World of PonyCraft

   Twilight and Rarity's hoofsteps echoed throughout the cave, the sounds of water droplets accompanied them. "Are we ever going to get to the other side of this damned mountain?!" Rarity groaned.

  "We're almost there." Twilight mumbled.

  "You said that three times already." Rarity sighed.

  "Well I mean it this time." Twilight started trotting again, as if trying to encourage Rarity. It worked, and Rarity perked up, following Twilight closely.

  "I see light!" Rarity gasped and galloped past Twilight into the open, she closed her eyes and basked in the moonlight, taking in great big gulps of fresh air. "It was so stuffy in there! I was getting claustrophobic." Rarity sighed happily.

  "I'm glad your comfortable." Twilight swallowed hard, looking up.

  "What is it?" Rarity followed her gaze, "Oh no..." she moaned, "What the hell are they?" she asked, turning to Twilight.

  "Wyverns, the horde often use them for transportation, but feral wyverns are very deadly." Twilight explained, keeping a watchful eye on the horrid creatures soaring in circles above them. They had the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpid, and the wings of a bat, they screeched loudly as they soared. "We need to be very quiet, they have bad eyesight, so we should be fine if...." Twilight conjured some water, pouring it on the dirt, then she smeared the mud onto her bright, purple coat, "..we are camouflaged!" she said as she turned to face Rarity.

  "Ohh!" Rarity complained, smearing the sticky mud onto her coat, which shone in the moonlight. "What about my clothes?" she cried in despair.

  "Cover them too, can't chance anything." Twilight had coated her deep blue cloak in mud and leaves, and motioned for Rarity to do the same.

  "Ugh!" Rarity rolled on the ground to cover her clothes in the cold dirt, then Twilight sprinkled some leaves on her back, making her look like a bush, Twilight looked at Rarity from a small distance, and failed to hold in some snickers. "What's so funny?" Rarity snarled.

  "Nothing! Now let's get a move on, we need to find a safe place to camp." Twilight giggled quietly as she continued on the path.

  "I do hope we find some sort of civilization soon, my hooves are killing me!" Rarity whined, getting a half annoyed smile from Twilight.

  "We will Rarity, don't worry." Twilight said just as they turned the corner, "See?! There's a hut!" she pointed, ahead was a small turquoise hut, with baubles and liquor bottles hanging from the roof. "Goblin made, maybe he or she still lives there. Let's go!" Twilight galloped to the hut, Rarity following close behind.

  "Heeellooooo!!!" Rarity called as they neared the entrance, no reply, "I guess it's empty, oh well! The more for us right?" Rarity trotted in and jumped on the small bed, it creaked under her weight, but settled.

  "I do hope it's empty, a goblin may not take nicely to somepony stealing his home." Twilight trotted in and lifted her saddlebags from her back, placing them on the dusty floor. The rising dust caused her to cough, "Woah! *caugh* yeah, I don't think any pony is here." Twilight swiped at the air with her hoof. She let Rarity have the bed, laying her blanket on the floor, before she closed her eyes, she was sure she heard Rarity mumbling something, but she was too tired to ask what, and her weighted eyes closed quickly.

  Twilight rubbed the sleep from her eyes, stretching her hooves to their full extent and sitting up. "Sleep well?" Rarity asked, while she was preparing some dried moonberries.

  Thinking back to the night before, to her surprise, she didn't have a nightmare, "Y-yeah, I slept very well, how about you?" Twilight stood, crouching like a dog to stretch her hind legs.

  "Oh I slept quite well dear." Rarity smiled, handing Twilight a cloth filled with berries.

  "Thanks." Twilight said through a mouthful of moonberries.

  "It's nothing. Now, where should we head? The crossing in the road is just a few feet outside." Rarity was holding the map, looking carefully at the roads. Twilight stood and trotted over.

  "We need to head past Sun Rock Retreat, horde territory, but the Tauren are friendly enough, surely we can get by." Twilight pointed to a small depiction of a hut on the map. "Then it's just a straight path through the Charred Vale, through to Desolace. The we'll need to take a detour to Nijel's Point for supplies."

  "Ok, thank goodness it's such a short journey." Rarity wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead with a grin.

  "Ah it's not that easy, Desolace is a difficult place to travel, every beast is hungry for your hide, and there is no water that isn't bitter or poisonous. Then the Centaurs, eesh!" Twilight shuddered, Rarity's ears fell flat, and she gulped.

  "Oh! Heh!" Rarity giggled nervously. "So, I never heard why we are going to Maraudon? Care to explain?"

  Twilight sighed, but nodded, "Alright, sit down and I'll tell you."

  "A long time ago, in the dark reaches of Deepholm, the center of Azeroth, the Stone Mother, Therazane, let her daughter, Princess Theradras, come to the surface of the world. Here, above the ground, she met Zaetar, a dryad lord, they became lovers and lived in the lush tranquility of Maraudon. When Zaetar and Theradras had children, known as the centuars, her offspring quickly killed Zaetar. No one knows why, but after which, afraid of Cenarius' wrath, Theradras hid his body in her private sanctuary, the crystal caverns of Terramok, within Maraudon." Twilight explained, Rarity was listening intently, her gaze fixed on Twilight.

  "Then, shortly after, Theradras went mad from her grief, and her minions kill anypony who dares enter Maraudon. Some say she was corrupted by the same force that drove Neltharion the Earth Binder mad. The reason for my journey is to slay her, and let both her soul, and Zaetar's, rest in peace. That is why Tyrande sent me." Twilight finished, taking in a deep breath to account for her speech.

  "That is very interesting." Rarity smiled, "I am glad to know. It would be a good deed to put somepony's soul to rest." Rarity stood, pulling on her mud-stained clothes.

  "Yes, now let's go, mustn't be here after nightfall. Who knows where we would find shelter?" Twilight buttoned her cape about her neck and buckled her belt. Then, without another word, they both trotted off into the sparse forests.

  Distant screeching echoed around the two ponies as they walked, each was extremely careful, scanning their surroundings. There was nothing but tall, sparse pine trees as far as the eye could see, besides the path that is. "If I didn't know there are so many creatures out to kill me, I might enjoy this walk." Rarity jumped at the sound of a bird flying away.

  "There aren't that many creatures, deadly ones anyway. Most are simple rabbits and owls, maybe some rams." Twilight gazed at the sky as they walked, looking for any signs of wyverns. Though she knew they were nocturnal, she didn't want to take any chances.

  "Another crossroad, to Sun Rock Retreat, correct?" Rarity asked, looking at the sign.

  Twilight glanced at it, "Yes, we should be stealthy, I doubt Tauren would like to see members of the Alliance in their territory." Twilight trotted past Rarity, following the path silently, something elven ponies have a knack for, that and traveling in the dark. Rarity did the same, her hoofsteps barely making a sound as she stepped in Twilight's hoofprints.

  "Maybe another stupid question...but, what do Tauren look like?" Rarity whispered as they walked.

  "They look like somepony took a cow and mixed it with a pony, smart, and strong." Twilight replied in a whisper, hoping nopony heard their voices.

  "Sounds interesting, I dare say I should like to see that." Rarity giggled quietly, Twilight smiled a little, but it quickly faded as they reached their destination.

  "The Charred Vale.." Twilight glanced around, all the trees were black, and leaf-less, as if they had been on fire. "And of course, harpy nests!" Twilight groaned, facehoofing.

  "Harpies?!" Rarity squeaked as her ears fell flat in fear, harpies were one of the most deadly creatures in northern Kalimdor. "Are they occupied?" she whispered, glancing fearfully at the large, black nests that looked like sacks hanging from most of the trees, each was made of dark twigs, and a soft red glow emanated from inside them.

  'I hope not, but if they are, I think we are being hunted." Twilight's voice sounded fearful for once, and her ears lay flat against her skull, the hair rising on her nape.

  Rarity glance around nervously, she could feel the supposed hunter's gazes, and gulped. "Let's just get it over with, whats the fastest way through?" her voice was shaky.

  "Straight through, but I heard there are chimera's here too, best watch for them, and maybe some basilisks." Twilight began to trot through, using her magic to hold her sword. Rarity saw Twilight's shield go up, and she did the same, holding her dagger and glancing around as she walked. Suddenly a sharp cry sounded above them, they both whirled to face the harpy that was charging at them, it's talons outstretched.

  "Run!" Twilight yelled, galloping across the forest, Rarity following close behind.

  "Why don't we just kill her?!" Rarity asked as she galloped after Twilight.

  'Because there are thousands of them, kill one, they'll all come after us!" Twilight yelled back as she ran. The harpy was flying behind them, flapping it's wings hard to keep up. "I see the exit to Desolace!" Twilight panted, gesturing to the gap in the mountains. Rarity picked up her pace, running side by side with Twilight.

  "We're...gonna make...it!" Rarity's panted heavily, Twilight glanced at her, the poor unicorn was soaked in sweat, and she was stumbling as she ran. Twilight gulped, Rarity might not make it, but she definitely would. Suddenly they both skidded to a halt as a large, two-headed creature slammed into the ground in-front of them, roaring menacingly and breathing fire.

  "A chimera!" Twilight cried in despair, "I'll get the chimera, the harpy will be easier for you." Twilight charged up her horn, readying for an arcane blast. Rarity barred her teeth at the harpy aggressively, firing a bolt of holy fire at the creature. The chimera shot a fire bolt at Twilight, who gritted her teeth as the fire engulfed her shield, then shot a powerful blast of arcane energy at one of the creature's heads, it roared in pain and pawed at it's left head, whilst the other snarled at Twilight.

  Rarity struck the harpy's wing, and it screeched in pain as it plummeted from the air, crashing a few feet away from Rarity, who charged towards it and slit it's neck in a bloody spray, just as it called for help. "We may have some company." Rarity said as she helped Twilight attack the chimera. Twilight used her sword and sliced at the chimera's wing, chopping it off, the chimera howled in pain, blood gushing in torrents from the wound. Rarity flung her dagger at it's neck, it struck home, and the chimera's roar broke off as it fell to the ground.

  "Phew!" Twilight wiped some sweat, mingled with the chimera's blood, from her face, "That was close."

  "Not close enough.." Rarity was staring back at the forest, Twilight followed her gaze, a swarm of harpies was coming straight for them.

  "Damnit!" Twilight began to charge a spell, her horn glowing intensely, Rarity closed her eyes and began to cast a spell of her own. "Touch horns!" Twilight yelled, and Rarity complied, just as the swarm reached them, a magnificent explosion of purple and yellow color blasting the harpies back. They were deterred for now, but Rarity and Twilight had nearly passed out from the exertion. "Well...." Twilight chuckled, "..valiant effort, nice knowing you Rarity."

  They both waited for their deaths as the enraged harpies drew closer, then came the sound of flying arrows and bolts of magic, Rarity glanced up, seeing Alliance soldiers and mages. "Twilight! Look!" she stood wearily, watching the harpies fall back, some getting hit and falling to their deaths.

  "Thank Celestia, and Luna for that matter!" Twilight sighed, slowly standing, Rarity chuckled, helping her stand. Twilight and Rarity locked eyes for a moment, then burst in ridiculous laughter, in relief. "I seriously thought we were gonna die!" Twilight wiped a happy tear as she rolled about on the floor laughing.

  "So did I, oh thank the light!" Rarity sighed, holding her stomach as she giggled. Twilight stood up and hugged her.

  "Well we didn't, and that's the most important thing." Twilight smiled.

  "T-Twily??" said a voice from behind, in a tone both shocked, and somewhat sad, Twilight gasped, and began to shake. Turning around slowly as hot tears filled her eyes.

  "Shining..Armor?" Twilight's voice broke, the white stallion before her was crying too, and he outstretched his hooves, Twilight let out a sob as she rushed into his embrace. "I thought you were dead!" she cried on his shoulder.

  "I thought you were dead..." Shining stroked his sister's purple mane tenderly, letting his tears fall freely.