Last time on “Rarity Lost” Quest:
>The rest of the ponies made it to Canterlot, although Fluttershy was still a lump.
>Exhausted and sick of the heat, the bunch of you went back to the guest room.
>You all caught up on what transpired since you last saw each other, though you kept a tight lip about what you knew of your people and Celestia, Pinkie Pie giving you dirty looks each time it came up.
>Had a doctor make a house call to look at Fluttershy. He said that physically she was fine, but suspected that she was suffering from some form of manic depression. As a medical doctor, he left to see after his real patients.
>All of the ponies tried to talk to Fluttershy to get her out of her funk, but none helped.
>Not sure what else to do, you spoke from the heart. Everyone was awestruck, including Fluttershy who finally came back to normal.
>After sharing a group hug and asked why Fluttershy was acting so aloof, she explained that she didn’t want to hurt any more animals, even if they were monsters.
>Luna showed up not long after, proceeded to explain the situation and showed everyone Celestia's problem.
>After dragging a stunned Twilight out, you were all intercepted by a guard informing the princess of yet another problem.
You are Rusty Shackleford, a human who has found himself lost in Equestria with no memory.
Currently, you are in a secure room in the Canterlot palace with the mane six (save for Rarity), Princess Luna and about half a dozen armored guards. Two other guards are here, but their minds seem to have been affected in the same manner as Celestia's; they're idling about stupidly, chewing on bits of fabric and rubbing their backs against furniture like dumb animals.
Your friends all look pretty concerned and worried from the look of things, Luna is well composed though you have a feeling just hiding her emotion well and the other guards are keeping a stoic vigil on the two dependents.
"Maybe it would be best to keep these two hidden," You suggest, trying not to ruffle any feathers. "Last thing you need is gossip about... this."
"NO ONE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS," Luna booms in her loud voice, the sound echoing on the walls and sending the two mindless ponies cowering in a corner. "WHOMEVER IS ALREADY PRIVY WILL WATCH OVER THEM AND HOLD THY TONGUES. ARE WE UNDERSTOOD?"
"Yes Princess!" The guards say in perfect military unison.
"Where were they found?" Twilight asks one of the guards. He looks over at Princess Luna, who nods.
"We found the two of them wandering around Froggy Bottom Bog," He explains. "We have a few pegasi on patrol around there since we found the princess in that general area."
"Where was princess found, exactly?" You ask.
"A few miles from where we found these two." The guard explains, gesturing at the two ponies, now swatting their tails for some reason. "How long they were wandering around or how they ended up like this, I can't explain."
"Hmm, it seems to me that is a logical place to go," Twilight says, furrowing her brow. "We should go there and look for clues right away."
"But what about Rarity?" Applejack counters. "The longer we're stopping around a swamp, the longer she's all along out there."
"I should definitely look into it," You say, taking in a deep breath. "Whatever is causing this, it clearly affects you ponies. I think it will be best if I go on solo."
"Uh no. No!" Rainbow Dash says, angrily flapping up to your height, in your face. "We're not scared of whatever stupid human tricks are going on!"
"That's right!" Applejack backs up her blue friend. "We're not just going to sit around while our homes and friends are in danger. Besides, we're in this together Rusty."
"You're stuck with us!" Pinkie cheers, nudging you in the side.
""WE AGREE," Luna sends the room shaking again. "WE STILL DO NOT FULLY TRUST THINE MOTIVES, MR. SHACKLEFORD. WE WISH FOR THE FIVE ELEMENTS TO KEEP AN CLOSE EYE ON HIM."
You're not sure how deal with the ponies and their dogged comradely, especially when you feel that the danger they're facing is somehow partially your fault. You really don't want anything bad to happen to your new friends.
"That's fine and good, but if you all end up like....this," You say, gesturing to the two ponies, now lying on their sides on the floor. "It won't help anyone. I can't take care of all of you if that happens. It's touching you all feel so strongly about this, but it's just common sense."
"No Rusty," Twilight shakes her head. "This isn't about you or us. Equestria is in danger, and if we have the ability to do something about it then it's our responsibility to do just that, no matter what."
"Mmhmm," Applejack nods in agreement. "Sink or swim, we're seeing this to the end."
"I don't suppose there are any non pony creatures in the castle that could help?" You sigh deeply. If this thing affects ponies, maybe it only affects them. Luna shakes her head.
Rusty's tailored made outfit is also torn and has been pretty much shirtless for quite some time.
"OK then, I guess I don't really have a choice in the matter." You say.
"Nope!" Pinkie smiles.
"Fine. But if we're going to do this, we'll need supplies."
"You're right." Twilight says, nodding. "We're going to need to plan this journey carefully. There's no telling what we can run into out there, even if we don't find anything."
"WE SHALL GRANT YOU ALL DUE ASSISTANCE," Luna bellows. "THE ROYAL GUARD IS STRETCHED THIN AS IS, BUT STOCKS ARE STILL HI IN CANTERLOT."
"Well, if its not too much to ask...” You look down at the outfit Rarity made for you not two days ago, now mostly in tatters. All your old clothes are still at Twilight's. "Can I get some clothes?"
Luna nods and singles out a guard, who snaps to. "THOU SHALL SEE TO THEIR NEEDS. ESCORT THEM BACK TO THEIR ROOM AND TAKE INVENTORY OF THEIR NEEDS. WE HAVE URGENT BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES OUR ATTENTION. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL."
Luna leaves and the rest of you follow with one of the guards, leaving the rest to take care of the touched ones. It doesn’t take long before the bunch of you to make it back to the guest room you've been crashing at.
Twilight immediately takes charge, gathering parchment and a quill and starts writing.
"Let's get started. What exactly will we need for this journey?"
"We're definitely going to need food," Applejack says. "There's no telling how long we may be out there. Enough for a few days at least. And some thing to start a fire with."
Twilight scribbles quickly on the paper.
"Maybe we should get something to... uh, defend ourselves?" Fluttershy meekly proposes.
"Yeah! Maybe some spears the guards use!" Dash says excitedly.
"I... was thinking more like armor..." Fluttershy peeps.
"I don't know if the princess will let us have that. The guards may need it more," Twilight ponders for a moment, but writes it down anyway. "Speaking of weapons, should we take the Elements of Harmony with us?"
"I dunno," You voice a concern. "The Elements of Harmony seem pretty important. With everything going on, I'm just afraid that something might happen and we end up losing them."
"That's true," Twilight says, scratching something out. "Keeping them safe here may be the best thing. Once we find Rarity we can worry about that."
The group confers on the necessary provisions and supplies you all will need for the coming endeavor. After some deliberation, you come up with the following:
"Uhmm... Twilight, maybe we should bring a first aid kit, if there's enough room for it," Fluttershy timidly ventures.
"Good idea, Fluttershy," Twilight finalizes the list, clearly bullet pointing and outlining what each of you will need and in what amounts. You and the other ponies stand around her as she finishes and you all approve of the shopping list. The purple pony hands the letter neatly to the guard who has been standing politely by the door. He reads over the list himself.
"I'll see what I can do," He say and excuses himself out the door.
You're left in the room with the rest. For some reason, the air feels really tense and no one says anything. You all just stand there in awkward silence, the peace interrupted only by the far too light breeze wafting through the open window.
You're feeling really uncomfortable with the sudden quite. All the ponies seem tense. Even happy go lucky Pinkie Pie is uncharacteristically quite. You wonder if they're all worried about Rarity or the danger that may be to come. Either way, you try to shake it off, lean by the window and hum to yourself. Anything to distract you.
"Heh, Rusty." Twilight says, suddenly next to you. "That tune's pretty catchy."
"What? Oh, the humming. Was I bother you?"
"No no. I'm just curious how that song goes."
"Oh..." You think about it, but draw a blank. You can't even remember the little melody you were just doing. "I... don't know."
"Oh, I didn't mean to... sorry," Twilight says looking sad.
"It's fine."
The awkward silence becomes more awkward for a while longer, but it thankfully cut short when the door opens. A few guards carry in a number of heavy bundles. The guard from before is amongst them and comes over to Twilight with the list.
"We were able to secure nearly everything you wanted," He says, going over the list. "However, we can't spare any weapons. Our supply is sparse as it is. But we do have plenty of armor."
Amongst the bundles are gleaming gold plates of metal. Applejack and Rainbow Dash are already looking at them curiously.
"And uh, your clothes," The guard adds, look at you. "We can't find a tailor for you. You'll have to make due with this."
He goes into a bundle and pulls out a large brown hooded cloak. Looks heavy, like wool and there doesn’t seem to be anyway close the front. And it's big, you doubt any of your friend could wear it comfortably.
Rusty:
The rest of the party:
"I think this is everything," Twilight says excitedly. "Thank you."
"If you need anything else, let one of us know."
The guards depart, leaving you and the ponies with your new toys. Rainbow Dash is already trying to get her armor on, though you are pretty sure she's got something in backwards. Applejack is counting something in her pack, while Pinkie and Fluttershy seem to be disusing the sleeping bags.
You try on the cloak; its bit on the small size for you, especially at the shoulders and the material is a little itchy, but its better then nothing you guess. You take it off after trying it on, because it's far too stifling in the heat.
"Right!" Rainbow Dash says, tightening the last strap to her semi functional armor. "Let's get a move on!"
"Whoa nelly!" Applejack says, pulling Rainbow Dash back by her tail before she shoots out the room. "Hold your horses."
"What? Time's a wasting! Let's go already."
"Nothing doing." Applejack says, shaking her head. "First off, me and Twi are dead on our hooves as it is walking all the way here. Fluttershy has only just snapped out of her rut and if I recall correctly, Dash, you spent the other day running off ahead and getting chased down by a bird. We should rest."
"But that will take forever!" Dash rebuttals, flaring out her wings and legs to accentuate the point. "Rarity's in danger and the world's under attack. We should go now!"
"No, we're too tired. If we go now the first thing we run into will be able to knock us over with a feather."
"Hey now," You say coming between the to feuding, trying to diplomatic. "How about we take a vote?"
"Fine."
"Fine."
"OK, those in favor of going with Applejack's idea of resting for a while raise you hand... er, hoof."
Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy each raise their hooves.
"And for Dash's plan to go on ahead?"
Pinkie and Dash raise their hooves.
Which leaves you.
You also vote to rest (not that it matters), putting the vote at 4 - 2.
"That settles it. We stay and rest, at least for a little while."
"Ugh!" Dash grunts loudly. "I can't believe any of you! All of Equestria is at stake and you want to take a nap!"
"Dash, that’s not w-" Twilight tries to say, but Dash isn’t hearing it.
"Whatever!" Rainbow Dash says, grabbing her stuff, her poorly secured armor awkwardly shifting as she shoulders the saddle bags. "I'll just do it myself!"
"Dash wait!" Pinkie cries out, but is left with a streak of rainbow colors shooting out the window. Everyone runs over and watches her streak across the sky towards the dome.
You and the others call out to the blue pony as she quickly becomes a dot at the far end of the city.
"Dash!" You cry as loud as you can. "You'll get yourself killed!"
Either Dash's is too far away to hear any of you or she simply doesn’t care, you cant tell. Defeated, you slink back fully inside from the window and sit on the floor back to the wall.
Well now what?