Secrets of Equestria's History

Once she got the rock to her home, and got a good night's sleep, which turned out to be yet another dream-loaded mess, Twilight pulled out every book she could find on languages. But, try as she might, she could not find anything that would translate the language. There weren't even any symbols that looked like any on the slab. Try as she might, Twilight could not translate the slab. She left for a bit of a stretch outside, to check out on her royal subjects, and to basically hang out. She walked out the door and realized, somewhat angrily, that she had next to nowhere to go. Applejack was still in Canterlot, though Twilight had no idea why, and Rarity was still in the mines, which ruled out the longest walks she could take to see her friends, except for Fluttershy's house, right on the edge of the Everfree forest. But she had a feeling Fluttershy would not be her full self after her ordeal the last day, so she headed for the short trot to Sugar Cube Corner. Rainbow Dash spent most of her time here, with Pinkie Pie, as Twilight could not stand her flying around the house when she was trying to work, and Rainbow Dash wasn't exactly the most quiet of ponies. Sugarcube Corner did not have the facilities for Dash to spend the night, so she still slept at Twilight's.

By the time she got there, Rainbow Dash was on her way out.

"Where are you going?"

"Me? I'm going to check up on Cloudsdale,"

"Oh...I hope it opens soon. I can't imagine why the princess would lock it down for so long a while."

"Neither do I, but I suppose she has her reasons," and with that, she dashed off, into the air, to Cloudsdale.

"So Pinkie Pie, how is everything here?"

"Absolutely great! How's everything going with you?" Twilight could not help but smile, just listening to Pinkie Pie put her in a good mood.

"I'm a bit frustrated,"

"Why's that?"

"I found this rock in the Everfree forest,"

"Oh! I can help! I;m an expert at rocks." Twilight laughed.

"No Pinkie, this has a different language on it,"

"Oh...I don't know any other languages...but hey, I think I know someone who can help!"

"You do?"

"Yea! Zecora!" Twilight pondered that

"But Zecora lives in the Everfree forest" She reminded.

"So?"

"The Everfree forest is closed,"

"Oh...I didn't know that. Wait, if it's closed, how did you get this?"

"I flew over,"

"Why not do that again," Twilight had not thought of that.

"I guess I could try that...maybe I'll bring Rainbow Dash along,"

"Bring me along for what?" Rainbow Dash flew down.

"Closed?"

"Yep,"

"I was thinking of visiting Zecora with you,"

"No can do...the Everfree forest is closed,"

"Since when did a couple of guards ever stop Rainbow Dash from going where she liked?" Rainbow Dash smiled.

"Let's do it,"

The Guards didn't even notice the rainbow blur that was Rainbow Dash, or the much slower moving Twilight. She was still getting used to them really. The set down right at the entrance to Zecora's house. The Zebra was outside, gathering some flowers.

"Twilight and Rainbow flying so hard,

Why so desperate to get past the guard?"

"Zecora, we were wondering if we could have a chat with you"

"Certainly we can have a talk,

But inside, where creature do not stalk"

The trotted inside, Twilight looking around, nervously as she went. The Everfree forest scared her. She had had many bad experiences in there, and did not care for any more.

"So Twilight Sparkle, what's the matter?

I've made lots of food, have a platter,"

Twilight and Rainbow helped themselves.

"Well Zecora, I found this stone slab. It has some words on it, but I can't understand it. I was hoping you would know," Zecora took the slab. Her eyes hardened, and then contracted in fear.

"When did you get this?"

"Yesterday,"

"Good...then we may still have some time. Where are your friends?"

"What happened to the rhyming?" asked Rainbow Dash, but Twilight cut across her.

"Applejack and Rarity are in Canterlot, Flut-" she was cut off as Zecora exclaimed in an unfamiliar language.

"Get all your friends that are left....we need to go, quickly!" Twilight needed no more talk.

"Rainbow, go to Sugar Cube Corner, and fly Pinkie Pie here now!"

"On it!" said Rainbow, and, with a whizz and the shattering of branches, she was gone.

"I'll get Fluttershy," said Twilight.

Within five minutes (Fluttershy had taken longer than expected), they were ready.

"What's wrong Zecora?" asked Twilight.

"No time to talk...we need to get out of here!" and with that she galloped away. The others ran after her.

"Well, I hope you can use all of those apples!" said Applejack, cheerful as always.

"Thank you for your help Applejack," said Princess Celestia, smiling gratefully.

"Well, we best be getting going now, right?"

"Yup,"

"All right then...bye!" Applejack and Big Macintosh exited the room. Suddenly, the doors in the room they were in slammed shut. The lights went out. Applejack gasped in the darkness.

"Now, now, what's the rush," said another voice. "Stay a while,"

Rarity was busy in the mines. She had sent cartload after cartload of iron, though she had also sent some other finer gems to her suite in the castle for use in her clothing. Suddenly, an avalanche shook the room, shutting her in a tiny cave.

"AAA!" she screamed.

"No need to scream," said another quite unfamiliar voice.

"Who's there?"

"You know who I am...."