Stand for Everfree

By volrathxp

Code Phrase: #StandForEverfree

Gloriosa Daisy stood, wiping the sweat off her brow. Another piece of equipment was in place, and they were one step closer to being done for the day. The sun in the sky had not yet waned into sunset and was still beating down, making her thirsty.

Across the camp, her younger brother Timber Spruce was chopping wood for the campfires. Numerous other volunteers were going to and fro, getting things ready for the ultimate Summer Camp experience: Whinny City Pony Con 2024.

Gloriosa smiled. This wasn’t Camp Everfree – nothing would replace that place in her heart – but this place was beautiful in its own right. The convention had secured a park near the hotel to utilize as a large-scale campsite for attendees to fully dive into the year’s theme in addition to the activities at the hotel. There would be s’mores, scary stories, and genuine campfire sing-alongs.

Things hadn’t been the same since the events of Ponyville Ciderfest. Not everyone the Book of All Stories had brought into this world had been able to go back. Gloriosa and Timber were one of those few who were stuck, unable to return to their own world. Thankfully, the Con Chairs and the Storytelling Team had been truly wonderful, helping the two find a place where they could help and live peacefully.

When the idea had been put forth about giving Whinny City a Summer Camp theme, Gloriosa and Timber jumped at the idea and proposed the idea for the external campsite. Surprisingly, the convention agreed and began putting together the project plan needed to make it happen.

Now the convention was only a few weeks away and work was getting started. Gloriosa had taken point as head of the campsite project, but she had learned so many lessons thanks to her friends from Canterlot High that she shared that leadership with her brother, leaning on his own expertise.

Gloriosa put down the hammer she was using and wiped her brow yet again. She really did need to get something to drink. Reaching for her canteen, she realized it was stone cold dry. She blinked. Had she really already drank her water?

Gloriosa grimaced as she walked through the camp, seeking out some form of water, but every dispenser seemed to be completely and utterly dry. As she reached the back of the camp, the soft sounds of a rushing river met her ears. Gloriosa perked up, heading towards the sound. Soon she found herself far from the sounds of the workers in the camp and in the woods nearby. As she closed in on the sound, a hand reached out and grabbed hers.

“Wha?!” Gloriosa exclaimed as she looked up to see Timber Spruce standing there.

“You alright there, sis?” Timber asked. “You look like you’re dehydrating.”

“I’m okay… you just scared me that’s all. I was actually going to look for some water, all of the sources around the camp were dry,” she said. “Why did you follow me?”

Timber looked confused. “What do you mean? There’s plenty of water back at the camp. I saw you run off into the woods and was worried you were going to get hurt.”

“Okay, that is a bit weird,” Gloriosa said. “When I checked, there wasn’t any water anywhere. It’s almost as if…”

“As if you were under some sort of spell,” Timber finished for her. “But that doesn’t make any sense. Magic doesn’t work here like it did in our world.”

“I know, but I know what I saw. Why would some spell make it so I can’t find water, unless it’s to…” Gloriosa drifted off, her ears picking up the sound of rushing water again. “Do you hear that? The river?”

Timber listened for a few moments. “Yeah, I can hear it. You want to go check it out?” he said with a slight grin. “It has been a while since we’ve had a break today. I’m sure the volunteers can work on their own for a little bit while we investigate. Might be a cool place to bring the campers.”

Gloriosa nodded, smiling. It would feel like old times, when they were together at Camp Everfree. Soon, the two were continuing to walk, with Gloriosa finally getting some water from Timber’s canteen, chatting about the upcoming convention and how much fun things would be, taking Gloriosa’s mind off of what had initially led her here. They finally broke through the brush and found themselves in front of a serene pond next to a waterfall.

“Wow,” Timber said. “This is amazing. It’s almost like being back home.”

“Yeah,” Gloriosa said. “I know it’s not home, but there’s places here that are just as beautiful. Maybe… maybe after the convention is over, we should go visit some of them?”

“Are you saying strike out on our own?” Timber asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, just you and me. We could start our own exploration and adventuring company. Put our expertise to good use and take people to beautiful places, just like this one,” Gloriosa said. “We may never be able to make it back home, but we can make the best out of this one.”

Timber fell silent for several long moments. “I… I don’t know, Gloriosa. What about Twilight and the others? I can’t leave if there’s a chance we could get back to them.”

“I know you miss her. I miss them all, but if we can’t move forward…” Gloriosa said solemnly, drifting off slightly before continuing. “Timber. We’re not going home.”

“You don’t know that!” Timber exclaimed. “We just have to be patient, right? That’s what they said. But it’s been months… and nothing.”

Gloriosa sighed. “Timber…”

Timber lowered his head and grimaced. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll never see her again,” he said after a few moments.

Gloriosa moved to place her hand on Timber’s shoulder to console him, as she had often done so many times in the past growing up. Timber moved away, stepping up to the edge of the pool where he slumped to his knees.

“I just… I don’t know if I can do this, sis,” Timber said. His eyes drifted across the pond and Gloriosa heard a soft gasp come from his mouth. “What is that?”

Gloriosa followed his gaze, seeing a glowing light coming from the pond. Her eyes widened as she realized the glow was coming from a small statue in the center of it. Embedded within were several large glowing gems. Gloriosa was immediately reminded of what happened at Camp Everfree. A thought tugged in the back of her mind. What if she had been under a spell, and it was just to get her here, in order to take these gems just like she had done so in her world?

“Timber, I think we should go. Those look dangerous. Remember what happened the last time we got too close to Equestrian magic?” she said quickly.

“But… what if that is how we get home?” Timber said, standing. “If it is truly Equestrian magic, it can do that, right?”

“Or it could be dangerous,” Gloriosa said. “Remember what happened to me?”

Timber sighed, glancing down at the glowing gems in the pool. It would be so easy to find out, but maybe Gloriosa was right…

[CHOICE]
Does Timber leave with Gloriosa or take the gems?

Leave with Gloriosa (Hero)
Take the gems (Villain)

[CHOICE A: HERO]
Timber finally turned his gaze away from the pool and looked at his sister. “You’re right, you’re right. We can’t trust it. We should probably let the convention know so that the authorities can be called about this place.”

Gloriosa nodded. “Once we get back to the camp, we’ll make sure they are aware,” she said. “Come on, it’s not too far back there.”

Timber smiled and walked behind his sister, pausing once more to gaze back at the pond before moving on.

The two walked for a few more minutes before Timber spoke again.

“Let’s do it,” he said.

“Hmmm?” Gloriosa asked.

“Your idea. Once Whinny City is over, we’ll go start our own business. How does ‘Everfree Expeditions’ sound?” Timber said.

“I like it,” Gloriosa said. “I’m glad you’re interested. I would have never wanted to do this without you by my side.”

“I miss them all,” Timber said softly.

“I do too,” Gloriosa said. “But let’s make their memory count. We got this.”

(+1 Page for Heroes)

[ENDING B: VILLAIN]
Timber splashed forward into the pond, soaking himself to the bone as he reached the gems. With a quick snatch he pulled them out of the statue. There were three of them, each of them glowing brightly.

“Timber, stop!” Gloriosa called from the edge of the pond. “You don’t know what they will do!”

“I’m going to get us home!” Timber called back. “Don’t worry, I got this!”

The three gems glowed brightly as Timber clutched onto them. All around him, the veil of reality began to thin. Portals started opening all around the pond and in one of them, a familiar statue of a horse in front of a school could be seen.

Timber shouted out with glee. Home was in reach! He moved towards the portal before the gems began glowing an angry red. He moved to take a step but was blown back to the edge of the pond next to Gloriosa.

“What happened?!” Gloriosa exclaimed. “What did you do?!”

“I don’t know!” Timber said. “It opened the portal to home just like I wanted!”

“Yeah, but it’s not closing! Timber, none of them are closing!” Gloriosa said.

Timber’s eyes widened. She was right. None of the portals were closing. They were just getting bigger by the moment. He dropped the gems onto the ground. Nothing happened. He turned to his sister.

“We have to warn everyone, get them as far away from here as possible!” he said.

Gloriosa nodded as the two started to run from the pond. Timber took one last look at the statue in front of Canterlot High before joining her.

What have I done? Timber thought to himself as he ran. Twilight… I’m so sorry.

(+1 Page for Villain)

Author's Note

Another for Whinny. I wanted to lean on the Summer Camp theme and do something with Gloriosa Daisy and Timber Spruce. It seemed fun and interesting.