The Forgotten Race

Galad sets up the protection runes, then has a light dinner before setting out his bedroll and going to sleep. He wakes to see a darkened sky and shrugs his shoulders saying, "I sometimes wake up a bit early, but perhaps I just woke up before the sun rises. It would be rather lazy of me to go back to sleep, I will just have to make the most out of this adventure and continue to explore this place.

He cleans up the area and puts the fire out and continues to follow the river until he reaches a rail line heading north and south across the river when he notices a tall mountain in the distance with something barely visible on the side of it. He decides to make his way towards it and starts to follow the tracks to the north, hoping they lead to some sort of village.

He walks for a bit longer until he sees darkened houses in the distance, he then cautiously makes his way towards them when he spots a group of six creatures making their way towards him. He hurriedly makes his way to a dark group of trees to watch the group make their way closer to him, he starts to hear chatter among them and listens to what they say.

Pinkie giggles and says, "Whee! Let's take a walk through this creepy, dark forest!" She then starts to head into the forest when Twilight stops her.

Twilight looks to Pinkie and says, "Hold it Pinkie, not so fast. I appreciate the offer, but I would rather do this myself."

Applejack then looks to Twilight and says, "Sorry, no can do sugar cube. We ain't gonna let any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone, we're gonna be stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple." She then walks forward with the others into the forest.

Pinkie then follows the group in saying, "MHM, Even if there are any candy apples in there, they are sooo good."

Galad hears a sigh from the last member of the group and follows after her, making sure to keep a distance from them as he is outnumbered. He tries to figure out what to do and thinks, 'How am I going to introduce myself to them? I wonder if they are even friendly towards other creatures? I better keep quiet and follow them until I know more about them, I wish that dang sun would rise so I can get a better look at them.'

Fluttershy continues to nervously follow the group into the forest as her eyes dart around at various things and says, "So...have any of you girls been in here before?"

Rarity looks around at the dreary-looking forest and says, "H-Heavens no darling, just look at this place. It looks so dreadful in here."

Applejack looks behind her, thinking she heard a twig snap, and says, "It just doesn't seem natural. I hear folks say it's not the same as Equestria."

Galad continues to follow them when he hears a chicken clucking beside him and stops in his tracks. Recognizing the sound as a cockatrice, he notices something white to his right and closes his eyes. He then moves his hammer to the left and swings his hammer as hard as he can in its direction, hearing a crunching sound then a deep, loud crack as his hammer slams into a tree.

Fluttershy lets out a brief scream in fright and says, "W-What was that just now?!" Her legs then tremble in fear at the sudden noise.

Applejack looks around behind them for the noise, not seeing anything she says, "I-I don't know girls, but we can't fight what we can't see. So let's keep moving."

Hoping he got the creature, he slowly turns his head to the right and cracks one eye open, letting out a sigh of relief at seeing the creature crushed against the tree by his hammer and pulls it free. He watches the lifeless corpse fall to the floor and then kicks it away from him, despising the unnatural beast. He then gets a little bit closer to the group and listens to a bit more of their conversation.

Rainbow creeps towards the others as Applejack and Twilight stand behind her and grins evilly while saying, "It is because that every pony whoever comes in here, has never...came...BACK!"

He watches as a large part of the cliff gives way and falls to the ground below, taking most of the group with it, and sneaks as close to the edge as he can without being seen. He looks over the edge as they slide down as two of the members fly down and carry them one by one to the ground safely, with the last one being caught and taken to the ground below. Looking carefully at the side, he finds a few small drops that will allow him to jump his way down the steep slide. He takes the first jump and feels it start to crumble away and quickly takes another, he sighs with relief as this one holds as he then looks for the one below.

Eventually reaching the middle of the cliff, he looks over the edge and sees more platforms to jump to. Taking his sweet time getting down the cliff, he takes the last jump and lets out a sigh of relief, and sees the group continuing into the forest. He then hurries along to catch up to them before he loses sight.

Rainbow Dash flies in the air behind the group and lands next to Twilight saying, "Oh that was great, once Pinkie, and Rarity were safely return to the ground...WHOOSH...Me and Fluttershy did a loop-a-loop around and...WHAM...caught you just in time."

Twilight rolls her eyes and continues walking and says, "Yes Rainbow, I know. I was there and I'm very grateful for you both saving me, but we have to..." She then gasps in fright as a manticore lands on the ground before them.

Galad hears the roar of a manticore and races through the brush to catch up to them, seeing the group trying to fight the creature in vain. He is just about to burst through the brush when he hears one of them shout, "WAIT!" and skids to a stop just past the edge of the bush. He curiously watches as one of the group walks up to the creature and starts talking to it, eventually pulling something out of its paw then walk right past it after a hug and a few licks from it. He then proceeds to follow after them when the manticore spots the dwarf and rushes away into the forest. He spots the thorn a distance away when it vanishes into a puff of smoke and takes off, making him curious as to what that puff of purple smoke is.

Rarity looks around wearily at the forest and says, "Ugh, this place is hideous! My eyes need a break from all this ickiness."

Twilight looks around as everything turns dark from the lack of moonlight and sighs saying, "Oh that ruin could be right in front of us, and we would never be able to tell."

He notices that the trees have odd faces on them as the group members begin to scream in fear when one of them starts to laugh, then begins to sing a song. Hearing the pony's song starts to irritate him, causing him to shove his fingers into his ears to block the noise out saying, "Ugh, I ain't 35 anymore. This is the most annoying song I ever heard." He continues to watch their movements as the faces slowly start to disappear.

Galad watches as the girls continue moving forward and removes his fingers from his ears, seeing that a roiling river with a weeping water serpent lies within it. His attention is piqued at hearing the water serpent mention purple smoke and pays further attention.

Rarity rushes between Applejack and Rainbow Dash as they pay no mind to the creature's distress and says, "Why of course it is a big deal, you shouldn't ever be so insensitive to a creature in distress. Can't you see that he has such lovely, luminescent scales, and an expertly coiffed mane. You also have such a fabulous manicure, and it is all ruined without your beautiful mustache."

The sea serpent breaks down and wails, crossing his arms over his head saying, "Oh it is true, I am just absolutely hideous!"

She looks up at him and narrows her eyes with determination saying, "I just simply cannot allow a crime to go uncorrected!" She then opens her mouth and pulls off a loose scale, then uses it to hack off her tail. She drops the scale as the serpent collapses onto the ground at the display, then picks her lopped-off tail up and attaches it to the damaged part of the mustache saying, "There you go, now you look smashing."

He watches as one of them starts to cross when a part of the sea serpent rises from the water, lifting them out and allowing them to stay dry. He then starts to follow after them as the last pony reaches the other side when the sea serpent lifts his head and sees him hopping across his body, gasping in surprise, and begins to tremble out of fear.

The serpent places its claws into its mouth and starts to bite them fearfully as his body trembles at the sight of the dwarf and stammers, "P-P-Please don't kill me, I-I-I do not want to c-c-cause any t-t-trouble."

Galad looks the serpent in the eye and sighs saying, "Neither am I, to be honest. So can you do me a favor and please settle down before you make me fall into the water?"

He slowly tries to get his fear under control and continues to stammer, "O-O-Okay, I-I will t-try. I remember the last time I saw a dwarf, I was swimming along the bottom of the ocean west of here when the others around me started heading to the surface. I followed them up after hearing a few of them start screaming in pain, what I saw up there were many sailboats firing harpoons into the others and pulling them on board. I managed to tip one boat over and heard one of the creatures say, 'That bastard just destroyed one of our boats, kill them all and save as many dwarves as we can!' I felt a harpoon go right through my body and fled towards the bottom of the sea, I then went into hibernation for a few years before I made my way into the rivers away from the sea. Now I wander through the seas fearing that the dwarves will return and try to kill me, there are not as many sea serpents remaining in Equestria. I have looked far and wide through every ocean before my fear of the open ocean started to set in, there are only around 200 sea serpents like me left out there, oh woe is me!"

The dwarf sighs at remembering what the dwarves have done in the past in their desire to make the world a better place, taking a few moments of silence before saying, "I do apologize for what you went through, the dwarves stopped sailing the oceans because we detest the sea. It is so vast, and it reminds us of how small we are in the world."

The serpent slowly calms down at hearing that and stops his body's trembling then says, "So what brings a dwarf like you this far from your mountain home?"

Galad looks up at the serpent and shakes his head saying, "Well, I got bored of just learning of what was in the world beyond the mountain, I want to experience it for myself and perhaps make a few new friends. I was following that group when they helped you and crossed the river with your help, will you allow me to pass to the other side?"

He smiles and looks at him saying, "Of course I shall, but can you tell me what your name is?"

The dwarf nods his head and says, "My name is Lord Galad Hillsworth, I come from Hammerdeep. What is your name, sea serpent?"

The serpent bows to him saying, "It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Galad, my name is Steven Magnet. Please have a marvelous day and do watch out for tacky clouds of purple smoke, they are very rude." He then dives his upper body below the water and remakes the bridge to allow his friend to cross.

Galad crosses the river and tries to catch up with the group, catching up to them as they reach a rope and plank bridge across a vast cavern. He watches as one of the group flies over to the other side with the broken rope, then drops it as some other ponies stop in front of them when a bank of thick fog rolls in and blocks his view. A few moments pass as the bank finally clears away with the bridge repaired, allowing the others to cross it safely.

Rainbow flies alongside Twilight and says, "Don't worry, I would never leave my friends hanging for selfish desires."

He carefully crosses the bridge, hearing it creak with each step he takes as he hears them speak from within the ruins. After reaching the other side, he then hears them making their way out and hurries off to the side to take shelter when a flash comes from inside the room. Looking inside, he sees that one of them is missing and wonders what will happen next when the other ponies start to run around the room looking for the other member.

Applejack stops and asks, "Where in tarnation did she go?"

Rarity looks out a broken window, seeing light shine through the windows of a nearby tower and says, "Look, there is something going on up there!"

She then says, "Come on y'all, let's go check it out!" then takes off through an open door leading to the tower.

Galad then sets his hammer down, followed by his pack, and feels a need to get his shield from it. He then unties his shield from the pack and puts it on his left arm and holds the other handle with his left hand, then picks up his hammer and follows the group of ponies along the path.

Twilight charges a spell while running towards Nightmare Moon, activating her spell moments before colliding with her and arrives before the five elements and begins to try to charge them herself with her magic saying, "Oh I sure hope this will work." when it backfires and zaps her, sending her flying backwards a fair distance away as Nightmare Moon appears out of purple smoke amid the hovering stone elements.

Nightmare Moon then says in her booming voice, "You little foal, you honestly thought that would work!?" She then stomps her hooves on the ground, shattering the elements into small shards and continues saying, "Now you won't ever see your princess or your beloved sun, this beautiful night will last forever!" She begins to laugh maniacally as if she had already won.

Galad follows the ponies up the stairs slowly as he listens to their conversation, waiting for the right moment to make his presence known. He hugs the wall as one of the girls speaks, having the full attention of the larger pony.

The evil mare stands up tall and then bellows, "You are still lacking the sixth element, the elements won't work without the sixth!"

He chuckles and sees a chance to be a distraction and says, "Wow, you are one slow mare if you don't already know."

They all turn to look around the room to find out who said that as Nightmare Moon bellows, "WHO DARES TO INSULT THE RULER OF THE NIGHT, COME FORTH NOW AND BE PUNISHED!"

Galad steps away from the wall and makes his way into the chamber as the other ponies finally notice him and watch in wonder, looking at the tall mare saying, "The only one that will be punished this day is you oh tall, dark, and slightly disturbed one."

Nightmare Moon glares at the creature and responds, "DO YOU WISH TO TEST MY POWER, INFERIOR CREATURE!?"

He grins and then chuckles saying, "I would love to, I haven't had a decent sparring partner in years. Now come at me, and I shall show you who is inferior!" He then jogs towards her with his shield and hammer ready, shooting a glance to the purple pony that was speaking earlier saying, "You are only going to get one chance, find the opportunity and make your strike."

Twilight cocks her head in confusion as she wonders who and what that creature is, and why it is here. She then looks to the others and asks, "Do any of you know who or what that is?"

The princess of the night screams out in agitation and fires a beam directly at the creature, watching as it blocks it with its shield. Trying a different approach, she takes flight and charges him.

Galad then dodges her charging attempt and stops near the end of the hall and taunts her saying, "Okay, you don't totally suck at ranged attacks. Come here and show me how skilled you are at melee combat."

Applejack watches the creature skillfully block and dodge her attacks and says, "Wow, that is some skill they have whoever it is."

Twilight then looks to her friends and says, "I felt a different kind of spark when I realized how happy I felt to hear you, to see you come all this way, and how much I cared about all of you. I felt the spark when I realized that you all...are my friends!"

Nightmare Moon is just about to slam her hooves down upon the downed creature when a bright flash catches her attention, forcing her to look up and say, "What is that up there?"

He looks up as the sixth element appears and turns into a crown, bringing a smile to his face as he kicks her back hooves out from under her. Rolling out from under her miraculously lands somewhat upright and raises his shield saying, "That is true magic, and you have lost." He then stops her from preparing another spell with her horn and slams his shield into the side of her head, making a loud clang ring out from the contact with her helm.

She tries to focus through the ringing in her head saying, "AARGHH, YOU FOUGHT DIRTY! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE AGAINST YOU FOR THAT!!" She tries to get her back legs under her, but her balance is completely off.

Galad sees a rainbow heading straight to her and rushes out of the way, standing on the far side of the room as she is struck by the beam screaming no. He looks on in wonder as a bright flash of light fills the room, blinding him completely and making him rub his eyes in pain. He spends a few minutes rubbing the spots out of his eyes when he starts to hear them wake up. He leans up against the wall as they talk amongst themselves, completely forgetting he is there.

Applejack looks to her friend and smiles saying, "Wow Twilight, I thought that you were just spouting a lot of hooey about the Elements of Harmony, I now reckon that we really do represent the Elements of Friendship."

He then hears a new voice saying, "Indeed you all do." and sees rays of light start to shine through the window and says, "It's about time the sun came up, it would be bad for this land if night actually lasted forever." He shields his eyes as a bright orb of light comes in through the window and lands on the ground before them all, then fades to show a pure white pony with wings, a unicorn horn, a sun cutie mark, and a multicolored, flowing ethereal mane and tail.

Happy to see her mentor return, she runs forth and nuzzles against her foreleg saying, "Princess Celestia, you are back!"

Celestia looks at her student and nuzzles her back then smiles saying, "Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, I knew you could do it."

She looks up to her mentor and says, "But I remember from the letter, you told me it was just an old pony tale."

The princess giggles lightly and caresses her student's neck saying, "I just told you that you needed to make some friends, nothing else. I also noticed the signs of Nightmare Moon's return, I knew that you had the magic inside to unite the elements and defeat her. You could not unleash it until you allowed true friendship to enter your heart. I only hope that now another will try to as well..." She then shifts her gaze to the prone form on the floor then says, "Princess Luna."

Little Luna wakes up with a start and a minor headache as a soft ringing echoes through her head, she sees the creature near her sister and gasps as she approaches her while the creature stays against the column.

Princess Celestia looks down to her sister and slowly walks towards her saying, "It has been a thousand years since I saw you this way. Don't you think that it is time to put our differences behind us? Didn't you know that we were always meant to rule together, little sister? Can you accept my friendship?"

She walks over to her sister and happily hugs her saying, "I am so sorry, I have missed you so much, big sister."

Galad watches the touching reunion continue on for a few more minutes before he starts to feel a sneeze coming on and tries to fight it off softly saying, "Oh not now, I'm not gonna ruin this moment for them like...ah....ah....ahh, Ahh CHOO!" as he jerks forward, a short but very noticeable fart is pushed out of his rear end. He straightens himself as one of them slowly falls over in a fit of giggles and looks to the two princesses across the room and bows to them saying, "A thousand apologies, Your Majesties. I was unable to restrain myself from sneezing or releasing air."