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                The Lost Land of Dinotopia                 
                    -by TigerSwirl448-                     
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                Part 1: Chapter 1: Changes                 
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Part 1: Chapter 1: Changes
The Lost Land of Dinotopia
Written by: TigerSwirl448
Edited by: Mint_Blossom
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (c) by Lauren Faust & Hasbro.
Dinotopia (c) by James Gurney
Dinotopia Mega-Series (c) James Gurney & Hallmark Entertainment
Part 1: Beginning
Chapter 1: Changes
In downtown Manehattan, in the train station on a bench sat a white mare in a navy blue hoodie. The mare reached inside her hoodie pocket and pulled out her music player to see which song was on. She smirked, stuffing it back in her pocket and laid on her side with a sigh waiting for the train to arrive. The mare pulled off her purple tinted sunglasses; checking the lenses against the ceiling lights and made an, “Ick!” sound. She looked to her saddle bags on the ground and with the magic of her horn, levitated out a cleaning rag and started cleaning the lenses of her sunglasses.
Once finished, the unicorn smiled and set them back on her muzzle with a content sigh, she was able to see clearer now. She frowned, looking up at the giant clock to see the second hand move slowly, counting down the seconds until one o’clock.
“Gah, where the hell is she? If she missed her train I’ll get... ugh.” The unicorn mare sighed shaking her head.
This is the first time in five years since she had seen her half-sister. Recently the mare got a letter from her stepmother, a letter of invitation to come home for her spring break. She liked her stepmother. She was fun and the one that got her into the music scene. If it weren’t for her, she wouldn’t have thought of being a DJ, she would probably have been stuck in a music store for the rest of her life. She sighed with a small smile, relaxing again.
Suddenly, there was a whistle blown from the tunnels beyond toward the edge of the station. The unicorn smiled sitting up as the pink and yellow train slowed down toward the end of the platform. Steam hissed as the train slowed to a complete stop.
“Last stop, Manehattan!” The conductor pony called out as the doors popped open and slid to the side. Travelers walked out of the train, many dressed as tourists and others dressed as workers returning from business trips. The unicorn waited until she saw her sister. The gray earth pony mare leaped off the train, balancing her saddle bags on her back. The mare flicked back her black mane as wind blew in from the tunnel at the end of the platform.
“Octy!” The unicorn called out waving her hooves in the air. The mare jumped hearing the call then turned to see the unicorn waving. The mare groaned, but smiled all the same as she trotted over.
“Vinyl dear, so good to see you.” The mare said sitting down on the bench.
Vinyl just grinned, snickering. “Vinyl dear, so good to see you.” Vinyl mimicked, getting a glare from her sister. “Sheesh, when have you been so fancy?”
“Hmmph, like you would know anything.” The mare groaned. “And please don’t call me, Octy.”
“Huh?” Vinyl asked. She blinked with surprise at her sister’s tone.
“It is Octavia and only Octavia. And I will call you Vinyl.”
Vinyl blinked, pulling her shades down to the tip of her nose to stare at her sister. She leaned in with a quirked eyebrow. “Who are you and what did you do to Octy?”
Octavia pushed Vinyl’s face away from her. “Stop acting like a child. Now, don't we have another train to catch to head for the south?”
Vinyl blinked then snorted. “Yeah, come on. The train leaves in an hour.”
Octavia sniffed trotting after her.
*    *    *    *
“Train 346, Train 346 on its way to Ponyville, Bridledale, Stormstall, and the last stop Zebra Keys. All aboard!”
Vinyl used her magic to set her and Octavia’s saddle bags up on the rack above their seats. Octavia smiled at the unicorn then sat in her seat opening a book. Vinyl looked up to see Octavia already deeply engrossed in her book just seconds after opening it. Vinyl sighed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. She reached into her hoodie to pull out her music player and started looking for a song to listen to. She smiled, finding a good deep beat song nodding her head lightly to the beat. She closed her eyes as thoughts came up about Octavia.
She still couldn't get her mind around her. Though it had only been five years, Octavia had really changed. She seemed so stuck up now; not even her old nickname would make her smile. Vinyl sighed, turning to the window and watching the platforms start to move away as the train started to move.
Octavia looked up, watching Vinyl lean against the window, watching the cityscape change to suburbs. Octavia sighed, shaking her head and returning to her book. Vinyl was such a jerk and a child. Even back before Octavia and Vinyl went their separate ways, Vinyl was still the immature failure. Not that she was a failure, she became a best-selling disk jockey. But Vinyl never really passed anything, not even in school. She was a drop out and somehow managed to become successful while Octavia busted her tail to get to where she was today.
Octavia sniffed disdainfully, returning to her novel as the train continued to chug through the south towards the Zebra Keys.
*    *    *    *
“Last stop, Zebra Keys! Last stop, everypony!”
Vinyl sat up during a break between songs, hearing the conductor cry out during his rounds. Vinyl looked around to see that the car she and Octavia were sitting in only had a unicorn couple left. They were waking up to grab their bags. Vinyl turned, hearing Octavia sneeze and wipe her nose with a tissue. Octavia blinked behind her handkerchief, looking at Vinyl.
“How long was I out?” Vinyl asked, pulling off her headphones yawning.
“Since Stormstall.”
“That’s like, when?”
Octavia sighed, rolling her eyes. “Three hours ago.”
“Oh.” Vinyl pulled off her shades to rub her tired eyes. She turned to see that it was indeed around the end of sunset. Luna was starting to bring up her moon from the east. Vinyl sighed, seeing the reflections from the ocean a mile away and the beaches, villas, and palm trees.
The train reached the small train station going into a slow screeching halt. “Last stop, Zebra Keys!” The conductor repeated, stepping off the train, ringing his bell and calling out for the next train stops. Vinyl helped bring down Octavia’s bags including hers. The sisters trotted out of the car past the unicorn couple and a small family of four Vinyl hadn't noticed. Vinyl took in a deep breath, smelling the salty sea air.
“Ahh . . . Isn’t it great to be here again? It’s home sweet home.”
Octavia made a small smile, looking around to see the tall palm trees planted by the long, red bricked sidewalks outside the station.
“Yes, it is nice to be back.”
“Nice?” Vinyl asked surprised, looking at Octavia and using her magic to lift up her shades to get a better look at her. “Nice? Octy, you love it here.”
Octavia gave her a warning look. “What did I say about calling me by that name?”
“Octy! Vinny!” The two mares jumped hearing a mare’s voice and turned to see an older pegasus mare dressed in an aged leather brown aviators jacket standing by one of the giant palms outside. She walked over, fluttering her old light gray wings. Vinyl gasped as Octavia frowned seeing the older pegasus mare trot over. Vinyl ran over to hug the mare.
“Hiya Mom, what’s up?” Vinyl asked, feeling the mare's embrace on her.
“Look at you,” the mare exclaimed laughing and stepping back, looking Vinyl over. “Have you been gaining weight? I thought I told you to hold off the marshmallows.”
Vinyl blushed, scratching the back of her head chuckling. “It’s not my fault that I’m so addicted to s'mores.” The mare laughed, ruffling Vinyl’s blue mane. Then she turned to Octavia. Octavia sat still with a narrowing look, but made a small smile.
“Mother.”
The older mare chuckled. “Well, well, I learned from my own protégée Spitfire that you have made it high in the world Octy, following you dreams eh?” Octavia blushed lightly, her ears flattened on her head as she smiled. She rubbed her leg, bowing her head.
“Well . . . I’m trying.” The elder mare chuckled, hugging Octavia, too.
“Hot damn, look at you two.” She whispered turning to Vinyl and wrapping her large wing around her, pulling her close. “You two have grown a lot and man do I miss hearing you two bicker at the villa.”
Vinyl was laughing while Octavia blushed with shame.
“Well, enough laughing, let’s get to the villa. Old Zhama has been cooking for your arrival. I kept telling the old bat that you two wouldn't be here until nightfall, but that zebra . . . Hehe, she’s cooked up your favorite dish.”
That made both Octavia and Vinyl turn to their mother with shock.
“Really?” They both asked.
The old pegasus gave them a wink and nodded. “Yep, let's get going before the food gets even colder.”
Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another with hunger in their eyes.
“Last one there cleans the dishes!” Vinyl screamed out, running forward toward the coastal town. Octavia grinned, ready to run, but stopped herself. She stood up straight, clearing her throat, then trotted forward with her nose in the air. The pegasus lowered her glasses to watch Octavia trot past her.
“Hmmph, they sure grew up.” She muttered to herself as she followed Octavia to the village.
The two mares caught up to Vinyl at the edge of town to see her signing autographs to some foals, zebra, and pony alike. Vinyl turned, seeing them.
“Dudes, what took ya? I’ve been waiting for like ever!”
Octavia sniffed. “A lady does not run, we trot.”
Vinyl blinked being, weirded out. She glared at her for a moment. “Oh yeah, what if you were attacked by a Manticore, would you trot away like a lady or run like a mad mare?”
Octavia opened her mouth to yell, but their mother came in smiling. “Things have changed since the trains started carrying ponies instead of supplies.” The pegasus said ruffling the manes of the foals she passed.
“Yeah,” Vinyl said waving them off. The foals all waved to the DJ, heading home with their parents. “This place sure seems to have grown. I don’t remember this place having a pizzeria.”
“Oh yeah, they built that three years ago.” Vinyl chuckled at that.
“Really? Wow, I should check it out while I’m here.”
“You should.” Her mother said smiling. “It’s good. But I like Zhama’s pizzas better.” Vinyl allowed her mother to pass and headed for a cart. “Hey!” She called. Two zebras and an earth pony mare looked up from unpacking carts.
One of the zebras, the eldest of the three workers smiled. “Oh hi, Miss Cloud Striker!” Cloud Striker smiled.
“Hey Mickey, care to carry three mares home?”
Vinyl gasped. “Mickey? What’s up bud?”
The zebra gasped recognizing Vinyl. “Vinny! Wow, I never thought you were Miss. Striker’s company. Octy, too!”
Octavia blushed seeing the zebra stallion again. “Oh uh, yes hello to you, too, Mickey. But please call me by my real name.”
The zebra blushed. “Oh uh right, sorry about that Octavia.”
“It’s alright. We all have to grow out of our names some time.”
“Yeah sure.” Vinyl muttered.
“Let my partner and I get hitched up, then we’ll take you to your villa.”
Vinyl smiled. “Thanks, buddy.” She leaped up into the old cart. Octavia climbed in after her. Cloud Striker sighed leaping in to sit by Octavia. Vinyl looked at the younger zebra then the mare. “So who’s the new face and who’s the girl?” Vinyl said adding emphasis to "girl", making kissing noises. Mickey swatted at her with his tail causing her to laugh.
“Just so you know, Lemon Berry is my mare friend and she is the kindest mare I have ever met. Unlike some mares I’ve met.” Vinyl laughed as Octavia cracked a smile at the joke. Mickey nodded to the younger zebra. “This is Dice. He came here from one of the south most Zebra Isles. Came for a new life you know. Also you remember Old Mare Liza?”
“Yeah?” Vinyl answered.
“Isn't she the librarian?” Octavia asked.
“Was.” Mickey corrected as he and the second zebra Dice started trotting down the brick road to the shore. “She passed on two years back. And Dice here came while she was feeling ill.”
“Oh,” the sisters said at once with sadness. Octavia leaned over to look at Dice.
“Uh, Mister Dice, I’m very sorry for your loss. Miss Liza was a great and kind mare.”
Dice turned to her and smiled. “She was. Great aunt and a wonderful mother to her children.”
Vinyl blushed. “Yeah, I guess it’s too late to beg for forgiveness for those times I broke her windows with a baseball.”
Octavia stiffened, glaring at her. “Vinyl!”
“What?” Vinyl asked innocently as the zebras laughed.
“That was rude! Apologize.”
“It was a joke, Octy.”
“What did I tell you about-”
Cloud Sticker sighed loudly getting looks from her daughters. “Here’s the arguing. I was wondering how long it would take for these two to bicker, again.” Again the laughing as the sisters blushed with shame.
As the mares rode in the cart, the sun continued to dip lower over the southern mountains and the moon began lighting up the streets in a ghostly white glow. Along the way, they saw unicorns and zebras on their rounds to light the old lanterns along the old asphalt roads to the villas. Some of the lamp lighters turned and waved as the cart rolled by. The sisters would wave back as they continued to ride.
As they reach the bend Vinyl and Octavia went still, listening to a deep beat in the distance.
“What’s that?” Octavia asked curiously.
“Yeah, what is that?” Vinyl asked a little stunned and worried.
Cloud Striker pointed in the distance. The two sisters looked up to see what looked to be an outdoor theater on the hill above them. They could hear bongo drums, bells from hooves, stomping, and cheers. Vinyl stood up to get a better look. She could see many zebras dressed in tribal wear; dancing and singing, beating drums and shaking bells in front of a medium sized audience of ponies watching with awed or spooked expressions.
Cloud Striker made a hard frown at seeing this. “Welcome to the future.”
Vinyl sat down with shock. “When was this . . .?”
“About three years after you two left for better schooling in the main land. Some nobles came and bought some of the land from the mayor of the town and well . . . you can see for yourself.”
They turned another bend to see a bunch of lights and tall buildings that resembled hotels; there were larger and newer villas past all the old ones that lay by the beach. Octavia was in shock.
“But . . . Wow.”
“Wow?” Vinyl asked with a glare. “That’s all you’re going to say is Wow? This is horrible! Our sacred home is becoming a tourist attraction! Nothing will be the same again!”
“Stop being so dramatic. I’m sure the village has been getting more in income by the change.” Octavia said smiling.
“Change?! This place doesn’t need change! This was a sacred and peaceful place with no pony around to stick their nose in your face and telling you that you are nothing but a peasant!”
“Why I outta-”
“Vinyl, Octavia that is enough!” Cloud Striker yelled, causing the two mares to glare at one another, then turn away in silence. Cloud Striker sighed, rubbing her face. “I understand this is a big change for you two. But Octavia does have a point, the village has been gaining more money and newer buildings that we never had before.”
“Ha!” Octavia said, with an unladylike grin at her victory.
“But it’s also sad that everything we grew up with here is now mostly gone or taken over by the nobles.”
“Double ha!” Vinyl spat, sticking out her tongue.
“Very mature, Vinyl.” Octavia said dryly.
“Don’t start.” Cloud Striker warned. She sighed as they reached the turn to a sandy gravel road. After a few minutes of silence the zebras stopped in front of a wooden gate.
“Here you are.” Mickey called out smiling. Vinyl leaped off over the side landing on the old gravel road. She smiled, turning to her family.
“Well, what are you all waiting for? Food!” Vinyl ran off down the dirt walkway leading to the villa.
“Vinyl!” Octavia called, leaping out. “You rude little- GRAH!” Octavia panted then turned to the zebras with a blush. “I apologize for Vinyl’s behavior. Thank you for taking us home.”
Mickey tipped his hat. “Anything for an old friend. It’s nice seeing you again Octy - I mean Octavia. Hope to talk you later.”
Octavia nodded with a light blush. “Maybe some time. Thank you. And good night.”
“Night, Oh and good night to you, too, Ma’am.”
Cloud Striker sighed, ruffling her wings and wrapping one around Octavia. “Night to you both. And thank you for the ride. “The two zebras said their farewells, then trotted back to town.
Striker sighed and started walking on the road. Octavia followed close to her, feeling the weight of the wing on her back. The two continued to walk down the dirt walkway until they could see the lights hanging from the balcony of the small two story villa. Striker smiled, chuckling, seeing into one of the windows in the kitchen. Vinyl was already saying hello to the family cook, hugging the elder zebra mare.
Striker entered the house sniffing the air. “Mm-hmm, that is sure good. Did you heat the food up, Zhama?” Striker called out, pulling off her jacket and hanging it on a hook. Octavia walked in, wiping off her hooves before entering the house. She smiled, feeling a sense of welcome entering the home. The lights were a warm welcoming color, the hardwood walls and floor were the same orangey-brown color from her youth. She slid off her saddle bags next to Vinyl’s by the stairs leading to the rooms.
She heard the voices from her family, smiling and sighed with contentment for the first time in years. She felt at ease and safe in this old place. She walked forward, fixing her mane before entering with perfect poise. She pushed open the white kitchen door. She could see Vinyl sitting at the table already eating the broccoli-mushroom-cheese casserole. Striker was dishing herself some, then grabbing an ice cold beer from the fridge. Octavia looked to her left out of habit and smiled, seeing the marking on the old cellar door frame. Pink for Octavia’s height and bright blue for Vinyl’s height. The old childish height chart. Octavia stroked the old door frame with her hoof.
“Octavia? Why look at you child!” Octavia turned, hearing the old Zebra Key accent, to see the closest thing to an aunt a mare can get. The elder zebra cook walked over and hugged Octavia. Octavia returned the hug. She could still smell the familiar scent of herbs from the herb garden on the older mare’s fur. The elder zebra laughed, looking her over. Octavia smiled seeing the old mare dressed in her forest-green woolen shawl and a dirty orange handkerchief wrapped over her head. Her eyes were a pretty ocean blue and her smile was as white as ever.
“Look at you. You look so beautiful. Striker dear, have you seen this mare I swear . . . Is she really the same little Octavia that would steal my cookies.” The zebra and pegasus laughed as Octavia blushed and smiled. The zebra reached over for a plate and handed it to her.
“Here, look at you, earth ponies need meat in their bones to be strong." The elder zebra poked her hoof into Octavia's stomach. "Ha, you call that meat? I call that air!”
Vinyl guffawed, covering her mouth laughing. Octavia blushed.
“Are you calling me fat?” Octavia asked, not sure to be insulted or not.
“Fat? Nothing of the sorts!” Zhama said loudly, shaking her head. “Oh no, Octavia, dear. Ponies need more muscle. Earth ponies are hearty ponies and need muscles.”
Vinyl snickered, taking a drink from her glass. “And as for you Vinyl,” Vinyl turned. “You are fat! Unicorns are skinny like Pegasi!”
“Hey!” Vinyl yelled out. Octavia chuckled, taking a seat across from Vinyl, her old sitting spot growing up. Vinyl was eating in the same place she had sat in for years as well. Octavia took a spoonful of her meal, immediately melted with delight and went on eating faster. Nothing could beat old Zhama’s cooking.
*    *    *    *
After dinner, Vinyl laid in her old bed in her old room. All around, she could see hanging on the walls the old instruments she collected from the old tribes, and the stores, even the old abandoned cabins in the rainforests behind the villas where the new buildings are now. She snorted, staring up at the old tribal masks, now sun-bleached from the sunlight streaming in through the windows; they now had paler colors instead of their bold reds, blues, and greens.
She turned to her door, then smiled.  “It’s good to be back home.” She whispered.
She reached for her bag and grabbed her music player. She looked through her playlists, most of them were hard rock, metal, dubstep, even her own music. But she had a secret playlist, and she only played this playlist before bed, this playlist was filled with tracks of calming music. Different genres, but all meant the same, calming. She pressed shuffle and closed her eyes, listening to the calming flute and whistle.
With her eyes closed, she went through her memories of the past. Past memories that were happy and great. Private and clear. Vinyl remembered the moment meeting Octavia for the first time in the orphanage.
The mare that had brought her in had said that Octavia was Vinyl's half-sister from her father. Vinyl remembered how badly beaten Octavia was and how shy she was. For the first week Octavia would hide under her bed, crying or begging for the adults not to hurt her. It took a lot for Vinyl to get Octavia to talk to her, or even get her out of their shared room. One day, Vinyl was being bullied by some older colts in the orphanage. They were calling her a freak, since her mother had kicked her out into the streets. Octavia came and beat the colts away, protecting her sister. Vinyl remembered looking up at her and seeing her anger.
“You won’t hurt her!” Octavia had yelled. The colts had ran away to tell the adults. Of course, Vinyl and Octavia were caught and sat in the basement during dinner as punishment.
“Why?” Vinyl asked. “Why did you help me?”
Octavia had blinked and turned to her, her youthful eyes had been filled with tears. “Isn’t that what sisters do?” She asked.
“I don’t know if we are sisters or not.” Vinyl said truthfully and confused.
Octavia nodded, wiping her eyes. “It’s true. I remember Mommy talk about him. She blamed him for me, and blamed me for ruining her life.” Vinyl stared at her for a long moment.
“You too?” Vinyl asked. Octavia looked at her for a moment. Vinyl sniffed. “I don’t remember my mommy much. She kicked me out of the house when I could walk and talk.” Vinyl had lain down on the cold floor, sniffling. Octavia had crawled forward and laid next to her.
“Do you know anything about . . . Daddy?” Octavia had whispered worriedly.
Vinyl sniffed. “I met him once . . . He came here and saw me. He left real quick. They said that Daddy can’t take me since he is having troubles and . . . thinks I have a better life here or with a new family.”
Octavia sniffed. “The nice guard that came and found me told me that I would be better off here since Mommy beat me and Daddy wasn’t there. The nice mare told me that you are my sister. Or uh a Half-sister. What’s a half-sister?” Octavia had asked, looking at Vinyl with her head tilting to the side.
Vinyl snorted and laughed seeing the look Octavia gave her. “Uh, let’s see . . . maybe that we came from different Mommies? But have the same Daddy?”
Octavia scratched her chin with her leg, nodding. “That’s sounds right. Oh, I never got your name.”
“Really? I thought I told you my name.”
Octavia blushed. “I was scared when you told me and . . . my head was hurting a lot.” Vinyl had smiled as Octavia rubbed her head where fresh bandages had been placed earlier that day.
“It’s Vinyl . . . Vinyl Scratch.” Octavia smiled.
“And well . . . Mommy called me Octavia.”
Vinyl had given her a look. “What kind of name is that? That’s so hard to say.”
“No, it isn’t!”
“Yes, it is!”
“No, it isn’t!”
“Yes-”
Suddenly there was pounding at the door. “Shut up down there, you’re in time out. No talking!” An older mare screamed from behind the basement door above them. The two fillies lowered to the ground then turned to each other giggling silently.
“Okay, it might be a little hard.” Octavia giggled.
“Can I call you something easier?”
“Like what?”
Vinyl had thought for a moment. “Well I can call you Tavi . . . or Octy?”
“Two names? Wow, uh what can I call you?” Octavia asked innocently.
“Well since I gave you two names from your name you can make up two names to mine. Vinyl Scratch. What comes to mind?”
Octavia had thought for a moment, rubbing her temples, thinking. “Uh Scratchy!”
“Scratchy?”
“Yes, like you called me Tavi. Then um . . . Vinny”
“Vinny? Really?” Vinyl had asked with a deadpanned look
“Why not?”
“That is the lamest nickname I have ever heard.”
“Well Octy is a weird name too.”
Soon the two became sisters and stayed close to each other. Until the day came when they were adopted, without their knowledge to a retired Wonderbolt. The two fillies had walked out of the orphanage to see the pegasus mare sitting at the bottom of the stairs smiling up at them fixing the goggles on her head.
“Hey, what’s up kiddos?” She had said, trotting up to meet them.
Vinyl had stood protectively in front of Octavia, glaring at the mare. “They said you adopted us? Why?”
Cloud Striker shrugged her shoulders. “Call it maternal instinct. I figured, why not enjoy my early retirement with some fillies eh?”
Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another then at Cloud Striker. Cloud Striker sighed.
“Look, I knew your old man and I owed him one after he helped me get into the Wonderbolts as a teenager. And when he told me he had to leave two fillies in the orphanage for his stupid mistakes-” She paused, looking at the fillies with regret for saying those words. But they were confused. “Anyway, I knew your dad. He was an old friend. Well come along then, we have a long way to get to your new home.”
When the fillies first met Clouds Striker, they could tell she didn’t want to take the job of a mother right after retiring from a bad wing injury from the Wonderbolts. When they reached the Zebra Keys and their new home, the fillies were first against the idea of a new home with an ex-Wonderbolt and zebra cook. But after a few months all four of them became a family. Zhama became the fillies’ aunt and taught them how to cook, and even told them spooky zebra legends. Cloud became a mother to the two and called them by their nicknames. Her favorites were: Vinny and Octy.
*    *    *    *
Octavia opened her eyes with a sigh, looking around her nice neat room. She groaned, tossing and turning in her bed, having trouble sleeping. She sniffed the flowery bed sheets to smell the laundry detergent she grew up with as a filly. She turned to see her clock, it was the middle of the night. She sighed, grabbing her pillow and pulling it over her head just to try and go to sleep. She pulled off her pillow with a groan, then turned to her nightstand to see three old pictures. One was of Vinyl and Octavia as young fillies in the water at the beach laughing. The second one was taken a few years later showing Octavia’s cutie mark and the glee on her face. Vinyl was jumping for joy. Then the last picture was a small family portrait showing Cloud Striker hugging Octavia and Vinyl when they were teenagers. She sighed, turning over, then finally passed out from exhaustion.

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                 Part 1: Chapter 2: Crash                  
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Part 1: Chapter 2: Crash
Chapter 2: Crash
Octavia groaned, waking up hearing the local wild birds squawk and caw loudly outside her window. She sat up in her bed, seeing her vanity mirror at the other side of the room. She could see how crazy her bed head was from the unrestful sleep. She sighed, landing on all fours on the ground, walking to the vanity and grabbed her brush and started brushing her mane and tail to make them look nice. She found a clean bowtie and clipped it on around her neck.
Once done, she trotted out the door to the living room, smelling breakfast. She trotted down the stairs and walked into the kitchen. Vinyl was sitting patiently, like a puppy waiting for scraps, by Zhama as she cooked the eggs. Cloud Striker was busy reading the morning paper mainly the sports and weather sections. She looked up and smiled.
“Morning kiddo.” Striker smiled. Vinyl and Zhama turned and smiled.
“Yo, Tavi how’d you sleep?”
Octavia sniffed, trotting to the table. “I slept fine, Vinyl.” Vinyl snickered.
“Done.” Zhama announced, taking a towel and wrapping it around the handle, bit down on it and tilted the skillet so the eggs slid out onto a plate.
“Awesome!” Vinyl exclaimed, ready to eat but Zhama stopped her shaking her head.
“No Vinny, this is your mother’s.”
“Aww!” Vinyl whined watching Zhama take the plate and place it in front of Striker.
“Thank you, Zhama.” Zhama chuckled, seeing Vinyl pouting.
“If you are good Vinny, I’ll make yours next.” Zhama said with another chuckle as Vinyl looked at her with surprise.
“Next? What do you mean...”
Octavia giggled as she made herself a cup of coffee.
Everypony sat together at the small wooden table by the windows as they ate their breakfast of eggs and toast. Striker smiled, folding her paper, and placing it next to her plate. “Guess what I have planned for our fun time, girls.”
“What?” Vinyl asked. Zhama looked up from her meal, smiling. Octavia’s mouth was full of toast as she turned to Striker.
Striker grinned with a sigh. “How about we go island-hopping today?”
Octavia swallowed loudly. “What?!” The sisters both exclaimed.
Striker grinned. “You know, I checked the weather papers and they all said that we are clear of weather for a day or two and that means clear sailing for the hot air balloon.”
“Sweet!” Vinyl cheered as Octavia went pale.
“What? Flying? Hot air balloon? Over the ocean?”
Striker was chuckling. “Not to worry, girls, it’s just today. We’ll be back by sunset. Nothing too bad.”
“When are we going?” Octavia whimpered, feeling her fear of heights coming back to her.
“Oh... maybe after breakfast we’ll head for the airport. But first I need to get some supplies before flying.”
“Aw yeah! We get to go flying in the balloon.” Vinyl cheered.
“Oh dear, I’d rather stay her,” Octavia said quickly, glaring at her sister.
“Oh come on, Octy,” Striker said smiling. “It’ll be fun. Have some adventure.”
“Adventure was back when I was a filly, Mother.”
Striker frowned a touch at the tone. She turned back to her meal. Octavia sighed, turning away. This was the worst possible way to spend her vacation.
*    *    *    *
Striker left the general store carrying the items she had bought in her saddle bags. Vinyl and Octavia sat on a bench waiting. Vinyl got up first to greet her. She was dressed in her light blue jacket with her DJ-PON3 logo in black and purple on the back. Octavia was still wearing her bowtie and dressed in a light purple jacket that she had packed. Striker had mentioned that it might be nice on the surface but that it would get chilly in the air.
“Here, you go,” Striker called out, tossing a red object to Vinyl. Vinyl caught it with her magic, looking at it.
“Cool, a knife?”
“A Swiss army knife. You never know when you’ll need one.”
Vinyl smiled, using her magic to pull out all of the blades and accessories that came with the handle. "Cool."
Striker smiled, then took out another red Swiss army knife from the bag. “Here, you, too.” She said handing it to Octavia. Octavia took the knife, giving it a disdainful look.
“Uh, thank you, I guess, but I don’t need one, Mother.”
“Just take it, you never know you might need it.” Striker said, grinning. Octavia sighed and nodded, stuffing the knife into her jacket pocket.
“Alright, girls, let’s get going. We have daylight to burn.” Striker said, pulling on her shades and began trotting to the airport strip close by. Vinyl was practically hopping to the airport. Octavia remained glum, looking around. The closer they got to the large black top, Octavia became more stressed and annoyed. She sighed loudly.
“I hate flying.” She muttered.
“Oh come on, Octy it’ll be fun.” Striker tried again chuckling, with excitement. She had been waiting to do this with her girls for a long time. Vinyl stopped her hopping and sat down, seeing the hot air balloon already inflated waiting for them. Several zebras and ponies were already out on the airstrip getting hot air balloons ready for island tours or the giant private air ships for flight for the rich nobles. Vinyl turned to Octavia, tipping her shades forward on her nose so she could see her from the top of them.
“Why can’t we just leave her behind? She’s not going to have fun anyways.”
Octavia glared at her from the statement. “I hate to admit this, but Vinyl's right, I’d rather stay at the villa with Zhama. I'd be happier there.”
Sticker sighed, shaking her head. “Come on, Octavia this is way better than sitting around and reading your books and music sheets. You two came here for a vacation and by Celestia and Luna, I’m going to make you two have fun.”
Vinyl smiled at Octavia as Octavia glared at her. Vinyl snickered, jumping up and down.
"I'm so excited!" Vinyl cheered. Octavia snorted, rolling her eyes.
Striker trotted on the blacktop leading to the hot air balloon basket. She stepped inside, dropping her bags on the floor and checking the gages on the attachments she had added on this particular balloon years ago. Vinyl and Octavia climbed inside and watched Striker get everything set up. She let out a whistle and a pegasus stallion started untying the mooring ropes, keeping the basket in place.
Octavia whimpered a touch as she felt the basket lift up with the balloon. Vinyl snickered, pushing up her glasses to get a clearer look. She groaned from the bright light and set her shades back down on her snout, smiling. Striker smiled, pulling on some ropes and on the side of the basket small little strings popped out to help steer the balloon. They reached over the ocean and Octavia continued to shake at the bottom of the basket trying hard to keep from getting sick. She hated heights and hated flying. Vinyl on the other hoof was smiling, enjoying the breeze. Striker smiled seeing Vinyl laughing.
“Hey,” Striker called over the wind. Vinyl turned, Octavia looked up. “Vinny, want to control the balloon?”
“What? You can’t be serious.” Octavia asked with shock.
“Really?” Vinyl asked, excited.
“Yeah, kiddo, take a spin.” Striker used her wing to pull Vinyl up to the ropes. “Alright, just keep the balloon pointed towards the south-west. I was told by Old Man Bones in the store that there are storms about east of us. So keep heading south-west and we should be clear.”
Vinyl gulped, grabbing both ropes and sighed with a little fear at controlling the hot air balloon. Octavia gulped. “You cannot be serious!”
“Just make sure you don’t go into any giant fluffy clouds on the way, got it?” Striker said, patting Vinyl on the back.
Vinyl nodded. “Yeah, yeah I got it."
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” The two younger mares watched their mother lay on the bottom of the basket and get comfortable, closing her eyes. “I might take a snooze.”
“WHAT?! Mother you can’t be serious!” Octavia shrieked. Striker smirked, keeping her shades over her eyes. “Mother!”
“It’s alright, Octy,” Vinyl called, smiling but concentrating as she watched the air and the clouds. “I know what I’m doing.
Octavia chuckled madly. “Oh yes. It’s alright Octy, I know what I’m doing. Well tell that to the water when we fall!”
Vinyl ignored her, continuing to watch her surroundings. Octavia sighed in defeat, leaning against the side and crossing her forearms across her chest with a snort.
They continued to float along with the wind in peace. Some birds flew past them towards the islands. Octavia was starting to fall asleep from exhaustion when she felt a rain drop hit her nose. She twitched her nose, then felt more moisture drop on her face.
“What?” Octavia whispered, opening her eyes and noticed that the sky was no longer bright blue, but a gloomy grey. “Vinyl?” She asked, sitting up. She turned to see Vinyl in deep focus on something, not even bothered by the rain falling on her face.
“Vinyl?” She asked again, sitting up and standing by her, patting her shoulder.
“Huh? What?” The unicorn jumped, turning to Octavia to see her worried face.
“Vinyl, are you alright? You were just staring at something.” She asked with concern.
Vinyl nodded, pushing her shades up her snout. “There’s something over there.” Vinyl said, pointing straight ahead into the thicker clouds. “Can’t you see it?”
“See what?” Octavia asked, leaning forward trying to see what Vinyl was seeing.
“Watch, straight ahead. When light flashes in the sky, you can see some sort of spot light or something pointing straight up into the air.”
Lightning flashed and Octavia gasped, seeing the bar of light. It was the most peculiar thing she had ever seen. It looked like some sort of beacon. Then suddenly her fur stood on end. She gasped again, looking around. “Vinyl, we’re in a thunderhead!”
“Huh?” Vinyl yelled, jumping and looking around for the first time seeing that Octavia was right. “How?” Thunder boomed, shaking the basket waking up the pegasus in the corner.
“Huh what- What’s ...” Striker yelped, sitting up looking around. She gasped, jumping up and pushing her daughters behind her. “I thought I told you not to go into big puffy clouds!”
“I-I-I was uh-” Vinyl stuttered panicking. Striker turned to her with a glare.
“Shut up and sit down and don’t touch anything metal you hear me!” Striker yelled out, trying to regain control of the situation. Octavia was really scared now. Vinyl was freaking out, wondering why she had blacked out. Suddenly her magic spiked.
“Bolt!” She cried out too late as lighting struck the balloon, causing a hole to rip open.
“Hang on!” Striker screamed out as the basket made a fast plummet to the ocean. Octavia and Vinyl both screamed, grabbing the basket to keep from flying out. The basket started to tilt, Vinyl fell into a corner causing it to tip drastically. Everypony was now flailing and screaming until they smacked into the water.
Striker immediately threw off her glasses and jacket trying to keep her wings out of the water. The sandbags attached to the basket weighed it down, making it sink faster into the water.
“We’re sinking!” Octavia screamed out as the giant purple fabric of the balloon went on top of them, covering their escape. Octavia tried to get up but the fabric was thick and the basket was sinking deeper in the water, pulling the three mares down with it.
Octavia yelped, covering her mouth to prevent from breathing in water. Vinyl swam up and grabbed Octavia to help her float. She turned to see an opening between the balloon fabric and the basket. She pushed Octavia out. Octavia turned to her, her mouth still covered with her front hooves. Vinyl pointed up. Octavia nodded with bubbles coming out of her nose as she started kicking wildly to the surface. Octavia was never a great swimmer but somehow the old saying just jump and swim worked wonders for her. She breached the surface coughing until another wave pushed her down. She breached again.
“Vinyl! Vinyl!” She screamed over the thunder, coughing.
Underwater Vinyl was swimming after the sinking basket. Striker was struggling in the ropes and the fabric of the balloon, she looked really tangled in the ropes. Vinyl swam closer to her, trying to get the ropes untied. Striker was shaking her head, bubbles flying everywhere. Vinyl reached into her pocket and found her Swiss Army knife and pulled out the largest blade. Striker was shaking her head and her wings popped out. One of the wings whacked Vinyl in the face knocking off her shades and knocking out her magic. Vinyl shook her head, holding her nose and mouth with her hoof trying not to breathe. She looked down in the darkness to see the red knife along with her signature shades sink with the basket.
She felt hooves grab her jacket. Vinyl turned to see her mother’s sad eyes. “I love you,” she mouthed. Vinyl’s eyes widened with fear. Vinyl felt her mother’s back hooves against her chest and with a hard shove Vinyl floated away. Vinyl blinked staring at her for a moment.
“GO!” Striker screamed out in the water. Vinyl blinked a few times but the urge for air won over her heart. She turned and started swimming. Striker blinked a few times then started to try and get out of her ropes as the basket continued to sink deeper into the ocean, pulling her into the depths.
Vinyl turned to see the last of the balloon disappear into the darkness. She looked back up to see Octavia’s form struggling to swim. Vinyl groaned and quickly paddled to the surface. She reached the surface with a deep gasp, coughing.
“Vinyl!” Octavia screamed out as thunder boomed again. Vinyl coughed, swimming towards her. “Where’s Mom?” Octavia screamed out again, forgetting her accent.
Vinyl shook her head. “I couldn’t get her!”
Octavia was in shock. “What do you mean you couldn't get her?”
“She’s gone Octy, got it!?” Vinyl snapped harshly. A wave pulled her into the water. Octavia gasped, grabbing Vinyl’s hood with her teeth, pulling her back up for air. Vinyl started hacking and coughing.
“Where can we go?” Octavia yelled out. Vinyl shook her soggy mane, looking around. She felt her magic spark and turned, realizing her magic was strongest to her right. Maybe that direction lead to the strange beacon of light, and that beacon could be on land. And land could mean help.
“We head this way!” Vinyl screamed out, starting to swim.
“Why?” Vinyl looked at Octavia for a long moment.
“Just follow me! This is the way to that light! I can feel it with my magic. Just swim!”
Octavia sighed and started swimming after her. She kept an eye on Vinyl’s vibrant blue mane as her beacon of hope. But the feeling of guilt and horror of losing another parent and this time a parent she loved, really felt like she was shot in the back. All she could do was to keep going and follow the last bit of family she had left.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                Part 1: Chapter 3: Welcome                 
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Part 1: Chapter 3: Welcome
Chapter 3: Welcome
The clouds had cleared an hour ago as the sisters continued to swim towards what looked to be a land mass. Vinyl stood up on the higher sand bar panting. She turned and helped Octavia on her hooves. Now both soaked and wet and tight from the salt water the mares panted with exhaustion looking at the rocky reefs, the beach, and up at the tall cliffs behind the jungle.
Octavia walked further onto the beach then collapsed into the receding wave panting. Vinyl sat by her lifting her up as a wave rolled back onto the beach to keep her from swallowing sea water.
“Vinyl . . . We . . . Should have . . . Stayed in the basket.” She panted with a sob. She was exhausted and deep in sadness.
Vinyl shook her head. “There was no way we could have made it. We would have drowned, Octy.”
Octavia glared coldly at her. “At least you should have gotten Mom out of there!”
Vinyl glared back. “There was nothing I could had done! We would have drowned if we didn’t get out of there.”
Octavia fell on her knees crying. Vinyl sighed patting Octavia on the back as she cried. “Why does this have to happen to me again?” Octavia whimpered out loud covering her eyes with her hooves. Vinyl sighed closing her eyes pulling Octavia into a hug. She kissed her softly on her wet head hugging her close.
“It’s alright, Octy . . .”
Octavia continued to sniffle hugging Vinyl back. Vinyl didn’t know what to do for Octavia. She was always the sensitive one between them and Vinyl always had ways to make her happy or at least not making her cry anymore. But this sadness can’t be shut away by mere words or silly jokes. Vinyl sighed looking around hearing the birds of the forest around them. She tried to think, think of something to do or somewhere to go. She has to get Octavia out the water number one then try to go and find help.
“Let’s get going. We’ll try and find some help. Get coastguard ponies out and find her.”
Octavia sniffed. “How?”
Vinyl kissed her on the head again. “Just believe and we will see her, again.”
“Like that’s possible.”
Vinyl sighed. “Anything’s possible.” After a long pause Vinyl looked up in the sky to see the sea birds flying around cawing in the air. She patted Octavia on the back. “Come on, we have to get going before it gets dark.”
Octavia sniffed and nodded pulling away from the hug wiping her eyes. “Alright, let’s go then.” Vinyl nodded reaching for her shades on her head but felt nothing but her soggy mane. “What is it?” Octavia asked turning to her. Then she realized seeing Vinyl’s sad eyes and watching her place her hoof on her forehead. “Oh, your glasses. Where are they?” She asked noticing how Vinyl as close to crying.
Vinyl sniffed. “With Mom.” She muttered shaking her head hard. “Let’s go before it’s too late.” Vinyl stood up and start trotting forward. “We’re going home and we will get Mom back.”
Octavia blinked hearing the coldness in Vinyl’s voice. “But Vinyl-”
“Dead or alive, we’re getting her back and going back home.” Vinyl said harshly trotting away. Octavia glared at her back then started following Vinyl off the beach towards the jungle.
The jungle looked strange to the earth pony as the sisters hiked through the forest. Octavia remembered seeing thick jungles back at home and she would always chase Vinyl into the jungles when they played as children. But seeing the strange ferns and flowers that were not accustomed for the Zebra Keys made her nervous. Wondering where they ended up and how this island is growing such plants that don’t seem familiar. What made even worse was that they had to stop. Towering above them was a large mountain rock wall. Vinyl snorted with annoyance as she looked to her left then the right. Octavia sat down staring at pink flower curiously.
“This way.” Vinyl declared pointing to the left. Octavia looked up watching Vinyl trot to their left following the giant wall. Octavia sighed then trotted after Vinyl. They continued their trek through the jungle until Vinyl discovered a gap in a cliff wall. Vinyl beamed a victory grin at her sister then trotted to the crack. It looked big enough for a small pony to fit through.
“Come on, I bet we can get past the mountain if we squeeze through there.” Vinyl said pointing at the gap.
“You think we can fit?” Octavia asked worriedly. Vinyl didn’t answer as she started to squeeze through. Octavia sighed as she soon found herself following her sister’s lead pushing herself through the pointy gap as the rock walls scrap and scratch her coat. Vinyl reached the end and pushed out of the opening falling flat on the rocky ground. She looked up and gasped with awe. Octavia pushed through bumping into her rump. She growled spitting out Vinyl’s tail from her mouth.
“Vinyl? What are you . . . Sweet Celestia and Graceful Luna!” Octavia screamed out in shock. Vinyl stood back up on her hooves staring at the landscape before her.
“Oh yeah.” Vinyl replied nodding falling on her haunches. Octavia sat by Vinyl staring in true shock and horror.
The two sisters were standing at an edge of a mountain trail and below them is a deep grass filled valley leading off to some more mountains and forests. In the distance they can see the clouds and in the air were giant birds cawing and screeching. It was beautiful yet terrifying considering that this is a new place and there looked to be no sign of any town nearby.
“Vinyl . . .”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t think this is a tiny island.”
“Nope. It’s a whole damn bigger island.”
Indeed it looked larger than a normal island in the Zebra Keys it seemed a lot more lush in growth but it also has this strange magical feeling. Octavia gulped looking down at the ground to feel a power or some sort of magical essence that only she can feel. Usually Octavia wasn’t a big believer in the belief earth ponies were closer to the earth, she never been a farmer or a fan of the outdoors so she had ignored that part of her heritage, but now that she is standing here feeling the magic through her hooves made her a little nervous.
Octavia shook her head then looked round. “Well we have a long way to go if we need to find any form of civilization. An island this big should hold some pony life.” Octavia followed the trail down the slope. Vinyl sighed and started following her.
“Island? I think this is a continent.” Vinyl said worriedly chuckling trying to make their situation a touch brighter.
Octavia stopped and growled turning to her. “Just shut up.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After their long descent from the mountain cliff, the sisters continued to trek through the giant valley. Their jackets, manes, and tails have been dried thanks to Celestia’s sun high in the sky. They reached a river where they took a quick break looking around. Vinyl trotted to the river’s edge to take a quick drink as Octavia was pacing staring at the sky then at the mountains around them. Finally Octavia groaned.
“This is insane!” Octavia complained looking around. “We have been walking for hours and there is no sign of any civilization. No signs, no roads, not even a path! Not to mention I haven’t seen any ponies!”
Vinyl sighed after taking a quick drink of the fresh water licking her lips. “Look we can just keep going. And stop complaining you’re giving me a headache.”
Octavia sighed as she stood by Vinyl at the river’s edge. The sisters stood there trying to find a way across. Vinyl could see a few giant rocks in the river and started jumping from one rock to another. Octavia jumped behind her.
“But how is this place even possible?” Octavia asked timing her jump before making it. She leapt to the next rock shaking slightly. She looked down at the crystal clean water seeing tiny little fish swimming with the current. “I have never heard of a lost island south of the Zebra Keys.” She called out as she made another leap.
Vinyl nodded leaping off the largest rock and landing on the soft dirt. “Well, whatever this place is, maybe it has to be part of the southern continent?”
Octavia leaped off and landed next to Vinyl. She glared at her coldly not wanting to think of the possibility of being stuck on another continent. “Don’t open your mouth, again.”
Vinyl shrugged innocently. “What? What did I say?”
“Shut your mouth before you say something that will make me hurt you.” Octavia growled threateningly trotting forward. Vinyl sighed leaning against a stone watching Octavia walking away looking around. Vinyl groaned trotting after her totally oblivious to the stone sign she was just leaning on. Revealing some form of writing.
Octavia and Vinyl continued on the rocky ground trail. With an occasional crossing a river or two the sisters had traveled through most of the morning and into the afternoon. As Vinyl turned a corner pas a giant rock she stopped in her tracks. Octavia blinked noticing her pause and turned to her.
“What’s wrong?” She asked. Vinyl pointed in front of them. Octavia looked to where Vinyl was pointing to notice a strange cave like structure against the large rocks. What made it stranger was that the cave entrance was shaped like a large head. And what made even stranger was the fact that it looked like it had eyes and nostrils with the hanging stalactites as sharp teeth.
“What is that?” Vinyl asked with a little fear. The sisters got closer to the strange cave to stare at it. Octavia sat down beside Vinyl, staring at the structure.
“Hmm, I don’t know. Looks pretty creepy. Like a carnivore or something.”
Vinyl shuddered. “Yikes,” She whispered rubbing her arms. She’s happy they haven’t seen any signs of tigers or wolves around here.
Suddenly out of nowhere the cave structure exploded in black smoke and fire. The sisters ducked covering their heads as rocks flew towards them rolling down the hill. When the cracking and rolling was finished, the sisters stood up, coughing and waving the air around them to get the dust away from their faces.
“What caused that?” Octavia asked her voice cracking form coughing. Vinyl sniffed the air recognizing the smell.
“Explosives?” She asked looking at Octavia. Octavia blinked looking at her.
“And how would you know that?” She asked.
“Uh, I helped with making the fireworks show back at home a long time ago.” Vinyl answered giving her a look. Octavia nodded remembering.
“But . . . how would there be explosives in there? And how did they explode?”
Vinyl opened her mouth to make an answer then they suddenly heard coughing from the cave. “I guess we found civilization Octy.” Vinyl said with worry stepping back. Octavia joined her as a shadow came out of the smoke.
“Oh sorry, terribly sorry!” A mare’s voice called out from the cave waving the smoke and dust out of the air with her hoof. Vinyl and Octavia sat up seeing an earth pony mare climbing out of the rubble. She’s dressed the strangest of clothes the sisters had ever seen. A maroon vest with a long sleeved dirty tan jacket that looked well worn. She even had a dirty well-worn belt around her waist. The mare reached into her saddle bags.
“I’m sorry about that I had permission from the Volcanian Council to explore ancient old sites. Finding new places to excavate Sun Stones. Nothing big, don’t even worry about it.” The mare now fully emerged from the smoke revealing herself. She’s a mustard yellow color with a graying messy orange mane and tail. She sat down pulling out the paper unfolding it.
“I got the papers right here and  . . . uh . . .” She paused then her worry filled blue eyes blinked seeing Vinyl and Octavia at her. “Well, well, well. Hello girls. Sorry about that you gave me a bit of a fright there.” The mare said in a light Trottingham accent chuckling sticking her paper back in her bag.
Octavia stared at her oddly. “We gave you a fright?” Vinyl was blinking at the odd choice of words and how odd this mare was.
The mare gave them a searching look. “You two seem oddly out of place. An Earth pony and a unicorn, huh somewhat a rarity. Did you two just arrived?” The mares nodded. The stranger smiled. “Ah yes, I knew it. Hehehe newcomers. You’ll be the talk of the century.” The mares looked at one another then back at her.
“And you are?” Octavia asked with a warning look.
The mare chuckled reaching back into her bags and pulled out a sort of flask. She took a swig of it. She held it out for Octavia. Octavia shook her head politely. The mare shrugged and held it for Vinyl. Vinyl shrugged taking a hold of the flask in her blue magic, levitating it to her mouth and took a swig wincing from the snap it gave her.
“The name’s Crab. Cyrus Crab. And you are?” She asked taking the flask from Vinyl looking at her with fascination. Vinyl smacked her mouth licking her lips. She blinked realizing that their new acquaintance just asked them a question. She pulled her tongue back into her mouth chuckling sheepishly.
“Oh uh I’m Vinyl Scratch and this is my sister Octy.”
Octavia glared at her. She cleared her throat turning to Cyrus. “Octavia Melody, Miss Crab.”
“Huh, interesting. Oh and don’t call me Miss. It makes me sound older than what I am now.” The strange mare said chuckling.
“Hey, do you know where we can find the nearest guard post.” Vinyl asked. Crab looked at them.
“What?” She asked confused.
“You know a guard, pegasi fliers that can go to the ocean and find our mother. We crashed in the ocean in the storm. We need help!”
Crab sighed. “Sorry, don’t know nothing of pegasi fliers. If you need a search and rescue you probably need the Skybax riders.”
“Skybax?” Vinyl and Octavia both asked looking at each other bewildered at the word. Crab started walking away from them looking around at the ground.
“Hmmph, of course, no one will find anything here. This place was picked clean by a tooth pick comb. Everything has already been found by earlier archeologists.” Octavia blinked turning to Crab, suddenly the explosives idea came back in her mind.
“Archeologists? Well you are the first one I have seen that uses dynamite.” Octavia said with a little bite to her words. A little upset that they were almost blown up and crushed thanks to Crab.
The two mares quickly followed her since she was he only civilized pony they have met so far. Crab chuckled.
“I have a many number of different occupations. Something of an independent pony that might get into trouble in such a place like this.”  She said chuckling. “If you want help follow me girls.”
“Where?” Octavia asked.
“Just an outpost nearby.” Crab said climbing up a hill. The younger mares following her like ducklings to their mother.
“So got anything to trade? Rings? Watches?” Crab turned to them to hear no answer. “No? Alright then. If it helps you two I’ll lead you to the nearest outpost where I’ll be catching myself a bus.”
Vinyl smiled. “Hey thanks, dude.”
Crab looked at her for a moment and nodded. “Right, well follow me.”
The three walked through thick bushes and ferns until they reached the end of the trail. Crab pushed through first and sighed. “Ah here we are.” She said smiling as the two mares came out form the forest and stare with awe and confusion. They followed close to Crab as they passed what looked to be a small market in place. It reminded Vinyl of the farmers market at Ponyville. All the stands were built with bamboo and wood with large blankets as roofs over their heads. Octavia was more amazed by the clothes these ponies were wearing.
“Wow, who are these ponies?” Octavia asked. “Just look at their clothes.” She walked past a mare pulling a cart with several foals on the back laughing and playing hoof games. Some of the ponies were dressed in strange rags or in clothing that reminded Octavia of places she had seen in books. Clothes ranging from simple rags to regal suits and dresses that look nothing like the clothes Octavia had seen in Canterlot.
“Yeah, they look like rags put together. Huh, Rarity would have heart attack.” Vinyl joked as they continue to walk down the dirt street. Ponies would look at them some with awe others with confusion.
“This place these ponies . . . where are we?” Octavia asked in awe smiling t a filly who stared at her.
Crab turned to them with a smile. “Dinotopia.”
Octavia and Vinyl both stopped staring at her. “What did you say?” Vinyl asked wondering if she heard that right.
“Dinotopia.” Crab said smiling seeing their reactions.
“Dinotopia?” Octavia whispered looking at Vinyl to see her equally frightened. “Where’s that?” Vinyl shrugged turning back to Crab
“But . . . how big is this pace if we’ve never heard of it?” Vinyl asked.
Crab smiled. “Oh about two hundred miles across.”
“Two hundred miles?” Vinyl asked. “That big?”
Octavia patted Vinyl’s shoulder and pointed up to see a large signs with Equestrian letters and a strange writing that resembled footprints. The signs were huge pieces of wood hanging from two tall wooden towers.
“What does that say? Isn’t that even a language?” Octavia asked. Vinyl snorted as an answer shaking her head. Octavia sighed watching her sister trot after the older mare.
“Well, we’re a bit cut off from the rest of the world.” Crab said as Vinyl and Octavia stared at one another, couldn’t believe where they ended up.
“This is really . . .” Octavia started lamely.
“Weird,” Vinyl answered looking around to see more strangely dressed ponies.
“No, it’s just,”
“What? You don’t think this is weird?” Octavia gave her a glare as Vinyl smirked following the yellow pony around one of the many tall wooden like towers. As they turned the corner, there was a deep grunted roar in the air causing the two sisters to stop stock still, the hairs on the back of their necks shot up with fear.
“What was that?” Vinyl asked, her eyes were wide with fear looking around.
“A scaly dog.” Crab answered with disdain not the least bit afraid.
“A what?” Octavia asked as her ears on the top of her head went flat looking around staying close to Vinyl.
Suddenly there was screaming behind them. The three mares turned seeing earth ponies running out of the market as fast as possible.
“What’s going on?” Vinyl asked just as a roar was heard from the crowd of ponies.
The crowd parted and revealed the source of their running. A strange four legged scaled creature stomped down the dirt road roaring and swinging his giant club like tail into stalls and destroying them. Then it swung its tail to the other side knocking over ponies left and right, throwing them away. Its huge club tail swung and destroyed a bunch of crates and cages filled with parrots and other tiny birds. The birds all flew away squawking with terror. The creature was now making a quick dash down the road towards the sisters. The sisters yelped out running to hide like the other ponies. Crab didn’t run but follow the mares close behind.
“Wait, wait, it’s alright.” Crab said smiling at them walking casually to their hiding spot behind a stair case to a wooden tower. “Don’t worry, everything’s fine.” The mares watched as this creature swung its giant club tail into another stall. The creature roared with anger as it walked forward towards the cowering sisters. Vinyl was shaking her head.
“I don’t believe it!” Vinyl gasped.
“It’s a dinosaur!” Octavia exclaimed pointing at it. “But that’s impossible, dinosaurs are gone, they were wiped out many centuries ago.”
One of the birds flew straight into Octavia’s face knocking her over. The bird squawked and said strangely words as he flew into the jungle squawking. Vinyl quickly helped her sister sit up as Octavia started spitting blue and purple feathers out of her mouth.
Crab shook her head, helping Octavia back on her haunches as she continues to spit out the feathers. “If only my dear, if only.”
“You mean. . .” Vinyl stared pointing back at the dinosaur. There was another crash as every pony turned seeing the dinosaur looking around roaring. Crab chuckled a little worried now as the creature started walking towards them.
“Oh well, it looks like this is where we must part.” She turned around.
“Wait what?” Vinyl yelped out watching their first friendly stranger leave them behind. Crab stopped in her tracks seeing a mare walk past her.
“Oh-ho, there she is.” Vinyl and Octavia turned seeing the young mare no older than them stop in front of them watching the dinosaur. Vinyl blinked looking at her. She’s an earth pony, light cream tan coat, curly dark brown mane and braided tail with a blue ribbon at the end.  She’s dressed in a loose white blouse with a dark brown belt to keep her shirt from getting on the ground. And her cutie mark was strange. It looked like an orb of light, not a sun like Celestia’s cutie mark but some sort of glowing stone.
Crab chuckled. “I knew she would be around in a crisis like this.”
“Who is that?” Octavia asked.
Vinyl gasped staring at the older mare. “You can’t be serious, right?”
“What on earth is she doing?” Octavia exclaimed watching the young new mare to walk out in front of the raving dinosaur.
“Not to worry girls, let her do what she’s good at.”
“Like what getting clobbered to death?” Vinyl asked watching with true fear as this young mare slowly walked in front of the dinosaur.
The mare sat down slowly looking at the dinosaur in the eyes.
“Shh, it’s alright.” She said softly reaching her hoof forward. “What is it, what’s wrong?” She asked almost touching the dinosaur’s face. The dinosaur grunted with a light roar causing the mare to pull back her hoof. She reached her hoof back to the dinosaur’s head again closing her eyes. To Vinyl’s surprise the creature also closed his eyes.
“Wow,” Vinyl whispered. Octavia nodded in agreement.
The mare pulled back her hoof watching the dinosaur pull away from her. The dinosaur then opened his giant mouth. The mare gave him a look curious as to what it wanted. The dinosaur made a small whine sticking out his tongue. The mare looked into his mouth with a look of understanding. She reaches into his mouth with hers. Vinyl and Octavia both groaned with disgust, wondering what the mare was doing.
The mare bit down on something hard in the dinosaur’s mouth and pulled back hard. After two more tugs with the dinosaur squeezing its eyes shut, the mare pulled the item free. She rolled once then twice before landing on her back with something in her mouth. The dinosaur let out a few cries then he started to calm down smacking its mouth with its tongue moving around in his mouth. The mare stood up tossing whatever it was from her mouth to her nose balancing it there smiling at the crowd. She walked up to the crowd smiling prideful. The ponies start stomping with applauds as the dinosaur turned around smiling at the mare before lumbering away.
“Tooth-ache.” The mare said in a nice clear voice as the ponies all around let out sounds of understanding as they continue to applaud her performance. Vinyl and Octavia both watched with awe as the mysterious young mare trotted away from them.
“Who was that?” Vinyl asked with a dreamy look in her eye watching the mare disappear into the receding crowd. Crab smiled.
“Dinotopian, twentieth generation.”
“Hmm,” Octavia thought looking around. Noticing everypony was going about their business as if nothing had happened at all. “Interesting.” She said with a curl of a smile on her lips.
Crab sighed. “Well that was an exciting time. But I really need to catch my bus to Volcanian to speak to the council and reveal to them my findings.” She sighed then gasped at a quick thought. “Oh yes, and one last thing. If you ever need a friendly mare to talk to, here’s my card.” She said reaching into her bag and pulled out a blue calling card. Vinyl levitated the card holding it up. Octavia looked over Vinyl’s shoulder to read it.
“Crab’s Curios and Antiques in Waterfall City. Is that your store?” Octavia asked sitting down. Crab nodded as Vinyl looked at the card a second time flipping it over to the back to find it blank.
“Yes, a humble tiny little thing, just another past time. Collecting old antiques I find on my trips and well, sell them if I can. But here is a tip for you two. Don’t go to any of the other tiny providences, you need to go to Waterfall City. It’s the best place to go.” She said grinning with this strange look in her eye that made Octavia nervous.
Vinyl nodded not even noticing the look as she stuck the card into her jacket pocket. “Well look you up when we get there. Thanks.” Vinyl said smiling as Octavia put up a fake grin. Crab nodded.
“You buy your tickets over there at the ticket office.” Crab said nodding to the large wooden towers where ponies are walking to or out of. Crab sighed with a smile. “Well, good luck, girls. I know future friends when I see them. Cheerio.” Crab turned away smirking to herself. “Something tells me we’ll see each other, again real soon.” She muttered to herself trotting away.
When the mare was far enough away, Octavia dropped her forced grin and shuddered rubbing her arms as Vinyl was looking at the sky seeing that it’s already dusk. “Something about that mare is off.” Octavia said with worry.
Vinyl chuckled. “What do you mean? She’s just a crazy old mare with weird bumps on her back and a few sticks of dynamite.” Vinyl said before trotting away. Octavia sighed rubbing her head.
“That’s what I was afraid of. Who would use dynamite in a very sacred, fragile dig? No pony.”
Vinyl chuckled as her sister caught up with her. Octavia looked around seeing the tiny stalls were closing for the day. Many ponies packed up their products in large carts and baskets and transporting them away to their homes. Octavia sighed trying to think.
“So where can we find some sort of map? I’ll feel better knowing where we are and where this City is.” She stated looking at the signs above her reading the strange words and how many miles it takes to get there. They turned seeing what look to be some sort of kiosk next to the kiosk is some sort of opened window of a shop.
“Maybe up here.” Vinyl said running up the short flight of wooden stairs to the map seeing the whole island. Octavia reached the window when it suddenly the window was shut by a wooden panel with a metal grating. Octavia blinked with surprise as Vinyl jumped hearing the smack of heavy wood on the wall.
“I guess that means it’s closed?” Octavia asked smiling sheepishly. Vinyl looked down at the strange window flap to see small white footprints and under it in larger letters was the word Closed.
“Wow, how could I ever figure that out?” Vinyl deadpanned glaring at the earth pony. Octavia gave her a look causing Vinyl to snicker. Vinyl turned back to the map studying it. The whole island looked like an upside down malfunctioned triangle, by the colors there are grasslands, tall mountains, a desert, even a rainforest near them. Vinyl looked at the strange names she found. Rainy Basin, Vidabba, Volcanian, Canyon City. Octavia raised her hoof and knocked on the screen.
“Excuse me?” Octavia called with care. “Can we get tickets to Waterfall City?” She asked seeing the pony through the grate. The window opened revealing an earth pony stallion with beady eyes behind glasses looking at them dressed in a red silk suit.
“Waterfall City.” He started with a frown. “The next bus is at dawn.” The stallion finished seeing the surprised looks from them. He waved his hooves for them to back up then lowered the window closing the ticket station for good. Vinyl sighed with defeat.
“Great, now what do we do?” she complained looking around. Octavia sighed looking around as well.
“Well, I guess we can stay here for the night.” Octavia mentioned with a shrug. Vinyl snorted.
“Alright, great leader, where can we sleep?” Vinyl asked glaring.
The two sisters heard a door open and close and turned to see the stallion walked out of his tiny room and saw the mares standing before him seeing their surprise looks.
“Oh well . . . don’t you have places to go?” He asked with curiosity.
The two mares shook their heads. The stallion sighed. “Just a moment.” He dropped his bags and trotted inside the small office. He returns with two woolen blankets. “Here, can’t leave you two here in the cold.”
Octavia smiled taking one blanket as Vinyl levitates the other surprising the stallion.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
The stallion blushed clearing his throat. “A unicorn, defiantly a newcomer.” He muttered with awe. He cleared his throat tipping his top hat. “Ahem, well good night, ladies.”
“Night,” the mares replied as the stallion took the stairs and headed off to his home.
Vinyl unfolded the heavy blanket and smirked. “Well, I never had to camp outside of a ticket station since I was in high school.” Vinyl chuckled. Octavia sighed rolling her eyes as she unfolded her blanket and placing on to the hard wooden landing.
“Let’s just get comfortable then. It’s going to be a long night.”
When the sun finally left the sky and Luna’s moon rose high in the sun’s place, the sisters were trying to sleep outside in the shill of a cool spring breeze. Vinyl tossed and turned in her blanket with difficulty sleeping on the hard floor. She looked up to the dark trees in the sky blocking out the dark blue sky and stars. All around them there are torches sticking to the ground, primitive street lights giving the grassy paths light. And giving every surface in the light’s path a shadowy orange–yellow light. Vinyl turned on her side seeing Octavia with her eyes closed.
“Hey Octy?” Vinyl whispered nudging her arm casying Octiava to graon. “Are you alseep?” She asked wihta ntoehr hard poke in the arm.
Octavia growled opeing her eyes glaring at Vinyl rubbing her arm. “What do you think with you poking me like that?” She said with annoyance. Vinyl smiled a touch. After a moment of silence Octavia sat up wrapping her blanket around her body shivering slightly.
“How can such a place like this even exist?” Octavia asked bewildered. Vinyl sighed.
“Look none of that matters, now.” Octavia turned to her blinking. “We’ll go to this Waterfall City find some pegasi and ask them for help and get Mom and go home.” Vinyl said with a nod of determination.
Octavia shook her head. “Vinyl, think about this for a moment.” Vinyl looked up at her. “Do you really think this place has pegasi? I’m sorry, Vinyl but does the way everypony react in seeing you, a unicorn, mean anything to you? It means to me that these ponies have never seen unicorns or pegasi. Just earth ponies.” Vinyl snorted rolling her eyes.
“What are we just going to forget about Mom?” She asked with a glare.
Octavia glared back at her. “No pony is forgetting about mother. We just need to probably understand where we are and how things work around here.”
Vinyl snorted shaking her head leaning against the wooden rail getting comfortable. “You’re not seriously thinking of staying here?” She asked.
“Staying or not, this is a new place and this place has different laws.” Octavia stated firmly. She gasped pointing something behind her. “How about that mare walking up to a creature that’s not supposed to exist. Things are different here, Vinyl and we better start learning and understanding the rules of this place.” Octavia said as she got comfortable on the wooden floor pulling her blanket around her. She pulled the blanket over her head to get her ears warm, leaving her snout the only part of her out form her cocoon blanket.
Vinyl sighed. “Like I would learn this rules of this place.” She growled.
Octavia opened her mouth to make a retort when they suddenly heard a scream in the rainforest. Octavia sat up straight her blanket falling off her back. Vinyl leaped up in the air shivering in her blanket looking around. The sisters looked at one another with wide eyes.
“I think we can both agree on one thing.” Octavia whispered shaking.
“This place scares the shit out of us?” Vinyl asked sliding closer to Octavia. Octavia nodded wrapping her arms around Vinyl.
“Not the choice of words I would have chosen, but yes I am afraid of this place.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                Part 1: Chapter 4: Bus Ride                
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Part 1: Chapter 4: Bus Ride
Chapter 4: Bus Ride
Celestia’s sun rose high in the sky. Everypony in the outpost was opening up their farmers market, selling wares and food. Ponies in strange leather armor stood by the bus station eating bread and fruit, talking to each other in Equestrian. Birds flew in the sky or perched on signs cawing at visitors or preening their colorful wings.
Vinyl and Octavia woke up early in the morning. After a bit of morning bickering, the sisters folded their blankets, then waited by the ticket station. The two waited until the stallion walked up, tipping his hat before entering his tiny office. He pulled open the window grinning at them.
“Hello ladies.” He said reaching under his desk. “Two tickets to Waterfall City, right?”
“Yes, please and thank you.” Octavia smiled taking the two tickets from him. "Um how much for the tickets?" She asked. The stallion blinked then shook his head.
"No charge at all."
Octavia and Vinyl both blinked in shock. "Wait you mean this is free?" Vinyl asked taking her ticket.
"Um, well yes." The man said confused.
"Sweet!" Vinyl said smiling. Octavia nodded still confused herself.
“You two better hurry up. The bus is around that building." The stallion said pointing his hoof behind the mares. The sisters turned around to see the building he was referring to. "Have a safe journey.” He said smiling, reaching for an abacus,then pushed two small clips up the rod.
Vinyl looked at her ticket as they walked off. “Hmmph, Waterfall City. I wonder how it got that name?”
Octavia shrugged sticking her ticket in her jacket pocket. She stiffened feeling the Swiss army knife in her pocket with a pinch of guilt. She sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know.”
Vinyl blinked then turned, hearing a familiar voice. She gasped pointing. Octavia turned to see the same young mare from yesterday talking to a merchant.
“Here you go, miss.” The stallion said handing her a bag of produce.
“Thank you,” She answered taking the bag of produce and sticking it in her saddle bags. Octavia followed Vinyl towards her.
“Hey, um,” Vinyl began. The mare turned to her with a kind smile. “Hi, I’m Vinyl and this is Octy.”
Octavia glared at Vinyl then returned her gaze to the young mare. “My name is Octavia. Hello.”
The mare smiled sitting down before. “Hello, my name is Aria.”
Octavia smiled. “Well we both witnessed what you did yesterday and may I be so bold to say that it was clearly amazing with that thing?”
The mare smiled nodding. “An Ankylosaurus and thank you,” She started forward the two mares followed her. “A free mind is a calm mind.” She stated softly.
“Wow,” Vinyl said smiling. “What’s that mean?”
Aria turned to her. “I’m training to be a leader. And a leader must be calm so everyone under his or her rule will look to that leader with respect and be able to rule through the most stressful of situations.” She paused and looked at Octavia and Vinyl noticing their jackets.
“Hmm you don't look like you’re from around here.” She looked at Vinyl mostly seeing her horn. “And are you a unicorn?”
Vinyl blushed. “Yep, I’m full unicorn.” She said tapping her horn. Aria smiled, amazed.
“Yes, we're not from around here.” Octavia said clearly with her accent back on again, causing Vinyl to groan, rolling her eyes. “You see we crashed in the ocean close to the island in a storm. And we were told to go to Waterfall City.”
Aria smiled. “Oh that is my destination as well.”
“Really?” Vinyl asked. Aria nodded.
“Of course. Now I understand what has happened to you and not to worry, you two were not the first. Many ponies came here the same way as you. Everything will be explained at Waterfall City once you register.”
“Register?” Octavia asked in shock stopping in her tracks. Aria stopped to look at them. “Miss, I’m afraid you are mistaken. We are not here to stay. We just want to go back to our home and find our mother.” Vinyl nodded in confirmation.
Aria nodded. “I understand completely." She paused then turned away, smiling. “Come along, the bus won’t wait.” Aria got up on her hooves and trotted towards the tall wooden towers. Octavia turned to see Vinyl giving Aria’s flank a longer look than she should have. Octavia growled and slapped Vinyl upside the head as she walked past.
“Ow, what was that for?”
“Hmmph!” Octavia grunted with her nose in the air following Aria. Vinyl sighed rolling her eyes, trotting after them. Vinyl looked around to see large carts filled with large chests and bags.
“Huh, now how can a place like this use buses?” Vinyl asked before bumping into Octavia's backside. “Hey? What... Gives?” Vinyl asked noticing Octavia was staring up at something and shaking with fear. Vinyl looked up then her mouth dropped to the ground.
“What is that thing?” Octavia asked with shock. Aria stood by Octavia, smiling up at the giant dinosaur with a long neck. On it’s back was what looked like a large carrier with a large silk barrier at the top to prevent rain falling into the carriage.
“It’s a Brach,” Aria said simply smiling. “Oh a Brachiosaurus.” She corrected herself.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Vinyl whispered with awe staring at the large creature. Aria chuckled.
“Well let's get on. Follow me.” Aria ordered, climbing up the wooden staircase to the top of the tower. Vinyl and Octavia were both in awe seeing a living breathing tale of fiction standing right next to them. Vinyl looked up seeing a wooden crane lowering a ornately designed plate of metal on top of the beast's neck.
“What is that?” Vinyl asked pointing at the metal, lowering on the Brach’s neck.
“Armor,” Aria answered putting on a teaching tone to her voice.
“For what?” Octavia asked.
“The armor is used to protect him from getting killed.”
Octavia nodded then gasped hearing the huge creature let out a short low bellow, winking at her. Octavia found herself smiling. Aria laughed.
“He said thank you for the protection.”
“Wait, you mean you can understand that thing?” Vinyl asked. Aria opened her mouth to answer but a bell starts tolling. A stallion standing at the head of the carriage, fixed his thick woolen vest and strange hat of his head.
“The bus is secure. We will be leaving for Waterfall City in a few minutes. Waterfall City direct!” He called out. Vinyl gulped watching Aria walk across a large plank sitting between the Brach and the platform then leaped into the carriage. Octavia gulped peeking down then noticed the ground seeming to be a lot farther down than normal. She gulped again closing her eyes.
“Just one hoof at a time Octy. One hoof at a time.” She whimpered slowly walking across the plank. She opened her eyes to leap into the carriage stumbling a touch catching her footing. “Oh my goodness.” She whispered with awe finding herself on an extinct creature's back. She sat down in one of the seats. The carriage was big enough to hold five ponies plus the driver at the front. Vinyl squeezed through and took a seat beside Aria in the front.
Vinyl looked behind her to see two other ponies dressed in frilly looking clothes from Canterlot, took seats beside Octavia in the back. The driver stood up at his seat and turned to see the plank swinging from a crane away from the Brach. There was a call of another dinosaur. Vinyl looked down to find the source, she gulped at the height, but that was replaced with awe as she saw another dinosaur and on it’s back was a stallion that was dressed in maroon leather armor. Vinyl remembered seeing guard ponies dressed in the same type of armor that the guards wore. She turned seeing a mare guard leaping onto the back of another dinosaur. On he head was a helmet with a large feather at the top. The smaller dinosaurs all let out these trumpet like calls as they start moving forward. Vinyl turned hearing another low roar and as a second Brachiosaurus behind them filled with pony passengers start walking forward.
“Whoa!” Vinyl yelped hanging on to her seat as the Brach started moving forward causing the carriage to move up and down with his slow body movement. Aria turned to her and smiled seeing Vinyl's shocked expression.
“I hope I don’t get sick.” Vinyl whimpered at the movement of the carriage.
Octavia gulped looking around seeing the same guard ponies riding by them. “Same here.”
As they left the outpost, the Brachs and guards continue down a well used trail through the green rolling plains. During the journey Octavia groaned with her head handing off the carriage looking green from the motion. Vinyl looked at her sister with worry.
“I didn't know you had motion sickness, Octy.”
“Don't ... Urk! Talk to me Vinyl.” Octavia warned threateningly.
Vinyl chuckled. Aria reached in her sack and pulled out a loaf of bread and start breaking it apart. She passed the pieces of fresh bread to everypony in the carriage. She held up a piece for Octavia. Octavia shook her head violently, covering her mouth with her hoof swallowing hard.
“It’ll do you some good to have something to eat.” Aria said calmly. Octavia gulped then nodded.
“Just one little bite.” She moaned taking the piece and took a tiny bite from it, chewing slowly then swallowing with a sigh. Aria smiled then passed a piece to Vinyl, then to the driver.
“Thanks.” Vinyl said taking a bite from the bread. “Mmm,”
Arai smiled taking the last piece for herself.
“So?” Vinyl asked. “Where are we going? Besides Waterfall City?”
Aria smiled reaching for a canteen offering it to Vinyl first. Vinyl shook her head. Aria took a quick sip before answering.
“To get to Waterfall City, we have to go through the Rainy Basin. It’s the home of the carnivores. We won't cross unless it’s truly essential to go through." Aria noticed the concerned looks of her two new friends. "Not to worry, we have plenty of food to appease them.” Octavia gulped with fear.
“Uh appease them... I uh don't know if bread or water of ponies might keep them appeased.” Octavia mentioned.
“I understand your worry. But yes, there is the possibility that we might be attacked. That’s why we mainly cross with a Brach Convoy. But not to worry, one out of five Brach Convoys get attacked.”
Octavia and Vinyl looked at one another with fear.
“Oh like that is something worry about.” Octavia said sarcastically groaning. Vinyl gulped. “I know this might sound stupid to ask,” Octavia mentioned with a gulp. “What are the likely threats we would be encountering?”
“Tyrannosaurus, of course.” She answered.
Octavia nodded with a new fear in her gut. “Of course.”
Vinyl gulped again. “Oh boy. I should have seen that coming.” Vinyl turned to see the guards walking by. “Hey uh Aria, what type of Dinosaurs are those?”
Aria smiled seeing them. “Oh those are Overlanders or Parasaurolophus.”
Vinyl nodded. “Why Overlanders?”
Aria smiled. “They're the ones that can travel well on land with us on their backs.”
Vinyl nodded understanding, seeing a mare riding a Parasaurolophus in a trot to catch up to them.
“Cool,”
As the sun continued to set, the Brachs and Overlanders reached the Rainy Basin. According to Aria, the land is a lush thick rainforest where the carnivores roam and where Dinotopian rivers get their water. There were very few outposts in the area that brave the basin and it's inhabitants every day for farming. She also told them about the two Carnivore Kings that control two halves of the basin, a Giganotosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus. So far, Aria hadn't heard of any threats or attacks before getting a ticket for the ride.
Lighting flashed in the sky and a rumble of thunder boomed through the forest. The sky above the trees was dark with storm clouds as another storm rolls into the area. Vinyl was lightly snoring in her seat, sleeping like the few of the other passengers. Octavia has her chin rested on the rail staring at the dark forest sleepily, the movement of the Brach rocking her to sleepiness. Suddenly the Brach stopped in their tracks letting out low bellows of worry, looking around in the darkness. Octavia woke up with everypony else feeling the stop in motion. The Overlanders stopped too, looking around and sniffing the air. The driver looked around with fear in his eyes.
“What’s going on?” Octavia moaned sleepily from her seat. “Why did we stop? Not that I’m not okay with moving or anything.”
Aria turned to her as Vinyl was yawning next to her. “It’s the Brachs. Something is spooking them.” She said with worry.
“Like what?” Vinyl asked popping her back with a wince. The driver squeezed past Aria and Vinyl grabbing a wood and rope ladder, attaching the metal rings on metal hooks on the side of the carriage and let it roll out to the ground. The driver then started climbing down the ladder, landing on the soft squishy ground looking around. Aria and the passengers followed the driver to the ground.
“What's up?” Vinyl asked looking around seeing the second Brach’s driver was lowering a ladder too, allowing the five passengers to climb down to the ground. Vinyl and Octavia followed the other passengers to the ground.
“Let’s look around.” Aria stated as she and the two drivers walked to where their path would take them. But the path was littered with fallen trees, giant puddles, and rotting stumps. Vinyl walked over to one of the strange, irregular stumps then sniffed it.
“Eeeuyuck!” She exclaimed holding her hose with her hooves backing away from the rotting mess. “What is that thing?”
One of the drivers looked at the stump then turned to aria. “These piles are droppings and they're fresh too.”
Vinyl yelped backing away again. “Gross, gross, gross!” Octavia chuckled.
“Look at these tracks. They’re so many of them.” One of the Overlander riders said pointing at the giant tracks. Aria shook her head.
“But that’s impossible.”
“What's impossible?” Octavia asked seeing the look of disbelief on Aria’s face. The driver shook his head.
“These are Tyrannosaurus tracks. And there are hundreds of them.” He said with awe.
“Is that bad?” Vinyl asked.
“Tyrannosaurus only live in small groups of four or five but this...” Arai stated pointing at all the tracks. “This looks like a giant pack...”
Octavia gulped. “That’s bad.” She said answering Vinyl’s question.
Aria gulped. “There’s a small outpost close by. We should go and make sure they are safe.”
The drivers and guards nodded. Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another, gulped then turn to follow everypony else. They had to hop over logs and fallen trees, avoiding puddles, and dinosaur scat. After the short and treacherous walk they reached a clearing. Everypony stopped with a look of horror and shock. Aria was the most distressed. What was once a small outpost was nothing but debris and fire. It looked like an abandoned plague hit village then somepony had to torch the place to destroy the plague evidence. Octavia gulped seeing fire from a tower like structure, possibly made for a Brach or long necked dinosaur to stand by. Vinyl looked down to see a giant blood splatter where somepony or something bleed to death. She gulped back nausea and continued forward. The passengers stayed close to each other looking around in the sky and in the nearby trees, their senses heightened.
Aria looked around and gasped, staring at the ground. The drivers both gasped seeing what looked to be a broken stone in a bunch of hay, still smoldering.
“The Sun Stone has failed!” The driver exclaimed with shock. Octavia and Vinyl walked closer as the passengers all gasped with fear and shock. Aria knelt down using her nose to move the broken pieces of stone together. One half of the stone slid away from the other half.
“What’s a Sun stone?” Octavia asked with confusion. Aria sighed.
“It’s a stone that gives us power and protects outlying areas from carnivores and dangers. The sun stone is a stone used from the early times of Dinotopia to protect our outposts, villages, hatchery’s, cities...” She paused looking at the two mares with pure sadness. “This one’s dead.” Everypony was silent for a moment. Aria sighed. “We must send word to the nearest Outpost, they could be in danger.” The drivers both shook their heads.
“We can’t,” One of them said. The other one nodded along.
“The next outpost is more than three to four hours away from here.” Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another then back at the drivers.
“Why’s that a problem?” Vinyl asked. Suddenly thunder boomed loudly, causing Vinyl the yelp jumping in the air hiding behind Octavia.
The first driver snorted. “The Brach’s will never carry us in this storm.”
“We’re staying here?” Octavia asked in shock.
“I’m afraid so.” Aria said with a sigh. “We have to sleep here for the night.” Octavia shook her head hearing the passengers whisper amongst themselves with worry.
“Shh,” Aria hushed. Vinyl, Octavia, and the guard all turn to her as Aria waved her hoof at them to shut them up. “Quiet.”
Everypony went silent as Aria knelt to the ground pressing her ear against the ground trying to hear. One of the drivers followed her lead and lowered himself to the ground and placed his ear on the ground.
Aria sat up looking around. “What’s wrong?” Vinyl asked with worry.
Aria sniffed the air her ears swiveling around. The driver slowly sat up on his haunches looking around with worry. The guards all walked up seeing the worry on their faces.
Arai shook her head. “Nothing... it must have been the thunder. We better get inside and get some rest.” She turned to the guards.
“We didn’t find anypony or saurian here ma'am.” Octavia looked at Aria with a funny look. They seem to think Aria was in charge. I wonder what’s so important about her? She thought to herself as everypony followed her to what look to be the sleeping area, since there were beds in the room. The whole group look around the building to see messy beds as if the ponies that were here before left in a hurry.
“Everypony pick a bed and get comfortable.” One of the guards said. “We’re sleeping here tonight.”
The passengers started moving and go into another room and get to sleep. Vinyl, Octavia, Aria, the two drivers, and a guard sat in one of the rooms. Vinyl sighed scratches her head.
“I’m bored.” She sat up and walked to one of the guards to ask him some questions. Aria came out from another room balancing a tray of strange exotic fruits and vegetables on her back. “Here we are. Dinner.” She announced.
Vinyl gasped. “Really? Like Granny Smith apples?”
“Apples?” Aria asked cutting up a strange green vegetable.
“You know those big red juicy tings. An Apple a Day keeps the doctor away?”
Aria blinks. “Um no, we don't have that type of fruit here.”
Vinyl blinked staring at a red vegetable levitating it up surprising the guard. Octavia smiled taking a cut piece of cucumber.
“Eww!” Vinyl made a face smacking her lips after taking a bite of the vegetable. “Tastes bitter.”
Aria gave her a bored look. “You’re supposed to peel it first.”
Vinyl blushed as Aria walked over to the drivers, passing the plate around. Octavia chuckled. “It seems you haven’t lost your touch Vinny.” Octavia purred taking a small bite from the cucumber smiling. Vinyl stuck her tongue out at her then started peeling the red skin.
After the small dinner and everypony got their share of food Vinyl started teaching a driver how to make a steady beat on a table. Making it a game of memory making a few taps and sounds and the driver would tap and try to copy the sounds. Aria sat down on a bed next to Octavia.
“So tell me about yourselves? Are you two related?”
Octavia blinked. “Oh uh... well yes in a way we are related. You see our father he was a... wild one. While he was in high school he got both our mothers pregnant with us while they were in school and well...” Octavia paused with a sigh. “Both our mothers uh... they both didn’t make it in the real world you know. My mother beat me as a filly and Vinyl’s mother practically abandoned her in the streets.”
Aria gave them a look of shock. “How can a mother do such a  thing to their own child?”
Octavia shrugged. “It just happened like that. My birth mother lost everything she had when she had me. She blamed me for her failures. But Vinyl’s mother... I’m not sure. Vinyl never really talked about it much. She was very young when she was left in the streets.”
“And your father? Did he know?” Aria asked with sadness. Octavia sighed.
“Father heard about Vinyl in a police report. But he couldn't afford to take care of her so he left her in the orphanage. Then father was in prison when my mother was arrested. The police took me to the orphanage where I learned that Vinyl was a my half sister.” Octavia sighed. “Then we started to get close and became sisters.”
Aria smiled. “So you two had each other?”
Octavia smiled as Vinyl started cheering for her partner at the drumming. “Dude, you’re a natural!”
“I guess you can say that.” Octavia muttered with a light smile. “Then one day we were both adopted by our mother. Cloud Striker... she knew our father and owed him a debt. That debt would be for her to care for his daughters. For a while, she hardly cared but then she started to love us and call us her daughters and we called her our mother. We were happy.”
Aria tilted her head. “Were happy?”
Octavia sighed. “When we both were sixteen Mother decided it was time for us to head into the mainland and follow our dreams. Become musicians you see. We went to the same school. I passed with flying colors but Vinyl... She was unpredictable.”
Octavia turned to see Vinyl patting the driver on the back laughing.
“Unpredictable?” Aria asked smiling.
“Well I mean... she never gave anything a chance. She doesn’t care for change at all. And she can be a... immature mule sometimes. She doesn't grow up and leave anything alone.”
Arai nodded in understanding. Lighting struck shining light into the room. Thunder boomed silently outside. After the thunder, everypony heard the sounds of unnatural screaming outside. Everypony stared at the ceiling with fear and caution as he screams stopped.
“What was that?” Vinyl asked. Aria smiled a touch.
“Nothing to worry about. Those were just creatures of the basin.” She stared still staring at the ceiling.
“It sounds like something was making them panic.” Octavia mentioned with worry, rubbing her arms in a shiver.
“Something’s making me panic.” Vinyl whimpered fixing her jacket.
Aria sat up. “Well we best get some sleep we have a long night.”
Octavia nodded with a yawn. “Well good night everypony.”
“Night,” Everypony called out getting into the beds. Vinyl gulped as she took a bed across the walkway from Octavia’s and burrowed into her sheets, shaking seeing lightning and hearing the thunder.
Vinyl gulped as her phobia of thunder and lightning kept her awake. She finally closed her eyes.
Vinyl opened her eyes to find herself crying in the streets of Manehattan, pounding at the tall door of her mother’s apartment crying. Thunder boomed causing her to scream out looking up at the storm clouds, rain falling hard on her head as she sniffed and sneezed.
“Mama!” She screamed pounding the door. “Please let me in! Please!”
She continued to scream and pound at the door as the thunder roared louder and louder until... A large shadow covered Vinyl. She turned and screamed to see a giant T-Rex roaring at her.
Vinyl sat up in her bed, panting hard from the nightmare. She looked around seeing lighting flash. She jumped then burrowed into her covers as a light rumble of thunder rolled outside. But something felt off about the thunder. There was a rumble, but there was a deep hollow sound. The rumble vibrated the floor. She poked her head out of her protective barrier of cotton to look around to see everypony deep in sleep. Vinyl gulped poking her head out of her cocoon seeing Octavia sleeping.
“Tavi?” Vinyl whispered. “Tavi!?” She whispered loudly. She used her magic to tug on Octavia’s jacket sleeve.
“Hmm?” Octavia opened her eyes. “What is it?” She groaned out, stretching her legs forward. Vinyl gulped as she crawled out of her bed landing with a thud on the floor with a silent “Ow!” She crawled to Octavia’s bed pulling herself up to where the two pressed their noses together. Vinyl chuckled sheepishly as Octavia gave her a warning glare, lifting her head up getting comfortable on her belly.
“What’s wrong, Vinyl?” She groaned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
Vinyl gulped her ears went flat on her head. “Octy, I thought I heard something outside.” She whispered pointing her hoof at the window. Octavia gave Vinyl a look.
“Vinyl, it’s thundering-”
“I know that, but this was a different sound. Can you look outside? Pwease?” Vinyl asked with her puppy eyes. Octavia groaned rubbing her face then sighed.
“Fine,” Vinyl smiled, her ears perked up. Octavia sighed shaking herself then leapt of her bed, walking to a window looking outside looking around.
“See anything?” Vinyl asked messing with her hooves with fear in her eyes. Octavia smirked seeing lightning, seeing the flash of the forest then turned to Vinyl. She shook her head. Vinyl sighed with relief.
“Vinyl,” Octavia said softly wrapping her arm around her. “It’s only thunder. You're alright.”
Vinyl sighed pulling away from her and took a seat at one of the wooden tables. Octavia walked over unaware of the shadow walking past the window she just looked through. Vinyl let out another sigh looking at Octavia smiling.
“Well... I actually thought that...”
Octavia smiled. “You thought a T-Rex was coming to get you?”
Vinyl blushed then chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, I actually thought that.”
The two sister chuckled silently. Suddenly Octavia’s instincts went up hearing the sound of groaning wood. There was a sound of collapsing and a roar. The sisters looked up to see a giant three toed foot coming down on top of them.
“Get down!” Octavia screamed out pushing Vinyl to the floor as she jumped away as the foot crushed their sitting place. Octavia was in shock and awe seeing the giant leg rise up out of the hole in the ceiling.
Everypony in the room, shot up awake hearing the foot crash into the table.
“Run!” Aria screamed out leaping out of her bed. Everypony started running after her.
“Everypony run!” One of the guards screamed out pushing several guards out the door. Vinyl groaned rubbing her head as Octavia helped her stand up.
“Come on Vinyl! Run!” Vinyl got back on her hooves and followed Octavia out the doors into the air outside.
“Don't look back you idiot, run!” One of the guards screamed out, pushing another guard ahead.
Vinyl looked back and saw eight T-Rexes walking around behind them. Aria turned a corner and hid behind a small building.
“Here!” She called out. Octavia and Vinyl followed her, then pressed their backs against the wall panting. Octavia turned hearing a noise and noticed Vinyl was crying, panicking. She placed her hoof over Vinyl’s mouth, to keep her quiet. Aria gulped keeping still and silent watching the edge. Vinyl’s eyes went wide seeing the giant snout of a T-Rex sniffing the air. Octavia's mouth dropped open as sweat started sliding down her face, seeing the giant sharp teeth of it’s mouth.
The T-Rex’s snout went back from the open. Aria gulped feeling the vibrations under her hooves. Suddenly there was a noise and a roar. All three mares made a dash for the tree line as the T-Rex demolished their hiding spot roaring after them. Octavia was faster running past the hanging lanterns first to the forest. Vinyl was close behind, leaping over debris crying for Celestia to give her a longer life. Aria continued to leap over debris until her hoof got caught in some loose rope and tumbled hard, getting wrapped up in the coil of rope.
Vinyl and Octavia stopped and turned, hearing the cry and gasped to see Aria looking up as one of the T-Rexes. It slowed to a stop, his mouth watering dropping saliva rain over the frightened earth pony mare.
“Aria!” Vinyl screamed out, stuck still watching the giant carnivore.
The T-Rex roared ready to snatch Aria as a snack, but a second T-Rex pushed him away, growling with greed at Aria. The first T-Rex ran back pushing the second one away, roaring angrily at him. As the dinosaurs were distracted, Vinyl charged back to save Aria, grabbing her with her magic and helped her stand up, watching the two carnivores snap at each other, roaring and growling. Octavia ran over helping just as a screech was heard. A flying dinosaur swooped in, its claws raking the first T-Rex’s face causing it to howl. Then a second flying dinosaur flew and just about escaped the jaws of the second one T-Rex. Octavia ran over just as two more flew by screeching and cawing causing the T-Rex pack to run away roaring and snapping their jaws at the flying reptiles. Aria smiled seeing them.
“It’s alright.” She yelled over the noise. “They’re Skybax!”
“Skybax?” The sisters asked at once. Vinyl helped Aria stood up just as one of the Skybax riders leapt off the large flying reptile.
“What’s that?” Vinyl whispers Aria smiled at her.
“A Quetzalcoatlus. Everypony here know them as Skybax.”
The stallion was dressed in a red quilt like body suit with a thin metal helmet. He was wearing a sort of harness holding onto to a leather cask that seem to wrap around his back like armor.
“I am Rider. Captain of the Skybax air core.”
Everypony that were running before. came out  of their hiding places to see the Skybax commander and his . Vinyl turned to see the other three Skybax of his flock. The ponies leaped off their dinosaur partners landing on their hooves. They sat on their haunches in military fashion their helmets on their head with strange metal rimmed goggles over their eyes. Besides Captain Rider these Skybax riders wore tan uniforms.
“What happened here?” Aria asked pointing to the outpost around them.
Captain Rider sighed. “T-Rex attacked this area. A pack of them.” Vinyl blinked, seeing the Skybax watching her with his large eye. Vinyl stepped up to get closer. “Not to worry we got everypony else out of here before the storms came.” But Rider’s hoof stopped her.
“What are you doing?”
“I was-”
“I’m sorry, but nopony other than riders can approach a Skybax.” Vinyl stepped back as Rider pulled off his helmet to reveal his black mane. “These are not tamed birds. I suggest you take a step back.” Vinyl sat down next to Octavia. Rider sighed, slicking back his cut short mane. “We were in the area searching for three missing ponies and their Triceratops. So far finding them has proven to fail. We cannot find anyone. I fear that they are all dead.” Rider said sadly looking away with a sigh. Everypony in the party nodded or bowed their heads. Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another with sadness.
“From now on.” Captain Rider said, pulling on his helmet. “I declare this bus service suspended until further notice. I’ll have to of my riders escort you the rest of the way to Waterfall City.”
Aria nodded. “Thank you captain.”
The driver and guard turned to the passengers. “Alright everypony let's go. Get your belongings and walk back to the buses.” One of the drivers called out.
Rider leaped onto his Skybax’s back then the giant reptile bird leapt in the air, letting out a screech. A second rider followed him up in the air.
“Alright everypony we have a long day ahead.” One of the young riders called out leaping on her Skybax then flew into the air. Vinyl Octavia and Aria were at the back, walking down the road to the Brachs already getting up from the ground where they were sleeping.
“That was awesome! Did you see those cool guys riding on those dinosaurs as if they were pegasi? That was so cool!”
Octavia chuckled. “Yes, but they're dangerous. Like the Captain said.” She shuddered. “I’d rather be on the back of a creature that has all four hooves or uh I mean feet on the ground.” Octavia reached the ladder first and climbed up, shivering slightly as she climbed. Aria looked up then looked at Vinyl.
“Is she shaking? He said she can feel her anxiety.”
“Who?” Vinyl asked. Then noticed the Brach was looking down at them. “Oh,” Aria smiled. “I forgot you somehow... understand them.” Vinyl said slowly as Aria chuckled. Vinyl blushed chuckling too.
“Uh yeah . . . She’s has a phobia of heights.”
“Phobia?”
“A fear. She’s scared of being too high. I mean as long as she doesn’t look out the window of a ten or fifteen story building or a tower or something like that she starts sweating and freaking out until she touching the ground floor.” Vinyl sighed. “It probably got worst after we crashed.”
Aria nodded seeing Octavia finally scrawl into the carriage. Vinyl motioned for Aria to go first. Aria smiled and nodded then started up the ladder. Vinyl sighed watching her tail disappeared into the carriage.
“Wow,” She whispered climbing up the ladder.