Everfree Meltdown

Chapter 7: Bifurcation

After their final night of unity, the group awakened to the warmth of the red morning sun. It could not have been a finer dawn to start an adventure on. With their time draining quickly, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash began to pack their saddlebags for the long trip ahead of them.

"Ready to head out?", Rainbow asked energetically.

"I... um... okay.", squeaked Fluttershy. She was terribly nervous at the thought of leaving most of her friends behind, but she knew what she had to do.

Twilight stepped forward. "Good luck you two.", said the unicorn with a chipper smile on her face.

"We'll be back before you know it Twi!", beamed Dash, as she returned a large grin.

Twilight leaned herself in closer. "Take good care of Fluttershy.", she whispered.

"You can count on me!", affirmed Rainbow, as she put a hoof upon her timid comrade's back.

"Pinkie, Spike, Rarity and I will be waiting here until you return.", Twilight explained.

"Understood!", Rainbow chirped, giving a lighthearted salute. "C'mon Fluttershy!"

"Oh... goodness.", cooed the yellow pegasus.

The two pegasi then said their final farewells, before taking off into the glow of the rising sun.

The sky that morning was crystal clear. Although a few clouds hung in the breeze, it seemed to be smooth sailing for the two messengers. Of course, when flying over Everfree, anything can happen.

"Um... Rainbow...", began Fluttershy nervously. "How far do you think we are from Ponyville?

"Oh, I'd say a good fifty miles anyways.", Dash said with a smirk. Fluttershy gave no response, but a tiny squeak to Rainbow's disheartening numbers.

The two pegasi flew for many miles over the vast canopy. It was quite mind-blowing that such a large forest existed so close to peaceful little Ponyville. Before long, Fluttershy had become winded from her long-term flight. Despite Rainbow's emphasis on getting to Canterlot as quickly as they could, she allowed Fluttershy to land for a rest.

Once on the ground, the two were faced with aggressive vegetation. Thorns and brush blocked out most of the sun's warming light. The sounds of dark creatures, kept the duo on their hooves.

"Come on Fluttershy!", Rainbow urged. "The sooner we get to the Princess, the sooner we can go back to the others."

"I'm trying Dash...", panted Fluttershy. "I'm sorry."

Rainbow placed her hooves on her hips. "Well... You just gotta try harder!"

But I... just... okay.", Fluttershy stuttered.

Rainbow's scowl lost it's strength. "Look... I guess we can walk for a little bit."

Fluttershy quickly embraced her friend with her gentle hooves. "Oh, thank you Rainbow Dash! Thank you!"

"Alright, alright... That's enough of that!", Dash grimly interjected.

Fluttershy backed off. "Oh... um... Sorry Rainbow..."

The two ponies walked through the dense brush very cautiously. Even though it was daytime, they had to stay vigilant. For one does not simply walk into Everfree alone. Although the Timberwolves were sleeping, there were other dangerous predators prowling in the darkness.

"Alright Fluttershy, I think it's about time we hit the sky again!", Rainbow suggested.

"Okay.", replied Fluttershy blandly.

Rainbow examined the forest around her. "As soon as we can find a clearing, we're taking off."

As they trekked through the thick greenery, they were met with many crooked thorns. The plants pricked and tore at their colorful flesh.

Fluttershy struggled to hold back her tears. "Rainbow, I... Ow! I'm sorry about this...", she squealed.

"Don't sweat it kid. It could be a lot worse.", Dash replied confidently.

Suddenly, a large drop of rain hit the yellow mare right on the head. "Oh no..."

"Cloudsdale!", Rainbow shouted hatefully.

Within a couple of minutes, the slight drizzle had turned into a ferocious downpour. Even with the mass amounts of plants sheltering the pair from the majority of the rain, the dampness in the air put a swift chill in their bones.

"Alright Flutter, listen up!", Rainbow exclaimed abruptly. "We gotta find some shelter fast or hypothermia's gonna set in!"

"H... hypo-what-ia?", asked Fluttershy with a puzzled look.

Rainbow put a hoof to her face. "It means we're gonna freeze!"

"Oh.... my...", Fluttershy said with widening eyes.

The two troubled messengers scrambled manically through the jagged shrubbery, in hopes of finding someplace warm and dry. Being in the most dangerous woodlands in Equestria,it was imperative that they found some sort of shelter.

"Hey!", interjected Fluttershy. "What's that?!"

The two quickly approached what seemed to be some sort of hole in the ground. Indeed, it was. They had stumbled upon one of the entrances to the fabled Everfree Caverns. This was the perfect opportunity for them to get safe and cozy from the storm assaulting the ground outside.

Once inside, Rainbow fumbled around for something in her pack. "Where did I put that blasted thing?", she said.

"What thing?", Fluttershy asked innocently.

"The lantern!", Dash exclaimed, as she pulled out the small glass container from her bag.

The technicolor pegasus attempted to light the little contraption. She was unsuccessful the first few times, but eventually she managed to give warm light to the underground passage.

"So... How long do you think we'll have to wait in here?", Fluttershy asked nervously.

"Just until the storm stops.", Dash answered. "Then it's back to the clouds."

"Alright Dash.", answered the jittery pony. "I just wanna get out of here."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Why? You afraid of the dark?"

Fluttershy stiffened. "I... I... uh.... Yes."

Rainbow scooted closer to her shaking friend. "Fluttershy, as long as I'm around, you'll be fine."

Once again, Fluttershy embraced her courageous friend. "Thank you Dash." Tears of joy began to well up in her large blue eyes.

"Say...", Rainbow started. "What's that over there?" She pointed to a glittery object resting in the corner of the room.

"I... dunno.", Fluttershy said curiously.

The two of them slowly approached the mysterious item. It was a ragged old wizard's hat, with several holes and cuts in it.

"Wait a second...", Rainbow whispered. "I know who this belongs to."

"Who?", Fluttershy asked.

Suddenly, something else caught Rainbow's eye. "Mother of Luna!", she wailed as she fell back onto her flank.

There, laying on the cold stone floor, was the Great and Powerful Trixie. It looked as though she had been dead for some time. All that remained of her was a lonely skeleton. It seemed after her night of anguish, she fled into the forest. Not even an arrogant pony such as Trixie deserved a fate such as this.

"That poor pony.", Fluttershy murmured.

There was then a terrible roar from deep within the cavern. It's horrifying sound reverberated off of the rough tunnel walls.

"Fluttershy...", Dash whispered. "We're not alone."