Far Away

CHAPTER XIV

The two companions arrived at a shabby little station on the edge of town. The only prominent thing was the town hall which stood proud and tall in the midst of all the houses with rooves of yellow thatch. They walked off the platform onto a narrow gravel road that carried them pass a giant apple orchard to town centre.

Lush green trees that looked relatively well kept were planted to either side of the road. The town looked peaceful, although it was a Monday. They trotted swiftly down the little path, headed to the inn. Apparently, the ancient scripts spoke of a future where the Amulet would lie in the Everfree Forest. It was the best guess they had.

The inn was a shaggy little place. It was built with different architecture to the other houses around. It had dark timber supports that were very rough and prominent. It didn’t look like anything Jack knew. It was darker than Caranda logs. The roof was made of wooden planks, a much sturdier material than thatch.

They walked into the lobby. No, not a lobby. It’s a bar. The room was dark, even though windows scattered the walls. Inside stood tables and chairs and a bar in the very centre. Daring and Jack picked up a room on the second floor. The room was cosy. The window faced the town hall. Upon close inspection. The roof was a deep maroon. Not brown. Quite a strange colour to paint a roof. Daring and Jack stepped outside of the inn.

“It’s not even midday. Let’s check out the Everfree. Consider it a scouting mission,” said Daring.

“All right,” replied Jack, “I am so bored right now.”

Daring led him through the centre of town. It looked like a nice country village. The inhabitants looked nice enough. There were even markets set up. On a Monday! Sunday markets were practically unheard of in Canterlot, and this place has a Monday market? All the houses looked very similar. The same structure, but slightly different in shape and whatnot.

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The Everfree looked dark and ominous as the companions approached it. The canopy was so thick that barely any light got through to the ground. Wild ferns grew rampant. The ground was moist as a result of the sun not being able to penetrate the thick layers of Everfree leaves with its radiant light.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s go in quickly and get out,” said Daring confidently.

Jack followed obediently but he dared not make a sound. It felt like thousands of little eyes were staring at his soul. Jack walked mutely for a few minutes before he heard a rustle in the foliage to the right of him. Jack stumbled a little, in anticipation for what was about to happen. Daring sensed his hesitation and looked at where the bush rustles herself. There were many tales about the Everfree. It was a place of darkness and evil. It was untamed and ruthless. The monsters of dreams lived here, and feeds on the darkness.

Jack pulled out his rifle from under his trench coat. He lowered himself and braced for what was coming. Daring did the same, drawing her revolver. The rustling became more apparent and closer. The ferns were whistling with the wind. It was coming for them. BAM! A pony dressed in only what could be described as a Wonderbolts costume but grey and yellow appeared out of nowhere, jumping out at tremendous speeds.

“Who are you?” Daring asked with a snarl.

“None of your business. What are you here for?” he demanded.

Daring didn’t say anything. She just bit her lip and frowned slightly.

“Exactly,” he said as if he made his point.

He drew his sword threateningly, with a metallic scraping.

“I know what you’re here for. And you’re going to pay with your life for it!”

He charged. Such a foolish move. Daring fired a shot from her revolver. The charging stallion swung his sword to deflect the bullet. The bullet ricocheted off the sword with a clang and hit a nearby tree.

“Holy Celestia!” Daring yelped as he came closer and closer.

Jack quickly switched weapons. A rifle would not be good against a pony with such good reflects. He pulled out his revolver. Loading it with one of his phoenix rounds. He took careful aim, not wanting to miss with one of six unique shots. He sweated as he was ready to pull the trigger. The stallion was closing in. Fast.

The trigger pull did not result in an explosion. The firing pin slammed into the bullet. Time moved slowly. The bullet burst into grand orange flames and burst out of the barrel with a whoosh, not a bang. The majestic orange tracer formed into the shape of a phoenix for just a second. The stallion reared as the shot came closer to him. He swung his sword desperately at the phoenix round.

Fire erupted into his body when he attempted to deflect the round. A burst of magic pierced his heart as crimson blood poured and stained his coat, but instantly burned by the flames. Jack looked around in shock and horror, finally seeing how destructive this weapon really was. Daring looked at him in shock, wide eyed and mouth agape.

Caught in the moment. Daring struggled to comprehend what happened to her has two fellows of the fallen stallion quickly bound her in ropes. Jack had to act quickly. He didn’t load a full magazine of the special round, and thus he fired his normal rounds at the ponies. They scampered. Jack gave chase.

Low hanging branches were the hunter’s worst enemy. Jack ducked and weaved through the Everfree, in pursuit of the ponies who took her. They took Daring! Why? They were soon nowhere to be found. Jack fell onto his back. Shedding tears of agony. What happened that turned his life into hell?

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Jack was rushing back to Ponyville, having witnessed something of pure evil. Revenge was on his mind. He was being consumed by the darkness. What went so wrong? Was it my fault? Why did they do that? He galloped as swiftly as the wind through the streets. He was going to find help.

A rainbow coloured streak was in his peripheral vision. Oh, could it be her? Jack prayed to the heavens it was. He slowed to a stop and turned around. It was her! He knew he had to act fast. Heaven knows what those ponies were doing to Daring. The cyan pegasus had a shadow of a frown on her face. She could sense something was wrong.

“You have to help me!” exclaimed Jack breathlessly, “They took her into the Everfree!”

Her eyes widened in understanding.

“Come on, follow me,” she commanded.

Jack followed her to a giant tree. A sign said ‘Golden Oak Library.’ Why would we be going to a god damned library? Dash knocked on the hard. A lavender unicorn answered.

“Oh hey Da – who the hell is that!” she demanded to Dash.

“A friend of mine, look. We need help right now. Apparently the entity in the Everfree has commanded its ranks to hunt Daring Do. She is currently captive.”

The librarian’s eyes widened in understanding.

“Come in guys, we’ll resolve this issue.”