Ghosts of the Past

Crimson Dusk and his four companions drudged through the murky forest.  It might as well have been a jungle with how deep it went.  The farther they ventured, the more treacherous it became.  The air was heavy with moisture.  Thick vines hung loosely over tall trees.  Insects of different shapes and sizes buzzed around the pools of dank water that littered the forest floor.  Birds sang strange tunes throughout the canopy.

"So what yur sayin is that Twi is in a coma, and she could die at any moment," Applejack asked Dash.  With the news of their friend's life on the brink of being snuffed out like a dim candle, the three ponies were becoming more anxious and worried than before.  Dash just nodded glumly.

"Well then why ever are we out here in this filthy forest?" asked Rarity just barely being able to keep the worry out of her voice.  "We should be trying to help her."

"I agree with Rarity," added Fluttershy.  "This place is dark...and scary...and dark." She hid one of her eyes behind her long, pink hair.

"We are helping her," Dash said confidently.  "We are going to find a special plant or something that can heal her.  Right Dusk?"

"It's not just a special plant. We are looking for the herb known as Nature's Kiss," he replied.  "It is very rare and only grows in one part of the Everfree Forest."

"How do ya know so much bout these here plants?" asked Applejack wondering if the mysterious alicorn was telling the truth.

"An old friend taught me a long time ago," he said.  "I know your worried, but you'll just have to go with what I'm saying."

They kept moving for what seemed like hours.  The animal noises became nothing more than faint whispers the farther they ventured into the forest.  The road became wetter, causing mud to spalsh in all directions with each step they took.

"This is just horrid," Rarity said breaking the lingering silence.

"Trust me," Dusk said to the classy unicorn, "Where we are going, mud will be the least of your worries.

He led them down a curving path covered in scattered rocks and brush.   The number of trees lessened the farther they journeyed.  In minutes, they found themselves in a dreary, barren wasteland.  The cracked ground looked like it was made of obsidian .  A foul blue gas seeped out from an unknown source under the black earth.  It curled wistfully in the air, forming a dense fog.

"What's that blue stuff?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

"It is a very toxic substance," he answered.  "Few living creatures can live inside that deadly cloud.  None of them are very pleasant."

"How are we suppose tah reach that flower thingy?" Applejack queried.

"I can create a safe area around us, but it will only last for about twenty minutes," Dusk said getting slightly annoyed at all the questions.

"Enough talk," Dash said impatiently.  "The more time we waste talking, the less time we have to save Twilight.

Dusk closed his eyes.  His horn glimmered with a crimson aura as a dark red bubble surrounded them.  Dusk opened his eyes and said, "Alright, let's go."

They walked straight into the blue mist.  It engulfed them hungrily, but the ponies remained unharmed.  Their line of sight was severly reduced due to how dense the fog was.

"If you don't mind me asking," Rarity began, " how are we ever going to find this flower in all this fog?  I can barely see a thing."

"The path we are on leads right to where it grows.  As long as we keep heading straight, we will find what we are looking for." Dusk said straining slightly to keep the shield up.

After walking for what seemed like five minutes, they found what they were after. Surrounding them were beautiful green flowers with dark purple stems and leaves shaped like hearts.  They glowed unnaturally in the pale blue fog.

"There it is," said Rainbow Dash excitedly.

"Oh my, they're just gorgeous," Fluttershy said as she admired their beauty.

Applejack wandered over carefully picked one of the larger flowers from a small patch growing nearby.  She gently placed it in Dusk's worn saddlebag.

"That seemed a bit too easy," said Applejack closing the saddlebag.

"Please don't say that," Fluttershy pleaded.  "Something bad always happens when somepony says that."

"Oh, quit cher...what in tarnation?"  Applejack said taking notice of a low hissing sound.

"That...can't be good," said Dusk worriedly.  "We should probably leave."

They turned and trotted off back down the path.  Suddenly, a small patch of the black earth caved in just to the left of the ponies.  Two giant lizards crawled slowly out of the pit.  Their musclar bodies were decorated with an alternating pattern of green and black scales.  Two pairs of eyelids blinked simultaneously over two beady eyes as they sized up their prey.  Tails covered in spikes whipped pleasurably back and forth.  Forked tongues flicked greedly between two rows of razor sharp teeth, eager to feast upon the ponies' flesh.

"I'm sorry, but I told you so," Fluttershy bragged.

The lizards pounced at the ponies with feral speed.  Fortunatly, the shield that protected the ponies from the gas also protected them from the lizards.  The lizards crashed towards the ground, rolling over each other in the process.  They quickly rose up and pounced again, determined to devour the ponies.  Dusk grunted with each hit his shield spell took.  "I...think we should...ugh...RUN!" he said.  The ponies ran hard to get to the end of the toxic fog.  The earth kept falling around them, forming more holes.  Dozens of lizards rose up from the newly formed holes, and joined the offense against the terrifyed ponies.

Their numbers grew, and it wasn't long before around fifteen or so lizards were banging against the crimson shield.  Small cracks etched their way around the only protection they had against a quick and painful death.  The cracks grew larger with each subsequent blow from the lizards.

Crimson began to slow down.  His breathing grew heavier and his sight began to blur.  He formed a troubled expression on his face, as he looked at the struggling ponies.  "I...I don't know how...how long I can keep this...this up," he gasped.  "I'm...sorry.  I don't think I'm...ugh...strong enough to get us...through this.  I'm sorry I...I let you all down.  Your going to...lose your lives...because...of me.  The...purple...ugh...one will too."  He hung his head low as his speed began to wane.  The cracks grew larger on their protective barrier, creating spiderweb-esque pattern around them.

"Crimson Dusk," Rainbow Dash said affectionately.

Drops of sweat fell from his mane as he turned to face the cyan pegusus.  He found Rainbow Dash giving him a reassuring look.  "You can do it," she said.

A small hum emanated from Dusk's saddlebag.

"We all know ya can do it," Applejack added.  "Don't give up sugarcube.  I...we believe in you"

Fluttershy and Rarity nodded in agreement.  The humming grew louder.

Rainbow Dash hovered closer to Dusk.  She closed in on his ear and whispered gently, "I believe in you."  She leaned in closer and gave him a small peck on the cheek.

The humming rose to a deafening roar.  The Element of Faith gave off a soft, white glow that encompassed the crimson alicorn.  He felt energy he never felt before course through his body.  The cracks began to disappear almost instantaneously.  Dusk's head rose high into the air.  His sprinted faster than he ever had in his entire life.  He was galloping so fast, Fluttershy and Rarity -being the less athletic ponies of the group- were having a hard time keeping up.

The lizards didn't stop their barrage of attacks, but they proved futile.  They galloped harder through the mist.  Applejack dropped behind Rarity and Fluttershy.  "You gals just keep runnin," she commanded encouragingly.  "Don't stop.  We're almost there."

They could start to make out the tree-like forms just a few yards away.  They burst through the boundary that separated them from life and death.  Dusk stopped and collapsed onto the ground a few yards away from the deadly fog.  The other ponies stayed upright, but struggled to catch their breath.  His crimson shield vanished as he hit the ground, leaving the recovering ponies at the mercy of the pursuing nightmares that followed close behind.

The four ponies turned around quickly, and prepared to battle their scaley foes.  What they saw, on the other hand, was a bit more shocking. The few lizards that followed them out were gaging violently.  They grasped their throats with their claws desperatly trying to breath.  They immediatly turned around and crawled back into the fog.  They lumbered deeper into the safety of the fog, until their terrifying forms were completly swallowed up by it.

Applejack tended to her winded friends, while Rainbow Dash went to check to see if Crimson Dash was okay.  "Get up you big baby," she said while prodding his still heaving chest.

He looked at her and smugly said between gasps, "I told you...I would beat you in a race.  I was the...first out of the fog."

Her eyes narrowed in on Dusk.  "That didn't count," she said challengingly stomping her hoof on the ground.  "I hung behind to keep your sorry butt going."

"Still counts," Dusk said unable to contain a small chuckle.  Rainbow Dash just kicked him hard (but playfully) in the side.  He grunted at the force of the blow, which made Dash chuckle affectionately.

"Excuse me, but what in the name of Celestia just happened?" asked Rarity still trying to catch her breath.

She looked quizzacally towards Fluttershy and Applejack.  They both met her with equal looks of confusion on their faces.

Rainbow Dash turned towards them and said knowingly, "That was the power of faith."

"I haven't the slightest idea of what your talking about, but the time for questions can wait," Rarity said.  "We must return to Twilight, before it is too late."

Dash, with some effort, helped the worn out alicorn to his hooves.  They locked eyes for a moment.  They could feel the blood rush to their cheeks as they stared intimatly at each other.

"If you two love birds are through gawkin, we have a friend that needs savin," Applejack said before galloping down the path.  Rarity and Fluttershy followed close behind.

Crimson Dusk opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Dash locking lips with him.  Dusk could feel a warm sensation flutter through his entire body.  It lasted for several seconds, before Dash broke of from the stallion's lips, and stared meaningfully into his eyes.  Dusk's mouth was agape with bewilderment

"We'll talk about it later," she said seductivly.  Dusk just smiled as the two lovers hurridly galloped to catch up with the others.