//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Double Dare // by Wordplay42 //------------------------------// Chapter 10- They’d already finished one canteen of water, and, according to Oracle, they still had a long way to go. Rainbow Dash would have given her left hind leg at this point to fly, to just get off the ground. All this walking was something she wasn’t used to. She had wings for a reason. And wandering around like this wasn’t the reason. The jungle was hot and humid, and Rainbow could feel her many-colored mane sticking to her forehead and neck, soaked by sweat. The heat just hung in the air, and her ears were constantly filled with high-pitched sound of buzzing insects, bombarding her every step. She used her tail to swat some away, and kept flicking her ears to keep others back, but it just seemed like they were everywhere. And no matter what she did, she couldn’t shake the horrible feeling of dozens of mosquitoes biting at her. They walked slowly through the trees, Oracle in the lead, followed by Daring and then Rainbow at the back. Oracle didn’t even have a map, but somehow he knew where they were going. Although, they’d been wandering out here for so long that Rainbow Dash was beginning to doubt that. Suddenly, Oracle stopped. The two mares stopped as well, and Daring raised an eyebrow. “Is there something wrong?” she asked. Oracle shook his head. “No,” he said. “But we will pause here so I can get my bearings. I must listen for the sound of the stone’s magic. Then I will know where it is coming from.” Daring shrugged, then gently lifted one of the canteens from Oracle’s saddlebag and unscrewed the top. She took a drink, then turned to hand it to Rainbow Dash, who had sat down heavily on the ground. “What’s wrong, kid?” Daring asked with a smirk. “Getting tired?” Rainbow glared at her, but took the offered water. “No,” she snapped. “it’s just so…hot. I’m not used to it is all.” Daring snorted a laugh, but sat down beside her, the packs she was carrying shifting slightly as her body’s orientation changed. Nearby, Oracle stood alone, his eyes closed. He was absolutely still. “How is an Earth pony so attune to magic?” Rainbow wondered. “I thought only unicorns could use magic, and some zebras.” Daring shrugged. “I’ve seen a lot of Earth ponies use magic,” she replied. “It depends on where they were born, who their parents were or are. A lot of times, Earth ponies with a Unicorn blood are more sensitive to magic than a purebred Earth pony. And different cultures have different sensitivity to magic, too. These cultures out here, these villages, need ponies who can use magic, Earth or not. Magic is something that kind of chooses you, in a way. It’s not breed-specific.” “I have a friend back home,” Rainbow Dash said. “She’s a unicorn, and she’s one of the best magic-users I’ve ever seen. She saved our town from an Ursa Minor and…well, she’s just pretty awesome.” For just a moment, Rainbow Dash felt a gaping loneliness open up inside her, realizing she was trapped in a different time, a different world without her friends or family, or anything she knew. She didn’t know how she’d gotten here, and she didn’t know if she’d be able to get back. What wouldn’t she give to be back home in Ponyville, practicing her moves for the Wonderbolts and planning to pick up her book from Twilight? Now she was trapped inside that very book, and had no idea if she’d ever see home again. It wasn’t a great feeling. Daring picked up on the blue mare’s sudden melancholy and touched a hoof to her shoulder. “Homesick?” she asked. Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yeah,” she admitted softly. Daring smiled gently. “You never even told me what you were doing in Shanghoof,” she said. Rainbow laughed a bit. “I don’t even know what I was doing in Shanghoof,” she admitted. “I just sort of…ended up there.” “I think I can identify with that,” Daring said and laughed. “As weird as that sounds.” Rainbow Dash laughed as well, as a feeling of comradery came over the two ponies. They weren’t just two strangers forced together because of survival reasons, or a fan and a celebrity, but they were starting to become real friends. And Rainbow Dash didn’t even feel like squealing because she was sitting next to her favorite book character. It just wasn’t like that anymore. Oracle’s eyes suddenly snapped open, and he turned to the two pegasus mares. “I know what way we are going now,” he said. “Follow. It’s already midday, and we must make the most of the daylight.” Rainbow Dash and Daring Do shared a look, but stood, shuffled their packs back in order, and followed as Oracle once more led the way deeper into the dense, green jungle. “Are you sure you know where we’re going?” Daring asked as they started their walk again. Oracle did not spare her a glance. “The sound of the magic calls to me,” he said, his voice tinged with excitement. “I know where we are going.” “Just making sure,” Daring said with a smile, but Rainbow Dash watched as it faded, and a brief frown flashed over her magenta eyes. For a moment, Daring had looked….uncertain. But why would she? Rainbow Dash considered asking, but decided against it. It was hot. They were tired, and it had been a long walk for all of them. Daring was allowed to be tired like the rest of them, even if she was a great archeologist. Rainbow flicked her ear as another mosquito buzzed around it, then scowled at the ground. The sooner she got out of this jungle and away from these bugs, the better. She just hoped she’d be able to get back to Ponyville. ~**~ Twilight struggled with the knot that was attached firmly around her hoof, trying to use her magic to loosen it. But, she was embarrassed to admit, it was a very good knot. A very good knot. “Twilight, do ya need some help?” Applejack asked. Twilight grunted as she still struggled with the rope. “No, I can get it,” she said, refusing to give up. “Here, let me try,” Pinkie offered and bounced over to the dangling unicorn. The pink pony then proceeded to grab her friend’s head and try to yank her down. The sound of bells jangling returned. “Ow!” Twilight gasped as she felt her spine stretch under Pinkie’s pressure. “Pinkie! Stop!” “Pinkie, Ah don’t think that’s helping,” Applejack said, coming to Twilight’s rescue. The pink pony released her friend, but reluctantly. “Here, let me try,” Rarity said, stepping forward. Her horn glowed as she concentrated on the knot keeping Twilight in the air. “Twilight,” Fluttershy said as the white mare worked her magic. “Why are there bells tied to the tree?” “What?” Twilight asked, but at that moment the knot came loose and the unicorn landed on her head on the jungle floor. “Umph,” she muttered. “Darling, are you alright?” Rarity asked, holding a hoof out to help her up. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t catch you in time.” “I’m fine,” Twilight replied shortly, taking the offered help as she gathered herself to her hooves. Her back leg was a little raw from the biting rope, but otherwise she was okay. But she turned back to Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus was looking at what where, indeed, bells. “Uh-oh,” Twilight said, stepping forward to examine them. “Is that a good ‘uh-oh’, or a bad ‘uh-oh’?” Rarity asked. “When has an ‘uh-oh’ ever been good?” Applejack challenged. Rarity glared at her. “This isn’t good,” Twilight replied. “These types of traps are used so tribes can deter enemies from entering their territory. The bells are tied to the trees so that the members of the tribe can hear when they’re trap has been triggered.” “So…you’re saying that there are tribes around here that put this trap to try and catch intruders?” Applejack asked. Twilight nodded. “And if they heard the bells chimin’….” “We need to get out of here before some of them turn up to find who triggered their trap,” Twilight said. “Come on.” “Aww, but we could have a party!” Pinkie Pie complained. “I love meeting new ponies!” Twilight shook her head as she and the others started moving forward, altogether in a tight bunch as they watched the forest around them for any signs of movement. “No, Pinkie,” she said, “These ponies won’t be friendly. This is their land, and they won’t like us to be invading it.” “Let’s not wait around to meet them,” Applejack urged. “Agreed,” Twilight responded, and they picked up their pace. Suddenly, Twilight realized something was off. She glanced around. Fluttershy was missing. “Fluttershy?” Twilight called, looking for the yellow pegasus. She found her; she hadn’t moved from the trap tree and seemed to be staring at something in the bushes. “Fluttershy!” Twilight called. “Come on! We need to get out of here!” She heard the pony whimper, her eyes still on the bushes. Twilight took a step forward. “Fluttershy?” she asked again. The underbrush began to ripple with movement, and Twilight’s ears flattened against her head. She could see what had Fluttershy so scared, now. A group of dark-colored stallions emerged from the jungle, their eyes flashing with anger. A few carried long spears, one in particular was aiming his at Fluttershy. A certain stallion, larger than the others, came forward and barked something at the others in a strange language. They fanned out, circling the group of mares and boxing them in. One with a spear shoved Fluttershy back in amongst them. The leader spat a series of commands at Twilight in a strange language, but the unicorn didn’t need to speak it to understand what he wanted. She swallowed hard. The message was obvious. Come with us. “Okay, look, I think there’s a very simple way to solve this – “ Twilight started, trying to sound reasonable. The larger stallion glared at her and barked the same series of sounds again, cutting her off. “Twi,” Applejack said out of the corner of her mouth, pressing close to her friend. “Can you understand what they’re saying?” “No,” Twilight replied. “I know they’re speaking Manegolian, but I never learned how to speak it.” “Can’t you cast a translating spell or something?” Rarity put in. Twilight shook her head. “I used to know one,” she said sheepishly. “But….I can’t remember it.” “Oh, good,” Rarity muttered under her breath. “Not helping,” Applejack retorted. “Would you like to think of something?” Rarity responded sharply. Applejack snapped something back, but Twilight was distracted by movement out of the corner of her eye. Pinkie Pie had moved away from the group and was making her way towards the large lead stallion. Twilight couldn’t stop her. “Good morning, sir!” the pink pony chirped happily, smiling as big as the world. “Or is it afternoon? Who cares! My name’s Pinkie Pie and these are my friends and we’re sorry we trespassed on your land. Is this your land? It’s lovely land. I mean, it’s very jungle-y. Lots and lots of trees. Not to say I don’t like trees, but maybe you could put something else in once in a while? Like a mountain or something? Cause I think trees are nice, but there’s an awful lot of them around here and anyways we’re really sorry that we’re trespassing on your land and we really didn’t mean to it’s just we’re lost and we’re looking for our friend. Have you seen her? She’s blue with a rainbow mane and she flies really fast and she’s a pegasus which means she has wings and –“ “Augh!” the stallion bellowed. He rattled off some more words in the foreign tongue, then grabbed the spear from his counterpart, jabbing it at Pinkie Pie. Twilight and the others gasped, afraid they might hurt her. Instead, he simple poked her in the chest, yelling over and over again, apparently attempting to try and quiet her. But Pinkie Pie seemed unfazed and continued to babble. “Now would be a great time to remember that spell, Twilight….” Applejack said. Twilight closed her eyes and racked her brain, searching for that one spell she’d learned so long ago. She had only done it a few times and had never needed it since. She could sort of remember how it went…… Think, Twilight! She told herself. Think, think, think! “I got it!” she gasped suddenly, then concentrated. Her horn illuminated, surrounded by the familiar magenta aura. She only hoped that it would work in a book’s world too…… “Be silent you pink pony!” Twilight gasped and opened her eyes which she hadn’t realized she’d closed. She didn’t recognize that voice, and she could only assume that it was the lead stallion. Sure enough, she could understand him now, continuing to jab at Pinkie with his spear and tell her over and over again to be quiet. It was rather amusing. “Pinkie,” Twilight said. She nodded to Applejack who shoved her hoof in the pony’s mouth, silencing her even though she tried to talk around the orange appendage. Pinkie’s talking momentarily halted, the stallion turned to Twilight. “Please,” he said. Twilight smiled to herself, pleased that she could understand him. Her spell had worked. She quietly thanked Celestia that she had remembered it. “We’ll do anything, just keep her quiet.” Twilight laughed a little. “Hello, there,” she said. “We’re sorry we trespassed on your land.” The stallion blinked. “I can understand you,” he said, evidently astonished. “A few moments ago I could not understand a word you, or your babbling pink friend for that instance, said. But now you speak my language. You know the tongue of my people?” “Well,” Twilight admitted. “Not really. I just used a spell so I can understand you, and you can understand me.” “Twilight?” Applejack asked. “What’s he sayin’? What are you sayin’? Ah can’t understand you anymore.” “He wants Pinkie to stop talking, mostly,” Twilight replied, instinctively switching back to Common Equestrian. “But he’s just surprised I can talk to him now.” “So the spell worked then,” Rarity said. Twilight nodded. “Oh, my,” Fluttershy spoke for the first time since the natives had appeared. “What does he want? He doesn’t want to hurt us, does he?” “I don’t think so,” Twilight said. Then she turned back to the stallion. “I’m sorry for trespassing on your land,” she said. “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.” “My name is Swift Water, and I am the leader of my tribe. You sprung the trap,” the stallion said, lowering the spear. “We thought you were an enemy tribe coming to invade us. Why are you here?” “We got lost,” Twilight said. “We’re looking for our friend. You haven’t seen her, have you? Her name is Rainbow Dash. She’s light blue, has wings and a rainbow mane? She…well, she sticks out pretty well around here.” “Hmmm,” the Swift Water said. “News travels quickly around the jungles, despite the distance the tribes live apart. I have been absent from my village for several days, searching for danger. But it is possible that somepony back home may have heard some news. Come with us, please, back to our village. You will find food and shelter there, and we may be able to help you find your friend.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “You’d be willing to do that?” she asked, astonished. And to think only moments ago, they were terrified of these ponies! Swift Water chuckled. “Well, now that we know you are not an enemy tribe wanting to fight us, of course,” he said. “Allow me to introduce you to my friends: Tall Tree, River Rock, and Fire Heart. They are some of my bravest warriors.” Twilight nodded to each in turn, and they smiled at her, lowering the spears they had been carrying. Her own friends seemed to realize that the atmosphere had become much less hostile and were starting to relax as well. “Twi?” Applejack prompted her friend again. Twilight turned around to the others and smiled. “This is Swift Water,” Twilight said. “He’s the leader of his tribe, and these are his friends, Tall Tree, River Rock, and Fire Heart. They’ve been patrolling the jungle, looking for intruders. They thought we were an enemy tribe come to attack them. But Swift Water says that his villagers might have heard something about Rainbow Dash. He says we can stay the night with them and they will help us try and find her.” “And…you’re sure they’re nice?” Fluttershy asked nervously. Twilight touched the yellow mare with a hoof and smiled reassuringly. “They are, I promise,” she said. Fluttershy smiled a little as well and nodded. “Okay, then,” she said. “Follow me,” Swift Water said, and turned away from the group of ponies to head off into the dense jungle. His warriors followed. Twilight gestured to her friends. “Come on, before we lose them,” she said. Together, the Ponyville group made after the tribal ponies as they followed the stallions into the dense jungle.