Everfree forest. Only place in Equestria truly "free" from total control ponies had over nature. Free to have it's own weather, it's own animals, monsters, plants... It's own secrets long forgotten in time.
But as the sands of time flows, old secrets are unearthed and new ones are made.
One of forgotten secrets of Everfree was temple as old as Equestria itself. Today for first time in over a thousands of years the temple had been sinking into the ground under it's own weight, echo spread out sound of running through ancient corridors.
Light...
In the darkens, the creature speeding down the halls of ruined temple could be easily mistaken for pony, or more specifically - unicorn.
Just a little closer...
It's face white, almost bone like lacked mouth. It's blue, empty eyes burning with invisible flame of magic. It's misty mane of pure shadows and it's coat of black sand that seemed to flow with each movement.
Light...
A mighty roar erupted from depths of temple as the creature stopped, looked down the corridor sound had come from and saw two blazing orbs coming closer very fast.
Oh sweet Celestia...
Without second thought, the creature resumed it's mad dash. Not even a minute later second creature - this one looking like a minotaur of pure darkness flashed by the same place shadowy unicorn was standing just few seconds ago.
How did it found me so fast? I thought I've lost it after that last waterfall...
The minotaur closed the distance to unicorn in less than ten seconds flat and attempted to grab it with fury rarely seen in Equestria. The unicorn jumped to the right avoiding mighty hands of the beast.
Jump right, jump forward, jump right, dodge, jump at right wall, wall-run, bounce away from wall...
Huge, dark fist crashed into the wall just split second ago unicorn was running along, leaving a hole in ancient stone. The running pony several meters ahead made sounds like a raspy giggle.
... And hear it smash it's hand into a wall - Check.
The dark giant roared, hate burning in it's eyes as it's rushed after pony shaped creature again.
Dodge, jump left, jump right, bounce of wall, slide along the floor, jump forward...
A loud crash spread out through ancient wall as unicorn let out another raspy sound.
...And hear it smash into floor - Check
This game of lasted for next few minutes as both creatures entered part of temple that didn't endured passage of time as deeper parts of it. Cracked walls, devastated columns, collapsed floor leading into oblivion...
I remember this place... just a little closer...
The unicorn bounced off shattered stone avoiding another blow from minotaur knowing that one wrong move may cost a life.
Jump, slide, jump right, wall-run, bounce off the wall...
The chase approached huge gap in stone floor of temple with only an old rope hanging midway through the hole. Dark unicorn called upon it's magic to bring the rope closer to it's side of gap and after few more seconds of running and dodging attacks it jumped.
Jump, grab a rope, swing closer to other side, jump...
The pony hit the ground with silent thud, it got up within next second and for first time in last fifteen minutes, looked back. The minotaur was standing at the edge and looking with it's burning eyes deep into blue eyes of pony. Unicorn averted it's eyes away from dark giant and broke into mad dash again.
That will buy me few seconds...
Sound of another crash resonated through the air indicating that minotaur had successively jumped across the hole in floor. The corridors of temple were in much worse state the further unicorn ran - more cracks and holes, harder to navigate into tight spaces of safe ground left. But there was something else - through some of cracks, rays of sunlight shined into stone walls, and easily recognizable sound echoed into ears - Sound of droplets hitting stone.
Water, rain...
Unicorn's eyes widened as the at the thought as dark shadow loomed over it.
Jump, slide, run, jump right, wall run, bounce of the wall, land and jump, turn around the corner...
Hallway after turn was illuminated by bright, white light coming from square hole in the wall.
There!...
The shadowy pony upon seeing the light ran faster than ever in it's life, sound of it's own steps accompanying it. Unicorn's eyes widened.
Where is it? He couldn't just let me go like that...
Black minotaur crashed through the wall on unicorn's left and stood in the middle of one last corridor leading outside of temple, without even thinking unicorn slided between it legs and started running again. With mighty roar minotaur turned around with pale light coming from it's abdomen as dark, shadowy tentacles raced from it towards pony. Time slowed for the unicorn as it jumped to left dodging one of tentacles.
Jump, roll, slide, jump, bounce of the wall, land, jump again...
With each passing heartbeat dark pony was closer and closer to source of light. Loud sounds of rage and smashing just behind it.
Roll, jump, land and run, slide to left, enter to doorway, jump...
One of tentacles grabbed a leg of unicorn's hind leg as it jumped to the light.
NO! NOT NOW! NOT WHEN I'M SO CLOSE!
Something hissed in pain as tentacle retracted from leg. Dark pony crashed into wet stone as cold rain poured everywhere around it. It lifted it's head from the ground and turned it towards entrance to ancient temple in which stood hulking dark minotaur, shadowy tentacles shwirling aroudn it. Unicorn's sight moved down to wet stone on which lay few sizzling pieces of dark tentacles.
I made it... I won. Ha...haha... hahahehehe...
The pony let our a raspy, chuckle-like sound and just lay there in rain looking at dark monster in the doorway. After few minutes pony stood up and throwing one last look at temple's entrance, walked away into surrounding forest of Everfree.
Tenths of time jumps, hundredths of tries, tenths thousands of steps... I'm finally free to change the time...
Monstrous roar sounded from long forgotten temple as morning sun climbed higher into the sky.
Time is like an ocean in a storm... what is but one grain of sand in the storm?
Everything.
_____
"Sands of Time are nothing more than a legend young mare."
"So was Nightmare Moon and yet..."
"And yet they fight against her dare."
"Will you help me then?"
...
"Yes."
_____
Not many ponies knew how big was Everfree. Some think it's smaller than Whitetail Wood, others say stories about it having no end. Everfree lay at border of three kingdoms: Equestria, Zebrica and United Griffin Kingdom.
A shadow moved among the trees walking softly but firmly - Never getting tired, never needing rest or sleep. Fueled only by pure determination and legendary magic long lost before modern nations arose.
The circle of Day and Night still moves on... But for how long? How much time do I have to set things right?... How long till she returns?...
Dark shape stopped and turned it's head into direction it has come from.
How long had it been since I entered that temple searching for our salvation?... for my salvation?
Days? Weeks? Months? Years?
A sound of snapping of branch pulled shadowy unicorn from it's thoughts as head moved to face the sound and body adjusted to face an unknown threat. What stood in front of shadow was a pony shaped, cloaked figure with golden eyes that seemed to glow with inner light.
"Smell of the dust and sand reeks of your hide. Are you trying to run or maybe the shadows let you slide?" Said feminine voice as new arrival stepped little closer.
"Ghost of the past are you, or maybe you have seen the future through?"
"You know what I am?" shadow's voice was raspy but definitely female and seemed to flow within the air itself.
"Legend's speak of ones of your kind." Said cloaked figure while removing its hood. Under it was a zebra with Mohawk styled mane. "Moving through time, searching for answers they cannot find."
"I have my answers. I move towards the questions as time draws line in the sand."
Zebra's eyes narrowed. "What Question you seek? One of the life or one that of blood reeks?"
"Neater of two. What I seek with time could come truth." shadow's eyes moved, if to indicate smirk, zebra seemed to notice it.
"Could or will? Isn't time a single river's will?" Her voice was little lower as its eyes narrowed.
"Most ponies think time is like a river, that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time, and I can tell you, they are wrong." Taking it's eyes from striped pony, the dark unicorn started to walk again.
Zebra watched it go, deep in its own thoughts as shadow stepped on piece of dry wood snapping it in half. "Wait! Zecora is my name! What should I call you at the start of new day?"
"Times ago I was one with the dawn and the dusk. Now I'm nothing but a Wraith of my mask." Come the reply in humorous tone. "Thank for help you provided me in time, but now I must go. There is too much to gain. The shadow soon disappeared, blending in with darkness of ancient forest.
"A Wraith of Sand travels anew. What future or past did you bring with you?" Zebra wondered aloud. And what help did I provide to you? Did you even speak the truth? Soon afterwards Zecora put her hood back on and walked deeper into the forest thinking about short meeting she won't forget anytime soon.
_____
"This is it... Isn't it?
"Yes it is, this temple of old. Inside of it must be deadly cold."
"No colder than outside of it then."
"I won't go further. Too much responsibilities awaits me at home. You must alone go deep down."
"Won't be first time I had to go somewhere alone... Zecora, thanks you for help and... keep them safe if I won't succeed."
"I will little mare. Just surrender don't you dare."
