//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: The Mysterious Island // Story: Through the Looking Glass // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Through the Looking Glass Chapter 27: The Mysterious Island The last thing that General Ricks remembered as he senses was coming back was the chopper coming in for a crash landing on a beach straight after the huge explosion the completely ripped the Reckon to nothing but scrap metal, he slowly started to open his eyes moaning a little as he pushed himself up into a sitting position taking a looking around to see that he was still in it but from the way things looked it almost as if it never crashed. “Maxine…” he groaned as he got up looking around “Maxine?” She slowly replied “I’m here sir… the pilot is alright too…” Maxine turn to him “Sorry I didn’t catch your name” He got out of the seat feeling really sore “Name Jackson ma’am… but how did the chopper survive the crash?” “I haven’t got a clue” she got out of the chopper and saw the tail was gone and the blades also destroyed beyond repair. “Well safe to say this bird won’t be flying again” Ricks and Jackson came out to see it for themselves “So… the rest of the chopper a wreak part from the main section? How the heck does that work?” “Sir I haven’t got a clue, just glad that it did” Jackson replied. “Do you think the boats made it out in time?” Ricks thought about it and sighed “I haven’t got a clue solider” he repeating the same line as Jackson “It almost as if it seem we was spared some how…” Maxine turn to the land and gasped “Si-s-sir…” General Ricks turn around and stared in shock “Ok now this is new…” Jackson took his helmet off “Am I seeing things or this island looks like it belong to the pony world…” General Ricks took out his pistol and place it on the chopper “Disarm yourself this is a pony island so we not threating to them” “Sir is that wise with a forest that thick?” Jackson feeling a little uneasy with leaving his fire arm behind. “There could be all kinds of strange creatures in there being an pony island…” Maxine walk up to a stone path leading out from the beach through the forest and a sign in English saying ‘Stay on the stone road for your own safety’ “I believe this will resolve that” “Oh” he saw the path and sign and following orders he put his firearm on the chopper wreck too. They started to make this way up the path and heard the sound of talking and hooves hitting stone. Before then with her head turn to the side talking to a bird flying alongside the orange pony with purple and red tail and mane, the mane being straight and tail being fluffy with a cutie mark of three different colour birds blue, yellow and red. “Isn’t it another great day Sunny, we going to enjoy the weather at the beach today with all our bird friends” she said kindly with a big smile “Sunny like nice weather” The blue and red bird called Sunny replied happily. Both walk by the three humans down to the beach “Afternoon humans” They watch her walk on “Afternoon…” Ricks only could say and saw her stop in her tracks instantly The Pony quickly turn around with Sunny “Breezy we have humans, we have humans on island” “Please don’t panic we not here to cause trouble seriously…” Maxine put her hands up in defence showing she wasn’t going to do anything. Breezy sped up to them and standing on her hind hooves took her hand and looking at the fingers, thumb and palm. “Whoa this is sooooooo amazing, look at the flex of these fingers, I always heard about humans and read about them but never seen a human till now, wow look at this, nails as well and the groves in the palm of the hand showing the texture of the skin is so cool.” She touching them with her hooves then step back standing on all fours. “Oh where my manners… I am Breezy and special talent is caring for birds of all kinds. This is my parrot Sunny, welcome to New Isle Island” she beamed with delight. “Wow that wasn’t the welcoming I was expecting…” Jackson spoke with a few blinks Breezy tilt her head “Oh what type of welcome did you have in mind?” “The one where you ran off and cause a panic welcome of humans being on an pony island” Jackson replied and she burst out laughing with Sunny. “Sorry about Jackson, Breezy it just we only seen ponies from the Pony world and the only one that crossed through for a second was Rainbow Dash.” Maxine said and then put a hand on her chest “I am Maxine pleasure to meet you” She put her hand out and Breezy put her hoof in her hand and shook with a big smile and her blue eyes staring with delight. “And you may you be?” Breezy turn to Ricks. He gave her his best smile and said “I am Ricks, General Ricks of the British Royal Navy” “Oooo some pony… well I should say someone since your not a pony” she giggled “Someone… what a laugh.” She laughing a little. “That serves royalty, do you see the queen or is it a princess and prince like ours?” “Sorry what? I am getting a little lost here… you have co-rulers?” Ricks questioned. Breezy turn her head back to the path she came from “Of course, Prince Bounce Bolt and his twin sister Princess Rainbow Bolt…” then she paused for a second “Did you say Rainbow Dash?” “Yes a cyan colour Pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail” Maxine replied giving her detail of Rainbow Dash “A weather pony I believe” Breezy was amazed “Wow Princess Rainbow Bolt will be thrilled to hear that some pony else has a rainbow mane and tail like her, she a Alicorn and have jet black colour coat” Breezy explained the Princess “Her brother is white with a yellow mane and tail with a lightning bolt running through the top of both mane and tail with both of theirs sparkling and looking like wind blowing through them all the time.” “That sound a lot like the co-ruler mane and tail of Equestria, Princess Celestia and her little sister Princess Luna with their’s shining like that. Also Stardust to add to the list” General Ricks said thinking about the others he seen. Breezy came up with a great idea “Alright! Lets go!” “Go where?” Jackson asked “To New Atlantis City of course!” Breezy turn and walk on back down the stone path. “We also have three other places, you have Porthoof Town, Skywing City and main farming town Hoovesdale” Ricks, Maxine and Jackson followed her down the path with her parrot Sunny standing on her back as she walked ahead of them. “All the ponies are going to freak when they see you and when I say freak I mean be over the moon with humans finally stepping on our island” she said with joy and they could tell Breezy was more then just over the moon over this but loving this every second as she walked with them. As they walked the three humans took note of the land around them seeing endless jungle from left to right with the sight of a large castle in the distance with buildings around it as well high above against the mountain another city being the city of Skywing. “How big is this jungle?” Breezy thought about it “About 30 to 40 miles I think, this stone path is the only safe way to travel to the beach. And the other paths that lead to the other two towns” They heard rustling sound Coming out of the bushes was a tan colour pegasi with an green tan jacket and a bowl like hat on with a grey scale rainbow mane and tail and the cutie mark of a compass rose “Another day another temple” Maxine gasped “No bloody way…” she whispered “Hey there Daring Do!” Breezy came up to her trotting happily till she was beside her “What did you find today at the temple ruins and which ruins did you go to?” “Oh the usually one that goes forever, I keep finding more amazing stuff there and kind of setting off a lot of traps on the way” She pulled out a gold humanoid statue “I think this was some sort of worship statue from the detail on it” Maxine standing over them looked at it “I didn’t realize Aztec temples where this far from South America, that a statue of the sun god” Daring Do turn around and looked up “Wh-wh-whoa! Humans!” she gasped with shock at first then look around Maxine in then turn to the other two “Now this is something new! Real life breathing human beings! You got to tell me if there any unexplored temples, pyramids or any with really amazing traps to make it an extra challenge” Ricks rubbing his head a little “I can’t believe we ran into a fictional character from a book and just as reckless and adventures as it describes…” “You know I am right here… I’m no fictional character and don’t like being talked about as if I am invisible buster” She gave him a really narrowed look. “Sorry Miss Do it just that you’ve appeared in a book doing exactly what your doing just whatever you did just now” Ricks said calmly “It a whole story series at a place called Equestria” She smirked nudging her hat back a little “I’m a story book character huh? Well that something to tell those ponies about, at least I get to star in some book then just being called names all the time” “What do you mean?” Jackson seem confused “Oh they think I am a bit off in the head cause I always go in the jungle after breakfast and explore all the ruins over and over again, sometimes taking my time to reset some of the old traps so I can just set them off again. I get bored easily so I need adventure to keep me going and these statues I find are an extra bonus. Heck I can even walk through those jungles blindfolded and still find my way back” She told them and went into one explaining why she does it and such. “I just always been a daring pony that love a challenge.” Maxine noticed the wing that was bandaged up “I gather sometimes you got a little bit too over the top?” Daring Do turn to her wing “Oh that, it nothing to do with that. A few days ago there was a huge explosion of light and this massive shockwave hit me and I was sent flying into the jungle hard. I managed to get out and back to New Atlantis and now grounded for another day or so” General Ricks heard a few days part and gasped “A few days ago!?” “Yeah why?” “We was out cold for a few days… no wonder we feel really sick to our stomachs…” Jackson feeling his stomach growl and making him feel sick. Daring Do thought about what Jackson said and turn her head a little to the city “How about you all come back to my place and I wipe up some dinner, it about that time already.” She turn to the jungle “Follow me” she walks into the jungle off the path and after a second they all nod and follow while Breezy skipped along behind them happily with Sunny flying just above her. Soon they came to a clearing to a house on top of the hill over looking the city and the castle. “My word…” Maxine walk over to the hill edge and look upon the city “Now this is a view…” “Yep the best view of the whole city and I own it” Daring Do smirked taking off her hat as she walked in and throw it on a rack. She then place the statue with all the other artefacts she had found over the years. “Welcome to my home, it not much but it still home.” Ricks stared at all the statues, gems, jewels and coins. “Not much? This is a treasure trove… all these artefacts dating back for countless generations… you have a fine collection Daring Do” he saw something and gasped “No it can’t be…” he looked at the detail on the old gold coin “It is… this is about 3000 years old, it comes from Greece…” “Really I only found it in a ship wreck by the jungle on the east coast line” Daring Do replied calmly as she put some food together using the fruit she gathered from the jungle. “It was one of those boring days that I just came across it and checked it out till a salt water croc almost had me for lunch” “Wouldn’t surprise me about that with salt crocs, they tend to be in areas where there is lots of fish” General Ricks said turning to her “I am very impressed though with your collection. This is a A… no S grade collection, you put some of the museums to shame with all this.” Breezy giggled “it look like you got some fans Daring Do” “Yeah it seem I do” she laughing a little then finished preparing the meal. “Hope this will do. Orange juice freshly squeezed with a fruity extreme salad for five” Daring Do place the plates on the table and they gathered around sitting on the floor around it. Jackson looked at it “by any chance you got a folk?” “Folk? Oh you mean something like this?” Daring Do quickly went to a create and open it to show a set of silver where “Never really figure out what this stuff was” He picked up the folk from it “That perfect” Jackson scooped up the salad with his folk and put it in his mouth eating and feeling all the flavour “Mmmm this is amazing. Fresh and tasty” The other two dived in and enjoying their meal while the two ponies watched “Ooo look how they eat, it like in the stories and we get to see it in live action” “Live action and funny Sunny” Sunny squawked “Got to say thanks for leading me that book of yours, I wouldn’t of knew what I human was otherwise” Daring Do chuckled a little “We better eat before they take ours” Maxine was about to protest but saw the joke and laughed “Nice one Daring Do” Ricks decided it was time to let Daring Do know of their names “I am General Ricks but you can call me Ricks, this is Maxine and that Jackson” “Nice to meet you all” Daring Do replied “How about we both take you three to the princess and prince, I am sure they will be thrilled as we are to see humans” “I know some pony that would be thrilled to meet you Daring Do” Maxine said and this caught her attention looking right at her “You see there a Pegasi named Rainbow Dash, funny thing is, if you had her same colour coat, mane and tail you would look like a splitting image of her, your eyes also match the same colour as hers” “Now that is strange and amazing, I wouldn’t mind meeting this Rainbow Dash mare” Daring Do thought about what Maxine said and saw it in her mind which made her blink “Now that something I got to see” “First things first is to get to talk to your rulers then we think about the bigger picture, since we been here for days and didn’t realize it is something and getting back is another” Ricks said to her calmly. “Oh that simple all you need is one of our airships” Daring Do waved her hoof. Jackson gasped “Ai-air ships? Blimp with a boat attached to it?” “Yeah that what a airship is…” she rolled her eyes a little. “Are you some sort of pilot?” “Yes I am in fact… but my chopper is in ruins at the beach at the end of the stone path” Jackson said to her. They continued to exchange stories and details while eating together and surprisingly to the ponies they found the eating and talking with humans to be a really amazing experience, that they was learning a lot about while taking with them and also about New Isle Island and how it been home to the ponies for over 6000 years now with only two being there from the beginning of it all the two Alicorn royalties. They all departed Daring Do’s home and head to the city when they was walked into town many looked really amazed to see humans but didn’t charge up to them like Breezy did or Daring Do looking at them from up to bottom and around them, they simply went back to their business as if they knew the group was heading right for the castle gates. “So let me get this straight, your Princess and Prince put up some sort of magical barrier around the whole island, so powerful in fact that they couldn’t disable it afterwards and since then whatever finds it way here is usually ships that drift in and crash into the cliffs?” General Ricks trying to get a grasp on the details as they walked through a market area Breezy nods “Yep pretty much that the case and Daring Do been to all the wrecks, if it wasn’t for her we would never know much about the human progress in the world, we even found out that humans did live here once a time ago in the jungle areas but they seem to just all pass away” “Explains the temples around the jungle and why it has sun gods and such” Maxine replied putting a finger on her chin. A Stallion called out “Hey Daring what fantasy have you thought up this time” “Nothing that concerns you” she replied coldly to him “Thought so, another day another temple? Or should I say same old temple.” He laughed and some other ponies did as well Daring Do lower her head growling under her breath. “Well she does what she does best and if it means having a bit of fun on the way then she can, doesn’t mean you judge someone for whom they are, I thought your key rule is that every pony is equal on some level” The pony heard what Jackson just said “Whatever human, even your a first. It doesn't matter to me what you think” he snorted Jackson closed his hand into a fist ready to knock this pony out but Ricks put his hand on the pilots arm shaking his head. “Don't, he not worth it” “My fruits are worth it pal, not some washout like her!” he point a hoof and Daring Do whom sighed heavily. “Now get going! I got a business to run!” Maxine turn to Daring Do as they left “Are ponies always like that to you?” Daring Do shrugged “Always, it doesn't bother me too much now. Even they get lost and I help them they still treat me like dirt. It just normal” Ricks chuckled “That why you got a compass rose as a Cutie Mark” “Yep I can navigate almost through anything” she boosted feeling a bit better and showing a bit of pride behind her voice. “My sense of direction have never failed me” They all soon stood before the gates with two black ponies in rainbow colour armour stood with a really serious look on their faces with the helmet on their heads. “Whoa that one crazy colour scheme” Maxine whispers seeing the armour they was wearing. “Hi we humans and here to…” “Welcome to New Isle Castle, Princess Rainbow Bolt and Prince Bounce Bolt have been expecting you, also your friend may tag along if they wish” the guard said in a deep and serious tone of voice and with his horn glowing the doors open to see the countyard being a huge garden leading up to the castle itself. Ricks stared at the size and beauty of it all “Ok now I am seriously impressed, you ponies keep surprising this general…” he walks in with them and looking to their left and right looking at some of the ponies working in the garden mostly unicorns part from about three pegasi and four earth ponies working the garden. “Not a surprise to see that many working to keep a garden such as this in prime condition.” Daring Do felt really happy “I never been inside the castle before this is going to be a thrill for such and another adventure to add to my dairy” Breezy came up to a bird “Hello there blue jay how are you?” it replied happily with a squawk “Oh that nice, have a nice day my friend” it nods and goes back to clearing it feathers. “What did it say?” Maxine asked with wonder “Oh just that news spread far and fast about you three being here” she giggled Coming up to the steps a blue unicorn stallion wearing a black suit jacket and white shirt with a bow tie on came up to them “Hello and welcome to the castle, I am Jevees the head butler of the castle and personal be taking you all straight to the throne room, please follow me” he turns and walks into the castle and they follow him inside. Walking on the red carpet down a corridor with statues on stalls and windows showing a grand view they came to a set of doors “Please enter” he open the door with his horn and step back as all five enter to come to a room mainly empty with two ponies sitting at a raised set of steps in front of two chairs, one was black with a rainbow mane and tail waving with sparkling light and the other was white with a yellow and black spikey mane and long waving tail. They all bow down to them in respect and raise their heads “Welcome to New Isle Island my young human friends” the black one spoke as she stood up, her silver plated hooves clicking on the ground a little “I’m Princess Rainbow Bolt and this is my brother” “Bounce Bolt, we must thank you for what you did” he said with an graceful smile “Did what?” General Ricks asked standing up with a confused look on his face. She smiled softly looking at him “Your ship when it was destroyed also broke the spell we cast on this land for so long. If it wasn’t for whatever you was doing out there we would be still trapped within our shell” “It may seem very peaceful but of late with discovery that human technology advancing with also advanced to keep up with the paste with our magic adding our science” Bounce Bolt said calmly “Ponies been wondering more about the world outside the shield” Maxine was amazed as well as the other humans “At a cost though, we believe the Isle Kingdom ruins was completely destroyed on the otherside of the rift, all that history gone” “Do not worry most of it is here in our island, all ponies part from us are the survivors relations going back 6000 years. We all live in an egalitarian society” Rainbow Bolt said walking up to the window as the others join looking out to the view of the city partly seen from the view. “I must be slowing down a little to see the simple things with just careful eyes. It been a long time since I really used my speed” “Good thing there a Rainbow Dash that can do it for you Princess” Breezy said with a smile She turn and chuckled “Rainbow Dash hay? Well I wouldn’t mind meeting this Rainbow Dash since it seems she most likely done it already” Rainbow Bolt felt happy to hear that something she did a very very long time ago was now being done by some pony else since she got a feeling that Dash already had. “General Ricks in your bag is that the book?” Bounce Bolt point a hoof to the bag. He grumbled “Yes and I wish a simple fire could of destroyed it too” Rainbow Bolt turn to a chest on her throne and pulled it over with her horn magic and place it in his hands “General we already know of your name and the others we saved your lives from the crash and sort of read your minds to see your intent” she said to him “Please take this box, inside is a special magical stone, one touch on one of your aircraft and it will gain Pegasi magic but at real risk, I believe it would cause one of them to go faster and faster to the point it would just break apart” Ricks was amazed “Ok seriously stop amazing this old man” he chuckled “And thank you, I will use this at the right time” he put it again in his bag then turn to them. Jackson stood at the window looking at the airship “Now that is amazing, feeling the air as it moves. Must be really something to fly one of those” “Yeah I been on one, getting to see the jungle from high above not worrying about flying and looking just staring below as it moves really give a new meaning to chilling out” Daring Do turn to him “You know if you was a pony I bet you would be the best pilot pony ever” Jackson laughed “No offence I rather keep my fingers” “None taken my friend, a adventure is a adventure and trying something new is always that” she smirked then turn to the Princess “I bet you heard of what I been up to for years?” “Of course I have, it your choice Daring Do, I never get in the way of others that always do things they like unless it would cause harm to other ponies or other life on this island” She said with a smile. “I have a idea” she walks over to a dragon statue and brought it over to her. “This Daring Do is a messenger statue, all you do is put your hoof here to let out a rainbow flame that will bring the burned up letter back to me and I send one back via the statue” Daring Do held it in one hoof and gasped “Wait you mean…” her eyes widen and she ran up to the Princess and hugged her “Thank you! You don’t know how much this means for me” “Yes in fact I do. I been hoping that the barrier would finally be brought down and you can go on a new adventure into the world of Earth” Rainbow Bolt said with a watering eyes Breezy smiled happily for her friend “Don’t worry about your home Daring Do I will keep a eye on it, clean it up, make sure all of your artefacts and clean right Sunny?” Parrot nods “Yes Sunny will clean and keep safe home of Daring Do do” Daring Do almost fell over by this “It Daring Do you peanut not do do!” Sunny laughing a little “Sunny know” “Why you…” Sunny flew off and Daring Do starts chasing him “Come back here you squeak for brains!” Breezy burst out laughing and Maxine turn to her “Is this normal?” She was still in fits of laughter “every hahaha time hahaha” Bounce Bolt smirked “I see some pony will enjoy the time away from Sunny” he shift his eyes to the general “General Ricks, please relay a message to the human government and let them know they are welcomed to New Isle Island but will have to respect our laws. Please take this to allow them to see the rules and laws of our land” Ricks took the book that was brought to him by the magic, it was still amazing for him to see them hold things like hands but with magical aura around the object “I will take it to the UN itself and make sure they understand” Rainbow Bolt turn to the airship “I know this was brief but your ride has arrived and your fellow humans found safety and the storm has also gone so you should find clear skies ahead. Please take care of Daring Do, she is our eyes and ears of the outside world and please don’t let her get carried away with temples and any other ruins, I gather you got rules for that?” “In fact we do but I am sure we can take her to a ruin or two that not been charted” Ricks turn to Daring Do whom seem very thrilled by this. “We will come with you and see you all off, also expect a crowd, they sure will cheer you off on your safe journey” Bounce Bolt said as they all started to make their way to the airship tower walking slowly and talking about New Isle Kingdom, humans and such including the pony world. Soon they was all on board and the two prince and princess stood at the tower top waving a hoof to them with Breezy and Sunny as the air ship starts to leave with Jackson at the helm and enjoying every moment of flying something new as it moves off, Daring Do peered over the edge to see a crowd of ponies cheering and clapping hooves with a big send off. Not even a day the humans was there and a big impression was made instantly as they was sent off on their way back to their own civilisation and the one thing was concerning for General Ricks was explaining that a island full of ponies been on Earth all this time and wonder how would the human race react to it as a whole, he knew the pony fandom may take this as a joyful thing even with Daring Do seen in ponyself, but he main concern was the humans of other countries may react to a whole cartoonish colourful island close to their lands all this time. Rainbow Bolt sighed a little “I just hope what we gave will be enough to save us all from Black Phoenix…” “My sister you did the right thing, sending them off like this strengthen our bonds with the outside world and our help may what they need to stop Black Phoenix from burning whole civilizations” Bounce Bolt put his head against his sisters and they just watching as the sun set and the airship leaving for the outside world. “Whole Civilizations…” she whispered with a tear falling and hitting the stone floor feeling a bit of guilt for what happened 6000 years ago unable to do anything for Prince Typhoon the one she loved. Typhoon sat at the Saloon in Fort Hooves staring down into the strong apple cider in the mug with a image of the black mane alicorn “My sweet Rainbow Bolt…” he whispered with a small smile feeling something he haven’t felt in a long time. “Soon we be together again” he felt real happiness in a long time as he thought of those words and put the mug down and leaves to Saloon leaving questionable looks on all but Stardust whom saw the look on his snout changed and with a smile she continued to talk with the others around the table enjoying the night.