Hooflantis

by Black sun and white mist

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure
Length: 2396

The mane six investigate the mystery of Hooflantis.

Hooflantis is an ancient city of legend that holds a powerful talisman. This talisman is known to be more powerful than the Crystal Heart! It sank under the sea a thousand years ago at the conclusion of the Pony Sisters war against Discord. Now it's back. This sudden event has raised many questions. How did it rise back out of the sea? Why does it look as clean as the day it sank? Who's the pony known only as Ember? And what is this mysterious talisman said to hold untold power? Join the mane six in a race against time to find the talisman before the darkness that lurks inside the city does.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-09 20:21:57 UTC

The Adventure Begins

Twilight Sparkle gazed out the window of the train. She and her five friends have been called to the capitol, Canterlot, by the co-ruler of pony-kind, Princess Celestia. Twilight's assistant, Spike the dragon, stayed home to watch the critters. Only Twilight and her friends were invited so it only seemed logical that Spike stayed home. Twilight's skin itched as her mind suddenly jumped back to the nervous thought lurking in her mind. What was this summons about? It made Twilight sick to her stomach thinking of all the scenarios of this event. Twilight stretched out her wings to cool off.

"You alright, hun?" asked the honesty spirit Applejack.

"Yeah, You look kinda sick Twi," the loyalty spirit Rainbow Dash agreed.

"I'm alright," Twilight answered. "This summons is freaking me out. What if I'm in trouble for something?"

"Everything will be fine, darling," the generosity spirit Rarity said. "You're an excellent princess. What could you have done wrong?"

"I must have because why else would she call me to Canterlot?" Twilight countered.

"Maybe she wants to tell us about how great of a princess you are," the spirit of kindness Fluttershy whispered.

"Maybe," Twilight responded.

"Relax Twilight," the spirit of laughter Pinkie said. "When we get there we can have one big party!" Twilight smiled. Pinkie always knew how to make a pony smile. The train screeched to a stop. Twilight jumped in her seat. Despite her friends encouragement, she still felt nervous. They hopped out of the train and made their way their way to Canterlot Castle. Twilight looked around. All the ponies seemed calm and happy. Twilight wished she were one of them because the nervousness was eating her alive. When they arrived at the castle, they found the princess waiting for them at the main gate.

"Welcome my little ponies!" Princess Celestia said warmly. Twilight just stood there as still as a statue. Eventually, some pony said something in her place.

"Thank you for the warm welcome Princess," Applejack said with her stetson to her chest.

"Please. Follow me," Princess Celestia said. She led the mane six through the castles garden. Eventually, they ended up at a brick wall. Before any pony could say a word, Princess Celestia laid her horn against the wall and a blinding white light sparked. When the light extinguished, a door was there where a blank wall was originally. Princess Celestia led them into a small room. The room had a large bed and a wooden desk in the corner. The carpet under their hooves felt softer than silk. The ponies looked around in awe. They were amazed that there was such a room.

"This is my private quarters," Princess Celestia. "This is where we'll discuss things."

"Why, Princess?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm glad you asked Fluttershy," Princess Celestia said. "I need to discuss something important with you six. It is so groundbreaking, I can't afford for the public to know just yet."

"Is this why you invited us Princess?" Twilight asked.

"Indeed," Princess Celestia said. The ponies waited in suspense for the important news.

"The news is," Princess Celestia said. "Hooflantis has returned." The ponies gasped. Hooflantis was a old city of legend said to have been the most powerful empire ever due to their special almighty talisman that is unknown to all. Hooflantis is a legend. A figment of the imagination. Nothing more! Twilight couldn't believe this.

"Is this true Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, Twilight Sparkle," Princess Celestia said. "This city has risen out of the sea in the south."

"What do you need us to do?" Rainbow Dash asked flexing her muscles.

"I need you six to go down there and investigate," Princess Celestia responded. "We aren't the only ones the city caught the attention of. Darkness lurks everywhere. You need to retrieve the talisman before evil does or disaster will reign."

"Can do Princess!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly.

"That's good," Princess Celestia said. "I've booked a private train for you because I knew you would accept my request."

"Lets go girls!" Twilight Sparkle said. The six ponies ran out of Celestia's private quarters to the train station. They just barely made their train to the south. Meanwhile, Celestia sat at her desk and started writing.

Dear Princess Cadance...

End of Chapter 1

To the south

Twilight's friends were all bouncing with excitement at the thought of going to this legendary city. Pinkie was talking about throwing a party to welcome the city back to the world. All the ponies agreed with that idea happily. Twilight herself was excited. And nervous. You could say nervouscited in Pinkie Pie terms. The train was moving down the tracks smoothly until it came to a sudden stop. All the ponies collapsed on the floor at the sudden stop.

"What's wrong?" Applejack asked.

"I'll go ask the conductor," Twilight said. Twilight went up to the front of the train only to see the conductor frozen like a statue in fright. Twilight followed his gaze out the window to find thick black brambles covering the track. Twilight had some deja vu. This was just like when they had to save the Tree of Harmony. Twilight ran back to her friends only to find that they too had discovered why they stopped.

"What in the hay is going on?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Oh my!" Rarity exclaimed. "It's those tacky brambles again. I thought we got rid of them!"

"I did too Rarity," Twilight told her. "Looks like we need to deal with this ourselves." As Twilight finished, the brambles creeped up and started to cover the train.

"Girls," Fluttershy whispered. "We need to go now!" The other five ponies gasped at the sight of the living brambles.

"Forget dealing with it. Run!" Twilight yelled. At that word, they ran to the back of the train and jumped out of the emergency exit. After they all landed safely off the train, they watched helplessly as the train was engulfed by the plants.

"Where's the conductor?" Applejack asked. They looked behind themselves and found the conductor running for his dear life.

"So much for that!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh come on guys!" Pinkie Pie said. "Lets look on the bright side of this!"

"What bright side?" Fluttershy asked.

"Touche," Pinkie Pie said.

"Looks like we're hoofing it girls," Twilight said. The five ponies groaned and Twilight shot a glare at them. Twilight started to walk and the five ponies followed. Eventually, they arrived at a wide gorge with a long log bridge going from one side to the other.

"Come on!" Twilight said excitedly. "I can see the train station from here!" They started going one at a time over the fragile logs. But then they heard a low growl. Twilight turned around to find an Ursa Minor standing right there except it was 3 times larger than normal. Twilight gasped. Twilight didn't need to yell directions for the ponies to gallop across the log. While Twilight was galloping, she heard a deafening crack. She looked over her shoulder to see that her friends heard it too. Suddenly, the log snapped in two. The ponies who couldn't fly fell fast into the gorge. Twilight and Rainbow Dash sprang into action with Fluttershy behind them. They caught up to the falling ponies. Twilight caught Applejack, Rainbow Dash caught Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy caught Rarity.

"Now we're even," Twilight laughed.

"This is no time for jokes Twilight," Applejack said urgently. "There's still that!" Twilight looked up and found the Ursa watching them. It seemed to be waiting for them. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy dashed out of the gorge barely missing the swinging paw. The three of them flew as fast as they could never letting go of the ponies they were holding. Unfortunately, it was not enough. The Ursa merely stepped over the gorge and swung its massive paw at them. It missed them by a smidgemeter but it caused the three flying ponies to go into serious tail spins. The six of them landed hard on the ground. Twilight felt a stabbing pain in her ribs and couldn't move but she could still see the advancing monster. It looked down on them when it reached them. Was it smiling?, Twilight thought curiously. Just before the creature destroyed them forever, it was engulfed in a blinding pink light. The creature howled and vanished. When Twilight's vision cleared, she saw the savior of them all. It was Princess Cadance. She flew down to Twilight and patted her head.

"Looks like I got here just in time," she said smiling. Twilight only looked at her with gratitude.

"Here," Cadance said pointing her horn in the air. Her horn flashed once again and when it was over, Twilight didn't feel hurt at all. She just felt happiness.

"Cadance!" Twilight leaped up to hug her.

"Twilight!" Cadance said squeezing her back. "I'm so happy to see you!" They got up and started chanting.

"Sunshine, sunshine. Ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" they both chanted in perfect unison. After it was finished, they both giggled. What a delight that was!

"Thanks for saving our tails," Rainbow Dash said.

"Yeah," Applejack said. "We owe you one."

"Oh, it was nothing," Cadance said.

"But it was everything, dear," Rarity said. "We could have been dead but we aren't thanks to you!"

"Yay!" Fluttershy whispered.

"Thanks everyone," Cadance responded.

"What are you doing here anyway, Cadance?" Twilight asked.

"Princess Celestia penned me a note telling me to come here quickly," Cadance answered. "Luckily, I seemed to arrive just in the nick of time."

"Yeah," Twilight said. Twilight was immediately thrust into deep thought. Could these monsters from our past be coincidences? Yes. It just had to be.

"Let's get to the train station," Cadance said pointing at the little building just a few yards away. The mane six nodded and walked over there. It couldn't get any worse.Twilight thought. She was wrong.

Entering Hooflantis

Twilight, her six friends, and Princess Cadance walked over to the small building that was the train station. Once they reached the building, all they heard was the deafening sound of silence.

"Where is every pony?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Good question Pinkie," Twilight said. "I think Cadance and I should go check inside."

"You all stay out here," Cadance said. "We'll be right back." Twilight and Cadance walked through the doorway to find a huge mess inside. Creak! The door opened loudly. Twilight jumped. It's scary when it's super quiet!

"Let's spread out," Cadance said. Twilight nodded and walked to one side of the room. Nothing. Nothing. Oh look: Nothing! Twilight grew frustrated. There was nothing that could help them. Eventually, Twilight found something oddly familiar. A lump of green goo. Now what could this- oh no.

"Cadance!" Twilight shouted urgently. "We need to go NOW!"

"Relax Twilight," Cadance told her. "There is nothing to-." Before she could finish her sentence, a hissing sound came from the back of the room. A black insect-like figure stepped out of the shadows. Then another. And then another. Eventually, a whole army was before them.

"Changelings!" Twilight exclaimed. Twilight and Cadance galloped out the door and trotted past the other five.

"Twilight," Applejack said. "What in the hay is going--" Hiss!

"Changelings!" Rainbow Dash yelled. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy followed Twilight and the princess. They ran past the station to the south. Hiss! They heard the changelings flying behind them. Suddenly, a towering city came into  view. The city was a stunning red that sparkled in the sunlight. Twilight's eyes widened at the sight. But this was no time to stop and enjoy the view.

"Quickly!" Cadance yelled. "To the city!' They followed Cadance's orders to go to the city. A bridge came into view. They all ran across the bridge and hid behind the houses. A few minutes later, Twilight wondered where the changelings went. She heard no hissing and buzzing sounds. Twilight cautiously looked out from behind the houses. She gasped. The changelings just suddenly stopped. Twilight looked around and saw that her friends have seen how strange this was.

"What's going on?" Rarity asked.

"I don't know, Rarity," Twilight said.

Suddenly, the changelings turned away and left in a hurry. It was almost like they were scared of entering the city. This definitely isn't a coincidence.Twilight thought. The mane six and Cadance stepped out from behind the houses. Cadance had a puzzled look on her face.

"What's going on?" Cadance asked.

"I don't know Cadance," Twilight responded. "But whatever it is, it isn't good."

"Welcome to Hooflantis!" A voice said from behind them. The ponies jumped in surprise. The ponies turned around to find a black unicorn mare. She had a bright orange mane and a sun and moon cutie mark. She was flashing a bright smile.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked. Twilight leaned in. Twilight wanted to make sure she heard every word.

"I'm Eclipse!" the pony said cheerfully. "I'm the official tour guide of Hooflantis!"

"How did you get here and why are you here?" Cadance asked.

"Why, this is my hometown of course!" Eclipse said with a smile.

"But that's impossible!" Twilight exclaimed. "Hooflantis sank more than a thousand years ago!"

"It did?" Eclipse said puzzled.

"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash butted in. "It did!"

"Oh my!" Eclipse said. "Is that why I can't remember anything except my name, my hometown, and directions to places around here?"

"How did you get here?" Twilight asked

"You see," Eclipse explained, "I woke up in the middle of the town square a few days ago. I was so confused and I tried to look for some other ponies. You ponies are the first ones I've found! Now that I've told you all I know, what's your names?"

"I'm Twilight Sparkle and this is Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and-."

"-Princess Cadance," Cadance chimed in.

"Nice to meet you all!" Eclipse said. Eclipse turned to Cadance. "Your'e a princess?"

"Yes I am," Cadance said. "You can just call me Cadance."

"Cool!" Eclipse exclaimed. "Let me take you on a tour. I think you'll love Hooflantis!"

"Oh," Fluttershy whispered. "I'm so excited!"

"You should be!" Eclipse said with a smile. "Hooflantis is a great place to be!" The mane six and Cadance followed her.

End of chapter 3

The Mysterious Hooflantian

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

A disappearance

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Battle

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Darkness reins

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