World of PonyCraft

  Shining Armor escorted Twilight and Rarity to Nijel's Point, a small town that sat on the mountainside. He kept his little sister close, fearful of losing her again. "Where have you been all these years?" Shining asked as they walked.

  "After the, incident, with our parents, I thought you were dead too, so I simply ran away. I was picked up by an old mage named Medivh, and he taught me to use my powers. That's where I've been for the past 50 years, he died recently, so I decided to come back to civilization. Then Tyrande gave me this quest, and here I am." Twilight nuzzled her brother as she talked.

  "Sounds like you've been through a lot. I can't tell you how glad I am to have you back Twily." Shining sighed happily, giving her a side-hug.

  "So what happened to you?" Twilight asked.

  "Well, I wasn't home when it happened, remember? I was at the academy. Anyways, when I came home for a vacation, all that was left of our parents were their skeletons." Shining's eyes glossed as he remembered this, and he wiped a stray tear, "I thought you were dead, so I went back to the academy, and now I'm a captain of the guard, here in Desolace." Shining explained.

  "Wow, I should have remembered you were at the academy! That would have saved me so much heartache these past years." Twilight shook her head, as if angry with herself.

  Nijel's Point stood on a ledge in the mountainside, with a dirt path going down to the wastelands below. It wasn't a very sophisticated place, but shelter nonetheless, for many an evil lurks outside the safety of the small village. Twilight scanned her surroundings, as they came upon the ledge, there was a tree with a moonwell at it's base, a small protection and blessing for the village. Then there was another dirt ramp, after reaching the top she saw a hippogryph hatchery to her left, and an inn to her right, with a Night Elf watchtower between the two.

  "How long have you been here?" Rarity asked, the first time she had talked since Twilight's reunion with Shining Armor.

  "About 10 years, Nijel's Point, however, has been here for centuries, surprisingly." Shining replied, trotting with his tail held high, obviously in a good mood.

  "I see, do you have skirmishes often?" Rarity nearly tripped over a small stone, making Twilight giggle.

  "No, your run-in with the harpies was the first piece of action we've had in months. The soldiers posted here are grateful for that, they've been bored out of their minds." Shining chuckled. "This way, I'll let you two get settled into the inn. Afterwards I want you to come to my...office.." he pointed to the top of the watchtower, "..so we can talk." Shining bowed and trotted away.

  "Come on Rarity." Twilight led the way upstairs, finding an empty bed to put her saddlebags on.

  "We have to share?!" Rarity moaned.

  "What are you talking about? There are two empty beds." Twilight pointed to the other bare bed.

  "No I mean with the soldiers! How will I ever get dressed with a bunch of stallions around?" Rarity cried in despair.

  'Rarity, most ponies don't even wear clothes, don't be a twit." Twilight rolled her eyes.

  "Oh! Eh-heh.." Rarity blushed in embarrassment, placing her saddlebag on the other empty bed, she pulled out a tiny mirror.

  A loud shriek rang Twilight's ears, "Damnit! Rarity, what the hell?" Twilight rubbed her ears.

  'My hair! It looks terrible!" Rarity pointed to her hair, it was a little ruffled, but it was hardly mussed.

  "Good grief Rarity, you can brush it easily." Twilight grabbed a brush with her magic and fixed the stray hairs swiftly. "See?" she turned the mirror towards Rarity again, and Rarity smiled.

  "Ah, much better, thank you Twilight. Sorry about that, I'm just not used to the rough life, I'm accustomed to perfect hair, body, and mind." Rarity fixed the collar of her light blue shirt, as if to add to her point.

  'It's nothing, just try not to freak out about bad hair, if you don't want it to be messed with, braid it. I don't care if they are out of style, it keeps it tidy in tough situations, like battle." Twilight said as she brushed her own hair free of knots and leaves.

  "I'll try..." Rarity sighed, and began twining her hair into a long, fancy braid. "Like this?" she asked as she tied the end securely.

  "It looks nice Rarity." Twilight smiled, Rarity was a pain sometimes, but always good for a laugh.

  Twilight and Rarity trotted up the spiraling stairs of the watchtower, coming to a halt at a large wooden door with a golden knob. Twilight stepped forward and knocked, "Come in." Shining Armor's voice said from the other side, "Glad you two could come, I'll need to ask a few questions." Shining was writing on a scroll, with what looked like clear ink, and as he rolled the scroll up, Twilight couldn't see any ink. Noticing his sister's curiosity, he explained, "Invisible ink, for sending sensitive information, it can only be read with a complicated spell. Most horde aren't intelligent enough to figure it out." he handed the scroll to an owl, who took off across Stonetalon.

  "Interesting." Twilight smiled, taking a seat on a wooden chair, Rarity did the same.

  "First off, I need to know why you are here." Shining brought his chair over to sit in-front of them.

  "Well, Tyrande sent us, we are headed to Maraudon..." Twilight began, but was quickly cut off by Shining.

  "Maraudon?! Do you know how dangerous that place is? Just getting into the tomb would be hard enough, don't even tell me your trying to kill Theradras!" Shining panted, then sighed, "That's exactly what you're trying to do isn't it?"

  "Yes....you may not know it Shining, but I am a mage, and a powerful one at that. I'm not trying to boast but Tyrande wouldn't have sent me unless she thought I could do it. And she even sent her own niece!" Twilight pointed to Rarity, who waved and smiled nervously, "What does that say about my capability?"

  Shining flattened his ears, his sister had always been good at making her point, and she hadn't changed. "I don't know...." he glanced sideways, trying to avoid the subject.

  "You are not convincing me to change my mind, I'm dead set on this quest." Twilight put her nose in the air defiantly.

  Shining sighed in defeat, "Ok Twilight, I'll let you go..." Twilight jumped up to hug him, but he stopped her, "..on one condition."

  Twilight bit her lip, thinking for a moment, "O-k...." she squinted suspiciously at him.

  "Let me go with you." Shining said, a look in his eye that told Twilight she couldn't refuse.

  "Ohhh!" Twilight groaned, then with a smirk, she gave him a punch on the shoulder, "Ok, you can come with us." Shining grinned and hugged her tightly.

  "That's all the questions I suppose." Shining opened the door, gesturing for them to leave, "I need to prepare."

  It didn't take long for Shining to pack, and they departed from Nijel's Point within a few hours, but Twilight was unsure of Shining's motives, I *can** take care of myself*, Twilight thought as they walked.

  "You seem quiet." Rarity fell back to walk alongside her, "Penny for your thoughts?"

  Twilight smiled, "Mmm, maybe..." Rarity pulled out a coin, nudging her shoulder, "Haha! Ok!" Twilight laughed quietly. "I'm just worried that Shining still thinks I'm his helpless little sister, innocent and sweet. That little filly was driven out of me when my parents died." Twilight furrowed her brow at the memory.

  Rarity nodded, "I understand, but I'm sure he is just scared of losing you, I would be. I have a little sister...she's not so little anymore, she's almost 23." Rarity pulled out a crude painting of herself and a little white filly with light purple and pink hair, letting Twilight see. "I'd do anything to keep her safe, anything..." Rarity put the small picture away, a new determination on her face.

  Twilight sighed, "I guess you're right, but still, I hope he doesn't think I'm not, capable. You know what I mean?" Twilight kicked a rock out of her way, glancing at Rarity.

  "Yes I do. You have every right to be worried, or upset, just don't let it affect your judgement, Shining Armor seems like a loving brother who only cares about your safety." Rarity gave Twilight a reassuring nuzzle and trotted a little faster, filling the gap between Twilight and Shining.

  Twilight shrugged her shoulders, Rarity is right, I'm being silly, Shining is my brother, and he loves me. More than I can imagine. Confidence bolstered, Twilight stood up straight, smiling as she trotted up to her brother. She nuzzled him as he walked, making him jump slightly.

  "Oh hey Twily! What was that for?" Shining nuzzled her back.

  "I just realized how lucky I am to have a good brother like you, I wasn't really appreciating that fact that you are alive...I'm sorry for that." Twilight replied.

  "I know, I am pretty awesome aren't I?" Shining teased, tossing his mane for emphasis.

  "Shut up!" Twilight nudged him playfully, and he nudged her back, making her laugh.

  "So, that's Maraudon?" Rarity gulped as the trio gazed upon the towering stone doors, the entrance was carved in such a way that it looked like a large, unknown creature's mouth.

  "I guess so, we should hurry, I hear centuars aren't friendly to trespassers." Shining glanced nervously around.

  "How do we open the doors?" Rarity asked, tapping a hoof on the solid stone.

  "I'll handle this." Twilight shoved Rarity aside, closing her eyes, the doors were encased in a purple glow as Twilight raised her head slowly and opened her eyes. The doors began to slide open, vanishing into the stone walls. "See? Easy." Twilight smiled and trotted inside, Rarity and Shining following closely behind.

  Directly in front of them as they entered was a bridge, after which came two sets of stairs, one to the right, and one to the left. Twilight turned to the left, carefully descending the short staircase, to her right were two centaur statues, guarding an empty room. Twilight took another left turn, following the tunnel that led under the bridge, this tunnel stretched on for some time before it came to a four-way crossing, the tunnel to the right and left both had orange and purple crystals jutting out of their walls, the tunnel ahead was bare.

  "Which way do we go?" Rarity asked, peering curiously at the tunnel with purple crystals.

  "I-I'm not sure..." Shining stared down the tunnel with orange crystals.

  "Why don't we go down each? Surely Theradras lives in one of them." Twilight trotted towards the tunnel to the right, "Let's do orange first." she called back as she disappeared down the tunnel. Twilight stopped at a fairly large crystal, using her magic, she broke it in half, then continued.

  "What was that for?" Rarity asked while she took the opportunity to collect the fragments of topaz that had fallen.

  "Marking, so we know we've been here before." Twilight replied, then she yelped as her hoof slipped.

  "Twilight!" Shining rushed over and helped her back onto the path, saving her from a thirty foot fall. "You ok?" Shining frantically examined Twilight, who brushed his hooves away.

  "I'm fine, I'm fine! I just didn't see it there, that's all." Twilight lit up her horn, looking over the chasm, "I could have survived that, but thanks." Twilight shook her coat, ridding it of dust before continuing down the path. Shining sighed, glancing back at the chasm once more before following Twilight.

  Twilight was more aware of her footing now, and carefully placed her hooves as she walked, making Shining smile, then crash into Twilight's flank as she came to a dead stop. "What are you.." Shining was quickly muffled by Twilight's hoof.

  "Shh!" She hissed, motioning for him to look around the corner, Shining peeked around, there were giant, topaz, elementals patrolling the path ahead, far too many to sneak by.

  "How are we going to get past those?" Shining whispered, gulping at the size of their giant stone fists, easily capable of crushing a pony.

  "I could try a cloaking spell, though it most likely won't work." Twilight said, "My master never got around to teaching me, but I've read a few books on it." Twilight stood back, concentrating carefully on the spell, arcane magic began to surround her horn, swirling around with increasing speed. Twilight began to shake, holding on as long as she could, but the magic vanished, with a gasp, she crumpled to the ground in exhaustion.

  "Twily?!" Shining ran over, holding her head on his lap, "Are you ok?"

  "Ow..." Twilight giggled quietly, wincing as she sat up, "Well, the books said it takes a lot of power to cast a cloaking spell, obviously I'm not experienced enough." She rubbed her horn gingerly, then stood completely, stumbling slightly.

  "Want me to carry you?" Shining asked when he saw her difficulties.

  "Maybe." Twilight took a step, she wobbled with the effort, but managed to keep her footing. "That's the last time I try a spell I haven't practiced." she mumbled, taking another step, but failing to stay on her hooves, she toppled onto the ground again like a newborn foal. Shining trotted over to her, kneeling down on his forelegs, Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes, and climbed onto his back.

  "That's better, let's go Rarity." Shining started back the way they came, Rarity walking beside him. Rarity examined Twilight, and cast a spell as she walked, a bright shimmer of light surrounded Twilight.

  "What was that for?" Twilight's cheek was pressed against Shining's neck, making Rarity stifle a giggle at the look of her face.

  "It's um, a healing spell, for weakened bodies. It takes time, but you will heal faster." Rarity straightened Twilight's shirt, then with a satisfied nod, she trotted ahead of Shining, Twilight sighed in annoyance.

  They came to the crossing again, this time choosing the path with amethyst crystals jutting out of its walls. Shining was very careful not to jostle Twilight as she lay on his back, and she was nearly lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of his stride. "What is that?" Rarity asked, Twilight opened her eyes and glanced ahead, the tunnel ahead continued, but a strange substance like water swirled in the way. Twilight slipped from Shining's back carefully, reaching out a shaky hoof to touch the substance.

  "It's a portal." Twilight noticed how her hoof vanished beneath the surface, not reappearing on the other side. Twilight turned to face them, "Want to take a chance?" she motioned towards the swirling magic, the other side shimmered and wavered behind the watery surface.

  "It is most likely a way to Theradras, considering most would turn back from the portal out of fear." Shining walked closer, taking a deep breath before he plunged himself into the portal, Rarity and Twilight gasped as he vanished.

  "Come on! We need to follow him." Rarity galloped through the portal, Twilight hobbling close behind. Twilight pressed herself through the portal, gasping as the cold substance touched her face, sending a chilly pain through her body as it pulled her from one place to another. Twilight opened her eyes in and instant as the feeling vanished, then she realized she was falling, there was no floor under her hooves. She looked down, seeing an enormous waterfall that poured into a deep pool. Twilight still screamed in terror, although she knew she could survive, Shining and Rarity were swimming to the bank already.

  Twilight plunged into surprisingly warm water, surfacing within seconds, she took in deep gulps of air, in her fear she had hardly breathed, now she frantically paddled towards the bank. "Help?" Twilight called when she realized she was getting nowhere. Shining leapt into the water and pulled her to the bank, she gingerly stepped onto the ground, sighing with relief. The ground was some inches underwater, so Twilight couldn't lay down to rest. She was about to ask Shining to carry her, when a resonating growl reached her ears, all three ponies jumped, facing away from the water, towards the sound. Ahead of them lay a wide tunnel, pillars of stone held the ceiling up, and ferns grew all around, then Shining saw the source of the growl.

  "Hide!" Shining pushed Rarity and Twilight behind the nearest pillar as the growls neared. He peered around the corner, gasping as he pulled his head back, "It's a hydra, three hydras in fact." He whispered, motioning for them to move around the pillar.

  "Those are easy to kill, my mentor told me of many creatures, hydras have three heads, each has a brain, but the smaller heads rely on the largest head for mobility. Take out the middle head, and the whole beast is immobilized." Twilight said quietly.

  "Easier said than done, there are three of them!" Rarity hissed, glancing at her dagger, "How do you suggest we kill all three?"

  "We just try." Twilight said, grunting as she used her magic to lift her sword, Shining followed her movement, and Rarity unsheathed her dagger. "Shining, can you take the first one?" Twilight asked.

  "Ok." Shining took in a deep breathe, then with a nod of his head, they all charged, or at least Rarity and Shining did, Twilight hobbled behind them, constantly tripping. The nearest hydra hissed loudly, it's lustrous white scales shimmered the colors of the rainbow in the light, the hydra charged at them, the smaller heads stretching out and snapping at Shining's legs as he galloped. Shining leapt over the heads, aiming his sword for the largest head, with a triumphant whinny he sliced it's neck, blood splattered on him as the largest hydra head toppled from it's former place, blood spilled across it's shining scales, staining them. Shining whirled around to face the other two heads, which writhed in confusion as their body collapsed, he chopped off their heads swiftly, hardly leaving room for them to act.

  Rarity was already charging the next hydra, who had been alerted by the other's cries of pain. Shining joined her, she aimed her dagger at the main head of the screeching serpent, flinging it expertly at the creature's brain, there was a loud squelch as it hit home. Rarity smiled as the creature was immobilized, Shining finished it off as he had done to the other. Rarity yanked her dagger from the head, a small spurt of blood followed, then she looked around, "Where is the third?" she asked in confusion.

  Shining frantically glanced around, "Twilight!" He yelled as he saw the third hydra bearing down on Twilight, who held her ground, despite her weakness. Shining galloped to her defense, Twilight was swinging her sword at the heads as they snapped at her, stabbing one just above it's eye, enraging it. It screeched in pain and aimed for her legs, Shining winced as Twilight screamed in agony, the creature had gotten ahold of her leg, Shining leapt at the head and chopped at it's neck in a rage. Rarity rushed to help Twilight, who had toppled from it's mouth and was clutching her mangled leg. Shining panted as the final hydra collapsed, "Twilight?" He turned to Twilight, his eyes caught sight of her leg, the hydra's teeth had shredded the skin, and he could see the bone, but at least she hadn't lost the limb.

  "I can't completely heal it, but I can help." Rarity was examining the leg, Twilight nodded, growing pale from blood loss, her eyes began to roll back in her head. "Twilight?" Rarity gently smacked her cheeks, "Stay awake." she ordered, Twilight didn't seem to hear her, and fainted. Shining caught her before her head hit water, holding her up.

  "I'm really glad I came. If I had let her go, who knows what would have happened to her? She'd most likely have died." Shining stroked his sister's purple mane tenderly.

  "I couldn't agree more, I'm glad you came too." Rarity lifted the injured leg from the water, closing her eyes as she cast the healing spell. Shining had seen many healing spells, but they always amazed him, the golden light seemed to knit the flesh together in a dance. Rarity gasped as she finished, for healing spells took great energy, "There..." She placed the scarred leg back into the water, it was grazed and scratched in some places, yet not nearly as bad as it had been.

  "Twilight?" Shining shook his sister to wake her, Twilight groaned and slowly opened her eyes, which were slightly crossed.

  Blinking away the blurriness in her eyes, she glanced at Shining, "What happened?" She mumbled, sitting up, "A-ah!!" she clutched her leg.

  Rarity felt her leg, "Damnit! The bone is broken, how did I miss that?" Rarity smacked her horn, "Stupid thing!" she mumbled. "I'm sorry, I can perform another healing spell for at least an hour, that was a major wound."

  "Maybe...I could? You know, fix it?" Shining offered.

  "You know healing spells?" Twilight asked.

  "All unicorn soldiers need to know basic healing spells in case of emergency healing. Like, for instance, when a healer is injured." Shining switched places with Rarity, holding Twilight's hind leg gingerly.

  "Oh Luna...you haven't done this in a while have you?" Twilight teased, Shining closed his eyes as magic swirled around his horn, Twilight yelped as the bone snapped back into place, followed by a burning sensation as it was fused together.

  Shining gasped and dropped her newly healed leg, Twilight smiled and stood shakily, as Shining stood she threw her forelegs around his neck in a tight hug. Shining fell back onto his haunches laughing, "How are you still alive?" he giggled giving her forehead a small peck.

  "I manage." Twilight shrugged, standing once more and turning to Rarity, who nuzzled her happily. "Now let's go get Theradras!" Twilight sheathed her sword, leading the gallop down the watery tunnel.