Chapter Eighteen

> You make your way through the crowded streets. The air is filled with the mixed scent of various foods and mixed spices. Merchants shout slogans and boasts over the din of the moving crowd.
> You ignore the barrage of advertisements and ‘bargains’, you already spent most of the little money you had.
> You found a canteen for a reasonable price, a priority after a few days in the steppe, along with a small bedroll.
> You also bought a large bag of venison jerky from a Griffon vender. It was a bit tough, but well seasoned.
> You even managed to find a crude backpack, along with a map of Gryphonia. It was nice to finally be able to see where you were and where you were going.
> Unfortunately, that left you with only a couple of bits left, but still plenty of time before you were supposed to meet up with Gilda.
> So you decided to just explore a bit, taking in the sights and sounds of this massive market
> As you work your way through the crowd, you hear a peculiar voice call out.
> “Come one, come all, and learn your fate!”
> “Listen close before it’s too late!”
> The voice had a peculiar accent to it, and was almost lyrical in nature
> You see it’s coming from a hooded p0ny in front of one of the more ragged tents
> She must have noticed you looking, turning toward you she addresses you directly.
> “You there, friend, would you like a reading?”
> “I know it is just what you are needing.”
“I don’t believe in fate.” You answer, continuing on your way.
> She laughs at your response
> “Of course, on the strings of fate you do not play”
> “Your father would have it no other way”
> That stopped you in your tracks.
“How do you know about my father?” you demand.
> You could just make out a small smile under her hood
> “I know many things, o’ walker of woods”
> “Far more than one reasonably should”
> Ok, this was officially unsettling. How did she know about you?
> Was she a spy? An assassin sent by Celestia? She didn’t look threatening at least.
> You needed to find out who she was.
“Alright fine, I’ll take a reading. But I don’t have much money.”
> “Worry not,” she replies, “I will not charge you for my time”
> “To read your fate, the pleasure is mine”
> She opens the flap to her tent and steps inside, gesturing for you to follow
> You stoop under the opening, entering the dimly lit space
> The air was hazy and thick with strong incense. Various tribal masks and gourds hung from the ceiling and walls.
> The tent was lit by a few large candles places sporadically about, aided by the many tiny holes in the canvas ceiling.
> In the center was a large black cauldron, surrounded by various cushions and bubbling with a fluorescent green liquid.
> The p0ny took a seat on the far side of the cauldron and began muttering strange incantations under her breath
> As you sat down on the pile of cushions, the strange p0ny threw back her hood with one hoof
> Ok, so she wasn’t a pony at all, she was a zebra. Her coat was covered in a pattern of black and white stripes. Her mane had a similar pattern, arranged in individual locks that hung around her head.
> But her most striking feature was her eyes. Whatever color they had was lost beneath a thick silvery glaze.
> Finished with her incantations, she threw a small powder into the cauldron, which began to bubble and churn with greater intensity.
> She leaned forward, seeming pleased with her work.
> “The cauldron swirls shall tell us things”
> “And show us what your future brings”
“How are you supposed to read the cauldron? You’re blind.” You point out
> She turned toward you, looking you straight in the eye. Even blind, her gaze was powerful, she seemed to star straight into your soul.
> “I may be blind, unable to see”
> “But I know all things that will come to be”
> She turned her attention back to the bubbling concoction, staring at it intently.
> “Every life is a balanced scale”
> “That tips and turns throughout their tale”
> “One side holds joy and success”
> “The end that we all desire best”
> “The other hold pain and sorrow”
> “A truly misfortunate tomorrow”
> “And in every life, there is a crucial time”
> “When the scale falls forever to one side”
> “And no matter how you struggle or feel”
> “Your destiny is forever sealed”
> “But for you, it seems that time did pass”
> “It was when you spared that mare your wrath”
> Wait, did she mean Twilight? So the decision to spare her determined your entire future? No, you refused to believe that. Fate isn’t set in stone, you controlled your own destiny.
> And yet, as much as you didn’t believe in prophecy and fortunes, this zebra knew things she shouldn’t. Magic was very real in this world, was perceiving the future really so farfetched?
“So,” you ask, your curiosity bettering your skepticism, “Was that the right choice?”
> She peers deeper into the swirling mix, growing confused and flustered.
> “Your ultimate fate, I cannot see”
> “You struggle against the chains of destiny”
> “But I see many questions bounce around your head”
> “Enough to keep us here till bed”
> “And so I will answer none save one”
> “The one you’ve asked since your journey begun”
> She was right, you had a million questions about this world, many of which Gilda was unable to answer.
> Was this a different planet? A different time? Were there other humans somewhere? How did magic work? How did p0nies evolve?
> However, there was one question that overrode all others. A question you asked yourself every day and every night.
“How do I get home?”
> She smiled at you, as if she knew that was what you were going to ask
> “You’ve already come far, the end is near”
> “To me, this is perfectly clear”
> “But to make your way, you must hold the key”
> “It is the only thing that can protect thee”
> You couldn’t help but get excited at her response. This was the first clue you’ve gotten since you arrived.
“Then what is the key? Where do I find it?” You ask anxiously
> “My friend, you’ve already got it” she replies with a smirk,
> “It resides within your pocket”
> You were confused, you didn’t have anything in your pockets except for a few bits and...oh
> You reach into your coat pocket, retrieving the smooth black stone
> You had practically forgotten about it, it had been sitting in there untouched for weeks
“You mean this?” you ask, holding up the stone, “What’s so special about it?”
> “That stone is of no earthly vein”
> “It is known as goddess bane”
> “As long as your person it adorns”
> “You will be shielded from those with horns”
> Well what the hell did that all mean? You already guessed it was a meteorite, but what did she mean by shielded? Was it a good luck charm?
> Before you can ask her to clarify, she looks away and stares off into the distance, as if listening to something only she can hear.
> Abruptly she turns back toward you, her expression serious.
> “It seems our time has come to an end”
> “I wish you luck on your path my friend”
> “There come those who would wish you harm”
> “It would be best if you were gone”
> She rises to her feet and ushers you out of the tent, pushing you with her head
“Wait! Hold on! I don’t understand!” you protest
> You’re quickly shoved out of the tent and back into the sunlight, the canvas flap closing behind you
> You look around warily, her abrupt warning putting you on edge.
> Everything looks alright though, no one looks like they’re about to attack you.
> You do notice a group of those bipedal dogs pointing up into the sky, talking amongst themselves.
> You follow their gaze, shielding your eyes from the sun.
> What the hell was that? It looked like a massive flock of birds, passing under the shadow of a small cloud
> Couldn’t be birds though, they were too big. It looked like they were… oh no… oh god no…
> As the massive flock clears the shadow, the sunlight reflects off hundreds of sets of gleaming golden armor.