Secret of the Everfree

by Vexy

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure
Length: 2681

Rainbow Dash goes on an adventure... Complications ensue.

Ever since she read the first book, Rainbow Dash wanted to be like Daring Do, but she expected the stories to be just that - stories. That is until a ecstatic unicorn appears in Ponyville, preparing for his next adventure. What she didn't expect was to find herself joining this deranged stallion, facing her darkest fears and finding out exactly what is so "secret" about the Everfree forest.

But surely, when danger lurks around every corner, Rainbow "Danger" Dash should be thrilled? Soon Rainbow realises that the life of an Extreme Archaeologist may not be her dream career after all.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-03 04:59:40 UTC

The Cartographer

“I'm so bored!”

One might expect Rainbow Dash to say such a statement, or at least something similar, at the opening to a scene, as she pulls at her face to keep her eyes open. Twilight certainly wasn't in the mood to put up with it, however.

“Rainbow Dash, if you're so bored, then go read a book – you're at a library!” the unicorn sighed, and motioned to the rows and rows of newly reorganised shelving. “I really need to finish my checklist for my conclusion on my analysis of the adaptability of wildlife around Ponyville.”

“The what for the what-now?” Rainbow arched an eyebrow and hovered behind Twilight's shoulder, glancing at what looked dangerously like a double-check checklist.

“Rainbow Dash...” she growled, her eyes narrowing as pegasus' wings gathered a small gusts of wind which menacingly rustled the loose papers on the desk.

“Aww c'mon, Twilight, you're like the dorkiest unicorn I know – you must have like a special edition of the latest Daring Do that you read months before everyone else.” Twilight's expression softened, and she liberated a small sigh, releasing the quill from her magic.

“I'm sorry, Rainbow, but I lent you the latest Daring Do last week, and that was released only a few months ago.”

“Literally anything, Twilight - I'm going crazy over here!” Rainbow groaned and banged her head against the wall, for added effect. Twilight stroked a hoof under her chin, and lapsed into thought.

“Well if you're into magic, there's always the Hairy Trotter series. Or maybe Lord of the Ponies, that has loads of sword fighting and ancient evils. It's one of my favourites!” The lavender unicorn grinned sheepishly from the memory. Rainbow responded with an eye roll.

“C'mon, Twi, you think I'd be interested in magic? I'm not a unicorn.” Rainbow complained, eliciting a twitch from Twilight's mouth. “Hairy Trotter is soooo uncool. Besides, Daring Do's the only one for me.”

Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow.

“Fine.” She said, picking up the quill once more, and scratching a few more words onto the parchment. “I need to ask a favor, Rainbow. Could you take this over to Rarity's boutique?” She asked, rolling it up, tieing it with red string and an official-looking stamp, and brought it over to Rainbow.

The pegasus didn't look very impressed.

“A Delivery? You want me to deliver a letter? Why would you want to deliver this to Rarity, anyway? I don't think she's,” Rainbow paused, “Into that kind of thing, Twi.”

“It's for Spike. He seems to spend all his free time over at Rarity's. Always when I need him to deliver letters to the princess. If you see him-”

“You want it delivered to the princess? In Canterlot?” Rainbow interrupted.

“Erm, well yes?” Twilight replied, unsure of where this conversation was going.

“Well why didn't you say so! I'll have this delivered in a jam!”

Before Twilight could say any more, Rainbow Dash had snatched the parchment, and flown out of the library, towards Canterlot.

“Wait! It'll be-” Twilight ceased speaking, and scowled at the now-empty room. “That mare! It''ll take her all morning to fly to Canterlot and back.”

Sighing, Twilight returned to her desk, shaking her head. With nothing else to write, she wondered what was next on her to-do list. She glanced lovingly around her library, proud of the neat rows of books, polished shelves and tables. The room was immaculate: the fruit of the work Spike and her had put in. It had been a long time since she'd moved into the little treehouse in Ponyville, but she was pleased she had; the small village certainly didn't live up to the placid and serene hamlet she had initially expected it to. The inhabitants never failed to be affable and genial, and the town usually had some exciting and eventful development arising - only occasionally apocalyptic.

Or, at least, it usually did.

Right about now, Equestria had decided to take a break, after the Changeling attack on Canterlot, which was greatly recieved by all but one multichromatic-maned denizen.

Twilight shook her head, emptying her mind from all thoughts, as she picked up a piece of parchment with her magic, and stared intently at it.

Ah! time to read that new encyclopedia I just got - The Study of Magic in Anatomy - it looked fascinating!

Squealing, Twilight grabbed the book, trotted over to her favorite table, and sat on the floor. Laying it gently on the table, she opened the cover of the unspoilied tome, and scanned each page. Everything, from Earth Pony to Griffin, was summarized and, under further inspection, scrutinized in painstaking detail. Meticulous diagrams complimented every other page, providing further clarification, description and elaboration. Twilight was so impressed that she could almost forgive the indecent grammar and poor sentence structuring.

Almost.

Giggling at the mistakes, she commenced reading.

Magical ley lines are constant everywhere in the known world. They permeate everything, passing through, and interacting with, matter. It can be manipulated and influenced, as can clearly be seen when a unicorn uses magic, and can manipulate and influence objects, the results of this is noticeable in magical anomalies, clouds and certain gemstones.

Magic, in it's natural state...

Twilight found herself unable to process the first paragraph, let alone the rest of the wall of text. This was odd, to be honest; Twilight was never one to be uninterested in a book, no matter how daunting the glaring errors allegedly were. She realized that she was distracted.

By Rainbow Dash.

She was used to Rainbow coming around on a regular basis ever since she had begun reading the Daring Do series. Despite finishing them, Rainbow still came around, but instead complained at how bored she was. Twilight felt pity for the spiritless pegasus, but couldn't really empathize with her; she'd never really been devoid of a book before.

Rainbow Dash was, Twilight knew, very capable when it came to her job. Thus, she had a formidable amount of free time, time she either spent snoozing or practicing flying.

What Rainbow needs is a big event, something to break away from the monotony of... Well, whatever it is that she does... I think I'll ask Pinkie Pie what to do.

If there is anypony you should visit when trying to gratify anyone, it's Pinkie Pie.

Twilight grinned at her own idea, and couldn't help but revel in her brilliance – socializing is so easy when you become an expert like me!

As gently as she had opened it, Twilight closed the great tome, and took out her checklist for the day. She slipped in Visit Pinkie Pie inbetween reading the Encyclopedia and her next task.

Oh, organizing that new order of books I just received. Where did I put them?

Just as Twilight was about to search the library, she heard a commotion from outside the door. Two male voices argued in hushed tones on the other side of the wooden frame.

Twilight was about to investigate when the voices ceased, and a knock echoed throughout the circular room. Twilight resisted a smile; no one knocked on the door of a public library.

“Come in, it's open!” She yelled, trotting closer to examine the situation. The door was enclosed in an olive-green magical aura, and opened to reveal a young stallion.

He was a unicorn and clearly the owner of the magical aura; his horn glowed the same emerald color. His coat was a few shades off white, providing a very undesirable tinge of yellow. The first thing Twilight could think of, to compare it to, was unwashed bedsheets: that yellowing that one could only achieve through weeks of neglect. His eyes reminded her of Pinkie Pie's; large, round and a deep shade of blue. His chartreuse mane was short and unkempt, draped limply across the side of his head and neck. It was wet.

Twilight hadn't even noticed the rain.

Rainbow's flying in the rain?

Twilight decided to probe the thought no further; questioning Rainbow Dash was only a few steps behind questioning Pinkie Pie, and last time she'd attempted that-

Let's not think about that...

Returning to reality, she realized the stallion had spoken to her, and she hadn't even registered it.

“Sorry!” She gasped, “What did you say?”

“I asked if we may come in?” He replied, his voice bore the definite, posh accent that branded him from Canterlot.

“Of course! This is a public library, you don't need to ask.” Twilight chuckled, and motioned for him to come in. She realized she was correct in hearing him say 'we' as a second, smaller stallion followed in the wake of the first. He was an Earth Pony with a gray coat and a black mane. He wore a very irritated expression, and carried several bags on his back.

“Fascinating! A library in a treehouse – I love it!” The first giggled to himself, before turning around to face Twilight. “Am I right in addressing you as Miss Sparkle?”

“Just Twilight, please, Mister...?”

“Ivory. Ivory Dawnglow. I'm just here-”

“The Ivory Dawnglow!?” Twilight felt her heart pick up pace. “Esteemed author of six volumes into the study of magic, and professor at the University of Canterlot?”

Ivory shuffled uncomfortably.

“Um, no. I'm Ivory Dawnglow Jr.” He paused, watching Twilight's face fall, “But I will be as great as my father – just as soon as I go on a great adventure!” He finished grandly.

The second stallion grumbled something unintelligible, and Ivory turned to glare at him.

“That will do, George. You can leave now.” He said stiffly.

“My name's not George...” He muttered.

“Check our lodging, George!” Ivory growled, a mischievous smile dancing across his lips. 'George' didn't bother to argue back, and left the library.

Once he was gone, Ivory let out a deep breath and grinned.

“Thank Celestia he's gone; he's been driving me insane all morning!  Do you know how much of a bore he can be? Always so melancholic and degrading – bah!” The stallion complained.

Twilight was unsure of what to make of this fast-paced alteration of events.

“So you're Ivory Dawnglow's son?”

“Indeed.” Ivory replied warily.

Twilight was struggling to hold back the urge to start squealing, and interrogate the stallion in front of her for every little detail; Ivory Dawnglow I was a much revered adventurer, and tales of his feats were widely praised – mainly due to most of the information on the races of Equestria being written by him. Twilight took a deep breath, and controlled her inner fan-girl.

“So what brings you to Ponyville, Mr. Dawnglow Jr.?” Twilight asked.

“Please call me Ivory,” the stallion said, stiffening, “And I've come to Ponyville to research magical anomalies.”

“Magical anomalies?” Twilight gasped, her heart rate increasing. “There're no magical anomalies near Ponyville, Ivory.”

Ivory chuckled.

“Some magical anomalies are difficult to see, but I'm surprised you've never noticed the Everfree forest before, Miss Sparkle.”

Twilight's growing excitement bubbled away into confusion.

“The Everfree forest?” She asked, shuddering as she recalled all the times she had entered those woods. None of them had ever been fun adventures. “What's so special about that?”

“Absolutely nothing!” Ivory chuckled manically, “But the entire forest is uncharted – who knows what lies deep within - and I will be the one to chart it!”

He motioned to his cutie mark. It was a piece of parchment with a black 'X' drawn on it.

“I'm a cartographer.” Ivory explained, “Which reminds me,” he opened a bag, and withdrew a roll of parchment, “Would you be so wonderful as to point out where I can find a salon? My, er... mane needs a cut.”

Twilight eyed his unattractive coat, and smiled knowingly.

“Of course.” She said, “It's right here.” She levitated a quill and a pot of ink in her magical grasp, and used the combo to gracefully etch a sloppy circle onto the map.

Ivory looked greatly relieved.

“Thank you, Miss Sparkle.”

“Just Twilight, Ivory.” Twilight sighed.

“Of course, Twilight. I think I'm going to head to that salon. Do you think I could leave my bags here?” He asked.

Twilight glanced at the bags and nodded. Ivory smiled and rushed to the door, before turning around again.

“Um, Twilight?” He asked, “Do you think that I could maybe ask a strange favor of you?”

Twilight chuckled, already guessing the favor.

“Could we pretend that my coat was white?” Ivory asked hopefully.

“Of course, Ivory.” She replied, forcing herself not roll her eyes.

Ivory nodded once, before leaving the library.

“I'll be back in a few hours.” He called.

Rainbow Dash soon realized why pegasi are advised against flying in the rain; it came down in torrents, swiftly soaking her coat, mane and feathers, and impaired her vision. She also soon realized why ponies are advised against delivering letters in the rain; the parchment in her mouth was sodden, and drooped pathetically.

Stupid rain.

Ascending above the cloud line, Rainbow shivered as the chilling winds ripped through her, effortlessly penetrating her thick coat. She'd experienced worse, however, and pressed onwards towards the city in the distance.

Flying had always been Rainbow's closest friend: it had provided endless hours of entertainment, been her favorite passion, and been her most supportive friend when that colt broke up with her.

Stupid colt.

But now, however, Rainbow found little joy in the art of flying. Maybe it was because she kept remembering the wedding in Canterlot, and how easily she had pulled off that Sonic Rainboom. Indeed, flying couldn't offer any respite from Rainbow's wandering thoughts.

That was, perhaps, Rainbow's greatest fear: thinking. And as the pegasus soared across the skies, she could do nothing but.

Stupid thinking.

She thought about life, and other such melancholic matters, she thought about her bachelorhood, and she thought about her job. It was no secret that Rainbow was unrivalled in the weather control team, but it did leave her pondering the question of whether or not she enjoyed it; it lacked any sort of challenge for her.

Life lacked any sort of challenge for her.

Rainbow could feel ice crystals forming on her snout, and she couldn't feel her hooves but she ignored them, and pressed onwards towards the rapidly-nearing capital of Equestria.

This wasn't like her, the legendary Rainbow 'Danger' Dash, to be so morbid. When one can pull off a Sonic Rainboom with such ease, one aims higher. She had attempted that literally at first: she had hoped there was a second barrier she could break. Sadly, Twilight had no information on the subject, and Sonic Rainbooms were rather disruptive for Equestria's weather control, so she had had very few opportunities to try.

She had also tried to, once again, grab the attention of the Wonderbolts when they had come to Ponyville to do an air show. However it hadn't ended as well as she'd hoped; Soarin looked pretty devastated when she had failed to catch his pie. She just had to hope that he was the forgiving type.

Rainbow focused, realizing she was about to fly straight into one of Canterlot's many spires. Tilting her wings, she arced gracefully down to the entrance to the Throne Room, and landed not-so-gracefully on the stone flooring; she couldn't feel her legs, and ended up sprawled on the floor. The normally-emotionless Royal Guards, that were posted around her landing spot, couldn't resist sharing smirks.

Scowling, Rainbow stood up and walked up to the giant door.

“Halt! What business-”

“Delivery for the princess.” Rainbow responded stiffly, spitting out the parchment in her mouth. It looked very sorry for itself; water ran off it, and it teeth marks were visible on it.

The guards parted without another word.

Inside, the goddess of the sun was perched upon her throne, staring intently at an earth pony, who was talking with her. Or to her.

“And if you increase the tax on turnips by a further 1.5%, you could-”

“Rainbow Dash!” Celestia suddenly interrupted, “What brings you here, my little pony?”