//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Sacrifice (2 hours Until Dawn) Part 1 // Story: Blackhoof Mountain // by DeskManiac //------------------------------// 5:00 a.m. ~ 2 Hours Until Dawn "RAINBOW WHAT?!" "It was unpleasant and crude, but that's what she did," Rarity sniffed, still peeved. "She even cut off our tails!" Starlight cringed at the sight of a tailless Rarity. Surely Rainbow had gone too far. "I can't believe it! How could she do that?" "Apparently because she thought it was funny," Discord scowled. He was still in angry, and it showed. Starlight tried to digest everything. She couldn't believe it. An entire night of running in the mines and the real culprit was hiding in the lodge the entire time. She planted her face in her hooves. She should have just came back to the lodge. She shouldn't had ran away into the mines alone. Spike's gone because of some wild goose chase, and she really regretted not coming back to Twilight. Twilight wouldn't have just ran into the woods blindly. She would have thought things through carefully, and did the right thing. She wasn't the only one feeling down. The entire room was filled with tension and dread. Suddenly the door flung opened. Twilight was dragging Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash behind her. "Everypony's here now," she announced, letting out a sigh of relief, but there was no time to relax still. The wendigos were still out there, but at least she's able to regroup everyone for now. "Fluttershy!" Discord got up. With a worried look, he put his paws around her, holding her tightly. “Where were you?” Fluttershy shook her head. She was out of harm's way now, and Rainbow Dash was still alive. She was finally recovering from her shock. “I… I was just… getting some water…” Before she could finish, Discord pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Don't ever leave my side again," he whispered. Fluttershy blushed, and nodded. She continued to feel the heat from Discord's fur as something within her began to stir as well. Rainbow Dash was lying flat on her back on the floor, still trying to catch her breath. She had no energy to get up, nor any to interact with anyone in the room. She kept recalling the moment she was so close to death. If Twilight hadn't saved her with her super magic beam, she would be dead meat. "Wait, where's Garbackle?" Starlight asked. Rainbow coughed and splurted, trying to get up. Her throat was dry and she'd do anything to get a glass of water right now, but right now really wasn't the time. "Rainbow?" "I- I don't know," she wheezed. She finally sat upright, but sweat was still dripping from her forehead. "What do you mean? What happened to him??" "He ran off into the woods." She paused. "The wendigos... They... He lured them away from me." There was a soft gasp followed by silence in the room. No doubt everyone had the same idea about what happened to Garbackle. “So what now?” piped Rarity, who had her knees curled up to her chest on top an old desk. The room was filled with silence once more. “We'll have to stay here until morning, unless any of us can teleport all of us down.” Twilight turned around. “Discord?” Discord shook his head. “Only able to manage simple spells for now. Thanks to someone…” His gaze fell onto Dash, who sensing guilt, tried to look away from him. Twilight turned to the other corner of the room, “Starlight? How about you?” “Well, I’ll need to know where this mountain is facing, and how far we are from the foot of the mountain. But I don’t think that's possible to do so?” “No Starlight." Twilight sighed deeply, "It's impossible to determine how high up we are right now.” "Yeah, and even if I knew it'd be rather hard to teleport all of you down at once, or to teleport you down one by one. The risk of failure is too high. I can't risk dropping anyone of you halfway..." "So we're just stuck here then?" Rarity asked, worried. Finally, Rainbow perked up, “How 'bout we just make a run for the cable car station? I know it’s a risk, but what do we have to lose?” The entire room glared at her. “Our heads Dash,” Discord replied, “Did I tell you that a wendigos favourite way of killing is decapitation?” Rainbow gulped. “No?” “Well the more you know." He smiled. "And while I do think your idea is stupid," he sighed, "It is worth a shot.” Everyone looked at him in shock. “You can’t be serious?” Twilight gasped. “I'm afraid I am,” he replied, a tone too serious even for himself. He sighed, “Look, those wendigos are going to find us sooner or later. Their senses are much stronger than that.” “But I thought they can only see us if we move?” Twilight interrupted. “Yes, but I don’t suppose all of you are going to be as still as a statue for 2 more hours are you?” The room fell silent once more. Everyone exchanged worried glances. “They can see us. Even if we are underground. They’re watching our every move, waiting to strike… It's only a matter of time before they find us.” “So while I don’t really like Rainbow's idea, I say it's the best we got,” he continued, “Or we could just sit here and be wendigo dinner.” The room was silent. “So…” Rarity quivered in her seat, “We have to go... outside…” “That's the idea.” It was not a good plan, but as he said, it was the better than doing nothing. Rainbow dug through her pockets. “Well I got the key to the station right here. So are we really doing this?” “Yes, but some of us are going to have to stay behind...” Discord plucked the key from her grip. “What?” “The cable car can only hold onto 4 people only. And if I recall correctly, it can barely hold onto me, and three other ponies: Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack. So I’m afraid the rest of you will have to stay.” He poked Rainbow on the muzzle. “Plus, you were the one who got us into this. So you leave last. Along with Twilight and Star. Hope none of you mind.” “We don't,” replied Starlight. "Wait!" Twilight interjected, “Are you sure you can take care of all of them on your own?” she asked, “It’s just-” Discord put a finger over her lips. He smiled softly at her. “Don’t worry about it. Your friends matter as much to you as they do to me. I'll keep them safe.” Twilight held his paw, a bit uncertain. "I believe you will." Discord smiled at her. A warm smile. The most sincere she's seen from him. Discord let her go, turning away. "Hold on." Twilight handed him the flare gun. "Take this with you." "Once you get down to the station, fire this. It'll let us know that everyone is safe. Then we'll know we can proceed to the station as well." Discord nodded and turned back to his team. "Everypony ready?" Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack was waiting eagerly behind him. "As long as I can get off this horrid mountain," Rarity sniffed. "As ready as ever," piped Applejack. "I'm ready..." Fluttershy replied softly. Discord nodded one last time, and turned the handle. "Wait!" cried Rainbow Dash. "Take this," she said, shoving the shotgun into Applejack's hooves. "You're gonna need it." Applejack looked at the gun, and smiled. "Ah'll see ya at the bottom of the mountain ah guess. Ya rotten cheater." And she punched her square in the shoulder. Rainbow winced, but asked weakly. "So uh... You forgive me?" Applejack looked at the gun. "Well that depends if we survive or not. But thanks for the gun." Rainbow returned a weak smile. Discord didn't seem to forgive her yet, and neither did Rarity, but at least she knew Applejack has. Sorta. Discord walked out the door, followed by Rarity, and then Fluttershy. Applejack was the last to leave, leaving only three ponies sitting in the stuffy basement. They sat quietly for some time before someone broke the silence. "Rainbow..." "I know I messed up Twi. Stop reminding me." "It's not that Rainbow." She sighed. "I just wanted to say that, whatever you've done tonight, we won't hold it against you. Even if you have some sick twisted humor..." Rainbow looked down, rubbing her hooves. "Well I know I don't deserve it, and I know the others think so too, so just stop sympathizing with me. The only thing I want right now is for Pinkie to be here." She gritted her teeth, "I messed up and now she's gone. And there's nothing we can do anymore..." The three sat in solemnity. "Wait a minute," Starlight suddenly asked, "Do you think they took her into the caves?" "What?" she definitely caught the attention of the other two mares. "I mean, I've seen plenty of bodies in the caves. So maybe they took her there as well?" "Wait," Twilight couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Are you saying that Pinkie may still be alive?" Starlight looked uncertain, but she was sure it was still a possibility. "I'm just saying. Maybe they took her there to be eaten later? Maybe?" "Wait, you're telling me that these creatures live in the caves??" Rainbow shouted, "Me and Pinkie have been there and we haven't seen anything!" "What?" "Yeah! Me and Pinkie visited the caves a dozen times and we even mapped out some of it. I think we even left some of our stuff there. How come we didn't see anything?" "I think it was much deeper into the caves, Rainbow," Starlight replied, "How deep into the caves did you go?" "Pretty deep." Rainbow huffed, "But I guess you went deeper huh?" Starlight sighed, recollecting her memories. "I had to." Silence was becoming a thing now for this tiny room. Everyone stared at the floor for a long time, before someone had something to say. "So what do we do now?" Twilight asked, "Pinkie, the wendigos, is it even possible?" "I'll tell you what we'll do," Rainbow said, "We fly in there, save Pinkie, and get the hell outta here!" "But Rainbow! It's all hypothetical. We don't know if Pinkie really is still alive!" "But what else do we have to lose Twilight?" Rainbow cried, her eyes begging, "If you're not going to save her, I will." Twilight bit her tongue. She couldn't let Rainbow go out on her own. She almost died the last time she went out. But without enough of her magic, she couldn't handle that many wendigos or teleport them out from harm's way if she had to. "I'll follow you," Starlight finally replied, "I still have my magic, and I can't let you go in there alone. You'll kill yourself. Plus, you don't stand a chance against them." Rainbow nodded in reassurance. "Twilight?" The purple alicorn hesitated, but replied, "I'll come too. You're gonna need as much magic on your side for this search to be a success. Let's just hope it's not too late..." "Thanks. I'm sure we'll find something." Rainbow's tone softened. "So how do we find these caves?" Twilight asked strategically. "I've been studying the map Garbackle left in his bag," Starlight levitated the parchment in front of Twilight. "There's a tunnel leading to the caves just below of us." "So what are we waiting for? Let's go already!" Rainbow shouted, a little too enthusiastically. Starlight and Twilight glanced at one another, realizing that this might as well be a suicide mission, but they knew they couldn't just give up on their friend just yet. And so they descended into the tunnels. Twilight felt her heart racing. She didn't know what to expect down there, but she was hoping to find the remains of Pinkie at least, or Spike, before leaving this mountain for good.