Chapter Two

The white ruby glowed intensely as Roadrunner picked it up with a hoof. He had been coming home from work when he saw a gem hidden behind a boulder. It disturbed him that the ruby was pale white instead of bright red.

Roadrunner was a turquoise blue earth pony with a dark green mane. He had two golden earrings and his cutie mark was a roadrunner. His eyes were a blue grey and he his mane was styled like a Mohawk.

Roadrunner jumped back as smoke flowed out of the jewel and wrapped around him. What was going on? Once the smoke cleared, the ruby was gone from his hoof.

Weird… he thought, peering at the ground to see if he had dropped it. He felt something around his neck as his eyes awkwardly traveled towards it. He shrieked, shaking himself from head to hoof. The ruby had transformed into an amulet with the white gem in the center. He looked down to see white vines around each hoof.

"This is… odd," Roadrunner muttered, examining his hooves. "But also cool." He looked around to see if anypony else had witnessed what had happened. Nope. He was alone in an alleyway.

Shrugging, Roadrunner trotted towards his house. It was in the center of the city, which was very busy and crowded, so he took the longer way.

Wait till the guys at work see this, he thought, jumping over a fence. Piper Beat is going to freak out. Though, this look isn't half bad.

Roadrunner was well aware that ponies were staring at him as he walked by. He ignored them and continued forward. The earth pony soon arrived at his little, cozy hut.

When he saw the light shinning faintly through the curtains covering the windows, he knew his sister, Tumbleweed, was home. Swinging open the front door with a smile plastered all over his face, Roadrunner hurried over to the living room couch and gave his big sister a gigantic hug.

Tumbleweed frowned in disgust, pushing him away. She, like her brother, was an earth pony and had a bright yellow coat. Her eyes were a very dark brown and her hair was the color of peaches. She had a tumbleweed cutie mark.

"How was work, Roady?" she asked, flipping through an issue of Wild West Gossip.

Roadrunner narrowed his eyes, plopping down beside her. "Don't call me Roady, and work was fine."

"Sure thing, Roady," Tumbleweed replied, smirking. She looked over at him and her eyes fell upon the amulet around his neck.

Catching her look, he said, "Cool, right? I found this as a jewel near Salon Creek, and when I touched it, it became this and I got vines around my hooves." He gestured towards his neck and then held up a hoof.

Tumbleweed frowned slightly. "That belongs to somebody, maybe you should give it to the mayor. He'll certainly find the owner."

Roadrunner sighed. He knew that his sister wouldn't let him keep it the moment he stepped through the door. He did not want to return in to its rightful owner, he wanted to show off the vines and jewel. Besides, finders keepers, right?

But, he nodded anyways and reached to grab the necklace. He tugged on the white ruby, and, without any warning, it electrocuted him. Roadrunner screamed, pulling hard as the ruby sent electricity jolting throughout his body. After twenty seconds, it died down.

"WHAT IN EQUESTRIA JUST HAPPENED?" he cried, shuddering.

Tumbleweed gaped at him before she burst out laughing. Glaring, Roadrunner bonked her on the head with his hoof.

"I'm sorry!" his sister apologized, giggling. "But that's what happens when you mess with other pony's belongings."
Pausing from his shuddering, Roadrunner bonked her on the head again. "Yes, ponies protect their items by putting lighting charms or spells on them."

Tumbleweed shrugged. "It's a possibility."

"Wellthat's stupid. How am I supposed to take this off now?"

"I'm sure someone is Manehattan will know."

"Do we know anyone that can-" he was cut off by a scroll appearing on the coffee table.

Both siblings glanced at each other before Tumbleweed picked it up and unrolled it. Curious, Roadrunner leaned forward, anxious to read the scroll. They never got letters from anypony.

"What does it say? What does it say?"

"I'm about to read it," Tumbleweed said, hushing him with a 'shush'. "It says:

Dear Roadrunner of Manehattan,

It is I, Princess Twilight Sparkle. I am requesting your presence at the Castle of Friendship, for we have matters to discuss. A coach of pegasi will soon arrive to take you to Ponyville. I know this is short notice, but I need you to come immediately. All of Equestria, and maybe even beyond, is at stake. For the sake of everypony, please accept this request.

Sincerely,

Princess Twilight Sparkle

P.S: Please do not bring anypony with you; I do not want anypony to start fretting about the new danger that awaits us all."

"Wow, sounds pretty serious," Roadrunner whispered, getting up to pace. "I wonder what is so important that she would request ME, of all ponies, to meet with her."

"I know right? I mean, usually her and her friends solve the problems in Equestria. What could be so big that her and her friends can't handle it?" Tumbleweed replied. "I hope you know- whether you like it or not- you're going, right?"

Roadrunner nodded. "Yes, I wouldn't want to jeopardize Equsetria's safety."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and a cough. Tumbleweed rushed over and answered it. A grey pegasus smiled at her before looking over her shoulder.

"We are here to take Mr. Roadrunner to Ponyville."

"That was fast," Roadrunner said, galloping over. "I'm here. Ready to leave."

"Then let us depart," the pegasus said, leading the earth pony towards the purple carriage parked in front of his house.

"See you later, Tumbleweed!" he called over his shoulder, getting into the carriage.

"Goodbye, Roadrunner, you better save Equestria or else I'm going to kill you!" Tumbleweed called, closing the front door.

"Let's go, stallions," the grey pegasus called as the carriage began to lift into the air.

Immediately, Roadrunner became nauseous. He had never been in the air before; he was an earth pony after all. He pushed down the peanut butter, jelly sandwich that was trying to make its way up towards his mouth.

This is going to be a long ride.