Into the Unknown

"Well, it doesn't seem like we're gonna find them anytime soon, the tree's stretch on for miles!" Rainbowdash said as she finished his scout.

"In that case we'd better set up camp and find some food" Twilight said determined to find them before attempting to depart.

They split up into groups, AppleJack and Spike went to chop trees for fire and a house, Rainbowdash flew looking for berry bushes, while the rest spent their time finding a proper place to live. Each group was told to return withing sundown so that they wouldn't get lost.

~~~~~

Later that day

"Spike, ya think that's enough?" AppleJack said while carrying several logs.

"Even if it isn't enough we can't hold anymore, let's head back,"

They reached the place that was to be their home. It was a relatively small plain with just enough space for a large house. They all worked on building the house before night so they wouldn't have to sleep outside. The fruits of their labor was clear as the house was build before night. Unfortunately one of their companions wasn't quite as lucky.

Rainbowdash had been flying for a few hours now. She saw berry bushes and started to head towards them, hoping to get some berries as well as seeds. She landed, and picked some berries, then started to here ruffling. She started to leave when out of the trees appeared a zebra. She kept flying hoping to leave the stranger in the dust. Out of nowhere the zebra rammed into him, pushing him into a tree. Rainbowdash realized his only hope of escape was to fight him. Multiple kicks in the face and the zebra still hold on. How am I to get out of this the mare thought still pounding the now bleeding face. Nothing could stop the determined zebra.

"Let go of me!" Rainbowdash yelled, she needed to get back, or at least away from the animal. The zebra was now nothing more than a living corpse, but didn't give into the pain in the slightest. Rainbowdash started to ascend hoping to kick him off. It wore him down, and eventually fainted from exhaustion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When he woke up she saw a room filled with gray, her eyes started to clear up and he realized she was on bars. There were handcuffs on each of her hooves. She tried to fly but couldn't get more than an inch off the ground.

"Is anyone there?" She said, hoping to find something out about the land.

"Yes, prisoner," Said a zebra. It was the same one that she nearly killed. The scars were scattered across his face. The rest was covered with a brown cloak.

"Look, I know you probably hate me now, but can you tell me how long I've been out?"

"A few days I suppose- I was out too, any other questions?"

"Well, I have been wondering where I am," She said, now realizing that the zebra wasn't as mean as he seemed in battle.

"Makes enough sense that you aren't from around here, you would have known to stay off our land. This land is known as "Zerobia".

Rainbowdash pondered about what he had heard then spoke up "Wait... you said they would know to stay off your land.. Is something going one here?"

"A war, it's been going one for several months now. After our leader Zecora left we all fought over the throne. Eventually we formed groups simply to survive."

This shocked Rainbowdash- the stranger in his world came from another dimension. She decided not to ponder it too much, and prioritized escape. "By any chance can I be released?" She hoped that he could convince someone into releasing her.

"Not my choice to make, I can ask our leader if you would like, but I can't promise anything."

"Thanks, names Rainbowdash"

" *Snicker*, well mine is Lee, I'll be off now," They both chuckled at the oddness of each other's name.

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile at the main camp of the ponies. The sun began to rise.

"Where's Rainbowdash? He's been gone for days now!" AppleJack said.

"We'd best start looking" Rarity said.

"But uhh... how are we going to find her?" Fluttershy whispered.

Twilight then brought out the biggest book that she brought with her. "This" She said while flipping the pages of a spell book. She eventually found a spell that allowed them to track anypony given a small piece of their identity. She found a feather left in Rainbowdash's bag. Everyone looked at her curious to why they didn't do that to help find the princesses. They didn't question her, and let her work her magic.

"Well, it appears that we're heading North when we're ready. We should probably get prepared for whatever kept her from coming back." Each of them gathered what they could and slowly migrated towards Rainbowdash.

Before they could get to Rainbowdash they noticed two Alicorns lying unconscious on the ground. It was the princesses. The land seemed more dangerous by the second. Throughout their thousand years in reign no one had the power to fight them until now. Out of nowhere a swarm of zebra's came, all armed with spear, and bow. They were soon surrounded. One after another they all fell to the zebra's. Twilight was forced to use her wild card- a spell she had been creating when she realized that magic could alter matter. Spike started to expand, soon above the trees. The fires that would normally be used to send letters were now capable of clearing forests. Realizing they were outmatched the zebra's wisely retreated for home, to get reinforcements.

"We can't stay in one place for to long or they'll attack again, we need to get going," Twilight said to her unconscious friends. She wasn't sure when they would be back up but she needed their help if they ever wanted to save Rainbowdash.

(Author's Note) Ehh, it kinda seemed that I either rambled on or cut things short, as well as being random. I love being random.