"I'll tell you what we've learned Discord. We've learned that friendship isn't always easy. But there's no doubt it's worth fighting for." - Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria.

***Chapter 4: Onward To Green Oak***

Three hours have past, the jungle has proven itself to be merciless. We didn't talk mush after the death of Minty, after how Black Trigger pushed her into doom. I'm happy, very happy he died himself shortly after that... Minty didn't deserve that horrible death. It was totally uncalled for. On the other hoof, if she didn't die there, who would have died?... Those beasts looked hungry and where not planning to stop. One was close of grabbing my tail with his mouth... So... I would have died?... You know what, I do not want to think about this now. I check out the other, they all look tired, just like me. This in kinda insane. From all the students on board, only four of us survived. I also realize, if we wont find help soon, there will be no survivor at all to tell the story. And without Black, finding the city will be a huge problem. I check my LEC, still no internet connection and GPS contact, so any kind of navigation is useless. Even now, while we're far away from that star explorer. I sigh. Firewall saw notices me sigh and started talking to me.

"I know, our situation looks bad... very bad. But we can make it. I mean, heck. We survived that ship, a crash, beats. And with Black out of the way, their will be way less trouble."

I nod. "But Minty... She should be with us right now..."

"True... But we can't do anything do get her back. She's with Bubblegum now." Said Flora as she noticed that her sister took a Bluefruit from her bag. She took it back quickly. "Fauna! Why are you taking this? Where are the other six bluefruits?..."

Fauna laughs. "He, why is your head purple? Its supposed to be yellow..."

Flora sighs. "Great... You're high..."

"Well... You're purple!" Respons Fauna.

"Fauna, this wasn't the right moment to get a high... What where you thinking?!" I said as I hold her making sure she doesn't wander off.

Fauna giggles. "Because I can... Screw you all, I love you guys!"

Firewall looked annoyed. "This is gonna be a looong trip..."

As we keep moving onward, Aside from the fact that everything wants to kill us, the planet looks very pretty. And all the plants are SO big. A simple flower is around the size of a teenage pony. And then the trees, by Twilight, their huge! When I look up its almost that there is no ending. And those leafs. Would it hurt if one of them drop on you? We arrive near a fast flowing river. We can't walk around it. Left from us is a cliff with waterfall that goes strait up, right from us is a deep drop. Luckily there is a thick dead tree laying over it that makes it possible to cross it... Hopefully... Dear Celestia, I HATE deep water... I don't like this...

Firewall looks at it. "We have to cross it."

Fauna responds... Still high... "You aspect us to risk our lives, on that... giant dance pole?..."

Firewall nods. "Yep, indeed. As you can see, there is no other choice."

Flora hesitates a bit. "How do we know for sure... Its safe?"

Firewall shrugs. "I don't. But we'll know soon." He climbs on the stump and starts walking on it. "Here I go!"

I I run to the tree. "Firewall, have you gone mad from the heat?! What if it breaks or something?"

Firewall stops at turns to us. "No worries. If it breaks, then I..." He shows his wings.

I smile awkwardly. "Heheh... Of course. I forgot about that for a sec."

He nods an continues. Then he stops again and yells. " HOLY FUCKING LUNA!!!"

I respond fast. "What, is something wrong?! Did it crack? Moved?!..."

He turns around again with a serious face. "Yes..." It got silent.

Flora responds. "Well?!"

His face turns from serious to a wide grin. "Yeah, did you see that view from here?" He said as he points to right and starts laughing.

I stomp left front hoof on the ground with force. "That's not funny, Firewall!"

He keeps laughing. "Ah, come on. It was at least a bit funny." He said and starts walking again.

Flora giggles. "I find it funny."

I rolled my eyes with a smile. "Alright, you got me, it was a bit funny. I admit."

Firewall reaches the other side. "See? Told ya it was save." He flew back to us. "Okay, who's first? No worries, I'll hold ya when you cross it."

I think for a moment. Then I came up with a small idea. "I think its the best you take Flora first, then Fauna so Flora can take an hold of her on the other side and them me."

"Pppfffffff! I'm not a baby! I can do this my self!" Fauna tries to climb on the log alone while being as high as shit.

I grab her and tog her back. "How about you wait till Flora has passed? I mean, look at your sister how afraid she is. Maybe its better she gets it over with first. Am I right?" Fauna thinks and looks away. I wink to Flora. She nods and winks back. Fauna looks back at me.

"Alright, for her." She sits down on the floor. Her eyes look so weird from those bluefruits. Their a bit red and her pupils are bigger.

Flora climbs onto the dead tree and Firewall helped her up. Then he holds her as she moves to the other side. "Here I go..." She said.

Firewall flew carefully next to her. "That's right. Calm and smooth."

I watch as Flora crosses the river. I look at the water, I didn't feel well... What if I fall in and Firewall fails to catch me? I would fall in the water... And then fall down the waterfall. Okay, not helping... I looked up again, Flora got save to the other side. Firewall flew back again. "Next one."

Fauna got up. "Finally!... Ow my Celestia, I'm so hungry! I wanna eat a pizza with extra cheese."

"You will, first get to that city." I help her on the dead tree carefully. Firewall Holds a hoof while flying next to her.

"Okay Fauna. We know your stoned but keep your head in the game here." Said Firewall as he keeps her balanced. He's nervous about this.

Fauna laughs. "You look like a deformed bird while flying. So funny!"

Firewall raises an eyebrow and looks at me "Tell me, why shouldn't I drop her?"

I laugh a bit, I knew it was a joke. "Just take her to the other side."

Flora heard the joke but didn't laugh. She's to worried about her sis at the moment. Fauna was speaking bullshit on there. She got giggly at the wrong moment.

"Look at those wings, its just against nature! Big body, small wings. Its looks ridicules! Hahaa!"

Firewall ignored it, he's to busy keeping her on the tree.

"You know what they say about stallions with small wings~" Said Fauna giggling.

Firewall blushes. "Hey, that's not true! Its avarice sized and I'm happy with the way it is!"

She laughs from his responds. She takes a beep breath and whispers. "You have a small penis~"

I just can't hold it up anymore and laugh. I tier from joy. Even Flora who's worried couldn't stay serious any longer. Firewall his face is tomato red. "We're done talking..." He said.

They reach the other side. Flora helped her sister down. Flora is still laughing a bit. "I hope my sister here didn't offend you that bad."

He shrugs. "Nahh, I can take it. Besides, I'm sure I can laugh about it once I look back later." He flies back to me. "Okay, you're next Stella. Hob op the tree."

I start to freeze, I don't wanna do this, but I most. I climb on it and look to the water. I turned pale. I see the water rush by and I shake a bit. Firewall notices that I was nervous.

"Stella, are you alright?"

I looked at him right from me, I shake my head. "I... I can't..."

He's surprised to hear that. "You can't? After all the things that happened, this is what scares you?"

I nod embarrassed. Then I got close to his ear and said: "I... I have fear of water..."

"Ow... That is a big problem..." He thinks for a bit and then jumped on the tree facing me. "Come on. Hold me with your front hooves. No worries, I know you can do this."

I'm not sure about this... "What?... But you can't see where your going. You could fall!"

Firewall shakes his head. "That won't happen, pinkie swear. You can do this, trust me."

I took an deep breath and hold him. "I can't believe I'm doing this..." We start to move. I look down, in reaction Firewall stops.

"No. Don't look down. It will only make it worse. Eyes up here, look at me."

I Look at him. "W-what?... But how am I supposed see where I'm going then?..."

He stays calm. "Just do it. I'll lead you thought this."

I sigh and do as he said. Holding him and looking at him in the eyes. Slowly we walk over the dead tree. For every step I make, he follows. Fauna wants to say something but Flora signed her not to. Strangely, she listens.

Finally we got to the other side. Firewall jumps off the tree "We're there. I knew you had it in ya." He holds a hoof out offering some help to get me off.

I accept his hoof and jump off. "Thank you for guiding me through this... I couldn't have done it with out you."

He nods. "Your welcome, that's where friends are for.

"You did awesome right here. It takes allot of courage to face your fears like that." Said Flora.

I smile at her. "Thanks. That's kind of you to say."

Firewall turnes to the direction of the city. "Come on, lets move on. Only two and a half hour left."

As we go on there was still no sign of life, and the jungle is endless. The good news is that Fauna her drug is starting to fait off. Ouch... My legs start to hurt from all the walking. But that's no problem. Only two more hours and we're safe! I look up again and saw an opening in there jungle. The two suns shine down upon spot. We may suffer from dehydration a bit, but that is a pretty view. And then the- "AAAAAHHH!"

I fell into a hole. The others yell my name. "Stella!"

I keep falling, deeper and deeper. Then the walls start to curve making me slide down this weird hole. Then, I finally hit the ground. I'm still alive?... Its cold in here, I most be in some sort of cave. I light my horn, the room gets lighten up. Shit! I'm bleeding... The sliding made nasty wounds. I hear the others yelling for me. I can't see them.

First I hear Firewall. "Stella, are you there?!"

Then Flora. "Please tell us you're okay, answer!"

And then Fauna. "Don't you dare to fucking die on us! Not after where we went through!"

I respond as loud as I can. "I'm okay! Just a few abrasions but I'll be fine!"

Firewall responds back. "Thank Discord, you're unharmed... Do you see a way out?!"

I look around and saw this strange stone plate... It looks like a gate. "I think I found a gate! Its made out of stone and has this weird painting on it!" The painting looks like six weird tiny stones, what are those? Then I notice a text on it. "Hold up, there's text on it! Its written in Equestrian!"

Flora sounds exited. "A gate?! That means intelligent life! We're gonna live! What dose it say?!"

I start to read the text. "Lets see..."

"Before you may enter these halls, you have to answer our calls.

For what's beyond this gate, may contain your fate.

Only he or she, with an hart of gold, can answer this riddle, the legends of old.

Moments came, and moments past. But there's one thing that ever lasts.

In life we laugh, in life we cry. Together we stand, never we die.

The magic will light our way, even through the darkest day.

As long the magic shines in our harts, not even the death can drive us apart.

For this magic stays by your side. As long as you follow, and stay in its light."

Shit, all the yelling is really starting to mess with my voice.
"Guys, its a riddle! Whatever is behind that gate, it most be important! I think if I solve it, the gate might open!"

Fauna responds. "Do you think you have the answer?!"

"Hold up! Now lets see..." I took a close look. Magic, their talking about magic, but what magic?... Together... Light in darkness... Moments came and pass... Death has no effect... Wait... Is it?... "Friendship?" I said curious. The gate starts to move and a hall gets visible. Torches go on by itself. "I did it! It opened! I see this hall! I'm going in and hope to find an exit! If I won't return in thirty minutes, then move on without me!"

Flora doesn't like that. "NO, WE WON'T LEAVE YOU!"

"Lets be realistic here! If I won't return, the chance is big I didn't make it! Promise not to wait to long!"

"Alright, we promise! Now find an exit!" Yells Firewall.

I turn to the gate, look at it. Okay Stella, here you go... I make my way through the hall. The deeper I go I start to notice that the walls are getting flat, this is curved out and this seems to be equestrian architecture. Then I see more paintings on the walls. I take a look at one. I see six ponies who seem to defeat an scary looking mare. Hold up... Those are The Six! And that's Nightmare... Uhh Nightmare Spoon? Nightmare... Screw it! Nightmare Bitch. But why is that painting here? Weird place for one. Who would even care to get here within the cruel jungle. I walk to another painting and look at it. Its The Six again, they seem to defeat some kind of demon. That's... Ummm... Lord Tirek? Yeah, that's him! I look ahead. All the paintings are about The Six. I look up and saw a beautiful decorated sealing full of what seems to be six different cutie marks. Those are their cutie marks I guess. This place. This most be some kind of temple. This all seems so old... There's dust everywhere. I keep going and make a left turn. There is a gigantic double wooden door. Each door has one big purple star like like that cutie mark on it. I walk to it and open the door. Its dark in there for a moment but then the torches light up. This is impressive! A gigantic ball shaped room full with books, scrolls, an others items that help with magic, and what are those? Wands?... Those aren't used anymore in like 1800 years after the invention of the magic amplifier. A little machine that is worn on your horn that makes your magic stronger. My focus goes to the center of the room. There I see a golden necklace on a stone altar. I walk to it, but then a magic force field appears around it. I stop, it startles me. I'm not sure if it's save... I pick up a rock throw it at the shield. It bounces off on the field and comes back at me with the same force. I dodge it just in time and the rock flies against a vase. Of course, it broke. Shit... That was antique equestrian art... I took a wand that was next to me on the floor and start to poke the field. It goes right through it. No burning, nothing. I guess its save... I place the wand back where it belongs and carefully I stick a hoof out into it. Nothing happens. Alright, it's harmless UNLESS you try to be aggressive towards it. I walk in, and there I see the necklace, from up close this time. The necklace itself has a small round purple gem on it, but it seems that five other gems are missing. That's a shame... Maybe if I take it and give it to the Old Earth Museum in Friendship City, they might wanna restore it. I look around and then to the necklace again. I hope it's not trapped... Carefully I pick it up with magic. Thank The Six, it's not trapped. I wonder where the other five gems are. I shove the necklace in my pockets and looked around. Here most be an exit around here. I saw a lever on the wall. I walk to it and pulled it down. A book shelve moves aside, and I see a stairs going up. Well, that most be it. I enter the stairs, going up.

After a short while the stairs appears to have an dead end that leads to the sealing and I find myself another lever. I tried to pull it, but it's stuck. I gave it a buck and that works. The sealing opens, sliding to the right. Now I see it is a door disguised as a rock. Smart, but why hide this? I hear Firewall.

"Okay, did that rock just move?..."

"Ow, you saw that two? Good. I thought I was tripping again." Responds Fauna. I walked out.

"Stella!" Yells Flora as she runs towards me. The others follow. The stone sides back to its place.

Firewall inspects me. Holding up my left front leg and sees the stretches from my fall. Their all over my body. "Are you okay? Did something happen in there?"

Fauna rips a bit away from her own suit and wraps it on my right lower hoof. I had a deep scratch there, I didn't even see it. Its bleeding allot. How didn't I feel that?... Ouch... Well, it hurts now. "Thank you Fauna, but your suit."

Fauna smiles. "What, this? Its nothing. Besides, your wound would have gone infected."

"But are you okay? What happened in there?" Asks Flora concerned.

I nod. "I'm totally fine, no worries about that. Please. It was some kind of abandoned temple devoted to The Six. Did something happen while I was gone?"

Firewall shakes his head and kicks away a rock. "Nope, nothing sadly... I guess we gotta move on again."

"Great. Another two hours bait for meat eating monsters... What a joy!" Said Flora as she took a bluefruit and eats it.

Fauna yawns. "Lets go. I hear a bed calling for me."

I'm not sure if I should tell them about the necklace... I mean, it could be dangerous. It's bin locked away from a reason. Better to leave it in my pocket save of sound.

"Okay, yeah. Lets g-" Before I can finish my sentence I start to hear jets. Allot of them. "Do you hear that?!" I said exited.

Firewall hears it two. "Ow yes I do, the sweet sounds if modern life!" He tries to fly up to drag attention. But he's to weak to get that high and falls down. "Dam it! We need to get their attention!"

Fauna yells in hope to drag their attention. "HEEEEEY! WHERE HERE!"

Flora took her LEC and tries to send out an signal.

The sounds gets closer.

I think. Maybe I could... But It might be to much for me... Well, it's now or never! I charge my horn and prepare an big spell. I start to sweat from concentrating. "Fuck, my head..." My head hurts and my nose starts to bleed. "Rrrrrrraaaaaahhhhhh!" I shot a gigantic ball into the sky. It explodes and it was loud. The trees around us shake from it that powerful.

Firewall, Fauna and Flora look at me amazed. Then I fell down, I feel so weak...

Flora catches me up. "Holy... Stella. I didn't know you had that in you."

I had trouble staying awake. She lays me down. Then a ship flew to the opening and a light shines on us. Its a naturian scout, we're saved! We all laugh from joy and cry of happiness. We hear a voice. "Do not move. This is the Naturian Army. Help is under way."

"We did it! We made it!" Said Fauna as she hugs her sister tight.

Firewall holds my hoof. "Hold on Stella, we're almost there."

I smile at him. I'm to weak to show my joy at the moment. So tired... A second ship appears. That's a dropper. Used to drop goods and troops. It opens and troops in spacial fly suits jump out.

Fauna looked with open mouth. "That's cool. I've seen it on holovision but to see it with my own eyes."

Firewall grins. "I would like to have one of those."

Flora drops the bluefruits. we don't need that any longer.

The soldiers land and get an hold on us. One of them speaks. "No worries, you're all safe now." It's a mare and she took care of me.

"Thank you." I said and they go up with us attached to them. They get us on the ship. The door closes and we fly fast to the city. The troops set us down and take a distance as medics take it over. One of them starts to help me with my wounds. I look out the window, and I see everything flashing by I experienced today. And I burst into tears. It doesn't take long before Fauna and Flora cry with me.

Firewall wraps a wing around me. He cried to but not as mush. "We're gonna be fine." he said.

The mare in the suit took of her helmet. Its a female naturian. "I'm... So sorry that you kids had to stand these horrors... I can assure you, these actions will not go unnoticed. The Alliance is already moving around their fleets. But that's not important now. You are being taken to Green Oak. The safest place on this planet. Once in the city our head-stallion wishes to speak with you all. He will give you more information."

Firewall still his wing around me even though I'm not crying anymore. I look at him, he looked back and smiled. I can't believe we're still alive... But we're here, and I'm happy with that. I can't stay awake anymore, and fall asleep.

Author's Note

I admit, this chapter was a real challenge, but I did it. If you notice any typos please let me know. All help is welcome. Stay tuned for more. Thanks for reading.