//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Dream of Flight // by Blueheartpegasus //------------------------------// All five ponies found it hard not to run from the tower. Inside, stairs were spiraled up to the top where there was a chamber below the bell. It was a creaking and rickety staircase, and it felt like it was going to collapse at any moment. Emily kept one of her wings spread over Blue Heart at all times, just in case. She did feel like the little filly was her little sister. She loved her like a sister, almost instantly. There was a connection between them, like they really were related. Maybe it was their wish to fly. Suddenly, Blue Heart screeched with fear. She appeared to have walked into a cobweb. She tried to run out of the tower, but Rainbow, who was behind them, blocked her path. "It's okay, Blue Heart." Emily motioned for Blue Heart to come back. Even the bravest pony would be scared of this place. There was a crackle of something like lightning, and everypony flinched. "That sounds like a crack of magic." Twilight called from ahead. "I think it's coming from the chamber above!" Everypony raced on, and soon they reached the chamber. The sight made their jaws drop. There was a huge ball of magic, crackling in the middle of the chamber. Feeding it was three creatures that looked a bit like zebras, only with horns. When the group entered, the creature turned and growled at them. "What are they?" Emily whispered to Twilight. "We are Zebrics!" one of the creatures growled, advancing on them. "Zebrics!" Twilight whispered in shock. "I've heard of those! They are like elves that protect the forests of Equestria!" "Not anymore, pony!" a second Zebric growled. "We wanted something in return from Princess Celestia for taking care of Equestria. When she refused, we attacked, and she banished us." "Yes," the third Zebric said, "Then we rebelled! We are going to plunge all worlds into chaos!" "No you're not!" Rainbow growled. She flew up into the air and plunged at the Zebric. There was a flash and the Zebric teleported to the other side of the chamber, leaving Rainbow to smash into the floor. The whole tower shuddered and the floor fell in. Rainbow flapped her wings and she hovered there, not falling, while everypony else tumbled around in the collapsing tower. Emily grabbed Blue Heart, wrapped her in her forelegs, and flapped to keep her from falling. When Rainbow saw Twilight and Pinkie falling, she tired to catch them both, but they dragged her down and they all fell into debris. The Zebrics' magic ball was still floating there, along with the Zebrics themselves, who were using magic to levitate themselves. "You cannot stop us!" The first Zebric said in a threatening voice. "We are more powerful then Celestia!" "We have to get out of here!" Twilight gasped from below as more chunks of wood fell from the roof. Rainbow grabbed Pinkie Pie and physically threw her out a hole in the wall. She then ran to dig out Twilight. Above Emily flew out a window that had not collapsed yet. She landed and let Blue Heart race a safe distance away. But Emily didn't follow her. "Emily, what are you doing?" Blue Heart called as the teal Pegasus raced back towards the collapsing Bell Tower. She passed right by Twilight and Rainbow, who had just broken free and were running, and flew right up to the Zebrics. "You will never, never plunge the world in chaos!" She screeched. She flew right at the first Zebric, who also teleported, but instead she collided with another Zebric that was behind the first one. They tumbled in the air for a moment, then they fell hard on the ground, Emily pinning the Zebric down. Suddenly, a terrible pain overcame Emily and she writhed on the ground. The Zebrics were putting a spell on her, and it hurt worse than anything in the world. Everything went dark and all she could see was pain, all she could feel was pain, everything but pain faded. I'm dying... Emily thought. Then the pain was gone. As her vision cleared, she looked up to see Rainbow and Pinkie attacking the Zebric and Twilight beside her, horn glowing with magic. She had cured her of whatever spell had been put on her. She suddenly stood and looked around. "Where's Blue Heart?" "I'm here, Emily!" the little azure filly was right beside her. Emily turned to Twilight. "Why did you come back to save me?" "We had to save you, silly!" Pinkie called out. "You risked your life in our battle, what kinda ponies would be if we left you here to die? Not very good ones!" Twilight laughed. "Yes, she's right. We couldn't just leave you here. And-" she looked down at Blue Heart, "we wouldn't just leave the big sister of our friend die, now would we?" Emily was suddenly back on topic. "We need to stop them!" She turned and flew off towards the Zebrics. "Come on, Twilight!" One of the Zebrics had Rainbow pinned to the ground and his horn was glowing with magic. He was putting that same pain spell on Rainbow Dash! Emily dashed over and crashed into the Zebric. "Don't hurt my friends!" She spat. But the Zebric just smiled. "You'll never win. We know your weakness." A screech made Emily's heart freeze. He jumped away and spun around. One of the Zebrics was hovering in the air, holding Blue Heart and casting a pain spell on her. For some reason, the first thought in her head was Do these Zebrics know any spells other than pain spells? Then her mind was on track. These monsters were hurting her little sister. She stretched out her wings and launched herself up at them. She grabbed Blue Heart from them and landed hard on the ground. She stood over the azure filly and growled, "Nopony will ever hurt this filly while I'm alive." ---- Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy searched the Everfree forest. "Ah had a feelin' it were here, girls!" Applejack said. Ahead was a mountain, and at its tip was a strange, magical glow. "This has to be it!" "At least I'll get a rest from all this muck." Rarity looked around her at all the mud they were walking in. "All this mud has stained my coat!" "If we don' fix this imbalance, we'll have a lot more to worry 'bout than mud, Rarity!" Applejack snapped. "Maybe-maybe I should fly up and check it out." Fluttershy offered. "Great idea, sugercube!" Applejack whinnied, "Rarity 'n ah 'ill meet ya up there!" ---- Fluttershy saw Applejack and Rarity not far below as she flew up to the cave. She wasn't used to flying to high, but this was an emergency! She was soon at the peak. She landed in a pile of snow and scanned the area. There was a strange magical glow coming from a cave. She crept closer, still just telling herself It's an emergency, don't run away, it's an emergency, don't run away. She peeked in. She held back a gasp. There was a huge ball of magical power, and controlling it were three zebra-like creatures with Unicorn horns. They had to be the ones who were creating the imbalance! She spread her wings and flew down to Applejack and Rarity to report what she had seen.