"So, you want to hear a story, eh?" A gruff vo- "I can do this on my own, and I do not need you for this, so would you kindly shut up!"

O-oh, alright then...

"Good. Now, where was I? Oh right, long ago in the land of Equestria, where the two sisters reign. War was declared by the griffons, threatening the peaceful lives of all ponies.

Princess Celestia, the alicorn of the sun, tried and pleaded with the king of all griffons, but her words fell on deaf ears. The king showed no signs for peace at all, he only showed the might of his army by conquering the settlements that were closer to their kingdom's borders.

Meanwhile, a small band of dragons on the north had decided to use the ongoing war to their advantage to invade and ransack small villages, stealing all the valuables along with some ponies to be their next meal.

After hearing the news, princess Celestia decided to handle the dragon problem herself while leaving her sister Luna in charge at the front. With a few soldiers behind her, Celestia had tracked the dragons to a village that they were currently attacking, her heart grew heavy at the thought of her people's blood being spilled onto the stone streets of their village.

She looked up to the sky and prayed to whatever god was listening for a miracle, anything to slow the dragons down enough for her soldiers to reach the village. Luckily for her someone up in heaven had heard the alicorn's prayers and she got more than what she wanted. A giant ball of purple light appeared miles above the village when the light vanished Celestia could not describe what came out of it since she was too far.

Whatever it was it fell towards the middle of the village and the dragons followed it, minutes later Celestia had arrived and she along with her trained soldiers rushes towards the center of the village, passing a few survivors who felt hope at the sight of their leader bravely charging towards danger.

They soon came to a bloody scene, right at the middle of it was an orange scaled wingless dragon that was almost taller than her with a mask that concealed his face, his first words that he had said to Celestia will forever be etched into her mind until the end of her days."

"NIPPLE SALADS"

It was a wonderful Saturday afternoon in Ponyville, especially for Sandbar since they didn't have any class right now and he along with his friends have made plans for a picnic, currently, Sandbar is heading over to Sugar Cube Corner with his saddlebag to buy some sweets. Meanwhile, his friends are currently preparing the essentials for a picnic, like a large blanket, drinks, and others.

Seeing that he was already at the shop, Sandbar casually enters, he gave Pinkie Pie a wave as the mare zooms past him also waving back, walking over to the register he finds Mrs. Cake behind it.

"Oh hello there Sandbar." She greeted him with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

"Afternoon Mrs. Cake, a dozen of cupcakes and muffins would be great."

She gives him a nod before starting to sort out his order and handed it to Sandbar after, right at the corner of his eye he spotted Twilight's number uno assistant, Spike the dragon.

Spike was seated on one of the tables reading a comic book, and seeing that there was no problem with saying hi to someone you know, Sandbar went over to the dragon to greet him.

"Hey there Spike, how you doing?"

The young drake looks up from his reading. "Oh hey Sandbar, I'm doing fine thanks for asking. How about you?"

"Same, right now I'm just bringing these snacks for a picnic later with the others."

"That's great," Said Spike. "as for me, I'm here waiting for Pinkie to finish the sapphire chocolate cake I ordered."

"Woah dude, what's the occasion?"

"Well Ember is coming over to visit to hang out, so I asked Pinkie to make a cake that's also extra special if possible, kinda feel bad that Thorax couldn't make time this weekend."

"Bummer, well guess I'll be going, the others are probably waiting so see ya' Spike."

"Alright, see you next time Sandbar, and tell Smolder I said hi."

With that, he leaves the bakery and heads over to the place they decided to do the picnic at. On the way he had encountered Gallus, the griffon of the group, with him, was an icebox obviously containing cool beverages. They both greeted each other before continuing towards their destination, along the way they both made small talk, usually something the boys had in common.

Soon, they arrived at the outskirts of the town, both were also greeted by the energetic weaponry in hippogriff form. She was optimistic as ever, it kinda reminded them both of the resident party pony. Speaking of Silverstream, with the hippogriff was a neatly folded blanket, you can't have a picnic without a large blanket.

After having a small idle chat, Yona and Ocellus had arrived, the changeling carried a basket and the yak carried some books that belongs to Ocellus on her back.

"Hello friends, Yona and Ocellus are here with food for everyone!" The foreigner said while rushing over to the others.

"Nice to see you too Yona, you too Ocellus." Gallus greeted the yak with the rest. "Now we need to wait for Smolder."

"Oh, Smolder?" Silverstream said while picking up a few books off Yona's back to help her carry it. "She already went over to the spot, she said she wanted to prepare a grill for the fish she brought." She motions for them to follow her to the spot where Smolder was at.

"Are you okay with that, being half fish and all," Gallus asks the half-bird half-horse creature.

"Oh, it's fine." She gave him her answer. "We are a diverse set of friends, as long as we respect each other the better friends we'll be, and besides, I had my share of fish before."

"You're too nice for your own sake Silverstream."

Before they knew it, the five of them had already arrived at the spot. It was in the middle of the grassy fields, a good distance from Ponyville nearby was a small unlit campfire with a metal grill over it. But something was missing, and it was the dragon of the group. Everyone calls out to her but was met with silence, and when they began to get worried, the dragon's head pops out a large hole close to them. Strange that they didn't notice it at first.

"What!?" Smolder asks the surface dwellers as she used her wings to ascend out of the hole, with an arm full of gems.

All eyes stare at her with slight confusion as she dumps the gems next to the unlit campfire.

"Sorry Smolder, we were just looking for you." Ocellus explains for everyone.

"Yeah, we were afraid that we would have started without you, and use a couple of rocks just to light the fire for the fish." Said Gallus as he sets down the icebox, looking at a different icebox that contained the sweet juicy fish that would be soon grilled on the fire, oh how he hungers for it.

Smolder lights the campfire before turning towards the griffon. "You have better not been thinking of eating those without me, took me a while to catch them this morning."

While this was happening, Silverstream was unfolding the large blanket with Yona, while Sandbar puts out the paper plates to be used.

"What's down there anyway?" Ocellus said while starring down the dark hole on the ground, it seems to angle itself down so the sun couldn't reach the bottom, she could at least see some gems sparkle in the distance.

The young dragon looks up from her task to answer. "Well, it's kinda deep so I didn't go far, but I found a lot of gems on the walls."

Now Gallus was also curious, he joins Ocellus on staring into the abyss. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked those around him.

Yona looks towards Gallus, after thinking about it, she agrees to whatever the griffon had planned. "Yona likes Gallus' idea, Yona wants to explore cave!"

"Ooh," Silverstream coos. "like spelunking? I did those back when I was little, you don't know how much fun it was to find things like shiny coins!"

Ocellus was unsure, but curiosity had won her over, she gave a nod, also agreeing with Gallus. Even Sandbar wanted to join, the idea of an upcoming adventure was really tempting for the young earth pony.
The ones who didn't really want to do it was Smolder.

"Guys, the picnic?" She pointed out the reason why they were all out there, to begin with. "And aren't you claustrophobic, Gallus?"

"Come on Smolder, it doesn't look like a tight fit and it'll be quick, in and out," Gallus said, swiping a handful of gems and quickly places them in Sandbar's saddlebag. "We might even find some awesome treasure down there."

Everyone else had nodded, agreeing with him which leaves Smolder alone with her own vote. Seeing that she couldn't change their mind, she decided to join on the new adventure.

"Yay! I even have something for this." Silverstream then pulls out six lanterns from out of nowhere then handed them to Yona and Sandbar. Is spelunking really that fun? Apparently so.

Wasting no more time, the fliers grabs hold of the land creatures and helped them descend down the hole, with their lanterns lighting the dark cave making everything visible. Gems sparkle from the light that shines on it, creating a makeshift stars in the underground, it was very awe-inspiring to the young creatures.

After a short flight, the group had descended from the ceiling and enters a cavern, landing on the ground, Yona and Sandbar handed their friends the rest of the lanterns to lighten their loads. They all look around, amazed by the planet's cave system that lies below the surface. Turning to their left was just a dark path, while on their right was something they didn't expect, there was a small light shining in the distance. And being the curious youths they are, they chose to head towards the light.

"Ooh, I wonder what it is!" Silverstream said, hovering in front of her friends as if she was leading the exploration.

"Hey Ocellus, did you ever read on anything that gives out light in dark caves?" Smolder asks the one who had more knowledge on certain things.

"All I can think of are glow worms, but this one is too bright to be them, so I'm really excited to find out what it is!"

"Well be excited now, 'cus we're here," Gallus said with a monotonous tone, too stunned of what he and the rest of his friends were seeing.

Right in front of them, a few meters away was a large metal wall that sealed off the other side. But it was covered in rust, and the giant door it had was on the ground, crumbled into countless pieces and from the giant doorway was a bright light. Inside, they could see that the walls and floors were now made of metal, illuminated by lights on the ceiling.

"Ocellus?" Everyone asked the changeling, who shook their head slowly.

"I have no idea..."

"But I have one," Silverstream spoke but didn't even finish as she flew straight in, leaving her lantern since she didn't need it.

"Hey, wait a sec-" Smolder tried to be the voice of reason, but Yona and Sandbar ran in to follow the hippogriff, they also left their lanterns. Seeing that half the group had went in, the rest decided to follow also leaving their lanterns.

The three soon caught up with the rest of the group in the long metal and futuristic corridor. Boxes were everywhere with strange papers spread around the floor also, Ocellus was fascinated by the strange paper so she decided to pick up a few for the road. They soon came to a cardboard cutout of an earth pony with peach-colored fur, he also seems to be wearing a mask of his own face, both the face and the fact that there is a cardboard cutout in the underground was adding to the weird-o-meter.

The young six gave out their opinions on this, mainly how strange it was. Moving on, they continued down the corridor, soon finding two doors on each side. They all went inside the door on the right, only to find another long hallway.

"Let's try the other door first, probably have something better," Gallus suggested and the others agreed, but when half of them, mainly Yona, Ocellus, and Silverstream have gone through, the door shuts itself tight leaving Smolder, Gallus, and Sandbar on the other side.

"What the?" Gallus said, knocking on the metal door. "Umm guys, you forgot about us."

"We didn't do this." Silverstream's muffled voice came from behind it, it was enough to send Gallus and the rest to a slight panic.

"W-wait, please tell me that you're just joking?"

"Yona swears that we did not close the door."

"Well help us out then!" Smolder shouted loud enough to be clear, while trying to open the door by pulling from the edges, it barely works. "Boys, can you look for a switch or something?" She tried to pull harder but she jumps back as the door was struck from behind it.

Meanwhile, on the other side was Yona, using her brute force against the metal door. "Do not worry friends, Yona shall break metal door." She said, still charging towards the metal door.

Ocellus stops Yona by standing in her way. "Yona, I don't think that'll work."

"Then what do we do!?" Silverstream said, wrapping her claws around her head, trying to think up a plan. "T-they might be trapped in there forever!"

"Silverstream, don't say such a thing," Ocellus spoke to the hippogriff. "they'll be fine and we'll get them out soon. Right guys?" She turns back to the metal door that separates her friends from her.

But she didn't hear a 'yes' from the other side, only the worried voice of Gallus. "What in the world is that!?"

Before the three could ask the other three, a new voice spoke, one that did not sound right. [WARNING, YOU ARE VIOLATING ON PRIVATE HYPERION GROUNDS. STAND DOWN IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE VIOLATED BACK.]

"Gallus, Smolder, look out!" Sandbar warns his friends.

And before they could ask them what was happening, the door was struck from the other side bending it slightly towards them, this causes Ocellus to stumble back and rolling through the door directly behind them and the door slams shut cutting the changeling from the rest of her friends.

"Ocellus!" Silverstream calls out, but before she and Yona could do anything, a loud thud came from where they have originated. There, a giant yellow iron golem with a single red eye stood. Before the two could ask, a jar filled with lightning seems to rise on top of it and began running towards them.

"Run!" Yona and Silverstream shouted, going deeper into the corridor with the strange golem right on their tails.

"What in the world is that thing!?" Gallus once again asked his friends, they were running away from the golem, and as they get further three more had began chasing them.

"I don't know, but they're mad!" Sandbar said nearly getting caught by a fifth one from out of nowhere.

Smolder tried to burn the new golem, but her flames were too weak to deal with any damage. "These things are tough!"

"Thanks for the input captain obvious!" Said Gallus, clearly frustrated.

"Oh shut up, we wouldn't be chased by weird metal things if you hadn't suggested exploring a random cave!"

"I know, and I complete agree with you now, I'm just really terrified of the situation!"

"Umm guys?" Sandbar spoke up but was unheard.

"I know how you feel, and this isn't really the best time but, I told you so!"

"Guys?"

"Well, at least I have a sense of adventure!"

"Hey uh-"

"You're claustrophobic, you shouldn't be going down caves!"

"You know-"

"GUYS!!!" The two snaps their attention to the pony. "Big, giant, gargantuan thing up ahead!"

They turn forward to find that there is in fact, a giant thing standing between them and a small door, it looked like the ones chasing them but it had ahead and it didn't have any arms instead it had something strange. It's strange appendages lit up in flames before releasing it in their direction, the trio easily dodge the area that could have been their fate, but the thing proceeds to prepare for another shot.

"Through there!" Smolder slides right between its legs and through the small door, followed by Gallus and Sandbar after. The metal behemoth understood that its target was gone, so it went on its own business with the other five.

"Is everyone alright?" Sandbar asks his two friends, but once again was unheard. Looking around, he discovers that they were outside whatever the place was and in another cavern, his two friends were standing a few feet away from him.

Both the dragon and griffon were too focused on what the cavern holds, standing at the middle was a single muscular dragon with a mask on his face and a belt around his waist. His right arm was wrapped in white cloth while his left had steel plates, his right leg also had steel plates while the other leg had two straps, but both had white tattered cloth.

He had the same color scheme as Smolder but had a darker shade of purple frills instead. A pair of curved horns sat on the side of his head, it pointed forward giving off the idea that it could be used to impale. But those details had nothing on what comes next, right at his chest was a sword with a golden handguard and two glowing gems on each side.

Gallus had no words, he couldn't even ask why the dragon with a sword through their chest was there since he was currently feeling a deep sense of dread. He tries to figure out why and came to the conclusion that a corpse was naturally disturbing.

Though she had hid it better than Gallus, Smolder was feeling the same thing as him. Shaking her head to clear the fear in her mind, she marches over to the corpse and began tugging on the sword.

"Smolder, what are you doing!?" The pony questions his friend's action, it was wrong to disturb the dead.

"Getting. A. Weapon!" With each word, she tugs on the handle harder. "We'll need something, anything, just to fight those things. Yona and the others are out there doing who knows what and they need our help."

"Uh Smolder?"

"What!?" She said as she pulls the sword out, she looks at it with hope, a chance to fight back the strange golems that lurks about. "Hey, I got it, guys."

Before she could get a comment from her friends, a claw had wrapped around her throat causing her to drop the sword, she was then lifted up to face her assailant. His one visible eye glared into her own, he then whispers a single word.

"Meeeeeeeeaaaaaaaat."

Author's Note

This chapter was edited on the date of 08/08/2019, only minor changes were made.

Thanks to RubberEyes for giving me his suggestions and help on pointing out my errors with the grammar, I also fixed some other stuff.