ToE Chapter 4-2

https://youtu.be/2qZropfk1yI

>Twilight opens the door, and leads you all into the Mayor's office. The room is oval-shaped, and the walls adorned with a few pictures and ornaments.
>Sitting at the desk, over by the window, is Mayor. She's looking rather stressed, but seems to relax a little upon noticing you.
>"Oh, Twilight! Mister Anon!"
>Mayor walks over from her desk, meeting you all in the center of the room.
"Miss Mayor."
>"You wanted to see us? What's wrong, Mayor?"
>"Well, you see, Twilight..."
>Mayor sighs, her worries evident.
>"Have any of you noticed the water levels in P0nyville's streams?"
"Yes, Miss Mayor, I have. They seem to have dropped, since yesterday."
>"Mhm. That's because the river that runs through P0nyville- The one that supplies almost all of our water, has lowered. I'm not sure what's causing this, but if it keeps dropping like it has been, we'll be looking at a water shortage. That's not even the worst of it. Earlier, I asked Derpy to fly down the river and-"
>"Derpy?"
>Rainbow Dash looks a little confused.
>"Yes, Rainbow. I'd probably have asked you if you weren't hurt... But, you know, Derpy happens to be quite a capable flier, and she was the first pegasus I could find who wasn't busy. Anywho, she flew down the river, to the lake in the mountains. She was supposed to visit Water Works, the p0ny who maintains the flood gates, to see what the problem was, but..."
>"But what?"
>"...When Derpy arrived at the lake, Water Works was nowhere to be found. Instead, she saw some strange little hooded creatures, who were tampering with the flood gates. And, when they noticed Derpy, they tried to shoot her down!"

>*Gasp!*
>"Oh, that's just awful! Is she okay?"
>"She's fine, Fluttershy. She flew away as soon as they fired the first arrow. She's been back for the best part of an hour."
>Twilight steps forward, with a look of concern.
>"Hooded creatures, a water shortage, a missing p0ny... And poor Derpy could have been killed! This sounds pretty serious, Mayor..."
>"Indeed. Now, Twilight, Mister Anon... I've something to ask of you two."
>"Uh-huh?"
>"...Would you please go to the lake, and find out what is going on? I don't wish to put you both in danger, but... Something has to be done, about all this. I know I'm asking a lot of you..."
>Hero mode engaged.
"Of course. Miss Mayor, I'll go."
>"Me too."
"...Um, Miss Twilight. Perhaps you should stay here. If these... Hooded creatures are as menacing as they sound, I'd rather you didn't-"
>"Anon, don't worry about me. I'm not as defenseless as I look, y'know. Besides, I don't want you going there by yourself."
>Twilight doesn't sound like she's going to be persuaded... But, seeing as she seems to possess power beyond what her innocent appearance and gentle nature would suggest, you know she's not incapable of fending for herself. Far from it.
"...Well, okay. I won't argue, but I must ask you to be careful. I don't want you getting hurt..."
>"So, you'll help us? Wonderful! Again, Mister Anon, P0nyville thanks you. Now, if you'll come over here, I've got some things for you."
>You follow Mayor over to her desk. She opens a cabinet, and retrieves a few items from it, then sets them on the desk, on top of some papers.
>The first of these items, is a brown scabbard, occupied by a sword, just like the one you used yesterday. With the sword, is a pair of wooden pauldrons which, curiously, look like they'd fit you perfectly.
>"Take these, Mister Anon."
"Thank you, Miss Mayor..."
>You take a moment to admire the items.
"So, When do we depart?"
>"Whenever you're ready."

>A short while after leaving the town hall, you arrive at the top of a dam in the hillside.
>As you walk across, you look over the edge. It's quite a drop.
>You reach the other side, and walk for another minute or two before reaching a small dock, with a single boat. It's simple, but sturdy looking. It possesses no mast or sail, but two paddle wheels at the rear.
>The deck is occupied by two benches, and a cockpit, which houses the wheel.
>"Here's our ride."
>Walking here, Rainbow Dash voiced her frustration about having to stay behind.
>"If I could get my hooves on one of those hooded jerks..."
>Had she not been injured, she would have joined you and Twilight- You get the feeling you're really missing out not having her with you. You don't know why, but you can perceive that there's something special, something truly exceptional, about this little mare.
>As you eye the boat, you feel something tugging at your arm.
>"Anon?"
>It's Lyra. You didn't notice until now, but she'd been very quiet on the way here.
"Miss Lyra?"
>"Those creatures sound really dangerous, Anon. Um, are you sure you'll be okay?"
>Lyra sure looks worried. You'd best reassure her.
"Of course. You remember how I dealt with that Wyvern? These hooded troublemakers shouldn't be much of a problem. Now, while I'm gone... I'll need someone to look after all these."
>You take your pouch of money, and offer it to Lyra.
"Would you do that?"
>She brightens up, a little- There's still some uncertainty in her eyes.
>"Oh, sure, Anon!"
>Lyra takes the pouch in her mouth.
>"You can count on me."
>She says, her words muffled.
"Hmhm, thank you."

>"Now, you've both got to be really, extra, super careful, okay?"
>Fluttershy says, as you and Twilight get aboard the boat.
>"We will be, Fluttershy. Don't worry."
>Just as you cast off, you hear a familiar voice.
>"Wait up, ya'll!"
>You look around, and see an orange p0ny hurrying down the path, towards the dock.
>"Oh, here's Applejack. She must have heard where we were going."
>By now, the boat has drifted a few metres away from the dock.
>Applejack runs along the dock's wooden planks, and leaps quite a distance onto the boat.
>"Phew! Ah got here just in time."
"Oh, Miss Applejack. Hi... Uh, do you know where we're going?"
>"Uh-huh!"
"And, you know there could be trouble?"
>"Mhm!"
"...You know, you don't have to-"
>"Sure I do, Anon! Yah don't think Ah'd let the two of yah tussle with those hoodlums by yerselves, do yah?"
"...Hmhm, I suppose not."
>"Don't you worry about AJ, Anon. She's quite a capable p0ny."
>You don't doubt that. From what you've seen, Applejack seems to be unnaturally strong and durable. She was almost able to match the wyvern in sheer power, and she doesn't appear to have suffered any actual damage from being sent flying into that stall.
>She's quite agile, too. Probably because she's so strong without being very heavy- It occurs to you, now, that the wyvern might have been outmatched if she wasn't so much smaller and lighter than it was. Could it be, that Applejack's strength was actually the greater of the two?

>Applejack walks into the cockpit, and pushes a lever, which starts the engine. Steam starts to come out of the two small chimneys at the stern, and the paddles begin turning.
>Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Lyra and Spike wave from the dock as the boat begins to travel down the river. Fluttershy slowly lifts off the ground, and flies over to you.
>"Um... Anon..."
>She takes one of your hands in her hooves.
>"You'll look after Applejack and Twilight, won't you?"
"Of course, Miss Fluttershy."
>You gently take hold of her hooves. They're so soft...
"I'll guard them with my life. I promise."
>"O-okay... Thank you, Anon. And, um, you've got to be real careful too... Please."
"Mhm."
>"Okay... So, uh, bye, Anon."
"Until we meet again, Miss Fluttershy."
>Fluttershy's hooves slip out of your hands, and she hovers in the air for a few moments before returning to the dock.
>As the paddles turn faster, the boat begins to pick up a bit of speed.
>"See ya'll later!"