Final Fantasy Equestria: New Beginning

Chapter 9

Our Town

“I still don’t feel right leaving other me to deal with that pony...even though I’m not much of a fan of her, I still think we should’ve stayed and help.” Applejack said as the white mage simply shook her head.

“I don’t want to be a downer for you all, but you all are not strong enough to fight him. Let alone hold your ground against the Ascian. If anything, you all would be a burden on us.”

“Wow...and I thought Applejack was blunt about things.” Rainbow Dash said as she and the farm pony looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “What? You can be blunt at times.”

“I hate to say this, but the other Fluttershy is right. We would only burden her if we were to stand and fight alongside the other Applejack. We’ll just have to have faith and hope that she’ll be able to hold her own until she can make her way over to us. For now, let’s focus on where the map called us too.” Twilight said as she continues to lead the ground to their destination. Once they were close to where they needed to be, the group stopped as they saw a small town from above a steep cliff they were on as the alicorn smiled. “That’s it. That’s the place on the map!”

“Right, let’s get down there and find a spa.” Rarity said as she was about to take a step forward towards the town, only for Twilight to appear in front of her and sticking a hand out to stop her.

“Wait, we don’t know why the map lead us here. We shouldn’t just walk right in. It could be dangerous.”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash yelled as everyone looked over at her for a moment before their attention was drawn to Pinkie Pie pushing Twilight and Applejack to the side.

“Stay behind me everypony. I’m on it.”

“Careful Pinkie!” Applejack said as the pink party pony took a step forward before tumbling down the hill and quickly rolled near a nearby boulder. Once she was there, she look over it for a moment before waving a hoof at the group for them to follow her. As the group began to follow Pinkie, she continued to zip underneath different rocks until she hid underneath a larger rock and began to move with it on her.

“I’m still wondering how Pinkie Pie is able to do things like this.” Twilight said as the White Mage giggled to the party pony’s actions.

“It’s not that hard to figure out how she’s able to do that to be honest.”

“Yeah right. What, did your Twilight figure out how Pinkie Pie works?” Rainbow Dash asked as the White Mage nodded. “Wait seriously?”

“It happened a while back when she wanted to study Pinkie Pie’s unusual abilities and what not. It took her a week to figure it out, but she wouldn’t tell us what she knows until the time is right.”

“That and she made a Pinkie Promise with her?” Rarity asked as the mage nodded.

“That too. And it would also explain a few things that the other Twilight can do, but not yours...No offense.”

“None taken….I think.” Twilight said before ordering the group to stop walking as she noticed the rock that Pinkie was hiding underneath of stopping. All of them peaked their heads from around the rock to see the town that the map lead them to full of ponies walking around.

“This is where the map lead us to?” Rainbow Dash asked as she squinted her eyes at the ponies in the town. “It looks like the most boring place in Equestria.”

“It’s just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folks.” Applejack added.

“They could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes. Or any architectural flourishes.” Rarity comment as Fluttershy smiled at the town.

“I think it’s lovely.”

“I don’t like it. Not one bit.” Pinkie Pie stated as the White Mage nodded. “I know smiles, and those smile. They’re just not right.”

“Their smiles are the least of our problems.” The White Mage took her hood off and grabbed her staff from off of the holster on her back. “Anypony notice their cutie marks?” She said as everyone took notice to the equal signs on most of the pony’s flanks that were seeable.

“Okay, that’s weird.” Rainbow Dash said as Twilight scratched her head in confusion.

“An entire village with the same cutie mark? How can that be?”

“I bet there’s some kind of horrific monster behind it.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super awesome!” The cyan mare said as the Alicorn rolled her eyes to this.

“Why don’t we just go into town and talk to some locals? Find out what’s going on and stuff?” Applejack suggested as Rainbow Dash appeared in front of the farm pony.

“Great idea AJ. Let’s go.” She said before zooming off towards the town along with the others. As they entered into the village, the ponies that the group were walking pass simply either waved at them while smiling or just said welcome while going back to smiling at them creeply.

“This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria.” Fluttershy said as a pegasus flew up to her and said welcome, causing her to giggle a bit.

“Ugh, thanks a lot map.” Rainbow Dash said with an annoyed expression on her face. As the group continued to make their way through town, they were soon stopped by a light grey colored colt who greeted them.

“Welcome! Pardon my forwardness, but are you an alicorn?” He asked looking at Twilight up and down for a moment.

“That there is the Princess of Friendship.” Applejack stated which caused Twilight to smile awkwardly.

“Well you certainly came to the right place for friendship.” he said before a pure white stallion appeared next to him.

“What brings you into town?”

“We’re not entirely sure.” Twilight said before the white colt smiled at her.

“I see. Well all are welcome here in our little village. My name is Double Diamond, and this is Party Favor.” He said as he points a thumb over to his right at Party Favor, who was creepily looking at Rarity who in turn was trying her best to look away from time to time.

“Howdy Double Diamond. I’m Applejack, and this here is Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and...um.” Applejack paused upon pointing a finger at the white mage who simply looked at them for a moment before addressing herself.

“White Mage.” She said as she noticed Double Diamond looking at their cutie marks to closely.

“And you all have your unique cutie marks.” He said before getting up close to the white mage who simply just wacks him on the head. “Ow!”

“You get close to me like that again, and I’ll do more then just hit you on the head with my staff colt.” She said before noticing Twilight and the other’s mixed expressions ranging from trying not to laugh to disapproval. “Ask before you do something like that, got it?” She said as the stallion rubbed his head with a small chuckle.

“N-Noted, sorry. That was very rude of me.” He said before Twilight started to speak up.

“If you don’t mind me asking. Has there been some sort of trouble here lately?”

“Trouble? Why, I don’t think we’ve ever had trouble in our village.”

“It’s true, you’ll see.” Party Favor said as he and Double Diamond motions for the group to follow them.

“Perhaps you’d care to speak to our founder? Starlight Glimmer.” Upon hearing that name, the white mage looked at Double Diamond with a sudden realization expression on her face. As she did that, Pinkie Pie took notice to the facial expression as she wrapped an arm around the white mage’s shoulder.

“I get the feeling that you know what I know that they don’t know, but we know right?”

“Not entirely. but if my hunch is correct about this, then I need you to hold onto something.” The white mage said before pulling out a blue crystal from her sleeve and hands it over to the party pony. “Stay close to Twilight and the others, and don’t tell them I gave it to you.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“It’s a bit of a surprise that I want to show them when the time is right. For now just Pinkie Promise me that you won’t tell anypony about this, okay?” She asked as Pinkie Pie nodded and performed the Pinkie Promise gesture.

“I will never get tired of you doing that.” She said with a small chuckle before going back to acting normal and continued to follow after the two stallions.

(Desert)

Sounds of magic being cast could be heard echoing throughout the most part of the desert as Applejack slid backwards from the force behind the bolt of lightning that the Ascian used on her but was blocked by the warrior.

“I must say, for a mare who can’t use magic. You really know how to entertain somepony.” The Ascian said as he clapped his hands together in amusement. “Hydaelyn did choose a worthy pony to be her champion. Shame that you’re going to die here because of her.” he said as he separated his hands away from each other as a orb of electricity started to form quickly.

“Dammit, really wish Twilight could’ve sent Rarity with us.” The warrior thought as she braced for the impact of the attack to hit her. Just as the Ascian fired his spell at her, a hexagon like dome appeared around the earth pony as the spell explode upon impact. Both she and the ascian were taken by surprise by this as the black robed figure was soon pushed back by a flare spell. “What in the name of the seven hells was that!?”

“Foolish fool of darkness! You dare attack a servant of Hydaelyn!?” said a familiar voice as the warrior looked around for a moment. Her eyes soon locked on to a shadowy figure off on a nearby boulder. “You will pay for attacking a fellow warrior of light, for I Trixie will destroy you with her mastery over black magic!” The warrior lets out a sigh of relief along with a smile on her face upon seeing the black mage...only to quickly vanish as the black mage tripped on her own footing and fell face first onto the ground.

“.....You really need to stop doing that sugarcube.”

“Silence!” The Black Mage said as she pulled herself up quickly while brushing the dirt from off herself. “Trixie meant to do that!”

“Seriously Trixie. The element of surprise means not to say a word, not to let the enemy notice you.” Starlight said as she walked over from behind the boulder as she summoned a breezie to heal the warrior of her wounds.

“Thank the gods you two are okay. And you’re just in time to watch me kick this pony’s flank.” The Warrior said as she tried to pull herself up, but winces from her wounds.

“You’re not going anywhere, especially in your current condition.” The Scholar said as the breezie nodded in agreement.

“Besides, you’re a warrior type and he’s a mage. This pony is way out of your league. But for Trixie?” The Black Mage reached for her staff as it glowed a sickly purple. “She’ll handle this. For she is Great and Power-” The mage was soon cut off by a ball of fire heading towards her as she quickly ducks out of the way of it.

“A mare who boasts shows she’s weak and talentless. Perhaps Hydaelyn made an error by picking somepony like you to be her light.” The Ascian said as he fires another ball of fire at the black mage, only for Trixie to cast blizzard at it causing to explode.

“You will pay for interrupting Trixie!” She said before casting blizzard three and encasing the ascian in a pillar of ice.Once in the ice, she mare quickly followed up with a flare spell, causing the ice to explode and sending the ascian flying backwards. The Black Mage smirks as she follows up with fire three as she sent the ascion into the air. The Scholar took notice to this as she fired a barrage of ruin upon him in the air. The Ascian grunted from the assault as he quickly summoned a barrier around himself as he counters with a beam of darkness. The two mares quickly dodge out of the way as the black mage fires off another flare spell. The Bringer of Chaos quickly teleported to the ground to avoid the blast from the flare as he quickly charges at the two. Upon reaching the duo, his hands were glowing with black flames surrounding them as he tries to grab them by their faces. “Oh horse feathers!”

Before the ascian could grab the two mares by their faces, the colt was sent flying backwards into a nearby boulder as he slams head first into the rock, making a sickly cracking sound. The Black Mage and Scholar looked behind them to see warrior standing after throwing her axe at the ascian’s face.

“What was that ya’ll were saying about me not being a match for him?” The warrior said as her legs buckled from the strain of standing up.

“...I hate you so much Applejack.” The Black Mage said as she snorted in disgust.

“I thought I told you not to push yourself like that?” The Scholar said as she had a stern expression on her face while gazing at the earth pony. The warrior gave her a sheepish grin before feeling the healer smack her upside her head. “Seriously. Just because I’m a support healer, doesn’t mean you can push yourself to the point of breaking an arm or leg.”

“I know, I’m sorry. But I couldn’t pass up that window for a counter attack.” She said as she rubbed the back of her head. “But it’s nice to see you two here. How did you know I was here anyway?”

“It wasn’t that hard to hear the sounds of magic and explosions going off in the distance. We might’ve ended up walking around this barren wasteland of sand, rocks, and dirt for Hydaelyn knows how long if it weren’t for that.” The Black Mage said before looking over at the ascian. “Is that colt dead?”

“Given the fact that AJ just threw her axe that only she could hold along with that sickening crack to his neck...I’m pretty sure he’s dead.” The Scholar said as she noticed the body disappear into darkness. “Though seeing his body disappear, I have my doubts.”

“We can worry about that later.” The Warrior said as the black mage helped her to her feet. “We need to get going and meet up with Twilight and the others in that town they were heading.”

“Wait, you found Twilight and the other?” The black mage asked as the earth pony nodded.

“Yes, but right now I’m with this world’s Twilight and her friends. So we better get moving before the sun sets.” She said before noticing a confused expression on both unicorn’s faces. “Long story short, our Twilight was saying that we’re in a different world similar to that of Equestria but different...you’re completely lost aren’t ya’ll?”

“Sadly yes.”

“Trixie is very confused by this. Mind telling her and Starlight from the beginning as we carry your sorry flank to where “Twilight and her friends are located?”” The Black mage said as the earth pony nodded and began to tell them about what had happened over the past couple of hours in this world.