Rendezvous
i need to find them
Load Full Story"Team? Hello? Is anypony there?"
...
"Sound off! That's an order!"
...
"Celestia darn it all. Where are they?"
This is far from ideal.
"Soarin'? Wave Chill? Thunderlane? Fleetfoot?"
...
"... Rainbow... Dash...?"
I'll find them. I have to find them. I'm going to find them.
"I'm going to head for the cavern. The spot where all the caves converge? We passed it on the way down. If you can hear me, meet me there. Please..."
Or, better yet, just respond. That would work much better.
Have to stay quiet. Can't let myself be heard.
...
... What... was that thing? It took us all out like... fodder...
...
...
...
"Hello?! Is anypony there?"
I wish we'd never accepted this Celestia-forsaken mission. I hate it here.
"Hello? It's Spitfire, the captain. If you can hear me, respond."
I hate it here.
So dark.
"Listen, If you're hurt, I can help. Please, for the love of--"
"... Hello?"
Finally!
"Yes! Hello! Where are you?"
...
"... Are you hurt?"
...
"Yes, my wing's stuck. It really hurts, think I fractured an ulna. Some assistance would be nice."
"Where are you?"
"I don't know! Everything's so dark, you think I'm supposed to know where I am?! I can't see my own hoof in front of my face!"
"Oh, right. Just keep talking, I'll make my way over to you."
"Oh, sure thing, Captain. If there's ever been one thing I'm good at, it's running my big, dumb mouth way longer than I should be. Why else would we be in this mess?"
...
"Don't say that, Soarin'. It's not your fault we're down here."
"That's kind of you to say, Spits, but you're not fooling me. I never should've asked for a tougher mission. Now we're all over the place. I really let everypony down."
"Don't beat yourself up, lieutenant. Good might come of this!"
"Oh, yeah? You mean aside from my broken wing, the Wonderbolts getting separated, and the freaky monster coming after us?"
...
"Let me meet up with you, Soarin'. We can talk then."
"You know about the... thing that lives here, right? Do you have any idea what we've gotten ourselves into?"
Almost there, just a little more.
"Listen, Soarin', I believe in us. We've been through tougher scrapes, haven't we?"
...
"Soarin'?"
...
...
"SOARIN'!?"
No, no, no, nonononono
...
I... I...
"I'm too late."
Tartarus condemn it all.
...
Is that... a feather? One of Soarin's?
"I'll remember you."
...
...
...
"Hello? Is there anypony else?"
I hate it here.
"Hello?"
...
i
"Hello?!"
...
hate
"Anypony, please."
it
...
"I don't want to be alone. Not again."
...
"... Spitfire?"
there!
"FLEETFOOT!"
Finally!
"I'm coming, Fleetfoot! Stay right there! Don't move!"
"Wait! Stop!"
...
"Whuh... why?"
"Tell me something only Spitfire would know. Don't come any closer until you do.
"Wha... don't you trust me? How long have we been partners for, and you still can't accept that I'm trying to help?"
"That's what I'm asking. Tell me how long we've known each other, or something. Don't you know what we're up against?"
...
"I... you..."
"This thing can mimic voices perfectly. In the dark, it's even better than a changeling. The only hint of it getting closer is the bright flash right before it pounces. So tell me something, Spitfire, before you approach. I need to know..."
...
...
Gone, all gone.
She really just...
Swept right out from under my hooves. My best friend. That beast.
To hell with it all.
I
Hate
It
...
...
...
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Spitfire! Thank gosh! Hurry, come quick!"
"I'm coming! What is it?"
"We found everypony! We're all here! Soarin' said you were toast, but I knew better than that! You're way too awesome to go down without a fight!"
...
"You bet! I kicked that thing right in the jaw and got away, even without seeing anything! Takes more than an ambush to get the jump on this ol' captain!"
Heck yeah! Now, c'mon! Wave Chill thinks he's found a way to get everypony out of here."
"Oh? And how might that be?"
I hate it here.
"Well, the air currents lead straight to the surface! With our pegasus magic, we can track even the tiniest of breezes!"
...
"Wait... where are you guys going? Wha--"
"You'll love it here!"
"Come back."
"Why won't you come back to me?"
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
"It's been so long sin
ce I've had anyone t
o play with."
...
...
...
Ponies want to
be my friend for
ever and ever??
There! I found you!
"Come and play!"
"Is that a filly?"
"Just ignore it. We're almost out of here."
"Right. I still can't believe you guys left me behind like that."
"Oh, get over it, Crash. We heard the monster coming, and there's no way we can fight it when we can't even see!
"I'm surprised you got outta there, to be honest."
"Oh c'mon, Soarin'! Spitfire might be... gone... but that doesn't mean this thing can't be beat!"
"How long has it been, anyway? Feels like days. D'you think they ever sent a search party?"
"Doubtful. Who'd be willing to get all the way down here for the likes of us? And the 'great Wonderbolts' would surely be able to handle themselves anyway."
"Don't be such a downer, Fleetfoot!"
"Half our team is dead, Dash. Give me one reason to be happy.
"Guys! I think I'm starting to see some light!"
no. no. silly.
"Well, there you go! That's a reason!"
...
"I guess so. I can't wait to get outta here."
"Me, too. I hate it here."
"Hey, that sounds like something Spitfire would say!"
Poor, poor Spitfire.
"Agh, my eyes! The light's getting brighter!"
"Do you guys think there's an afterlife?"
"What the hay kind of question is that!?"
"Y'know, Dash, I doubt it. It just wouldn't make sense, right?"
"You're wrong."
"...Dash?!"
"Oh, Celestia save us..."
"You'll see."
"NO! GET BACK! NO--"
"RUN FOR IT! GO!"
"You'll learn."
"Please, please, no, no no n--
"You'll be part of me. All of you. You'll meet up in me and be together."
"HELP US! PLEA--
...
...
...
forever.