this when I can?" he asked. "It has been a long time since I've needed to play it, you know," she replied, not at all ruffled by his criticisms. "Just what do the two of you think you're doing playing an organ in my library?" Celestia demanded. How had they even managed to get such a large instrument inside in the first place? The mare on the organ bench checked a watch on her foreleg. "Oh dear, it seems it's about that time, brother." "Time for us to meet a diarch?" he asked, paying Celestia no attention. "Time indeed." They turned to face her, extremely calm in the face of the unamused deity. "Princess Celestia, is it?" she asked with complete disregard for proper etiquette. Celestia was about to reprimand them for addressing royalty in such a casual manner, especially after trespassing in the private library, when the feeling of unease she'd felt in her chamber came rushing back. "You... you two are the things that don't belong..." she whispered. They glanced at each other with a smile. "She's sharper than we gave credit," the stallion said. "Quite, but I suppose it wouldn't be the first time we underestimated someone's intelligence," she replied. "You two are not ponies, are you?" Celestia asked. "Right you are, Your Majesty," Rosalind answered. "We're travelers... of a sort. It is safe to assume that we are not from around here." "From a considerable distance, in fact," the stallion added. "But we've come here—" "To give you something. We have researched the troubles of your kingdom, and we know of the encroaching nations of the other species looking with envious eyes towards the lands your people—er... ponies claim." Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What do you know of the struggles of my kingdom?" "We know that you cannot defend the kingdom by yourself, and without an army to match the empires that threaten you, your kind will need a weapon to use for defense—" "Or perhaps offense," Rosalind completed. "What you do with the weapon we give to you is entirely up to you." The princess was growing tired of their cryptic talk. "What weapon? Speak plainly, or I shall have you imprisoned!" The duo simply smiled at her, as though she had told a mildly amusing joke. "Come now, no need for that. We have what you need right here. But before we give it to you, we must ask you a question," said the stallion. "Heads or tails?" The princess grew more irritated, though they insisted they would give her this fantastic new weapon, so long as she answered this simple question. She paused for a moment. Looking at the coin being held out to her, and then back to the two unicorns. "Heads." She flipped the coin, the strange pair allowing it to land on the ground. "Heads it is," the stallion said smugly. "Not as satisfying as it usually is, honestly." "How can heads be a constant, even in this universe?" the mare complained. "If you’re going to be a sore loser, I won't participate again," he replied before facing the princess. "Here is the key to your weapon." He levitated a small piece of parchment with four letters written on it. Celestia briefly stared down at it. Cage? she thought to herself. "What does this—" By the time she'd raised her head, the two ponies had vanished. Celestia scoured the library, sensing no trace of a teleportation spell. She even called in her guards to search the premises, but they found nothing. Celestia took the parchment back to her chambers, wondering whom she'd just encountered, and how the word cage could be the key to any weapon. Mr. Bird Mr. Bird Mr. Bird Fluttershy's head pounded sharply, her skull throbbing with every jolt. As her senses came back to her, she felt cold stone on her back and beneath her awkwardly positioned wings. Her eyes flittered open, squinting against the bright rays of the early morning sun. As the world came into focus, she realized she was in a cave. An east-facing cave, but a cave nonetheless. Ignoring her headache, she tried to get to her hooves. Her ribs hurt as she gasped, collapsing onto her belly causing her even more pain. She tried to recall the events leading up to this point. She seemed to remember running from something... a timberwolf! She had been out foraging and gotten lost! Unfortunately, that was all she could remember. Her ribs ached with each breath she drew too deeply. Her muscles were sore, but no more than if she'd run a long distance. Fluttershy glanced around the cave. It seemed like something lived here, but she wasn't sure what. There was no hoard of gold or jewels, so she could rule out a dragon. However, there was something that struck her as odd. In the corner, there seemed to be a straw figure of some kind, though it wasn't a pony, or any creature's form she was familiar with. It seemed to stand the way Spike stood, on his hind legs, freeing up his arms. Except, this thing wore something blue over its straw body; tattered pieces of blue cloth made into what looked like a primitive garment. Darker straw rested at what she guessed was the figure's head, but it lacked a face, ears, or fingers. Other than the odd creation, there was not much in the cave, just a few shiny gems neatly arranged in piles and a large straw bed with a depression in the middle, resembling a nest of some kind. Fluttershy looked behind her, and to her surprise and joy, her saddlebags lay against the cave wall. Whatever creature had taken her here was kind enough to leave them for her. She scurried to her bags and sighed in relief. The few provisions she'd managed to find before her encounter were still there. Fluttershy wolfed down the mushrooms and cabbages she'd meant to share with Angel upon her return to the cabin. She'd hope the little bunny would understand, given her situation. She stretched her legs as best she could manage before stepping toward the mouth of the cave. The sun illuminated the landscape, revealing that the road she'd lost track of was only a few hours away! Unfortunately, the cave was on the side of a rather high rocky outcropping. She'd have to fly down, but she knew her wings were still not up to their full strength. As she contemplated her choices, a familiar shriek echoed through the forest. She nearly jumped out of her coat, and decided that this time, her wings would just have to take one for the team. Fluttershy opened her sore wings and glided off the cliff face, landing in a clearing and mumbling gentle 'ow' and 'oh's to herself as she carefully folded her wings beside her. She took one last glance toward the mouth of the cave in time to see a black and brown blur fly inside. Her heart jumping to her throat, she galloped with as much strength as she could muster in the direction of the road. If I could only get back to it, I could get somepony's help! she thought, running as fast as she'd ever recalled, though her legs demanded she stop. Another ear-splitting shriek echoed out of the cave. Fluttershy continued running, not daring to look behind her. All she had to do was make it to the road! Surely a passing merchant or pony would be traveling along it! As she darted through a clearing, a shadow overtook her, growing larger with each passing second. She turned to face the sun, the massive wings of the creature she'd seen only minutes before heading straight towards her, its talons forward, ready to snatch her from the earth and take her back to its lair. Fluttershy froze. Her breath caught in her throat and she could do little more than whimper, only able to brace for the cold metal talons sure to cut through her. "But who would want to kidnap Fluttershy? It's not like she's rich or anything." Rainbow asked, hovering above her gathered friends in Twilight's library home. Twilight's wings fluttered nervously. "That's the troubling part. Whomever did this would have to know the Princesses would get involved in finding a vital part of Equestrian national security. I can't think of a single kingdom or empire that would risk a conflict with us..." "Oh, but what if she's in trouble right now, and we're just standing here talking?" Pinkie suggested frantically. "We all want Fluttershy back safely, but we simply can't charge in without a plan," Rarity cautioned. "Although, even if we did have a plan, we still don't know where to charge." "I still think she just got lost. I mean, she went to Whitetail Woods! The deep part," Dash explained. "When we were camping, we were just on the edge!" "Well, lost or not, if that's her last known location, then that's where we should start," Twilight suggested. "Everypony on board?" They nodded. "Then it's settled. Spike, can you hold down the library while we're gone?" Twilight asked, as Spike saluted. "I'll also make sure Princess Celestia knows where you're going in case you need help," he said dutifully. "Right, then let's go find Fluttershy!" Celestia scribbled her signature on one document after another. Such was the menial work of a ruler. Though she tried to comprehend the recommended tax adjustments to the sale of grass fifty bales or over she simply couldn't get those odd ponies out of her mind. The notecard they'd given her still sat on her dresser, taunting her with its simplistic message. She tore her eyes away from it, forcing herself to review the next item in her docket. It seems unverified groups of griffon bandits had been harassing her subjects near the border her kingdom shared with the Grifaria. She knew the griffon high command would never acknowledge the training and arming of such disruptive forces, but the townspony's insistence on the added security of an army division would no doubt stoke Grifarian suspicions of an invasion. Celestia had no plans whatsoever to invade what amounted to a rocky spit of a country with little strategic or material value, but far be it for them to believe her. The griffons would be no problem in an all-out war. It was their backers, the dragon territories, that could turn the tide of a conflict. The dragons didn't like griffons, but knew they were relatively harmless. However, the dragons saw a united pony-kind as a threat, should they ever get on bad terms. Thus a defensive pact was formed. Celestia was sure it would be honored by either side. Undeterred, Celestia authorized a division of infantry to be stationed at Amalga, a border town receiving the brunt of the harassment. After the flourish of her signature, she sat back on her cushion, releasing a heavy sigh. Once again, she found herself staring at the parchment the strange unicorns had given her. When she rang her bell, a guard appeared snappily by her door. "Yes, Your Highness?" "Is that organ still in the library?" The guard searched his thoughts briefly before answering. "I believe it is." "Assemble it in my conservatory," she insisted, looking out over the gardens beyond the window of the royal study. "And fetch my afternoon tea." "As you wish, Your Highness." The guard took his leave just as a scroll wrapped in a green flame appeared in front of her. Fluttershy marveled at the surprising softness of the creature's grip. It had fingers, like Spike or a griffon would, except they were more round and certainly softer. As she flew over the landscape, she looked up toward the thing carrying her. In the daylight, it was not as terrifying as before. It was otherworldly, and certainly still scary, but not faint-inducing. It seemed to have a bird’s head and wings, though without feathers. The smoothness of its skin was like that of a cow's hide, except hairless. A few buckles and clasps held on what appeared to be gloves and boots, though from the looks of them, she doubted they'd ever been removed. A curious thing about the creature was the hose running from where a bird's beak would be. It ran along his back to parts unknown, but by far the most interesting feature was its eyes. They cast an eerie glow from behind a glass lens, and Fluttershy recalled they'd had the ability to change color, somehow. Before she could continue her analysis, they landed in the cave. The beast set down with a thud, though it was very careful to let Fluttershy walk under her own power back inside. It seemed to have prepared a smaller nest for her. Fluttershy took a few cautious steps back into its lair, glancing at the nest she assumed was hers. "Uhm... thank you for the nest Mr..." She hadn't thought about what to call this thing up until now. "Bird." Not exactly creative, but it would have to do for now. Besides, it didn't seem like Mr. Bird was in any position to do much talking. He took a step toward her, his yellow eyes switching over to green in the mechanical crunch she'd recognized from the night before. “You're certainly more docile this way..." she commented. He folded his wings and hopped as a pigeon would, sending soft vibrations into Fluttershy's hooves. He dug into the larger circle of hay with his beak. Before long, he'd produced a number of berries, edible grasses, and—to Fluttershy's horror—a few small, dead mammals. He nudged them towards her with his head, before hopping back and turning towards the peculiar figure Fluttershy had noticed earlier when she'd first awoken. She smiled. She couldn't deny she was hungry, and certainly wouldn't say no to the berries and grasses. She quickly downed her meager meal while leaving the dead creatures and trying not to think about how much she hated seeing dead animals. Mr. Bird turned back from admiring figure. His sharp, punctuated movements turned his eye from his offering to his captive. "I-it was really quite good... except, well... I don't eat other animals." He seemed to realize she would not partake the rest, as he scooped up the two squirrels and a fox and hurled them out of the cave, much to Fluttershy's shock. She'd at least wanted to give them a proper burial! The beast thought nothing of it as he went on puttering about his lair, adjusting and scrutinizing his various treasures. Only then did Fluttershy realize that among those treasures was something quite peculiar. "Are those..." She squinted, not wanting to move from her nest, lest she upset Mr. Bird. "Books?" “Alright, I think the quickest way we're going to find Fluttershy is if we search in teams." Twilight instructed as the group arrived on the edge of the Whitetail Woods. "Since there are only five of us, somepony will have to stay here, in case Fluttershy finds her way out. Any volunteers?" Rarity was about to raise a hoof before Pinkie beat her to it. "Oh! Me! I'll have a picnic ready for us by the time you girls find her! And if she finds her own way, they we'll have a picnic while we wait for you!" "Okay then." Twilight nodded. "Applejack, you're with me. Rarity, you're with Rainbow. Meet back here by sundown." The teams split up, Rarity stifling her complaints about traipsing through the dirt and withholding her gripes about Pinkie raising her hoof faster than she was able. "How on earth could Fluttershy get lost in the woods?" she asked as Rainbow hovered a few feet above her. "Ya got me. She spends more time in them than anypony," she grumbled. After all, she'd skipped a valuable day of practice to look for Fluttershy! Not that she didn't hope she was okay, but at the same time, she wanted a pretty good explanation for having her routine interrupted. "You... you don't think she's hurt out here, do you?" Rarity asked as they continued down a marked path. "Nah, she can practically talk to animals!" Dash reasoned. "If she ever got hurt, I'd expect her to get a grizzly to carry her to the hospital on its back before just leaving her there." Rarity hummed in agreement as they continued deeper into the woods. The further they journeyed, the deeper an intrusive thought began to creep into their minds. Rainbow dropped to the ground beside Rarity to walk beside her, the dense foliage making flying difficult below the treetops. What if Fluttershy wasn't okay? Suppose something happened to her? Rarity shook the intrusive thought from her head. For what felt like hours, they walked in silence. Eventually, Rarity stopped, and Dash bumped her flank. Before she could protest, Rarity's put a hoof over her mouth then twitched her ears. "Do you hear that?" She removed her hoof as Dash listened intently. "Is... is that... music?" Dash asked. "It sounds like it. But, what on earth would music be doing playing out here? We must be miles from civilization!" Rarity wondered. Rainbow took a few steps ahead of Rarity. "Only one way to find out." She followed the sounds like a bloodhound on the trail of a fugitive before coming to a small clearing. A phonograph sat spinning idly in the clearing while a mare and a stallion in very proper dress attire danced as though they were at the gala itself. No camping equipment, not outdoor gear, and no way to indicate how they'd managed to drag a phonograph this far into the dense woods. They seemed not to notice the interlopers as they continued their waltz, all while carrying on a conversation only they could hear. "Uh... excuse me? You guys seen a yellow pegasus come by here?" The Unbroken CircleSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Deal With the DevilsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.The Monster From the ForestSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
ArrivalPrologue "What?" said Apple Bloom in disbelief. "You mean ta tell me y'all have never heard the story of the yellow-eyed pony eater?" Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat opposite the campfire beneath the starry night sky. "I can't say I have..." Scootaloo replied, now well over her fear of ghost stories. Besides, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were a few paces away, asleep in their tents. They would surely scare away any 'yellow-eyed pony eaters' that might happen by. Apple Bloom smiled, glad it was finally her turn to tell a scary story Sweetie Belle couldn't ruin by giving away the ending. "Good." She dimmed the lamp and put on her scariest story telling face. "A long time ago, when Ponyville was still just a few farms and a fruit stand, my granny said she'd hear something shriek out in the woods!" Her two friends sat quietly. "She'd tell me her Pa had always said that if you leave the woods alone, it'll leave you alone. He said there were things in Whitetail Woods that no pony need mess with—not even the princesses themselves!" "Wait, hold on a second," Sweetie Belle interrupted. "You're tellin' me something in these woods is too scary even for the princesses?" She shot Apple Bloom a skeptical stare. "I don't believe it." Apple Bloom's face twisted in frustration. "Ah let you finish that lame story about split-ends that no shampoo could ever cure! The least you could do is let me tell my story!" Scootaloo chuckled behind her hoof as Sweetie Belle folded her forelegs in a pout. "Thank you. Now, like Ah was sayin', somethin' just awful lived in them woods, and sometimes ponies heard a terrible noise nopony could explain! Everypony was content ta just let it be... until one night, it came out of the woods!" Apple Bloom waved her forelegs menacingly, making both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jump. "Granny says that one night, during the harvest festival, Mr. Carrot had a brand new organ he’d wheeled out ta play so everypony could dance. Everythin' was fine for the first few hours, but as the cider started flowin', the shriek of the yellow-eyed pony eater echoed from the woods!" Her friends were now leaning forward a bit, their faces in eerie shadow as the fire began to die. "Everypony just ignored it at first, but nopony had ever heard it so close before. Then, out of nowhere, it flew out of the sky!" "Hang on, so it can fly now?" Scootaloo asked flatly. "Yes, it can fly. Now hush, and let me finish my story!" Apple Bloom demanded. "Anyway, it flew out of the woods, and all anypony could see were its yellow eyes! Some swore they were red! But, since it was dark, nopony could get a clear look at it, until it swooped down and smashed Mr. Carrot’s organ into a million pieces! Granny says she saw it for a half-second, but what she saw was somethin' so horrible, she'd wished she'd stayed home that night! It had big wings, like a dragons, but it was shaped like a giant sparrow. 'Cept it had four legs, like a pony! But on the end of its legs were horrible claws that could rip a stallion in half!" Sweetie and Scootaloo gasped. "Granny said it cast one of them yellow eyes on her, and it was all she could do to hide beneath an apple cart until it left. Nopony ever talks about it, and hardly anypony believes it anymore, but Ah can tell ya, you won't find none of the old folks campin' out here." Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow. "So, is that it?" Apple Bloom's expression fell. "N-no, she also told me he likes ta eat the horns right off unicorn's heads!" "No!" Sweetie Belle covered her small horn with both hooves. "Yes! And he'll gobble up pegasi wings for dessert!" Scootaloo drew her tiny wings close to her sides. "But I haven't even gotten them to work yet!" "All right, that's enough, Apple Bloom," Applejack said from her tent, her sudden intrusion startling all three fillies. "Quit scarin' your friends with Granny's old ghost stories and come ta bed." "But Granny said that one really happened!" she protested. Applejack rolled her eyes. "Granny says a lot of things, sugarcube. Now c'mon ta bed. That goes for the rest of y’all." Apple Bloom entered the tent she shared with her sister, settling in to her sleeping bag. Once Applejack zipped up the flap and got comfortable, she whispered, "So, are you sayin' Granny wasn't tellin' me the truth?" Her older sister rolled over and smiled. "Naw, darlin'. Granny just has trouble rememberin' things right sometimes. She wouldn't lie to ya on purpose." Only the chirping of the crickets filled the tent for a moment before Apple Bloom spoke again. "So... do you think the yellow-eyed pony eater is real?" Applejack laughed. "No sugarcube, he ain't real. It may have just been a dragon. There were a lot more of them roamin' around back then, ya know." "Okay..." Apple Bloom sighed, rolling over in her sleeping bag. "G'night, AJ." "Goodnight, Apple Bloom." She closed her eyes but hardly managed five minutes of sleep before she swore she heard a faint, barely audible shriek echo through the woods. A flash of lightning illuminated the cobblestone streets of Canterlot as torrential rain poured down on the capital. After a second flash, two ponies appeared in the middle of the street. They sported lightly tanned coats, almost khaki in color, as well as auburn manes. The mare wore a rather old-fashioned, olive green dress and emerald tie, while the stallion wore a similarly colored sport coat and tie. One could be forgiven for thinking they were twins. "Well, this is a fine spot for us to arrive," she said, looking toward her companion. "Oh my." He glanced over his female counterpart. "’Oh my’ indeed. It appears this place is much different from the others." "I must agree. Curious that he would have been sent to such a peculiar place, brother." He nodded, their manes still inexplicably dry and tame in the harsh weather. "Curious indeed. I can hardly imagine such a locale. A world in which equines are the dominate species," he mused. "Still, probability allows for all types of alternates. I suppose ones we haven't considered are still viable." She looked down the empty street in both directions. "Perhaps we should make our way to an inn. This weather is simply dreadful." "Assuming these creatures are familiar with such concepts," the stallion beside her commented. She smiled at his assumption. "Come now, brother, they've built a city; surely they would have need of an inn. Let us hope it is not a mere stable." A crack of thunder startled Celestia from her slumber. Her wide eyes sagged as she realized what had awakened her. Though she knew it necessary, nighttime thunderstorms were of the most annoying variety. However, she had approved it herself, so she had nopony to blame. She stared at the top of her four-poster bed, trying to will her eyes closed again. Two more flashes illuminated her chambers. She bolted upright in bed. Something was... wrong. The feeling had hit her like so many bolts of lightning outside her window. Alien though the feeling was, something about it felt... familiar. Yes, that's what she'd call it. Familiar. She pondered for a moment. Where had this fleeting familiarity come from? It was not recent, that much she knew for certain. Perhaps nearly a century ago—not an obscene amount of time for somepony who'd lived for as long as she had, but certainly a considerable length for her subjects. It was a feeling as though something was in Equestria that didn't belong. Two somethings, if she had to guess. But what? However, these things—whatever they were—did not mean Equestria harm. Or so she felt. Her thousands of years of life had endowed her with a near sixth sense for danger. Even during times when it appeared to all others that she was oblivious, she could sense an upcoming event. Whether it was beneficial, like her student’s ascension to princess-hood, or detrimental, like the changeling attack, remained to be seen. Celestia got out of bed, a guard swiftly knocking on the door upon hearing her hoofsteps on the marble flooring. "Your Highness, is everything alright?" he called from beyond the door. "Yes, everything is fine," Celestia replied. She levitated her royal regalia onto her hooves, neck and head before opening the door to her bedchamber. "Your Majesty!" one of her guards yelped in surprise. "The sun is not due up for another five hours. Is there something we may do to aid your sleep?" "No, I shall be in the library. You are to retrieve me when it is time for the dawn to break." They snapped a crisp salute. "Yes, Your Highness." Celestia trotted down the hallway. The feeling she'd experienced began to fade, though that certainly did not mean the things that didn't belong had left. She did not know from whence these feelings came, but she would certainly find out. "Well, that was certainly unnecessary. Why couldn't we have just gone here in the first place?" The stallion and mare stepped into the lobby of a small inn on the eastern side of Canterlot. The front desk attendant pulled himself from his magazine to find both ponies looked remarkably similar. "Because this is the only timeline in which the Songbird exists. No others, or did you forget the last ninety-seven years of our search?" she asked, as they both bickered in the lobby. The stallion stifled a chuckle. "Ah, surely you of all people—er... horses, recall the passage of time is merely—" "A matter of perspective? Recall who you're talking to," she quipped. The pony behind the front desk took the lull in their conversation to address them. "You two looking to rent a room?" he asked. They turned slowly toward him, then faced each other once more. "It appears as though they speak the King's English. I suppose you win again," the mare said calmly. "You know, it's just not as satisfying as I envisioned." "Yes, well, they can't all be, can they?" The desk pony cleared his throat rather loudly. "So is that a 'yes' or...?" "Perhaps we should take care of this," the stallion suggested. "Perhaps you're correct." She stepped to the desk and glanced at the attendant. "Yes, we would like a room for exactly one night." He smiled. Now they were getting somewhere! "No problem. That'll be ten bits." She looked back to her stallion companion. "I don't suppose we have any 'bits' do we?" The look on the stallions face was one of mild surprise. "A variable we hadn't accounted for? Impossible." She sighed, turning back toward the attendant before digging a purse out of her dress. "Well then I suppose this will have to do." She dropped ten large, silver coins onto the desk. The night shift pony stared at the coins blankly. They seemed to have a large eagle on one side, and a... thing on the other, he wasn't sure what. He certainly had no time for games, however. "Look lady, it's ten bits, as in Equestrian money," he insisted. "Now if you don't have any, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you." The mare looked back at the stallion. "Well then, I suppose we'll have to go with our contingency plan, won't we?" "It appears that way. It seems you've won this round," he admitted with a sigh. She turned back to the innkeeper. "Tell me, if we had these 'bits' which room would you have given us?" He was a bit taken aback by the request, but saw no harm in answering. After all, without a key, they weren't getting inside anyway. He glanced down at his registry book, reading off his next available room. "Uhm... it's room 110, but I don't know why..." When he looked up, the two ponies had vanished. He hadn't heard the door open, nor heard hoofsteps leave the lobby. "Huh... no wonder nopony wants to work the night shift..."
Heads Or Tails?*Heads Or Tails?* Heads Or Tails? "I've made it quite clear I don't support this experiment," she said, laying on the bed of the room they'd occupied. The rain continued to pour, but the innkeeper was none the wiser as to their commandeering of his space. "You were just as unsupportive the last time, Rosalind," he replied. "And just look how splendidly that turned out." She turned her nose upwards as she munched on the complimentary peanuts provided on the bed. "Yes, well, I'd hardly call a dead man a resolute success." Her stallion companion sat quietly across from her in an dusty armchair, reading a book titled: A Brief History of Equestria "Lest we forget the reason the man had to die in the first place?" He shot an accusing glance at her before continuing to read his book. "Let's leave the past where it belongs, shall we?" He nodded silently. "What have you discovered about this place?" she asked. "Quite a bit. As we earlier theorized, equine creatures are intelligent, but not exactly the dominant species; at least, not as men are where we've been." He closed the book and set it on his lap. "In fact, these creatures refer to themselves not as horses, but ponies." Rosalind raised her eyebrows and flicked her tail. "I must admit, the term fits. By chance, did you notice the mark on the innkeeper’s flank?" "Indeed, it is the mark of a special talent that pony possesses. Similar to the caste system of India, though not as rigid, it seems." She hummed in comprehension as he continued. "It appears they are ruled by a diarchy. Two creatures with both the wings of a pegasus and the horn of a unicorn, as we seem to have. The purpose of these horns seem to be... magic." She couldn't help but laugh. "Magic? Have you gone mad?" "Perhaps there is a scientific explanation, but in the context of this book, it simply states that unicorns are magic." "So am I to suppose we're magic?" He smiled gently. "I suppose so." "Curious," she replied, eating a few more peanuts from a pile that seemed to never grow any smaller. "I suppose we would seem magic to the uneducated. After all, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "I daresay Arthur C. Clarke has not said that yet," Rosalind replied. Ignoring her criticism, he continued to relay his findings. "It also appears these creatures name their offspring either using one word or two—usually a series of nouns and actions." "Well, I assure I won't be changing my name." "I don't know, I might give it a try," he said, relaxing in the armchair. "Robert is such a dull name." "Nonsense. It's the proper name of a gentlemen," she countered. "Semantics aside, is it time yet for us to meet the royalty?" She checked the clock on the wall of their room. "Not yet. It will be a few more hours now." Robert moaned. "It certainly is an inconvenience to wait on time." She popped a few more peanuts in her mouth and replied. "Indeed." Fluttershy was lost. No two ways about it. Worse still, it was dark. Ordinarily, she wasn't one to get lost in the woods. She knew her way around the Everfree almost as well as the animals that lived there. Fluttershy hadn't spent too much time in the Whitetail Woods, but she had enough to know the tastiest mushrooms could only be found there. That, and a particular variety of cabbage Angel seemed to love. Unfortunately, she'd deviated from her standard route into the forest and gotten hopelessly turned around. She was certain she'd never gone this far before. In fact, now that it was dark, she doubted she'd recognize a familiar landmark if she came across one. She'd pulled a muscle trying to catch a trio of eagle chicks from falling out of their nest earlier in the week. It was nearly healed, but the doctor had recommended she not fly for at least two. The order was not something she had a problem following. Unlike Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was patient. Ordinarily, she took walks in the woods to ease her nerves, and this time was no exception. Though she was a friend to all creatures, she couldn't deny that some of her nocturnal friends could be quite scary. Their calls were unusual and their eyes usually reflected any light. Though she knew they meant her no harm, the thought did little to calm her nerves. As she tread carefully through the underbrush, Fluttershy noticed her hoofsteps being echoed by something behind her. She was being followed. Fluttershy turned quickly and called out into the dark underbrush, only a few mushrooms and a head of cabbage to offer her attacker in exchange for her life. "H-hello?" Her call received no reply. She stared into the darkness for a moment longer before deciding to continue onward. Though Pinkie's song about giggling at what scares you echoed in her ears, it did little to assuage her fear. After a few more shivering steps, the following began again. Before she knew it, she had broken into a run, her pursuer keeping up with her just as easily as she fled through the underbrush. Limbs and wiry branches snagged and grabbed at her wings and mane, though she sprinted through the pain. Fluttershy wished she'd taken up Rainbow on her offers to train with her, as soon she found herself out of breath and beginning to slow down. Her hoof caught on a root, and she skidded against the dirt, cutting her face against the twigs and rocks on the ground. With a whimper, she brought herself to her hooves, turning to face her attacker with nowhere else to run. Out of the darkness stepped a timberwolf. Its loose twigs and branches jutted out in all directions as it took a step forward, wooden fangs bared. She knew very well timberwolves had no interest in vegetables or fungi. She squealed piercingly as the timberwolf swiped a paw across her body, flinging her into the underbrush and causing her cries to change pitch as she tumbled. The air now completely out of her lungs, she gasped for breath as the hungry creature began towards her. "P-please Mr. timberwolf... I don't mean to hurt you..." she gasped, though her pleas fell on deaf ears. She could feel the hot breath of the beast over her face as it prepared to make a meal of her. Then, as if it came from the forest itself, a shriek like that of an eagle, falcon, and buzzard all mixed into one split the quiet night. The timberwolf froze in place, looking toward the sky in time to see a bright red eye swooping down from the heavens. The silver glow of the moon illuminated the dragon-sized creature’s bat-like wings and bird-like head. Fluttershy caught a glimpse in slow motion of the massive thing from the sky as it snatched the timberwolf in its claws and took it a few feet into the air before ripping it in two, showering her with splinters and twigs. She watched in terror as the beast circled around for another pass, landing with an earth shattering thud on the ground next to her. It seemed to look at her closely, its head moving like a pigeon's would; in short, punctuated movements as an eerie light shone from its eyes. The creature’s body was like nothing she'd ever seen. It was dark, no fur to be seen. No feathers, either. A few areas seemed to be held on by belts and clasps. Was this... a real animal? Was she seeing this thing correctly? The sickeningly mechanical sound of metal on metal echoed through the woods as the creature's eyes went from red, to yellow, and then to green. The light intensity never changed, but the colors certainly had. Whether through confusion or sheer terror, Fluttershy lost consciousness. The last thing she remembered was the creature's cold grip around her sore torso. Celestia had studied early into the morning, though it was still not time for the daylight to arrive. Unfortunately, she had fallen asleep during her research. It seemed her faithful student was a bit more well suited for late night reading than a thousand year old princess. Curiously, she was awakened not by one of her guards, as requested, but by... music. A repetitive song being played by a pipe organ of all things! In a library! She shook the sleep from her eyes and began to trace the source of the noise. As far as she knew, there were no organs in the library. Or anywhere in the castle, for that matter. Thought the storm had cleared, the sound of a light rain still echoed around the library as she peered down a long hallway. At the end, sat one pony in an olive dress, while another stood by the organ, seeming to criticize her playing. As Celestia approached, they seemed to be arguing. "I've already told you, it's 'C', 'A', 'G', and then 'E'. How can you not remember this when I can?" he asked. "It has been a long time since I've needed to play it, you know," she replied, not at all ruffled by his criticisms. "Just what do the two of you think you're doing playing an organ in my library?" Celestia demanded. How had they even managed to get such a large instrument inside in the first place? The mare on the organ bench checked a watch on her foreleg. "Oh dear, it seems it's about that time, brother." "Time for us to meet a diarch?" he asked, paying Celestia no attention. "Time indeed." They turned to face her, extremely calm in the face of the unamused deity. "Princess Celestia, is it?" she asked with complete disregard for proper etiquette. Celestia was about to reprimand them for addressing royalty in such a casual manner, especially after trespassing in the private library, when the feeling of unease she'd felt in her chamber came rushing back. "You... you two are the things that don't belong..." she whispered. They glanced at each other with a smile. "She's sharper than we gave credit," the stallion said. "Quite, but I suppose it wouldn't be the first time we underestimated someone's intelligence," she replied. "You two are not ponies, are you?" Celestia asked. "Right you are, Your Majesty," Rosalind answered. "We're travelers... of a sort. It is safe to assume that we are not from around here." "From a considerable distance, in fact," the stallion added. "But we've come here—" "To give you something. We have researched the troubles of your kingdom, and we know of the encroaching nations of the other species looking with envious eyes towards the lands your people—er... ponies claim." Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What do you know of the struggles of my kingdom?" "We know that you cannot defend the kingdom by yourself, and without an army to match the empires that threaten you, your kind will need a weapon to use for defense—" "Or perhaps offense," Rosalind completed. "What you do with the weapon we give to you is entirely up to you." The princess was growing tired of their cryptic talk. "What weapon? Speak plainly, or I shall have you imprisoned!" The duo simply smiled at her, as though she had told a mildly amusing joke. "Come now, no need for that. We have what you need right here. But before we give it to you, we must ask you a question," said the stallion. "Heads or tails?" The princess grew more irritated, though they insisted they would give her this fantastic new weapon, so long as she answered this simple question. She paused for a moment. Looking at the coin being held out to her, and then back to the two unicorns. "Heads." She flipped the coin, the strange pair allowing it to land on the ground. "Heads it is," the stallion said smugly. "Not as satisfying as it usually is, honestly." "How can heads be a constant, even in this universe?" the mare complained. "If you’re going to be a sore loser, I won't participate again," he replied before facing the princess. "Here is the key to your weapon." He levitated a small piece of parchment with four letters written on it. Celestia briefly stared down at it. Cage? she thought to herself. "What does this—" By the time she'd raised her head, the two ponies had vanished. Celestia scoured the library, sensing no trace of a teleportation spell. She even called in her guards to search the premises, but they found nothing. Celestia took the parchment back to her chambers, wondering whom she'd just encountered, and how the word cage could be the key to any weapon.
Mr. Bird Mr. Bird Mr. Bird Fluttershy's head pounded sharply, her skull throbbing with every jolt. As her senses came back to her, she felt cold stone on her back and beneath her awkwardly positioned wings. Her eyes flittered open, squinting against the bright rays of the early morning sun. As the world came into focus, she realized she was in a cave. An east-facing cave, but a cave nonetheless. Ignoring her headache, she tried to get to her hooves. Her ribs hurt as she gasped, collapsing onto her belly causing her even more pain. She tried to recall the events leading up to this point. She seemed to remember running from something... a timberwolf! She had been out foraging and gotten lost! Unfortunately, that was all she could remember. Her ribs ached with each breath she drew too deeply. Her muscles were sore, but no more than if she'd run a long distance. Fluttershy glanced around the cave. It seemed like something lived here, but she wasn't sure what. There was no hoard of gold or jewels, so she could rule out a dragon. However, there was something that struck her as odd. In the corner, there seemed to be a straw figure of some kind, though it wasn't a pony, or any creature's form she was familiar with. It seemed to stand the way Spike stood, on his hind legs, freeing up his arms. Except, this thing wore something blue over its straw body; tattered pieces of blue cloth made into what looked like a primitive garment. Darker straw rested at what she guessed was the figure's head, but it lacked a face, ears, or fingers. Other than the odd creation, there was not much in the cave, just a few shiny gems neatly arranged in piles and a large straw bed with a depression in the middle, resembling a nest of some kind. Fluttershy looked behind her, and to her surprise and joy, her saddlebags lay against the cave wall. Whatever creature had taken her here was kind enough to leave them for her. She scurried to her bags and sighed in relief. The few provisions she'd managed to find before her encounter were still there. Fluttershy wolfed down the mushrooms and cabbages she'd meant to share with Angel upon her return to the cabin. She'd hope the little bunny would understand, given her situation. She stretched her legs as best she could manage before stepping toward the mouth of the cave. The sun illuminated the landscape, revealing that the road she'd lost track of was only a few hours away! Unfortunately, the cave was on the side of a rather high rocky outcropping. She'd have to fly down, but she knew her wings were still not up to their full strength. As she contemplated her choices, a familiar shriek echoed through the forest. She nearly jumped out of her coat, and decided that this time, her wings would just have to take one for the team. Fluttershy opened her sore wings and glided off the cliff face, landing in a clearing and mumbling gentle 'ow' and 'oh's to herself as she carefully folded her wings beside her. She took one last glance toward the mouth of the cave in time to see a black and brown blur fly inside. Her heart jumping to her throat, she galloped with as much strength as she could muster in the direction of the road. If I could only get back to it, I could get somepony's help! she thought, running as fast as she'd ever recalled, though her legs demanded she stop. Another ear-splitting shriek echoed out of the cave. Fluttershy continued running, not daring to look behind her. All she had to do was make it to the road! Surely a passing merchant or pony would be traveling along it! As she darted through a clearing, a shadow overtook her, growing larger with each passing second. She turned to face the sun, the massive wings of the creature she'd seen only minutes before heading straight towards her, its talons forward, ready to snatch her from the earth and take her back to its lair. Fluttershy froze. Her breath caught in her throat and she could do little more than whimper, only able to brace for the cold metal talons sure to cut through her. "But who would want to kidnap Fluttershy? It's not like she's rich or anything." Rainbow asked, hovering above her gathered friends in Twilight's library home. Twilight's wings fluttered nervously. "That's the troubling part. Whomever did this would have to know the Princesses would get involved in finding a vital part of Equestrian national security. I can't think of a single kingdom or empire that would risk a conflict with us..." "Oh, but what if she's in trouble right now, and we're just standing here talking?" Pinkie suggested frantically. "We all want Fluttershy back safely, but we simply can't charge in without a plan," Rarity cautioned. "Although, even if we did have a plan, we still don't know where to charge." "I still think she just got lost. I mean, she went to Whitetail Woods! The deep part," Dash explained. "When we were camping, we were just on the edge!" "Well, lost or not, if that's her last known location, then that's where we should start," Twilight suggested. "Everypony on board?" They nodded. "Then it's settled. Spike, can you hold down the library while we're gone?" Twilight asked, as Spike saluted. "I'll also make sure Princess Celestia knows where you're going in case you need help," he said dutifully. "Right, then let's go find Fluttershy!" Celestia scribbled her signature on one document after another. Such was the menial work of a ruler. Though she tried to comprehend the recommended tax adjustments to the sale of grass fifty bales or over she simply couldn't get those odd ponies out of her mind. The notecard they'd given her still sat on her dresser, taunting her with its simplistic message. She tore her eyes away from it, forcing herself to review the next item in her docket. It seems unverified groups of griffon bandits had been harassing her subjects near the border her kingdom shared with the Grifaria. She knew the griffon high command would never acknowledge the training and arming of such disruptive forces, but the townspony's insistence on the added security of an army division would no doubt stoke Grifarian suspicions of an invasion. Celestia had no plans whatsoever to invade what amounted to a rocky spit of a country with little strategic or material value, but far be it for them to believe her. The griffons would be no problem in an all-out war. It was their backers, the dragon territories, that could turn the tide of a conflict. The dragons didn't like griffons, but knew they were relatively harmless. However, the dragons saw a united pony-kind as a threat, should they ever get on bad terms. Thus a defensive pact was formed. Celestia was sure it would be honored by either side. Undeterred, Celestia authorized a division of infantry to be stationed at Amalga, a border town receiving the brunt of the harassment. After the flourish of her signature, she sat back on her cushion, releasing a heavy sigh. Once again, she found herself staring at the parchment the strange unicorns had given her. When she rang her bell, a guard appeared snappily by her door. "Yes, Your Highness?" "Is that organ still in the library?" The guard searched his thoughts briefly before answering. "I believe it is." "Assemble it in my conservatory," she insisted, looking out over the gardens beyond the window of the royal study. "And fetch my afternoon tea." "As you wish, Your Highness." The guard took his leave just as a scroll wrapped in a green flame appeared in front of her. Fluttershy marveled at the surprising softness of the creature's grip. It had fingers, like Spike or a griffon would, except they were more round and certainly softer. As she flew over the landscape, she looked up toward the thing carrying her. In the daylight, it was not as terrifying as before. It was otherworldly, and certainly still scary, but not faint-inducing. It seemed to have a bird’s head and wings, though without feathers. The smoothness of its skin was like that of a cow's hide, except hairless. A few buckles and clasps held on what appeared to be gloves and boots, though from the looks of them, she doubted they'd ever been removed. A curious thing about the creature was the hose running from where a bird's beak would be. It ran along his back to parts unknown, but by far the most interesting feature was its eyes. They cast an eerie glow from behind a glass lens, and Fluttershy recalled they'd had the ability to change color, somehow. Before she could continue her analysis, they landed in the cave. The beast set down with a thud, though it was very careful to let Fluttershy walk under her own power back inside. It seemed to have prepared a smaller nest for her. Fluttershy took a few cautious steps back into its lair, glancing at the nest she assumed was hers. "Uhm... thank you for the nest Mr..." She hadn't thought about what to call this thing up until now. "Bird." Not exactly creative, but it would have to do for now. Besides, it didn't seem like Mr. Bird was in any position to do much talking. He took a step toward her, his yellow eyes switching over to green in the mechanical crunch she'd recognized from the night before. “You're certainly more docile this way..." she commented. He folded his wings and hopped as a pigeon would, sending soft vibrations into Fluttershy's hooves. He dug into the larger circle of hay with his beak. Before long, he'd produced a number of berries, edible grasses, and—to Fluttershy's horror—a few small, dead mammals. He nudged them towards her with his head, before hopping back and turning towards the peculiar figure Fluttershy had noticed earlier when she'd first awoken. She smiled. She couldn't deny she was hungry, and certainly wouldn't say no to the berries and grasses. She quickly downed her meager meal while leaving the dead creatures and trying not to think about how much she hated seeing dead animals. Mr. Bird turned back from admiring figure. His sharp, punctuated movements turned his eye from his offering to his captive. "I-it was really quite good... except, well... I don't eat other animals." He seemed to realize she would not partake the rest, as he scooped up the two squirrels and a fox and hurled them out of the cave, much to Fluttershy's shock. She'd at least wanted to give them a proper burial! The beast thought nothing of it as he went on puttering about his lair, adjusting and scrutinizing his various treasures. Only then did Fluttershy realize that among those treasures was something quite peculiar. "Are those..." She squinted, not wanting to move from her nest, lest she upset Mr. Bird. "Books?" “Alright, I think the quickest way we're going to find Fluttershy is if we search in teams." Twilight instructed as the group arrived on the edge of the Whitetail Woods. "Since there are only five of us, somepony will have to stay here, in case Fluttershy finds her way out. Any volunteers?" Rarity was about to raise a hoof before Pinkie beat her to it. "Oh! Me! I'll have a picnic ready for us by the time you girls find her! And if she finds her own way, they we'll have a picnic while we wait for you!" "Okay then." Twilight nodded. "Applejack, you're with me. Rarity, you're with Rainbow. Meet back here by sundown." The teams split up, Rarity stifling her complaints about traipsing through the dirt and withholding her gripes about Pinkie raising her hoof faster than she was able. "How on earth could Fluttershy get lost in the woods?" she asked as Rainbow hovered a few feet above her. "Ya got me. She spends more time in them than anypony," she grumbled. After all, she'd skipped a valuable day of practice to look for Fluttershy! Not that she didn't hope she was okay, but at the same time, she wanted a pretty good explanation for having her routine interrupted. "You... you don't think she's hurt out here, do you?" Rarity asked as they continued down a marked path. "Nah, she can practically talk to animals!" Dash reasoned. "If she ever got hurt, I'd expect her to get a grizzly to carry her to the hospital on its back before just leaving her there." Rarity hummed in agreement as they continued deeper into the woods. The further they journeyed, the deeper an intrusive thought began to creep into their minds. Rainbow dropped to the ground beside Rarity to walk beside her, the dense foliage making flying difficult below the treetops. What if Fluttershy wasn't okay? Suppose something happened to her? Rarity shook the intrusive thought from her head. For what felt like hours, they walked in silence. Eventually, Rarity stopped, and Dash bumped her flank. Before she could protest, Rarity's put a hoof over her mouth then twitched her ears. "Do you hear that?" She removed her hoof as Dash listened intently. "Is... is that... music?" Dash asked. "It sounds like it. But, what on earth would music be doing playing out here? We must be miles from civilization!" Rarity wondered. Rainbow took a few steps ahead of Rarity. "Only one way to find out." She followed the sounds like a bloodhound on the trail of a fugitive before coming to a small clearing. A phonograph sat spinning idly in the clearing while a mare and a stallion in very proper dress attire danced as though they were at the gala itself. No camping equipment, not outdoor gear, and no way to indicate how they'd managed to drag a phonograph this far into the dense woods. They seemed not to notice the interlopers as they continued their waltz, all while carrying on a conversation only they could hear. "Uh... excuse me? You guys seen a yellow pegasus come by here?"
Deal With the DevilsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
The Monster From the ForestSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
