Chapter 2: Strings of the Wind Crystal (Part Two)
Land ho!
Clutzful stirred, waking up on the deck of the ship. He must've fell asleep during the trip, but who could blame him? The sound of the waves splashing against the ship,
and not having to worry about scraping off the barnacles. He scurries to his hooves, to notice the rest of the group starring at the fast-approaching land.
"So that is the Wind Shrine? It's super-duper big!" Pinkie commented, starring down the Shrine as the ship began to slow down.
"Drop the Anchor!" One of the pirate ponies shouted, as a small group of three other pirates lifted the ship's anchor, and threw it overboard. The ship began to slow down, as they docked next to the shore..
"Is everypony ready to go?" Twilight asked, turning to face the small part of ponies, which was missing Clutzful. She looked around, and spotted him wobbling around, attempting to wake up. "Clutzful?" She questioned, starring at him. Clutzful looked in her general direction, and waved a hoof.
Janet was taking a large plank of wood, and pulling it from the ship to shore, in order to make a bridge. While it wasn't much, it would be enough to get the ponies across. She landed on the shore and laid the plank down, as a few pirates secured the plank from the ship with rope. "All secure, cap'n!" one of them shouted, as Janet began to walk up it, making sure it was secure.
Surprisingly enough, Clutzful ended up waddling over to the bridge first, with Twilight and Pinkie in tow. He let out a yawn, as Janet reached the ship.
"It'll get us across, don't worry." She assured.
Clutzful went first, he wasn't surprised that it supported his small framed body though. Pinkie simply hopped along, making the plank bounce slightly. "Whee! Lookit' me guys! It's like a trampoline! Except, a little less bouncy." Pinkie tripped, and ended up rolling off the plank onto the ground, landing with a Squeak.
Twilight facehoofed, as Janet hovered down to the shore. Twilight slowly made her way down, being careful with the bridge. She held her breath, looking down at the sharp rocks below. She let out a gulp, and made a gallop for the shore, making it across safely. "You're scared of heights or something?" Janet commented, Clutzful couldn't help but laugh under his breath. Twilight ignored them, and began trotting to the Shrine. The others following behind her.
"So, Janet, what are you anyway?" Clutzful asked, Janet hovered beside him, her awkward appearance could unravel anypony. "I don't exactly know, all i REALLY know is that i'm not a normal pony by any means, and even though i have this.." Janet pointed up at her horn, "I can't use magic, and i have these holes in my legs that make me look like i'm made of cheese...Maybe i am! Surprise!" She raised up her forehooves and waved them about, acting spooky.
Pinkie laughed from behind the group, finishing with a small snort.
"It's really neat! You have holes in your wings, to!" She added, Janet couldn't help but laugh as well, Twilight stopped in front of the group, as they stood before the Wind Shrine.
The huge doors of the Wind Shrine were around the size of an Ursa Minor,
Twilight turned to her small group of companions, starring as they were all acting natural. Clutzful let out a sneeze. "Alright, everypony. We don't know what to expect in here, so we HAVE to be careful, got it?" She stared mostly at Pinkie, who carelessly tripped and landed in front of Clutzful and Janet with a squeak.
"Well, don't you all worry about me, i can handle myself. With my trusty knife here."
Janet crowed, spinning around in the air. Twilight figured they were as ready as they'd ever be, so she began to push open the huge doors. they slid open, silently.
As the light shined in, a voice came from inside the shrine.
"Who goes there?!" The pony shouted, as the group came through. Twilight's eyes widened as she saw the blue unicorn in front of her, and the scattered injured soldiers. "Commander Trixie!" Twilight shouted, surprised. The unicorn shook her head, starring at the princess. "Sparkle. What're you doing here? You think the great and powerful Trixie isn't enough to save King Fillytina?" She spat.
Trixie stared back at Twilight's companions, shaking her head.
"And you've brought, let's see.. A clown, a child, and...Whatever that is?"
"Hey! I'm not a foal! I'm just small!" Clutzful shouted at the unicorn,
who laughed under her breath.
"Whatever your excuse is, Trixie doesn't need your help. Trixie has got this under control!" Trixie barked at the colt, who backed away slightly.
"Trixie, i'm going up there. Look at your men, they're injured!" Twilight commented, as she began to trot past Trixie, who stuck a hoof in front of her. "No." She said flatly.
Janet hovered over the unicorn, as Pinkie and Clutzful walked around the other side of her. She tilted her head to look back at the ponies as they waited.
She knew there wasn't anyway to avoid letting her go upwards into the shrine.
"Tch, fine. But Trixie cannot send anypony with you, and there ARE monsters up there." Trixie pulled her hoof back, and turned as Twilight trotted past her.
Twilight trotted past the group as well, heading for the stairs. They looked at eachother for a few seconds, before catching up. "I don't like her." Janet commented.
"Me neither, something seemed...Wrong." Clutzful replied, as Pinkie hooped between the two. "Grumpy!" She said with glee, Twilight stopped at the stairs, and turned around quickly. "Stop!" She barked at the group.
The group stopped in they're tracks, Janet even landed.
"Stop bad mouthing ponies, couldn't you see that they were injured, they had tried to help my brother! You all need to focus! If our commander couldn't beat whatever is up there, how do you expect to when you're all messing around?! Trixie's pride is a pain in the flank sometimes, but she tried her best, i'm sure!
The group looked at eachother, speechless. Twilight sighed, and turned back around, heading up the stairs. Clutzful was the first to follow, followed by Pinkie, then Janet. The second floor of the Wind Shrine seemed safe, as the party continued forward. The baby blue color to everything made it hard to see, as mist gathered.
"What's with this mist? It seems...Alive." Clutzful commented, as he bumped into a wall, rubbing a hoof on his face. Clutzful stared at the wall, and before long, he swore he saw eyes looking back. He began to back away, before a pair of hooves extended from the wall, pulling him forwards, smashing him up against the wall again. He let out a scream, as he fell to the ground. Group turns around, and Twilight stares at Clutzful with her eyes narrowed. "What're you doing?"
Clutzful began to stand, "A hoof came out of the wall, seriously-" He was cut off as a hoof popped out from under him, causing him to get knocked into the air, landing on his back. "Agh, you son of a Deep-Fried Cockatrice!! Stop sneaking up on me!" Clutzful shouted, angry.
Twilight didn't believe what she just saw, starring at Clutzful.
Pinkie let out a yelp as a pair of hooves grabbed her from below, and tugged her down, slamming her against the floor with a loud squeak.
Janet kept an eye on her surroundings, as did Twilight. Clutzful was finally able to manage to his hooves,
as the hooves extended to grab him from the ceiling, Janet flew forward, and managed to fly through the mist, de-forming the pair of hooves.
"Wait...If you could fly through it.." Twilight thought for a second, as Clutzful and Janet took turns avoiding the hooves. "Twilight, think of something! Anything!" Clutzful begged, as Janet pulled him upwards into the air to avoid the hooves that extended from the wall.
Twilight watched the mist's movements, and noticed the mist clearing around Janet's wings, that's it! Wind!
"Janet! Flap you're wings at the hooves! Wind is it's weakness!!" She shouted, Janet focused, and as the hooves came from below, she flipped around in mid air, and flapped her wings as fast as she could towards the beast.
The wind began to disperse the mist around the monster, which was now visible.
Twilight stared at Pinkie as she began to stand back up. "Pinkie! Attack it with your sword!" Twilight barked, Pinkie stood up, and unsheathed her sword. Galloping forward at the misty-hooves. "Oki.." She began to say as she leaped into the air with a slight grunt, "Doki..." Pinkie began to fall, preparing her sword to cut through the hooves.
"Loki!" She shouted, slashing the hooves.
Which caused a reaction, the hooves splattered about, turning back into mist. The mist slowly lowered, allowing the party to see easier.
Clutzful stared at the mist now only at hoof level. "Did we kill it?" he questioned, stomping the mist with his hooves.
Janet landed, causing the mist to fly slightly away from her, before reforming around hoof level. "I'm hoping we did, because i can't do that again.." she said, panting. Twilight continued forward, pushing open a door. She smiled, looking inside. She saw a pair of chests laying there, ripe for the pickings.
Twilight galloped to the front of the chest, and grasped it with her forehooves, opening it. She glanced at what was inside, and sighed. "Hey, Pinkie! I've got a present for you!" Pinkie sheathed her sword, and was near-instantly in the room with Twilight. Janet and Clutzful glanced inside as Pinkie was digging in the chest.
"Oh, Twilight! You shouldn't have!" She commented, pulling out a Long Sword. She gave it a few test swings, and nodded. Clutzful trotted up to Pinkie, inspecting the new sword. "Hey Pinkie, that's not fair that you have two swords. I want a sword!" Clutzful shouted, as Pinkie glanced down at him, smiling.
She turned, and revealed her Short-Sword, insisting Clutzful take it. He didn't pass it up, he grasped the blade in his mouth and pulled it out, falling over from the weight, dropping the blade and nearly stabbing himself.
Twilight decided it'd be best to get out of the room full of ponies with sharp objects, so she opened the door on the opposite side of the room, to get away.
Pinkie sheathed her new blade, and Clutzful assisted her in placing the Short-Sword in her saddle bag, since he couldn't use it. "Your strong, Pinkie! Holding these swords and fighting so well with them!" Janet commented, as she trotted past the two earth-ponies and grasped the second chest with her forehooves, flipping it open.
"Hey, Clutz. I think you'll really like this." Janet remarked, as Clutzful trotted over. He looked into the chest, and frowned. Pulling out the bottle full of green liquid. "The hay is this? Poison?" Clutzful questioned, starring at Janet.
Pinkie stared closely at the bottle, then giggled.
"Silly, that's a potion! It'll heal you right up from that beating you took."
Clutzful raised an eyebrow, unsure. He held the potion up to his mouth, pulling out the cork, then sticking the bottle in his mouth, gulping it down. Before he knew it, he wasn't sore anymore. "It works.." Clutzful said, amazed. He sat the bottle back in the chest, closing it and snickering. "Surprise for somepony else, huh?"
The three ponies made they're way out of the small room, and into the corridor Twilight went into, to they're surprise, she was already gone.
"Oh, brother. She couldn't wait and went off on her own." Janet sighed, shaking her head. Pinkie was already hopping down the corridor, Clutzful playfully punched Janet in the shoulder, as the two galloped to keep up with Pinkie.
As the group made they're way up the next flight of stairs, they all stopped, at the sound of a ground-shaking monster, which seemed just down the corridor, along with a scream that sounded like Twilight, that broke Pinkie from her joyful persona, and she seemed more focused now.
"She got herself into trouble.." Clutzful sighed, as Pinkie actually galloped instead of hopping. Moving even faster than before. Janet managed to hover, and fly after her, leaving Clutzful in the dust, coughing. As it cleared, he realized he was left behind, and galloped to catch up.
"Just a bad day, just a bad day.." Clutzful turned the corner, and his jaw dropped at the sight of a midium-sized Manticore. "Son of a manticore...literally." He muttered, joining up with Pinkie and Janet, who were standing in front of the beast, he notice Twilight on the far wall, she seemed to have been slammed against it. The manticore released a loud roar, nearly sending the group flying back.
Pinkie unsheathed her new sword, ready to show the Manticore who was boss around this Wind Shrine, she galloped forward, and took a swing at the beast, slashing it's chest. The Manticore was enraged, and whacked Pinkie with it's scorpion-like tail,
sending her flying back.
"You overgrown Chicken-Wuss!" Clutzful shouted, galloped strait at the Manticore,
It attempted to swing a paw to hit the colt, but he managed to leap over it, bucking the creature in it's face. The Manticore reacted the same as last time, and quickly swung it's tail to hit Clutzful, knocking him back, slamming against the wall.
"Clutzful!" Janet shouted, looking back. The Manticore leaped forward, diving strait down at Janet, who turned her head just in time to notice the beast coming down at her. She screamed, as a red flash overcame her sight, blinding her.
As her sight began to come back, she saw the Manticore laying on the ground, defeated. It's flesh burning slightly, as Trixie stood over the corpse.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie warned you, didn't she?" Trixie remarked, sheathing her sword. Clutzful and Pinkie scurried to they're hooves, starring at the sight.
Trixie just defeated a Manticore?
"That mist monster made it impossible for us to proceed, for it seemed unstoppable.
But you found a way, Trixie thanks you for that." Trixie trotted to Twilight, and placed a Pheonix feather onto her body, her moral wounds heal quickly, as Trixie leaves a set of potions in front of her, then makes her way down the corridor, leaving Janet and her injured companions to check on the King.
"That Manticore....We hardly did anything to it, but she just came in and defeated it.." Clutzful grunted, as he and Pinkie made they're way to the Potions, each taking one and chugging it down.
"She's tougher than tough! Why couldn't she defeat the mist monster?" Pinkie questioned, as she burped. attention turned to Twilight as she awakened, sitting up on her haunches.
Twilight glanced around, noting the dead Manticore. She glanced at her companions, who stared happily back at her, well, except for Clutzful.
"You call me young, but you're careless." Clutzful snorted, hoofing her a potion.
"You defeated the Manticore?" Twilight questioned, gulping down the potion, and laid the bottle in front of her.
"Nopey nopey!" Pinkie replied, "That Trixie did! She saved us!"
"Trixie?" Twilight questioned as Janet sat next to her.
"She took it out in one blow. I was blinded by a bright red light, i think i know what it was through." Janet explained, "Trixie is...A spellsword?"
Twilight nodded, the body was burnt slightly, she must of used Fire Sword against it, wiping the creature from the face of Equestria.
"She healed us, too. She expects us to finish the job, i don't plan on letting her down after that." Clutzful said, as he approached the door to the Crystal's room,
placing a hoof on it. Pinkie and Janet stood on both sides of him, and Twilight stood behind the little colt.
"Please no monster.." Clutzful begged, pushing the door open. He opened his eyes when he heard the girls gasp, his eyes widened at the sight of the Wind Crystal, scattered into shards across the ground.
"The Crystal!" Twilight shouted, pushing past Clutzful, jaw dropped at the sight.
"It's shattered." Janet added, as the three other ponies made they're way into the room. The shards flash, sending off a magical wave of some sort, the group stares, confused.
A ball of light flies in from the entrance to the chamber, and goes inside of Janet, the group stares, completely shocked, as a voice speaks to them..
The essence of Fire, Courage.
Another ball of light flew into the room, landing inside of Twilight, who glanced at her chest, confused.
The essence of Water, Knowledge.
To their surprise, a third ball of light flies into the room, landing inside of Pinkie. She happily accepts the light.
The essence of Earth, Hope.
The group stares back at the Altar, to see a fourth ball of light forming.
"Is this safe?!" Clutzful cringed as the ball of light flew into him.
The essence of Wind, Pursuit.
The four ponies looked at eachother, confused at what just happened.
"Why did four balls of light just magically fly into our chests?" Janet asked flatly, Twilight shook her head, and Pinkie shrugged.
"Feels warm, that's the only change i notice." Clutzful commented, as a body of a pony began to flash on the Crystal altar, Twilight ran up to the image.
"Shining Armor?!" She shouted, and attempted to grab her brother, but her hooves past through the body.
"Twily? No..." Shining Armor said, starring at his sister.
"It can't be helped, but...Twily, you? Why.." The colt stomped a hoof on the altar.
"What? What about me?" Twilight asked, concerned.
Shining Armor stared at the four ponies, and sighed.
"You four, you were chosen by the Crystal Essences."
"You mean that light?" Clutzful questioned, Shining Armor nodded.
"The Wind Crystal has already shattered, it's up to you to protect the other three,
which will surely shatter if they are not attended to. Twily.." Shining Armor faded, as Twilight reached out for him one last time.
"...Protect the Crystals.."
"Guys! The Pieces of the Crystal, they're moving!" Pinkie said, amazed.
Twilight glanced down, tears in her eyes. She was curious.
The pieces flash, before they float into the air, magically placing themselves into Pinkie's saddlebag.
The Crystal Pieces, these hold the power of ancient heroes that dwell within...
Knight, Monk, Blue Mage, Thief, Black Mage, White Mage
"What is this power?" Janet questioned, as the Shrine began to shake.
"We need to leave, come on. We'll talk once we're back on the ship." Clutzful took over, and stared at a tile behind the altar, it was glowing.
"What's that?" Clutzful questioned, as he trotted over to it. He poked it with a hoof, and flashed away instantly. Pinkie didn't even think before following him, flashing away also. Janet stared at Twilight, who was wiping away her tears.
"Twilight, He's out there somewhere, i can feel it." Janet said, trying to make the unicorn feel at least slightly better. They both step onto the tile, and flash away.
Janet and Twilight landed outside the Wind Shrine, where Clutzful and Pinkie were waiting. "We're outside, there a shortcut this entire time? Bah. Clutzful commented, as he began to trot down the dirt path from the Wind Shrine, heading towards the boat.
Pinkie hopped after Clutzful, and Janet flew. Twilight turned at stared at the Wind Shrine for a few seconds, then galloped away to catch up.
Twilight caught up with the group, who were joking around.
"And then i said Oatmeal, are you crazy-" Pinkie glanced back at Twilight.
"Oh, there you are, silly!" Pinkie giggled.
"Hey Twi, you ever hear the one about the Cockatrice who crossed the road?" Clutzful asked, as he began laughing. Twilight smiled, if there was anything to be happy about right now, it was that she had her friends.
"You'll have to tell me sometime, Clutz." Twilight replied, as they approached the ship, the pirates cheered the return of their captain, who flew up onto the ship, waving her hooves about.
"Hey you loveable scamps." Janet said, as the pirates cheered for her.
Pinkie hopped along the plank onto the ship, As Clutzful stopped in front of it, causing Twilight to stop.
"Twilight, Do me a favor.." Clutzful said, turning around to whisper.
"Carry me?" Clutzful teased, Twilight's eyes narrowed, as she shoved the colt aside, nearly causing him to fall off the cliff.
"It was just a joke..!!" Clutzful shouted, following her onto the ship.
Janet landed by the stairs, signaling the group to come over. Pinkie hopped playfully, as the others simply trotted. "We're sailing to Mule, until we get there, let's check out these Crystal Pieces." Janet insisted, the group went downstairs, and down the hall into her cabin, where Pinkie scattered the pieces along the table.
Clutzful glanced around, as everypony else stared at the shards.
"I'll go first!" Clutzful shouted, picking up a crystal. It shined in his hand, and the light quickly shined over his entire body, as the light disappeared, Clutzful could be seen in a Blue/Red armor set, and seemed slightly stronger.
"Woah! Lovin' the new outfit!" Clutzful commented, requesting Pinkie's Short Sword,
Pinkie pulled the sword out of her Saddlebag, and laid it on the table, which Clutzful hurried and grasped in his mouth, giving it a few test swings.
"This feels so natural, before i couldn't even hold this blade!" Clutzful continued to swing the sword around, until Twilight levitated it away, Clutzful frowned, sitting down onto his haunches.
"I want this one!" Pinkie snatched a Crystal Piece and was consumed by the same light, only coming out in a Karate Gi and a white headband. She suddently threw her weapon down onto the floor, which Clutzful picked up happily, until Twilight pulled it away from him. Causing him to frown and sit down quietly again.
"Ooo, i feel like a Leanie-Meanie-Fighting-Machiney!" Pinkie commented, jabbing hooves at the air, and finishing off with a blackflip.
"My turn!" Janet shouted, grabbing a piece of the Wind Crystal, she was overtook by a light, and emerged out in a Green&Purple set of leather armor, topped off with a bandana.
"The knowledge of a Pickpocket, guess who's gonna steal some items?" Janet crowed, as Twilight stared at the remaining Crystal Pieces.
Twilight was having a hard time deciding, she stared at the Pieces for several minutes, before finally picking one up. The same light consumed Twilight like it did the others, as she came out in a blue robe, with a tall pointy yellow hat, which she threw off, to reveal her face.
"I can feel locked away potential in my magic, maybe we can find somepony in Mule that's good with magic?" Twilight questioned, the four had they're Crystal Pieces in hoof, and were ready to get to Mule as soon as possible.
Clutzful snatchedthe longsword and sheathed in a convenient place on his armor,
looking happy to finally be able to carry a blade, but his head began to ache, as he sat down in the cabin, holding his head.
"What's wrong?" Janet piped up, starring at Clutzful.
"I think i just remembered something." Clutzful replied.
"....Soar...Pour? Hmm.." Clutzful mumbled...
"Sorrier!" Clutzful shouted, removing his forehooves from his head and slamming them onto the table.
"What's a Sorrier?" Twilight questioned, starring at him.
"It's where i'm from, i remember it! The tall walls, the lovely interior, the-"
Clutzful paused, thinking to himself for a moment. "I don't remember anypony, though. It's as if it's a ghost town." Clutzful muttered, shaking slightly.
"Has anypony else heard of this place? I haven't." Twilight said flatly, starring at the group, who thought as hard as they possibly could about the subject before replying.
"It sounds familiar to me, but i can't put my hoof on it." Janet replied, "Sorry."
"Nope, never heard of it!" Pinkie said flatly.
"I'm not making this up, i swear! The town was called Sorrier!" Clutzful said in a slightly angry tone, Twilight patted the colt on the back to try and relax him.
"I didn't say you were, but i haven't ever heard of a place called Sorrier." Twilight said calmly, trying to be reasonable. Clutzful simply stared forward at the husk of the ship, tipping left to right.
"What is this place? This ghost town? Did i live here, alone? I don't know.."
Clutzful muttered..