There and Back Again: A Pony's Journey

2.

Fellowship

        WallCloud’s head throbbed as he rose from the cement floor of the wine cellar. He could hear the muffled screams and roars from the surface. Bottles on racks rattled as buildings came crashing down.

“That’s what I would call a close shave” MonoChrome said as he looked to the ceiling.

“We need to get back up there” WallCloud said as he rose to his hooves. “For Celestia’s sake, we can’t just hide down here like cowards!”

“And do what?” Neon said. “That’s bigger than any dragon I’ve ever seen.”

“I don’t know, something instead of cowering in the dust!” WallCloud said pushing his chest out to emphasize his entitlement.

“Listen, greenhorn” Neon said “I know you want to help but there is nothing we can do. You’re lucky to even be alive if it wasn’t for…” He paused and glanced to the Unicorn.

“MonoChrome” he nodded.

“I’m Neon”

“My name is WallCloud” He finally sighed. “This was my first day of duty.”

“I thought I didn’t recognize you.” Neon said. “I’m part of the Pegasi squad the rest of the year.”

“Where are you from?” Neon said as he turned to Chrome.

“Manehatten” He replied.

“What brings you here?” WallCloud said as he sat on his haunches.

“Our mutual friend” Chrome replied giving his head a nod upward. “Well, not him specifically. Dragons in general.”

“Are you a professor or something?” Neon asked.

“No” Chrome replied “I study dragons as a hobby of sorts. Their migration paths, diets, culture. Shoot, I’ve even delved into their language a time or two.”

“Language?” WallCloud asked. “Those beasts can actually speak?”

“Well they used to,” MonoChrome explained “Centuries of greed and war have turned them feral. The only research I could find on the subject was buried deep in the Canterlot archives.”

“You say you research them as a hobby?” Neon said as he leaned to the left to observe Chrome’s cutie mark, which was a golden comedy mask.

“Yeah, but it appears that life has blessed me with another destiny.” He said flatly, noticing Neon’s gesture. “I’m a stand-up comedian.”

“Terrific.” WallCloud said, lowering his head. “I’m stuck in a hole during a crisis with a weekend warrior and a joke artist.”

“Don’t forget about the rookie.” Neon said trying to pull WallCloud back to their level.

“It was probably your galavanting around in the sky that brought that creature here!” WallCloud was angry now. He stood up and puffed his chest out again.

“Yeah?” Neon said, defending himself. “ Well if you had your eyes open and alert instead of flaunting for the mares or something, you could’ve sounded the alarm and adverted this crisis!”

“Don’t you tell me how to do my job, fly-boy!”

“Oh, the ‘job’ you just got this morning?”

“Guys.” Chrome said.

“At least I’m a full time guard!”

“Yeah, and a full time screw up as well”

“Guys” Chrome said more assertively.

“Don’t you try and preach to me! You were practically peeing yourself!”

“At least I didn’t faint like a little filly, when-”

“GUYS!” Chrome yelled, separating the two with his magic. “Listen!” They both fell silent. It was quiet, eerily quiet. They no longer heard the turmoil for above. “C’mon” Chrome said as they made toward the door. Chrome pushed upwards with everything he could on the door, but it didn’t budge.

“Let me help” WallCloud said as he came up beside Chrome. “Count of three.”

Chrome braced himself against the door once again.

“One.” He began.

“Two.” Neon joined as he came to Chrome’s other side.

“Three!” All three ponies pushed will all their might. The door creaked heavily and the sounds of bricks being shuffled began, but the door didn’t budge. The ponies relaxed.

“There’s too much rubble.” Neon panted.

“Let me try something.” MonoChrome said. “Stand back.”

Neon and WallCloud obliged and stood behind the unicorn. Chrome closed his eyes and pawed at the cement to get a better stance. His horn glowed. A low deep hum began, faint at first, then began to grow louder and more high pitched when it finally-

“HA!” Chrome let out as a bolt of light lanced from his horn and collided with the door, sending slivers of wood and debris sailing outward into the ruins of Ashdale.

“Good work” WallCloud said, giving Chrome a bump with his side as he walked by. WallCloud was the first to exit, followed by Chrome, then Neon. They reached the street and haulted abruptly. The three ponies looked around at the utter devastation. Very few buildings were left standing, the cobblestone paths were charred black. A heavy wind kicked snow flurries that circled and danced around the ponies.

“Sweet Celestia.” Neon said under his breath. Heavy clouds of fog puffed from his mouth, which hung agape. “Why would he have come here? We’ve never had problems with dragons before.”

“Because of the Aurora Stone.” Said a voice from behind them.  They all turned and looked in amazement. There stood an elderly mare with silky white hair and a silver-blue coat, A stout, brawny green earth pony and a handful of survivors that withstood the attack. All looked forlorn.

“Claire!” Neon said.

“Father!” WallCloud said also as they rushed to the group.

“Thank goodness you’re alright, son!” WallCloud’s father said taking his son into a loving embrace. “Claire, this group of ponies, and I are the only survivors.” He said grimly. He glanced to the pegasus. “I’m glad to see you’re okay also, Neon.”  He noticed MonoChrome. “Yet, I’m not familiar with your face yet. I am Heavy Tread, captain of the Ashdale guard, and this is ClaireVoyance, wisest pony of our village.”

“I’m MonoChrome.” He said nodding. “You said something about the Aurora Stone being the reason the dragon was here?”

“Indeed” Claire said, her age apparent in her voice. “But that is not just any dragon. That is Athest, the destroyer! Long have ponies cowered in fear from him and his tyranny.” She explained. She looked to the ever darkening sky. “His last invasion like this was nearly 500 years ago, long for ponies, but only a blink in the life of a dragon. I know not why he has resurfaced, but I know that it cannot be good.”

“What would he want with the Aurora Stone?” WallCloud asked. “It only reduces the effects of the weather, right?”

Claire nodded. “Indeed. It was given as a gesture of peace by the griffins. I suppose in the old age of Athest, anything can be seen to hold value.”

The wind howled and clouds began to quickly form in the sky.

“Already, without the stone’s presence, the storms will come in full force.” Heavy Tread observed. “Even if we rebuild, it will all be for nothing. Without the stone, Ashdale will be no more.” The crowd began to talk in hushed tones.

“What if we were to take it back?” Neon said, quickly silencing the crowd.

“You speak of suicide!” One of the ponies said from the group.

“He’s right, even if you somehow knew where the dragons nested, there is no way you could possibly take the stone back.” Heavy Tread said.

“Good thing there’s a nimble and quick pegasus willing to make the journey, eh?” Neon said smugly as he struck a pose, earning more whispers from the crowd.

“What do you mean?” Tread asked arching an eyebrow.

“Pegasi are notoriously quiet and light on their hooves, stealing the stone back will be a breeze!” Neon said.

“Oh, all by yourself?” WallCloud said. “You’d need a guide that has proper training in wilderness survival with you. You’d probably eat the wrong kind of mushroom and imagine you’re some sort of bat-pony!” WallCloud gave a hiss, imitating a bat. A few chuckles emerged from the crowd.

“You’re right!” Neon said “How ‘bout it sir?” Neon asked Heavy Tread. WallCloud’s ears flattened and a look of annoyance emerged on his face.

“Nay, I cannot.” Tread said with a shake of his head. “The ponies need me here. I must guide them to safety across the valley.”

“Well it looks like it’s a trip for one again!” Neon said smugly grinning at WallCloud.

“However” Heavy Tread continued “WallCloud has all the experience you seek.” Neon’s ears flattened, while WallCloud’s perked up.

“Really?” WallCloud asked. Tread nodded, giving his son a warm smile.

“You’re mother would be proud of the stallion you’ve become.” Tread said. “I know you’ll be fine, my son.”

“Yes yes, this is all well and good.” Claire said. “but, we’re forgetting one crucial detail: Where are the dragon’s headed?” Everypony fell silent. Neon raised his head and quickly turned towards MonoChrome.

“You!” Neon exclaimed.

“Beg pardon?” MonoChrome said, taking a half step back.

“You know where they’re headed!” Neon said pointing a hoof. “You said you came to Ashdale to study the dragons! Their behavior, language, growth rate, migration paths!”

“Is this true?” Tread said, turning to MonoChrome. The crowd rose from whispers to murmers.

“Yes, but the dragon’s roost is far across the sea” Chrome explained as he drew a crude map in the dirt. “We’d have to make our way across Equestria to the southern tip then sail across to Cervidas, then after that..” He gave a shrug. “It’s all new ground.

Nopony’s ever mapped it. It’s a lost world.”

Claire nodded, deep in thought. “You’re certain of this?” She asked.

“Absolutely” Chrome said.

“Then there still may be hope for Ashdale, yet.” She smiled.

“What?” Chrome asked, astonished. “I Just said that nopony has ever been there, the only reason ponykind has this information, is because of the deerkin!”

“Then you can be sure to ask them more when you get there” Claire smiled.

Chrome silenced himself, but he was still in total shock about all of this.

“You’ll need provisions.” Tread began. “Everyone, scour the wreckage for anything of use. Food, blankets, rope, etc.” The group dispersed and scavenged anything they could find. Soon they had three pairs of saddle bags stuffed full of supplies.

___________________________________

The group passed through the ruins of the Ashdale gate and headed down the old mountain path into the green valley below. WallCloud glanced back to the ruins once more. The dark storm clouds had nearly consumed the outcropping where Ashdale sat. He Sadly turned back to face forward and fell in step with his father.

“Do not tell me you are having second thoughts.” Tread said giving his son a nudge.

“It’s not that, father, it’s just..” WallCloud took a moment to find his words. “What if we fail? What if it’s too much? I’ve already failed to protect the village once.”

“WallCloud, do not do that to yourself!” Tread said. “There was nothing you, the rest of the guard, or even the Princesses themselves could have done to prevent this.” WallCloud looked his father in the eye. “I have faith in you three, and so should you.”

The group continued down the path. MonoChrome said nothing, looked at nopony and kept his gaze fixed on the path ahead.

“Bit for your thoughts?” Neon asked asked as he came into step with MonoChrome.

“Hm?” Chrome asked as he looked up. “I dunno, it all just seems so sudden. I mean, just this morning I was watching dragons fly around, and now I’m part of an epic journey I don’t remember joining.”

“Look if you don’t-”

“No, it’s not that!” Chrome interrupted. “It’s just a little overwhelming, I mean, I’ve never been south of Manehatten.”

“So why did you come to Ashdale?” Neon pressed.

“It was apparent that even the Canterlot archives had limited information about dragons, so I had no choice but to come get first-hoof experience with them.”

“I’m sure this isn’t exactly what you had in mind” Neon said giving a light chuckle.

“Poor choice of words, I know.” Chrome said lowering his head.

“Look, I know we just met, but I’ve got your back.” Neon gave Chrome a warm smile and extended his hoof. “Friends?”

Chrome hesitated for a split second, but returned the smile and bumped neons hoof. “Yeah, Friends.”

“It’s just like something my father used to tell me.” Neon said smiling to the sky. “Friendship is on of the most powerful weapons around, with it you can overcome anything, so fear not.”

“Your father sounds very wise.” Chrome said as he pondered what Neon had said.

“Yeah,” Neon replied. “He was.”

The Group stopped at a fork in the path.

“Here is where we must separate.” Tread began. “I will lead the others to Noveria across the valley. From here you must continue on through the Forsaken Forest. Your quest is clear. Track down Athest, take back the Aurora Stone and save Ashdale! I have faith in you, do not let us down.”

WallCloud hugged his father a final time, Neon said his goodbyes to the villagers, and even MonoChrome got a few hugs from the villagers, to his surprise. They all three turned and faced the south.

“You guys ready?” Neon asked as he pawed the dirt.

“Meet ya at the forest feather-brain” WallCloud said.

“Are we really running, I mean-” Chrome said until was interrupted by the earth pony and pegasus erupting into a full gallop.

“Buck.” Chrome cursed as he too broke into a run.