Knights of Harmony, Episode I: Rise of the Elements

by bahatumay

Chapter 15

Rainbow’s ship had definitely seen better days. At first sight, Twilight had wondered if her ship had been cobbled together from different ships, like her junkracer had been; or if it had just been that old and had had the majority of its components replaced one by one until it was almost unrecognizable as any one particular model. It had at one time been a decent shuttle built more for people than cargo, though that had been many, many years ago. By now, it had been used for hauling all kinds of whatever it was she got hired to move, with comfort clearly an afterthought (for everything that wasn’t the captain’s chair, that was). Rarity had clearly mumbled ‘bucket of bolts’ under her breath as she climbed the walkway, and Rainbow had pretended not to hear. Applejack had almost had to drag Fluttershy aboard.

But that being said, once it started, it was still a decent ship, and flew relatively smoothly. Or maybe Rainbow really was that good a pilot.

Not that that mattered much once they hit the forest proper. They needed to get low enough to see, which meant getting close to the trees. Branches and leaves smacked against the front, the underside, and all over.

“This is a mess,” Rainbow complained, looking down. “What am I even looking for?”

“Anything unnatural,” Twilight answered. “Her ship, a camp; anything that looks out of place.”

Pinkie jumped over to the viewport, nose pressed up against the transparisteel as if expecting to see something right away.

Her hope would be in vain. “We’re not going to see anything from up here,” Applejack pointed out, scowling at the thick foliage. “It’s too thick. We’re going to have to get out and walk.”

Twilight scowled, knowing walking would be painfully slower, but couldn’t see any alternative. “Alright. Find us a good place to land.”

“There is no place to land,” Rainbow protested.

Applejack scanned through the window. “I think that’s a clearing,” she said, pointing. “Through there.”

Rainbow gently adjusted the steering sticks, grimacing as a particularly thick branch broke on the bottom of her ship. “Worth a shot.”

Applejack had been right. There was a small section where no trees grew, just large enough for Rainbow’s ship. With deft motions, she spun around and descended, landing smoothly. “Perfect landing,” Rainbow Dash said, with no small amount of pride.

“Yes, thank you, Rainbow,” Twilight said, hand against the doorframe. Rainbow flicked the switch, and the door opened.

Well, it tried to; it bumped against the frame a few times, metal whining in protest. Now that Twilight looked closer, it was heavily damaged, as if it had taken a few too many blaster bolts. Rainbow grunted and walked over and kicked it in a very specific spot. It opened, dropping to the ground with a loud thunk audible even on the swampy ground.

“Oh, good, now she knows we’re here,” Applejack hissed.

“I’m poor, fight me,” Rainbow hissed back.

“Girls,” Rarity said warningly.

Twilight walked forward, her boots squishing against the marshy ground. She looked around. She held up her hand. The others watched intently, hoping she would share her discovery…

“No, I’ve got nothing,” she said dejectedly. “It’s just so… clouded around here.” She glanced around, as if considering asking the forest nicely to be less clouded.

“Forest is a nasty place,” Applejack agreed.

“Not a fan,” Rainbow added.

Twilight took a deep breath. “We’ll just have to work together. Come on, come down here, and feel.”

“Feel for what?” Pinkie asked as she slid down the ramp.

“Anything. Close your eyes, reach out, and… feel. Now, which way should we go?” Twilight took a few steps forward, orienting herself, and pointed. She waited a moment, then opened her eyes.

They were all pointing the same direction.

“Well, that answers that question,” Twilight said brightly. She clapped her hands together. “Let’s get started.” She started walking in that direction.

Fluttershy mumbled something that sounded vaguely like ‘bad feeling about this’ as she followed, pinned close to Rainbow’s side.

---

“I really hate this forest,” Twilight muttered, slicing another vine out of her way with her lightsaber. The way ahead looked clear, so she lowered it, but she still did not trust this forest at all.

“You’re not alone,” Rainbow grumbled, slicing another vine herself. She flipped the handle around her hand. “This place is freaky. Did you know that most people who go in don’t come out?”

Twilight held up her hands. “Why would I know that? Why would I want to know that?”

“I dunno,” Rainbow said with a shrug as she walked forward. “Just a fun little bit of Elfaus 2 trivia.”

Twilight glared at Rainbow’s back, looking away from where she was walking. “You and I have very different definitions of fu-aii!” For as she spoke, her boots suddenly gave way beneath her, and she fell, rolling down a steep hill she hadn’t seen. The mossy rocks provided no grip. Somehow, she managed to stop herself, holding on to the edge by just the tips of her fingers. Her lightsaber handle, having followed her down the slope, also fell, twirling through the air and showing her just how far down it was to fall. She gulped.

Applejack darted forward and grabbed on to her wrists, and Twilight grabbed on like her life depended on it; it most certainly did. Her boots scrabbled for purchase against the rocks, but there was just no grip.

Applejack was strong, but not even she could hold her forever. Frenzied thoughts ran through Twilight’s mind. This is not good! She looked down. Can I catch myself? Will I have time? I can’t even see! Maybe I can slow my fall and-

“Drop!”

Twilight looked up at Applejack in shock. “What?”

“It’ll be ok! I promise.”

Twilight knew that made no sense. But she trusted Applejack.

And so she let go.

She fell backwards, and then-

Thwoomp!

She landed on something oddly soft. She tried to stand up, but whatever she was on was too soft for her to get much traction. What the brix? she wondered, looking around. “Is this a plant?”

Applejack landed beside her. “Yep,” she said, rolling down. “Told you it’d be alright.”

“How did-?”

“Recognized the plant. It’s all leaves, no wood. Makes a good bed in a pinch; or, in this case, landing pad.”

Twilight grinned. “Thank you.” She rolled over and slowly pushed herself up. “Alright, now I just need my…” She looked behind her and saw Applejack holding her lightsaber in her hand, tapping it against her cheek. She grinned as she reached out for it. “Keep that away from your face,” she said in faux annoyance.

---

“Ever feel like you’re being watched?”

“Now is really not the time, Rainbow,” Twilight scowled. “It’s been the better part of an hour, and-”

“I’m serious,” Rainbow interrupted, looking around, her hand drifting towards her blaster. “Something’s watching us.”

“Something deadly?” Fluttershy asked worriedly.

“Knowing this forest? Most likely,” Applejack muttered.

“Not you, too,” Rarity hissed, now a bit irritated that Fluttershy was holding tightly onto her. Or maybe it was Fluttershy’s vice-like grip on her shoulder. At least she didn’t grab on to her head-tails, that would have been very painful.

And then a low growl emanated from the nearby trees.

“No, now that one I heard,” Rarity said, her eyes narrowing. She dropped into a more defensive stance. “Where’s it coming from?”

“Up ahead,” Twilight said slowly.

“From behind the rock?” Applejack asked.

“Wait…” Twilight’s eyes widened. “No, it is the rock!”

And indeed it was; the rock rose up and roared.

“What is that thing?” Twilight cried.

“Boar-wolf!” Rainbow answered, readying her blaster.

“No!” Twilight shouted, and to her surprise, Fluttershy’s voice had mixed with hers. “This is its home!”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to be its dinner, and I’d like a little ranged action!” Rainbow defended herself. “Unless you want me to throw my lightsaber?”

“Saber throw is a valid technique, but probably not practical here!” Twilight called. “It’s a predator, we just have to show it we’re not worth the effort.”

“No, wait…”

Twilight lit her lightsaber, and the wolf flinched, but roared again. “That’s right,” she murmured, slowly circling. “It’s loud, it’s bright, it’s not tasty…”

“This isn’t… wait!”

But Fluttershy’s voice went unheeded. Rarity and Applejack followed suit, igniting their lightsabers and spreading out.

“You don’t want none of this,” Applejack warned, dipping her lightsaber. The boar-wolf let out a roar, and adjusted itself. Applejack got ready to jump back, but it didn’t move again.

Rarity noticed. “Why isn’t it moving?”

“Maybe it’s waiting for others,” Applejack suggested.

“We’ll have to get past it!” Twilight called.

“Wait!”

Fluttershy’s screech was enough to drag them all to a stop. Not only was it loud, it was unexpected, especially coming from her.

“He’s not angry,” she said firmly. “He’s in pain. I can feel it.”

“I can help with that,” Rainbow offered, lifting her blaster again. Twilight slapped it down irritably.

“I’m going to help him,” Fluttershy said firmly. She slowly stepped forward, one hand held out. The boar-wolf bared its teeth, but again didn’t move. Fluttershy drew closer, slowly, confidently. Rainbow didn’t holster her blaster, just in case.

But to their shock, the boar-wolf seemed to recognize she was there to help. He lowered his head and lay down. “Oh, you’re such a good boy,” she murmured. She ran her hands down his foreleg and gasped. “He’s got a metal shard in his paw!” Fluttershy looked down. She reached down to pick it up with her fingers, then paused. She held her hand up, and closed her eyes. The metal shard slowly and steadily pulled itself out. She scratched it gently on its foreleg, and it scampered off, still favoring that paw.

Twilight clipped her lightsaber back onto her belt. “Wow,” she said slowly. “That was impressive.”

“Thanks,” Fluttershy said meekly.

Applejack glanced at the metal shard. “What do you suppose that is?” she asked. “Looks old.”

Twilight hefted it. “I don’t know; but I hope it means we’re heading the right direction.”

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[Marauder15]

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