Prolouge: In comes the Archeologist
-Reaping Eternal Bonds-
Long ago. In a time prehistoric to the Equestiran empire, and the rule of the two princesses. Was a world not ruled by kindness or magic, but by fear. Governed by extraordinary monsters, they ruled over its wild lands, soared through its hellish skies and tamed its vast hostile seas through sheer might and size alone. Under their rule, nothing could oppose. But like many events in life, their rule came to a sudden and perhaps tragic end.
Upon the rocky slopes of the ancient mountain, a ferousious battle of monsters was taking place. These monsters tore each other apart limb from limb, while exploding blasts of many colors flashed back and forth and up and down in-between the groups of fighters, covering the mountain in a dark haze of smoke and ash. The countless maimed bodies that littered the mountain side stained the ground blue with their blood. It only stopped at mountains peak where the few decided the fate of their planet.
Shadowed by the smoke of war, the small assembly of monsters stood at the center of a large circular platform that had trident shaped crystals creating a border around them. But the one at its center drew the most attention.
"Zakiid! Please stop this madness! No one has to die anymore, THE WAR IS OVER!"
"IT'S ONLY GOING TO REPEAT AGAIN! IT WILL NEVER BE OVER UNTIL THEY'RE ALL DEAD! AHAHAHAHAHA!" Zakiid began glowing, shining brighter and brighter until it was too much to look at.
“DO IT! KILL HIM NOW!” The group of shadows surrounding Zakiid charged in.
“NO WAIT! ZAKIID!”
But in the instant before they reached, Zakiid exploded into a enormous column of light that engulfed them and the mountain. It discharged a blinding white wave of light wave that traveled across the planets surface, only canceling itself out on the opposite side of the planet. The pitter-pattering sound like rain was all that echoed over the planet. Then nothing but silence.
Time waits for no one, it is eternal and neutral, and so its wheel spun onward. As the planet continued to age, night and day became a blur, while the land itself began to morph like a sea of sand. Fields of forests and prairies that flourished for a short time were consumed by the fires and rock of mountain forging. These mountains of red quaked the ground, turned the skies dark, and created mountains that eventually pierced the sky.
As the wheel began to slow down not long after the flames of creation cooled, life began to flourish once more. The sky turned blue and clear, and lush green forests returned to the barren wastelands below. While rivers of water made their way across the land, carving themselves deep into the earth.
The constructs of primitive intelligent creatures also began to manifest. Simple wooden-stone structures quickly became complex combinations of wood, stone and metal. These grew rapidly in numbers and some eventually formed into towns and large cities. One in particular casted its shadow over everything below. A stone fortress built into the mountain top overlooking the endless lands below.
Time returned to normal as a sign that was erected on the crest of a hill looking towards the mountain fortress became visible.
It read “Welcome to Canterlot.”
Prolouge: In comes the Archeologist
53 million years...
...and one paleontology class later...
The midday sun shined brightly over the University of Equestria at Canterlot. Not a cloud in the sky to cast its shadow. Everypony was enjoying their day, but one in particular was more than eager to get out of the classroom, and go on an adventure.
“And so, this single event nearly caused the extinction of ah'll life on the planet. What little that did survive, lived on and evolved into the creatures that we see today. Well most any'who.”
Some of the students in the stands let out a little unwanted chuckle. She sighed and continued.
“Little is really known about this here time, but we found a few fossilized plants and the remains of a few creatures that we now call "Koraxus", meaning "ferocious monster", that have been dated back to about this time. But thats just about it.”
She noticed that one of her students in the stands raised her hoof. “Yes Ruby?”
“So then Professor Applejack, What-”
“Please. Its just Applejack. I ain't no professor yet.”
“Oh, well..um...okay. Miss Applejack. What do you think happened?”
“Good question. I ain't got a darn clue!” She shrugged her shoulders and turned her head towards the projector screen with the image of the planet with a question mark in the middle. She tipped up her hat to get a better view.
“Theres no evidence of any natural disaster. If it was a wide spread disease we would have found more fossilized remains. No unnatural geologic or biologic disturbances were found in the strata layers....nothing. There should be more like them, but its like they just....vanished. ”
Aside from her burning curiosity of the question at hoof, it was depressing to her. To her, not knowing something like this on a hugely controversial topic in the geologic and paleontological community was like her without her hat. It wasn't going to happen, but she knew she could live without it. Though it wouldn't feel right without it there on its throne. And Applejack wanted to be the one pony who figured out why.
“Oh...Then how many fossils were found?” Ruby added.
“Uh...So far have found a bunch of fossilized plant species from all over Equestria, but only seven fossilized skeletons were found. Six are incomplete and don't match each other, and the seventh is completed and stored here at the Geology lab for study. So-”
*Bell Rings*
“Well, ah-okay class. On that note, I would like y'all to submit a one page essay on your hypothesis pertaining to this event due next class. Enjoy the rest of yer day.”
Her students got up and left one by one, until only Applejack remained in her class. That was until a familiar purple pony walked in on her.
“Hey Applejack!”
“Gah! Oh....fhew! Hey Twilight.” AJ put a hoof on her chest and took in a few deep breaths.
“Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you like that.”
“Its fine an' all. Whats up?”
“How's the class treating you?” Twilight pointed a hoof towards the stands.
“Its fine....I guess.”
“You guess?”
“I-I just don't know how Professor Tomb's does this on a daily basis. I'm losin' my mind going through all this paper work.” Applejack dumped her recently packed saddle back onto the table, letting the pile of ungraded papers flow onto her desk for Twilight to see. She immediately regretted doing so when she realized that she had put all those papers neatly into her bag just a few seconds ago.
She face hoofed. "Ah gone-sarnet!”
Twilight couldn't help but giggle. “Well, your doing a good job so far. You should be proud of yourself!”
“Well of course I AM proud of mahself. But I just don't want to be pushing pencils all day! I want to get out and do some good honest field work. Ya know!?” AJ moved to the window off to her side and stared at the mountains in the distance.
“I know what you mean Applejack. It took me a little bit to get accustomed to teaching too.”
“Really? You? How long? Really?”
“Well...I...” AJ knew Twilight wasn't one for holding back the truth, and she knew just how to get her. With an expressionless face and a quick stare, she caved. “Okay fine...A few minutes...2.365 minutes to be exact!” Applejack only raised an eyebrow. ”...but-but that still doesn't mean that it wasn't hard. Kinda.” Twilight smiled and laugh guiltfully, rubbing her leg with the other.
There was a few moments of silence before Applejack and Twilight busted out laughing at each others conundrums on teaching. AJ turned back to her desk and started stacking the pile of papers to put into her bag when Twilight used her magic to quickly pack the papers and placed it on her back.
“Thanks. You ready for the trip?”
“Of course. But I still don't know where we are going. Care to shed some light on the subject.”
“Maybe...” Twilight sighed. “Just kiddin' Twilight. The Crystal Caverns. I'll spill the rest of the beans when we meet up with Big Mac and everyone else outside. They should be waiting for us.” AJ lead Twilight out of the classroom and into the long hallways full of students and professors alike towards the exit.
“Wait. Big Mac's coming along?”
“Yup!”
“What about the farm?”
“Its the off season. Big Mac wanted to take a few days to travel, he deserves the break. And besides, where we are going its along the way.”
“For how long?”
“Geez Twilight, its almost like you don't want him to come.”
“Its not that. What about your farm? Who's going to be watching the farm while both of you are not there?”
"Applebloom will!”
“....Applebloom?...”
“Heyup! She's growing up so fast! So proud of her!”
"How old is she now?"
"She's fourteen...."
"Wow! She's growing up so fast. Seems only yesterday when she was causing trouble with her Cutie Mark Crusaders. " Twilight's mind reminisced about the good times past. Though it distracted her for a bit, she eventually took notice the absence of a certain orange mare that was walking beside her a second ago. She looked around then back and found her leaning against the hallway wall, a gloomy purple cloud shadowing over her depressed face.
"I feel so....old..."
"Applejack, your only twenty-six. Plus she was going to grow up eventually, especially after.... Granny Smith..." This time there was a long pause between the two. This was a subject that Applejack resented to talk about, even with Twilight.
"Yeah...its been rough since then.”
“I-I'm sorry Applejack, I didn't mean to bring that up.”
“It's alright Twilight, I know. Besides, we're sturdy folk. We'll pull through somehow."
“Yeah, you guys always do. Besides, at least her new BF spike isn't helping right!.....right?”
“Oh sweet Celestia, I'ah hope not!”
Sooner than either of them had realized, they were out the exit door and into the main courtyard. Almost immediately, AJ and Twilight spotted their friends awaiting them across the yard next to a covered wagon. As they got closer, AJ could see Fluttershy and Rarity resting inside the wagon. Meanwhile Big Mac and Rainbow Dash were smooching up a storm behind it. Clearly visible to anypony who would looked, but they didn't seem to care. They were really going at it.
"Hey! Get a room ya two!" AJ interjected.
"Hmph! I wonder what which cave he was planning on exploring on this trip?" Said Twilight who leaned over and gace Applejack a few knocks on her shoulder.
Rainbow Dash's response was quick, and ferocious. "What! Got a problem with me enjoying my stallion?”
"Yeah! How about you not enjoy my BROTHER in front of me! Ain't nobody that wanna see that! An' Twilight! Quit talkin' those naughty things!"
“What? Just saying it as it is."
RD rolled her eyes before gazing back at into Big Mac's eyes, following up with a seductive stroke on the chin with her tail. "I guess I will have you to myself later then?”
"Heeyup!" The two affectionately nuzzled each other before Big Mac moved up to the front of the wagon.
Rainbow Dash angrily flew over to Applejack. "Well thanks a lot Applejack! It was getting good too!"
"I did NOT need to know that! An' I don't want to find you an' Macintosh doin' something that I don't want to see or hear. Ya hear?!"
"Fine, FINE. I hear ya AJ.....Butnopromises!" And with that note she joyfully flew over the wagon to the front, presumably to flirt with her lover.
"Gone-sarnet that Rainbow! Sigh. Alright y'all, since we are all here lets...wait.” Taking a quick look around, she noticed that one pony was missing.
“Where's Pinky Pie?"
Suddenly a bush came flipping out from the nearby garden and took a one legged ninja pose behind Applejack. "BOO!"
"GAH!” The startled Applejack became a blur of orange as she flushed her back against the supply wagon, her heart beating like kongo drums. “PINKIE!.....You done near gave me a heart attack!"
"Sheesh! Its about time you finished! I was hiding in that bush for-like-ever!"
"Pinky....why were you hidin' in a bush in the first place?"
"Duh, I...umm...hmmm...I don't know. OH WAIT!" Pinky's arms and head receded back into the bush, but somehow she was still able to hold her single legged ninja pose. The rustling bush let off a bunch of strange animal noises which really confused Applejack, even more so when Winona was tossed out of the bush.
"What the hay? Winnona?"
BARK! BARK! She sat down, tongue sticking out, head tillted and panting happily as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.
"Get over here!" Said AJ with a stern voice.
BARK! Winnona rushed over, doing a barrel roll on the ground before stopping belly up in-front of Applejack. She got a good belly rub for that.
"What are you doin' here girl?"
"AH-HA! Found it!" Pinky Pie popped out of the bush and produced a box labeled "YUMS", and opened it. "Guava pie?"
"You waited in that bush until I was done with class, just to ask me if I wanted some pie?"
"Uh-huh!" She smiled.
“Really?" Pinky just kept smiling. "Uh-No...thank you."
"Eh, suit yourself. Ahmnomnomnom!" And with a few bites the Guava pie was vigorously devoured by Pinkie Pie.
“Ooooh-kay. We gotta get Winona home first before we set out. We can take a quick run to Ponyville an-”
“Don't worry. I got it!” Said Pinkie Pie. At the sound of her whistle, Winona came running back to Pinkie Pie and disappeared into the bush. Pinkie hopped out and kicked the bush back into the garden and moved over infront of Applejack. “All done!”
Dumbfounded and on the verge of a “WTFmindexplosion” moment, AJ felt that it was probably best to just not question it, assume everything it "a-okay", and let Pinkie be Pinkie. Less she end up like Twilight.
"Alrighty then. Saddle up y'all, lets get this here rodeo on the move. Big Mac, you good to go?"
Mac had just finished double checking his saddle straps when he replied. "Heeyup!"
"Prattle my dear Applejack. Where is this little adventure of ours taking us?" Said Rarity.
"A new part of the Crystal Caverns opened up."
Rarity's eyes gleamed like crystals reflecting in the light. "AH! The Crystal Caverns! Such glorious! Such stunning crystals! Such-"
"Yeah, yeah. We get it Rarity. Its all full of shiny stuff."
"At least somepony here needs to care about the elegance, not to mention its market value of those crystals." A mischevious grin grew on her face.
"Blah blah blah, not talking about how awesome I am. Moving on!.....So what do you mean "opened up"? I though they were fully explored or something?"
"They were. I went down there the other day to do some research on crystal dating and-"
"Bwahahaha! What's wrong AJ, dating crystals now?" Teased Rainbow.
"Oh shut it Rainbow! Sigh. Anyways while I was there, one of the crystals melted away like it was made of ice. So I went to check out and I found another large cave system where it used to be. Seein' as no other pony knows about it, I figured that we could be the first one's to explore it. Which is why I wanna get moving already."
"THATS...SO...AWSOME! But not as AWSOME as me of-course! But its close."
"Well Applejack. I say we have quite the adventure again." Fluttershy nodded in agreement with Rarity.
"Alrighty then. Lets get this rodeo on the road. To the Crystal Caverns!" Everypony followed AJ off the campus grounds and onto the road to adventure.
After about six hours on the road, it was getting really boring for Applejack. Looking at the repeating sight of trees and rocks along side the road, over and over again, was driving her crazy. Luckily for her Twilight quickened her pace and caught up to her and sparked a lovely conversation.
"SOooo, Applejack. How long have those two been like that?" Twilight looked back at Big Mac who had Rainbow Dash resting on his back, playing with his mane.
AJ looked back too. "I reckon' this has been going on fer about a year or so now. Only found out about it a few months ago from Big Mac."
"They didn't tell you that they were seeing each other?"
"Wasn't mah business to pry or nottin'. But Macintosh said that he didn't want something like that do distract me from my studies."
"I'm actually surprised that Rainbow Dash didn't announce it to everypony she knew."
"Funny thing about that one. I asked Big Mac about that too, and he told me that Rainbow Dash gets all red and embarrassed. Then gets all defensive when talking about her real feelings, something about other ponies calling her soft."
Rainbow Dash's ears and head perked up when she heard her name. "You two talking about how awesome I am?" Big Mac moved his head into the cradle of RD's neck, she brought her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
“Well, at least they enjoy each others company.”
"True enough there. Big Mac's been good to her so ther-Oh well what to ya know! Were here everypony!"
The entrance of the Crystal Caverns was like a public camping ground. The ground was a combination of dirt and cut grass with a few trees in the background. Some had a few tables that gave ponies a place to sit on for picknics.
"About time! I was thinking about flying ahead because it was getting so boring not talking about myself."
"Oh Celestia, I need to stretch my legs."
"Alright girls, Big Mac, we are going to set up camp first and get our things in gear, and rest a little bit, before headin' out. Twilight, can you check the gear bags that we packed?"
"Can do!" Said Twilight.
It didn't take them long to set up shop. Rarity had a minature hotel amongst her bags, so all she had to do was open the case and "Foomph" there it was. Everypony else had set up a simple triangle tent and a sleeping bag. But Applejack noticed something about Rainbow Dash's sleeping gear. It was big, too big for her alone, like it was meant for two. When she thought about it, it came to her.
AJ muttered to herself. "Rainbow you sly girl....I swear if I hear anything from them during the night my back hoof will be exploring both of their caves." In that instant, her mind slipped up and she started to imagine too much about what she might end up doing with Rainbow and her brother with her hoof. She blushed and facehoofed herself. "Like thats going to ever happen."
She walked over to Twilight who was packing their gear when she overheard Mac and Rainbow talking.
"You sure Mac? It could be fun to come exploring with us!"
"Heeyup! Somepony's got to get dinner started. Not to mention to keep an eye on your stuff. So go on now! Ya'll have your little adventure." Mac used his head to slowly "ush" RD out of the dinning tent.
"Well, alright then. We'll be back soon." Rainbow turned around and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before running off to join the rest of the girls.
"He's not commin'?"
"Nah, he said he was going to cook dinner for us."
"Well if he says so. Okay, everypony check your gear. Water?" The girls all started to sort through their bags.
"Yup."
"Rope?"
"Yes."
"Emergency food?"
"Check."
"Ah common AJ! You know we got our stuff!"
"As annoying as it is, we're about to enter a new cave system. An' I'ah don't want to be caught in a situation where if anypony needs something and I'ah don't have it. Just to be safe, its just in case."
"Alright, you've made your point."
"So you got everything?"
"All good to go Applejack."
Applejack strapped her gear bag onto her back before walking over to the Crystal Caverns sign. The sign was mounted infront of slanting three pronged crystal that grew out from the ground. Two of the prongs were visible, but the other was halfly buried into the ground.
"Dazzling!" Said Rarity.
"Kinda looks like a fork, but with only three things on it."
"You mean a trident?" Asked Twilight.
"Don't care anymore!"
"Well there's bound to be more like that inside. So saddle up girls!" Applejack reared back onto her hind legs, kicking her forearms, ready to gallop.
"YEEHAA! This is going to be quite the adventure!"
Author's Note
Hey all who are reading, this is my second story (hopefully a little more appealing one than the other). Never the less I hope you enjoyed the read and if you have any comments on how I may improve, please let me know. I will be making some cover art for this and my other story, but for now enjoy.
Chapter One: The Nightmare Awakens
Chapter One: The Nightmare Awakens
Today, is a gloriously sunny day here in Equestria and we find our girls on the precipice of another grand adventure into the unknown. Should be exciting.
"Alright y'all! Seein' as we got everything we need and undercontrol, I just wanted to say one last thing!" Applejack took a proud stand infront of everypony. But rather than give a speech, she turned around and gallop into the Crystal Caverns with a big grin on her face. "LAST ONE THERE IS A ROTTEN APPLE!"
"AH-HEY! Thats not FAIR! APPLEJACK!" Said the angered Rainbow Dash, who took off in pursuit in a blast of rainbow colors. Leaving her heavy pack behind in the dust.
Twilight couldn't care less about the race. She was to distracted watching AJ's plot get farther away from her. Then she was suddenly hit with a random spark of relationship brilliance. "Wait a minute....This could be the perfect opportunity to prove to Applejack that I am not just a bookworm. And then we'll be..." Her mouth smiled widely and her eyes became twinkling stars as her devious plan unfolded in her mind. "APPLEJACK! BED ME! Oh wait...*cough*...I mean...VICTORY SHALL BE MINE!" And she vanished in a flash of purple.
Everypony else seemed to be eagar to race. Rarity and Fluttershy on the other hoof were too stunned to move. It didn't bare on them that Twilight had a...."Applejack wannabe intimate with me?" side.
"Well...That was certainly....unexpected. With that aside, I don't particularly fancy racing. Its messy...and sweaty. And icky. But." Rarity's eyes closed for a moment. When she reopened them, they were spinning like the rolls in a slot machine. Both landing on the golden bits with the sound of a cash register echoing in the background. "For those exquisite money making crystals, I can make an exception!" She reared back on her hind legs and declared. "MIIINE!" Before menically laugh skipping her way into the caverns.
Fluttershy tired to follow the happily skipping Rarity into the caverns, but stopped when the entrance towered over her. She tried to call out before she got to far.
"Wait, Rarity I don't think..." She was too late. Rarity was gone, and all was quiet after that. Panic mode initiated.
Through her eyes, the cavern expanded into a monsterous jaw with jagged teeth, shadowing over her with its darkness. She wheezed and whimpered at the sight, but a hot feeling grew inside of her. Like an inver voice, something told her to stand tall. And so she did. "NO! I CAN do this!" Her new form of confidence shattered the shadow like a popped balloon, and the normal cave entrance came into view. Feeling the abundance of energy, she too joined the fray. Albeit at a very slow and cautioned pace.
Now back to the main race at hoof. Applejack, Twilight and Rainbow Dash are neck and neck, fighting hard for the lead position. Oblivious to the simple fact that only Applejack really knew where the entrance was, the race continued.
Applejack weaved expertly in-between, and up and over the crystals that became obstacles for her. Her athletic abilities and acrobatic skills developed through hardwork and from many of the cowmare competitions gave her a distinct advantage against normal ponies. However, against Rainbow Dash's flying and Twilights cheap teleporting. It was only just enough to keep up with them.
"Oh! I think I see the finish line! Maybe I should slow down and give you two a chance?" Arrogantly stated by Rainbow Dash.
"Don't think- *flash*flash* -That just because- *flash*flash* -You can fly- *flash*flash* -Mean that- *flash*flash* -Yourgoingtowin!- *flash*flash*"
Rainbow doubled back and moved a little bit behind Twilights teleporting path. "You know, that I didn't catch any of that right?"
When Twilight flashed back into existance, she decided to gallop a little to allow Rainbow Dash to actually hear her. Though as she did so, she didn't even take two steps and she already tripped up on a high angled crystal. "I said-DAaah!" She tumbled down its slope into the middle clearing, landing on her neck with her butt sticking up in the air.
Rainbow was too busy laughing to notice the incoming, nearly invisible crystal stalactite that blocked her path. "BWAHAHAHA-Burf!" Smashing face first into it helped soften the damage to the rest of her body. Though it left her dazed and her body slowly slid off and fell towards the cavern floor.
Applejack was only a few seconds behind the other two. As she hopped over a low bridged crystal, she failed to see Twilight lying there in the middle of the cavern floor. Right in her landing path. She warned. "LOOK OUT!" But it was too late, she came in too hard and fast for her to dodge. Unavoidably thrusting her pelvis into Twilight's rear.
For that split second, time seemed to slow as a shockwave of pleasure rippled from Twilight's rear, up her spine, and into her heart and brain. Her back inversely arced as a few happyness tears drifted away from her face. It was glorious for her. That was until the laws of physics took over and Applejack's momentum sent them both rolling across the cavern floor together.
Rainbow on the other hoof, had just picked herself up off the ground when the tumbling purple-orange mass came out of no-where. She tried to get out of the way but got sucked up into the pony wheel as well.
The three of them tumbled end over end until their mare-wheel finally fell apart, and the three of them landed like interwoven noodles. Everything just kept spinning and spinnning, but that didn't mean that the race was over.
Though her head was spinning, Applejack recognized a particular smell. It was the same musky and metalic aroma that the new cave system smelled like, and so she knew that the finish line was close by. Just a couple more feet and victory would be hers. Applejack clumsily scrambled over Twilight with the spiral eyes and tried to climb over Rainbow Dash too, but was stopped when somepony held onto one of her back legs.
"Its not going to be THAT easy!" Claimed Rainbow.
"Let go!"
AJ shook her leg hard, and Rainbow held strong. As to be expected. The two scrambled with eachother on the hard floor for a little bit, only stopping when they heard several clops landing infront of them.
*clop*clop*
They looked up and saw somepony who they didn't expect.
"Ooo. Did I get here first? Did I win? Whoo-hoo..." Said Fluttershy in her soft voice.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash could respond with. "SERIOUSLY!?!"
"Oh! Well if you wanted to be first that would be okay with me. I mean...I don't mind.."
"No Fluttershy, It's okay! You got there first so you win. But how in Equestira did you get here before us." Questioned Applejack.
Fluttershy raised a hoof to a path to her right. A path with the cave entrance in plain view. "I think I just took the wrong path."
".......Oops..I forgot about that."
"How do you forget something like that? You going blind or something?"
"Says the pony who missed it too!"
The prideful response came swift. "I didn't miss it! I just....wasn't looking for it! Thats all!"
Applejack and Rainbow Dash continued to butt heads until Rarity finally showed up with a gleeful bounce in her step.
"Why hello girls! Hasn't this been the exciteful trip already!"
" 'bout time you got here!"
"Yea! What took you so long?"
"My, my. Aren't you two for harsh for words. I take it that the reason why Rainbow Dash is not gloting about her victory, and why you are irritated is that because you both lost?"
Both AJ and Rainbow grunted.
"And what happened to dear Twilight? She alright?"
"She's fine. Just her heads a bit spinning right now." The four of them looked at Twilight. Tossing and turning on her back, she began mumbling something that she would have probably wished to have kept to herself. Too bad...
"Oh..Twilight...your so naughty...*mumble*..I like that....ooo..that feels good Applejack-*mumble*mumble*mumble*"
"I don't know Applejack! Seems like her head is exactly where she wants it to be." Said Rainbow who had this stupid grin on her face.
Applejack face started to turn visably red. "Sh-shut it Rainbow Dash! Wake her up! And...Rarity, I'm sorry about the attitude."
"Oh, darling its quite alright."
"So what were you doing this whole time?"
"Oh, I found a lovely selection of emeralds, rubies and-"
"And me!" Said Pinkie Pie who popped her head out of the bag.
"Pinkie! How long where you in there?"
"WAIT! Where's the gear?" She gave Rainbow a good look down too and saw that she didn't have her bag either. "And you too Rainbow!"
"Oh calm yourself my dear Applejack. I placed it neatly at the entrance, its all there for when we need it."
"And I think I ditched mine outside..."
"Oh for the love of Celestia...." She face hoofed. "And what if we need it?"
While AJ massaged her face with her hoof, she couldn't see Rainbow try to wake up Twilight in the background. Well she succeeded. Though in turn spooked Twilight into getting up too fast for her and she ended up head butting Rainbow in her face. Spazed Twilight had no idea what was going on, and Rainbow had both her hooves covering her face.
"Rainbow. Can you PLEASE....go get your pack. If you find Rarity's stuff just...just leave it."
"FINE! Give me a sec will ya!" She replied while rubbing her face before taking off. This time she took the shorter path.
With Rainbow gone, AJ finally saw an opportunity to talk to Twilight. "Had fun day dreaming?"
She just smiled. "Yeah actually!"
AJ could see a slight blush of red on Twilight's face. She also saw Rainbow fly in from behind and land beside her.
"Alright here. I got the stuff."
"Great! Okay everypony gather up around me." As the other girls gathered around her, she pulled an electric lanturn out from her pack.
"I don't know how long this will be or if it is dangerous or not. So stay close and keep your eyes open." Applejack turned on her lantern and took those first few steps into the unknown.
-----15 minutes later-----
After a little while of slowly exploring the cave, the new sights started becoming repetative. Rainbow colored walls of interlocking crystals lined the walls back to back, and just about every single one of them reflected the light off into another crystal. Creating an amazing light show as they moved through it, similar to a disco ball but entrenched into the ground.
Applejack lead the group on until the path lead her to an steep end into a pitch black area.
She tried to find the caverns edges by using her light, however her light couldn't pierce the darkness very far. "Darn it! Can't see a darn thing.." Then she looked down over the overhang. "Wait a minute. Looks like there is a flat area beneath us." She tried to scan as much as she could with her light, but ultimately concluded that there was only one way to see it all. She had to go down there. By her she meant somepony with wings.
"Rainbow, I need your help."
"What's up?"
"There is an area down there that I want to get to, but I can't see a darn thing. Fly down there and see if it is safe to drop a rope and come down."
"You got it AJ!" She put down her pack and picked up her lanturn.
"Wait! Be careful! We don't know what it is like down there. Just don't go off on your own!"
"Yeah, yeah! I got this!" Rainbow then slowly and cautiously desended into the pitch black abyss. Armed with only her mouth held light, and a big pair of cojones.
Her decent was short as the bottom wasn't that far down. She gave it a good look see and found that it was all clear. "Its clear down here Applejack!" She called out. "Come on down!"
"Alright, here comes the rope Rainbow. Heads up!"
Rainbow wasn't really paying attention to what Applejack was saying. But when the rope came out of the darkness and slamed right into her, she started to think that it was a good idea to pay attention once in a while. "Ouch! My face!" She called up.
"Tie it to something." Said AJ. She could hear Rainbow grumble about something as the rope started becoming more taut. She felt two good tugs and heard Rainbow give the go ahead to desend into the new area. Which AJ eagarly desended on the rope into the abyss.
When she landed, she immediately took notice was the floor wasn't just planar. It had a sort of texture to it. She shined her light down onto it revealing a very dusty but easily distinguishable pattern in the floor.
"Hey Twilight, come take a look at this!"
Twilight took the easy way down and teleported right next to AJ. "Whats up?"
"What do you make of this?" AJ showed her what she was looking at on the ground with her lantern. "Its obviously not natural."
"Yeah, Its symetrical..." Twilight lit her horn and shined her light off to the side. She noticed that the symbols on the ground traveled in a very large circle. "...and seems to be in some sort of repetative pattern. Maybe its some sort of prehistoric language or culture?"
"It certainly ain't pre-Equestrian. This place seems very old, could have came before hoof?"
"Maybe.."
Twilight continued to study the gliphs on the ground, while Applejack noticed a twinkle in the darkness. Curiousity getting the better of her, she approached cautiously. As she got closer, her light revealed a sizable hunk of a white crystal. Easily twice her height, its sheen glicined in her light. She carefully examined the white monster, circling around until she made a startling discovery. Accidentally dropping her lanturn in the process.
Everypony else were just settling down in the new area when they heard something hit the ground. They saw Applejacks lanturn roll out from behind something, but with no Applejack.
"AppleJack? Hey Applejack!" Everypony quickly rushed over to where her lanturn laid. They were wholesomely relieved when they found Applejack was A-okay. Sort of.
"AJ, you okay?" Asked Twilight.
Applejack couldn't take her eyes off of what she discovered. "Uh...Twilight! I think we need to look way, and I mean like WAY before Equestria..."
"Why? Did you find something?"
"Yeah...WE certainly did...." Twilight levitated AJ's lanturn to see what she had found, but then dropped it in shock of what she had found.
The lanturn landed and rolled on the round once more, but this time illuminating the white crystal. And there it was. Casted in shadow and white rock were the remains of some sort of large lizard like creature. Its angular skull, cerated teeth, single forehead horn and a long fore arm were all that were exposed from its crystal prison.
Applejack picked up her lanturn and brought the light closer to get a better look. She found odd scratches all around the exposed arm and head. She drew the quick conclusion. "Sweet Celestia! It was still alive when it got trapped in this crystal!"
"Oh the poor thing." Cried Fluttershy.
"What is it?" Asked Rainbow.
"Given the similarities, I would say that his creature was probably some sort of Koraxus. And it looks like a complete skeleton too!" Applejacks earlier disappointment turned completely upside down into eagerness and excitement at her new discovery. "YEEEHAA! We just made one dilly of a discovery girls!" She reared back and swung her hat around in the air.
Sparking the sense of adventure in all of them. They all reached for their lanturns, save for Rarity who realized that she had left it behind, and fanned out to explore the nearby area.
And one by one. As they explored the cavern some more, they found five white hunks of crystals surrounding a very large black one at its center.
Twilight commented. "I guess its safe to assume that whatever this thing was, it wasn't alone."
The discovery of one of these creatures was unparalled enough. But now there were more perhaps just like it. She nearly lost her cool in all the excitement, but one thing kept her mind on track and from going nutz in excitement. The black crystal at the center of this room. As she glared at it, she could feel an ominously evil presence within it. Which made her curiousity grow even more.
"I don't get it. This cavern seems to be the only large openning here. The ground is more or less flat and with some sort of writing on it. And on top of that we have found several Koraxi imprisoned in crystals. What happened here? Was there intelligent life here before us?" Questioned Twilight.
"I don't know Twilight, but imagine what we can find out from studying them!" Her excitement started getting the better of her. Applejack approached the pitch black crystal. As she got closer, it felt like it was absorbing all the light around it like a blackhole. Not even the reflection nor glint of the light reflected back off its surface.
So she did the one thing that everypart of her body told her to not to do. She touched it! It was smooth, and so very dark and empty. She soon found herself struggling to keep her arm up on it, and her breathing became heavy. Applejack stared in confusion as her body started smoking a white mist.
"What the hay?"
AJ looked to back for help but saw that everypony else had the same thing happening to them.
Very quickly the mist became clouds that surrounded the six of them. Then like the drain of a sink, white mists began to swirl towards the center black crystal, which itself began to glow red.
"Whats going on?" Questioned RD.
"I think its taking our energy!" Answered Twilight.
"What? How?" Rainbow dropped onto one of her knees.
"I don't know!"
"What do we do Applejack?" Asked Rarity.
Run. Run away. Thats what Applejack would have thought if she could. But amongst the swirlling mist, she could see something inside the black crystal. The monster that undoubtedly slept at its core tore into her sole and ripped out every ounce of courage and will that she had. Resembling like that of a hollowed Jack-o-Lanturn on Nightmare Night, its red eyes and long jagged mouth never looked away from Applejacks gaze. Then it started getting closer.
It slowly came out of the crystal. Its long thick head came out of the darkness, followed by two claws that pulled a part of its torso out from its rock. Unsure as to whether or not it decided to not completely pull itself out, it leaned over and locked its red beastly eyes onto Applejacks.
The amount of fear in her heart was immeasurable. Too tired to run. Too scared to think. Her friends may be dieing behind her. And no pony knows that they even took this trip so no outside help would be comming. Her head felt light and her eyes grew dark. She blacked out with the monsters red eyes scared into her memories.
Meanwhile, back outside the cavern at the camp. Big Mac was cooking up delicious supper. Its smell traveled with the wind, and right into the caverns.
He pulled up a ladle from his batch of soup and took a sip. Moaning at its delicious taste. "Hmmm! This will be mighty fine with some biscuits on the side."
As he reached over to the table with his freshly cooked biscuits, he felt the ground tremble beneath his hooves. Pausing for a moment to confirm what he felt, he let it go when nothing happened. Snagging a small biscuit off the table for himself, he made himself a bowl of soup. Taking a seat on the picnic table, he was ready to enjoy his meal. Then he noticed the wave ripples in his bowl of soup. He watched it as it grew progressively faster and faster until he could hear the large impacts in the ground.
He looked around to see what was causing it. But when he did, it was too late. Before he could evade, an enourmously large black figure snatched him up from the table and into its jaws. Trampling the camp in its wake. Big Mac could hardly scream because of the creatures long teeth that penetrated his torso caused to much pain. The creature suddenly spun around, destroying the remaining standing emplacements of his camp with its tail and tossed him off into the nearby brush.
His bleeding maimed body slid across the brush covered ground until his back slammed into something small, and sharp. Bloody, battered and confused, Big Mac couldnt see what stopped him. But he certainly felt it. Like when the previous creature that bit him, he felt similar pain as something else pierced his back. Now no longer under the compression of that creatures jaws, he was finally able to scream. "GAAAAAAAHHHHHH" Though distracted by the pain, he could feel the impacts of a gathering crowd of these monsters. He assumed that the thing that attacked him at the camp was there as well.
His eyes were closed most of the time due to the pain. He did his best to crack them open a little when something wrapped around his body and pulled him up into the air. He could see the really large one with a fin picked him up with its tail and brought him up close to its head. Mac feared for the worst, but instead was met with confusion. It muttered something in some unfamiliar, inaubible language, then a small spot on its fore head began to glow.
'IT CAN TALK?' Big Mac thought as he felt the air around him was being sucked into this one spot on the beasts forehead. But as it did, he saw flashes of grusome bodies being eaten, stormy red skies raining lighting, and glowing fields of red filled with smoke and ash in his mind. The images kept coming until the creature dropped him onto the floor and did the samething that it did to him to the other two creatures. Then it tried to speak again.
"Eq-Eques-Equestrian? Big Mac? Is what they call you? You know you don't taste very good." Said the big creature with the fin. Cleaning some of Big Mac's blood off of its teeth with its tongue. Big Mac listened to the other two have difficulties with speaking his language, the big one took notice of their struggles. "Arkain, Othrin. Hurry up and learn its language already! Its boring talking to only Mac here. You two probably didn't even understand a word I said."
'What the HAY is going on here? What did they just do?"
The big one looked down at Big Mac as if it forgotten something. "Oh right! I believe your species do something called, "manners". You know, I just wanted to say...no hard feelings...I kinda just woke up from a nap, and the first thing I do is chew you up and spit you out like yesterdays burnt lunch. You didn't taste very good by the way, just incase you didn't hear me the first time. But I was a little cranky and a little hungry so you can understand right? So for whats its worth, can you forgive me?"
Big Mac was infuriated at this...things! attitude, but the only reason he didn't speak out was because it hurt so much just to breathe that speaking was just not an option. Though visably angered, it interpreted it differently.
"Hewh! Glad we came to an understanding! I'm Zakiid. Your doom bringer and future ruler of your world. Yada, yada, yada! Other extras."
The creature with the wings that had dug in its foot claw into Big Mac's back spoke up, sounding similar to a mares voice. "Wh-why-why...mus-must we...know..lang-language?"
"Took you long enough Othrin. Hmmm. Why's a good question. Becaaaause...If I am going to enslave this world, they need to be able to understand what I am forcing them to do. Otherwise they probably would be running around like Varrakit's on their Robonda. Come along now! We have some friends to be making! And the fields need to be plowed...I have no idea where that came from, BUT LETS GO!"
"Telizio Zakiid, we still have problem!" Said Othrin.
His head was swift to turn about and scowl at Othrin. "WHAT!?"
"Witness?" Said the other, more slender creature in a drawn out slither of a voice.
"Oh...Wow, even with a new language you still talk one word at a time. You need to change that!" Zakiid looked at Big Mac once more, but with a bored expression. "Ahhhh! As for that. Eat it, sleep with it, toss it up thisss....thing called....a tree? What a strange name." He examined a tree roughly his size and scratched his chest with its gimply claw hands. "Anyways do what ever that pleases you. Its life no longer interests me. But don't take to long!" His voice suddenly changed from being a joyfull tone, to a more dark and sinister voice. "This world has a new conqueror! And I would like to get started." And he started walking towards the forest.
Big Mac could move enough to see the two underlings close in on him. But when he saw their shadowy figures loom over his head, he could feel their intent through their ravenous eyes and smiling dirty jaws. Realizing his end was coming, he did all he could to flood his mind with the best memories of his friends and family. Tears developed in his eyes.
Granny Smith.......Applebloom.......Applejack................Rainbow.....I'm sorry...
Then next thing he knew, his body felt like it was on fire. One of the underlings sunk its foot claws deep into his arm and shoulder, but dug its teeth deeper. The agonizing pain flushed throughout his arm and shoulder as it was being pulled away from his body, until to was no longer attached. Exploding in a mist of metalic red, his torn arm was tossed around in its jaws before its pieces were swalloed.
"GAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!-" His screams of agony was like music to the two that were eagarly dinning on his flesh. To all others it fell upon deaf ears as there was no-pony around to hear his cry. He was alone.
The other one went around from behind and dug its fore arm claws into his back. Reaching over his body, its jaws bit into and ripped open Big Mac's stomach. Releasing a flood of blood and organs onto the ground.
Big Mac screamed from the pain, his head lifted a little bit up off the ground and looked to the open blue sky. His mind dreamed about being in some hotel in Las Pegasus alone with Rainbow Dash. Sipping wine or drinking beer. But that split moment of happyness came to an abrupt end when the first underlings jaws captured his throat. Crushing it between its mighty jaws. With a quick snap of the neck, Big Mac stopped screaming, and moving all together.
"Witness...Eliminated..." Said the slender one.
"Hmmm...Equestira is it? I'LL TAKE I-!" Zakiid sensed something behind a tree that was near him. In a swift powerful swing of his tail, it cleaved the tree and several others into nothing but stumps in the ground. The gust from the swing sent most of the debree flying off into the air, revealing a small black creature. Smaller but similar in stature to the dead red one, buts its eyes glowed green with hunger.
"You cannot hide from me!"
"Please! Only a moment of your ti-" The little creature didn't get to speak much before Arkain and Othrin were all over it, about to reap their prey.
"Stop!" Zakiid commanded. Both Arkain and Othrin stopped trying to rip it apart, but never the less held it firmly to the ground.
"Don't waste my time! What were you doing here? SPEAK!"
It struggled beneath its two captures, but still managed to look up to Zakiid who was a little less intrigued by what it had to say. "I was ordered to trail the Elements of Harmony. I don't know what happened in that cavern nor where you came from. But if you wish to conquest Equestria, my king will be most interested in meeting you."
Arkain and Othrin looked to Zakiid for his response. All he did was smile. "Fine then. But if it is not what I expect." The unsuspecting messanger suddenly was pulled towards Zakiid who used his tail and pinned him to the ground below him. "Expect nothing left of your precious king and kingdom. Now where is it?"
"To the south!..." It cried.
"...Into the wastelands!"
Author's Note
I think I did pretty good here, leave a comment if you'd like. I am almost finished with the concept art for this story. I changed my mind on what I wanted so thats why it kinda took a little bit. But I hope you enjoy it.
