//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Pony Fantasy V // by DerpMode //------------------------------// Chapter 1: Strings of the Wind Crystal The morning sun began to rise over the mountain's that surrounded Castle Fillytina, upon the balcony of the castle rested a dragon, a Cyan-Armored Colt trotted out of the castle onto the balcony, His helmet having a hole around the top for his white horn to stick out. Awakening the dragon, it lets out a loud roar, before settling down. The Colt was followed shortly after by a younger Unicorn, her lavender coat clashed with the sun. "Shining Armor, do you really have to go? she asked, the Colt turned and faced the lavender Unicorn. "I do, but don't worry. I'll be back soon." "But-" The unicorn was cut off by her brother, who turned and approached the Dragon. "Don't you notice the wind? It's stopping. I'm going to check out the Wind Shrine." The lavender Unicorn stomped a hoof, annoyed. "But going alone is just Foalish!" she barked. Shining Armor mounted the Dragon, which released another roar as it prepared to take flight. "Twilight, don't worry. I'm your big brother. I can take care of this." he said, in an attempt to calm Twilight. The Dragon takes to the sky, and flies away towards the Wind Shrine, Twilight waves a hoof goodbye, praying for the safe return of her Big Brother. Off the coast of the Wind Shrine, a ship sailed, the ship slowly comes to a halt from the lack of wind, the crew is greatly confused by this, scattering around. a Black Creature rose from below deck, hovering to the front of the ship where she lands gently, she raises a hoof and sighs. "The wind...It stopped?" In what seems to be a cave, a small Yellow Colt stands in front of some kind of purple glowing tile, his eyes widen quickly as a message is sent into his mind... "The wind has stopped...Got'cha. I'll get to the bottom of this!" He said to himself, as the cave began to shake. He began to panic, starring down at the tile. "No....I'm going down too fast..!! Preparing for extreme landing conditions!" Back at Fillytina Castle, Twilight notices the change in the wind. "The wind stopped....Shining Armor!" Twilight shouted, as she gallops back into the castle, worried for her brother's safety. Inside the Wind Shrine, Shining Armor trotted up to the Wind Crystal, as the room darkened. "What?!" He shouted, confused. The crystal began to spin faster, and faster until finally it shattered, the pieces spreading across the floor. Shining Armor turned around, only to be taken in by a blinding light.. A pink Earth-Pony sat by a camp fire, along with her Chocobo, Gummy. Taking a look into the sky, a meteor is spotted overhead, crashing down not far from they're location, the ground began to shake, and caused the Earth Pony to fall onto her back, and get rolled around a bit. Gummy managed to keep balanced until it was over, the Chocobo assisted the pony in standing up, only for her to quickly put out they're campfire and joy-fully jump onto his back. "Y'know what that sounded like? Adventure! Go, Gummy! Go!" she shouted. The Chocobo wasted no time in moving, Pinkie could see smoke coming up from where the meteor landed, and steered Gummy towards it. The pony giggled at the thought of Adventure, but wasn't very well-prepared, she was mostly bare, except for a leather jerkin, and her short-sword. The duo rushed into the small dirt path that led to the crash site, the Earth Pony stops Gummy, and dismounts. "This might be a teeny bit dangerous for you. Stay here, okay?" The Chocobo nodded. the pink Pony hopped along the path, soon reaching an opening on the otherside which led into the Crash Site, she could see where the meteor slid across the ground. She slowly walked into the open area, looking around. She noticed two goblin's carrying a lavender Unicorn, confused. She unsheathes her sword, grasping it in her mouth, and charged forward. The goblin's dropped the unicorn, but were barely able to protect themselves as the pink Pony cut through one of them, causing his two halves to fall to the ground, she swiftly turns around to notice the other one ready to strike, as it takes a slash at her. She hopped backwards playfully, allowing the enemy to miss, then lunged forward for the final blow, dislodging the head of the goblin. She sheathed her sword and galloped over to the Unicorn, who began coming to her senses shortly afterwards. She stood up on her hooves, looking about. "What happened...?" The unicorn questioned, starring at the Pink Pony, who was swift to reply. "You got caught by some meanie goblins, but don't worry, i was here to take care of em'!" she giggled. "I see, well, thank you for the assistance. I'm Twilight Sparkle, i'd repay you if i wasn't in such a hurry. If you'll excuse me.." Twilight was still dazed, she focused on keeping her balance. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I'm on a journey with a chocobo to nowhere in particular! I saw this HUGE rock fall down and i had to see what it was!" Pinkie was hopping around, as Twilight glanced at the Meteor. "Pinkie...That rock isn't just a rock. I think it's a meteor! Could it have something to do with the wind stopping?" Pinkie stared, confused. "Meteor? Sounds special! Let's check it out!" Twilight shrugged, and began to gallop away before Pinkie jolted in front of her. "Waitwaitwaitwait!" Pinkie demanded, Twilight fell back onto her flank, and stared. "What? I'm in a hurry...!!" Uhnn.....Aghhh... Twilight glanced around, confused at what she just heard. "Did you hear that?" ...Help.... Pinkie hopped over to the Meteor, and checked around the right side, she saw a small Yellow Colt laying there, injured. "Hey! Twilight!! I found it!" "It?" Twilight questioned, galloping over to see the Colt. "Are you okay?!" "Agh, crud....My head hurts..." The colt began to stand, as the two mares stared at him. "I'm....Oh, son of a manticore..I think i'm okay...But i can't remember anything.." Twilight observed the Colt, noting a bump atop his head. She lowers down to his height, he was slightly shorter than the mares were. "You hit your head pretty bad, it could be amnesia." The colt stared, before tripping over a pebble and landing face-first. Groaning. Pinkie Pie simply giggled. "You're kind of a Clutz, hehe." Pinkie commented, as the Colt stood back up. "Clutz...? Clutz...." The colt tapped a hoof against his chin, and his eyes widened. "My name...! I remember! It's...Clutzful. Feels...Ironic..." "Anything else?" Twilight asked, Clutzful simply shook his head. Twilight raised herself back to full hight, and backed away slightly. "I'm sorry, everypony. But i got to get going." Pinkie jolted behind Twilight, whom bumped right into Pinkie and flew forward in shock. "Where're you going?" Pinkie asked, Twilight faced the mare, starring into that cheeky grin. "The Wind Shrine." She replied flatly, Clutzful trotted up next to Twilight when he heard. "The Wind Shrine?! That sounds really familiar! Please take me with you!" Twilight glanced down at the less-than-powerful looking Colt. "I'm sorry, but this is too dangerous for a little one like you." Twilight replied, Clutzful wasn't giving up that easy. "I can fight! I feel like the Wind Shrine is something important to me. So please, take me with you!" Clutzful begged, Twilight glanced at Clutzful before returning her attention to Pinkie. "What about you, Pinkie?" "I'm going to continue my Adventure! Best of luck to you ponies!" Pinkie cheered, Twilight began to trot away with Clutzful in tow. She stopped and turned around. "Thank you, Pinkie!" She turns back around and gallops into the dirt path, Clutzful follows close behind. Pinkie sighed, and stared at the huge Meteor. It seemed to have a strange glow about it, but Pinkie couldn't find a way inside. It was time to get back to Gummy. She joyfully jumped along the dirt path, until finally reaching her Chocobo. "Let's go!" Pinkie cheered, mounting Gummy. Who took off out of the foresty area. The duo headed northwest towards a canyon, Gummy stops and causes Pinkie to fly off, and splat into the face of the canyon, which she slides down until landing on the ground with a squeak. She hops back to her hooves, and glares at Gummy. "Bad Gummy! Why did you stop like that?!" Gummy cocked his head, and glared back. "...I know, you want me to go on an Adventure with those ponies, huh? Plus..There is a lot of goblins...I got it, Gummy!" She giggled, making faces at the bird. The ground begins to shake, and voices can be heard from inside the canyon, Pinkie nearly falls back down, but manages to get on her Chocobo. "Hey, Twilight! Watch out!" Clutzful was inside the Canyon, and applebucked a goblin away from Twilight, who wasn't exactly a fighter in any way. "The ground is shaking...! Woah!" Clutzful attempted to buck another goblin, but the beast grabbed his hindlegs and threw him, sending him flying into the wall on the otherside of the small canyon. He collapsed already exhausted. "Gummy, keep us going!" Pinkie commanded, as she unsheathed her sword, Goblins jumped down from the Canyon walls, Pinkie stood on Gummy's back and slashed them away, while rushing down the path. Suddenly, Pinkie's tail began to twitch. She looked back, alarmed. "Gummy! We've got a twitchy tail!" Gummy comes to a halt, Pinkie hopping off and galloping to the rescue of Twilight. Twilight was attempting to fend off the goblins with a petty knife. She managed to slash a few of them, hardly damaging them. Pinkie leaped forward and cut down the offensive goblins via one big slash, leaving an opening for the unicorn to escape. Twilight picked up Clutzful with her magic, and jumped atop Gummy, Pinkie not far behind. Gummy wasn't used to three ponies on his back, and began to strain as he ran. Thankfully, he managed to make one last rush out of the canyon, avoiding a land-slide close behind. The Chocobo figured they were safe, and threw the ponies off his back, Pinkie's sword flying past the other ponies. Pinkie giggled. "What'd i tell you, Gummy? Twitchy Tail!" The Chocobo laid down, and attempted to rest. Twilight was dazed, and managed to find her knife and sheathe it with her magic, slightly confused. "Twitchy Tail?" "Oh, yeah! When my tail is a twitching, it means something is gonna fall!" Pinkie said, hopping to her short-sword and grasping it, throwing it into the ground to a more easy-to-grab position. Twilight glanced over at the landslide, something fell alright. "How am i going to get to the Wind Shrine.." Twilight surrendered to nature, and decided to rest. She laid down near the Chocobo, trying to get comfortable. Little did she expect that'd she drift off rather quickly.. ........A couple of hours later..... Twilight woke up, glancing about. She noticed Pinkie fiddling with her own hooves, and Clutzful still seemed out. "Ah...Morning." She commented, Pinkie shot forward at her, and stopped right in front of her. "Oh, Me and Gummy noticed you were in trouble, so we helped you out again!" Twilight sighed, smiling at Pinkie."Thanks again, Pinkie. You've saved me twice." Pinkie rubbed a hoof through her mane, smiling, then went back to hopping around as usual. "Well, now for the TERRIBLE news! That landslide blocked the road to Mule. So we're not going that way!" "We?" Twilight questioned, as Clutzful seemed to stir. "Ngh...Wind Shrine...." "That pony's too young to be protecting you by himself, so, i'm coming with you on this Adventure!" Pinkie said, striking a brave pose. "I don't need anypony to protect me! But i-" Twilight paused for a second before continuing. "I accept your help." "Don't need anypony to protect you? Right." Clutzful commented, his eyes still closed. Twilight stared down at the colt. "You were AWAKE?!" Twilight shouted, Clutzful jumped up, slightly stunned. "Yeah, and you could use all the help you could get, in my opinion." Clutzful snorted. Twilight shot a look at him. "Well, if that path is blocked, how do you suppose we get to the Wind Shrine?" Clutzful asked, Pinkie pointed at a nearby mountain. "There!" On the side of the mountain, a cave had seemed to open up. Seemed like they're only route, so they prepared themselves. Twilight trotted away from the group, attempting to avoid Clutzful, while he stood up and prepared himself, doing a few applebucks for practice. Pinkie hopped over to inspect the cave, she just saw it as another part of the Adventure. "It's REALLY dark in here, wow!" She commented, sticking her head inside, then back out multiple times. Clutzful trotted up to Twilight, who was still mad about his remark. "Hey, i came off harsh. I'm sorry, alright? I was just trying to say you'll need help to get to the Wind Shrine. Our help." Twilight sighed, and turned away. Pinkie was already at the entrance, ready to go, she was waving her hooves around trying to get the attention of her companions. "Come on, we'll get to the Wind Shrine. And we'll both get what we're after, i'm sure!" Clutzful extended a hoof, but Twilight simply trotted off towards the cave entrance. He frowned, and followed. Pinkie looked back at Gummy, and saluted her friend. "Gummy, you're still tired, i know. Please stay here, okay? I'll come back for you when i can!" she said, the Chocobo nodded, and continued to rest. Twilight and Clutzful reached the entrance, joining up with Pinkie. The less-than-happy duo of Twilight and Clutzful threw Pinkie off her groove, but she tried not to seem bothersome. "Come on, everypony! Into this cave!' Pinkie hopped in first, followed by Twilight then Clutzful, who kept to the back in case of an ambush. The dark and mossy cave was quite narrow, allowing for easy navigation by even Pinkie. She stopped and looked up at the ceiling, the others stopping behind her. "Uh-Oh....Do you hear that?" Twilight stared up at the ceiling, only to notice a pair of white eyes starring back. 3 bats flew out of the darkness, and swooped down on the party. Two went after Clutzful, which he managed to dodge. "Bats? No problem!" he commented, as the third bat flew at Pinkie, she unsheathed her sword in a spiral and slashed right through the weak enemy. Then turned around to deal with the others. "I've got these!" Clutzful shouted, the bats swooped down at him once more, but he manages to hop above them, and land forcefully down onto the bats, crushing them under his hooves. Pinkie sheathed her sword, and gave a slight victory cheer. "Yeah, take that!" The group followed through the dark cave, and ended up getting bored along the way. "Clutzie, remember anything yet?" Pinkie asked, hopping around him as he continued to trot. "Not yet." Clutzful replied, and playfully hopped past Pinkie as she went around for another cycle. Twilight was silent, she didn't care for any conversation now. She had to prove she could take care of herself...She had to....- Stop to glance at a random spring. It had a magical glow to it, and seemed rather clean. Twilight walked past the entrance to the next cave segment, and went to the small spring. "This water looks clean.." Twilight bent down, and drunk from the spring. She felt better than she had since she was at the Meteor. "What're you doing, already tired?" Clutzful commented, as him and Pinkie were at the doorway waiting. She ignored him and began to trot past, into the next area. "This place is clean compared to the other part of the cave, it's...Unusual." Twilight commented, the dryness of the cave, it's as if it was a new addition. The group turn a corner, as Twilight stops them. Strait ahead was a strange pony wearing a purple bandana, the group takes cover, and watches the pony as he pushes a switch on the wall, opening it. He walks through, and it closes behind him. "Neat!" Pinkie hopped upto the button, ready to push it. Twilight and Clutzful trot normally, she tries her best to avoid eye contact with the colt. Pinkie was eager to push the button. "Come on! Let's push it..!!" Twilight stands in front of the door, Clutzful standing to the side. Pinkie presses the button, opening the path. the three scamper inside before it closes. Shocked at the site, they see a cove, with a port. And many ponies like the one they saw, they take cover behind a rock, Pinkie seemed even more happy now. "Pirates? This really IS an adventure-" Twilight shoved a hoof into Pinkie's mouth to keep her quiet, as the pirates were called to gather into the *BoardRoom*. Twilight removed her hoof, causing Pinkie to cough, Clutzful just sighed. "It sounds stupid, but maybe we could hitch a ride with these ponies?" Twilight said, peeking around the corner to notice no ponies in the area. "Pirates?! What if they keel-haul us?" Pinkie said, in a slight panic. Which wasn't normal from what Twilight could tell. Clutzful stood up, and waved a hoof, keeping himself from laughing. "Why don't we just steal the ship?" Clutzful suggested, Twilight and Pinkie stared at him, "Steal the ship?!" They said in unison, looking at each other, then back to Clutzful, who nodded. "If we steal it, then we don't have to worry about those pirates! So, come on." Clutzful walked out, and galloped along the pier to the ship, The two mares did they're best to keep up. The three make they're way onto the unprotected ship, as Pinkie hops over to the wheel to hurry along. She grasped the wheel, and attempted to turn it to no avail. Clutzful and Twilight approached, and stared at the sad display. "Stop playing around! We've got to get out of here!" Clutzful stated, as Pinkie grasped the wheel in her mouth, attempting to turn it. "Nghit's Sthuck!!" She mumbled. letting go of the wheel. You..!! The trio turned to see a group of the pirates being lead onto the ship by a Black Creature, they came aboard, Clutzful looked at them, shaking. The creature trotted forward, waving a hoof. "You tryin' to steal my ship?! I should throw you to the sea, and let it sort you out!" She barked. "How dare yew' try to steal captain Janet's ship?! We'll ring you up..!!" The pirates closed in, as Twilight ran in front of them, stopping in front of the pirates. "Wait! I am Twilight Sparkle! The princess of Fillytina!" Clutzful and Pinkie's jaws drop. "Princess..." Pinkie began to say. "Of Fillytina?!" Clutzful finished, the pirate laughed, turning back to the yellow Pegasus. "Cap'n! This one'll be worth quite the weight in bits! A princess!" "Get away from her, you piratey...Pirate....Pirates!" Pinkie snarled, leaping down from the wheel to Twilight's side, Clutzful quickly galloped down the stairs to join them. "A princess? Interesting! Tie em' up!" Janet ordered. "Please...I have to get to the Wind Shrine, my brother is there! I believe he is in danger!" Twilight pleaded, as Clutzful trotted forward. "Being good sometimes will balance out your karma, y'know. So, give us a chance....Wait a second.." Clutzful glanced down at the Creature's leg, and noticed a bracelet. He glanced down at his own leg, which had a bracelet with a similar style. Janet stared at the two bracelets also, she shook her head to rid herself of the thought. "I SAID tie them up...And throw the lot of them into the brig!" The pirates ran past, tying the trio up with ropes, Pinkie attempted to resist, but was greatly outnumbered. the pirates pick the now captured ponies up onto their backs, carrying them below deck. Janet watched as they were carried off, and glanced down at her bracelet, confused as of the similar one on the colt's leg... The trio was thrown into the brig, an iron door blocked they're only exit, the three lay there helplessly. "Who's idea was it to steal a PIRATE ship?!" Clutzful shouted, Twilight glared at the smaller colt. "Look in a mirror!" Twilight replied harshly, Clutzful rolled over and closed his eyes. "Ohh...My aching head..." "Don't use that as an excuse!" Twilight shouted, attempting to wiggle out of her ropes. Pinkie looked around, at the boring plain brig. "You're a princess, Twilight? Wow!" Ignoring Clutzful, Twilight turned to Pinkie as an excuse to not shout at him anymore."I didn't mean to keep it a secret, it just never came up." Twilight replied, as Clutzful spun back around to ask a question. "If you're royalty, why would you go to the Wind Shrine alone?" "My brother is there, he went to check on the wind crystal right before the wind stopped...I've got to make sure he's okay." Twilight replied, Clutzful rolled back over, looking at his bracelet. "Well, let's rest for now. Nothing else we can do." The ponies rested, and soon fell asleep as night came, on the otherside of the wall was Janet's cabin, where she sat at her desk, starring at her bracelet. Janet thought about the bracelet that the colt and her seemed to share, and stood up from her table, starring into a mirror. "This is my chance...Best not waste it." ...The next morning... Janet sat outside on the deck of the ship, starring at the clear blue skies. "I don't want to trot the plank!" Clutzful cried, as he, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie were carried outside from the brig. "Not so brave now, are you?" Twilight remarked. Clutzful did a raspberry in Twilight's direction. "You can always go first!"he spat. still tied up, The pirates held the three ponies in front of Janet, waiting for her command. "....Untie them." The pirates stared, confused. They had just caught a princess, and they're captain was demanding they release her? Janet hovered in the air, putting her forehooves on her sides. "I said untie them!" She commanded, the pirates untied the three ponies, who began to wobble slightly. Twilight trotted forward, wobbly. "But...Why?" She questioned, Janet landed back on the deck of the ship, and turned around, facing away from the group. "I....Just decided to help you." "Just decided? Smells fishy, and it's not because we're sailing!" Pinkie commented. "Fishy or not.." Clutzful began to speak, but was cut off by Twilight. "You'll take us to the Wind Shrine?" She asked, Janet nodded. "Prepare to sail, everypony." She said in a decent tone, the pirates simply starring. Janet turned around, looking back at them. "Prepare. To. Sail." She said in a more demanding tone, the pirates scurried around, to prepare the ship. "How do you plan to sail with no wind?" Clutzful questioned, as he trotted up to Janet, standing beside her. Janet glanced down at the shorter Colt. "Well, that's easy...Tsk tsk, oh, Alexandra!" She said playfully, the boat began to shake, as a huge head emerged from the bottom of the boat, releasing a roar. The trio of ponies fell back, shocked. Janet simply giggled at the sight of the beast. "This is Alex." She explained, "She's been with me for quite awhile, we're like sisters." "That's....Amazing!" Twilight stated, starring at the beast as it began to dive back underwater. "I've never seen anything like it.." A lackey pirate approached Janet, simply shoving past Twilight. "Cap'n! We're ready to sail!" He stated, galloping back to his post. "Alright everypony...We're sailing! To the Wind Shrine!" Janet cheered, the boat took off at an incredible speed, nearly tossing Pinkie off her hooves. "The trip will take an hour or so. I am captain Janet Strife, what about you folks?" Clutzful stared, but managed to shake out of it as Pinkie shoved past him. "I'm Pinkie Pie! I came with Twilight and Clutzie to go to the Wind Shrine for an Adventure! I've never met pirates before..!!" She shouted, happy as can be. Pinkie hopped away, to check out the rest of the ship. Clutzful sighed, and sat down. "It's good to, uh, meet you. I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight said, extending a hoof. Janet bumped her hoof against Twilight's. Twilight glanced back at Clutzful during the moment, and decided to go check up on Pinkie. "Have we met before?" Clutzful asked, starring at Janet. Janet returned the stare. "Fraid' i don't remember, sorry." She said, seeming calm. Clutzful's eyes narrowed, as he stared at Janet. "I mean that there is more than you than meets the eye, i feel as if you're...A friend." Clutzful said, Janet laughed quietly. "You're kind of silly...No offense...I see how you got your name." "By the way, nice bracelet." Clutzful spat. Janet grinned, and trotted away, making sure everything was clear with the crew. Pinkie hopped around the ship, and decided to hop over Clutzful, only to end up stopping right above him, and falling on top of him. He stared upwards at Pinkie. "Heya!" Pinkie giggled, hopping off of the twisted up Clutzful, who stared up at Pinkie. "Y'know...That kind of hurt...Ow.." Clutzful groaned, getting back to his haunches. Pinkie hopped away, happy as usual. Clutzful could feel it in the back of his mind, calling to him. Janet... "I know her..."