//------------------------------// // S1E8b Bad, Bad Exploration // Story: Creator Hatch // by Josh Crapo //------------------------------// I make my into the cave by crudely landing in front of it and continuing on as if nothing happened, trotting about the cave rather quickly in the familiar passageway to Our Town. “That... was unbelievable! Weird and unbelievable! How could a pony possibly be friends with a changeling?!? Shouldn’t there have been a rivalry between the two?!? Ugh! I don’t understand any of this. And I’m the one who founded Our Town in the first place. Well, I guess it doesn’t matter now. I am going back to Our Town anyway. I’m sure that I could just let the town go about its days while I just stay inside my house. Just how badly would the town fare without me? ...hmm. I’m not entirely sure, but I doubt it would be that badly.” Finally getting to the path I rejected that sentimental nonsense that Princess Twilight spewed, I take a hard look at where Our Town is supposed to be. The actual town is still there, but something is in the middle of the town that towers over it. “Whoa. I wonder what got into them.” Walking closer to the town I begin seeing the tower in progressively more detail. It’s particularly thin for its height, and has holes leading inside all around, some of them opening and closing without assistance. Uh oh. I know this kind of structure. However, becoming visible at last, the twelve foals in front of it seem to point otherwise. “Ugh! This is so confusing! Do I have a lot of catching up to do or what?” Finally next the entrance to the smaller cave, I go inside to lead myself to my house. Upstairs, the bed’s exactly where I left it. However, not only have all the frames fallen and broken, but I smell something musty. When I look past the front, I see all of the foals of Our Town, plus four new fillies. I go downstairs to find that the place is absolutely trashed at this point, and that the smell from upstairs is even worse down here. The bookcase is fallen and ruined, the table is turned, and a vase I had valued so dearly living here has shatter into pieces. Suddenly, I see something on the floor near the main entrance. Just to make sure I’m wrong though, I go upstairs and check the floor by putting the bed back where it belongs, via levitation, and checking under there. The floor looks just fine over here, so I go back down, and I look everywhere but the entrance, seeing that the floor looks fine in the areas besides the entrance. I examine the floor near the entrance by removing the carpet now, disturbing the few shards of glass there is along with dust as I get a closer look. And the look of the floor explains the scent to a T. Like a triangle, the exposed floor shows the look of black mold. I teleport back to where I entered the cave before and see Party Favor with that changeling again as the two walk back towards the cave. -=- So, Party Favor and I have finally finished looking through the houses. Suddenly, I notice a pony of Party Favor’s race that has Sugar Belle’s coat with a banged purple mane as we walk back to the remains of Our Town. I tap Party Favor on the shoulder with my hoof. “What is it, Hatch?” “Who is that pony standing idly atop the entrance of the cave?” Party Favor looks up to the entrance. “Wait a minute. Hatch, I know this mare.” “Who is it? Is it Starlight?” “Yes.” Suddenly, Starlight somehow floats down in front of the entrance. “Hello, Party Favor.” “Starlight...” “What are you doing here? And why are you with that thing?!?” I walk up between Party Favor and Starlight. “Ahem. Hello. You must be Starlight Glimmer. Is that correct?” “Uh yeah. Why do you ask?” “Party Favor’s told me quite a bit about your accomplishment and your downfall.” “My what? Oh, the chase. Yes. I have come back to live my own life back in the very town I founded. I wouldn’t really bother Party Favor otherwise, but he has to come with me to my old home. It’s a complete disaster on the first floor.” “Hmm. That bookcase needed be thrown out anyway, as well as that carpet.” “It doesn’t just have to do with what needs to be tossed. The entire house needs to come down. Party Favor, I’m going to need help from all of Our Town in order to rebuild my old house, so you have to come with me.” “But why do you need me, or all of Our Town for that matter. All the ponies there had been in search for Gac.” “No more funny names, party planner. Now let’s go!” “Should I join you? You and Party Favor headed to Our Town anyway.” “Yeah, sure, whatever.” Was Starlight even paying attention?!? Oh well. I can finally get to see how the hive’s doing. When the two stop after arriving at the entrance to a smaller cave, I look back as I slowly continue. “Would you mind if I ran off for a little bit while you two are looking at the house?” “Wait. Why did you come here?” “Because you said I could, Starlight.” “I never said that.” “Nah, you’re lying. You just weren’t paying attention when you said it.” “Well, whatever it takes to get you out of my mane!” “Okay, Starlight... yeesh.”