Chapter 3: The Quest (Part 2)

Chapter 3

The Quest (Part 2)

Apple Bloom continued to look out to the northwest at the blue colored Smokey Mountains in the horizon, its peaks filled with glistening white snow, barely visible through a thick layer of mist. She could see the mountain range growing closer into her view as she and Thorax continued to fly speedily across the chilly blue Equestrian skies. She stared at the mountains, quietly sitting on Thorax’s back, wondering about the dangers that Princess Luna mentioned the night before. So far so good, she thought to herself. But still, she had this underlying feeling that the worst was still yet to come. The feeling of love’s call was, at the moment, no longer present. Instead, she began to feel worried, scared of what was waiting for them at the old Changeling nest.

“Hey Thorax? What do you think is over there? In the old nest?”

“Don’t worry Apple Bloom”, he said reassuringly. “After the incident with Chrysalis, we Changelings investigated almost all the old nests spread throughout Equestria. They were completely empty.”

Almost?, she thought to herself worriedly. “But what about this one? Did you explore it already?"

“Well… no,” he admitted, “There are still a few nests that we need to check out but don’t worry. This nest should be empty. It’s been years since any Changeling lived in those catacombs. All of us who are living in our current nest in the Mysterious South, migrated from the nest that we’re going to now.”

She still was a bit fearful, however, Thorax was right. The nest should be empty. Should. Didn’t mean that it actually was.

She averted her gaze from the mountains to the beautiful landscape around her in hopes to keep her mind distracted, and to her content, it did just that. She could see all of Equestria, its vast lands spreading in every direction, meeting the blue skies on the horizons on each end. So large and grand and yet, everything seemed so small while looking down, high up from the clouds. It was truly a breathtaking sight. Her fears and worries began to diminish as she stared, awestruck at the amazing view.

Looking down below, she could see small villages, nestled gently across rolling green hills, accompanied with tall trees, their thick canopies reaching up into the air.

Farther north, past the Smokey Mountains, she could see the tall white crystalline peaks of the Crystal Mountains, covering the entire northern horizon, along with Mount Everhoof, standing mightily over all the other mountains in Equestria.

To the west, she could make out the unknown lands of the Undiscovered West, an area she heard from class, was where many explorers ventured, never to be heard from again. Its mysterious lands, filled with uncharted mountain ranges and forests, stretched endlessly beyond the western horizon. The land looked harmless and peaceful, however she could sense an ominous feeling as she stared at it, feeling as if the strange land was waiting, waiting patiently to devour any curious pony looking to discover its hidden secrets.

Bordering the Undiscovered West to the north was the tranquil North Luna Ocean, sitting adjacent to the Smokey Mountains. Much like the princess it was named for, the color of its icy waters were dark midnight blue, lying calm and gentle in the distance. She quietly observed the ocean and could make out small white glaciers, floating as they gleamed peacefully, reflecting Celestia's bright sun.

“Hey Apple Bloom. Look to your right," Thorax began, noticing her silence. "You see that tall mountain?”

She turned and saw the large mountain that he had pointed out, standing perfectly in the center of Equestria by itself. It stood far away in the east, just barely visible on the horizon, however, she could make out its majestic waterfalls, its waters sparkling in the sunlight as it cascaded down the mountainside. Built into the large mountain was a large regal castle, standing over small buildings and houses.

“Is that Canterlot?” she asked as she pointed her hoof.

“Yes,” he said smiling, looking at Celestia and Luna’s castle in the distance. “And do you see that small speck just a bit south of it? That’s Ponyville.”

She quickly strained her eyes against the bright sun. She had a hard time at first but managed to see the small speck that laid calmly in the Equestrian landscape.

“So this is what pegasi and alicorns see,” she said in wonder. “We’re all just a tiny speck. I never knew the world was so big.”

“You don’t fly often do you?” Thorax said with a chuckle.

“Well no, considering I don’t have wings,” she retorted with a smile.

She continued to stare at the small town of Ponyville, the chilling breeze blowing through her. She was so far away from home. She thought about Applejack and the rest of her family, thinking about how angry and worried they must be, for by now, Twilight surely had told them about her quest.

After an hour or so, the two began to close in on their destination, located deep within the Smokey Mountains.

“Hang on tight!” Thorax said as he slowly made his way down. “These mountains are called the Smokey Mountains for a reason. The thick mist can be blinding at times.”

Apple Bloom held Thorax tightly by his orange horns while seeing a large cloud of mist approach them as they descended. She shivered as the mist touched her coat, leaving behind chilling droplets of water. She couldn’t see anything through the impenetrable layer of mist. She looked at Thorax worriedly, scared that he might accidentally crash into a jagged mountainside. After a brief moment, however, the fog began to clear revealing an enormous valley of tall blue mountains which began to slowly engulf them as they descended.

Thorax continued to soar through the vast mountain range, making sure to glide gently through the misty air, carefully navigating pass rocky behemoths that were scattered throughout the valley.

After making their way around a tall mountain peak, Apple Bloom could see something familiar, directly in front of them, lying on a mountainside as it snaked through the valley.

“Is that…” she began to say, losing her thought while she stared.

“Yes,” he said dismally. “That’s the road from your dream. That’s High Mountain Pass.”

She stared grimly at the gravel road, becoming more visible as she and Thorax approached it. The sight of it sent shivers down her spine, for it was exactly how she envisioned it in her dream: the narrow gravel road, the steep rocky cliff that led down into a deep ravine, and she could even hear that same dreadful howl of the winds that flowed through it.

She continued to stare at the road until they flew over it, along with the mountain that held it.

“The Changeling nest is just a little ways more,” said Thorax, breaking her train of thought. “You see that mountain over there?”

She looked ahead and saw a tall blue mountain, slightly covered by mist, standing only a short distance away. It looked much like the rest, however it was isolated, segregated from the others.

“The mountain is a nest?” she asked in surprise.

“Kinda cool isn't it? This nest was built within the mountain. Like the one you saw before, there are an endless amount of changing passageways and tunnels that run inside.”

It looked anything but cool. Like the road, the sight of the mountain gave her chills that filled her body, however as they grew closer, it felt more sinister, almost as if the mountain itself was radiating an invisible, malevolent aura.

As Thorax approached it, he began to land on a large cliff that hanged off the Changeling mountain. Upon landing, the two came face to face with the mountain’s tall jagged side.

She sat quietly and looked around, unsure about what was to happen next.

“So… what are we waitin’ for exactly?” she asked.

“Remember, this is a Changeling nest. The openings constantly open and close. If my memory is correct, there should be an opening here. We just have to wait.”

Not long after he said this, Apple Bloom heard a soft rumble, slowly becoming louder with each passing second. She noticed that the jagged mountain wall began to change. She could see a small opening emerge, quickly growing in size. It continued to grow until finally it stopped, creating a large, gaping cavern leading into a dark, black abyss.

“We need to hurry,” said Thorax as he knelt down to let her off his back. “Like all the other openings, this one will seal itself shut soon.”

Apple Bloom jumped off the Changeling’s back and hurriedly followed him, who immediately began to sprint ahead of her into the cavern. She sprinted after him, however she stopped, standing a few inches from the cave’s opening. She froze in fear as she peered inside. Seeing nothing but darkness, her heart began to race as she stood there wondering what awaited her.

“Apple Bloom! Where are you!?” called Thorax, his voice echoing from deep within the cave.

She closed her eyes, and started to clear her mind. She reminded herself why she was here, why she traveled so far away from home. I need to find them, she thought to herself. I need to bring them home.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way into the cavern. As she continued her descent into the cave, she could feel the air around her becoming colder and denser.

“Thorax?” she called out, her voice bouncing through the numerous shifting tunnels and passageways. She could barely see. The only light that illuminated the cave was the dull sunlight that seeped from the outside.

She then heard an abrupt, soft rumble. Turning around, she saw the opening beginning to close, the light from the outside that lit up the dark cave fading, until finally, she was standing in complete darkness. She turned once more and looked around, blinded by the dark.

“Thorax! Thorax where are you?” Apple Bloom called out, her voice echoing.

Her eyes slowly began to adjust and she could see the hive-like interior of the nest. It looked exactly like the previous one with multiple openings that lined the ceiling and walls, opening and closing sporadically. The only difference was the deafening silence that filled the nest. There was no life, no Changelings buzzing around in the air. The only sound heard was her deep, panicked breathing, along with sound of the numerous passageways shifting.

Suddenly, a blue light illuminated one of the passageways, just a few feet away from her. She stood there in the dark, with fear building within her once more. She tried desperately to move, but fear held her hooves deeply rooted in the ground. The only thing she could do was wait, wait to see what horror appeared from that passageway

After a few agonizing moments, a friendly face appeared, illuminated by a blue magic that glowed from its horns. It was Thorax, frantically looking around in the dark.

The fear that held her quickly melted away and she regained the feeling in her legs. Immediately, she ran towards her friend.

“Thorax! I’m over here!”

Upon seeing her, he sprinted towards her.

“There you are!” he exclaimed in relief as he hugged her. “I was so worried! As soon as I entered the nest, the passageway shifted on me unexpectedly. I had no idea where I was. Are you okay?"

“Yeah. I am,” she said with a smile.

“I’m so sorry. I thought I could navigate through this nest, but it has been so long since I was here.”

“It’s alright. Now then,” she said as she looked around, “where is this secret room you mentioned that Chrysalis had?”

“I believe she had one in her throne room.”

As he said this, a large passageway opened on the wall adjacent to them.

“Let’s go this way,” he said. “Follow me closely. We don’t want to be separated again.”

She obediently walked closely behind the Changeling, his magical horns illuminating the dark corridors as he led the way.

The entire hive was dead silent. The only sound heard was the various passageways, opening and closing, along with the sound of their hoofsteps echoing as they continued their way through the shifting maze.

For a few minutes, she followed the Changeling king through the nest’s network of changing tunnels, slowly making their way deeper and deeper into the heart of the mountain.

“Sheesh. I wish a brought my winter coat!” she exclaimed as she shivered, feeling the air around her becoming much denser.

Thorax, however, did not say anything. He continued to make his way through the shifting openings, his movements becoming much less irregular and random. He began to approach each newly opened passageway with confidence, almost to the point where it seemed as if he knew where and when an opening was going to appear.

“So… do you remember how to get there now? It looks like you’re makin’ your way through the nest pretty easily,” she said curiously.

He froze in his tracks.

“Yes, I uhh,” he stammered, “I remember much clearer now. We're just about there.” He then continued to walk through the tunnel.

Apple Bloom sensed that something was off, but before she could ask, he stopped again, this time, in front of a newly opened passageway.

“We’re here.”

He then proceeded into the opening, as she reluctantly followed behind.

She found herself standing in a massive throne room. It looked very much like the throne room she saw before, with a rocky throne, stalagmites and stalactites that lined the room, along with other rock structures, however this one was fully enclosed, sealed tightly from the outside. Aside from the familiarity of the room, she noticed something peculiar, hanging from the rocky ceiling. Squinting her eyes through the darkness, she could see a dim, glowing green chrysalis, dangling from the cavern’s ceiling. Focusing more, she could see something, however after a brief moment, she realized that it wasn’t something but rather… somepony.

She gasped as she backed away in horror, realizing who she was staring at.

It was Thorax. The unconscious Changeling king hung inverted, sealed tightly in the green chrysalis.

She quickly returned her gaze at the Changeling standing next to her, her heart beating faster and faster as she slowly began to back away.

“What’s the matter?” he said quietly, his back turned from her as she continued to back away until she had her back against a rocky wall.

“Scared?” he hissed as he quickly turned around, his glowing horns illuminating a spiteful smile.

“Who are you!?” she said as she cowered against the cavern’s wall. She then heard familiar sounds echoing softly through the cavern, chilling sounds that she heard from her dream the night before. It was as if a thousand serpents were hissing at once, slowly becoming louder until eventually, she could see a black mass emerge from behind the impostor.

Standing directly behind him were a dozen of Changelings. Unlike the ones she encountered in the Mysterious South, these Changelings were in their previous, un-reformed state, their unsettling appearance exactly how she remembered from her nightmare.

The impostor began to glow, a green magic engulfing him, which quickly vanished and in his place, stood a horrid sight.

She stared at the tall dark being standing just a few feet in front of her.

“Chrysalis,” she said with a scowl, her fear now replaced with anger.

“That’s Queen Chrysalis to you!” the Changeling snapped.

Chrysalis and her loyal subjects slowly began making their way to her, however she was trapped against the wall with nowhere to go.

“Don’t you dare come any closer!” she said firmly, standing her ground.

“Oh how adorable!” the queen exclaimed as she laughed, “But don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you… yet. Not until I get some answers.”

The queen turned towards the green chrysalis that encased Thorax. Her crooked horn glowed with a green magic and immediately, the casing dropped to the floor with a resounding thud that filled the entire throne room.

The chrysalis cracked open and Thorax began to regain his consciousness. He slowly made his way out of his casing and clumsily stood on his hooves, groggy from the spell that put him in a deep sleep.

“Pleasure of you to join us, traitor!” Chrysalis hissed.

A few of the Changelings standing with Chrysalis quickly made their way to Thorax, surrounding him.

Confused, he looked around frantically and spotted Apple Bloom.

“Apple Bloom!” he called as he hurriedly made his way to her, but was swiftly cut off by a barricade of Changelings.

Looking over the horde, he could see Apple Bloom with Chrysalis standing over her. He looked sternly at his former queen, while Chrysalis responded with a smirk.

“You okay Apple Bloom?” asked Thorax.

“Yeah, so far. Looks like the nest isn’t quite as empty as you hoped,” said Apple Bloom.

“I can see that,” he said as he glared at Chrysalis.

“Now that the gang is all here, why don’t we just cut to the chase,” Chrysalis said making her way to Thorax. “Why are you here?”

“Where are my parents!?” Apple Bloom called out.

Chrysalis quickly spun around. “What was that dear?” she asked, making her way over to her.

“You heard me! Where are they!?”

Chrysalis did not respond. Instead, she continued to slowly make her way to her, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“I know the truth!” Apple Bloom continued to say, “You took them from High Mountain Pass years ago didn’t you? You and your subjects. I saw it happen. Now tell me where they are!”

Chrysalis stopped, now standing over her. She lowered her head, staring into her eyes, her face only a few inches from her's.

Apple Bloom could see the Changeling’s misty breath coming from her nostrils, quickly dissipating in the cold air that surrounded them as she continued to stare at her, however she wasn’t intimidated nor afraid. She wanted answers. She waited too long and came a long way to find out the truth about her parents and she wasn’t going to leave empty hoofed.

“Your name. Apple Bloom was it?” she asked, continuing to look at her with curiosity.

“Can it be?” the she exclaimed, her eyes widening. “Could this be the child of my two precious blossoms?”

Apple Bloom looked at her with confusion.

Chrysalis let out a smile as she laughed with delight. “Oh but it is! The crimson mane and fair colored coat! Why, you look exactly like him!”

Apple Bloom’s eyes grew. “You know exactly who I’m talking about don’t you? Where are they!?”

Chrysalis backed away, still smiling at her. “But of course I know who you are talking about. My two blossoms!”

She made her way to Thorax and looked at him with a displeasing smile. “I’m afraid you two are far too late. They’re no longer here.”

Chrysalis turned, shooting a cold gaze to Apple Bloom. “They’re gone… for good.”

“You’re lying,” she began as she made her way to Chrysalis. “They called me here. They showed me in a dream what had happened to them all those years ago.”

“What do you mean they called you?”

“Love’s call,” Thorax responded, looking to Chrysalis and her loyal subjects. “Something that none of you will understand.”

Chrysalis stared at them both, puzzled. “You’re right. I have no idea what you two are blabbering about. But believe me, they are gone.”

Apple Bloom became impatient, shaking her head, refusing to believe what Chrysalis had said. “I know they are here!” she cried, “I felt them! Now you better tell me where they are or I’ll-“

“They are dead!” Chrysalis snapped with a hiss as she made her way to Apple Bloom. “When my subjects informed me that they had encountered a potentially strong love source, I immediately traveled to that mountain trail, and what I found were two ponies. Indeed I sensed that their love was unique, the strongest I had ever encountered. I knew I needed that love in order to feed my starving colony, so as any good queen would’ve done, I took them captive in this very nest, allowing them to live the rest of their pathetic lives as I drained every last bit of love they had. What I did not expect is the sheer power of their love. They provided me, and my colony, an overwhelming amount of love that continued to feed us for years to come. Oh, you would’ve been so proud of them as they struggled to continue on, day after day, night after night, as I consumed their love. It was quite impressive. Over time, however, they passed away, fulfilling their purpose. After this, I knew I needed to find another source, which is why we migrated. Eventually I came across that sorry excuse for a princess, Cadence and her beloved Shining Armor, however their love did not compare to the love in which your parents had."

She paused, now standing only a few feet from Apple Bloom whose eyes were starting to brim with tears. Chrysalis turned away from her and began making her way back to the throne, almost as if she felt pity for her.

However she continued her story. “They were truly a one-of-a-kind, perfect pair. They were my two ‘precious blossoms’, at least that’s what I called them anyways. I never knew their names. They only referred to themselves as Bright Blossom and Butter Blossom, but I figured that those were not their true names. I did not care. All I cared for was the sweet, delicious, love that they gave me and my colony.”

Apple Bloom stood there in shock, her eyes cascading with tears. She refused to believe anything she had just heard. She closed her eyes, shaking her head once more as the tears streamed down her face and onto the cold rocky floor.

“No,” she said weakly, struggling to breathe, feeling as if the life was being sucked out of her. “No. You… You’re lying.”

“You still don’t believe me?” asked Chrysalis, with a scoff. “See for yourself then.”

She flew a short distance towards her rocky throne that towered over the room. As she stood on her throne, her horn began to glow once more.

Suddenly, Apple Bloom could feel the floor beneath her shake. A large passageway began to appear on the floor a few feet away from Thorax, slowly opening near the foot of the throne.

Apple Bloom cautiously made her way to the opening.

“Apple Bloom wait! It could be a trick!” Thorax called out from behind the horde.

“Silence!” snapped Chrysalis. She then looked at Apple Bloom. “I speak the truth,” she said with a serious tone. “See for yourself.”

Apple Bloom peered down into the opening, and could see a flight of rocky steps that descended into complete darkness.

Thorax glared at Chrysalis, his horns beginning to glow. “I swear, if anything happens to her I-“

“I’ll be fine Thorax,” Apple Bloom said with a nod. “It’s time I found out the truth.”

Author's Note

The geographical locations mentioned in this chapter are based off the official map of Equestria, which can be found in the book My Little Pony: The Art of Equestria, written by Hasbro, Inc and Mary Jane Begin. Please note that I only used the map image as a reference. The descriptions of the locations detailed in this chapter were from my imagination.

I came across this map while browsing online. It shows all the locations seen and mentioned from the MLP series. It's very neat as there are also several locations that are listed on the map that were not mentioned in the MLP series. I highly encourage you all to check it out!

Link to map: Map of Equestria