I woke up the next morning with a stiff neck… and I hated stiff necks. From the note on my lap it said that Twilight, Shadow, and Spike had gone out to spend a day together. I was happy that Shadow still wasn't in Drill sergeant mode so I quickly put my shirt back on and wheeled out of the library. Leaving a note on the door saying I would be in the park.
As I wheeled around I slowly noticed one thing… where was everyone? I mean it was a beautiful day and yet… where were they? Was it a… holiday or something? Soon though I reached the park and sure enough no one was there. Especially since there is almost always at least 1 group of ponies here. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled as I slowly wheeled my way through the park… that was until I spotted a pony in a cloak digging at the ground.
Raising an eyebrow at the strange event I wheeled over to them. "Um… is everything alright?" I asked as she looked at me and my mind immediately said bad news when I saw their eyes.
"Everything is going good… finding an herb is what I wish I could." Was… that a rhyme? But the voice sounded feminine.
"Okay then… then what are you looking for?" I asked.
"An herb with leaves of red…that have the texture of uncut bred… that's gives off a smell of dread." I put a hand to my chin as I thought of it. I know I have seen this description before. But where.
"I know I have seen that description before but unfortunately I don't recall where. If I find it I will bring it to you. Where do you live?" I asked her as I propped my head against my hand.
"I live in what's known as the Everfree… a place where ponies know to let me be." She said pulling her hood off as her appearance surprised me. So Zebras are here to? I should have expected that since they do look like ponies.
"Isn't the Everfree the forest where ponies have been saying bad things happen in?" I asked her.
"The words they speak are so true… but it gives me the herbs for my brew." To be honest I'm starting to wonder why she rhymes so much. I want to ask but I don't want to intrude of others personalities.
"Need any help?"
"A pony who is not that wants to help… but why do you want to help one who self-helps?" she asked.
"Figured you might want it. Though I do want to figure out where everyone went." I said looking around.
"A question known to most… every time I visit they seem to close." And racism returns! God… damn it!
"Well if you ever need anything stop by the library. That's where I'm staying currently." She smiled and nodded.
"It's rare to find one with a heart of pure… let us hope another meet in the future will be sure." And I'm starting to love the rhyming!
"We'll have a good one." I said as I begun to wheel away before stopping. "Forgot. The names Luke."
"Zecora is my name. Let us hope you are who you claim." I smiled as I wheeled away once more after saying one last goodbye. Wheeling around the park before stopping at a pond area. Watching nature take its course in the water I smiled as I watched the fish. The park reminds me of Canterlot's garden. While thinking of Canterlot I wonder how Luna and Celestia are doing. Let's hope they are searching a major breakthrough to find Rose…
Sitting there I decided to start a conversation with Love. "Hey… Love you there?"
Why of course I'm here. What is it you require?
"Nothing really. Just decided to want to start a conversation since I'm bored out of my mind."
Well then how about we talk about your magic?
"Why?" what he said confused me. Why talk about my magic?
Because in a way I see it you hardly have been practicing your magic. Now would be a great time to practice it while no one is around.
"To be honest your right. But I thought I was told to not use my magic since its currently healing my legs?"
Your light magic is the only magic that's healing. Your dark magic has been tapped off for quite a while now.
"Really? Well then I guess I should be practicing that huh?" I stated with a smile on my face as I raised my right hand and activated my dark magic. Immediately I felt a little stronger since I was in the shade under a tree. Shadows are most definitely my ally here… take that Batman. As I moved my hand around I realized it was becoming more difficult to move it around willingly. I attempted to remember if I was told anything about my magic being used differently but nothing popped up in my mind.
I would suggest trying to use words like you did when you escaped the rebel outpost.
"That does sound like a good idea… shield?" immediately the shadows darted towards me as they created a barely see through dome around me. "Spikes." On the outside of the shield large spikes formed as they darted out quickly. Piercing the ground and tree I was under. "Dome!" I quickly said to prevent any more damage to the environment as the spikes disappeared. "Your right Love this is so much easier." I said with a smile.
Of course it is…
"Hey love can I ask a quick question?" I asked as I begun to move the shadows around with my arms once more.
Depends on the question but yes.
"How were you even made?" he remained silent as I thought of the question as a bust.
To be honest it has always been a question that's hard to answer. But my hypothesis says and from your memories during when I was made that your body was collecting the emotions of those around you. Mainly… love.
"Wow wow wow… slow down and then stop. Collecting… emotions?"
Yes. From you just walking around as it acted on its own. Although only positive emotions… I did detect your body absorbing the emotion of anger though…
"So… there's going to be more of you?" I asked stumped.
It all depends on when you more of each emotion. From what I was told… every being that has been in your position has had at most two emotions to assist them in training and fights.
"So basically it just depends on who I'm around?"
Why of course. Wasn't that already realized?
"You're in my mind… what do you think?" I asked with sarcasm.
Then the answer would be no.
"Thank you for stating the obvious… can you tell what emotion I would get?"
Unfortunately I cannot… it all depends on who starts forming. Once you get enough I will be able to see their form start to build itself and if there are any others building it all relies on what forms faster.
"Ah… like that's understandable…" I said as I let the shadow out of my control as it returned to where it came from.
I sometimes forget you have a simple mind…
"Hey!" I heard a soft chuckle in my mind. "Actually I have another question."
And that is?
"Why are you sometimes an asshole?"
That… is a question I cannot seem to answer but I am guessing is because it was hidden in your nature.
"That I can understand a little of…" I stayed there in silence as I watched the pond once more. "Hey Love."
Now what?
"Is there… any way you can leave my mind?"
If I do that your body will remain a shell while I travel around. Meaning you will be unable to move and think while your consciousness enters the body I take. When you get stronger though that will not happen so I will be able to assist you in battle.
"Do you think you can get past Canterlot's shield?"
Most likely. Are you planning of sending me to Canterlot to assist in the search?
"Actually I want you to stay hidden." I said as I begun to wheel myself back to the library. Planning on what I was going to do… "I don't want anyone finding out about you yet unless absolutely needed."
A plan that also has downfalls if I am found out when the time is not right. Such as distrust from those who found out.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. How long can you stay out of my body?" I then asked. Noticing that everyone was out and about again.
I can stay out for 2 days minimum without damaging your body.
"Good…" I said as I returned to the Library and opened the door. Taking my note down in the process as I found Shadow and Twilight talking while Spike seemed to be putting books away. "Hey you two."
"Hello Luke. Have a good time at the park?" Shadow asked with some… fear in her voice.
"Um yes?"
"Good. I should let you know that Dracul and Lightcrest left this morning on the train to Canterlot. I forgot to put that onto the note when we left this morning." She said with a smile. Now the next question is where did they sleep last night?!
"Well that's good. I had a long day and to be honest I feel like I should be by myself for a few days or so. Any books you recommend I should read twilight?" I asked her.
"What kind you looking for?" she asked with a smile.
"How about some adventure and action?" she put a hoof to her chin.
"I might have just the book for you." She started to look around the shelves before taking a book in her magic and levitating it over to me. Grabbing it I read the title.
"The adventures of Daring Do?" I asked. Unfortunately I can't seem to find what the first book of the series she's making is… and I'm too lazy to watch full episodes to find it out… sorry!
"It's a new book that was recently published. I haven't had the chance to read it but from the cover I can tell it's a book I won't enjoy." What you prefer romance? That is Shadows preferred book choice… Love if you tell her I swear to god I will find a way to kill you!
"I'll try it out. Is Mage still downstairs?"
"Actually he left to do some research somewhere. Said he would be back in a week or so."
"When was this?" I asked them.
"Soon after you left in your wheelchair." Twilight said.
"Ah. Well any snacks I can borrow for the next few days?" I asked scratching the back of my head.
"I just went shopping yesterday so we should have something." Spike said behind a large stack of books he was carrying. I wheeled into the kitchen as I searched the pantries and cupboards until I find a bag of normal chip. Grabbing those I wheeled out and looked at Twilight.
"Mind helping me into the basement?"
"Why the basement?" she asked suspiciously.
"I said I wanted to be alone for a few days remember?"
"Oh…" she then used her magic to help me downstairs as I moved myself onto the couch. Saying goodbye to Twilight as soon as I heard the door close I frowned a little. "Shadow barrier…" immediately the shadows that were down here darted towards the door and created a wall. "I think I'm getting the hang of this." I then said with a smile as I opened the bag I had and took a chip before throwing it into my open mouth. And luckily these tasted almost just like Lays potato chips… man do I miss the BBQ flavor of those…
You ready?
"Yes."
This might… sting a little.
Immediately after he said that I fell over on the couch… with a small burst of pain in my head.
Love's POV
Forming my body outside of his mind as soon as I was done I cracked my knuckles and neck. Moving around and making sure I was made completely I stared at the body of Luke.
Now this… is weird…
"You get used to it after a while." I told him as I used the dark magic he had to teleport through the shadows. After about 4 minutes of moving through the shadows I soon appeared outside of the shield near the train station.
Let's hope this works.
"Agreed." Immediately I brought my hands into the shield as I begun to forcefully open it with great difficulty… and I could tell that this was made to keep others in and let others out. After getting in I quickly hid myself in the shadows as guards ran over and looked around.
"Just another animal most likely trying to get in." one of them said as the three of them left and I walked out of the shadows.
"Where should we begin?" I whispered as I watched the three go around into the train stations railway.
How about the place where she last was?
"Which was?" I asked preparing the shadows for transportation.
My room.
Immediately jumping into the shadows about 10 seconds later I appeared in the wardrobe in the room as I fell out with a loud thud.
Geeze quiet much?
"Shut up…" I muttered as I stood up and my eyes widened at what I was seeing. The bed was torn up, there were charred areas on walls and floors, withered vines showing that Rose had attempted to protect herself, and finally some blood… crouching down next to the blood I dabbed my armored finger in it and rubbed my fingers with it.
With the remains of what happened a unicorn was here but I'm detecting no magic in this blood so that means there was more than one. From what it feels like and how sticky it is it appears to have been recent. Standing up after wiping the blood off I begun to think of what exactly happened as I looked at every detail of the room.
"From what I'm seeing with the toys being out Rose was just playing when she was attacked…" I muttered seeing the scattered toys and the event played through my mind. "With the blood and the charred areas it means there was at least 2 ponies here when it happened…" in my mind two black silhouettes formed as I looked around more. "From the smashed window that was either the escape exit or entrance or both so I should suspect a Pegasus…" playing through my mind I made it so a silhouette of a Pegasus was flying outside of it. "But looking at the glass on the floor it was the entrance…"
I made the silhouette fly in as Rose jumped in fear. I looked towards the closet as I spotted some fur. Picking it up I felt very little magic coming from it. The fur was grey… "So the unicorn hid in the closet and was grey…" turning the second silhouette gray and into a unicorn I placed it into the closet with the door slightly ajar before the Pegasus flew in.
As I continued to look around I added the withered vines to the mix. "The unicorn must have been skilled with fire magic to burn the vines but not be very accurate with them with the charred areas." Playing that through my mind I crouched down to the blood once more. "Once the vines came out they must of nicked the Pegasus to make them bleed a little." I played that through my mind. "But what else is there?" I put a hand to my chin as I begun to think.
Love… try under the bed…
I crouched down and used what little light magic I had to make a light as I saw what was underneath… more blood with rose colored fur…
Rose was injured by what I'm seeing… but look at what the blood forms…
Taking another look at the blood I could see she hastily made words from them as some blood showed that she attempted to run away… some of the words were barely readable but I could read a few. Said words were dark grey next to one another but I already pieced that together… then there was black and dark purple with a dark purple feather next to it… so one of them was a Pegasus…
Love when you find them I want you to make them choke on their own spines…
"Easy there Luke… lets finish looking around and then find a way to leave a note for the guards of this." I stood up as I looked around for paper and found a very small amount of ink and a quill… quickly write under bed I then picked it up and created a sticky substance from the dark magic I had and put it onto the back. Then quickly opening the door I stuck it on and then slammed the door to draw attention to the room. Then I quickly leapt out the window and fell several stories into a bush which took most of my momentum as I quickly hid myself in it.
Love look at the inside of the bush.
Looking around I soon noticed a dried red substance that I soon realized was blood by the smell. We were getting closer and closer…
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey everyone this chapter was typed up quicker than I expected. But anyways I don't have much to say. Onto the Riddles!
Next Herd Member Riddle Part:
There are many walls… in the known universe…
Next Chapters Riddle:
Are you sure you wanted to piss of Love?