The crew landed near a resting point just one mile south of the forest. Everypony took another inventory and began to walk the rest of the way. The walk was quiet and ominous at the same time.
Snowcone was the first to break the deadly silence, “So, anything interesting happening in somepony’s life?”
“I’m getting hitched,” Hawkeye said.
“Congrats!” Everypony besides Overcast said.
“Yeah,” Hawkeye said, running a hoof through his jet black mane, “She just had to get preggers.”
“You don’t want to marry her for the love?” Storm, said.
“I’ve never loved anything in my life before, not even my parents,” Hawkeye replied.
“Wow, well thats depressing,” Snowcone said.
Hawkeye shrugged, “I prefer it this way, the wise crack and the lady killer.”
“Oh please,” Phoenix said, “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”
Hawkeye grinned, “Thats exactly what the last lady said.”
Phoenix’s already fiery red cheeks grew hotter. “Ugh, stallions, they are so stupid, why bother.”
Snowcone decided to talk to the outcast of the group, Overcast.
He was trudging along, behind the rest of the group at a slow pace.
“Hey, what's wrong?” she said.
No response.
“Come on, you don’t have to hide your feelings from me,” She said, smiling.
Still no reply.
Overcast had a blank expression on his face, he felt bored and partially annoyed at Snowcone.
“Hey, why did you say we were going to all die by the way?”
Nothing.
Snowcone felt awkward as her attempts at conversation were shot down. She attempted to make him talk and possibly be his friend, but failed.
“Sorry for wasting your time then pal,” she said, grunting.
“Okay, I say we should make decent travel and around high noon we rest. Then around nightfall we should set camp and discuss all of our inspections,” Specter said.
“Sounds good,” Storm said.
Everypony else nodded in agreement.
“Are we there yet, a mile doesn’t take long to walk,” Phoenix said.
In hindsight she realized how ironic that statement was, because they finally reached the forest.
The forest was almost exactly like the description, foggy and cold. You could feel the stale air from yards away. There was an opening that led to a pathway, surrounded by dead trees. It was something you would imagine in a nightmare, or one of those fiction books in our library. It made everypony shiver.
There was no grass surrounding the outskirts of the grey forest, only an ash substance. There were specific certain clouds that differentiated from the grey, but bluish tinted clouds outside of the forest. The clouds above the forest seemed to just be a slate of faded silver.
“Well gals and gents, here we are.” Storm said, gulping.
“Whats the big deal?” Phoenix said.
“It does look foreboding” Turret said.
“Ugh, leave it to a mare to do all of the work,” she grunted.
“Lets just get this over with, I don’t want to stay in there any longer than the rest of you,” Hawkeye said.
Storm checked over his head to see if Overcast was still behind the rest of the crew, he was. His bored expression and apathy was evident.
“Ladies first,” Hawkeye said, grinning.
“Do be a gentlecolt and go first,” Snowcone said, in a posh tone.
Storm felt like they were wasting time, so he decided to go first into the forest. As he trotted over to the foggy pathway with almost zero visibility, he felt his bones rattle as they touched the dead, and cold air. He had trouble opening his eyelids, and could feel goosebumps protrude through his coat.
“Hey, wait up Storm!” Hawkeye said, running blindly into the foggy forest.
Hawkeye immediately slowed down as he stepped on the pathway, and shivered in place.
“It-Its fr-freezing!” he said.
Everypony else stepped onto the pathway and put on extra coats.
“Phew, okay, that is the coldest I have ever felt in my life. And I’ve stared at Commander Hurricane in the eye when he trains new recruits in the army,” Phoenix said.
“Are you sure, I don’t think anything can be colder than that,” Storm said.
“Well, there is hot ice, and liquid nitrogen that could be extremely colder than this place by a landslide,” Turret said.
Hawkeye spoke up, “Cough, buzzkill, cough.”
Everypony giggled except for a tempered Wind Turret.
“Hey, I was just stating the facts.” Wind Turret said.
“Children, now isn’t the time, can we get on with it?” Snowcone said, putting a hoof on Turret’s shoulder. “Work as a team Turret?”
Turret blushed and said with a sheepish smile, “Yeah, sure.”
Storm walked back to where they came from, but there was just dead forest. The pathway was gone.
“So thats why,” Hawkeye said. “It must be an illusion spell.”
“Impossible,” Wind Turret, replied.
Everypony began their descent into the forest. The forest was filled with dead trees and the ground was a dark ash colored dirt. The crew was staring in all directions, scrutinizing every detail they could take.
“Oak trees, all of them, no other sign of life. No plants, no animals, not even a single insect,” Snowcone said.
“Hmm,” Specter said, putting a hoof to his chin in thought. “There has to be something alive, something.”
“Maybe, but thats not even the strange part,” she said. “How this forest still remains a forest is phenomenal. There is nothing to keep the trees from decomposing or this ground being uprooted by richer soil and grass. This forest is self sustaining, it shouldn’t be here, but it is.”
“I’d say its those snobby Unicorns using magic to keep it alive,” Phoenix said.
“I doubt it,” Turret said. “If it were the Unicorns, then they are more advanced than we thought. It would take a grade A unicorn to keep a forest alive. Let alone the motive in doing so.”
“Why would this forest be here in the first place, if a unicorn needs it, there must be something of value,” Hawkeye said.
“Thats what we must be here for,” Storm, said.
They walked deeper into the forest that had an incessant scenery. It felt as if they were walking circles.
“Turret,” Storm said. “What do you know about illusion spells?”
“Illusion spells? Well, I believe them to be a superstition. Unicorns being capable of that power would disrupt the circle of life. If they can use illusion spells, then I believe the world we live in is just a dream.”
He never thought of it that way before, weird philosophy. “You make a point.”
Hawkeye spoke up, “I want to get on top of a tree and get a good view.”
“Why don’t we just fly up and over the fog?” Snowcone said.
“No, look, I don’t trust this place. Everypony stay on the ground until you are given further instructions,” Specter said.
“Well, this landscape just feels the same and we have been walking for thirty minutes” she said.
“Lets just take a break, sort out our observings,” Specter said.
Everypony laid down blankets on the ground and curled up in the warmth.
Storm really didn’t know what to make of this forest, it doesn’t seem dangerous, but just really cold. He would think the unicorns were behind it, but Wind Turret shot down that theory.
His eyes snapped open. Maybe we can test if we are under an illusion, he thought.
“Hawkeye,” Storm said. “I want you to fire an arrow in front of this pathway.”
“What are you on about?” Hawkeye said.
“I see what you’re thinking,” Turret said.
“It could work right Turret?” Storm said.
“Its worth a shot.”
Hawkeye picked up his bow and knocked in an arrow. “Why am I doing this again?”
Everypony else stood up and watched.
“We need to test if we are under an illusion, or mirage. Shoot an arrow, then we can see if we can retrieve it,” Storm said.
“Ah,” Hawkeye said.
Hawkeye drew back his bow and released the arrow.
“How far do you think that went?” Phoenix said.
“About one fiddy,” Hawkeye said.
Everypony trotted over toward the arrow which was remarkably stuck in a tree.
“Good, we aren’t under an illusion spell,” Specter said.
“I don’t know if thats a good thing or not,” Wind Turret said, catching his breath.
“Why not?”
“Well, for one, it just raises more questions. How did the pathway disappear? Why is the scenery so similar? And is there an exit to this forest? If we were under an illusion spell, then it would make sense.”
No pony had an answer.
The crew trotted back to their resting point with difficulty. The incessant grey fog surrounding them gave low visibility. They could hardly see who was in front of each other. The only guide to seeing was the cold vapor that came from their breaths.
“What do we do now?” Snowcone asked.
“We find the source, the magic focal point,” Wind Turret said.
“But where would we find it and how would we know where to start?” Phoenix said, rubbing her freezing legs.
“I don’t know,” Wind said, disappointed in himself.
Hawkeye snorted, “Thats a first.”
“I’m an intellect not an omnipresent being.”
“Is everyone ready? I really want to get out of this place, right now,” Specter said, blowing his hooves to keep them from freezing. “It may be hard to tell time, but I believe we have only a few more hours left.”
“I’m ready,” Storm said.
“Ready,” Snowcone said.
“Disposed”, Wind said.
“Yeppers,” Hawkeye said.
“Mhm,” Phoenix said, nodding.
Overcast looked at the rest of us with an expressionless face.
“And you Overcast?” Storm, said.
Overcast stood up and lightly nodded his head.
Specter was leading the single file group. The scenery was still monotonous, but they hoped to find something of interest. No pony said a word, they just walked slowly through the trees and dead ground.
“Ouch!” Wind Turret said.
Everypony turned around, prepared for action.
“Sorry guys, I just ran into a tree, thats all,” he said, blushing.
“Ugh, really Wind?” Hawkeye said.
Their voices sounded ominous throughout the reverberating forest. Storm was so used to the sounds of the fortress, and the sounds of the city of clouds. The clanks and clatters of steel in a blacksmith’s workshop, or the tired pants of training recruits. Or even the sounds of home, his wife being the most beautiful specimen. And his son, becoming a greater pegasus than himself. He miss-
“Is that a leaf?” Specter said, walking forward.
“Specter, what are you on about?” Phoenix said.
“It’s strangely familiar, I-I.”
Specter began to trot towards the autumn leaf, the color of orange mixed with reddish tints was a beauty compared to the dull grey of the forest. He saw another leaf, this time it was red with gold at the base of the leaf. He reminisced his old life, where Autumn was his favorite season. Where he used to look outside his window and see the beautiful trees that were preparing for harsh winters.
Those trees, he thought, so strong, and brave when facing the harsh reality of death. Only that they will return stronger than ever in the Spring. Specter was a kid again no younger than ten. His parents were home, his mother cooking a warm broth that smelled delicious. Oh the smell, he thought, it was heaven on earth.
His father was saying something to him, but Specter couldn’t hear him, he just continued to eat his broth. But then his father went toward the mailbox outside and had a worried expression. The mail’s sender was from the Pegasi Military. Specter’s father ripped open the mail and read one word that would destroy everything he ever loved, “draft.” He ran inside the house to show Specter’s mother. She began to softly cry, she kept staring at Specter for some strange reason.
Specter went to sleep with dreams of walking through their backyard forest. They had a ground house and were ostracized from society for their living choices, but they were happy. The leaves were beaming with color and the soft breeze was comforting. Specter awoke to his father shaking him.
“Dad, we can play soldier tomorrow, I must sleep,” Specter said, yawning.
His mother came into the room, she still wept from the night before.
“Specter, our son,” Specter’s father said looking at his wife. “We love you, so very much.”
They both tucked in Specter and kissed him on the forehead.
“I love you too guys, nighty night,” Specter said.
His mother gulped. “Nighty night.”
They walked out of his room and out of his life.
Specter was now older and he was in the grey monotonous forest again, but he could see his parents fading into the grey.
“Wait!” he said, running as fast as he could toward them. “Please don’t go- please don’t leave me.”
Specter stopped running as they disappeared and began to cry. He stopped weeping as he heard a loud and thunderous trotting coming toward him.
“Mom, dad, is that you?” he said.
He stood up and walked forward toward the trotting.
The trotting began to shake the ground seemingly.
Specter stopped in his place, he was petrified. In front of him stood a humongous bluish apparition. It was a horse, but it couldn’t be. It had a long wavy blue mane with glowing eyes that were icy. It’s body was transparent and as it grunted the vapor in the air surrounded it’s body.
Specter couldn’t run, his legs were shaky and his teeth chattered. The horse-like apparition walked toward him. It was inches away from Specter’s face, observing him. The ghostly being simply blew a small breeze towards Specter. He felt a chilling feeling throughout his body as he became crystallized in ice.
The ice was up to his neck, slowly reaching toward his face. All specter could think of were his parents, how they abandoned him. And he screamed as loud as he could before being engulfed completely in ice.
“Did you guys hear that?” Phoenix Flower said.
“That must be Specter, come on guys!” Storm said.
The crew ran to where they heard his his nerve-wracking screech-cautiously dodging all of the shady trees in their way. For a moment, Hawkeye thought his eyes deceived him. Maybe it was just an ice sculpture. He walked closer to the frozen body of Specter, signaling the crew to stand back.
“I’ll be damned,” Hawkeye said, his indifferent attitude turning to a grave tone.
“Is that Specter?” Storm said.
“He’s encased in ice, how did this happen?” Hawkeye said.
Phoenix had a scared expression on her face. She turned away from the ice engulfed body and toward Snowcone.
“You said there were no living things in this frozen tartarus!”
“I-I didn’t think so, it’s just not possible. N-No living thing can do that.” Snowcone said, nervously.
“What do you call that? Thats Specter, frozen, everypony else was together. Something else lives here and you didn’t tell us?”
“I didn’t know, I’m sorry. Maybe we can just thaw out his body and he’ll be better.”
Wind Turret joined the conversation with a condescending chuckle.
“Impossible, this isn’t a fantasy, if you are frozen like that, then you die. His heart rate stopped, you can’t even resuscitate it, not to mention he would still die from hypothermia if we did revive him.”
“I was just giving a suggestion. Sheesh.” Snowcone said.
“A stupid one, now you’ve got somepony killed.” Phoenix Flower said.
Snowcone cowered behind her own mane.
“And you, Ms. Phoenix Flower. I believe you are just looking to put the blame on someone for a crime that no one committed. Because you cannot accept the harsh reality of death.” Wind said.
“T-Thats not true.”
Hawkeye rolled his eyes and sighed. “Two hours later.”
“Look, we don’t have a lot of daylight, lets just get on with the mission.” Storm, said.
“What about Specter, we can’t just leave him here.” Phoenix said.
“Why not, he’s dead. As my ancestors say, anunu mumba deyorda nah. It means the spirit has departed and the body is useless.” Hawkeye said.
“Sorry, I don’t speak French.” Phoenix said.
“It’s native tongue, before our race began to civilize.” He said, slightly angry at Phoenix.
“Well, this is the present not the past, we’ll give him a soldier’s burial.”
Hawkeye glared at her, and then sighed in agitation.
The crew began to dig a hole with only their hooves, the ground was soft enough. They toppled over the ice statue into the hole and just stared. No one said anything for awhile, their heads were low. Phoenix saluted face forward with a firm posture. A tear streamed down her eye and she began to fill the hole with the ash colored dirt.
Phoenix Flower saw a ghastly shadowy figure in the corner of her eye. Resting on a tree was a pegasus. The pegasus’s skin was exposed to bones and rags of former military outfits. The pegasus also had on a medic helmet which symbolized that the pegasus was a medic in the corps.
Phoenix realized who the pegasus was; her dead best friend, Cyclone. She turned away from his deadly and frightening countenance and stopped burying Specter.
“What’s wrong Phoenix?” Storm said.
She continued to shake in fear, crying, cowering her face behind her short mane.
“You hardly knew the guy, why are you so flank hurt over his death?” said Hawkeye.
“C-Cyclone,” muttered Phoenix.
They walked back to the resting point with dreaded faces. It was ominously quiet. Phoenix Flower just stared into the fireplace.
Storm decided to break the silence with a question that would jog some memory.
“Did you guys hear his last words, before he ran off?”
Snowcone’s eyes opened wide and she gasped. “I do remember! Something about a leaf.”
“Exactly, but what did he mean?”
“The leaf, I remember he said that too,” Hawkeye said.
“Thats impossible, how can there be a leaf in this forest,” Wind said.
“He was frozen alive, try explaining that four eyes,” Hawkeye said.
“Hey, don’t call me that!” Wind screamed.
The temperature dropped surprisingly low at Wind Turret’s outburst.
Everypony was silent, even Overcast glanced to see the outburst.
Wind Turret’s breathing slowed and he sighed. “Sorry, it’s something personal.”
Something weird is going on, beside the death of Specter, Storm thought. He said he saw a leaf before he ran off. How come nopony else saw this leaf, and is there more?
“Lets keep going forward. The sooner we solve the mystery of this forest, the sooner we are all home,” Storm said.
“I concur,” Snowcone said.
“Whatever,” Phoenix said.
They gathered their belongings and trotted onward. The crew was extra precarious now. Everypony could see Phoenix gripping a small dagger in her hooves.
Night was approaching. The fog began to reside only to something less visible; darkness. The forest seemed to be even more foreboding at night. The trees were outlined only by pitch black and for the first time there was an opening in the sky. It showed a dimly lit full moon.
The crew only walked two miles before stopping. Their torches outlining the darkness of the pathway, and there was strangely no mysterious things happening. Maybe the leaf was a mirage, but that still doesn’t explain what killed him, Wind Turret thought.
They made a campfire and took out various vegetables in cans. The crew lay in their sleeping bags and finally got cozy in the dreaded forest.
We all just stared at the fire, the fire connected us somehow, Storm thought. We may all have our differences, but we all love the warmth that the fire brings us.
“Ya know, when I was in Op Everfree, the forest was actually more scary than this one.” Hawkeye said.
“You went to the Everfree Forest?” Snowcone said, suddenly interested.
“Yup.”
“So cool, I wanted to go to that forest before and study the wildlife. Sadly Commander Hurricane wouldn’t permit it, he said he couldn’t find enough expendables. Twisted guy if you ask me.”
That got a chuckle out of everyone.
“If you think thats cruel, you should see the way Hurricane treats the new recruits. I once saw him punch every new recruit in the gut as hard as he could. If one recruit flinched, the whole team would have to fly three-hundred laps.”
“Ouch,” Storm said. “That is pretty cruel.”
“Pshaw, lets not forget the new law passed,” Hawkeye said. “He allows injured pegasi to stay at civilians homes and rest. The civilians have to feed them and pamper them, or they could pay a fee, even jail time.”
“Yea,” Storm said, sighing, “That’s not even funny. We serve the civilians not vice versa.”
“While we’re all here alone,” Wind said, “Why is Commander Hurricane the commander? He treats everypony like trash. I even hear that he is planning a war. That could destroy everything, everypony could die.”
Overcast turned around toward the fire to listen intently.
“No, he couldn’t be planning a war could he?” Phoenix said.
Wind nodded sagely.
“Thats insane!” She said. “We don’t even have enough troops, let alone supplies and food.”
“I find that hard to believe Wind, Hurricane can be a manticore’s pelvis, but he isn’t that stupid,” Storm said.
“It’s only obvious that he is going to war. You know the summit between all the pony races? If the Unicorns and Earth ponies don’t agree with his plans then it’s war,” Wind said.
“Thats just speculation,” he said.
“Stormcaster, think. Think of everything that Hurricane has ever done. He’s passed the ‘Mandatory home act.’ Why do you think he is passing an act for injured soldiers when no soldier is currently injured? Why do you think he has us spying on the other races?”
“I-It can’t be that simple, can it?”
“Do you have proof, besides theories,” Snowcone said.
“No, but-”
Overcast stood upward, scaring nearly half the crew. He walked toward the fire and sat down. He stared at everyone.
“The dreams, they may not be dreams, but the past itself. And the future reflects upon the past,” Overcast said.
No pony said anything in what felt like forever.
“Okay, are you speaking in riddles?” Hawkeye said.
“The dreams, we all have the dreams.”
“What dreams are you talking about?” Phoenix said, suspiciously.
Overcast gave a creepy smirk. He said ever so quiet, “Co-Op PARCHMENT.”