Pony Adventures: Quest for the Lost Relic

"Are you two sure ya have everything?" asked Goldie Compass, anxiety evident in her voice even if it did not show on her face.

"I'm positive, Goldie," Phoenix answered.

"I made sure to triple-check everything before breakfast."

"And make me double-check everything after breakfast," Sparky said wearily.

It had been two days since the cloaked mare and young unicorn returned from the library, and the former had not seen a moment of peace since. Sparky's time had become split between trip planning and research sessions, everyday chores, and making sure her mother could handle the Inn alone for several weeks--- maybe months. Months on the road and away from her mother, going outside Equestria and to another land while facing unknown dangers. The thought alone made the cloaked mare's bones feel heavy, and the only thing keeping her going was the knowledge that when she returned home, she would be whole. It would all be worth it in the end.

Phoenix appeared to be feeling the exact opposite of Sparky. While the cloaked mare's energy felt near depleted, the young unicorn never felt more peppy and full of stamina. The past two days, she woke up bright and early to prepare for the journey ahead, working tirelessly to ensure everything would go smoothly for herself and her new friend. A new friend! Phoenix still could not believe she had made a new friend so quickly or that the friend asked to join her on her quest. It made the young unicorn feel unstoppable, like no matter what happened along the way, she could conquer it because she was no longer doing it alone.

"Ya have enough food?" Goldie asked Sparky while Phoenix stood outside the front door.
"Yes, Mom," the cloaked mare answered flatly.
"What about supplies? Ya sure you have everything you need to cross the rougher terrain near the borders?"
"Yes, Mom, I am sure."
"What about first aid? Are you sure you have enough supplies if there is an accident? (Whispers) Did you also bring another crystal in case---?"
"Mom, stop!!"

Goldie went silent, biting her lower lip nervously to help her stay quiet. Anyone who did not know the older unicorn would think she did not want her daughter to leave. On the contrary, Goldie was excited that Sparky was getting into the world instead of moping in her room. She was also proud of her daughter for giving the young unicorn a chance and making a new friend. With that in mind, Sparky had also not traveled outside Ponyville in six years and had never been away from her mother for more than a week. Goldie wanted this trip for her daughter more than anything, but there was a nagging feeling in her head repeatedly saying that the cloaked mare was not ready.

"Mom, everything will be okay," said Sparky, throwing her forelimbs around her mother in a tight embrace.
"I know, sweetheart," responded Goldie, returning the unexpected hug--- Sparky rarely initiated hugs.
"It's just...I'm just...*sigh*. Promise me you'll come back in one piece."
"I promise. (Mumbling) I might do one better and return with more pieces than I left."
"What was that last bit?"
"Nothin' you need to worry about!"
"Sparkling Shield, what are you hiding from me?"
"Look at the time! We should've been out of here 10 minutes ago. Love you, Mom!"
"Sparky, wait---!"

The cloaked mare rushed out of the Inn, grabbing the young unicorn who had started a one-sided conversation with a visiting Mr. Pear, and headed straight for the town exit without looking back. In contrast, Phoenix made a point of waving goodbye to Goldie and Mr. Pear, all while she was roughly dragged away from the Inn by her tail. To anyone who saw the two young mares as they passed through town, it would have appeared as if the cloaked one was in charge and the other was simply along for the ride.

"Sparky?" Phoenix asked.
"Hm?" was Sparky's reply.
"Could I walk on my own? We would move faster if I could walk forward instead of backward."
"Oh. I forgot I still had you. Sorry."

Sparky let go of the young unicorn, and the two began walking side by side the rest of the way. At some point, Phoenix started chattering about all the fun they would have together while the cloaked mare did her best to tune it out. The young unicorn was a chatterbox, but Sparky would deal with a thousand chatty ponies if she could have her heart's desire. Phoenix would tire herself out eventually and stop either that or realize the cloaked mare was only half listening and give up. Right?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Three weeks. It had been three weeks of walking through woodlands, crossing streams, going over hills, sleeping outside in the dark, and dealing with pesky critters. It had been so long since Sparky traveled that she had forgotten how tiring and long it could be. If everything was not exhausting enough, Phoenix had been flapping her gums off THE ENTIRE TIME! It was driving Sparky insane. The long talking was not even the worst part, for the cloaked mare was used to nonstop chatter from her mother, but she could not stand the topics the unicorn would pick.

Phoenix had few interests in actuality, but with the interests she did have, she was extensively knowledgeable about them. The unicorn loved anything relating to history, from artifacts to extinct creatures to ancient civilizations--- no one knew more than Phoenix Flame. The problem was that her interests were niche compared to most, and thus, not many ponies cared to listen when she began to discuss such topics. Given how Sparky acted regarding the stories of the amulet, Phoenix assumed the cloaked mare shared her love of the historical and, therefore, shared everything she knew about Equestrian history. And it was a lot.

Sparky could not take it anymore! If she had to hear one more story about Ponhenge or the lost city of Atlantis, the cloaked mare swore she would push the unicorn off a cliff. Technically, she did not need Phoenix to make it to the Dragon Lands. Sparky could always steal the other's research while she slept and use it to reach the Dragon Lands alone, but every time the thought crossed her mind, she would experience gut-wrenching guilt for even thinking it. Phoenix was a good pony who was only trying to be friendly, and sadly for Sparky, her friendliness involved talking about stuff the cloaked mare found boring. Mostly boring.

Sparky would never say it aloud, but a couple of times, she found herself enjoying Phoenix's tales of pony history. The stories surrounding legendary figures were better than any fictional thriller the cloaked mare had read. Somnambula and her trials with the Sphinx, Rockhoof's determination to save his village from a volcano, and Starswirl the Beared's many magical feats drew Sparky in the more she heard them. The unicorn's attention to detail made every story she told appear in vivid images within the cloaked mare's mind to the point she felt like she was living them out. Phoenix had a gift for making history come to life, one of a few things Sparky had grown to appreciate about the other.

"...and to this day, no one knows for sure what happened to the great wizard," said Phoenix, finishing the tale of Starswirl's vanishing.
"Dang," was the only response Sparky could supply, left speechless over the gripping tale.
"I know! It bothers me, too. You would think there would be some information on his disappearance, but much like the wizard himself, it seems to have vanished into thin air."
"(Sparky chuckling) Oh my gods."
"What's so funny?"
"Nothin'. You're just the biggest geek I have ever met."

Phoenix gave Sparky a puzzled look, confused about what the cloaked mare meant, causing an even louder laugh to escape the latter. It was strange to hear the cloaked mare laugh, especially so loudly, but the unicorn also saw it as a sign of their new friendship. Sparky was laughing because she found something Phoenix said funny and felt comfortable expressing how she felt--- the cloaked mare would have never done that three weeks ago. The two were making progress in their friendship as well as their quest.

While Sparky was catching her breath, Phoenix decided to check on how much progress the two had made exactly since leaving Ponyville. The unicorn used her aura to levitate their main map from her bag and see how much farther they had until they reached the borderlands of Equestria. Judging from what she saw, the unicorn predicted it would take another three weeks if they continued to travel by hoof. If there was a train station that went in the direction they needed, maybe they could cut that time in half. As much as Phoenix enjoyed saddle-bagging across Equestria, it would be nice to rest their hooves for a few days in a warm cart.

*Snap*
"What was that?" asked Sparky, guard quickly up.
"Hm? What was what?" asked Phoenix back, still trying to decide whether they should keep walking or look for a train station.
*Rustle, rustle*
"That! There's something in the bushes."
"It could be squirrels, or rabbits, or birds, or---"
*Growling*
"Or something that wants to eat us."
"You worry too much, Sparky."
"You worry too little! We should hurry before whatever is hiding realizes we're onto it."

Sparky was not the only one learning things about her traveling companion. Phoenix noticed that the cloaked mare was vigilant, perhaps too much so. Sparky often jumped into flight-or-fight mode whenever she heard a sound she deemed a threat. There had been a couple of nights when the unicorn had been awoken by the other holding a large tree branch and screaming about how they had to defend themselves from thieves hiding in the trees, only to find out it was a bat or possum. Phoenix was grateful for Sparky's willingness to protect them from harm but felt the cloaked mare needed to learn to ease up on her concern.

"What do you think you're doing!?" shouted Sparky, watching as Phoenix put away the map and slowly walked over to the bushes.
"Don't worry," the unicorn says calmly.
"I'm just going to check the bushes and prove there is nothing dangerous trying to eat us."
"Said the dumb-butt unicorn right before getting eaten!"

Phoenix ignored the comment and pulled back the branches of a bush with her magic. At that moment, a booming roar sounded from the spot in the bush. The unicorn sputtered backward just in time as a massive clawed paw swung at her head. Sparky had been correct--- the thing in the bushes was trying to eat them, and worse, that thing turned out to be a manticore. If the beast had tried hitting the unicorn with its scorpion tail instead of a paw, then she would have been paralyzed by the venom and would not have been capable of moving. Phoenix had gotten lucky and was going to take advantage of it.

"Lux Caeca!" the unicorn shouted as a beam of light shot from her horn, temporarily blinding the manticore.

"Run away, run away, run away!"

"Ya don't have to say it more than once!" the cloaked mare yelled as she joined the other in escaping the beast.

Phoenix and Sparky galloped as fast as their hooves would carry them, trying to put distance between them and the beast, and managed to get far enough to where it was only a speck in their vision. For a moment, the two mares thought they were safe and slowed their pace to canter. After another couple of minutes, they had gone down to a trot, but the second they did, an earsplitting roar sounded from the beast now charging toward them. The manticore's eyesight had returned, and with it, a new determination to retrieve its fleeing meal. Despite the two mares' head start, the beast was more agile than them and caught up without issue.

"OH, FRACK!" yelled Sparky, picking her pace back up.
"Quick, do that spell again!"
"It...won't work...unless I face...the manticore!" responded Phoenix, her voice heaving from exertion.
"Then do a different spell!"
"Which one!?"
"I don't know! You're the unicorn--- try something! Do whatever you can to get it off our tails!"
"Okay! I'll try!"
"(Sparky dodging a swinging claw) Hurry!!"
"Murus flammarum! Murus flammarum!! Murus flammarum!!!"

A great wall of fire springs from the earth between the two mares and the manticore, effectively cutting the beast off. Sparky and Phoenix continued galloping until they reached a cliff overlooking a deep forest, and only then did they take the time to breathe a sigh of relief. Neither mare could believe they had made it. The cloaked mare was particularly surprised--- when she told the unicorn to do something, she was not expecting a wall of fire to appear. Sparky had seen Phoenix use magic to start campfires, which, from the little she knew about magic, required wood or other kindling to activate. If the unicorn could make fire without materials, she was more powerful than the cloaked mare had thought.

"Son...of a dog," Sparky gasped.
"You've been...holding back on me, Nix."
"What was that?" Phoenix asked, giving Sparky intense eye contact.
"I said you've been holding back on me."
"No, not that. You called me Nix."
"Sorry?"
"No, don't be sorry. I liked it. Friends give each other nicknames, after all. Right?"
"Umm---"
*ROARING*

The manticore suddenly bursts forth from the trees with fury in its eyes, its wings flapping hard enough to send leaves flying. The mares had forgotten manticores could fly. Frack them. Once again, they had to find a way to escape the beast, but they could not run this time. The mares had trapped themselves between the cliffside and the approaching manticore. They had three options: they let the manticore eat them, Phoenix does another spell to distract the beast long enough to flee, or---

"When I thought about pushing you off a cliff, I never pictured going down with you," Sparky said while taking a calming breath.

"What did you s---?" Phoenix began to ask. However, before she could finish her question, she found herself shoved over the edge and plummeting to the forest below.