Ch. 1: Alicornian's Failure (Ver. 2)
Ch. 1: Alicornian’s failure (Ver. 2)
Oh, my head. What in Equestria happened? Slowly I opened my eyes, only to shut them tight immediately out of sheer pain. Whatever had happened hurt like buck but… I had to see where I was and if I was alone. I opened my eyes again, yet slowly this time, to allow myself to adjust to the pain and whatever light was here. In mere moments my vision returned by the second and to my surprise my dear friends, the six Bearers of Harmony, where all around me, all unconscious on the floor.
Slowly shaking the confusion from my head, though I soon regretted it with the sudden headache I had somehow gained. I looked around. The room they were in must have been a royal dining hall; the massive empty long table and large size of the room were enough to confirm my slight suspicions. The table was covered in a large and arguably expensive-looking ornamental covering. The chandelier and numerous wall sconces gave the room a bright yet somewhat oppressive atmosphere, as if simply being here broke some very important rule. Sighing, I began to check myself over to make sure I was unharmed and then went about the delicate task of waking up my dear friends.
I am Prince Alicornian of Equestria, adopted son of Princess Celestia of Equestria and beloved nephew to Princess Luna of Equestria. Sadly I’m not like your average Alicorn, oh no. My coat is pure silver and my hair and tail are pure sapphire. My horn is long and shaped like a blade and my cutie mark was that of an alicorn looking forward with wings spread with a sword and wand crossed behind it.
I also… change. Not like a Changeling, dear mother no. I change shape and form. When needed I gain a bipedal body, armor, and- well, it’d be best to describe each form. I have my normal form, my normal Alicorn body, and then there is my caster form. In this form, I am able to cast spells quickly and effectively when the need arises. Though what I describe may sound gory, it isn’t actually that way. Changing over to my caster form, I stand up on my hind legs, allowing my hoofs to enlarge so I can stand better.
Next, my front legs combine into one single limb and grant me a set of talon-less claws like Spike has and my regal head becomes my other limb, with yet another talon-less claw under what was my mouth. Lastly I gain a brand new helmeted head, similar to our guards; my wings stay exactly where they were on my back. My right limb, which now has a hand, could now cast powerful spells that according to Twilight, would be just as powerful as my mothers’ own magic.
Next was my Knight form. Like my Caster form, I stand up on my hind legs allowing my hooves to expand yet again, but this time with changes. My front legs now become my chest as my head splits down the middle and gain the same talon-less claws on both new limbs and my helmeted head takes it place yet again. In this form I can now use my split horn as a set of swords that could slice stone and trees cleanly in half.
Lastly is the most important form. This last form I can only gain with the help of the Six Elements of Harmony. Like my other forms I stand up on my hind legs and my front legs come down and gain talon-less claws and my head my chest granting me a much different head, like a crowned helmet. I still keep my wings in their normal place yet Elements take their places on my feet, arms, chest, and newly formed head which has the last element placed on top of like a crown, The Element of Magic.
Yes, I am the Seventh full Bearer of the Elements of Harmony. We call this form the Royal form. For the time being I was in my normal form. I am not a golem; I know this as I eat, think, love, and laugh just like any other pony. I just have special powers or something. Finally, making sure we were all up and able to move, I spoke.
"Alright, is everypony okay?"
I looked at my six friends, each nodding in confirmation. Though a bit singed, it seemed all of us were no worse for wear. Why we were all singed… I do not know.
“WOWIE ZOWIE, this place is gigantic! It must’ve cost a million zillion bits to build it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, zipping underneath the massive table and back to the group over and over.
Rainbow Dash took off the ground to lazily glide around the room looking it over as well. "What the buck happened? One minute I'm napping, and the next I'm here with all you guys in this… wherever we’re at… Twilight, did you have an idea what the heck happened?" my Colombian blue friend asked, landing next to my purple-coated friend Twilight.
Twilight brought a hoof up to her chin and thought on it before she spoke. "All I remember is… eating lunch with Spike. Then there was this snapping sound and then I was here with all of you." Soon Twilight looked up and around the room. She, like myself, was probably wondering why anypony hadn't come to welcome their unfortunately uninvited guests. Normally something that could cause a noise like what Twilight described should have brought someone to great us.
"Well, I don't know about any of you, but I'd prefer not to stay here. I mean, look at this place!" The white fashion unicorn, Rarity, trotted over to a small end table. The only thing taking up any space on it was an old fashioned vase with now dying flowers inside. Rarity soon took a sharp breath, and blew on the ancient vase. Immediately, a thin cloud of dust kicked up before dispersing into the air causing her to gain a coughing fit. "You see? It's as if nopony's been here for months if let alone years. Beautiful as is it, the place is obviously deserted."
Rarity had a point. I had gone to the castle library a few times and had done just as her causing ten to hundreds of years of dust to go flying. Something… wasn’t right about this place. Something wrong. “I suggest we try to find a way out of here girls. Something-”
We all jumped as we heard a noise. It sounded like it was muted fireworks popping in the distance, and was soon followed a very loud thump.
"What the hay was that?!" Pinkie Pie shouted. Even in this confusing situation, Pinkie Pie was still well… Pinkie Pie. "It sounded like a fireworks and a thump! Maybe someone's having a really, really late party! I'll bet that's why nopony is here!" She bounced towards the source of the noise; a pair of dark, heavy looking doors. I wasn’t so sure of that. The thump was far too loud to be from any known firework I’ve seen. “C’mon everypony!” I was quite hesitant at this and so was Fluttershy, who was mumbling something about wanting to stay in the dining hall.
I looked around at my friends and noticed… Applejack was trembling. Worried for our dear friend Twilight and I trotted up to Applejack, the only one of our friends we would have thought to not outwardly show concern for all of this. "Are you alright, AJ? You seem almost as quiet as Fluttershy." I asked first. "And you’re trembling." Twilight added in worried. Applejack simply looked at us and slowly said, "I'm worried. Somethin’ ain’t right about all this but gettin’ all worked up n' such jus' ain't gon help us none. We jus' gotta take this here problem one step atta time.”
We both looked at her as she looked down and stepped closer to us to talk. “Truthfully, ah’m down right terrified. Ah’ve seen scary movies a’fore n they always happen inna big, spooky place like this.” She soon readjusted the Stetson on her head and gulped. I nodded at this and looked to Twilight. “I’m with her on this one. We best find a way out of here, and soon.”
We all nodded and slowly started towards the large doors. Stopping and raising my hoof to stop everyone we listened. As we listened we all noticed the loud ticking of an old clock of some kind, possibly a grandfather clock. Rainbow flew around the room a few more times and confirmed that the room we were in was indeed a dining hall, as big as the one we have back in Canterlot. The chandelier above the table cast the room in an almost cheery mood, if it weren't for the thin layer of dust all over everything, including the floor.
At the end of the extravagant table, in front of an impressive fireplace, was of course Pinkie Pie but this time she looked a bit pale. She shifted her weight impatiently, waiting for all of us to see what she had found for ourselves. "What is it Pinkie?" squeaked Fluttershy. "I-It's blood!"
Even things as morbid as a pool of blood sounded childishly sweet when spoken by Pinkie Pie, even when it was that frightening. She quickly went back to studying it intensively. "Perhaps, somepony is hurt." Fluttershy said trembling. Gulping I came over and checked it out myself. “I’m not too sure. There is far too much blood here to be an injury. Who this is from… didn’t last long.” At this everyone turned a bit pale. This was not good. The closer I looked at it the more I felt… chilled. The blood was still fresh and leads straight to… the only exit to the room.
All of a sudden there was a soft crunch coming from the door and a moment later another crunch, this time far louder. Fluttershy bleated like a goat and almost fainted, but managed to steel her nerves with the help of Rarity who like her was trembling. Moments passed and soon nothing else made a single sound. Thinking back I gulped realizing just what I was hearing. "Twilight, Maybe I should-" Twilight put her hoof on our meek friend's shoulder. "I’ll go, Fluttershy. If I find anypony, I’ll bring them back here for you to treat." Twilight hugged the timid mare tightly.
“Wait, Twilight!” Pinkie shouted causing all of us to look her way, “My knee’s all pinchy. Be super-duper EXTRA careful, okay?” I stepped next to Twilight to show she wasn’t going in alone. The sounds we heard sounded like they came from a predator. A big one. “Right.” Twilight gulped.
“I’ll cover her,” I said as we slowly went to the door and carefully used out magic causing the door open. Slowly stepping though, we gently closed the old door to make sure the others were safe. No matter what, they will be protected. As a Mage Knight, it was my sworn duty to protect the land of Equestria and its ponies. Even as we tried, the door still let out a loud clunk after closing. “Shh, it could still be around.” I whispered.
“What could still be around?” Twilight whispered back. The studious unicorn I’ve grown up with scanned the room we currently resided in. To her right, the room looked to have stretched out a few yards before ending in a pair of aged, dark doors. To her left, the hall turned look like it was once a small rest area of some kind as there was a check in booth and right next to it... was a hunched over shadow that was cast in the light of the full moon.
“That,” I answered back, looking at it. We both gave a small gulp and silently crept into the room, very leery of the current situation. Applejack was being honest. She couldn’t help it, being the Element of Honesty. This place really was starting to feel like an honest to goodness scary movie, the kind you don’t want to be a part of. As we got closer we caught sight of the shadows source. It was a...thing, a creature we’ve never seen before. It stank of garbage and...something else, something… familiar. Yet what, I wish I knew.
Currently the creature was huddled over another creature of a different species, this one bloody and hurt. From what we could see, both creatures looked to be able to stand on two legs like myself in my Caster and Knight forms but they were unarmored. One had pitch black fur while the other didn’t have any fur on at all, only clothing of some sort. I did not know why but I wanted to magically grab Twilight and get out of there before those things spotted us. “Let’s get back to the others and block of this door. That... thing don’t look friendly,” I whispered, ready to change form should it come our way.
“No way, maybe… maybe it’s just scared and that other one is its friend.” She whispered back. I highly doubted that such a creature of that fur color or form would be scared, let alone trying to save its friends life. "Are you alright? I can help if you’re hurt... hello?" She asked it worried. The smelly creature responded with wet noises. Those noises didn’t sound like somepony trying to save a life.
Before we could move we heard a wet and disgusting snap then to our horror… the head of the second creature rolled towards Twilight just an inch, its dead eyes forever boring into our sanity. Quickly I magically grab Twilight and covered her mouth so she couldn't scream. I just prayed the creature didn’t hear us. To our highest regret… it did. The monster turned around and looked right at us.
As I had thought, the creature before us had been EATING the other one. It was some kind of predator… and we were to be its next meal. It stood up to its full hight, nearly touching the ceiling. At first I thought I was seeing another Draconequus like Discord but it was far more… monstrous than him. The Creature stood five hooves at the shoulder, was possibly ten to twenty hooves long, and looked to be about four to five thousand pounds. It had the head and wings of a black dragon, the body of a bear, the tail of a hydra, the front legs of a griffin, and the back legs of a fully grown stallion. It stank like death, and it reached for Twilight with rotting, cracking talons.
Using my magic quickly I got Twilight and I into the dining hall, the monster in slow pursuit but soon my hoof slipped off Twilight’s mouth and she shouted. "Help! It's some sort of monster!" Twilight cried. At this the creature made its move and was nearly upon her until Pinkie shoved her out of the way. “Pinkie, what are you doing!?” I screamed.
“Run! I’ll hold it AHHHHHHHH!!” The monster had lunged at Pinkie and sadly, to my utter regret, bit the nape of her neck, sending rivulets of blood down her spasming body. It soon moved to her face just as quickly as it could, and began feasting on her. She twitched and coughed blood, her entire right side of her face was now permanently grinning… without her lips. Red muscles flexed and relaxed in speratic movements and blood poured from her terrible gory wound.
Nopony, not even myself, could move as the beast dined on our energetic pink friend. Sure, we had all faced many horrors before, but nothing Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, and Alucard could conjure up was this… awful. We were frozen in place by fear as the monster continued its feast. With each gory bite we could smell its fetid breath, could smell the chewed remains of its previous gruesome meal. Each of us I guess was thinking the same thing. No, not her, anyone but her.
Soon Twilight and I had snapped out of our trance at the gurgled cries of our now dying friend. Twilight looked around, and found herself a weapon to kill the evil monster: a sword. I on the other hand changed over to my Caster form and took aim. Just as Twilight flung the sword from the mantle at the abomination I unleashed a blast spell with all the might our magic could muster. To our satisfaction the vengeful blade and blast found its mark; the head of the creature. It let out an almost sorrowful moan as it and Pinkie Pie collapsed onto the cold mansion floor, both no longer moving.
We wanted to go home. We wanted to wake up from this… nightmare! Poor Fluttershy galloped into the main hall and threw up, alongside Twilight. I could still hear them both crying their souls out at the loss of our dear friend. Soon Applejack followed to help console them as Rainbow Dash shuddered while Rarity was completely in a state of silent shock. Gulping, I did my duty as a knight and… reached for the former pink party loving pony, trying to feel anything, anything at all, a heartbeat, a pulse, anything. But… it was too late. I dropped my helmeted head and… gave the sad news to everyone. "She's… She’s gone."
At this I raised my head; and screamed. I had never screamed like this before. It was full of anger, pain, sorrow, love; everything one could hold for a friend that was just taken from them. Soon I slumped down and just cried, yet my tears never fell any farther then the visor of my helmet. Pinkie… was gone. There would be no more laughter, jokes, pranks, anything. The Element of Laughter… was gone.
After a few moments, Twilight came back over and I slowly rose. "Come on, we need to come up with a plan." Rarity and Rainbow soon entered what was now agreed upon at the main hall once again. It seemed like an eternity ago. Pinkie Pie was dead, and possibly had no way of going home. We were all quite until: “Twi? What was that thing back there?” Applejack began before being interrupted by a frazzled Twilight.
"It was a monster.” Twilight stepped forward, addressing everypony. "I saw it eating its- I don’t know, maybe one of its own kind? But it was different. It looked like a Discord, but it wasn’t. Something… something must have made it. But I don't know what and I don't care. I just want to get out of here!" She looked back at the dining room door, our current and only safe haven at the time.
"But first, we should bury Pinkie Pie.” I said finally. “That must be the front door there. We can bury her out there and come back to formulate a plan." But as we reached the end of the hall where the creature and Pinkie lied, we all stopped in complete horror. “What the hay?” Pinkie Pie and the monster…. were gone.
“Now, just a darn minute there, WHAT THE BUCK IS GOIN ON HERE!” Applejack spoke. “I swore we left the bodies right here!” I spoke. “Yeah well how we know you didn’t do anything else to them!” Rainbow accused. “Pinkie Pie was my best friend in the world Rainbow. Our best friend! Tell me just why would I do something like THIS to one of my best friends?!” I called back. “That’s because you’re some kind of freak!” Rainbow yelled. I fell over at this. Freak, Rainbow never called me that, ever.
“What’s gotten into you Dashie! You know how I hate being called that!” I called back causing all the girls to look at me in shock. “What? My wings bent the wrong way or something?” AJ came up to me and looked my right in the eye, or as best as she could. “How ya’ll know her nickname was Dashie?”
I blinked at this. “From the start. Remember when Gilda came to Ponyville and Pinkie started called Rainbow Dashie? I asked her then.” Everyone looked at me odd. “Sugarcube, We don’t remember you being there. At all.” AJ replied causing me to fall to my flank.
“That’s impossible. I mean I remember everything about you girls. We’re best friends.” Everyone was silent at this till Twilight spoke. “Maybe… you’re from a different time line then us.” I thought on that and then nodded. “Would make sense. In your world I don’t exist but in mine, we’re the best of friends and the closest of allies.”
Rainbow then flew between us. “Yeah this all fine and all but if you haven’t noticed, Pinkie Pie's gone!" This was true as we looked at the area she remained. It made no sense. Sighing I looked over the girls once again and soon fell upon Rarity. She seemed ready to vomit, but being the fashonista she is, just refused to. Though to be honest it might not be the right idea at the moment anyway. Still I was impressed that she was able to kept her mouth shut as to keep herself from gagging.
"But how? We killed that thing! I KNOW we did!" Twilight was beside herself with confusion. “Calm down Twi. No need to get over worked on this right now.” I thought of all the possible answers there where for something like this. Unless the monster was immortal-no, I couldn't think like that. Besides noting could have survived the blows Twilight and I gave. “Come on. We need to come up with some kind of plan and… a way out.” Sadly everyone nodded at this and together, we returning to the dining hall.
After about what I believed to have been two hours of discussion Twilight had come to a conclusion. “There is no way about it everyone. We need to get out of here. We don’t even know if that thing will come back or not and it might be a lot safer out there that it was in here.”
She turned to each of us and silently we nodded in approval of her currently undisclosed thoughts. "All right, everypony. Let's go." We returned to the entrance hall and got ready for what was on the other side. Rainbow currently had Fluttershy up in the air near the ceiling so she could keep her safe, Rarity was behind me and Twilight as we got ready to magically open the doors, and finally AJ was behind me, mildly shaking. With a flick of our horns we open the large front doors, ready to put this horror behind us.
Five extremely swift shadows shot into the room and it was Fluttershy who screamed. Once they stopped we could get a good look at the four legged beast. The beasts circled those of us on the ground. They looked to be dogs, timberwolves to be exact, yet if it weren't for everything about their very existence being unholy and wrong they’d be a dead match. Unlike the wooden timberwolves back in the Everfree, these seems to be made of… bone. Dog like skulls had become the shoulderblades and flanks of these evil creatures and the bodies seems to be coved in what could be thought of as fangs for fur.
Soon the first lunged at Twilight, who instinctively hurled it back out the door with her telekinesis but it soon came running immediately back in, determined to eat. I would not grant it this meal. I had already lost one pony dear to me; I was not going to lose another. Firing off my magic in short, fast bursts, I slayed the first wolf-like creature causing it to shatter into boney remains. I soon looked over to Rarity and saw that was currently kept the others at bay with an optical illusion spell, however even I knew better than to use such a spell. Whatever had converted these hounds into monsters had not robbed them of their sense of smell, and she was not faring well- neither was Twilight.
Something had set her off! I, along with Rarity were blow back as a power inside Twilight grew; a power I’ve only heard of showing up once. I was possible that she had kept control of this awesome power since her first day at mother’s academy for gifted unicorns. Turning and spreading my wings to protect everyone’s eyesight we soon saw Twilight’s eyes glowed with unrestrained magic. She opened her mouth and unleashed a wordless roar as the building magic shot forth, sending violet bolts of energy bounding in nearly every direction. The bolts scarred the once white walls, burned what lamps where left into ash, disintegrated most of the front door, it was Tartarus on Equestria, if we were still on it.
I looked around and noted that even though these wolves where extremely fast, Twilight’s current magic was far faster. The arcs found their five desired marks and seared them, filling the air with a sickening smell of charred bone. It was all too satisfying for Twilight and I to watch these deadly creatures burn, to see the beasts die. That was till the images of the innocent biped and Pinkie Pie's demise came to my mind’s eye.
"Twilight! TWILIGHT STOP, that's enough! Please!" someones voice begged. I was unsure who had spoke over the surge of power but it had done the job. Soon Twilight's eyes returned to their original state, and the magical bolts stopped frying the bone like wolves.
"I-I'm...I'm sorry..." Twilight cried breaking down and soon passing out. She had used up too much of her magic and sadly burned herself out. “Let’s get her into the dining hall. We can blockade the door and recover there. If needed I have a spell that can make anything weigh a hundred pounds and with enough items we could make the door impossible to open from this side.” I said lifting my tired friend. Nodding, we all returned to the dining hall once again putting all we could in front of the entrance hall doors.
Sighing I put Twilight down and returning to my original form started using my remembered healing spells and started using them on her. Once done I looked around the room. Rarity had joined Fluttershy in the middle of the room sleeping while AJ and Rainbow kept watch. “Hey, I um… never got your name.” Rainbow Dash spoke while coming over to lay with Twilight.
“Alicornian, Prince Alicornian.” I responded tired myself. “Well… can I call you Alex?” She asked shyly. I nodded. “Um… I just wanted to say… sorry, about yelling at you earlier.” I smiled back at her. “It was the heat of the moment. We were all… taken by surprise at what had happened.” I returned taking Rainbow’s place for the watch. “Go ahead and sleep AJ. I got this covered.” She didn’t want to but… she needed and went to get some much needed rest.
Sighing I sat back on my hunches and tried to figure out what had just happened and where were we? I thought back on the night before this living nightmare and tried to remember every detail to find some kind of clue. The night before was… the wedding. Yes, there was another Royal wedding in Canterlot and as prince I was to attend. Blue Blood and some high class snobbish pony from Manehattan. I didn’t see what the two had in common but at least it got him out of our hair.
I remembered how he treated Rarity during the Grand Galloping Gala. I’ve never seen mother chew somepony’s tail out like that but trust me, the guards weren’t the only ones shivering after that conversation. After the reception I went to spend time in the night sky with my dear Aunt Luna then was ushered off to bed as I was to oversee the Wonderbolts Try-outs, which I was informed that Rainbow had gotten into. I went to my bed after hugging my aunt then… woke up here with a headache.
It didn’t make sense. How and why this happened to all of us I… didn’t know. I wish I could have seen the moon, it always calmed me when I couldn’t figure out things and helped me really think but sadly… no windows and no moon. My mind then went back to… her. To poor Pinkie Pie, she shouldn't have died. I hesitated, I flinched, I… I let her down. I allowed that, thing, to take her life. I, was at fault. I… was not worthy of the title Mage Knight.
“Alex?” I turned to see Rarity was up and coming over to me.
“Oh, Rarity. Why are you up?” I asked as she took a seat next to me. “It wasn’t your fault what had happened to Pinkie dear. It could have happened to any of us.” She said trying to comfort me. “No Rarity. It WAS my fault. I’m a Mage Knight, I should have reacted but I froze. I let that thing take her. I allowed it to get so close to us. I-”
Rarity took my face and brought it before her own. “Now you listen to me my dear prince. We all froze when we saw that thing. We all could have done something. Fear is not something one can simply avoid. Pinkie gave her life to protect all of us and… there is no greater generosity then that.” Soon a tear fell down her beautiful face and I stopped it with my hoof. “You’re right, Rarity, but still I wish it hadn’t happened. And please, don’t cry. It’ll leave tracks.”
Rarity smiled at me and giggled a bit. “We all regret what happened but…” she sighed, “we have to move on. For Pinkie’s sake, and sacrifice.” I. I nodded. Then I turned my attention back to my friends as my ears kept listening for anything out of the ordinary.
“We may be here a while, Rarity. I think Twilight had a Magic Burnout and everyone looks strained. Best we just lay low for now till we can come up with something.” With a nod, she gave me a much needed hug and returned to her place next to Fluttershy.
The next morning I checked everyone over to see how they were. “How’s your horn Twi?” I asked helping her up. “It stings but, I’ll manage.” She replied smiling. “Just don’t overdo it alright?” I said to her worried. She nodded as she sat down with the others. With a sigh I spoke. "It’s quite obvious we'll have to find another way out if we want to survive, and so I thought of some way we can protect ourselves without having a repeat of last night." Concentrating I gained all Six Elements of Harmony and turned into my Royal Form.
The girls all gasped at this. “How are you about to do that?!” Twilight asked. “In my world Twilight, I’m the seventh barer of Harmony and can summon them when the need arises. I’m going to give each of you the Element of Harmony but please. Let me carry Pinkie’s.” Each of them looked confused at this. “The Elements have strange and powerful magic that could protect its wearer without difficulty. During one of my hardest battles, the Elements did give me quite a bit of protection, along with some interesting powers. It be best if we have them on us just in case.” I explained. Nodding the girls formed a line as I removed each Element from my current form.
“AJ, I hereby return to you The Element of Honesty. Fluttershy, I hereby return to you The Element of Kindness. Rarity, I hereby return to you The Element of Generosity. Rainbow, I hereby return to you The Element of Loyalty. And to you, Twilight, I hereby return to you The Sixth Element of Harmony, Magic.” With these given out the last glowed brightly causing me to cover my eyes. Moments later I looked upon the girls and was shocked at what I saw.
The girls’ coats, manes, and tails all became similar to mine! Metallic and gem-like. AJ’s coat was now golden and her mane and tail were now amber. Next to her was Rarity who’s coat was now silver like my but her tail and mane were now amethyst. Fluttershy and Rainbow were the next I saw. Like AJ Fluttershy’s coat was gold but a much richer, glossier, gold and her tail and mane were now rose quartz. Rainbows armor was some kind of blue I’ve never seen before but was quite metallic, as for her mane and tail they seemed to look like a rainbow tourmaline. Lastly was Twilight, who’s coat became a metallic purple of some sort. Her mane and tail were also tourmaline, just in different shades of purple. I was quite shocked at this as were the girls.
“What the hay is going on here?” Rainbow asked landing in front of me. To my amazement she was looking at me right in the eye, and I was just as tall as my beloved mother Celestia in my normal form. “I’m… I’m unsure. This has never happened before.” I replied. Boy was she intimidating when she’s able to look you in the eye. “Let’s all calm down everypony. There’s a logical explanation to all this.” Twilight spoke getting in between us. She too was just as tall as I was. This didn’t make sense but I listened.
“Remember, Prince Alex told us that the Elements were powerfully magical and had strange powers. Maybe these Elements are like him, from another world and reacted in the way they would there instead of from where we are from. Meaning…” she stopped looking at us each as she thought. Then I got it.
“Meaning the Elements react to different ponies depending on the world the Elements are in!” Twilight nodded at this. “In your world it grants you the power to gain a new magical form to fight in and protect your home. For us it would have allowed us to use a powerful spell that might have sent us home, turn Discord into a statue, or well anything I think. But here.” I finished for her. “Here the Elements become armor to protect the users! Who knows what else the Elements can do.” Everyone looked at themselves and nodded.
“But darlings, where are the Element Stones?” Rarity asked a bit worried. “They may have become your Cutie Marks. Who knows but for now we have a way to keep ourselves safe however, where to go I wish I knew.” I responded with a hoof to my chin.
“Let’s see if the room we killed those wolf things has a map in it.” Rainbow replied going over to the barricade. “Rainbow let me remove the weight spell before…” I was stopped as we all saw Rainbow push away the currently magically weighted barricade like it was a cloud. “You sure you weighted this thing down?” Rainbow asked stopping just enough that the doors could now open freely. “I’m… sure Rainbow.” I said pushing a small vase on the barricade causing it to hit the floor and make a crack into it from its hundred pound spelled weight.
“Maybe them Elements gave us some strength too.” AJ responded coming up to us. “If so we’ll have to be careful with what we handle. If a ton is just a cloud to Rainbow I’d hate to think what a piece of paper would be.” I answered her. Everyone nodded at this as we exited the room. To our amazement the wolves’ bodies or what we could call bodies were still where we left them.
“Okay… something’s odd here.” I said looking around. “Pinkie and that monster disappeared when we came back but these… these haven’t.” Rarity came forward and looked at the dead bodies. “Maybe these are different because of Twilight’s magic?” I did think that and nodded. “Speaking of magic, that was some spell Twi. What was it?” I asked. Twilight looked down and away from me embarrassed. “It um… was me.” We all turned on her confused. “Excuse me?” I asked.
Twilight sighed and explained the story of how she had gained her cutie mark fully. The Explosion Rainbow created with her Sonic Rainboom made her freak and tap into a whole uncharted level of magic. She had levitated the four teachers in the room to the ceiling, caused a baby dragon to become fully grown in a second right after being hatched, and turned her parents in to plants all at the same time and it took Celestia to calm her down and prevent her from destroying the school accidently. “So what happened to these things is… you snapped?” Rainbow asked concerned. Twilight nodded sadly and we all gathered her up into a much needed hug.
“We’ll help you Twilight, won’t we everypony?” AJ said to all of us. “Of course we will. We’re friends aren’t we?” I asked. It was hesitant but soon everyone smiled and responded the same, “Right!” Soon we separated and searched the entrance hall for a map of the area. Four an hour we searched the place till… “Um, girls, I think I found a map.” Fluttershy spoke shyly. Slowly we all came to where she was and looked at the odd looking map. “Just where in Equestria are we?” I asked looking at the multi-faced map before us. “Not sure.” Twilight said looking it over. “But it looks like someone left it here for us to find. Look it’s even marked in ink.”
We all looked closer and amazingly it was. Changing over to my Knight form I gently lifted the map up and looked it over. Thankfully it looked useable if not overly used. “Safe house, safe house… safe house; Twilight almost all of these are marked safe house. The only odd ones here are the one saying ‘You are Here’ and some place called ‘LEGACY’.” I showed Twilight the map and with a nod spoke, “Looks like it’s some kind of route. I think it’s showing us the closest place we can go that’s safe.” I nodded at this and looked to the girls. “Think we should follow it?” Rainbow came up to it and looked it over. “Yeah but… how can we be sure we don’t get lost? I can barely read it.”
I had to agree with Rainbow on that. The safe houses, ‘You are Here’ and ‘LEGACY’ was written in a way it was close to hoof script but the rest was well… impossible. Just where in Equestria where we?
Ch. 2: Applejack’s Tears
Once we were outside Prince Alex and the others set up a stone for Pinkie while I sat next to Dashie. “I still don’t get why I can’t fly ahead and scout the path we’re taking.” Dashie said looking at the stone. “It’s because it be bad to split up sugarcube.” I replied sadly. “You saw those monsters Dashie, you saw what they did to poor Pinkie there." I could see Dashie's heart sank at the thought of our best friend's death. "We should stick together." Soon Prince Alex came over to us and guastured us to the stone, the name Pinkie and a very well done carving of her Cutie Mark was on it along with when she was born and when she died. “We… already said our goodbyes you two. You’re the last ones before we go. Take your time.” He and the others slowly walked away as Dashie placed her hoof gently on the stone remembering our new found strength. “How can you say goodbye to someone when they aren’t even there. We don’t even have a body to give a proper burial.” Dashie said sitting down. I’ll tell ya, it was bothering me too. “Just… say what you have to say Rainbow. It’ll help.” I said looking to her sadly. “Help? Help! Help what AJ?! She’s dead don’t you get it and what’s worse is we can’t even give her way to rest in peace! How is this to help huh?! How!” I guessed the others were just watcign and listening at this. “It’ll give us all some kind of closure.” I answered weakly. “Closure, closure, what bucking closure AJ?! You don’t get it do you! There is no closure! Pinkie’s dead, we can’t give her proper rest, monsters are trying to kill us, we have no idea where the buck we are or how to even get home, and you call this closure?!” I’ve seen Rainbow upset before but this… this was all new to me. “Go ahead and say your goodbye to air AJ! It’s not going to bring her back!” Sighign I stepped up to the stone and sat down. The armor was somethgin to get used to, it made my body ache and itch for some odd reason but Prince Alex said it was normal so I’ve been putting it off. I looked to the stone and… said my peace.
“Pinkie," I started, my voice well beyond breaking point. “You've brought us more laughs than I care to remember Sugarcube, and I know that wherever you're goin. You'll bring em with ya. Just. Try not to have too much fun without us, okay?" I wanted to cry but somehow, I knew that wherever Pinkie Pie went, a lot of smiles would be following.” I turned to walk away but soon I overheard Rainbow talk. “You… were my best friend Pinkie. You know that right?” I didn’t want to but… I moved far enough to give Rainbow her space and… so I could over hear a bit. I didn’t want her breaking that stone out of a fit. “I… can’t really remember if I have really ever told you that, and… Pinkie I feel like a complete foal that I don’t, but, you were. I’m still bucking myself now for not really expressing just how much of a great friend you were, and… what you meant to me.” I got confused at that. Just what in tarnation was Rainbow talking about? “Actually…” there was a sigh, “You just don't know how hard it is right now to describe how awesome you were Pinkie Pie. I mean, yeah sure, you could be obnoxious and make no complete sense at times, but… you were always fun and… and happy. I… couldn’t really understand why you were always so happy, but then again, there were a lot of things I didn’t understand about you Pinkie.” I just sat there and listened. I didn’t know why I did so but… it was as if Pinkie was telling me to do so. So… I just did.
Rainbow soon gave a small chuckle. “It still amazes me how you could just pop out of some place, or how you could keep up with me that time when I was trying to fly away from you so our friends and I could throw you that important surprise birthday party. It… kind of always boggled me, but I realized why in time. You were just being… you.” That was the most truthful statement there was. Pinkie would always be Pinkie, no matter what. “What I have to say is… I'm gonna keep going. I know it's going to get harder from here but that never stopped me before right?” She gave yet another chuckle, this time it sounded… hollow. “Pinkie… you were more than just some random pink party pony. You were a mare with the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. I… I always admired how you could always put us before your own wellbeing. What you did when we first got here Pinkie… I… I don’t think I could ever do that.” Rainbow let out yet another sigh. “I guess… that’s what makes you, you Pinkie. You seemed to just. Have this amazing ability to just bring smiles to other ponies, and I think that was one of the reasons you were always so happy.” I never knew this nor did I want to forget it. Rainbow… was scared and… admitted that she admired her. Just what the hay was going on between the two? “Now, you know I’m not good with all this deep stuff, and I might be wrong, but that’s what I believe. It’s almost like… you lived off happiness itself, and… and it made everyone else just become happy with you.” Soon Rainbow became really quite and I thought she was done. I was about ready to get off my flank and trot back to the others when she started talking again.
“Pinkie Pie, do you remember the time when we all went to see the Wonderbolts? I was so excited and ready, that I didn’t tell any of you what I was going to do after the show. I didn't tell any of you for a reason. I… was asked to join the Wonderbolts but before that I had to go through a trial. I was hoping that once I was accepted, I would surprise you all in an official uniform. I was more than ready, but you know the rest.” Rainbow said tiredly. I did remember that day. We all went to see the Wonderbolts do a charity race for the Cloudsdale Hospital for young foals. I was wondering where she went after that show. “Apparently, I wasn’t good enough, and… I was rejected. I don’t think any pony could ever understand just how crushed and destroyed I felt then... except for you Pinkie. You were there to help me get over it. I mean… to hear those words… was nothing compare to what I saw happen to you. ‘Sorry Miss Dash, but you just don’t have what it’ll take to cut it. Why not try next year?’ Pinkie… Pinkie those words still haunted me to this day but I don’t think it will anymore. Something else currently is.” I didn’t know why but… I turned around and placed my hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder causing her to jump a bit but… she soon gave me a hug and just cried her eyes out. “Dashie, I’ll be okay. We’re all here for ya.” I did the best I could for her at that moment, letting her cry her eyes out. “AJ… Can I… be left alone for now?” I looked her in the eyes. “You sure Sugarcube?” She nodded sadly. “Alright, but I won’t be far.” I soon stepped away and overheard the last that was needed. “That day Pinkie… You kissed me.” I fell onto my flank hearing that! Pinkie did what now?!
“I felt your soft lips press against mine, and though it was only for a second, it was. Pinkie it was the most amazing thing I ever felt. It made my heart stop, my head foggy, my wings tense, I loved it… and… I loved you. I could feel this… sudden rush of heat in my face that I was hoping you couldn’t see but… you did. I had hoped for the second option, though in a way, I regretted it. That night made me realize that you weren’t just my best friend, but something more than that. I learned that I actually had feelings for you that night Pinkie. Feelings I never knew I had, till that kiss. I never knew love, Pinkie. I was still very young and dumb. But I knew Pinkie. I knew from that day that…I loved you Pinkie Pie. I loved you with all my heart, all my soul, all my being but… I was too scared to tell you. I… I didn’t want to ruin what we had, but now I wish I had told you.” Soon Rainbow broke down into a fit of tears that caught the others attention but I gave them the sign to let her be. She needed this and… I needed to hear it. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I never told you, that I didn’t protect you and it’s a regret I will have for the rest of my life, because it’s too late now. You’re gone and you’re not coming back… just like my parents. I… haven’t see them for eight years. I… may never see them again.”
Dashie… Dashie was an orphan? Just like Scootaloo? I was serious floored. “I still think about them every day, and I still cry when I go to bed at night, wishing that they were with me, laughing and giggling. But they can’t. It’s been a while, but the pain of them being gone is still fresh as if it happened just yesterday, and this was my reminder. It was terrible for me Pinkie. All I could think about was that day. The day they died. The day I lost my family and the ones I loved. I never told you how I lost them huh? It was when Cloudsdale was adding on to the new top layer to the Cloudaseum. Mom was a Wonderbolt and dad was a cloudstruction worker. I was just a filly. Fluttershy remembers it too. She lost her dad that day as well. A rouge storm cloud rolled in and struck the side my dad was working on. It damaged my dad’s wing and he was falling fast. Mom went right after him as fast as she could but… she just couldn’t pull it off, The Solar Flare. It’s kinda like my Sonic Rainboom but… with flames. Mom used to pull it off a lot before I was born. Fluttershy’s dad went to stop the cloud but it struck two more times, they both fell to the ground. It was… quick, the doctors told me. Least Fluttershy’s mom was kind enough to take me in till I got too much for her.” She sighed. “Pinkie, I was an oblivious Pegasus, and somewhat still am. I… didn’t tell them to be safe that day. And… I didn’t tell you I loved you. I know you Pinkie. You would want me to keep on smiling. You would want every pony here to smile. Still… Everyone was hurt and just shocked when you died. The girls and Prince Alex… wants us to move on and forgotten you don’t have a place to rest, except for me. I don’t know about you Pinkie but Rarity and Fluttershy were pretty upset and I think they’re starting to spend a whole lot of time together.”
I wasn’t sure but I think Rainbow may have been looking at Rarity and Fluttershy. I just hoped she wasn’t going to say what I thought she would say. “When we get back home, I hope they start dating.” I nearly passed out at that. Yep… she said it, and I thought it. “Applejack… AJ’s probably the toughest one out of all of us right now. I think she’ll be trying to keep every pony’s spirits high, but let the rest of us. She’s just as hurt.” I then heard her lay down, like she was with Pinkie at that moment just talking and she’s only listening. “I… I fell in love… again. At first it felt like betrayal to you, and it might take me a while to tell them, but I’ll always remember the mistake of not telling you. Know you Pinkie you’d want me to go for it. I hope she feels the same way for me. I had a crush on her for a while and well… I really like her. You’ll always be my first love Pinkie, and nothing will ever replace that. I still do Pinkie... and I always will. I’m also thinking of adopting some foals to raze when we get back. Can you imagine me with small foals running around? Heh, yeah, me neither, but… raising children was a dream I wanted to spend with you. I’ll… just have to spend it with someone else.” I wanted to cry right then and there, poor Rainbow. “So here I am Pinkie, in front of your so called tombstone. I will always, always, regret that I never said how I felt about you and what you have done for our friends.” Soon I heard stone scraping against stone and soon Rainbow passed me with her head down. Before I left I turned and looked at the tombstone one last time. There, newly carved into the stone was a set of lines under the carved Cutie Mark. Never stop smiling and always laugh. You never know what smiles it’ll bring. Right there I cried. It was so fitting for an amazing pony like her. After my crying, I returned to the group but not before tossing over my shoulder one finally goodbye. “We’ll see you later Pinkie. You can bet on that.”
I soon returned to the group over hearing an argument. "Now hold on there, Rainbow, and let see what Twilight has to say." Rarity called out. “What in Tarnation’s going on?” I yelled coming up to Prince Alex who was in his explained Mage Form. He explained it to us when we all woke up, mainly because Twilight asked about it. He looked over to Twilight and spoke. "Go on, Twi. Tell AJ what you have planned." Twilight gave a sigh and sat down to speak to us. "Look, I'll admit, it's not the best idea I've come up with," she started looking at me, "but it's all I have. We should skip the first Safe House on the map and head for the second one. We'll be able to do a better search if we do that.” I looked at her like she was mad. “Twilight you you’re your filling okay? If we skip this first one who knows what could get us. And we don’t even know if these armors will protect us for long in a fight.” Rainbow and Fluttershy agreed with me but Rarity sided with Twilight. “Look I know what Twilight’s saying may be a bit odd but honestly, what do we really know of this place? I say we find out more about this crazy place so we can have a better chance of leaving.” Rarity said in her defense. “What about you Prince Alex, what you say to all this?” I asked. He gave a sigh and looked right at me. Or at least I think he was, hard to tell with that plate over his face, whatever that face was. “I agree with both sides. It’ll give us a chance to find out more about the area yet it’ll cause us to become vulnerable to attacks.” I had to agree with him on that. “Why not just gather what information we can on the way to this first Safe House? It’ll be smarter to do so and we’ll still be able to keep ourselves safe.” Everyone looked at me funny. “What?” Twilight came up to me and patted me on the shoulder. “AJ, that’s a great idea. Why didn’t we think of that?” We all had a good laugh at that before making our way… from our dear friend.
After what seemed like a mile or so walk we came into some kind a city, or at least what was left of it. Prince Alex gave off a low whistle. “They don’t make cities like that used to. I mean, look at this place.” He gestured with a hoof. He returned to being a pony when we started trotting. He was right, a lot of the taller buildings looked burnt or crushed or something. The smaller buildings looked a bit, worse for wear but looked like we could enter them if needed. “Let’s check a few of these places out. Maybe we can find something useful.” Twiight said pointing to one building. We all nodded and headed over to it. It had a sign on it with a two and a four on it, whatever that meant. We walked through some busted out windows and looked around. Looked like a shop of some kind. “See if we can salvage any of this stuff girls. I’ll check the back for creatures.” Prince Alex said changing over to his Knight form. I still wondered how he did it, some kind of spell that he had in his world, who knows. After about an hours search We sighed met in the middle of the shop next to some crazy looking statue. It was a large statue of a biped creature with wings holding out what looked to be a bowl, next to which was a small step ladder. Prince Alex returned but he was in his pony form this time. “Find anything?” He asked. Rarity nodded ant pointed up to the bowl. Something inside it was giving off a glint of light. "Twilight and I found it earlier but neither of us can access our magic for some reason, there's something up there." Prince Alex nodded and allowed his horn to glow with a sapphire aura, and soon caught it with his teeth. "I've got it." He soon spat it down onto the floor and spat a few times, “Ugh, yuck dust.” Twilight came over to look at it and instantly recognized the paper. "Hey everyone, it's a map! Now we might have an idea of where we're going." Twilight soon began studying the map. "Twilight, can you read it?” Fluttershy asked worried. “Twilight nodded and showed it to us. “It’s hand written and has instructions but I can’t understand them.” Prince Alex looked over it and read it outloud to us.
“From this store head four miles north then turn right of Seventh Street. There you’ll find a blue arrow, follow it to the red arrow but do not go down its path. Look for the green building and enter it and head to the high school.” He looked at all of us and we all shrugged at that but Twilight didn’t. “It’s a school of higher education that young colts and mares can go to learn more. I think Manehattan had a few.” We all nodded at this and I gestured for the prince to continue. “Once inside the high school follow the blue lockers to the cafeteria, there you can find rations you can have but take one each per member of your group, no more. From there exit through the door marked with three stars, do not go through the ones with three X marks. From here take the stairs up and follow the green lockers to the red and blue lockers. To not follow the blue lockers this time, follow the red. There you will find the gym. Your next set of directions are there, do not take this map with you. If needed copy it. Sign, a fellow survivor?” He looked at all of us and we all gave him the same look. Confused. “How the hay are we to copy all that?” Rainbow said annoyed. Prince thought on it and nodded. “Rainbow go get me a piece of wood and a bit of metal but be careful. Twilight, AJ, think you can find some paint in here?” We all nodded and heade our separate ways and returned with our bounty about five, ten, minutes later. “All we could find was a bucket with some old paint shavings in it.” I said putting the old bucket down off my nose. No way was I going to carry it in my mouth. “Good, just set it down together. It’s time for some alchemy.” We all stepped back as the Prince’s horn glowed again and lifted the items up. In a flash of light we had a book and a fountain pen. Though the Prince did look a bit winded after that. “You okay Prince Alex?” He nodded as he sat down. “Yeah, just Alchemy spells take a lot out of me. It’s not easy turning one thing into another.” Twilight took the book and pen and wrote everything down as the Prince recovered.
“There, done. We better put this back as it said.” Twilight said closing the book and handing it over to the Prince who used a bit more magic to repair a sack Fluttershy found in one of the aisles. He put it inside after slinging the back over his neck and right wing. “Alright, onward north to this Seventh street.” We all nodded and headed that way. For four miles we were the only things making a sound in the place. It was kind of creepy. Boy I wish I had a weapon on me, might make me feel a lot better. “Look girls, there’s a blue arrow on that building.” Fluttershy said rising to the air. We all looked at where she was pointing and smiled. “Alright, according to the directions we’re to follow it till we see a red one.” Prince said pulling the book out magicly and checking it.” Rainbow came up to him. “Think I should fly ahead and see what’s there?” Prince frowned but… nodded. “Alright but Rainbow, be careful." Rainbow wordlessly nodded and cautiously entering the claustrophobic space. She soon came back quickly and landed next to us. “It was another one of those "things", the same monster that killed Pinkie Pie!” she reported. We all looked at each other worried. But this one couldn't be the same right! I thought to myself. Just how many of them are there in unholy place! Soon we heard a soft moan came from the location and my eyes widen with terror. There wasn’t just one of those things, there were two! The creature came out, hungry to tear into our flesh just like it did Pinkie’s. Thankfully Prince Alex wasted no time focusing on a spell. He ripped a part of the ground up and hurled it at the monsters, the beasts completely crushed on impact. Both let out the weakest of moans before falling silent. Soon I fell back on her haunches. “That was far too close for comfort. Thanks, Prince." mumbled a shaken Rainbow. He just nodded as he sighed. "Let's just get out of here. I want to be done with this place." We all nodded at that and continued onward to this high school.
A few hundred scuffles later, with Prince Alex sadly being the only one doing the fighting for us, we finally made it to the blasted school’s cafeteria. Looks like this ‘fellow survivor’ forgot to mention the monsters! “What are these things?” Rarity said pulling out a package of… something. “Well the instructions did say there where rations here. Those must be it.” Twilight said looking a few over herself, I too was looking at the funny packages. “Ugh, I can’t read a darn bit of this!” Rainbow yelled dropping two packages back into the container they were from. Rainbow had a point there. Whatever language was being used in this world, we couldn’t read a darn bit of it. “Sorry girls, I wish I could cast a translation spell on all this but unless I know the language I the spell won’t work.” Prince said tiredly. “I think I found some different ones over here.” Fluttershy said pointing to a container. Prince came over and looked at the odd looking words on it. “Hey I think I can read this.” He said happily looking at us. “It’s in in an ancient language long lost to pony kind for many years. I think it’s in Flutterpony.” Twilight’s eyes widened at this. “How could flutterpony be here?” Prince looked at all of use and scratched his chin with his hoof. “Not sure but I’m going to try and use the translation spell on it. It should only take me a minute.” Again his horn glowed and the words did as well. After about a minute the words were readable. “Huh, I was wrong. It was in Zebracan.” He soon looked at the other containers and sighed. “Too bad I can’t read the rest.” We all went up the container and read what it said, Tarts and Wheat Pasta. “We can eat those.” He said using his magic to lift one out of the container and translate it, “Says here the tarts are apple cinnamon.” We all grabbed one. “Yet we’ll need water to use them.” Out of the corner of my eye I say Twilight look at another container. “I think I found it, if my translation is right.” We all came over and Prince read the set of words on the side and nodded. “Everyone grab two bottles. The container says we can do so.” We all grabbed one and put them into Prince’s bag. “Alright, it said to go to the stars right?” I asked looking at the doors. “Yes, from there we’re to head up the stairs and follow the green lockers.” Twilight said drinking a bit of her water before putting it into the bag. Thankfully the bottles had different caps so we couldn’t get our drinks mixed up.
“And from there we’re to follow the red lockers, not the blue ones to the gym.” Prince finished closing the bag. Nodding we went on our way. It didn’t take us long to get to the gym. One of the upper levels seemed to have collapsed to the bottom making a ramp. “I don’t like this place.” Fluttershy said shivering. “I’m with you Sugarcube. Something ain’t right here.” I returned looking around. “Just keep an eye out for the next set of directions.” Twilight said looking around the upper level. “Be better if we had some light.” Rainbow said somewhere next to me. “Your wish is my command.” Prince joked as he short off a bolt of magic. I wished he didn’t because right in front of us was a monstrous bird and it was not happy about the early wakeup call! It was the size of Princess Celestia and had no feathers to speak of. It had skin and razor sharp bones for its wings and had what looked like turtle shell over it’s body. It’s beak was serrated and looked to have holes through it. It’s take was a spiked ball on a long skiny snake like tail. It’s talons looked even worse as they two looked serrated and the glinted in the magicly made light. It swooped over us and knocked poor Fluttershy intot he bottom of the gym. “Fluttershy! We all screamed as she rolled down. “I’m. I’m okay.” We soon heard her bleet like a goat as the creature dived at her. “Pick on someone your own size you over grown buzzard!” Rainbow yelled bucking it in the head while in the air. It was soon followed by Prince in in knight form giving it a buck of his own, right in the middle of it’s back. It hit the ground and squawked before retalianting with it’s claws and tail. Rainbow got the tail while Prince Alex held it’s talons off with his horn like blades. “Tartarus! This thing’s as strong as me!” he yelled fighting off the creature. “Rainbow you okay?” Fluttershy asked as Rainbow shook her head. “I’m okay, what about you?” she asked back. That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen Rainbow do. “I could use some help over here!” Prince yelled as the creature now had him pinned to a wall and started pecking at him. It was now or never. Setting my Stetson I barreled down the ramp turned and bucked the creature in the beak sending it flying with a sickening snap. “You okay Prince?” I asked gasping for breath. “Yes. Thanks to you. I was about to become monster bird feed.” He asked panting. We soon heard the creature get right back up. “That’s impossible. I bucked that bird hard enough it would have busted ten trees!” I shouted. “I don’t think that’s going to be enough, that shell seem to be protecting it.”
“So how we kill the darn thing?” I asked. “I wish I knew. I never fought against soemthing like this.” Prince said firing spells at it as it flew over us. “Twilight, think you can spot a weakness in it’s armor!” I yelled up. I saw Twilight nod as she watched the creature only for the floor under her to cave and bring her and Rarity down to our level. “Great now what we do?” Rainbow asked sacasticly. “Hold your ground! If it gets close enough to you, buck it!” Prince yelled as it swooped in for another attack. Quickly Rainbow and I pivoted and bucked the think in the check with another sickening crack sending the creature to the wall. Prince than changed over to his Caster form and start firing spells at it but each oen just seemed to bounce off it’s skin. “Darn, my spells aren’t working on it.” He yelled at the creature got back into the air. “What about Pinkie’s Element? We haven’t used it yet.” Fluttershy said before. “Ahhhhh!” We all screamed her name as the creature grabbed her and flew upwards. “On no you don’t!” Rainbow said flying after it “Pinkie’s Element is our only shot. I’m going to tap into it.” Prince said concentrating. I watched as the airiel battle took place with Rainbow and the creature going at in an air battle.
Rainbow bucked at it and bucked at it but it still kept it’s grip on poor Fluttershy. At least she was still moving. That armor must be something special. Soon Rarity, Twilight, and I heard what sound like a small rush of wind as a blast of magical energy hit the creature like a fireworks rocket causing ti to let go of Fluttershy who was caught by Rainbow. We all turned to see Prince Alex had… a cannon on his left arm in his Knight form. “Is that I cannon on your arm?” I asked. “When it comes to Pinkie, I think it’s appropriate.” He retorted. I did remember Pinkie saying something about never leaving home without her Party Cannon. That must have been it. The creature got right back up and squawked at us a lot. “Oh what’s the matter bird brain? Afraid of our cannon?” Rainbow taunted. I wish she would think before she talked. The thing squawked one more time before firing a fire ball at us which thankfully Prince Alex blocked with a magic shield. “You just had to go and taunt it didn’t you?” Rarity shot at her. She gave a small laugh before replying, “Oops.” Prince Alex just shot the thing back with another cannon blast sending it into the air where it took flight bit a little shakily. “I think we found it’s weakness.” Twilight reported as it just flew in the air. “So it’s seems, but we can’t wait for it to just open its beak every time to kill it. It’ll take too long and I’m not sure how long Pinkie’s cannon will last. I can already feel its magic draining with each shot.” Prince Alex returned. This was bad. Twilight and Rarity could use their spells, Rainbow’s bucking only brought it down to our level to fight which only the cannon could harm it, and the only weapon we had was slowly loosing it’s magic. I… I had to do something. I… I had to fight. I had to protect my friends. I… I…
Snapped, and boy howdy did I snap. In just flash I was on my hind legs and gaining something similar to Prince Alex’s Knight and Mage Forms. My head, or what was my head came down my Stetson hat falling onto my newly helmeted head, my former head becoming my chest, my front legs gained fingerless claws and my hind legs back hooves spread out. On my right arm was my Element, I was wondering where it had gotten to. “What in tarnation?” Was all I could get out before my Element flashed and my flanks opened and two weapons popped out. I didn’t know what they were but I grabbed them and pointed them right at the creature and them… twin booms were given off making fall onto my flank. The creature squawked in pain and I looked at my weapons. They looked like Pinkie’s party cannons but far smaller. Yet they sure did pack a punch. “AJ, is that you?” Twilight asked. “I guess this is that other magic bits you two were talking about.” I returned. Carefully I tried to stand up like Prince Alex and somehow… I knew how. It must have been the Element at work.
Not carrying for this here and now I kept unleashing, whatever I was firing, at the creature bring it down to our level. The creature looked like it was on its last leg, and it was time to put it out of its misery. “Don’t, stop. It can’t fight anymore.” Fluttershy begged. “Fluttershy that thing flew you around the place and wanted to eat you!” I returned. “Maybe it was just protecting its home.” Fluttershy countered. “We can’t take the chance of this thing coming after us!” I argued. “No Applejack. Fluttershy has a point. I mean look at it.” Prince Alex said pointing at it. It was true. The creature looked like it wasn’t up for anymore fight. “I… I… Alright.” I said putting my weapons down. We slowly started to look away from it when. “Look out!” Rainbow cried tackling Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight to the ground. The Creature had just fired off another fire ball giving me and Prince Alex a chance to finish off. With one last blast from each of us the creature’s head exploded and it fell to the ground dead. It was then we heard Fluttershy crying. It… It had to be done. “Fluttershy, I…” I never got to finish as she flew right into Rarity’s waiting hooves trying to comfort her. I tried to go to her but Prince Alex stopped me. “Let her be AJ. Let’s just look for the next set of directions and get out of here.” Sighing I nodded, walking with his aid in my newest form.
Ch. 3: Fluttershy’s cry
They… They killed it. It could barely fight back and they killed it! Why? Why?! I just couldn’t take it anymore. I went to Rarity and just… cried. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see Pinkie again! I WANTED OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE! “It’s okay Fluttershy, shh, it’s alright.” Rarity said holding me. I did hear Applejack talk to me. “Fluttershy, I…” But I didn’t want to hear it. Soon I heard Prince Alex talk to her. “Let her be AJ. Let’s just look for the next set of directions and get out of here.” I didn’t care for instructions. I wanted to leave, I wanted to go home. “We found the directions in the very back to the safe house. We can stay there and have ourselves a meal along with extra rations. It also says something about… an animal area called a Zoo.” He said gently and I think sadly. I don’t know why but… hearing him tell be about animals made me feel a little bit better. Applejack or what was Aplejack came up to Prince Alicornian and showed us the book. “Says here we’re to leave through those doors over there,” she said pointing to a set of doors, “hand head north for about a mile. From there we’re to see some kinda metal door. We’re to close, and bolt it then head down the stair inside to some kinda room called a Bunker. We can stay the night but then we’re to head to that Zoo and find some kinda creature. We drew the picture it had as best we could. Think… you can tell what it Sugarcube?” Applejack showed me the picture with her new talon-less arms and I looked at it.
“I think… it’s…” I started to say till I looked into her face and gasped. “Something wrong Sugarcube?” she asked. “I… I can’t see your face.” I told her. “Well it is a visor but I don’t think I can lift it.” She told me a bit worried. “Remember girls. The armor is to protect you. I don’t think we can raise it for a while. I think it may be magically locked or something.” Prince Alicornian said. We needed at this and I looked to the picture again. “I think it’s an elephant, from Zebraca.” I answered. “What’s an elephant?” Rarity asked. “It’s a big gentle giant with a long nose, big ears, and gray toothbrush haired skin.” I explained. “Okay so we find this elephant and get out of the place and onto the next safe house. Let’s get going then!” Rainbow Dash called. “Um… all… alright.” I said, nervous. As we left the gym my eyes turned back to the creature, we had just murdered.
After a mile’s trot we finally got to this Zoo. I didn’t know why but… I didn’t like the place. “So, this is a Zoo.” Prince Alicornian said looking at the creaking gate with the word Zoo in it. “According to the derectiosn we’re to take a right at the snake exibit and walk till we get to the lion exibit. We’re also to look for noted cared into the walls of these exibits. It… didn’t explain why.” He said stepping forward, he and Applejack where in their knight forms the entire way here. I wish they would become ponies again, the form made me… ill. Pushing the gate open we trotted till we came to the first exibit. “Hey, I think I found the note!” Twilight called from her place. We came over and Prince Alicornian looked at it. “Good, I can translate this. It’s in Griffen so it won’t take me long to translate it. With a flash we were able to read it.
Welcome fellow survivor to the Zoo. I applogize to you now for what your about to see in here. I wish it was more pleasant but sadly it is not. Here you will face a true test of mind power, survival, and skill. There are four exibits here you must go to. Each has a small story to tell along with a number. Return here once you get the final one and you’ll be on your way. Sign, a Fellow Survivor. We all looked at each other and began to worry. “Great now we have to face a test too?” Rainbow remarked annoyed. “I agree with Rainbow, let’s just forget this dreary place and use the map we already have.” Rarity said. “Girls we need to learn more about this place.” Twilight argued. “And what better way that to show us through some kind of test.” Prince Alicornian nodded at this. “I agree with Twilight, it’s as if whoever this fellow survivor is, is trying to prepare us for something.” This scared me. “Prepare us for what?” Twilight asked. “Something far worse than the death of a friend I’m afraid.” Prince Alicornian answered. I squealed at that.
This time we slowed down to check the Zoo out… I wished we hadn’t. What we saw was… horrific. “Oh my.” Applejack said looking at what we were all looking at. “By Mother’s sun.” Prince Alicornian commented. “Oh… oh dear.” Rarity said next to me, holding me. “Whoa…” was all Rainbow could say. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Twilight said turning around. Each of these exibits had… death. Decaying animal bodies where all over; Lions, bears, snakes, everything was dead or half eaten and rotting. I… threw-up. “I’ll. Check these Snake Exibit for messages.” Prince Alicornian said over my… sickness. He soon returned a moment later with the book. “We’ll have to find the monkey exibit next.” He reported. “I know where it is.” Rainbow said taking the book. “Alright, but be careful. If needed fly right back here and get us if you can’t read it. Okay Rainbow?” Twilight added worried. “Got it, I’ll be back soon.” She soon flew off and about five minute later came back. “Okay I got it. However I… didn’t write it down.” Rainbow said handing us the book. “What did you do then Rainbow?” Twilight asked opening the book. Inside was a pen-over copy of the information. “Smart move Dashie, let me guess; Daring Doo and the goblet of chaos?” Rainbow nodded at that. “Daring used coal to cover a piece of paper to get some really old unreadable ruins off a wall so I thought I’d give it a shot and well it worked.” Rainbow explained.
After getting the last two messages we came back to the first one we were at. “Ugh, talk about over board. There’s nothing here anyway!” Rainbow said looking around. “Um, girls, I think there are numbers on the back of this sign.” I said pointing to them. Prince Alicornian looked at them then turned to Twilight. “Twilight, do you know how to make spell messages?” He asked. Twilight nodded and got ready with the book. “Four, one, three, two.” He read. Soon a new set of pages where made with all the messages we collected and soon was read out loud by Twilight. Good work on getting all of this together. I know it must have been annoying but you stuck to it. What your about to read is just a small summery of what happened to our world should you happen to have amnesia. Twelve years ago a company by the name of Chimera Tech come into being. No one knew what it was meant to really be other than a technological research center. It was a week later the horrible truth was found out. It was making living weapons known as Chimeras. Creatures made from different animal parts put together through technology. They thought they had them under control. As you just saw all around you, they were wrong. The moment they got free they instantly ate their masters and then turned onto the other researchers and then, the world. Don’t feel symphony for these creatures for all they care about is eating. Fresh, dead, doesn’t matter to them, as long as it is food they’ll eat it but fresh kills, like a few of your fellow survivors and these poor animals here. They care only to kill. They are weapons, our enemies, and our destroyers. If you value your life these words to heart and do not let them live should you cross one. Beware the one that lives in here for I’m afraid you won’t have any choice but to face it to leave to the next safe house. Somewhere in the very middle of this place is a much larger Chimera than you faced before. It will have the body of a elephant, the horns of a rhino and the teeth and skin of an crocodile. Beware the trunk for that where more of the teeth are, also it’ll have bone like spikes out of its back, shoulders, and hunches. Do not hesitate to run from this thing if you don’t have the fire power to take it down. Head east from the very middle of the Zoo and go through the blue door then head down the stairs and out the gray door at the bottom. Head right across the street and you’ll be right at your next Safe house. You’ll find me there. Good luck!
“So that’s what happened to this place.” Applejack explained. “It also explains what those creatures are, Chimeras.” Prince Alicornian said. “Who would have done such a thing?” Rarity asked. “Um hello, it just said who. This Chimera Tech place did this!” Rainbow nearly yelled. “So what do we do if we meet up with this giant Chimera?” Twilight asked. “Oh please, let’s not kill it.” I begged. “Fluttershy you heard what the message said. Those things are killers. They don’t care what they kill as long as they eat.” Rainbow argued. “Well maybe I don’t want all of you to become like them!” I yelled running to the over side of the walkway. “Uh, I… What the hay just happened?” I overheard Applejack ask. “I think Pinkie’s death is still too fresh in her mind.” I head Prince Alicornian say in my defense. “The last fight we were in really shook her up. Let’s give her a moment to calm down before we move on. Better yet we’ll do as Fluttershy asked. We’ll try to avoid the Giant on our way out.” This really made me feel better and allowed me to return to the group. Soon we were on our way out of this place. On our way there we all tried to keep ourselves calm by talking about small things, like how each of our worlds was different and how we each acted to certain things till. “Quite.” Prince Alicornian said stopping us. We all heard a low rumbling sound nearby and looked around. Soon the ground shook and we saw it. Oh Celestia, I wanted to go home. It was so deadly looking but I… I wanted us to get away from it as soon as possible. “We’re up wind of it. I think we can get around it. Come on.” Prince Alicornian said taking us around the creature. Yet we didn’t get far as it roared and an old metal bench landed before us. It nearly crushed Rainbow but Twilight was able to pull her out of the way before it landed. “T-thanks Twilight.” She said looking at it. “No problem but… how did it do this? The bench has to weigh at least five to six hundred pounds.”
“Not sure but we better not stay here for long.” Prince Alicornian stated as he led us a different way, however… “Look out!” Rarity said tackling me out of the way of a falling statue of some kind. “T-thank you Rarity, I should have been paying attention.” I said shaking. “Darling you must watch what’s going on around you. You could have gotten hurt.” Applejack soon looked at Twilight. “I don’t know about all of you but… I think that thing is looking for something.” All of a sudden we heard a roar and something large running our way. “Yeah, us, MOVE!” Twilight screamed as we ran out of the way of the stampeding Chimera. “It’s chasing us!” Rainbow yelled next to me. “Applejack fire at the ground, maybe we can get it to back off!” Prince Alicornian shouted preparing a spell. “Got it!” she yelled as they got behind all of us and started firing at the ground. I was unsure what was happening but the creature did seem to back away at this. “Good I think we stopped it from charging!” Applejack shouted. Soon we heard a large crash then a roar. “I think not because it just jumped the barrier, Run!” Prince Alicornian said causing us to head to the only place we though to get into, one of the much larger exibits. I flew Rarity over while Rainbow flew Twilight. Prince Alicornian and Applejack was to jump over the gap between the inside and outside exibit easily in their upright forms. “Bet he can’t jump that.” Rainbow said setting Twilight down.
Soon the creature landed before us after having jumped over us and the gap. “You just had to say it.” Twilight said as she, Rarity, and I hid while Rainbow, Prince Alicornian and Applejack tried to get it away from us. “Remember we do this Fluttershy’s way! We don’t harm it!” Prince Alicornian said jumping out of the way of its toothed trunk. “What if it harms one of us?” Rainbow yelled also dodging the trunk. “Back the other up and try pushing it away. If push comes to shove we shove but only if it’s down to no other choice!” He yelled back at her. All three kept dodging as it used that truck of it’s to harm each and every one of them. Finally I had enough and my normal instincts kicked in. “Fluttershy!” I head both Twilight and Rarity yell but I needed to stop this. “What do you think you’re-Ah!” Before I even started my stare the creature grabbed onto me and tossed me hard into the ground. I was dazed and looked up just in time to see it about to stomp on top of me when Applejack rolled me out of the way. “Move it Sugarcube! That thing ain’t playing nice!” she yelled at me and we dodged yet another trunk swing. It soon trumpeted before grabbing onto Prince Alicornian and tossed him into the stone wall of the exibit gap. “Alex!” I heard the girls yell. I wanted it to stop but the creature just… it wouldn’t stop. It kept using it’s trunk to grab on and toss my friends, it even grabbed onto me and… eat me. “I don’t think we can reason with it Flutters!” Prince Alicornian said as he caught a now unconscious Rainbow.
“I’m with Alex on this one! We need to stop it now before it…” Twilight didn’t even wish to finish that sentence. I just looked at the creature and then back at my friends and realized… this was my entire fault. I should have known better, that this wasn’t Equestria, that these creatures weren’t normal animals or creatures from the Everfree Forest; it was a deadly creature, with no hesitation to… to… “No. NO!” I screamed rearing up on my rear legs, then… it happened. My legs changed like Applejack did, my hooves expanded so I could stand, my front legs became arms like Spike had but without claws, and finally be head came down and became, I think my chest, my wings, mane, and tail staying where they were. I raised my arm holding The Element of Kindness and my arm released a longbow. On instinct I flew right at the Chimera drawing my bow and flew around it aiming at the knees of the creature and fired off bolts of magic at them. The Chimera roared in pain and fell but it didn’t give up. It kept lashing out at me with its trunk. I looked at it and saw it’s blood thirsty eyes. I knew, I just knew, I had to end this. Flyign as high as my new form allowed me I drew back the bow’s string and took aim at the only place I knew that would… end it’s life with as little torture as possible. It would be a quick painless end. “Forgive me.” I said as I let the bold go in to the base of its skull severing its spine and… it fell. No struggle, no death throws, just fell, lifeless.
I… I had never wanted to end something’s life before but… I had no choice. It was my friends or it and… I chose my friends. I landed and cried. I just cried at what I had done. I never wanted to harm any creature, never, and I had just… “Fluttershy, it’s okay.” Prince Alicornian said holding me in his Knight form. “Remember what the note said. They are living weapons, all they care about is just eating and we, Fluttershy, are its food. You did the right thing, you save us all.” I smiled at this till… “He’s right you know!” We all turned ready to fight again. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, stand down, we’re survivors!” The… creature said to us. It was in armor like us but it was far different, it looked like it would have been a dragon. “Who are you? State your business!” Prince Alicornian ordered. “I’m Drake! A Survivor just like all of you! My friend and I heard the gun fire and came here to help out! It seems you didn’t need it!” He yelled from his location. Prince Alicornian looked at him and lowered his bladed arms. “Lower your weapons! Everyone!” he soon ordered. We lowered our weapons just as he did. The one called Drake looked behind him and nodded to someone. “My partner is going to head back and make sure the way to the Safe House is clear! I’ll lead you back after she returns! Just hand tight while I go to the door of the exibit and open it up for you!” Prince Alicornian looked to Drake and shook his head. “No need, we can get across by flight.” He picked Applejack up and carried her over while Rainbow and I carried Rarity and Twilight. “Wish this armor had those.” Drake said after we landed. He looked and saw a… talon-less claw wave at him. “Good, the way’s clear. We can hoof it back to the Safe house from here, it’s not far. I’ll help you with your friend.” He took the other side of Applejack with Prince Alicornian and we slowly trotted to the Safe House.
“Let’s lay her on this cot and get that armor off her if we can.” Drake said reaching for her helmet. “Easy friend, we don’t even know if the room is safe enough to do so.” Prince Alicornian said. “Got yeah, it’s a trust thing. Don’t worry I won’t do anything to harm you or your friends. However I would like to help as best as I can.” Prince Alicornian nodded at this. “Know any healing spells?” he asked. “Healing… spells? Um… no. I do have a lot of medical supplies if needed.” Drake said showing us them. “Right, best you let me handle this for now. How are you doing Fluttershy?” Prince Alicornian responded than asked. “I’m… I’m fine. But… how is it I have the same form as you and Applejack?” I asked. “I was wondering that myself.” Drake said looking at all of us. “I know a few of you are ponies but… the rest of you I’m confused on.” We all looked at him confused as Prince Alicornian treated Applejack. “How did you know we were ponies?” Twiligth asked worried. “Because my partner is also a Pony.” He said as his partner stepped into the room causing all of us to gasp. “Pinkie?” Rainbow asked after the silence. “Is that your real name Pink?” Drake asked looking at her. It wasn’t possible. We all saw her die. Yet there she was, kind of. Her hair was now straight and her coat a much grayer tone, the only thing that was differnet was that she was walking upright on her hind legs and had arms just like Applejack, Prince Alicornian, and I had, including Drake as well. What… What was going on? “You had better explain what’s going on.” Prince Alicornian ordered after Applejack woke up and was in shock as well. “I’ll explain everything but I’d like to get all your names first.” Drake answered. “Sigh, very well. I am Prince Alicornian, next to me is Applejack.” He then pointed to Twilight and Rarity introducing them then to me and Rainbow Dash. “Alright then, I’ll start off by giving my name and my friend’s name, or at least what I’ve nicknamed her. I’m Drake, and this here is Miss Pink. And this is my tale…”
