Fire and Night raced through town, dodging ponies and obstacles (otherwise known as buildings) and-

”HOLD IT!”

...

Uh...

Did I do something wrong? Also, who said that?

“Nope. You’re doing GREAT!”

GAH! Hang on. Is that- oh. Oh boy.

“Hee hee! You know it!”

EMMY?!

“You bet your boots, missy!”

WHAT?! Wh-Wh-What are you doing here?! How are you talking to me?!

“Oh, silly, it’s called breaking the fourth wall! You should know about this! As for what i’m doing here, I just wanted to talk to the readers for no good reason at all!”

...

“Uh... are you alright? I thought you liked it when people made alternate versions of me do this?”

W-W-Well, I do! I love it, it’s alway really funny!

“Then what’s the problem?”

*Sighs* Emmy, it is two very different things to be reading it and having it happen to you. I knew you could do it, but I didn’t think it’d actually happen!!!

“Oh, sorry! But if you knew I could do it, then you really couldn’t have expected me not to figure it out.”

Yeah, I guess you’ve got a point there. But, seriously, I need to get on with the story! Wait... YOU CAN’T BE DOING THIS! S-SOMEPONY WILL HEAR ME! AND-

“No they won’t! I know for a fact that only I can. And i’ve made sure of it. It’s only with the right training others can actually do it. If somepony else who hasn’t had training have the ability to break the fourth wall... well, let’s just say that things are gonna get super glitchy and stuff. For me, it just comes naturally. A gift, from my creator. I know what you’re gonna say, and don’t worry. If somepony sees me, they’ll just think i’m talking to a wall.”

Alright, you have me convinced. But how often is this gonna happen?

“I’ll be appearing in your later stories.”

I haven’t written you talking to me in them. Also, how do you know about them?

“Uh... I kinda looked at your notes and drawings, heh heh... I know what happens in all of them! And let’s just say... i’m writing myself into them. Trust me, Natalie, your stories are in good hooves. And, yes, readers, her real name is Natalie. (PRONOUNCED NAT-AH-LEE)”

Very subtle, Emmy.

“Thanks!”

You really need to learn what sarcasm is. Also, do not even THINK about saying one word about the future stories without my say so. And can I continue now?! PLEASE?!

“Yep! I promise, I won’t get in the way any time soon, and I won’t tell a thing about the stories! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!”

Thanks, now, back into the story with you.

AS I WAS SAYING...

The two of them quickly made their way to the farm, following the shortcut Night had found a while back. They quickly made their way to the farmhouse, knocking over a young unicorn filly in the process.

“Okay, so this is the point we start from, and then we need to go-“

“Go where, exactly?”

“EEP/GAH!”

Fire and Night quickly shrank back at the tall purple and green dragon standing over them.

Night gulped, “Heh, heh, hey, Uncle Spike!...”

“Now where in the hoof do you two think you’re going this time? Not another one of your ‘adventures’, I hope?” He frowned, knowing something was up as they exchanged worried glances. “Well? I’m waiting, kids.”

Thinking quickly, Fire said, “Uhhhhh to the east fields! Yep, the east fields. That’s where we were planning to go in the beginning!” She nudged Night slightly with her wing and he caught on.

“R-Right! No adventures this time, Uncle Spike!” He and Firebird grinned nervously up at the dragon’s unwavering gaze.

He raised an eyebrow at the colt and filly, not believing a word. Then again, they definitely were being honest about going to the eastern fields, and Big Mac, Pip and Blossom were down there right now...
“Well... alright... but do not leave those fields for even a minute. Mac, Pip and Blossom will be there, make sure you stay within their sites. If you don’t, i’ll make sure you two are grounded for two weeks. Maybe more. Got it?”

“Yes, Uncle Spike!” They said, and quickly zoomed off.

“What are those foals up to this time?” Spike turned to see a pink unicorn with dark purple eyes and a poofy purple mane draped over her shoulder in a small pony tail.

”NO PUN INTENDED!”

Emmy... you Pinkie PromisedTM me you wouldn’t do this... doesn’t this mean you broke your own promise? Hm?

“Meep...”

...

That’s better.

Spike shook his head. “Honestly, Sugar Belle, I have no idea and I do not want to know.”

As soon as they were out of earshot and eyesight, the two sighed with relief.

Fire said, “Seriously, how did he know?! Have we really become that predictable?”

“Yep.”

They raced onwards, fighting through land and sea, crossing hundreds of mountains and ranges, and- okay, they mostly just went through tree groves and flat lands. Anyway.

After a few hours of running on their small hooves, they finally made it, panting for breath and collapsing to the ground in triumph. “We *pant* made *pant* it *pant* Firebird! You *pant* were right!” Night smiled, flapping his small wings to cool himself down.

“Heh... yeah... we did!”

“Wait... I just realized... are there any monsters in that swamp?!” Night yelled, staring into the darkness of the vines hanging off trees, as they softly flowed in the eerie breeze that rustled around them.

“Uh... eh... I think so, but I can’t remember what.”

“That sounds really bad... and dangerous... LET’S GO!”

Fire beamed and they zipped in, walking around for a while, marveling the flora surrounding the swamp.

“Fire...”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure we’re at the right place? I’m not seeing any flames, or water, for that matter. How can it be a swamp if there isn’t any wa- GAAH!!!”

He stopped dead as a huge flame spurted up from a large puddle-like water source. More and more flames erupted around them, and Fire quickly pulled Night away, saying, “Yeah, I think we’re in the right place. Hey, I have an idea for a game! Flame-Dodge!”

“Flame-dodge?”

“Yep! The rules are simple, avoid the spurts as much as you can! RACE YOU TO THAT TREE!” She yelled, already bouncing off.

“Hey, NO FAIR! YOU GOT A HEAD START!”

As they raced along, the pair was having too much fun to realize they were being watched. Night ended up reaching the tree first, cheering as a disgruntled Firebird trotted to where he was at. “Aw, man, I lost! I ca- woah. What’s this?”

She pointed up along the bark, where claw marks and scratches could be visibly seen. Above those, were two symmetrical holes that went right through the trunk. Several pieces of bark had been ripped right off, giving the dead tree a spooky look.

“That’s kinda freaky... maybe coming here was a bad idea. We should go back home. Which way do we go?”

“Why are you asking me? I thought you knew!”

“But... that means... are we lost?!”

“Oh, no, I think ar-“ She stopped dead, suddenly sensing something strange, and realized that they were not alone.
Night Shield looked at her in confusion and tried to say something, only to be cut off by a low growl.

Fire froze, seeing a great shadow. It had the head and body of a tiger, and a second head and hind legs of a ram. And from the looks of it, the tail seemed to be some kind of... SNAKE?!
She suddenly remembered something, and laughed nervously. “Eh heh heh... um... well, I just remembered one of the monsters in this place... that’s a chimera.”

Night Shield froze, and said furiously, “A CHIMERA?! That... I... it... Fire, do you even know where we are?!”

“Uh...”

“THIS IS THE FLAME GEYSER SWAMP!! AND CHIMERAS, ALONG WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER MONSTERS, ARE FOUND HERE!!!”

“I-I’m sorry, Night, I was j-just so e-excited, a-and I-I thought th-that...”

“We have to get outta here, NOW!”

“N-N-Night...?”

“What?!”

”Behind you...”

Night turned around and froze solid at the sight of the chimera... standing right over them.

Author's Note

Okay, so before I forget, I now have a name for my AU. THE GUARDIAN VERSE!
Yeah, I know how blatantly obvious that was, I really have no idea why it didn’t come to me sooner. Eh, I finally have a name for it and to me, that’s all that really matters!
And now- ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER
Yeah... those two have really done it this time. Maybe it’s time for them gems to come in handy? That is, if Firebird even remembers to use it...
And, yes, my real name is Natalie. Thanks a lot, Emmy. I’ll be adding that to the ‘About me’ module soon.
Whelp, i’ll get started on the next (and final) chapter soonish. It’s the weekend, and I don’t have homework, so all it comes down to is remembering and keeping my focus on this. Which is very likely not to happen.