Upon materializing into the room, I noticed the Mane 6 discussing their plans. The Cutie Map had moved their cutie marks towards a remote location far from Ponyville.
“I don’t understand,” Twilight began, “the map wants us to journey past the borders of Equestria?”
“I suppose that means we got an adventure on our hooves!” Applejack cheered.
“But past Equestria? What does it want with us there?” Spike walked on the map, standing right at the location of the cutie marks.
After grabbing him with her magic, Twilight spoke again, “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll have to find out.”
“A road trip!” I squealed with joy, “Perhaps I should accompany you on this splendid adventure. You could use my help.”
Pinkie began laughing, inciting a glare from Twilight. “Pinkie!”
“He’s making funny faces!” She laughed, and as Twilight glanced back at me, I acted nonchalantly.
“I hate to interject, but we might actually need his help.” Applejack said, causing Fluttershy to nod as well.
“I agree, Discord’s been very helpful recently!”
Twilight groaned, “Ugh. Fine. You can come too.”
“Splendid! I’ll get my things!” I materialized a camping outfit, fit with a fishing rod, hat, and a massive backpack.
—
“Isn’t this fun? A nice adventure like a big ol’ happy family,” I squealed, “it gets me all giggly just thinking about it! Perhaps we can tell scary stories by the fire—roast marshmallows and tread the highest peaks and the deepest of weeds!”
“This ain’t a camping trip, Discord, you know that right?” Applejack asked.
Pinkie giggled as she skipped by, “I think that’s a great idea! We could even go surfing or kayaking!”
“Aw yeah!” Rainbow Dash agreed.
“Now hold on just a stink-tootin’ minute there—” Applejack was interrupted by Spike.
“Oh! Or we could go on a scavenger hunt!”
“A scavenger hunt for different birds and critters!” Fluttershy smiled, causing me to smile as well.
“Well, I was thinking of gems for a midnight snack.” Spike rubbed his stomach while licking his lips.
“What a great idea, Spike!” Rarity began, “We could search through some of these caves on the way there. I’ve already started drawing up dresses based on what we’ve seen thus far.”
“Nature-themed dresses?” Fluttershy peeked at Rarity’s sketchbook before gasping, “Those are amazing, Rarity!”
“Why thank you, Fluttershy, you’re too kind.” Rarity said, causing Fluttershy to giggle.
“Of course, it’s my Element after all!”
Twilight sighed, “We’re not here to party—”
“Did somepony say: party?” Pinkie Pie pulled out a few confetti bombs out of nowhere, exploding them right by Twilight. Twilight, figuring it would take too long to try to get the girls to focus, ultimately decided to stop trying.
By the time we made it to the shoreline, which had taken a number of hours, the Mane 6—including Spike— were starting to wonder how they’d get from point A… the mainland… to point B… the island. Which wasn’t exactly anywhere in sight.
“Are you sure we’re at the right place?” Spike asked Twilight, who glanced down at the map she wielded in her magic.
“It seems so… the island should be somewhere out there.”
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” I said while casually sitting in a camping chair I materialized. After casting a line out to sea, I sipped through a crazy straw which harbored chocolate milk. I even had a nice pair of sunglasses on to go along with it.
“A little help would be nice.” Applejack mumbled.
“I agree, Applejack. It would be pleasant if you’d at least summon a Prestige X70 Yacht for our arrival.” Rarity fixed her mane while Applejack glanced over.
“Why so specific?” she asked.
“Oh, darling… if this island has any locals, I suppose showing up in style wouldn’t be out of the ordinary?”
“I think that’s a little excessive, Rarity.” Rainbow Dash flew above the rest before slightly flying out at sea. “But we will need something in order to get past this current.”
“Discord,” Twilight stormed up to me. “I need you to materialize a boat for us.”
“No can do.” I said, sinking myself further into the chair.
“What? Why?”
“You didn’t say the magic word.” I grinned as I glanced over at her, watching her as she rolled her eyes before sighing.
“Please?”
I raised a brow, wanting her to say it in a complete sentence.
“Will you please get us a boat?”
“Of course! Why didn’t you just say so?” I jumped up from the chair, causing all of my accessories to vanish completely. I snapped my fingers instantly, summoning a small wooden sailboat before teleporting inside of it with a captain’s outfit on. “All aboard my little ponies! Next stop: the mysterious island! What shall we discover? Beasts, creatures from the darkest depths, or even new species entirely? Stand by for our biggest adventure yet!”
—
“Can you see the island?” Twilight called up to Rainbow Dash, who had flown high, hoping to see past the fog.
“No. It’s denser the higher I go. Woah–!” Rainbow Dash, while attempting to fly back down, crashed into the boat. The crash caused a hole to be punctured in the wood, leading the girls and Spike to start panicking. Before Twilight could use her magic to seal it up, I snapped my fingers and patched it up.
“You ponies always overreact at the smallest of things.” I giggled, “You’re welcome.” I said, leaning back in the boat, holding an aluminum tanning reflector despite the fog covering the sun.
“Thank you, Discord.” Twilight said rather unenthusiastically.
“You’re welcome.”
The swaying of the boat seemed to catch Spike off guard, “Ugh— I think I’m gonna be sick—!” He suddenly hurled over the side of the boat, causing the rest of the girls to move away in disgust.
“Uh… Twilight?” Applejack’s attention was ahead of the boat, but despite her longing for attention—Twilight’s eyes were still glued onto me. “Twilight!” Applejack said louder this time, causing Twilight to turn around.
The group gasped, inciting me to lower my head and see what the fuss was all about. I dropped everything and stood up—my eyes falling onto the island seeping through the fog. It wasn’t a normal island, no, it was giant and lush with floating islands; they were connected together with giant vine-like appendages…it felt unreal… chaotic even.
“Is this the island?” I murmured, honestly shocked by the sight. It felt as if we entered a new realm, rather than an expansion of our own.
Twilight looked down at the map before glancing back up, “Uh-huh…”
The boat came to a stop, pushing against the grainy sand and emitting a scratchy sound to go alongside it. The girls and Spike exited the boat, and I had followed soon after.
“This place looks scary…!” Fluttershy squeaked before hiding behind me.
“This place looks… awesome!” Rainbow Dash tried to fly through the island, only to get stopped by Applejack tugging on her tail.
“Woah there nelly—!” Applejack pulled her back down, inducing a glare from Rainbow Dash. “Don’t you think flying in there like a crazed pony is a bad idea?”
“Applejack is right, we don’t know what lives here.” Twilight stepped up as she agreed, “For all we know a monster lives here!”
“Well if it’s anything like we’ve seen before, I’m sure we can all handle it. IF we stick together, that is.” Applejack glared at Rainbow Dash, causing her to nervously chuckle.
“Well what are we waiting for?” Pinkie Pie giggled, “Let’s get going!” Pinkie jumped forward, only to be held back by Twilight's magic. Pinkie's mane deflated as Twilight pulled her back, her hooves dragging on the sand.
“What part of ‘sticking together’ do you not understand?” Twilight grumbled.
“Awh…” Pinkie slammed her muzzle into the sand with a loud sigh.
—
“I don’t like this place…” Fluttershy stuck by my side, walking alongside me as I took note of my surroundings.
“Yes, I suppose this place does induce a sort of… instinctual fear. But you mustn’t judge an island by its nature—especially if it is… quite unnerving.” I mumbled.
“It doesn’t exactly help that I’ve stepped in every single mud pile since we’ve got here!” Rarity complained.
“Maybe you should watch where you step. You’re the only pony complaining!” Applejack replied.
“Oh I doubt that.. right Pinkie—?” Rarity stopped as Pinkie pranced on by, seemingly in her head and complacent. “Nevermind then.”
“Uh… Twilight?” Spike walked beside the alicorn, “Why did the map want us here?”
“I don’t know, Spike. Maybe there’s a secret pony-society here… like the legend of Coltlantis…”
“Why would they need us?”
“I guess we’ll have to find that out… Discord.” Twilight suddenly turned to me, causing my ears to perk up in alert, “We should set up a camp for tonight. You can handle the fire—”
Spike chuckled, “I think I could handle the fire.”
“Fine. Spike and I will handle the fire, Rainbow Dash and Applejack can collect the sticks, Pinkie Pie and Rarity can set up the tents, and Fluttershy and Discord can scout ahead for a place to stay.”
As the other girls went their separate ways, I glanced down at Fluttershy before walking ahead. The lush environment was damp and humid, hot yet cool from the timid breeze… the smell was strange—a mixture of aloe vera and tropical fruit that gave a weird taste on my tongue.
After finding a relatively open area, I teleported Twilight over. The girls and Spike set up the camp, but something seemed… off about this place. It was quiet… too quiet. No birds… no sounds… just silence.
“A little help?” Twilight asked, glaring at me.
“Something’s not right.” I abruptly said, catching the few off guard. “Something here seems… wrong. I—I don’t know what it is.”
The girls were honestly dumbfounded, I had never really acted this way before, but something in my gut wouldn’t keep shut.
“We’re not alone.”
“What?” Twilight stopped what she was doing.
I sniffed a couple of times before suddenly running into the lush environment on all fours, leaving them confused and worried.
“What was that about?” Spike asked.
I ran for quite some time before suddenly stopping, the scent getting more and more overwhelming. I looked around before hearing a stick break in front of me. Behind the dense bushes and vines were two glowing-yellow eyes staring right back at me.
I took a step forward, causing the figure to suddenly disperse… but with the very small glance I saw of it—something seemed strange about it. I was just about to follow when all of the sudden—
“Discord!” Twilight called out behind me. “What was that about?” When she saw my eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and confusion, she lowered her tone. “Are you okay?”
I blinked a few times before nodding and looking down at her, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” I wasn’t. We weren’t alone on this island, that was for sure. Only Celestia knows if these creatures were aggressive.
I sat up almost all night thinking about it… what was that thing? We’re there more? Is this what the Cutie Map needed from the Elements of Harmony? I tried to shrug it off, get some rest, but after the fluttering noises of leaves caught my attention, I couldn’t help it much longer.
I had explored quite a bit of the island, coming across a massive opening covered in lush vines and leaves. The moon was perfectly in view above, but my eyes unfocused as a figure flew past the light. My eyes narrowed as I squinted and my ears slightly pinned towards my head.
Who was that?
I squirmed through the tall foliage, past sticks and tipped over tree trunks when the figure landed abruptly onto a branch, the moon perfectly positioned behind the figure. Something was off about this figure, however. It wasn’t a pony at all…
Author's Note
Although this is on hiatus right now (as of 11/3 which may change) I still wanted to at least upload this so people could read it.
