=BiE 36=

>The carriage bounced and bobbed along the road and into the forest.
>Being crammed inside with four other ponies made the ride...interesting.
>Eventually, the carriage stopped. 
>But not before the riders inside had been dropped into a pile.
>"Whoever's hoof that is has five seconds to remove it before I do."
>The offending hoof is removed as you all climb your way out of the carriage.
>Before you are erected a good couple hundred tents of varying sizes.
>Ponies of all shapes and sizes roam around the makeshift town.
>No...not just ponies.
>Your eyes make out several pairs of griffins as well as several unicorns. You even see a minotaur.
>"Impressed, human?"
>You turn to your side and spot Trixie beaming over her collection of cultists.
>You grunt.
>"Seems pretty organized for a religion supposedly based around the concept of Chaos..."
>Trixie harrumphs. "We will not have a hired mercenary, and even worse, an -outsider- critique our methods. Now, come along. I want you to sit in on a meeting."
First a camp and now a meeting? Is it a Chaos meeting?
>She's a hypocrite, who cares? 
>Just follow along until you get what you need.

>The meeting was exactly as bureaucratic as you thought.
>Long table.
>Dozen or so high ranking cult officials.
>The Holy Mother at the end, flanked by Trixie and some pegasus in red armor.
>And you. Crammed between a griffin and an earth pony who smelled like he hadn't bathed in a week.
>Trixie was using her illusionary magic to place markers over a map of Equestria and the surrounding countries.
>"I will re-iterate our plan for those of you who are unaware." she says as she throws a glance at you.
Fuck you too, Trixie.
>"As you all know, Chaos is a state of things. One that is imprinted throughout the entire world almost as much as magic itself."
>Four markers appeared over the map. Two to the North and two to the South.
>"Our goal, is to collect four items that either caused mass Chaos, or are the direct result of it. Using these artifacts, we will tear open a portal and free our lord Discord." she says with a manic grin.
>Everyone else at the table was wearing the same grin.
>You sigh and raise your hand. "What, human?" Trixie asks.
>"Why are we doing this? I mean, I know you want to free Discord, but isn't he a statue in Canterlot? Shouldn't the first task be getting that statue?"
>The rest of the members of this idiot council all moaned like you had just asked why the sky was blue.
>"Discord is not mere flesh, human, He is a spirit. A spirit that is currently trapped in the Tartarian plains. We will use these artifacts to open a portal to Tartarus and allow him re-entry into our world."

>"Isn't Discord supposed to be as powerful as Celestia? Shouldn't he be able to open a portal himself?"
>You hear a sigh from the earth pony next you. "I have a question, why are we even entertaining this ape? He is no true believer, and I fail to see why our plans hinge on him."
>You shoot him a glare. "What, ape? You think you can frighten me? I have fought worse then you in my-"
>He gets no further as you grab his head and slam it onto the table.
>You pull David out of his sheathe and stab him into the table barely a hairsbreadth away from the earth pony's neck.
>"You ponies need to learn that I'm a lot scarier then you are."
>Any traces of arrogance in the ponies eyes had evaporated as he eyed the blade at his throat.
>A flash of light erupts from behind you and splinters over the back of your head.
>You turn to see Trixie standing on the table, her horn still glowing. "That is why we need him. I have word from one of my sources that both this human and the other from P0nyville are entirely immune to magic. We can't overlook that advantage."
>The only time that ever came up was when you first got here and saw Celestia.
>She has spies in the palace?
>Trixie continues to glare at you while the rest of the room looks on edge, the pegasus on the other side of Her Holiness looked ready to jump you.
>"Now, release him human."
>You stare down Trixie for what feels like hours.
>Should just wreck these idiots...
Easy. Remember the plan. We need them.
>Yeah...but they don't need us here.

>You pry David out of the table and re-sheathe him as you walk out.
>"Human! We are not done here!" you hear Trixie shout from behind you.
>You stop and look at Trixie over your shoulder.
>"Four artifacts to summon Discord. I help you get them and then I get what I want. I'm going to assume you aren't a moron and have some way of crossing that ocean on your map, so I'm leaving until you twits come up with a plan."
>You continue walking out of the tent.
>"Come find me when you have something, and not a minute before."
>That went well, what now?
We need food. And a place to sleep.
>You wander around the camp looking.
>Dammit, where is the cafeteria tent, or whatever?
There has to be one with this many cultists.
>Maybe they catch their own food?
>You're interrupted by a trio of colts running past you chasing a ball.
>Shit, they had kids in this mess?
Fucked up.
>"Hey. Kids."
>They all turn to look at you.
>"What are you doing here?"
>The three of them glance at each other. "Uhh...our parents all brought us here, who are you?"
Parents dragging their kids into a doomsday cult?
>It's either that or pay for college...
>"Nevermind, where do I get something to eat?"
>The colts all point to a particularly large tent over on the other side of camp.
>"Yeah. Thanks."
>You can feel them stare at you as you walk away.

-Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOWAWT-8IVM-
>Dinner consisted of some bread and water.
>Can't get too fancy when you're feeding this many mouths in the middle of nowhere.
>At least you were used to the diet.
>It was night, late, the events of the day were beginning to catch up to you.
>Apparently, tents were for actual members of the Cult, so you had to fend for yourself.
>Deciding against sleeping near the outskirts of a camp in the middle of the Everfree Forest, you lean back against a tree next to the conference tent you stormed out of earlier.
>Your mind begins to replay the events of the day.
>You still remember Anon's face when you announced you were working with Trixie, he looked confused.
>Anon always saw the world a bit more black and white then you.
>Contrast to Rainbow's face; the rage of your betrayal was practically carved into it.
>Still, you hope they're okay.
>You didn't stick around to see the aftermath of the smokescreen.
>And then with what happened with Lotus...
>You felt a pang in the middle of your chest.
>Why did she have to be there?
>She better be safe.
>Is she worried about you? Or did she do what you said?
>Maybe you shou-
No.
We can't.
The job is too important.
>You sigh as you remember why you rolled in with Trixie in the first place.
Mind like ice. Let nothing get in your way.
>You take some deep breaths as you center yourself.
>Anon, Rainbow, and Lotus would be fine.
>Whatever they do after this, you're not going to be around to help.
>You eventually succeed in banishing those thoughts and drifting off to sleep.
>Whatever the council came up with, tomorrow would be an interesting day.