In Pursuit of...

Chapter 8: Family Reunion

In all honesty, Nimbus couldn't think of a worse way to wake up. Granted, opening one's eyes three feet below the surface of the Great Equestrian River probably wasn't exactly anyone's idea of a good wakeup, but still…

Nimbus opened his eyes and was promptly greeted by a fish.

"Odd," he thought, not fully realizing that he was drowning, "why is there-?" Then he sucked in a mouthful of water. Now he was fully aware of where he was, and was, needless to say, a bit displeased. He scooted for the surface, using his wings as extra propulsion. Only moments ago, it seemed, he'd been in the boat. What was going on? He was about to reach the surface of the water, when something grabbed him by the midsection and lifted him bodily out of the water, flinging him onto the deck of his boat. Nimbus coughed and gasped as his vision returned to normal he soon noticed that the sun was apparently up again. Perhaps he'd slept.

"Well, at least he's still breathing," he heard a familiar voice say. "Mecha," he realized.

As he looked around the boat, he could see the group of ponies staring at him. Near the navigation room, Twilight Sparkle was grilling Rainbow Dash.

"-and that's exactly why you need to watch your speed!" Twilight practically yelled.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Nimbus looks okay to me."

"He might be," said Twilight, "but the boat isn't!"

Nimbus stood groggily out, spitting out a good deal of river water.

"What happened?" he asked.

Twilight turned to him. "Our dear friend Rainbow Dash decided to showboat a little bit," she said, then added "no pun intended. Long story short, she went too fast and stuck us on this rock."

Twilight indicated a large rock which was currently poking through the bottom of the vessel.

"Mecha's trying to figure out how to fix the leak right now," Twilight added, "but anyway, the impact knocked you out of the boat."

"Was I asleep?" Nimbus asked.

"Yes you were," Rainbow Dash said, alighting next to him, "all night, in fact. Way to pay attention."

"Now Rainbow Dash," said Rarity, "everyone needs their beauty sleep, right Nimbus?"

Nimbus turned around and very nearly lost last night's dinner over the side of the boat before turning back to Rarity.

"Sure," he said.

"I swear," said Applejack, "If we could fix boats with the way all y'all are carryin' on, we'd be sailin' right now!"

"I'm sorry," said Nimbus, "you're right." He turned to Mecha. "Anything you need?"

Mecha squinted at the damage for a moment, then turned to Nimbus. "As a matter of fact, yes. I need you and another Pegasus to fly out of here and go collect some wood."

"Done," Nimbus said, looking at both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, "now who do I take with me?"

Rainbow crossed her arms and turned away. Nimbus looked at Fluttershy.

"P- p- please, I'd rather not go out there," she said, shaking and pointing out of the boat. Nimbus looked. Trees were growing on both sides of the river, and the forest was deep and dark. He could definitely see Fluttershy's cause for concern.

"Alright," he said, turning to Rainbow Dash, "what about you?"

"Fine," she sighed, "but you can't be a slowpoke."

Nimbus groaned. "Whatever. I wasn't planning on flying over the trees, anyway."

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? Then how are you-?'

"We're going through them," Nimbus said with a wink.

Rainbow Dash gulped. For someone who felt she could master the skies, the task at hand suddenly seemed rather daunting.

"Okay, let's go!" Nimbus shouted, propelling himself off the deck. Rainbow Dash followed. Nimbus rocketed into the trees at the riverside, and began to weave in and out of the trees, rolling, banking, and practically hugging the ground. He had just entered a clearing when Rainbow Dash overtook him, rocking Nimbus with displaced air.

"Hey, wait!" Nimbus called, "watch out for that-!"

Rainbow Dash impacted a rather large Zapapple tree, and Nimbus couldn't help but wince at the hit. Rainbow Dash hit with enough force for the tree to deliver maximum shocking power. Rainbow never stood a chance. She was catapulted through the air, and landed at Nimbus's feet as he stopped.

"That… was not supposed to happen," Rainbow said as her eyes began to stop spinning.

Nimbus sighed, "out here, flying low like this, it's not all about speed."

"Oh yeah? And what made you such an expert, huh?"

Nimbus shrugged, "that's the way I always practiced. See, the land where I grew up is a lot like this. I had a lot of time to practice flying low-level. Avoiding obstacles is one of the first things I learned. That's how I got my first cutie mark, in fact," Nimbus explained, showing off the feather on his flank. "The lightning bolt came after I joined the EDF."

"Uh huh," Rainbow Dash said, "but you're still pretty darn slow."

Nimbus put a hoof to his chin, deep in thought. "You know, perhaps we could strike a deal here."

Rainbow's eyebrow went up. "What kind of deal?"

"Simple," said Nimbus, trotting in a circle around Rainbow Dash, "you teach me to fly fast, and I'll teach you how to maneuver."

Rainbow Dash smiled involuntarily- then caught herself. Best not to show any excitement yet. "Hmm," she said, "perhaps…" She crossed her arms. Nimbus waited, staring her straight in the eyes. "Okay, fine!"

"Then we have a deal," said Nimbus, "so which do we learn first?"

"Speed, without a doubt," said Rainbow Dash, "or our friends are going to sink before we get there."

…

"Why?" Eclipse groaned, "why won't you work?!"

He threw the large green gem down in frustration. He'd long since absorbed Luna's essence, but he'd had no success in learning how to use the Unifier. He felt more alive than he ever had, perhaps even more than when he'd been Nightmare Moon. It seemed Luna's power had increased since then- perhaps this new concept of friendship. He growled. He'd have to get rid of that particular idea as soon as possible.

Using his magic, he picked up the Unifier once more. Touching it with his magic seemed to do something. He felt more powerful when he had contact with it. It took him a moment before he realized what was happening.

"I'm absorbing its energy," he realized aloud, "as long as I have contact with it." He looked around, then grinned as he looked back at the hole in the wall where the Unifier had once stood proudly.

"So that's what this is for," he said, removing a gold chain from the socket. The chain had a link on it, which appeared to attach to the Unifier. "At last," he whispered, "I have the key to power. I will bide my time as I grow stronger, but as long as this is near me, I shall always gain from it." He fastened the Unifier to the chain, then placed it around his neck. He moved up to the throne room and glanced out the massive window in the direction of Canterlot. Soon, the regal kingdom would fall, and with it, Equestria. Adding Luna's power to his own had made him strong- stronger, he believed, than Princess Celestia herself. Still, best not to take chances. He'd attack when he knew he'd have the upper hoof.

A single, solitary spark traveled up the chain, and disappeared into his mane, sending a shiver down his spine. It wouldn't be long, now. Soon, he'd be powerful enough to make his move, and when that happened, nopony would be able to stop him.

…

Nimbus landed back on the boat a few seconds after Rainbow Dash touched down. He was completely exhausted. As he dropped his load, he took one look at Rainbow Dash, smiled, and collapsed to the deck.

"Yeah, your speed's not bad. I suppose you learn pretty quick, but you still need some work."

She turned to Mecha, "this enough wood?' Mecha glanced at the pile of lumber in front of him.

"Eeyup," he said, "that'll do. I'll get to work right away. Twilight-"

The purple Unicorn looked up.

"Do you think you can lift this boat in the air for a few seconds?"

"I'll give it a try," Twilight answered, her horn glowing and encircling the boat with a reddish-purple light. Slowly, the craft rose off the rock and into the air. Mecha immediately went to work, and within seconds, patched the hole. Nimbus was impressed. He'd never seen anypony work so fast before. When the boat settled, it was as good as new. Perhaps better, Nimbus realized, remembering the condition in which he'd received it.

He turned to Rainbow Dash. "Want a break?" he asked. "I could pull for a while."

Rainbow Dash was about to object, when Twilight cut in. "I think you'd better. You've been at this since we started."

Rainbow Dash grumbled, took two steps, then collapsed to the deck, asleep.

"Well, I told her," Twilight said, heading back to the navigation room. Nimbus took the rope and fastened it to himself.

"Hey," he called to Twilight, who was now at the wheel, "I think we're close now. I'll let you know when we get there."

"Great!" Twilight said. The others settled back, and Nimbus was off, pulling the boat along. Something troubled him, however- he knew there was something that stood between him and his home, but for the life of him, he couldn't remember what it was. He hoped to Celestia that it wasn't something dangerous.

…

The sun was already going down when Nimbus finally saw the first indicator of home.

"Private Property," he said, reading the sign with ominous red wording on it by the riverside, "yep, we're close now."

Twilight stuck her head out of the navigation room. "Private Property?" she asked Nimbus, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't worry about it," said Nimbus, "we're not far."

Twilight shook her head and went back to steering. Nimbus turned back to the river and continued on. Suddenly, something shook the boat below. Fluttershy's eyes went wide, and she fell over, fainting.

"What in Equestria was that?" Applejack asked.

"It's probably just a log," Nimbus explained, though he wasn't convinced. They traveled farther, when the bump happened again.

"Really, Nimbus," Rarity said, peering over the boat's side, "do try to be more careful."

"But I am being careful," Nimbus said, "I've been-"

He was interrupted by a sudden scream from Rarity.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, poking her head out again.

"There's something down there!" Rarity said, biting her hooves. Mecha looked where Rarity had indicated.

"I don't see anything," he said.

"But there was an eye!" Rarity insisted, " a huge eye!"

Mecha looked up suddenly. "An eye, you say?"

"Yes."

"Luna preserve us," he whispered, "then it fits."

"What fits?" Applejack asked, stepping over the sleeping Rainbow Dash and unconscious Fluttershy to get to Mecha.

"Well, this is the same stalking pattern used by most River Serpents," Mecha explained.

"Ooh, what's a River Serpent?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Think of a Sea Serpent," Mecha said, "but meaner, and more dangerous."

"Oh, goody!" Pinkie said, then realized what Mecha had just told her. "Oh, wait- that's not good at all."

"Right you are," said Mecha. " The best thing we can do is keep away from the sides of the boat."

"No need to twist my leg to get me to do that," said Applejack, getting as far away from the sides as she could. From above, Nimbus suddenly turned around. "See that bend in the river ahead?" he called out, "my family lives right around it! We're almost there!"

Rarity breathed a sigh of relief. A tad premature, it seemed, because at that instant, the water in front of the boat exploded upwards. Nimbus was almost hit by a large, muscular, serpentine body that sprang up from the river's depths. When the water finally settled, he saw what was really in front of him. He was, in fact, staring down a massive River Serpent.

"So that's what I forgot about," he said, trying not to look too scared.

"What is that?" Twilight asked.

"It's our protection," he said," from intruders."

"So your family keeps a River Serpent practically in their front yard?" Rarity asked, somewhat appalled.

"I need to look into that," Mecha mumbled.

"In answer to your question," Nimbus said to Rarity, "yes." He looked back at the Serpent, who was still glaring at him, "and I think I've forgotten the password."

"Well, this is just great," said Pinkie, glaring up at the beast, "doesn't he remember you?"

"Well yeah," said Nimbus, "but for all he knows, I could be a Changeling."

"Good point," said Pinkie. At that moment, Rainbow Dash woke up.

"Hey," she said groggily, "what's all the commotion about?" Then she saw the Serpent.

"Hang on, guys!" she said, launching herself at the creature, "I've got this!"

"Wait!" Nimbus said, "that's not a good-" Rainbow Dash smacked the creature in the face, "-idea."

The Serpent glared, then went back underwater.

"See?" said Rainbow Dash, "he wouldn't dare mess with me."

"I don't think that's it," said Mec ha. "I hope you guys can swim."

"Why would you ask that?" Twilight said, coming on deck, then she came to the same conclusion that Mecha had come to.

"Oh."

She barely got the word out when the boat splintered as the Serpent broke through the deck, scattering ponies everywhere. Nimbus looked down at the devastation. Fluttershy was amazingly still out cold, safe on a piece of driftwood, but everyone else was trying to stay afloat. He racked his brain, trying to remember what to say to the Serpent, but the words wouldn't come to him. The Serpent rose up from the water again, jaws wide. This wasn't going to be a simple scare attack this time. Now the creature was going for the kill. Nimbus was about to say something, anything, when Fluttershy came to.

"Oh my," she said, seeing the Serpent about to make a meal out of Nimbus, "excuse me, Mr. River Serpent," she whispered. The creature turned from Nimbus to her, and fixated his large, yellow eyes on her.

"Why are you hurting my friends?" she asked, appalled, "you should really know better."

"But this is my job!" the Serpent said, hissing, "I have to defend my keepers!"

"But that orange Pegasus is one of your keepers!" Fluttershy said. The Serpent looked bac k at Nimbus, then back to Fluttershy.

"Then why doesn't he know the passphrase?"

"I've been away for a while," Nimbus explained. The Serpent glared at him.

"It's the truth," Fluttershy said. The Serpent settled down to Fluttershy's eye level and spoke again.

"Very well, you may pass, but I'll have my eyes on you."

"Pass?" Rainbow Dash asked, dragging herself onto the river bank, evidently awake now, "well how are we supposed to do that without a boat?"

"You won't have to," a voice said behind her. Rainbow Dash whipped around. Emerging from the trees were two Pegasi. Their cutie marks were those of a storm cloud and a tornado, each with a lightning bolt through them.

"I trust it is us you seek?" The first of the Pegasi spoke. He was blue, with a black mane, and he bore the tornado cutie mark.

"Well yes," said Twilight, "are you Nimbus's-"

"Nimbus!" the other pony, yellow, with a black mane said, "you're home!"

Nimbus settled on the ground in front of the ponies. "Sure am," he said. "Hi mom, hi dad."