And thus it was! The brave hero marshalled his supplies, that being Easy and me. We bought a small wagon to go with it, but they had no horses, and looked scandalized when I brought up the idea. Apparently ponies drew their own wagons, and I was a very odd person for thinking it should be any other way.

Easy slipped under the harness and had it moving easily, at least once we upgraded to one above the bare minimum grade. I wasn't sure how any pony planned to pull that rusty monstrosity.

We filled the wagon with travel rations and camping supplies. I didn't know the going rates of most of those things and Easy proved her worth. She was the haggler of the two of us, ensuring we got a better price than the starting offer each time. She also know the hows and whys of what we were doing better than I.

With her help, I was feeling confident for a little journey across Equestria in greater comfort than I had suffered reaching Canterlot the first time.

"Weapon?"

My attention snapped to Easy Breeze. "Weapon?"

She pointed a hoof at a selection of swords and spears that hung close to what I presumed was a blacksmith pony mare. "Do we want some?"

"Do you know how to use one?" The idea of a pony fighting with a sword in their mouth was, in some ways, amusing. "I can't say I have experience in it."

Her magic wrapped around one of the blades and drew it free of the display. "How hard can it be?" she asks with bravado. "You know there are monsters out there besides irate ponies, and the monsters usually can't just be talked to nicely."

I imagined Fluttershy instantly. If she was there, surely she could talk to most of the monsters nicely. A pity she wouldn't be born for centuries... Maybe never, if I didn't do my part.

That's when it hit me. I literally had a destiny. It wasn't given to me by some cutie mark or angry god from on high. If the future I had seen came to be, which I hoped had to happen, it meant I had to not mess up. But then, did time travel work that way? I could be in a separate probability-based dime--

"Ian," hissed Easy, interrupting my inner monologue. "Weapons?" She waggled a sword in my vague direction. "You have hands, it should come naturally."

Was that racist? Still, I reached over and tried a sword. The moment I lifted it, I knew swords were heavier than I imagined them being. I'd have to build up some upper-body strength, or use a smaller weapon than that one. I doubted I'd put on that much muscle quickly enough to matter, and set the blade where it started.

"She's a beuat," spoke the blacksmith mare. "Why don't you try giving her a swing?"

The sword was female? I supposed you could ascribe whatever gender you wanted on an inanimate object. Still... "It's a bit heavy for me. What would you say is the next step down."

Her horn glowed as she snatched up another blade and thrust it towards me, hilt-first. "Try this one."

It was shorted and slimmer. I could have called it a 'short sword', but that didn't really say much. Still, I wrapped my right hand around it. The magic holding it up faded and I was left holding the naked steel. I swung it experimentally, and it felt... about right. I could move it without feeling like I was fighting the momentum too badly.

"I don't want to use this," I noted.

The mare nodded. "I'm glad to hear you say that, no one should. Still, sometimes you have to."

Easy slipped between us and began the haggling. Soon I was the... proud?... owner of a weapon. It even came with a belt loop and sheath to hold it in. Easy got one for herself as well. "Poor Work doesn't strike me as much of a fighter." She turned away from the display. "I think we're ready."

"And you are?" I mean, really. Easy did not strike me as the sort.

She shrugged. "I don't want any filthy things putting their various parts on me. I'll fight if I have to, or run. Running is also an option..." She pointed a hoof at the wagon. "But we'll be carting our supplies around, which makes running less an option."

And so we wheeled back to the castle. The guards were eyeing the wagon. "That can't come in," stated the one one the left in firm tones. He pointed to a smaller building. "You can park it in there. No harm will come to it or its contents."

Secured parking? Sure, why not. We had it stabled beside other wagons and retreated for some rest and food.

Which is exactly when Celestia entered the dining hall. Without a word she went around the table and sat down opposite me. She reached with her magic and began serving herself as if we weren't there.

Easy broke the silence first, "Good evening, Your Highness."

Celestia dipped her head towards Easy. "Good evening." Her voice was tired, perhaps after a long day's work. Her eyes went to me. "You're leaving?"

I put it together. All she heard was that I came back from the city looking ready to skip town. She might have been entertaining a thousand theories, few of them pleasant. "I've isolated the root of the problem, and I hope to fix it."

Easy bobbed her head quickly. "We're going to chat with that troublemaking mare and see if we can't talk some sense into her."

Celestia tensed. It was a subtle thing, but I saw it. "Travel carefully, speak carefully. They... have shown themselves willing to harm those who come to speak. Do... not use my name as a shield."

I could imagine that ending up very poorly. "We will come just as who we are, not on the 'behalf' of anyone. Besides, I'm not technically doing this on your assignment. You haven't given me one of those.

She smiled then, a timid expression with some hope. "And I will break that now, I think. You are hereby ordered to not die. You will return safely, no matter the odds. I would rather you come back in failure than not at all. Am I clear?"

No, she was a lovely off-white color, but I spared her my humor. "Perfectly. We aren't going to pick fights."

"But you are armed, both of you." Her eyes moved from my blade to Easy's, despite both being below the table. "I suppose that is... a necessity." She leaned forward, that long neck of hers letting her easily put her nose close to mine. "In that future of yours, do ponies still need swords?"

I hesitated, thinking about time lines and the muddling thereof, it was time enough for her react, "Nevermind. The future isn't for us to see clearly." She turned her head, focusing one eye on me. "It must be a terrible burden, to know what could be, and what is. You... I shouldn't interfere." She raised a hoof to the table. "I will wish you well, and hope that you return with good news on your lips."

She looked to Easy Breeze then. "You. I had... dismissed you, and I apologize for that. You had potential, and he saw it. Protect him. See that he returns safely and I will ensure there is always a place in this castle for you."

Easy thrust up her hooves. "Calm down there, Celly." The princess jerked her head back at the nickname. "I'm his manager, which means I'll keep him on target and schedule." She thumped her chest with a hoof. "I don't plan to mess that up."

"Y-yes, I see..." She dipped her head at the both of us. "Then I will leave you to your preparations. Equestria will wait for your return." She rose to her hooves, metal shoes ringing against the ground.

Now, this next part I wasn't there for personally, but found out later about. Still, I think you should hear about it in this order, so here we go. Let us enter the head of another pony.

I saw Celestia emerging from one of the dining halls. She looked visibly troubled, so I trotted over to offer my services. "Good evening, Your Highness. May I draw you a scented bath, or perhaps--"

"That will not be required, Water Lily," she cut me off before I could finish listing things I could do for her, but seemed to realize something even as she denied me. "You are familiar with Ian Langerman, are you not?"

"I am." I bowed low, as was proper.

"Did you know he was leaving?"

I tried to hold back tensing up. "O-oh? He is? Should I gather his things?"

"I trust he can handle that. He is leaving on a dangerous assignment of his own initiative. It may set Equestria on a better path, or it may kill him."

That was awful! Terrible! I didn't want my precious Ian being battered, or killed! His smooth and warm body was to be adored and cared for... "Oh no..."

She saw the horror in my eyes, perhaps. "Do you care for him?"

I felt heat rushing into my face. "N-not like that! It's just... he'll be so far away from me--" What had I just said?! "I mean... You've seen him too, m'lady. He's naked in a way we never are..."

"Do you fear for him?" I don't remember nodding, but I must have. "Will you watch him go?"

"If I must." I tried to stand tall and proud. "My first duty is to you and this castle, Your Highness. I have not forgotten that."

"And if I assigned you to his wellbeing, you would...?"

"I would serve to the best of my ability." I glanced towards the dining hall she had originally emerged from. "I'm a maid, m'lady, but I could see to his comfort and health? I would do what I could."

"And what more could be asked of any pony." She smiled in that gentle way that I liked. "Go then."

I had permission to go with him? That was... horrible. I didn't want to go galavanting out into the middle of nowhere, and yet... it was my new assignment. I would safeguard him as best I could. "I won't let you down." I bowed low and remained down until Celestia walked past.

I was eating and chatting with Easy about the general route of our trip. We had a map spread between us of current-day Equestria, one of our many purchases.

A gentle cough caught her attention. There was Water Lily, standing at stiff attention. "Good evening, sir, madame. I'll be accompanying you on this task."

Easy burst into laughter, almost toppling from her chair. "Y-you?! Seriously?"

She went red in her cheeks as she clacked her hooves together, standing all the more rigidly. "I will serve you both to the best of my abilities."

I put an arm on the back of my chair, swiveled to look at Water properly. She was putting up a brave front, but she was also shaking. "You really don't have to."

"I've been ordered," she contradicted. "If you refuse me, sir, then I will have to report that I've failed..." She dipped her head a moment, ears spread wide. "I won't be in the way. You won't even know I'm there unless I'm being helpful. I know how to launder clothes, prepare meals, and upkeep cleanliness. Please, sir, allow me to lend my hoof."

She sounded so desperate to go, and yet frightened of the very same thing. I wasn't sure which answer would be kinder to her. "This will be dangerous," I warned, hoping it would settle things.

"I am ready." She let her hooves slide out a little into a slightly more natural pose. "When do we leave, sir?"

It seemed our party had grown.

Author's Notes:

Did you expect Water Lily to come along? She didn't! What manner of typo has possessed Celestia?

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