//------------------------------// // Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 80 // Story: Equestria and the Mysterious Stones // by LunicStream1105 //------------------------------// Chapter 80: Our last time Part 1 First Day "You know what? I'm actually surprised it will last that long, it just might be a full four days... Either that or my PDA will glitch after carefully examining the portal." Tails stated. They all nodded. "Why don't we all head back inside." they all went for the house, when a few seconds later JetStream turned around toward the backyard. "You know, I rather stay outside for a while longer..." the sun was just past its highest position for spring, it was still early in the day. "Alright, see ya when you get inside." Corolla responded. JetStream nodded. As the time has passed he glowed once again. Once it passed, he looked like his normal self. "Yeah." he said rather quietly, he looked down at himself. Time to think about things is a precious time, it helps everybody as far as when it comes to Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles, or so he thought. JetStream kept examining his surroundings, looking left and right, he noticed the Bell Tower, 'I think I can finally say I know what the tower does...' there was the longest pause, and then JetStream smiled. "I'm so glad I can finally sit down and rest..." Corolla sighed on her way down. Myriad joined Sonic and Tails at the living room, where Knuckles was right with Corolla. "I'm so glad you two were able to make friends with somepony you haven't seen yet. " Tails nodded. "Thank you." Sonic looked around, always trying to remember where the saddle bag is, but they might as well take the out, as they will be leaving in a couple of days. But Sonic decided to do that later, 'And speaking of the saddle-bag...' Sonic looked at Tails. "Where is, JetStream?" "Shouldn't he be outside?" Sonic raised his hand mildly as he walked to the door. "Yeah, guess I'll go check then." he opened the back door, walked out and closed it behind him, only to notice JetStream was gone. "Huh? JetStream?" Sonic stood there, and when he was for the moment, he felt a sudden impulse, followed by an image, "... You're at the Bell Tower?" he turned toward the tower in the middle of Altamare. When all of a sudden, it started playing the same song from all the way in the beginning, "Is JetStream playing that?" Sonic wondered, he knew the last time he was with the bell this also played. 'Wow, although I did something different, it still played the same song...' JetStream thought, he hit 16-5-1-3-5 in that order, 'I guess if you think about it, while I did hit 'danger' in the bell when the city was being disturbed, only did this because I knew how the bell works, and everything is fine...' JetStream went silent and paused to think about what he'd just said, he looked at the bell which was on his right and focused on it, "I know how the Bell Tower works." he realized. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Although it may look like you're pushing your way through this... and you may be the protector of this pathetic landmark..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Could he have known something all this time?" he paused before he shook his head, "I better head back before they worry." JetStream went down the stairs as fast as he could. He made it back home seven minutes later. Sonic, and Tails were in JetStream's room with him, all they were doing is that they were talking about anything. "What do you think we could all do if we get bored? I do like that we're able to stay for a bit longer, but what if we can't think of anything whatsoever." Tails asked. He was sitting on the bed next to JetStream, as to where Sonic hasn't even sat down yet. "Are you sure you don't want to sit down, Sonic?" he shook his head. "No, I'm fine..." JetStream leaned back after asking. "Alright then..." JetStream was laying like a normal pony would, with his left hoof over his right foreleg with the only difference, Tails was sitting further down the bed when he sighed. "Then I think it's going to be a while before we think of anything..." they all sighed in unison. Part 2 First Day - Night We never really came up with anything till we had to go to bed, which is actually kind of sad. And the weird thing is, my Mom told me she'll see me later, before any of us went to bed, or, well, before I fell asleep? I guess? Well, anyway I'm still lying on my bed, looking out the window that's right next to it, I seem to have something with windows... either that or a strong preference... By the time the moon hit the top of the window from where I was lying down, the door to my room opened, and Corolla appeared behind it, "JetStream..." she whispered, "JetStream, are you awake?" I lift my head from the pillow and look at her. "Yeah." she motioned me to come into the living room, which I did, but rather sloppily, you seem to lose your balance in the dark for some reason. As soon as I was out of the room and in the living room, she shut the door to my room. "What are you doing?" I asked looking around like it wasn't even my home. "I want to talk about..." she pulled an object out. "This..." I gasped in reaction. "The book I got from the library." she nodded. "Yes, I'd like to know why you have it." the thought of bringing myself to do something like this got me really good. "Well, I didn't get it for myself." Corolla tilted her head at me with a raised eyebrow. "Really? So it's a gift then." I paused, only to nod later. That's when she smiled and said. "Then I think I can help you with this, and make it better." I smiled as well and responded with. "Okay." right after that me and her started working on it. It did take almost two hours to do, and I knew it was worth the wait. After it was all finished, she put the book right back in the saddlebag, and I went back to bed, where I went to sleep much faster than I did before. Part 3 Second Day - Early Morning Everything started to ease, JetStream's ears begun to hear more clearly, and there's something bright behind his eyes all of a sudden. He shortly groaned before opening his eyes, 'Hmmm...' he thought, he didn't move just yet. He just lied there with his eyes open, he sat up straight and looked around the room, where there was this bright red shining spot on the wall, "What?" he walked to the spot, and looked at to where it may be coming from. He looked out the window, "Oh... I guess it's pretty early then..." JetStream's mouth involuntarily opened, as he started to yawn. Sonic and them all decided to sleep where ever they could, but that's all JetStream knew, he looked out his door to his room, 'They did something... the door was shut when I went to bed...' JetStream could feel his eyes finally being able to open fully. He poked his head out into the hallway, where he saw most of them asleep. JetStream sighed, "I'm not a big fan of this kind of scene..." he stated with his eyes shut. That's when his Aura shifted, and he felt a cold chill on the top of his back, which he looked up from responding. Something was up there. He looked away from the ceiling and back into the living room, "I guess I'll go check then..." he turned right, then went down the short hallway, and turned right once again to face the back door, which he opened to get through. He closed it once it was clear, the thing on the roof knew, and its right ear twitched. JetStream turned completely around so he could see who or what it was, "Oh, hey Sonic. What are you doing up there?" Sonic realized and looked down. "Well, I woke up not too long ago, just before the sunrise." he pointed toward the rising sun before them. "So you stayed here? To look at it?" Sonic nodded looking back at JetStream. "Yeah. And I can't help to notice that it looks like mine back home." JetStream nodded in agreement as he looked at the sunrise. "Yeah, Celestia's doing an amazing job." "Good at it too... actually..." he looked at JetStream once again. "Do you know how long Celestia's been doing this? Raising the sun and moon?" JetStream's mouth dropped. "Are you joking!? I'd have to be almost three thousand years old to find that out..." Sonic was surprised he'd say such a thing, but the pause was all about one thing, "... So..." JetStream continued, "... Around three thousand years... maybe less...?" Sonic shook his head smiling. "That's pretty incredible... For doing something for so long..." Sonic paused while JetStream wondered why there weren't blind, "... Do you think she does it alone?" Sonic asked. JetStream felt a chill go down his spine. "W-well, she obviously... we saw her alone, remember?" he was suddenly on edge, giving a shrug without any context. "I guess..." he looked down, only to look back up. "Then again, maybe that's why Twilight was there, she was with Celestia. She did have a star-like Cutie Mark if I remember correctly..." "We did see that with our own eyes anyway..." "Right." JetStream nodded. "I have one more thing in mind." Sonic stated, JetStream looked at him. "What's that?" he looked curious. "How does Celestia know you, even though you live in a town all the way from here to Canterlot." JetStream smiled and looked back toward the sunrise. "Well, there was this event called a Fun-Run, where apparently you go from one spot to the other. Like a point to point." "What's the good in those?" Sonic responded shrugging. "I found a lot of good in it, as I bonded further with the friends I made here in Altamare, we were still all knew together. And the scenery..." JetStream paused, "Seeing Canterlot from the angle I've kept my mind on, seeing this huge city on the side of a mountain, it's perfect for a princess. The river that eventually goes off into a steep fall. It's splash back when it hits the ground creates a rainbow as well. And I think it's also the highest view I have ever got, other than Yanhoover... maybe... I don't think I could even remember though..." he paused, "Anyway, why Celestia knew about me, is that event was held by her, herself." Sonic looked down for an question to give. "Then why did Celestia pick here? In Altamare?" JetStream tapped his chin. "... Maybe because Altamare is some of the most western cities in Equestria... then again Yanhoover does seem further west... but the city was more up north. And it was definitely colder up there than down here." "Is that why your parents moved down here?" Sonic asked. "I don't really know that one either, but I like to think it that way..." Sonic nodded. "Alright... oh, look at that JetStream." he looked toward the horizon. "Yeah. The sun's already above the horizon... and, you know Sonic. It actually felt fine talking for once, I usually think I don't have the time for it..." Sonic laughed, and JetStream suddenly looked puzzled. "Don't worry, though. I feel that way all the time." Sonic looked away from the sunrise and at JetStream, "Want to see who's up yet?" JetStream nodded. "Sure." they both jumped down and headed inside. Everything was starting to cool down again. Part 4 Second Day - Afternoon It just hit around afternoon when everyone was finally awake. JetStream waited for his Mom or Dad to wake up first before he said he would go look around the town, but since he woke up so early, he actually had to wait, "I'll see you later." JetStream stated through the closing door. "Alright." Corolla responded a little sluggish. Once she closed the door she sighed. "Ugh... If only I had the energy as I used to have..." she smiled as she walked by Sonic sitting at the table. She stopped, and turned completely around, "Sonic, do you know where Tails even is?" Sonic nudged his head toward the door, while looking at it all the same, "Hmm." she figured as she looked away, "Alright then. That young fox sure as a taste for adventure." Sonic nodded. "He sure does, he was shy when I first met him, out in a forest with nowhere to go, he seemed lost as well, that's when he met me, I was after Eggman's schemes, and that's when Tails joined along. Knuckles was after him." "So you three have been around for some time now, huh?" Sonic nodded, looking out the window. "Yeah." "So, what could we be doing, JetStream?" Tails asked. "This is something I usually do in Altamare. Just taking a basic stroll." he looked away from Tails and toward the buildings surrounding their path, "Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to go during the night, the whole town is purple and golden at night, even thought it is blue and white at day." Tails nodded. "Yeah, I'd do the same if I had the time like this." JetStream looked back to Tails. "Are you implying that you don't have enough time?" he nodded. "Yes. Sonic, Knuckles, and I are always so busy, I never really get the chance to look at Mobius long enough..." JetStream tilted his head at this new name. "Mobius? How come I never heard that from you before?" Tails paused looking away, then soon coming back to JetStream. "Yeah, I actually don't know why I haven't said it before, the answer doesn't come to mind, but Mobius is the name of our home land, like yours is Equestria." JetStream smiled. "Alright." they both were closing in on the center of town. It felt great seeing ponies finally able to walk the paths of this town once again, JetStream looked at Tails, 'Just too bad they wont be staying here long...' Tails looked at JetStream. "Something wrong?" JetStream paused. "Yes. But it's nothing urgent." "Are you sure?" "Of course." he smiled. "Okay then." Tails responded as they continued to go in whichever direction they choose. Knuckles was on the roof of Myriad and Corolla's house. When he looked in the direction of Canterlot suddenly and thought, "I wonder what they did with the machines back there..." as you looked just in Altamare, they were starting to make repairs to the city. Part 5 Second Day - Night It was roughly five hours later, and it was getting late. The sun was nearing the horizon, the moons glow was getting more visible at the same time, "After doing all of it, about five hours passed..." Tails snickered. "Yeah, time flies when you're having fun." JetStream nodded, smiling. "There's my home, it's just up ahead." "Good. I can't wait to sit back down..." Tails sighed, JetStream laughed. "Alright." Once they reached their destination, they both turned right into JetStream's home. Where they both sunk to the floor in exhaustion. "Welcome back, Tails, JetStream." "Thanks." they said in unison. Since Altamare was obviously not like Canterlot, there were bright candles placed around the whole house, it would give you that medieval feel for every single house, while even though there are light poles outlining the paths, there are more in the center, and not much of those where they are now. "So, how did you two's little trip go?" "We explored more of the city." JetStream answered, Corolla looked at Tails. "Basically that's all we did." Tails stated. JetStream quickly looked around to see where the saddlebag was, so no one was looking, and then quickly looked back, only to notice Corolla was staring right at him. "Oh, hi Mom." "You seem awfully suspicious... What are you thinking about?" JetStream scratched his head. "Thinking about going to bed, honest." Corolla stood back. "Really? I'm actually surprised you're going to bed so early for your standards, it's only eight o'clock." JetStream continued to his room. "I guess I will see you whenever I'll wake up..." "Alright then." most of them replied. JetStream lied down in his bed, hoping he'd wake up early in the mourning, much more early. Part 6 Third Day - Early Morning JetStream's thoughts were passing around the idea of waking up early for this specific thing he decided to do as soon as he'd wake up, but it would still be a matter of time until he knew he was asleep. But in one moment, his eyes snapped open, accompanying a sudden small gasp, he quickly looked around, "Ugh... I keep waking up like I have nightmares..." he stated to himself. He paused, "Oh! Right." he uncovered himself and walked out of his room and around to the living room, where he went for the saddlebag, and pulled his own, the white Chaos Emerald, and went for the back door and checked the time just before he went out, '1:11am...' he opened the door and walked out, only to close it behind him, "The ground is very lit, so that must mean that the moon, is... out...." JetStream noticed the ground was illuminated, he went to check, only to figure out the moon in the sky wasn't there, "Weird... then where is that light coming from?" he paused like he was awaiting a pony to answer, but he then continued anyway, regardless if a pony would or not, he went all the way back to the backyard, and started galloping forward. As soon as he reached the house at a close enough distance, the door opened below JetStream, he fell and landed straight on his hoofs. He looked back looking outward of the door, which then it closed like always. He turned around, looked at the torches on the walls, "It seems kind of cold for the torches to still be lit..." but despite that, he continued. The walk there took shorter than he thought, as he realized too late he was already at the entrance, "Hmm..." he walked in like he usually does, the opening behind him closes, and then it's up to him to explore. Even though there was no moon, it was casting light, the light shone in from the circle, "Even though I know the moon isn't there, I might as well need a light..." he walked and stopped exactly in the middle of where the moon's light went through. He thought that he would focus with this Emerald once again. As he started to his Aura showed blue, same with the Emerald, 'Wait, shouldn't it be white?' he continued anyway, as it would mess it up. The more the Emerald glowed, the more powerful it became. After a long amount of time and patience, JetStream realized the Emerald started to glow yellow, "Wow, this is new." then it slowly changed colors, and only to pick up more speed until it showed a rainbow instead, "Whoa..." but then the Emeralds rainbow glow started to somehow wrap around JetStream like a double helix, "Ah! What's this...!?" something on the ground moved past JetStream on his left, it made the glow swirl into the air above and disappear. Seeing that shadow move across the floor, JetStream looked behind him, and straight at the wall. There on the wall stood his silhouette, but as soon as he made a move to touch the wall in front of him, the silhouettes eyes glowed a cyan-green color, and the shadow moved right below JetStream to get behind him. That's when the shadow seemed to take the whole circle of light that hit the ground, the shadow went over JetStream as well, "... Wait..." JetStream turned around, and got his final look. The moon was suddenly visible again, and it took the whole circle of the glass pane. And what stood it front of it, was a silhouette of a figure JetStream never thought he'd see again, and the laughter that it had with it was way to recognizable, it was a strong maniacal laughter. Just before JetStream thought it was all over, the figure's head turned directly at JetStream. And within a quick moment, JetStream jumped up, realizing he was sitting in his bed. Part 7 The Longest Nightmare "What is with the nightmares so suddenly...?" he shook his bed-head and looked around to see his setting, he noticed the moon's light was shining through his window, making his blue curtains shine throughout the room, "Aw, I was hoping that it was the next day though... oh well..." he went to the window to check where the moon was, "Who knows, it could have been worse..." he sighed as he looked at the window, "...!" the moon still didn't have the silhouette, "The shape is not there! ... Am I still sleeping?" it's always a weird question to ask yourself, as you'd seem paranoid, "Alright, I am... still not awake... I wonder why..." JetStream stopped. He focused with his Aura, he wanted to calm himself, "Alright..." he looked to his bed, "I guess I will try again..." he lied down and went under the covers, and finally closed his eyes. Another 15 minutes passed, when he finally settled in his bed, and a wave of comfortableness washed over him in time for sleep, an image of two eyes with turquoise irises flashed in front of him, "Agh!" he bolted out of the covers and to the other side of his room, "What is doing that?" he quickly looked left and right, only to notice that the moon's light is gone, "... Wait... It is only been about seventeen minutes... I was able to see the moon with out even trying to look up... well, I guess I am dreaming..." JetStream looked at his closed door, "Should I?" he looked at the door like it was covered in a slime. He looked back out the window and decided to do it anyway. He turned back toward the door and opened, he looked around and walked out of his room. He left it open knowing they would know he left in the first place. When the door was at its max angle, the door sounded like it hit something. JetStream sighed sharply and looked around the door, only to realize it was a flashlight, "What is this doing here?" he bent down to pick it up, and without any thought, turned it on, "Whoa, it is, really bright..." he pointed toward the ground and found the switch for its power, "How did this get here?" he wondered examining the object. Soon after he decided to turn it back on again and the light flashed on the wall, when JetStream looked ahead, he was surprised at what he saw, "What?" there was glowing text the differentiated from the wall, but it only appeared when he lit it up with the flashlight. The text appeared to say, "Head to Ponyville" and at the bottom it had an arrow pointed toward the front door, which was just around the corner, "This has got to be some sort of prank..." JetStream huffed, but he continued in the direction the text wanted him to. Lighting up the room with this bright flashlight he just found, he pointed it around the living room to see if there were any more text that could have been lying around, there were none, up until the point he pointed it at the door, which said "You can't go back once you leave" JetStream took a step back, "Is this some kind of threat?" he was about to ask the living room if anybody was there, but he didn't want to wake anybody up, "... Actually, where are they anyway? Wait... is Sonic up to this...? No, wait, I cannot see Sonic doing this... but what if Knuckles was..." JetStream knew that character of Knuckles, but whatever he could be pulling, he's doing a great job at it. He took a deep breath and walked to the door, the flashlight bobbing as he walked, he took his step out of the door. When all of a sudden, outside didn't seem to nice, it looked nothing like the way he saw in his bedroom. There was a blue coloured fog that was so thick he couldn't see five feet in front of him, "What is this madness? I cannot see a thing!" he moved his flashlight around, noticing the light pierces the fog with much precession it practically makes it visible for miles, "Weird... but this thing is so bright..." what made him wonder was the moon's light was able to travel through this fog. He turned around toward the door, and when the flashlight shined on it, text appeared stating "Good luck" JetStream swallowed hard, the stone below him was almost invisible, it was him and only his flashlight, he turned away from the house, a wide path like line was shown to indicate a path, "Is that a way to Ponyville...?" he looked at the flashlight, "... Then why do I need this?" he looked back ahead of him and swallowed once more, "Okay, lets go..." Part 8 The Longest Nightmare 'Alright, I need to stop asking myself that, I obviously know what the flashlight is for...' JetStream started in the path the dark fog let him see, and that was toward Ponyville. Although he could go stray off the path, JetStream didn't really think anything would happened after that, so he decided to stay safe, 'But why? All the way to Ponyville...' he swung the flashlight left, 'Is there something waiting for me? ...' he swung it right, 'Is it a cry for help? ... or is this myself that's making it all up... that doesn't matter, everypony would know they would want it to turn out right, any way they could...' he swallowed hard, 'Any way...' he felt a shiver go up his spine, and quickly looked behind him, "Whew... a-and now that I think about it... I don't think Knuckles is up to this at all..." he bit his bottom lip, still looking left and right, when suddenly more text appeared on a tree, "Aw... I can't really see it from here..." JetStream turned his head looking left and right, moving his flashlight with him, he took a deep breathe and went for it, and everything went dark instantly, he could barely see his own muzzle in front of him, luckily there was the flashlight with him this whole time. JetStream got just close enough for him to read it, it read "From this point, gets harsher" he swallowed hard, "I wish I knew who was writing that down..." he stated looking left, he quickly rushed back to the path that was given to him. And suddenly it seemed the bridge that connected to the island was in front of him, "Just about made it out of Altamare, I don't think I'll make it..." ignoring himself, he continued to step further, he noticed he passed the tree, its statement was true. As it suddenly got colder, and a breeze could be felt, the fog on each side got thicker and inched closer, 'Oh great, soon I wont be able to see with the flashlight...' when suddenly JetStream started to hear distant gurgling coming from the fog itself, "What is it now?" he asked himself, he tried to point the flashlight toward its source. He noticed it had yellow glowing eyes, in his stopped position, JetStream took a step back, "Who are you!?" he asked this ominous figure, it responded with mumbled non-sense, "Oh great..." JetStream turned around and galloped with the speed he had, as he was making the distance he hoped for, those yellow eyed creatures spawned up ahead. JetStream grit his teeth, as he knew he would have to gallop straight through them, JetStream sped up even further, at this point it felt like his hoofs weren't even touching the ground. As he approached them just to pass by, one of the creatures walked themselves toward the path JetStream was set on, he was ready to duck whenever he could. And within ten feet, he slid right under the unknown creature with hope to avoid it. But instead, as he slid, the creature had the appropriate timing, and clawed him right on his left cheek, and lost all of his momentum, he held his hoofs next to the wound and breathed in with his teeth grit, while at the same dropped the flashlight. When JetStream finally went to a stop on his high-speed slide, those creatures were still around him, "Ow that hurts..." when he opened his eyes, he noticed another was going in for an attack, JetStream gasped and rolled to his right. He got back up, only to notice he was suddenly cringing, and this stuff was coming off on him, "They're ponies?" he could see by their figure. They were walking away from him instead of be ready for an attack, JetStream realized he dropped his flashlight somewhere. And noticed it was behind him, as the figure in front was literally burning off from the light the flashlight gave, "What the..." JetStream turned around hoping no creatures would get to him, he grabbed the flashlight, and pointed it at the creature one more time, and focused the light straight on, and it seemed it burned faster, and till the point the monster was no more, JetStream gasped once more, "The flashlight burns them away..." JetStream grimaced, "I guess I can't just beat away at them..." JetStream looked right, and dashed once again, 'Like I would though...' as wouldn't think of fighting these things, what drove JetStream almost crazy is why this sort of thing would happened to ponies like these, and how they ended up like this. 'Burning away those ponies... am I....' JetStream closed his eyes, scratching that thought out as hard as he could and just continued to gallop. It wouldn't matter what JetStream would gallop into, as long this nightmare of a scene would end. JetStream didn't believe they were ponies, they were covered in this transparent mist and had glowing eyes, they're probably part of the nightmare. It felt like half an hour before he opened them again, and when he did, "Whoa... I'm in, Ponyville..." although his spirits elevated, it obviously wasn't much. He ended up in the center of town, the whole fog was in a larger circle around the town's hall. JetStream was able to look up toward the moon, where he stared at it for almost two minutes when he saw a black blurred figure jolt toward the forest to his right. JetStream looked to his right as well. The path leading him formed a way toward this forest. JetStream sighed, he looked back up and kept a good poker face while he was at it, and he kept his pace, and started toward this forest. Part 9 The Longest Nightmare "I wonder what that thing flying overhead was..." JetStream inhaled, "But for now, lets just go inside the forest..." JetStream slowly made his way into the outskirts of the forest that lied in front of him. He went straight away from the Town Hall. Up ahead was a right turn, where just in case, JetStream turned his flashlight, 'There better be no more monsters up here...' he thought as he was expecting them anyway. He looked left on sudden decision, where he heard a screech, and frantically searched around, until he left it to his Aura, it was behind him. He quickly turned around, only to notice it was attacking. He yelled and quickly went even further along the path, where he looked back and actually lost the creature a lot quicker then he expected, he slowed to a walk and took deep breaths, "I'm going to need to get out of this, somehow... no way am I excepting this as a nightmare... Especially if I've made this far... This really is a long dream though..." he tensed on the last statement. Suddenly he couldn't see no more, as the fog covered his eyes once again, "What happened to the trail?" he looked back to see if he missed it, only to realize it was the mistake he made, he walked back and continued to follow it. When he got back on, the trail made a sharp turn to the left. Where JetStream followed it, as soon as he passed the turn, he looked ahead, "The fog cleared..." only to realize the worst, "This is the forest..." JetStream read the text on the sign next to a decaying tree, "...Don't worry though, you're almost there." JetStream sighed, "I can see that..." he focused the flashlight directly in front of him once more, as the fog cleared up, the atmosphere of the forest took its place, "Alright, I'm in the forest..." he stated to himself. As soon as he finished, he thought he heard thunder, "... Really? Is it already going to storm? The sky was clear just before... or well, I think it was clear... I couldn't really see it..." JetStream continued walking through with his trusty flashlight, the only object that's allowing him to see, through the only way he was meant to travel. JetStream was ready for anything to pop out, but it wasn't like he wanted anything to. He thought he was keeping back with every inch of light that would hit the middle of the trees that would surround the only path he had. The Aura this forest was giving off felt reached, a soft, squishy touch that could burn your skin easily. After some of the longest walks he felt he has ever had, JetStream heard something he's never heard since he heard back Altamare. JetStream gasps we he stumbles upon a river, "That current looks a little strong... I don't think I'll be able to walk that..." JetStream continued to look at the river and silently think, before it was nearly four minutes before he figures out how to pass, and it was the only way he would know how. While on the side of the river where it was flowing harshly, a large creature was waiting for this pony to do what it expects it to do. He backed up before the area opened up for the side of the river, he put the flashlight sideways through his mouth, and he readied to gallop across the river. Thanking himself for his personal build, he's lighter than most ponies his age, but for some reason they sometimes say it's a bad thing, 'Light and quick steps... just like you do before...' he slowly leaned forward, he gained a small grin as well, he slowly moved forward without budging his hoofs. And within the next second, he pulled with all of his force that fall into his hoofs to somehow tread across the river, his acceleration was almost explosive, the trees and leaves shook with their noise of a crowd as soon as he lift off for the river. As soon as he hit the water, he suddenly panicked, he lost most of his speed, and was continuously losing it as he went across, 'The river looked a lot smaller from where I was!...' he was growing tired easily, while almost three-fourths of the way there, he took his next step, only to fall straight into the roaring river. But with the momentum he had, the flashlight whirred right past everything and bounced to a stop on the other side. JetStream was struggling to reach the top again, yet he wasn't going anywhere as the horizontal force was greater. As his last once of energy burned out, he heard a noise he never heard before, just before his vision went out, as he was exhausted from energy, he was expecting to go down the river and land somewhere up shore. Yet, the noise he heard, scary for being in the unknown, maybe it wasn't what it seems. It wouldn't matter, because if it was help, then he needs the help. Part 10 The Longest Nightmare JetStream knew something was out of place, consciously knowing he went underwater, yet he heard the waves as he never even dived under. But as he listened, it started to clear up, and quite literally as this continuous noise was building loudly as he continued to hear the roaring tiny waves that the river produced. As his eyes were able to break open for the first time, it was really bright, like the bright light you would see inside some cave, and how you would ever be so happy to see it shine on you. He was, still unsure, though he heard something else, and it sounds like breathing. JetStream suddenly jolted up, stressed and worried, hacking up the extra water his body didn't need on whatever he was resting. After the internal clear-up, his vision came back to him, "Where am I?" he asked himself, as he didn't expect anypony else to answer, when a voice appeared out of nowhere. "You're in the Everfree forest, little one..." JetStream's neck shot up. "Who said that?!" he looked in the river, and saw the reflection in the river, "Ah!" he looked left and up, at his aloud struggle, he slipped off this creatures body and nearly fell back into the river, '... The river's so cold...' "Oh, sorry if I startled you... I keep trying not to do that the best I can..." he lowered the tip of his tail to JetStream could climb back on. "D-don't worry... I di-didn't know what happened..." The lizard creature that held JetStream by his tail sighed. "Okay, I'm glad that's fine with you. Anyway, I'm lucky I saw you. You would've continued to drift if it weren't for me." JetStream looked up completely soaked with his drooping mane and smiled. "Then I thank you, I really wouldn't expect something like you to save me..." it nodded. "That's partially the reason I never leave here... one wrong step of their hoofs and they end up in the river." JetStream nodded. "And sorry about me practically coughing on your tail..." "That's nothing to dread, it's a sign of consciousness, I would be ecstatic as you to still be alive." JetStream slightly coughed again. "... Thanks again. Do you think you can help me to the other side of this river?" "Of course." "Thanks." JetStream smiled. The lizard-like animal started to swing against the rushing river, 'Wow... talk about strength...' he stopped where JetStream jumped onto the nearest landmass, "Feels nice to touch grass once again..." he stated softly tapping his hoofs. "Goodbye! I hope we meet again!" the creature exclaimed. "Alright! Bye then!" JetStream responded. The thing was, he was still dripping from being soaked. With his conscious decision, he started shaking his entire body as a dog would, and got all the extra water off, "Don't judge a book by its cover, I guess." he concluded this scene with a statement. After he thought he got enough off, he started to look for the flashlight, "Now where's that flashlight... it had to stop here." he grew worried as he wasn't able to find such a thing, "I don't remember turning it off... either..." he looked down, and the flashlight was right at his hoofs, "Huh..." he bent down to grab them back, "The lights not on..." he turned the switch off, and then back on, yet the light didn't go off, "You got to be kidding me..." when he turned it back on, he shook it, hoping it would flicker, which it did, "Yes!" then it started to continue flickering, yet it never stopped, "Some light is better than no light I guess." trying to ignore the flicker, he continued to look forward, and seek out whatever could be awaiting him, unless they saw JetStream first. It was another long and dreadful walk, making sure those creatures that don't like to eat light stay out of his way, it wouldn't turn out the best for both of them. His thoughts left him to a safer place, and his eyes guided him, it suddenly got cloudy, and where both mind and hoofstep started to sync once again, "Aw. It's getting really foggy again..." when he took his next step, he suddenly launched backwards, "There's no ground!?" he pointed his flashlight around, and noticed it was a broken bridge ahead, "Oh shoot..." he bit his bottom lip and looked around, "What now?" as he finished his statement, the flashlight finally went dead, and no longer gave the light JetStream much deserved for treading such a landscape alone, "Alright... I think my speed can clear this..." he headed backward and dropped the flashlight so he could get some acceleration on his part. He stopped when he thought it was far enough, "I have to clear this... for an earth pony who could tread the clouds, I'm confident I can make a simple long jump." he pushed on his left backhoof first and let his speed take over, going at the speed visibly tons faster than a stallion, he jumped with much more force than he gave during the river. The breeze launching back at him was chilling, and unwelcoming. After feeling little effects from weightlessness, he landed, then started to tumble with the sudden effect of gravity. He rolled until he was abruptly stopped by an innocent tree, the slope made him slightly climb into the air, only to fall back straight on his hoofs, and dust flew in every direction. With JetStream agreeably wet and covered in dirt, he sighed and just continued to whatever obstacle the forest would throw at him, "Alright, what's next?" Part 11 The Longest Nightmare JetStream sighed, "I guess there was nothing after that..." he looked ahead, there was a grey mass behind the trees that were planted in the ground in front of JetStream. He approached the trees to walk past them and pushed a couple of leaves to get the view, what he saw was an old aging castle, "Oh... This had to be here a long time if it looks this terrible..." he frowned, "But what lead me here in the first place? That figure that flew over my head from before... the writing along the way, and what created that fog?" JetStream decided to check the castle out, and see what he could find. He walked up to the red door that started the scavenge, and opened it when it was in reach. When the full view of the room next up was visible, JetStream saw something in the middle that you couldn't miss, "Whoa..." he looked back down and walked up to this mysterious object, "What is this..." he looked back up, "Does this have a purpose?" JetStream squinted at the five arms the object contained, each arm held a specific stone, "What are those stones for..." he decided to jump onto the object to get a better and closer look at the stones before him, "Huh... the five arms even form a star shape..." he looked at one to seem to have a lightning bolt imprinted on it, "It's got a lightning bolt on this one... the others are different... it's like a pony's cutie mark, one is never the same..." he looked away from the one he was staring at to one on his left, "That one looks like a diamond... these have to be cutie marks somehow..." when JetStream felt like he was done, there was one more final arm he didn't take notice until the very moment he looked up, "Oh! What about... this one... there's nothing up here..." there was a sixth pointing straight up, but no stone seemed to be present, like the others, until he remembered why there wasn't a sixth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well, let's see, Loyalty, Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, and Generosity. I've also heard that Celestia has used all six before, but I'm still unsure." Corolla shrugged on the last bit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I did remember for later." JetStream recalled. He looked back down to the stone-less arm, "This must be where the six elements reside..." he looked somber when he looked at the sixth arm, "Yet, the sixth isn't here. I guess that's why my Mom didn't know about it. Even so..." he looked around at the others, "I still don't even know which one of the known five are which..." he sighed as he realized this fact and climbed back down, "Oh well..." he got a good distance away before he looked to the next door, his jaw dropped, "You..." he said in a ghostly tone. The pony laughed. "Yes, it's so nice to meet up after such a long time, my friend." JetStream got in a defensive stance. "I wouldn't say friend much..." her laugh still echoed in her mouth. "... There's no need to worry about my doing, as if I wouldn't waste my time." "Then what are you doing here?" she looked at him as if she had one eye only. "... Neurelm?" JetStream responded. She paused, and started walking toward the object in front of them both. 'What is she doing?' "I wanted to catch up, know how you were doing, and how I, was, doing..." JetStream kept his stance, just in case if she was going to pull anything, "You sure walked in here prepared..." Neurelm stated. "You bet I, did!?" a glow formed around JetStream, where he hovered directly in front of Neurelm's vision, 'She's changed once again too...' JetStream noticed she was taller, and her mane looked like transparent goo with tiny stars inside, her mane and tail was literally alive, "Now, you little pony, I want you to listen." "... What is. it?" JetStream shivered as Neurelm's mane flowed around him, having an ice cold chill along with it. "We both know you don't have a good reputation with deals and promises, so I'm deciding to give you one last chance..." "When did I-?" JetStream was cut off as her mane physically shut his mouth. "I need you to listen." JetStream paused, and instead nodded, "Excellent. Now I'll set you free of this nightmare I created, if, and only if, you let me be who I was meant to be.." JetStream paused, and longer then he thought he would, he started shaking his head no. 'No, this will obviously be something bad if I let you... but...' Neurelm started to give a snarling look, just before JetStream spoke, "Yes, I won't bug you with your further plans..." 'That's not what I meant!' "Great, that's a great effort from you, and you should feel rather proud of that." her mane moved along JetStream's chin, moving his head back and forth, "I make my promises, and you should keep them..." whatever she was doing, JetStream wouldn't figure out, as he suddenly got drowsy and fell asleep in Neurelm's magic grip, or so he thought. Part 12 Final Day - Morning JetStream somehow realized he was actually sleeping, and still only took some time till he did. As he knew how the other encounters with Neurelm took off, the farewell on this one felt, rather different. Yet JetStream had the awful suspicion something was bound to happen. His thoughts spewed the same words, yet they instantly scattered when he saw a faint orange glow behind his eyelids. Where he heard muffled sounds of birds chirping and the new leaves rustling in the wind, it was a casual spring day, it's what JetStream liked, but Spring wasn't his best season, his favorite season was one to be unexpected, and he liked it for that reason also. And when all that thought passed, his eyelids, slowly opened to the ceiling below him, "... That was wild..." JetStream sighed to himself and sat up, when something struck his mind, "My awakening... it wasn't rash..." he remembered the little moments where he would be catching himself after those nightmares he would have, they were obviously unpleasant, "... So I'm finally able to awake calmly now, I guess Neurelm was telling what was on her mind..." it wasn't apparent to him, but he might've just forgotten what she told on her mind to him, pony to pony. The sun was shining in his room like always, so he decided to check outside. His mouth opened when he remembered about the portal, "I actually forgot about it..." JetStream continued to look outside as he paused, "Hmm, maybe that's why Tails is out there..." he decided to see what Tails was up to in the first place, he walked out of his room opening the door, and turned left, he then quickly turned around to the back of his door. "Good-morning, sleepy head." Corolla stated. "Oh, morning." JetStream replied. "It's about time he's up, we're about to leave with him asleep." Knuckles was practically relieved, he wouldn't want to go without a good bye. "It should be no worry..." Corolla told Knuckles as she walked to the table with her beverage, "... This is about the time he usually wakes up, I'm surprised with what it is and how busy his days are." Corolla stated. "Yep, sleep's a precious thing, need it every now and then since I guard the source of unlimited power." Corolla laughed knowingly. "I wouldn't be able to do such a thing, even if I tried." Knuckles nodded. "Yes. That's when it comes to will power." "Much of it I might add." Corolla responded. They both continued their talk, while JetStream just went out the back door. "Hey, Tails." "Good-morning, JetStream." they said in unison, he reacted to hearing more voices then intended. "What? Sonic? Since when you were out here?" Sonic gave him a look. "Been out here ever since Tails decided to check the portal." 'I guess he was behind a wall or something.' JetStream thought, "Speaking of the portal..." he continued, "When is it going to die out?" "Well, since most of its power was burned off, my device is able to process much faster due to the short amount, and from what it says thirteen hours." "Thirteen? That's about sundown. Alright, I go inform Knuckles." Tails looked up from his PDA. "He doesn't know?" "Apparently not." JetStream walked back to the door and opened it. Once he was in the house he walked to the living with the news on his mind. "Hey, Knuckles." he turned toward him. "What is it?" "Tails says the portal will now last until sundown today." "Well, alright." JetStream nodded as Knuckles looked back to what he was doing. He walked back into his bedroom and sat on his bed, only to look at the light rays from the sun pouring its water-colour yellow into that was wide as his circular window. "... Only thirteen..." he sighed to himself once more. Part 13 Final Hours - Sunset Since twelve hours ago, JetStream wanted to make it the best a-little-more-then-half-a-day moment. But he knew he wouldn't be able to do it without the help of the friends he made it through in the first place, they're practically the reason why he made up his mind for such a decision. JetStream thought they could all go city exploring with him, but then Tails stood up and had a better idea. He would rather stay here, where all could finally break down and relax, they saved Equestria from Eggman, freed all the ponies from the dreaded grey spheres, and mostly, saved Celestia from that metal imprisonment. JetStream only nodded, stated himself that he understood, he turned around said "I'll be back before you are supposed to leave" as he smiled. He looked rather cheerful actually, he then walked to the front door, and left, without another word. No one knew where he went after that. They all expected him to come back, just like he had said. That is if he could make it. Which he was determined to do. Now to get to present time, it starts with JetStream fast asleep on the Bell Tower. When suddenly, the pony watching the tower finally decides to come up from the stairs. "Oh, he's asleep." he continued to walk over to the colt. He gently nudged JetStream awake, he shifted before he finally answered. "Hmm? Yes? What is it?" he slurred as he looked up, he suddenly jumped at the pony's appearance. "Oh, hello..." "Hello..." he responded. "Sorry to wake you so suddenly, but your friends, as they call you the same, want you to go back down stairs." JetStream's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah!" JetStream saw where the sun was out of the corner of his eye when he went for the climb downstairs. "Thank you!" he shouted back toward the pony. "You're welcome!" he responded. JetStream could feel that his feeling his change suddenly, as it was more of a relieved happy than just a happy, yet it surprised him they came down here. He opened the door to the outside, the orange sun beating down once again. Once the blinding rays subsided, his friends appeared after. "JetStream..." Tails said first. "Where were you?" "Oh, about that... I fell asleep." Tails sighed. "That's not expected of you." JetStream laughed nervously. "Come on you two, lets head back to the house." Sonic said, waving back at them as Knuckles and him started walking back. JetStream suddenly looked somber. "I guess there's not much time left." Tails nudged him in a friendly manor. "To think life lasts a long time, I'd say there's tons of time left to spare." JetStream flashed a smile, which Tails smiled back. He started to jog ahead. "Now let's hurry, I don't want to keep Sonic waiting." Tails said in a way of humor. JetStream snickered. "Then don't slow me down!" he caught right back up. Before they knew it, it was only half an hour they had left before this whole adventure would go out with a spark. The sun was just about to hit the ocean's horizon, meaning it was finally time for Sonic and his friends to kick it back home and relax as they usually do in their mobian home. Luckily Tails got the tornado in time, he thought it would be disastrous of he left it behind. So he aimed it at the portal, and had it when ever they're ready for take off, which was very soon. "It'll be sad to see you three go." Corolla grimaced, Myriad was the same in expression. While JetStream's was worse, he was completely devastated. 'The time has finally come... well you know what...' JetStream's will power pulled through and his expression changed completely for the better, "I'll show it..." JetStream walked up to the plane, where Tails was in the pilot seat, "I guess this is the first time and the last I'll see this fly without me as a passenger." JetStream stated sliding his hoof across the machine. "... Yeah, I guess it is." Tails responded. Everyone looked at the portal when it suddenly sparked, and Tails jumped. "Oh! The portal! We need to go through it now!" Sonic ran to the plane. "It was sure great having you around!" JetStream told Sonic, with a confident smile he replied with. "Goodbye, JetStream..." JetStream's heart skipped a beat when he had to face the facts about never seeing them again. With all of them on board, and the Chaos Emeralds in their possession, they started for the portal. JetStream galloped up to the plane. "Best Wishes!" he exclaimed, holding a smile. All three of them gave a thumbs up. JetStream's smile went confident. The plane started to inch forward, and then at necessary speeds for take off. Then in one final moment. They went through the portal. When they did, the portal started to weaken, and close. He kept his smile, then in sudden realization he turned and galloped straight for the area in front of the back door, "The book!" he grabbed it with his teeth and for the portal as fast as he could, each step got more dramatic. When he was as close as he could get, he threw the book into the portal. It now and then it started to shrivel, with no more communication can happen soon enough. JetStream took a big sigh, "I hope it's worth it for them...." Corolla walked up to JetStream, and put her right forearm around his neck. "Don't worry, I bet it's even beyond that." JetStream looked up to Corolla, tearing up. "Oh, you have quite the passion..." she tussled his mane, "I'm so, so glad you're my little colt." it wasn't what mommy would usually do, but she saw the smile crack on him. JetStream shifted to escape his mother's grip, when something flied out of the portal's area, and hit JetStream square on the head. "... Ow..." he turned around, "What was that?" JetStream looked at the ground. It was a black ring with a gem in the middle, and JetStream gasped, "It looks like Sonic's ring. But why would he give it to me?" although it did look like it, upon further inspection, it was slightly larger, "Hmm..." JetStream grabbed it, and decided to slip it on, "It fits!" that's when JetStream noticed the gem on the ring changed color, "Whoa, it changes color..." he looked toward the portal, "This is perfect!" "Let's go back inside shall we?" Myriad asked. JetStream nodded, as did Corolla. They both headed inside, but just before he went in, he took one last look at where that portal would've still been. "Actually, can I stay out for a little longer?" he smiled. "Make sure to come right in, alright." Myriad stated matter-of-factly. "Of course." JetStream nodded. He turned back toward the backyard. He watched the sunset fall completely below the horizon. And sighed once more. He walked up to the tiny portal, just waiting for it to entirely disappear, when he sighed once again, it blew it all away. He looked toward the sky, then back at the sunset. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle. Celestia stared at the same sunset, as she was able to because of the mountains great elevation, 'With a three second sudden silence, comes the effect of the magic I once produced upon all that I know. Nopony shall remember these dreadful events except I.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JetStream looked at the sunset, and suddenly spoke, "Remember..." all the great times he has ever had with Sonic and his friends, "Remember..." those sudden moments of action that everybody and everypony took care of, "Remember..." the way Sonic and Tails acted when they first met, "Reme-..." JetStream suddenly went silent. . . . The sun's flames died down, as JetStream and his once known friends were well known for the first time, and the last. Every memory forged within this adventure of his, is now seemed to be forgotten forever, as long as time seems to exist. "JetStream what are you doing out there, why don't you come inside, it can get very chilly." Myriad considered. "Oh, right!" he looked away from the suspicious ring around his hoof, which for some reason he suddenly smiled at. He walked back into the house, and closed the door behind him, with that little creek that always fell behind it. ~~~Chapter End~~~