A Distant Light, A Close Calling

Rarity’s eyes barely opened, the atmosphere around her looked like a colored haze. Everything was blurry and she had troubling determining what things were. Her eyes open and closed frequently, each individual blink made her head spin. She heard unknown yet strangely familiar voices. To her, she could make out some of the words.

“You think…..rity…is going…..make it out…live?” A voice said sharply.

“She..as to! I can’t……imagine…her….not here, It’s….bearable….eyes to see.” Another voice said in response.

“She got hurt pretty bad….building….night….got stabbed…in….Unicorn’s horn probably….pretty bad….to me, I don’t think she will….ke it.” A third familiar voice said.

Rarity opened her eyes and finally came to. With a sharp groan she stretched, then yelped at the immense pain in her stomach. She looked down and saw that she had bandages patched onto her stomach. She looked around, and saw all of her friends walking along some path, and she noticed she was on Applejack’s back. She looked back at the trail they were coming from; she could see nothing but a meadow beyond them. Turning back to Twilight, she perked her ears up.

“Oh heavens, wh-where are we? What happened?” Rarity asked weakly.

Twilight gazed back at Rarity and replied:

“Well, if you do not recall, you got stabbed by a member of the SDEH and we had to staunch your wounds. You remember sleeping that night, although you passed out from blood loss. We left early this morning; we’re headed south to the Pegasi cities. They are two twin cities located in the far southern hemisphere of Equestria.”

“Twi’ said that we can take shelter there, and may find some clues as ta’ where ta’ seventh Element is.” Applejack intruded.

“Yeah, and the best part is there’s tons of fun parties there!” Pinkie jumped with glee.

“Pinkie now’s not the time!” Sunspeed pointed at her, then winced and clamped her hoof on her side.

“Huh, I see. What is the surrounding area like? I hope it won’t ruin my luscious hair!” Rarity whined.

Fluttershy glanced at Rare.

“Oh umm, the surrounding area is mostly forests, cliffs, ravines and fields. I-if that’s okay with you.” She stuttered.

“What? How’d you know that ‘Shy?” Rainbow asked intently.

“I don’t know, some of the woodland critters told me that one day.”

“Wait, hold up ya’ll, ah gotta see if Rarity here can walk.” She said to the group. She turned back to Rarity, who was still on her back.

“Ya’ okay ta’ walk Sugarcube?”

“Yes, I believe I am quite alright, thanks AJ.” Rarity replied. Then she slowly got down on her four hooves, wincing as she did. Then she smiled afterwards and nodded.

They continued to walking, gazing about at the woods that surrounded them. It was a cloudy day; the clouds seemed to watch over them. It was silent outside, except for the hissing of the wind that kissed their ears. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash broke the silence.

“So Fluttershy, I find it pretty cool that you knew the area down around here. Your woodland friends sure know places.”

“Why yes, I love them a lot. They’re so sweet, adorable and helpful! But, nothing else could make me love you guys any less than them.” Fluttershy responded happily.

“Aww, Fluttershy we love you too!” Sunspeed replied.

They all nodded in agreement and made a “Mhmm,” smiling.

“I wonder what our favorite enemy’s doing right now.” Twlight pondered aloud slowly.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

The room was yet again lit dimly. Candles surrounded the room, along with the chandelier that accompanied the candles in unison with its dim lighting. It was raining heavily outside, the wind hissed at the window sill and thunder boomed loudly. A pony ran into the meeting room.

“Boss!” he panted.

“What is it, you whelp?” he replied.

“We-we lost the Elements. We destroyed half the town and managed to severely injure two of the Elements but we didn’t catch them sire. They overran us, I’ve failed you.” The pony said fearfully.

The so-called “Sire” turned, and gazed at the pony. His hood was up, shadowing his face from the light. His voice was stern and harsh.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you, you despicable vermin! But, what Elements did you severely injure?”

The cowering pony sighed a sigh of relief, and replied quickly.

“The Element of Generosity and Bravery. They should be slowed down and probably won’t be moving for a while.”

The sire was silent for a while, thinking quietly to himself. Then, with a sharp breath, he murmured.

“…and what of the Alicorn, Starstride?”

“We couldn’t find her sire, she disappeared with the Elements!” The pony cried.

“Damn you, you call yourself a captain?” The boss slammed the table with his hoof.

“Yes b-b-boss, but, I will make sure I don’t fail this time, please sire, I won’t let you down.” The Captain stuttered.

“Hmm, well I am in a good mood today.  Just please “Captain”, when you find those ponies and that Alicorn, Give them a taste of what the SDEH really is like.” He replied slowly.

“Yes sir, as you wish. We will make them pay for what they did to our colts.”

“Yes, we will!” The boss responded, laughing evilly.

The captain joined in, laughing maniacally with his boss. Outside, there are multiple ponies running around in circles. A pony with a hat on and a whistle is standing in the middle, the rain dripping down his face and mane.

“Move you maggots, if you want to catch the Elements and get a reward from the boss, you have to prove to us you can! Or so be it I will murder every last one of your family members, and cut every last hair out of your tail if you don’t move!” The drill sergeant yelled.

“Sir yes sir!” The ponies replied.

“Good, now sing with me! If by battle if by horn!” The intstructor said.

“If by battle, if by horn!”

“By the Society you are sworn!” He cried again.

“By the Society you are sworn!”

“Good, now again!” The instructor cried again.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

The seven ponies continued walking down the trail, after trotting along in silence for some time. As they kept walking, they came across a giant gorge. A small waterfall was to the left of them, a big riverbed to the right. In the middle, was a narrow passageway, a bunch of rocks to cross over to the other side from.

“Oh, my.” Fluttershy gasped.

“Ooooh!” Pinkie said with awe and excitement.

“Woah, this is amazing!” Rainbow Dash said, flying around in a spiral.

“Sure is! It looks even better from up here!” Sunspeed noted, flying up above the others.

“This is a magnificent sight!” Rarity said as she pointed at the waterfall.

“Boy, ah wonder what ta’ girls would think o’ this back home.” Applejack questioned.

“This is surely a wonderous sight, but girls, we have to keep moving.” Twlight said as she gazed at the sight.

The others paid no attention to what Twilight said.

“Girls, we have to keep moving.” She repeated.

The six other ponies still did not heed her.

“Girls, we have to go! No time to waste!” Twilight yelled.

The six finally turned and all nodded in agreement after some confusion. They slowly started crossing the narrow walkway. As Rainbow brought up the rear, she slipped and fell. As she fell, she screamed loudly, then quickly stretched out her wings and caught herself in the air. She pulled herself up and landed next to the others.

“Wow, I cannot believe we made it through that unscathed, considering you can fly Dashie.” Pinkie pointed out.

“Yeah, I can’t either. Also considering what happened last time.” Sunspeed added.

“Yeah.” The others responded in unison.

“Well let’s move on, if that’s okay?” Fluttershy motioned, then moved her hoof around on the ground.

The seven ponies continued moving onward. Shortly after they passed the gorge, they saw a clearing in the woods. A field stretched out before them, a station wagon was sitting in the field, accompanied by some ponies.

“Careful everypony, they may not look threatening but keep your guard up.” Twlight said quietly.

They all nodded in response. They slowly walked toward the caravan, and got about fourty feet away when a young filly bursted around the wagon.

“Mommy mommy look, it’s sissy!” The cute filly yelled.

“Cherry Blossom, come back here!” A mare cried out as she ran up to her.

Cherry Blossom clung to Twlight’s hoof and snuggled up against it. The caravan stopped moving, and four more ponies popped their heads around the wagon to see what happened.

“I am terribly sorry, Cherry Blossom is just a little filly.” The mare said apologetically.

A surprised Twilight with a filly clinging to her hoof stood there. After a moment, she replied.

“Oh it’s quite alright. Hi, I’m Twilight Sparkle. These are my friends. We’re headed to the Pegasi Cities down South.”

“Awww, aren’t you the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! Yes you are!” Rarity said adorably at Cherry Blossom.

“Your my sissy too!” She responded, then hugged Rarity’s hoof too.

“Aww!” Rarity adored.

“Yeah she is such a cutie there isn’t she? Named after her mother, that’s me. I’m Cherry Blossom the III. Actually, we’re also heading to the Pegasi Cities. Care to accompany my family with us?” She replied.

“Sure, we would love to come along!” Twilight answered.

“Great, well, no time to waste then!” Cherry Blossom the III yelled.

“Mommy, can I ride with my other sissy?” Little Cherry Blossom replied, pointing to Fluttershy.

‘Why of course you can little one, come here!” Fluttershy encouraged, holding her hooves out.

“Yay!”

Cherry Blossom got onto Fluttershy’s back, and said.

“Go, go, go! Weee!”

The group of ponies started walking together through the field, into the woods again. Celestia’s sun now dipped into the far Eastern halve of the sky. Must be evening now. Twilight thought to herself. The band of ponies continued walking together, with the occasional outburst of:

“Faster sissy faster!” Cherry Blossom giggled.

Fluttershy ran forward a ways, Cherry Blossom giggling cheerfully. All of the ponies embraced in great conversation along the way. After about an hour later, they came to a clearing in the woods. A large field was up ahead. Twilight was walking when all of a sudden she stepped on something.

“What’s this?” She said aloud.

The ponies gathered about, and Twilight read:

“Coltchester Village, dead ahead!”

The thirteen ponies gazed up ahead, and what they hoped to see was not what they intended, To their demise, they saw a town in front of them, in charred remains. They approached it and walked into the town. Buildings were either charred crisp black, or collapsed. Signs, barrels, carts, filly’s toys littered the streets. The fountain in the square of the village was broken in two. A few charred bodies lied in the ruins of the burnt down houses. Fluttershy shielded Cherry Blossom’s eyes.

“What..happened here?” Cherry Blossom the III said.

This is bad, very bad. Rainbow thought.

Oh no, what’s gonna happen now? AJ wondered.

This is terrible! I feel like I’m going to faint! Rarity pondered.

All of the sweet ponies and critters, wha-where are they… Fluttershy thought as she teared up.

So…no party then? Pinkie contemplated.

This is awful! The SDEH must be up to this! Sunspeed said to her conscious.

Nothing’s left…nothing. Twilight thought in horror.

“I don’t know.” Rainbow replied after some time.

“This is….Coltchester.” Twilight said.

They all gasped in horror at the sound of that. They all wondered what kind of evil pony would do such a thing. They all put those questions aside and stood there, and as they did, the last glimpse of light from Celestia’s sun poured over the tree tops, then fell into darkness. Night had fallen.