> The Elements in Harmony
>  by No One and Nobody
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Prologue


Several miles offshore of Equestria there sits a small volcanic island. Not many ponies think much of the place. It has long since died from some mysterious calamity buried so deeply in the pages of history that the Princess of Friendship herself would be unable to find any mention of it in her oldest books. Even the two celestial rulers themselves possessed no memories of what took place there many eons ago. The battles that were fought there have long since been forgotten; and the heroes and unspeakable evil which once did battle for the sake of Equestria have now passed on into the care of time.

But even so, to forget what took place there so long ago was a truly terrible mistake for the ponies of Equestria. Not every being who was born beneath the mountain had met their end that fateful day.

Deep beneath the gentle waves that lapped the white sandy beaches, many fathoms below the palm trees that swayed in the breeze, buried away inside of caves within caves slept the offspring of the ancient evil. It had slept peacefully all this time and might very well have slept till the end of Equestria itself had the mountain not belched loudly one night.

Within the dark, partially submerged cavern far below the mountain chunks of rock and stone were dislodged from the ceiling and plummeted into the water as the cavern trembled from the mountain’s bout of indigestion.

As the rumbling stopped and the mountain settled itself back to sleep on the quiet island, a giant stone column detached from the ceiling of the cave and slipped silently into the murky waters. Two more columns slithered into the cold saltwater and the second one twitched slightly as it submerged dragging some small rocks and pebbles with it.

As the cave grew silent again several bright orbs glowed blood red beneath the surface before they blinked out and the cavern shook from a muffled THUD which resounded through the walls.

The Creature was awake, and it wanted to get out of its crib and play.




 
Meanwhile far away, so far in fact than not even Pinkie would be able to find them. Three beings stood facing each other worry stamped on their ancient faces.

“It has awoken,” said the First, “No pony will be able to stop it.”

“Neither the strength of the Earth Ponies, nor the speed of the Pegasi will be a match for it,” said the Third. “And once it feeds on the Unicorns' magic no dragon, gryphon, bison, yak, zebra or otherwise will be safe.”

“Once more we must call for help,” said the Second, placing four vials in front of them, “Once more we must seek out those who will truly give their all. Seek the four who only together can save all.”

The First and Third took two vials each and withdrew.

The First took one of the vials, which was a little longer than a pencil eraser and filled with a thin brown sliver and, holding it up, looked through it, right eye glowing.

In a fast flowing stream somewhere in the Everfree Forest a boulder, wondering why its alarm clock hadn’t gone off, tried to yawn.
> Chapter 1: Stone Lungs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1: Stone Lungs


It had been a late night for Thomas. He had been up late watching MLP videos on the web and he was thoroughly beat. When he woke up that morning he had expected to feel like fish bate. So he was surprised when he felt himself wake up to a quiet rushing sound like someone had left a fan on and not the grating sound of his alarm.

He lay there a minute feeling refreshingly cool despite his thick blankets, and then yawned.

Or rather tried to yawn. It was like when you are about to sneeze but don’t, or take a drink expecting soda and get water instead.

Thomas lay there confused, he couldn’t feel his mouth, or his eyelids. Usually on Monday mornings they were heavy as lead, crusted over, and as bloodshot as possible. Today it was as if he didn’t have a face at all. He tried to open his eyes but it was like they didn’t exist.

Alright, don’t panic thought Thomas, trying to gulp unsuccessfully. Every book I’ve ever read says not to panic. Think calmly and rationally.

But strangely enough Thomas was already as calm as possible. He expected to feel his pulse pumping in his ears and breath pumping in and out-

Thomas’s train of thought froze dead on the tracks. He wasn’t breathing. Not one breath of air had passed through his lips (not that he could feel those either).

Am I dead? Have I been Zombiefied? Wouldn’t I be hungry for brains if I was? Maybe I’m still asleep?

Thomas shifted his attention to his right hand. He wiggled his fingers a bit and scratched at the pebbles on the ground.

Since when did I sleep outside?

He let go of some of the pebbles and felt them slowly drift to the ground.

This is getting weird.

Thomas rolled over and froze as the world came into focus around him… In a way.

He could see all around him. It was a little like radar.

Daredevil-vision? No. Toph from the last airbender.

All the earth around him and some of the nearby trees were dark gray, the bushes were a little harder to see. But everything above the ground was completely black. He was laying in some sort of ditch filled with smooth pebbles and grass that was bent as if in a strong wind.

Thomas stayed still for a second and he could feel his vision fading. He shifted slightly and the world came into focus again. Now that he thought about it, it really was like echo-location.

I’m ‘pinging’ the earth.

Thomas thought about that for a second and then stood up.

As his head breached the surface of the stream he could feel the water dripping down his face, off his chest and down his back.

Before he could consider what he had been doing underwater he felt something push off the ground behind him and, spinning around, he grabbed what felt like a handful of dull toothpicks in his right hand.

He tightened his grip a little and could feel the wood snapping in his hands.

There was a rustle of brush and Thomas could feel and hear something dash away on the other side of the stream. Whatever it was it moved on four legs.

Thomas shifted his weight on his two legs and looked around, he still couldn’t see anything with his eyes.

He made his way to the bank of the river and deposited the handful of wet sticks on the ground.

It jumped at me, so it has to be alive. Or... had to be.

As Thomas stood there in the stream, he felt whatever it was all over with his surprisingly sensitive fingers. It felt like a pile of dead branches stuffed with leaves and grass.

Maybe it’s a timberwolf, said Thomas jokingly to himself, then stopped cold as his right hand accidentally touched his left thumb.

Removing his hands from the creature on the bank Thomas slowly clasped them together with a dull 'crunch' and felt his heart drop into his stomach.





Zecorra ran as fast as she could towards Ponyville, her lungs ached but she couldn’t stop. That image was embedded in her head.

The giant dark shape, bigger than an alicorn, looming up out of the water with the timberwolf hanging lifeless in its grasp.

Lately the timberwolves in the Everfree had become restless, now it seemed that she knew why.

As she came barreling out of the forest she found Fluttershy’s cottage, a warm light showing through the windowpanes. Panting, exhausted, she trotted along the path, the fireflies illuminating her way. When she came to the door she adjusted her saddlebags and knocked politely.

A soft ‘eep’ came from inside followed by, “Who’s there?”

“Tis I Fluttershy,” said Zecorra, her breath still coming in bursts.

“Oh my,” said Fluttershy, opening the door for her, “What happened to you?”

As Zecorra trotted carefully into the cottage she noticed that Fluttershy had apparently been eating a late salad after feeding the animals. Angel Bunny looked up at the intruder with a glare that spoke deeply of his dislike of interruptions while eating. Zecorra nodded at Fluttershy's small protector and, though he squinted his eyes in suspicion, he went back to munching his salad. Meanwhile, Zecorra turned to face the worried, yellow pegasus.

“Through the woods did I wander, until before me there stood a monster,” said Zecorra, accepting the cup of tea she was offered, “Larger than a tree, from it did I flee.”

“Are you sure?” asked Fluttershy, unwilling to think of anything truly as a monster.

“Larger than ten ponies it stood, if it could have killed me I think that it would.” Zecorra looked Fluttershy in the eye, “Truly this beast was of phenomenal size, I watched it crush a timberwolf before my very eyes.”

“Oh my,” said Fluttershy, who had never felt sympathy for a timberwolf before. Even Angel looked up in surprise, a carrot hanging out of his mouth.

“Fluttershy do you mind if I ask you a favor?” asked Zecorra.

“Of course not,” said Fluttershy, comforting a small chipmunk who had taken refuge in her long pink mane.

“Do you suppose that, just tonight, I could... stay here?”

“Of course Zecorra, but would you mind waiting just one minute? If this creature is as terrifying as you say I need to warn my friends. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie and the CMCs are having a small camping trip. I do hope that they aren’t sleeping too close to the Everfree.”





Rock scratched against more rock as he clenched and unclenched his hands. His fingers felt like they were made of rough stones held together by steel tendons or something. He still had a reasonable amount of dexterity, however the individual joints of his fingers were different sizes and shapes.

As Thomas sat on the side of the river, he contemplated what to do now. He had already tried yelling for help, but without lungs he couldn’t make a sound. He didn't know where he was, but from what he could feel around him, he wasn't home... or even near home. He had no idea how he'd gotten where he was now, or if his parents knew he was missing.

His head and chest had dried out from the cold breeze that blew through the branches above him, but his feet still hung over the embankment and trailed in the rushing water. He couldn't even tell if it was day or night. He wasn't cold, but the fact that he was lost, all alone, slightly blind in a strange forest still sent a brief shiver up his spine.

A drop of water slid down what Thomas still thought of as his face and he felt it with his finger.

Why am I crying? I'm not sad. Scared and confused, yes, but not sad... Besides, how am I crying?

More drops followed, landing in his open hands and on his rough shoulders as he realized that it was merely rain. Standing up, he considered finding a cave, then realized that the downfall didn’t bother him anymore than sleeping at the bottom of a river.





Applejack, Rainbow and the rest were actually camped in a clearing a little ways into the Everfree.

“Are you sure that it’s safe here?” asked Scootaloo, looking around cautiously, “Not that I’m worried or anything. Because I’m tough.”

Dash just grinned at Scootaloo as the fire popped and sent sparks into the night sky and said, “You’re friends have nothing to worry about squirt, I camp here all the time, it may technically be in the Everfree but it’s perfectly safe.”

“I sure hope so,” said Applejack, through a mouthful of stick, as she poked the embers, “Granny Smith wasn’t too keen on Apple Bloom sleepin' clear out here.”

“It’ll be fine,” said Pinkie, through a mouthful of s'mores, “We’ve got Rainbow Dash. Any monsters will tremble in fear before her awesomeness!”

Rainbow grinned then gave Pinkie a strange look, “Yeah. Hey, why did you come along again?”

Pinkie turned to Rainbow and licked some chocolate off her nose.

“Egh, Never mind.”

“Aw shucks, looks like we need some more wood fer the fire,” said Applejack, tossing the last log into the dying blaze.

“I’ll get some more,” said Apple Bloom, standing up.

“Oh no you don’t,” said Applejack, “I’m gonna’ watch over you, like I told Granny. Yer stayin’ right here.”

“But Applejack…”

“No buts about it Apple Bloom!”

“Come on AJ,” said Rainbow, sticking some more marshmallows on her stick, “Give the kid a shot. Trust me, if she needs any help (not that she will) she can just yell.”

“I don’t know.”

“Please big sis. I promise I’ll be real careful.”

“And I’ll go too, just to make sure,” piped up Sweetie Belle.

“Well…”

“Quick kids before she reconsiders,” said Rainbow through a mouthful of stick as she toasted her marshmallow.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle ran off into the woods as Applejack sat down, somewhat uncomfortably, “I’ve got a bad feelin' about this.”

“We’re all out of marshmallows,” said Pinkie, her voice muffled with her head stuck in the bag.





Thomas had been wandering for several minutes now and he was beginning to realize that this was no dream. He was still having a little trouble taking it all in.

I’m a creature composed completely of stone, unable to see except through ground-sonar, with no need to eat, drink or breathe I guess. Wonder if this is what the Thing feels like? Well at least he had eyes and lungs.

Leaning against a tree he got an idea and, feeling around the trunk, managed to find a strong branch. With one quick tug, it snapped off in his hand like a dry twig.

Ok, super strength. I guess things aren’t so bad. Although, being a stone monolith, that wasn’t exactly unexpected. I just wish that I could see what’s going on around me above ground-level.

Thomas’s brain had adapted quickly enough to seeing 360 degrees around him and only at ground level. However, the whole experience still made him dizzy and he had to make his way slowly, with both hands out in front of him. Since there was no forward or face-ward direction he was finding it hard to walk a straight line. It was like he was playing a top-down shooter game but he couldn't see his character or the cursor. His mind kept getting confused. Was he walking towards the tree or backing up to it? Not to mention the fact that it felt like he was walking in a bounce-house; his feet sunk into the ground with every step and it was beginning to get on his nerves.

I've got to get out of this marshy area.

Stopping to sit down, he nearly flinched as he laid his face, or was that the back of his head, against a knotted tree trunk.

He had lost track of how many times he had tried to take a deep breath and failed. Every time he would nearly panic and then realize that he couldn’t breath and didn’t need to. Plus the fact that he was made of stone seemed to keep him perpetually calm despite the eerie atmosphere that surrounded him. He couldn't hear a single bird or animal anywhere in the forest.

I never realized how fulfilling it is to just take a breath before. He thought as he sat waiting for a sound. Anything... an owl hooting, a horn honking, anything to break this silence. Between his inability to breath and his partial blindness he almost felt like he was locked in a small dark room.

Since he couldn't speak out loud the only thing Thomas had to break the spell was his sense of touch, so he ran his hand across his face for the fourth time, feeling the smooth surface beneath his skin. Yes, it was pitted and scratchy like a rock, but there were no facial features; his mouth, eyes, nose and even his cheeks were gone. It was like he was running his hand over a giant boulder except that he could feel his hand on his face.

As his fingers trailed down his chin he tried to think of something happy to get himself up and moving again and a cute little unicorn filly popped into his head, singing out into the darkness in a cheerfully oblivious voice.

Ninety-nine buckets of oats on the wall, ninety-nine buckets of oats…

Thomas silenced the mental singing as he heard someone else singing the very same song plus the sound of leaves underfoot and branches snapping from a little ways off.

Thomas rolled over and placed his hands on the ground trying to see who it was. As his fingers kneaded the soft earth he strained to feel farther. At last he felt whoever it was step into his field of vision. At first he was confused since he could feel eight sets of heavy feet hitting the earth in almost perfect rhythm. Then he realized that the feet were actually hooves which meant there were only two beings coming. He could feel the size of the two creatures and based on how much their hooves were sinking into the soft earth there was no one riding on them.

So then who’s sing- Wait a second!

Thomas’s brain had been through a lot so far today but now it just gave up and said “No! Uh-ah. I don’t think so. There has to be some amount of reason and logic here. It’s called a cartoon for a reason; they’re not real!”

Still he couldn’t resist taking a look, or at least getting close enough to hear his favorite Cutie Mark Crusader singing.

He crept as quietly as he could towards some thick bushes and waited as the two creatures came nearer and nearer.

“-Take one down pass it around you got ninety-six buckets of oats on the wall. Ninety-six buckets of oats on the wall, ninety-six buckets of oats-”

“Uh, Sweetie thanks fer the song but... I’m good.”

“Oh, OK.”

The two of them stopped in a small clearing that was just beyond the bush that Thomas was lying behind and Apple Bloom said, “We’d better get some wood before it gets too wet. You grab that pile and I’ll take this one over here.”

Thomas could hear them grabbing what sounded like piles of sticks and felt some light brush leave the ground behind the bush. He leaned forwards to listen and see better and his left hand disturbed the bush slightly.

Apple Bloom froze and turned around saying, “Did you hear that?”

Sweetie Belle was equally spooked as she said, “Maybe it was the wind?”

If Thomas could have winced he would have. He stayed as still as a stone and hoped that they might dismiss his accident as the wind. However, things weren’t going his way.

The bush continued to rustle and Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were now officially scared.

“Do ya think it’s a timberwolf?”

Thomas was sitting there, both his hands planted firmly on the ground, trying to figure out what was making the bush make so much noise.

Suddenly every being in the area froze. There was a quiet, sinister squawking coming from inside the bush.

Oh no! thought Thomas to himself, Please tell me that I didn’t just wake up what I think I just woke up.

Thomas felt the creature inside the bush set its foot on the ground. It was a very thin foot, almost like a bird’s foot.

The leaves rustled as it stuck its head out of the bush and squawked loudly. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom screamed and Thomas reacted without thinking.

Jumping out from behind the bush he positioned himself between the girls and the cockatrice. Getting down on his knees he held his arms out like a goalie trying to protect the net. He could feel that the cockatrice was facing him and judging by the weight distribution, its head was stuck out towards him and it was obviously trying to turn him to stone.

Too late buster. Somebody already beat ya to it. Besides I don’t have any eyes anyway. But then why is it still trying to petrify me? Maybe it can’t tell that I’m already made of stone.

Thomas tried to come up with a way to get rid of the creature without killing it like the timberwolf as he leaned from side to side to keep its gaze away from the CMCs behind him.

It’s OK girls, he wanted to say to them, however he was as mute as a rock.

Why can’t it see me? Is it blind? That would be ironic. What if it is night time?

Thomas decided that he needed to show the cockatrice how powerful he was non-visually. Raising his two fists above his head he brought them down on the ground with an earth-shattering WHUMP!

The cockatrice jumped and then fled back into the trees as the CMCs went dead silent. Thomas could feel their hearts beating like little jackhammers in their chests and he could tell exactly where they were standing. He didn't need to see their faces to tell they were one hundred and ten percent terrified.

Why are they scared of me? I just saved their lives! Then again, how much can they see if it’s night time? Where’s Scootaloo? Where are their parents-I mean siblings?

Thomas straightened up and was about to turn to face them when he realized two things. First, he didn’t have a face and second, he could hear more ponies coming this way. Fast!

Cockatrice has fled. Two frightened children who won’t be able to explain the situation quickly enough. Strange, giant monster standing over two defenseless children. Added to that Rainbow Dash is probably with the group and I can’t see her if she’s flying… I’m getting out of here!

Thomas bolted into the trees back towards the stream. This was a mistake on his part. He had just paused for a second and turned his mental focus behind him, so to speak, to the CMCs. Now he had spun his mental focus 180 degrees and was running for dear life. If walking like this had made him dizzy, running completely ruined his ability to stay upright.

Stumbling into a tree, he toppled forward and landed on the soft earth, which felt like landing on top of a foam mattress. He felt the chunks of rock and stone that made up his body separate and tumble across the dirt. He had just fallen to pieces, literally, and the coolest, most awesome, most violent pegasus in all Equestria was after him.

Thomas lay there and watched his life flash before his eyes just before he felt the two, much larger, ponies rush by him and into the bushes.

He lay there, confused for a second before he figured it out.

I’m a pile of rocks sitting in the middle of a forest. Why would they pay any attention to me?

I’m invisible.

Thomas lay there and waited. At last he could feel the two ponies returning. They entered the clearing behind him and started talking amongst themselves.

“It was as big as a house!”

“And it left that crater in the ground right there!”

“Well we couldn’t find hide nor hair uh that thing…”

“How could something as big as that that just disappear? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Ooohh! Sounds like a mystery. The case of the disappearing giant, scary monster!”

“Well I say that we get the girls out of this dirty forest and back to the safe campground and maybe even back to our much safer houses.”

Okay, so we have: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Wait, if Pinkie Pie was there how come she didn’t just find me with her Pinkie Sense or ability to break the forth wall? Did her abilities have limits?

Thomas’s fear of being discovered was glossed over slightly as he felt his appreciation for Pinkie’s Pinkie-ness diminish.

“We can’t just leave, there’s a horrifying monster running lose and it’s our job to stop it.”

Great, I was now on the target list for the orbital friendship beam. It turned Discord to stone… I wonder what it would do to me.

“Well, we should still get my sister out of these dreadful woods and find our friends if we’re going to stop this monster.”

Yes! Thank you Rarity. Please get Rainbow Dash out of here so that I can run for my life. Maybe I should just go hide in the stream for a few years. How hard could that be?

“I sure don’t want my sister stayin’ in this forest any longer after all this. I say we take them home and go find Twilight.”

OK Rainbow Dash could fly so I couldn’t see her and I didn’t want to think what she could do to me even though I was made of stone. But Twilight… After the season 4 finale and what she did to Tyrek… I’m going to hide at the bottom of that stream for about fifty years or so.

“Aauurgghhh! Fine! You go get Twilight. I’m staying here to see if I can find the monster. Maybe I’ll defeat it before you guys even find Twilight. See ya later.”

No! Go with your friends Rainbow! PLEASE!!! I enjoy living.

“Oh, this is going to be sooo exciting me and my best pal fighting monsters.”

“You said that about yer best pal before Pinkie. Who’re ya talkin’ about?”

“... The train gets here tomorrow and then… See… can’t wait…”

Their voices died away and I was left alone in the dark forest with an invisible rainbow nuke.

Well at least she’s still awesome...
> Chapter 2: The Sky & Me, and Rockin' Poetry
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2: The Sky & Me, and Rockin’ Poetry


Once again her eyes flew open and she nearly missed hitting the ground. Not that it would have hurt that much. She’d crashed so many times in the past few hours that she was getting used to it. However, she was still tired and pulling herself together after every crash was exhausting.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give to lie down and sleep for just a little bit.





Mira had been flying now for about 10 hours and it was taking its toll on her. It was fun at first, but since she couldn’t land, couldn’t stop flying, and had to constantly be alert and in control or else her whole body would fly apart, she was getting tired fast.

Ever since she had woken up above the clouds that afternoon she had known something was going on. The fact that she couldn’t see herself, that she was flying, and that she couldn’t really feel anything had cemented this in her mind as a fun and unique dream.

After falling or flying below the cloud-line she had taken a good look around. Everything felt somehow familiar, the trees, the sky, even the mountains. It felt like she had seen them all before.

She had calmed down quickly enough when she came upon some talking ponies and figured the whole thing out. After all any Pegasister worth her socks should recognize Braeburn.

She left Appleloosa, after taking a good look around and fan-girling a lot, and followed the tracks towards the tall mountain in the distance.

Get to Ponyville. If something is going on just get to the center with the main cast and Twilight will figure something out. But seriously, I’ve got flying, I’ve got ponies, I’ve got flying ponies and I’ve got magic ponies. This is the best dream ever!





Now, 10 hours of monotonous flight later, she was beginning to figure out that it wasn’t the best dream ever, it was 100% real and it was exhausting.

Just maake its to Twilight’s Catsle and…

Her train of thought derailed again as she pulled herself out of a nose dive right into the Everfree.

Everflee. Almots there. Juts a listle further. Hasta keep going… gahhh!

She yawned again. One thing was for sure; her yawns were a lot more fulfilling than yesterday. It was like she was all lung. In fact she hadn’t even been able to take a full breath since yesterday.

As she flew through the Everfree she started breathing in to test herself. After a while she began to feel like Goofy in those shorts when the narrator would forget to tell him to exhale. However, unlike Goofy she couldn’t feel herself expanding; it was like her insides were already the size of a football stadium.

Maybe I’m a ghost, she thought, as she flew down below the treeline.

“Woah!” she said as something crashed through her.

“Who’s there?” yelled somepony from behind her, “Why don’t you come out and show yourself?”

“DASHIE!” squeed Mira as she spun around, wide awake now.

“Who said that?” said Rainbow as she spun around trying to find where the voice was coming from, “I’m warning you buster. Mess with the Cutie Mark Crusaders huh. Well I’ll show you. Where are ya?”

“Over here,” said Mira, waving her hands.

“Where?”

Rainbow circled a few trees and flew right by Mira a few times.

“How can something that big hide so well?” said Rainbow to herself.

Mira just… floated there, trying to find herself. She had stopped looking several hours back when she had figured out it wasn’t a dream, but she still couldn't feel her body. She had tried clasping her hands together, looking for her head, even hugging herself to no avail. She had finally given up after she had wrapped her arms around and through herself, tying herself into a knot, and then merely slipped apart like a cloud of ether. She wasn’t there no matter how hard she tried.

But at least Rainbow can hear me.

Mira never figured out whether it was because she was so tired, or whether she was mad because nopony (herself included) could see or feel her, but just then she started thinking a little more deeply about her situation.

Rainbow can hear me, but she can’t see or touch me…

If nothingness could grin wickedly then Mira’s non-existent face wasn’t quite the picture of innocence it used to be.

“Oh Rainbow,” she said in the softest, creepiest voice she could muster, “I’m a cute little flower. Want to hear me sing for you…”

Rainbow froze and slowly turned towards the voice, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“Don’t even think…”

“I am such a happy flower. I will now sing for hours. Cutsie wutsie cuddly coo, give me a hug and you’ll be cutsie too.”

Rainbow screamed and shot up out of the Everfree and towards what Mira guessed was Ponyville leaving a deafening boom and a rainbow trail in her wake.

Oh well, said Mira to herself, I guess she just can’t take a joke.





Thomas had been lying there for what felt like ages now. He had lost count of how many minutes had passed.

A little while ago he thought he heard Rainbow scream and then a boom like she went supersonic, but for all he knew she could be sitting on a cloud right now keeping an eye on the entire forest. Maybe she had gotten in touch with Fluttershy and all her animals were on the lookout for a giant children-eating monster. Who knows, maybe Twilight was out there now searching with some sort of monster detection spell and an annihilation spell at the ready.

I hope they don’t find me.

As he lay there though, he was beginning to feel different. He hadn’t been able to sleep all night. Being hunted by and invisible agent of the Orbital Friendship Cannon could make you rather restless. But now he was beginning to feel as though it was morning. He could feel warmth on his skin... stone-exterior.

The sun must be up. I wonder if Rainbow still is. Better not risk it.

Thomas continued to lay there as birds began their morning songs. Rainbow wasn’t that smart however she wasn’t that stupid either. He could wait.

Maybe the Elements won’t hurt me. After all I’m not really a monster at heart, and the stare is pretty much useless against me. No, then they’ll probably just Rainboom, Applebuck, or Dragon Ball Z me into oblivion. At least I’m safe from Pinkie… No matter what Cupcakes never happened. It’s not cannon… I wonder if the Bass Cannon is…





Over the next couple of hours Thomas noticed that not many animals came by. The birds continued their songs, the wind died down and he could hear and feel animals moving through the forest. But nothing disturbed or approached him.

Maybe I’m not as camouflaged as I thought. Or maybe the ponies aren’t as sensitive to nature as the wild animals, like humans back home.

This thought was put to rest when he felt a rabbit come by and, standing on the stone which used to be his right elbow, wiggle its nose. The rabbit did a few other rabbitish things and left Thomas alone again.

I sure hope that wasn’t Angel Bunny. Because if it were then Fluttershy can’t be far behind.

Luckily it seemed the rabbit had just been a normal wild rabbit and Thomas was left thinking about his situation again. His mind wandered away from the danger he was in now and he started thinking about all the things he could do if he ever got out of the forest.

First things first. I make a very creepy visit to Diamond Twerp and Silver Spittoon. Give them something to think about next time they see the CMC’s. Then I could go see Derpy. She probably doesn’t fly much and I’ll probably be able to recognize the way she walks since her balance should be a little wonky. Oh! Maybe I could get to see the Doctor.

And as for that good for nothin’ Prince Prissy, I’ll give him a good sound whackin’…





Thomas had now been lying still for quite a while and he was sure it was probably sometime late in the morning, at least. The temperature had risen to what felt like a warm summer afternoon and he almost considered taking a nap. He had, in fact, drifted in and out of consciousness several times. But overall, lying still like this wasn’t really taking much of a toll on him.

No aches and pains, no cramps, no need to limber up. Ha, I’m sedentary… Like a rock.

Rock. I am a rock.

Gray. I am gray… like a rock. Which I am. Rock.

Thomas stopped mid laugh as someone or something sat down softly on his shoulder boulder.

“Hmm,” said a quiet, emotionless voice.

Uh-oh…

“What do you think Boulder? Yes. I don’t think this is a normal rock either…”

Forget Pinkie and Cupcakes, the ultimate rock-pulverizer is sitting right on top of me!

Should I run? Should I stay still and hope she didn’t hurt me too much?

All the while Maud’s scenes kept running through his mind.

She turned a giant rock into an atomic warhead, she chewed on quartz like it was candy, and she blenderized a boulder with her bare hooves.

OK, so the boulder had been moving towards her, and she was protecting her sister from it… Pinkie was nowhere around and if I moved very fast away from her maybe, just maybe… I could escape.

He arched his back suddenly and, keeping his focus dead ahead, bolted towards the river.

As he pushed off the ground and thundered across the forest floor, birds in the trees took flight in panic and small animals ran from the tremendous noise he was making.

He felt Maud land on the ground behind him and stand there. As he dashed off into the forest he felt her presence disappearing behind him. He couldn’t feel her heartbeat and he could barely make out where she stood as he crashed through some thick bushes and pushed aside a tree or two. Tripping on something he rolled into a ball and went careening over an embankment to land on his feet again and keep running for his life.

Only to come stone face to rock face with a sheer rock cliff extending upwards for several meters and curving around him on all sides like a bowl. He was trapped!

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why didn’t I look ahead for things like this? Oh right, I’m not used to being able to see through trees and bushes…

Thomas turned around as he felt the strong impact against the ground from Maud’s hooves. Like the advance of some prehistoric creature she stepped towards him.

He couldn’t see the expression on her face. Not that that would have done him any good.

Glancing up the slope, Thomas made a last ditch attempt to get away. He slammed his fingertips into the stone and started scaling the rock.

There was one problem with is plan though. While he was much stronger than he used to be, and had the ability to dig his fingertips into solid stone, he also weighed about 5 to 10 times what he used to as a human.

After a couple of solid grips, the stone crumbled in his grasp and he toppled back down to earth.

He got up and directed his focus towards Maud.

I will not fight her. Violence won’t solve anything. Besides, she’s Pinkie’s sister. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt her.

Thomas stood there with his back against the wall and his two arms out in front of him in what he hoped (despite his formidable form) looked like a peaceful gesture.

They stood like that for a while before Maud spoke.

“My name’s Maud… Can you talk?”

He shook his head; stone grated against stone.

“You’re a rock.”

He nodded. He wanted to say, “Eeyup.”

“Never met a rock like you before. This is boulder. He’s also a rock.”

She held out her hoof and Thomas suspected that Boulder was sitting in the middle of it. 

He nodded again.

So far so good. At least she hasn’t attacked me yet. Maybe I should try communicating.

Bending down slowly Thomas stretched out on hand and using his right index stone he wrote in the soil.

HARM?

He watched as Maud stepped a little bit closer and read the word silently to herself.

“Why would I want to harm you?” she asked.

Thomas wiped away the previous word and wrote another.

MONSTER.

“You’re not a monster,” said Maud, “You’re a rock.”

So Pinkie’s a chicken and I’m a rock… Pie logic.





After wandering the forest for a couple more hours Mira finally gave up and floated as close to the ground as she could without touching it. After all she couldn’t touch it no matter how hard she tried. She just found it comforting to feel as though she was lying on something.

As she lay there, unsure of exactly what time it was, she could feel herself losing cohesion. She was so tired. As she lay there her body (or whatever her consciousness was contained in) began to loosen up and drift away.

I’m falling asleep and falling apart, she said to herself, her mind hazy. If only there was some way to hold myself together.

She sat bolt upright in the air. An idea had just occurred to her.

If she could get to Ponyville maybe she could find some way to seal herself in somewhere until she woke up. Then she would be able to get the rest she needed.

I just have to get to Ponyville. It should be daylight pretty soon, then I just have to ask for directions to Twilight's castle, and as a friendly pony she's going to have to help me.

With that in mind she flew up out of the forest and took a look around.

Mira had been able to see relatively well on the ground when she first began her journey and all through the Everfree, even during the night. But up here with nothing for miles and miles, she found that everything in the distance seemed hazy.

Am I that tired or is it something else?

Mira hadn’t thought about it but whenever she looked around she had been able to see everything. Not just the tree in front of her but the entire tree, front and back. She could see around corners and behind bushes. Clouds looked like mountains to her, but for some reason anything particularly heavy or solid was very hazy to her. It was like her vision just slid over rocks and bodies of water. Not to mention some of the streams and ponds she’d gone by had been completely opaque.

It’s like I’m seeing through the air around me.

As she looked around though she thought she saw something in the distance, just beyond the forest fringe. They looked like houses.

Ponyville here I come…
> Chapter 3: One Tiny Drop
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3: One Tiny Drop


It all began with a single drop.

Falling… Falling… Never losing shape… Never losing sight of the inevitable destination.

Then, Destination-Destiny-Home-Expanding-Exploding.

Name… Was it Lucas? Was that who I was or who I am? Was I? Am I now?

Beginning… Learning… Changing… Growing… Living………

I am Lucas. And I really have to go to the bathroom.

He looked around, or rather went around. He didn’t so much see as feel. I’m not home that’s for sure. I wonder where I am.

Water.

He was underwater.

I can feel it all around me. In me. Of me. The water, I am… the water.

With this conclusion Lucas felt a measure of relief, which was immediately followed by confusion.

Since when have I been water? I was human, right?

He thought back as far as he could remember. Last night. He had been doing something.

Studying? No I don’t study… That much.

Before he could think about it anymore he felt something below him, and the next thing he knew there was a large SLURP! and everything around him went dark and slimy.

Tube-Pipe-Conduit… Ergh-Butterfly Valve!

What am I Johnny freakin' 5?

As Lucas passed through the valve and into calm water again he could feel a definite difference to where he was last. It was much brighter here.

Brighter, cleaner, louder- ok enough of the narration. I understand I have a vocabulary… And now I’m going to use it.

Lucas opened his mouth and yelled out into the surrounding water, “WHAT THE *%$!?”

“Language!” said someone behind him and he turned to see something pink leave back through the surface of the water.

He darted over to it. But even though it was obviously the surface of a body of water. It didn’t feel any different than sitting on top of a pane of frosted glass. He couldn’t see anything but blurry multicolored shapes beyond the surface.

“HELLO!” he yelled, “WHO’S THERE?”

He sank into the water until he hit the bottom.

Concrete-Stone...

He darted around and discovered, to his horror, that he was stuck.

I’m trapped inside of a…  A FOUNTAIN!?

Something grabbed his foot and he was sucked into another pipe once again.

As he traveled up the pipe Lucas could feel the pressure building until at last he reached the top and with a small explosion he found himself up in the open air.

His mind was assaulted with a barrage of sounds, smells, and bright, blurry images which sparkled and danced in front of him for a second before it all ended and he was once again in the bottom basin of the fountain.

What the … What did I just see?

He could remember bright happy sounds. Laughter, talking, definitely English.

The voices were almost like music, and the images that he could remember were like a kaleidoscope of the inside of a rainbow.

Rainbow… Rainbow-20%-Dash-Ponies…

He made the connections in a flash and suddenly he knew, or thought he knew, where he was.

I’m stuck in a world of pastel-colored ponies. When I told my pal William I was going to give the show a try, I didn’t mean anything like this…

Lucas lay against the side of the fountain thinking, and listening.

“So then I said ‘Monsters?’ like that’s anything new.”

“You mean she was scared?”

“Never been to Ponyville before if you ask me. I told her we get a couple every month or so. She thought I was joking…”

Lucas listened to the conversation as best he could before the two ponies were gone.

“-And before the cockatrice could get us it came out of nowhere.”

“The size of a house-”

“And really scary.”

“Thank you girls. I guess I’ll have to look into that monster location spell I discovered last Tuesday. I sure hope Fluttershy’s free today if we’re going to go vanquish some more…”

Lucas moved over to the other side of the fountain as two ponies stopped and actually started to argue.

“-Too much to ask that when you finish the milk you go get some more? I take out the trash, do the laundry, and clean the entire house.”

“Heh, I don’t know why; it’s fine as it is.”

“It’s a mess and you know it.”

“Four subwoofers, some left over glow-sticks, a couple slices of pizza, my old cannon and you say it’s a mess.”

“Yes. Unlike some ponies, I have standards.”

“This isn’t still about the dishwasher is it?”

“Hmmf! It has nothing to do with the dishwasher.”

Lucas listened as the first pony walked (or would that be trotted off) and the second said to herself, “Totally about the dishwasher. Wub a dub dub,” and trot off after her friend.

Sure doesn’t sound like a kid’s show.

“Some extra fabric, more jewels, some ribbons… Oh this dress is going to be simply divine!”

Then again…

“Oh hello Twilight. You’re looking smashing today.”

“Speaking of smashing, do you have any time today? The girls saw some kind of monster in the Everfree and after I get a spell or two I was going to go round up our friends so we could go vanquish it.”

“Oh darling, whenever I turn around it seems there’s some new villain looking to take over Equestria. Don’t worry though, Dashie might be the element of Loyalty but, no matter what, I’ll always find the time to lend a helping hoof as it were.”

Who are these ponies, Spartans?

“Well see you later for some Friendship Magic. I’m off to fix my hair so it looks perfect when we zap the ruffian.”

“Goodbye most magnificent one,” said a smaller voice after the other pony had left.

“Let’s get going lover-boy. You can help Rarity after I locate that spell-book and we put a stop to this monster.”

The two other ponies (at least he thought they were ponies) walked off and Lucas was left alone again for a while.

If the show is anything like this, I’m definitely going to give it a look if I ever get home.

“HHEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” yelled someone as they dashed past the fountain.

There was silence for a few seconds and then…

“THIS WWAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” and the pony dashed by the other way with more ponies in tow.

I wonder what that was all about.





Thomas had been talking to Maud for a couple of minutes now and he was no longer worried about being pulverized.

Maud was actually doing the majority of the talking since Thomas could only write very short words or phrases in the dust.

“So where did you come from?”

?

“You don’t know?”

YES

Maud was quiet for a second, then, “Have you always been a rock?”

NO. WHY?

“It’s just you don’t seem very rock-like to me.”

If anyon-anypony knew rocks, it figures it would be Maud.

“What were you before you became a rock?”

Don’t mention Bronies. In fact, don’t even mention humans at all…

NOT PONY

“Griffon?”

…

“Yak?”

…

“Minotaur?”

…

“What then?”

I'm amazed by how calm she is. Twilight Sparkle would probably be four different kinds of crazy right now, talking to an alien creature like me. But Maud's treating me like I'm no different than any other pony she might meet.

Actually she’s probably being nicer to me since I’m a rock.

He didn’t answer the question and Maud was forced to ask him something else.

“Why are you out here?”

HIDING

“From what?”

RAINBOW SMASH

He slammed his right fist into his left hand to emphasize the point.

“But you’re a rock.”

RAINBOW DANGEROUS!

Since he had been standing still for a little while, Thomas was finally able to make out a little more of Maud. It helped that she was so strongly rooted in the earth.

As he expected her face was as blank as ever. Her heartbeat was like the rhythm of a metronome.

“If you come with me I’ll introduce you to my sister, and keep you safe from Rainbow.”

If anypony could protect me from Rainbow it was Maud.

THANK YOU

We headed off towards what I guessed was Ponyville.

I can’t wait to meet the Mane Six. This is going to be so awesome!!!





Pinkie had spent most of her day showing her sister Maud around Ponyville.

Sure she had seen it all last time she visited but why wouldn’t she want to see it again. Maud was, after all, a very kind loving sister who adored making new friends.

How come none of the other ponies in Ponyville seemed to see that?

Pinkie stopped by the fountain in the middle of Ponyville to keep the story moving in the correct direction and then did an about face to go see how her sister was doing.

Last she had checked Maud said she wanted to be alone for a little while. Pinkie understood this and let her wander into the Everfree; there wasn’t anything in there that could hurt her big sister anyway.

But now Pinkie decided that her sister had been alone long enough. There were ponies to meet, places to see, rock candy to eat, and so many other delightfully wonderful things which would make an incredible story. Too bad he was probably going to skip it all.





Like that...

Pinkie hopped through the forest. Normally she would be calling out for any of her friends, but Maud was her sister and she wasn’t overly fond of Pinkie’s faux pas.

As Pinkie rounded a large tree she froze in mid-air.

Her sister was talking to the big monster. That means that she had solved the mystery.

Oh yay! Now I can go tell my friends, and then we can throw a Sherlock Maud party for best mystery solving, or maybe a Scooby-dooby-Maud party for best monster-finding, or maybe…

Her mind trailed off as she darted back towards Ponyville to tell her friends the good news.
> Chapter 4: A New Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4: A New Friend


As Twilight ran through the streets of Ponyville with her friends, following Pinkie, she thought about what they were about to face.

My friends and I have faced many different monsters in our past adventures, however I can’t shake the feeling that this one might be different. The way the girls described it, it was almost as though it was trying to protect them from the cockatrice.

The more she thought about it the more it made sense. That would explain how Maud was able to communicate with it. Maybe it didn’t mean Equestria any harm at all. In which case she would need to keep Rainbow under control. Rainbow was definitely capable of keeping a cool head under pressure, however she was also capable of flying straight in at precisely the wrong time. Not to mention ever since she had shown up this morning, she had been rather touchy, especially on the subject of the monster.

But then again, if that's the case, why did it run away?

As they neared the Everfree, they joined up with Fluttershy and Zecorra.

“A little sage advice,” said Zecorra, “This creature may not be very nice.”

“Or it could be a new not-pony looking to live in Ponyville,” said Pinkie, jumping up and down. “In which case, I get to welcome him with a big party.”

“You can party with what’s left of him,” said Rainbow, smacking her left hoof with her right.

“Easy Rainbow,” said Twilight, “We don’t know for sure this creature, whatever it is, is dangerous.”

“It attacked the CMCs,” said Rainbow, glaring at Twilight.

“The way I see it, it was protecting the girls from the cockatrice.”

“So what, we just walk up to it, introduce ourselves and say, ‘welcome to Ponyville, would you like some lemonade?'? I don’t think so Twilight.”

“The least we can do is give it the benefit of the doubt,” said Twilight, looking around at her friends, “Which means we don’t attack it unless it attacks us first.”

“Fine,” said Rainbow, scowling, “But I’ll be ready just in case your ‘benefit of the doubt’ slows your reaction time. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to save your skins.”

“I wish you all the very best, and hope you pass this trying test. Let me know when the coast is clear, so that I may return to my home without any fear.”

“Sure thing Zecorra,” said Applejack as they headed into the forest.

As the ponies left, none of them them heard the zebra muttering to herself with a disturbed expression on her face.

“I hope this creature does not spell doom, and yet I sense a great evil is coming soon. When I get home I must look into this. If it is as bad as it feels, it could spell the end for all of Equus.”





Thomas stepped carefully trying to maintain his balance. Just because he was blind didn’t mean he had to let Maud know it.

Better for her to think that I am slow because I am a rock, than to know how vulnerable I actually am.

Maud, however, didn’t seem to care how carefully he was moving. She stayed just a little ahead, looking back every now and then to make sure he was following and stopping so as not to lose him.

She’s being awfully nice. Is it because I’m a rock, or is she just naturally like this? If so then I might want to rethink my Rainbow Dash wallpaper on my computer.

For somepony who had come off as cold and unemotional in the show, Maud was turning out to be a wonderful pony.

Maybe they’re all just this nice and I’m over thinking the whole ‘grab your torch and pitchfork; let’s kill the monster’ thing.

Just as he thought this though, Thomas became aware of five ponies ahead of them advancing somewhat rapidly.

He stopped in his tracks and when Maud turned to look at him he pointed in the direction of the approaching ponies and tried to let her know, through pantomime and hand gestures, that more ponies were coming.

“Do you trust me?” asked Maud, looking calmly at Thomas.

He almost took a deep breath, before he realized he couldn’t and then he nodded his head (or what passed for his head) and continued following Maud.

We were going to meet more ponies anyway. I just hope I was right and Rainbow is in a good mood.





Twilight and her friends were making good progress through the forest today. But it seemed eerily quiet, even more so than usual, in fact.

“Twilight,” said Applejack, trotting up to her friend and looking around at the trees, “Have ya’ noticed how… quiet everything is?”

Twilight's ears had been swiveling in every direction for the past few minutes so she knew exactly what AJ was talking about. “Yes AJ, I have. Something’s definitely going on.”

“Told ‘ya it was a monster,” said Rainbow, hovering along behind them, her hooves tensed in a ready position.

“Let’s keep the name-calling to ourselves until we’re sure,” said Rarity, gulping.

“Thanks,” said Twilight.

“Ooohh, I can barely wait!” said Pinkie Pie, shuddering under the pent up tension inside her, “Pretty soon I’ll get to meet a new pony… or blow up an evil villain. Either way it’s going to be great!”

“Easy,” said Twilight, raising a hoof and slowing down, “I think somepony’s coming.”

As the rest of the group slowed, they too could hear the soft hoof steps of Maud and the massive THUDs of the creature behind her.

After a few more seconds Maud came into view and just beyond her was the thing.

Twilight couldn’t really describe it. It was taller than Celestia. However, it did stand a little lower than some of the trees around here. It stood on its two hind legs and it had a very sturdy-looking, lopsided frame.

However as the creature stepped out from the shadow of the trees, Twilight gasped and her ears flattened themselves against her head in shock.

It was composed completely out of stone. It looked like a small mountain had just gotten up and walked off.

She could hear her friends behind her also gasp in shock. This was nothing like what they were expecting.

“Hey Maud!” yelled Pinkie, hopping over to her big sister, apparently unfazed by the monstrous monster, “Who’s your friend?”

“I don’t know,” said Maud, looking at Thomas, “I met him a little while ago. He’s a rock.”

She forgot to ask his name?! Oh well, I guess nopony’s perfect; after all she’s definitely not as social as Pinkie.

“Is he friendly?” asked Twilight, keeping an eye on Rainbow Dash.

“He’s more scared of you, than you are of him,” said Maud, “I found him hiding from Rainbow. He was afraid of getting hurt.”

Rainbow nodded in satisfaction and said, “Good for him.”

Nopony noticed the creature’s head jerk towards Rainbow’s voice.

“What about my sister and her friend?” asked Applejack, glaring at the 'creature', “What was all that about.”

“He can’t speak,” said Maud.

“So how did you communicate with him?” asked Twilight, her ears perking up a little.

“He wrote on the ground.”

Twilight thought about this for a second and then her ears stood straight up as her face shone from an idea. Her horn glowed and with a flash of light there appeared a small chalkboard and piece of chalk in front of her.

The creature jumped at the sound and backed away a little.

“It’s OK,” said Twilight, holding out the chalkboard in her magical field, “Here, you can write on this.”

Twilight was confused as the creature seemed to feel around in the air as if looking for what she was giving him. Maud reached out and guided his hand to the chalk board.

For a pony it would have been a relatively large board, but for this fellow it was a tiny thing. He held it in his hand and taking the minuscule piece of chalk he wrote one word on the chalkboard.

FRIEND.

He turned the board to the seven ponies and stood there.

Twilight was impressed. This creature was not only intelligent, it could write. She started to say something but was cut off by AJ.

“What about Apple Bloom an' Sweetie Belle?”

The creature seemed to hesitate for a second before it wrote on the board again.

WHO?

“The two fillies from last night.”

COCKATRICE. DANGER!

“So you were protecting them?”

Once again the head of the creature jerked towards Rainbow’s voice, and this time Twilight saw it.

YES.

Twilight was becoming more and more curious by the second. The creature was definitely scared of Rainbow and it couldn’t seem to see the chalkboard when she had given it to him.

Maybe it’s blind.

Pinkie bounced over to the creature and gave him a long look.

“We’ll have to have an extra-large party to accommodate you big fella. Hey Applejack do you mind if we use your barn?”

“Ma barn?” said Applejack.

“For the big party to welcome…” Pinkie stopped and turned to look at the creature again, “What’s your name.”

It wrote its name on the board and turned it around.

TOM.

Rarity let out an involuntary gasp and the creature quickly scribbled something else on the board, before turning it around.

THOMAS.

Rarity smiled and chuckled a little, “For a minute there you had me worried darling.”





As they made their way back to Ponyville through the forest, Twilight tried to stay back, closer to Thomas.

When she got a little closer he held out the chalkboard to her.

So he can see me. Then why did he act like he couldn’t see the chalkboard before? Maybe he just heard me.

Twilight shook her head and said, “Keep it.  It’s the only way we can talk to you.”

Thomas nodded and wrote something else on the board.

OTHER PONIES FRIGHTENED?

“Don’t worry,” said Twilight, smiling at Thomas, “I had a talk to them; my friends won’t hurt you.”

NO. OTHER PONIES.

It took Twilight a second before she realized what he was asking.

“Hey girls,” she said to her friends, “Why don’t we take the long way round Ponyville to get to Applejack’s farm, we don’t want to scare everypony in town.”

“What about Zecorra?” asked Fluttershy.

“Oh right. You can go tell Zecorra that we’ve decided Thomas isn’t a threat.”

“Yet…” said Rainbow. squinting her eyes at Thomas.

“Meet us up at the barn.”

Fluttershy nodded and, flapping her wings, took off towards her cottage through the trees.

Twilight noticed that Thomas stopped as Fluttershy left but then continued on again after a couple of seconds.

If he’s scared of Rainbow why did he seemed worried when Fluttershy left?

Twilight put a hoof on Thomas’s arm and said, “This way Thomas, we’ll lead you there.”





As the six ponies and Thomas walked along over the luxurious grassy fields outside of Ponyville Twilight, ever curious, kept asking Thomas questions.

“So what’s it like being made of stone?”

CAN’T BREATH. CAN’T EAT. CAN’T-

Thomas stopped writing and erased the last part.

I wonder what he’s hiding. Thought Twilight to herself.

“And you’re OK with that?”

DON’T NEED TO.

“Right, because you’re a rock. Have you always been a rock or did you just become one?”

“He won’t answer that question,” said Maud, cutting in.

“Well are you a stallion or a mare?” continued Twilight.

MALE.

“I see,” said Twilight. So, you don’t think of yourself as a pony.

“Hey Twilight,” said Rainbow, flying a little nearer. Twilight watched as Thomas jumped again and his head jerked towards Rainbow. “Don’t you think you’re being a little too friendly to this guy?”

Thomas stopped and Twilight glared at Rainbow.

“It’s OK,” she said, approaching Thomas, “Rainbow’s just a little action hungry. She doesn’t really mean that… Do you Rainbow?”

Rainbow snorted and said under her breath, “Didn’t seem that scared of me last night with the flowers jab…”

None of the other ponies heard her, but Thomas did. His sight handicap was already beginning to make him more dependent on his other senses.

“It’s OK Sugarcube,” said AJ, stepping up to Thomas, “Ya saved mah little sister from a cockatrice. That means yer OK in mah’ book.”

“And you saved Sweetie Belle too,” said Rarity, “Speaking of which I should probably get her to thank you. What you did was very brave of you. Of course the cockatrice probably wasn’t that scary since well you are…”

Rarity stopped there, trying to come up with a polite way to phrase large, heavy, big or made of stone.

“Immune to its abilities,” she finished.

“I guess bein’ made’a stone has its advantages,” said AJ.

That got Twilight thinking again.

Was he protected from the cockatrice because he is already petrified or because he’s blind? Either way would make sense. However, it would seem that he can see.

Twilight watched as Thomas stepped over a plow as though he could see fine and kept walking through the field.

“Um Thomas,” she said, “Do you mind if I let Princess Celestia know about you? You are no longer a danger and I don’t think she’d object to you staying in Ponyville now.”

Thomas lifted the chalkboard and wrote some more.

WHO? WHAT? WHERE?

“Oh, sorry,” said Twilight, “I forgot. Princess Celestia is the ruler of all Equestria, and my friends and I live in the town of Ponyville over there.”

Twilight pointed in the direction of Ponyville and watched as Thomas turned to look in that direction.

Definitely not blind.

However, at that moment, Rainbow floated in front of Thomas and said, “But watch it buster. I’ve got my eyes on you.”

At the sound of Rainbow’s voice, Thomas stumbled back.

He can see which direction I was pointing, he knows where Ponyville is, but he didn’t jump until after he heard Rainbow. I don’t get it.

“Easy there partner,” said AJ, grabbing Rainbow by the tail and pulling her down to the ground.

The minute Rainbow set hoof on the ground Thomas seemed to calm down a little.

He can’t see things in the air! Only things on the ground. Thought Twilight, her eyes growing wide. He’s only half-blind.

As they continued on through the orchard, Twilight thought more and more about what she had just figured out.

Better not tell Rainbow. She’ll just antagonize Thomas. However if he ever does show that he’s evil, at least we’re not helpless.

“So where did you come from Darling?” asked Rarity, who seemed to be warming up to Thomas a little. In fact, everypony, except Rainbow, seemed to be getting along with Thomas.

“What’s the matter?” asked Twilight, pulling Rainbow aside.

“What do you mean?”

“Come on Rainbow, you’re the Element of Loyalty; you’ve made plenty of friends in Ponyville. Why are you suddenly treating this new friend like he’s the enemy? You don’t have any proof.”

Rainbow snorted and said, “Insulting me is all the proof I need not to trust this guy.”

The two were interrupted by Thomas holding out his chalkboard.

WHAT INSULT?

“Like you don’t know buster,” said Rainbow, flying up into his face.

Thomas seemed to anticipate what Rainbow was doing and backed up as she left the ground.

He’s hiding his handicap very well.

“I heard you in the forest after they all left,” said Rainbow, glaring daggers at Thomas, “I heard what you said to me.”

“But Rainbow,” said Rarity, “Thomas can’t talk. How could he have insulted you last night?”

Rainbow seemed to deflate a little and landed back on the ground.

“Well I didn’t see anypony else in the forest and this guy was the only one around,” she said somewhat less assuredly.

“But he can’t talk,” said AJ.

“Maybe he’s just faking it.”

“He’s a rock,” said Maud.

“Besides he told me he couldn’t even breathe,” said Twilight.

“Well-well-well… Hfmg!”

Rainbow crossed her hooves in anger and said, “I’m still not sure, but I guess I can’t really hold an insult against you if you allegedly can’t talk.”

They continued on again towards Sweet Apple Acres, this time with Rainbow walking along with the rest of them.





When they got to the farm, Applejack went to find her family and Pinkie Pie continued with the rest of them to the barn.

She opened the door and let Thomas walk in first.

This is where they would spring the trap if they were the US Military. Thought Thomas to himself.

Just then there was a whoosh like something falling and something heavy landed on top of him.

It wasn’t a net, and it wasn’t even heavy enough to hurt him. But it did knock him to the ground.

As he landed he could feel a large pony standing behind him obviously surprised that his attack hadn’t done that much harm.

Big Mac. Uh-oh.

Big Mac charged Thomas, deaf to the pleas of the four mares standing in the doorway.

Don’t hurt him-don’t hurt him-don’t hurt him. Thought Thomas as he backed up.

Big Mac was faster than he looked. However it seemed that no matter how strong he was, Thomas was stronger.

Maybe I’m not made out of ordinary stone.

Thomas kept his hands out in front of him and tried to keep Big Mac from really hurting himself. He kept trying to buck Thomas in the chest. Luckily Thomas’s hands seemed strong enough to hold off his kicks.

Gotta stop him without hurting him.

Thomas felt around the barn and thought he could feel a heavy patch of something in the corner.

It’s not solid enough to be manure. I think it’s hay.

Thomas reached out a hand after Big Mac had made another kick and, picking him up, flung him gently underhand into the pile of hay.

Big Mac landed, jumped out and charged Thomas again.

Thomas deflected a kick and threw Mac into the hay again.

He did this a few more times until Applejack came back and grabbed Big Mac by the tail.

“Is that any way to greet a guest?” she said sternly, “Especially a guest who saved our little sister from a cockatrice.”

Big Mac looked at Applejack and then back to Thomas. Then he hung his head in shame and said, “Nope.”

Thomas tried to hold back his fan-girling as best he could. Then he realized that he had lost the chalkboard.

Holding out his hands he tried to show them it was missing. Twilight caught on first.

“You’ve lost the chalkboard. You probably threw it with Macintosh into the hay. Give me a second.”

She searched around for a minute with her magic and finally pulled out something.

Balancing it on her hoof she walked up to Thomas and held it out to him.

This time Thomas knew exactly where it was and grabbed it without a moments delay.

That was suspicious. Does she suspect that I can’t see stuff in the air? Or was she just alternating from magic to hooves?

Thomas didn’t have that much time to think about this because at that moment Apple Bloom and Granny Smith walked into the barn.

“Land sakes!” said Granny Smith, “You 'ere right whipper-snapper, 'ee’s as big as a house. And ye say 'ee’s friendly?”

“Sure is Granny,” said Applejack, “He saved Apple Bloom from that cockatrice didn’t he?”

“Thanks mister,” said Apple Bloom, approaching Thomas cautiously.

No way am I going to have the Cutie Mark Crusaders scared of me!

Thomas got down slowly onto his knees and when that wasn’t low enough he let go of his joints, and collapsed and spread out until his arms and shoulders were resting on a jumble of stones that used to be his lower half. He was now barely taller than Big Mac. Then he held out his hand to Apple Bloom and extended one finger, which was about the size of Big Mac’s hoof.

Apple Bloom stared at the large stone appendage extended towards her and shrank back a little, unsure what to do.

Thomas tried to smile, he really did. But stone doesn’t change faces well. He rearranged the stones in his face, but none were large or small enough to convey the expression. So instead, he took out the chalkboard and drew a quick smiling face. It wasn't the same, but it got the point across.

Apple Bloom smiled back at him and then raised her hoof and knocked it against his finger.

Thomas could feel some of the tension leave the room as all the Apples, as one, let out a large anxious sigh.

"I'm gonna introduce you to ma friends!" said Apple Bloom, "They gotta meet you!"

“Let’s start the PARTY!” yelled Pinkie, pulling out her party cannon and killing the moment.

Thomas held up a hand and sunk back onto the earthen floor.

Pinkie lowered her party cannon and gave him a look.

“What is it?”

Rolling over, he held up his reply. TIRED. REST HERE?

Applejack stomped her hoof and said in a cheerful voice, “You think I’d let the hero who saved my sister sleep in the forest? Sure thing sugarcube. You lay down right here and get some rest. We can have the party later this evening.”

Pinkie sighed and then brightened.

“This will give me time to make even more invitations. I wonder if the princesses are free tonight...”

“Easy there partner,” said AJ as she and her friends left the barn, “Maybe we should take this a little slow, after all Tom ain’t no ordinary pony.”

The doors to the barn closed and Thomas pulled his legs back together, rolled over to a dark corner of the barn and rested his head up against a bale of hay. He hadn’t slept all night, and while he didn’t feel as exhausted as when he was a human, he still felt a little worn out.

Well I’ve met the Mane Six, I’m on speaking terms with the CMC’s and Rainbow isn’t going to kill me. To top all that off, even Big Macintosh couldn’t hurt me. With all that out of the way, maybe I should start to wonder why I’m here in the first place.

As he lay there he went over as many possible explanations as he could in his head.

I’m the key to saving Equestria? Someone’s playing a huge practical joke on me? I hit the cosmic jackpot and got sent to Equestria? I’ve been sent here to learn a lesson about friendship or something? Random coincidence? Runaway Fan Fiction?

He really had no idea why he was here, and even after all that thought, he still couldn’t come up with a good explanation.

Maybe I should just rest. The party’s later and I’m going to need all my strength to be the best wallflower I can be.

Thomas wasn’t a very social person. That’s why he identified most with Twilight. But now he was a giant, strange, indestructible creature from the depths of the Everfree in the middle of Ponyville.

Something tells me this party isn’t going to be like any party I’ve ever been to before.
> Chapter 5: Attack of the Party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 5: Attack of the Party


Thomas awoke to the sound of an amp. Someone was testing out a dubstep track and someone else was tuning a cello.

The musical combo of Scratch and Octavia, said Thomas to himself and then sat bolt upright. Oh Shazbat, I’m still in Equestria. OK, I hope my parents don’t freak, and didn’t Pinkie mention something about a party?

Before he had fallen asleep the party had just been kind of an afterthought, he was exhausted after all. But now with it looming before him, he started to get worried.

First of all, I don’t like parties. Second, I really don’t like parties. Third, I’ll probably just frighten all the ponies away… Well then, I guess it’ll be a short party.

Thomas started to stretch but that just caused a lot of crunching and scraping and he didn’t feel any different.

The music stopped.

Thomas stood up and looked around.

The hard pointed wooden legs of tables and chairs dotted a corner of the floor of the barn in a symmetrical fashion, a long line of tables stretched across one wall (probably for serving food), and while he couldn’t see the rafters he thought he could hear streamers blowing in the breeze of the open barn door.

“STAND BACK TAVI!” yelled somepony from behind Tom.

Suddenly realizing that he had stood up, unannounced, Thomas hit the deck and threw his hands up in the air. Landing on his face really didn’t hurt as much as he had expected.

Please don’t blast me Scratch, he thought, I’ll change. I’ll learn to like dubstep. I cosplayed as you for Halloween. I really like your mane!

Luckily, Pinkie hopped in at that point. Thomas recognized her trot; it was very light and bouncy. In fact she seemed to weigh less when she was walking than when she was standing still.

She walked over to the table and set a basket of something down then turned to look at the two musicians

“How’s the music coming?” she asked in a happy tone.

“Just fine,” said Scratch, “Right after I take out this monster with my bass cannon.”

Pinkie’s head swiveled around, taking in the whole barn.

“There’s no monster here, silly, just the guest of honor.”

Thomas heard Octavia gasp and Scratch chuckled softly.

“Uh, whoops, sorry man. Don’t take it personally. We get a lot of monsters around here.”

Thomas rolled over, picked up his chalkboard and wrote,

SO I’VE HEARD.

After writing this he could feel Octavia’s heartbeat begin to subside.

Good. I really do love classical music.

Thomas stood up slowly, trying to shift his appearance to be as small as possible.

“Well I’ll leave you three and go get the cupcakes,” said Pinkie, hopping out the door.

Thomas turned his head from habit to watch her leave and then swiveled it back around to face the two musicians. Scratch was fiddling nonchalantly with her sound system and Octavia was cautiously trying to reset up her cello.

Nothing fazes Scratch, but I’d like to get on Octavia's good side.

Thomas wrote something on the board and then, holding it out, stepped slowly towards the makeshift stage.

I REALLY LIKE THE CELLO…

Octavia seemed startled but flattered. Thomas could feel here pulse quicken and could almost feel the rush of blood to her face. He didn’t even need to see her blush.

Scratch on the other hoof, snorted.

“Figures somepony as tough-looking as you would like Octi’s old stuff.”

“I-I’m- Thank you very much,” said Octavia as Thomas picked up her cello for her.

“So how do ya feel about Dubstep?” asked Vinyl.

Thomas tapped his head and then held it like he had a headache.

“Exactly how I feel,” said Octavia, grinning.

“Everypony’s a critic,” said Vinyl, chuckling.

Just then Big Mac came in carrying a large barrel, probably filled with cider.

Thomas was too young to drink anything alcoholic, however at the moment that didn’t really bother him.

He walked over to Big Mac and held out a finger.

Big Mac looked up and knocked his hoof against it.

FORGIVEN.

Big Mac nodded his head and said, “Thanks.”

HELP?

Big Mac thought about that for a second and then nodded his head again and said, “Eeyup.”

Thomas followed Mac outside and down into a cellar right outside the barn. While Mac heaved a large barrel onto his shoulders Thomas scooped up eight barrels in his arms and started towards the door.

Mac stopped him and, setting down his barrel, he stood there for a second thinking.

“Three.”

Thomas nodded. It made sense. This was going to be a small party, hopefully, so they weren’t going to need that much cider. Thomas set five of the barrels down and continued hauling the three barrels out of the cellar.

These barely weigh anything, thought Thomas, carefully weighing the barrels in his arms as he stood there waiting for Mac to tell him where to set them down.

Mac tapped the ground by a table and said, “Here.”

Thomas set them down and looked around the room again. Some new ponies had come in now and he could see their bodies facing him, and their hearts beating rapidly.

Luckily for Thomas Twilight was there as well.

“Remember what I told you Bon-Bon,” said Twilight, looking hard at the Pony on the left, “He’s not a monster.”

“I still can’t believe Celestia told you,” said the pony, glaring at Tom.

“I am a princess now,” said Twilight, “Luna knows as well.”

“It’s almost like he’s got hands,” said the pony on the left.

Oh boy, Lyra. Better be careful around her; I don’t want to give anything away.

“Boy howdy,” came a voice from the doorway, “Would somepony lend me a hoof? I've got a whole lotta’ vittles to set out.”

Thomas focused behind him to see Applejack hooked up to a cart, filled with 'vittles' apparently.

Now I really wish I wasn’t made of stone, thought Thomas as he approached the cart.

He could smell the food, somehow, and it smelled delicious.

I wonder how I can smell the food if I don’t have nostrils.

The smell seemed to be coming from all around him, and when he thought about it he could smell it with most of his body. Running a hand over his arm he felt some soft fuzzy moss growing on his rocky exterior.

So I smell with my 'skin'... Weird.

Thomas stopped in front of AJ and gestured as if asking whether she needed help.

“I don’t know,” said Applejack, unhitching herself from the cart, “I don’t see why not but, how could you help?”

Tom picked up the cart and walked over to the tables with it in his hands.

“Well if that don’t beat all,” said Applejack as she trotted over to the table and started laying out the spread.

“I’ve got more streamers!” yelled Pinkie Pie from outside.

“Hey there Tommy,” she said, tapping Thomas on the ankle, “Could you give me a lift?”

Thomas bent down and let Pinkie hop into his hand, then he stood up and lifted Pinkie up to the rafters.

“Whoa, watch out for those beams,” she said as she ducked her head.

Thomas winced and tried again. He couldn’t really see the rafters that well; they were a very light gray and hazy.

I’m just lucky that this barn’s built so strong, said Thomas to himself, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to see them at all.





Just as Pinkie was hanging the last streamer though, a whole hoard of ponies stepped into the barn.

Thomas froze.

Since he wasn’t moving none of the new ponies seemed to pay any attention to him. They milled around talking to each other and sampling the food.

Pinkie tapped Tom’s hand with her hoof and said, “You can put me down now Tommy.”

He didn’t move.

Scenes from when Luna visited during Nightmare Night and the attack of the plunder-seeds kept running through his mind.

Not to mention his social stimulus was off the Richter scale.

I really don’t like parties-I really don’t like parties-I really don’t like parties…

His mind and body were locked in place, completely unable to move.

Pinkie climbed down Tom’s arm and walked over to Twilight.

“I think he’s stuck,” she said.

“Most likely he’s scared of frightening the guests,” answered Twilight, “Pinkie you did tell them all why they're all here, right?”

Pinkie grinned, “Of course Twilight. I told them somepony new had come to Ponyville and was in need of a Pinkie-style welcome party.”

“Somepony new?” said Twilight, her eye twitching.

“Yep,” said Pinkie, nodding her head vigorously, “I told them he’s a little big but he’s got a heart as soft as the Cakes’ heavenly triple layer angel cake.”

Twilight gulped, “I hope that’s enough to keep them calm.”

Just then Rainbow flew in.

“How are things going at the party?” she asked.

“It seems Sugarcupe’s got a big ol’ case of stage fright,” said AJ, handing Rainbow a tankard of cider.

“I’ll fix that,” said Rainbow, handing the tankard back to AJ, “Hold onto this for me though.”

Rainbow walked over to Thomas and sidled up right next to him. Nopony was really paying that much attention to her but she didn’t mind.

Whether or not you did pull a fast one no me last night I’m going to have some sweet revenge.

Rainbow plucked a long feather from her wing and, while trying to appear nonchalant, she started running it up and down Thomas’s right leg.

Nothing happened.

Dang I forgot he’s a rock.

Little did Rainbow know that Thomas had been just short of collapsing in a fit of hysterics.

At first it had tickled a lot. But then, just as he tried to take in a breath of air to laugh out loud, the reality of the situation had struck Thomas and it was like his entire body had gone numb. He couldn’t feel a thing. The world faded to black and Thomas was left standing in the dark.

What’s going on? He thought to himself.





Meanwhile Rainbow had given up trying to elicit some kind of reaction from Tom and trotted back over to her friends.

“Plan B?” she asked.

“Cupcakes?” said Pinkie, holding up a large tray.

“You know, if he’s not going to move I could always make him a new ensemble,” said Rarity.

“I don’t think yer frilly dressmakin’ would fix the situation,” said AJ, rolling her eyes.

“Actually my plan was to mention that and see if that would get him moving. Stallions don’t seem to want ensembles as much as mares,” said Rarity, raising an eyebrow at Thomas.

“I actually don’t think he’s a pony, Rarity,” said Twilight, “But what if I moved him with my magic? Just to get the ball rolling.”

“Come on Twilight, the guy's made out of solid stone. Big Mac couldn’t put a dent in him. What makes you think you can?” said Rainbow.

While the main six discussed ways of loosening up Thomas, Octavia had finished tuning up and stepped forwards.

“Um Vinyl… would you mind if I went first?”

Vinyl lowed her glasses and said, “Trying to get the big guy to join the party?”

“Well he did say he likes the cello.”

“Take it away Octi.”

Octavia placed her bow against the strings of the cello and let the music flow from the instrument through the open space of the barn filled with ponies. Several of them stopped talking or eating to listen but most didn’t pay much attention. Classical was nice but most of them were there to hear Vinyl.

As Octavia played, Vinyl stood back and watched. At first nothing changed but then she could swear she saw the guest of honor twitch.

Keep it going Octi just a little more…





Octavia played beautifully, the rich sound of her cello resounded through the crowd, straight to the ears (or whatever counted as ears) of Thomas.

When he had gone numb he had lost all feeling for the earth around him. He couldn’t see his hand in front of his eyes. It was like he was blindfolded, in a cave, on a foggy night... underwater.

But then through the blackness he could hear music. Deep, soothing cello music.

Oh yeah, thought Thomas to himself, that’s beautiful…

He could feel his muscles loosening, his mind clearing. Feeling started returning to his frame and he could see ponies milling about around him.

At the sight of so many ponies he wanted to clam up again but Octavia’s melody played through his mind, giving him confidence.

This isn’t like parties at home. These are the main six. This is Octavia and Scratch. This is Ponyville!

As Thomas said this last part to himself he felt the numbness drop away and the whole world came into focus around him.

That’s when Vinyl dropped the bass.





Thomas, shocked as the sudden wave of sound, toppled over backwards onto the barn floor.

While the music kept blaring all the other ponies froze and stared at him.

Suddenly the barn was filled with the shrill cries of young fillies, the terrified screams of grown mares and the stomping and snorting of several stallions.

BOOOOM!!!

A loud bass note resounded through the barn and then Scratch began talking through her microphone.

“Hey there everypony! So this next song goes to the guest of honor and my personal friend-” Pinkie jumped up on the stage and whispered something in Vinyl’s ear, “Thomas! Now pick up those hooves and lay ‘em down on the dance floor to my new song Bedrock Beatz.”

A thundering dubstep beat began to blare through the sub-woofers on stage and while a few ponies gave Thomas highly suspicious stares, most just seemed to accept that if DJ-PON3 was friends with the giant stone monster then he must be OK.

Thomas lay there on the floor watching as most of the ponies started dancing to the awful din.

Slowly he slid backwards towards the barn door.

Once he was near enough he rolled out and sat up against the side of the barn.

He couldn’t breathe so taking a deep gasp of air was out of the question, but as he sat there he felt some of the tension begin to leave his body.

“I’m with you. Too many ponies gives me a headache. My sister likes it though.”

Thomas’s head jerked to the right to see Maud sitting there.

I didn’t even feel her sit down! I really am a mess.

Pinkie stuck her head out the door and said, “Hey Maud, Tommy why aren’t you in here with the rest of us?”

“Remember what I told you last time you took me to a party, Pinkie?” said Maud.

“But you were great. You had everyone in stitches.”

You’re the most basic of jokes. Thomas chuckled inwardly.

“I think Thomas is like that friend you told me about,” said Maud, nodding towards Thomas, “He just wants to be left alone a little.”

“You mean Cranky?” said Pinkie, “But he and Matilda are in there cutting up the rug like nopony’s business.”

“Why don’t you give him a little space,” said Maud, “We’ll come in when we’re ready.”

“Okie-dokie-lokie,” said Pinkie and drew her head back into the barn.

"Take as long as you want," said Maud, looking off into the distance.
> Chapter 6: The Living Stone and the Winds of Change
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 6: The Living Stone and the Winds of Change


After a little while Thomas began to feel more like himself. He hadn't exactly had a racing pulse since he came to this new world but he had definitely felt agitated, on edge, and a strange tightness in his chest that seemed to come with fear.

Maud put her hoof on his knee and said, "You feel much calmer now. Want to go back in?"

She can feel calmness?! Well I am a rock and she is the princess of all things rock.

He nodded his head and they got up.

Thomas felt somepony approaching and tried to discern who it was. There were two of them, both seemed happy and one was a pegusus. Thomas could tell just by how light she was.

As they rounded the corner of the barn Thomas could just make out what one of them was saying.

"... Reversed the particle flux generator and next thing I know I'm-"

They stopped talking.

In other words, they've seen me. I hope this works.

Thomas raised his hand and waved; beside him he could feel Maud nod politely.

The two ponies shrugged and continued on through the barn door, the second one never missing a beat with his story.

"-Which is why it is never a smart thing to make a Sontaran soldier mad."

Oh boy-oh boy-oh boy... The Doctor is in!

Just as he was about to go in though he felt some more ponies coming and heard Rarities voice.

"Oh there you are Mr. Thomas, I was hoping to find you. You've already met Sweetie Belle."

"Hello mister Tom," she said in that cute little squeak of hers. He could feel Rarity gulp when she said 'Tom'.

"Thank you for saving me and Applebloom the other night."

YOU'RE WELCOME

They walked into the barn but Thomas just stood there.

"Are you coming darling?" asked Rarity, turning around.

He nodded and walked back into the barn.

The minute he did so, ponies' heads turned in his direction.

Thomas almost froze a second time but this time Sweetie Belle came over and said, "Come on. I want you to meet my friends Applebloom and Scootaloo."

He waved awkwardly to the crowd and let Sweetie Belle drag him over to a corner where Applebloom and Scootaloo were waiting.

"So this is him?" said Scootaloo. Thomas could feel her tilt her head back to look up at him.

"Eeyup," said Applebloom. Apple family response.

"Wow! You're big." said Scootaloo. Lots of tact Scoots. You're gonna go far kid.

Before they could say anything more Pinkie appeared out of nowhere.

Literally, she appeared out of nowhere!

She can really do it. Wow!

"I see you decided to come back in where all the fun is," she said, hanging from Tom's left shoulder, "Now I can introduce you to all the ponies in Ponyville!"

This is going to be painful, said Tom to himself. But then again, if I'm going to be spending a long time with these ponies, I'd better introduce myself around.

He let Pinkie direct him over to a crowd of ponies who were eating rather than dancing and she greeted them from high up on her perch.

"Hey there Roseluck, Lily, Daisy. Wanna meet my friend Tom?"

Wait! These are the major drama flower ponies?! Thomas actually couldn't see their faces or colors so he didn't know who they were until Pinkie talked to them. How come they aren't fainting or screaming?

"Hey there Pinkie," said Roseluck, "Nice to meet your friend. Tom, was it?"

Tom nodded.

"Sorry we're late," said Lily, "But some of our flowers were starting to look a little wilted."

"A LITTLE WILTED!?" said Daisy, "They were barely holding on! If I hadn't saved them, who knows what could have happened."

"And don't forget that bad cobblestone on main street," said Roseluck, turning back to her associates, "Somepony is going to get seriously hurt one day because of that."

There we go. So they only overreact to things that don't really deserve an overreaction... Sounds reasonable.

Pinkie, who was standing on her back hooves on top of Tom's shoulder, tapped his head and said, "They're going to be at this for a while. Onward to more ponies!"





After meeting most of the ponies in ponyville including but not limited to: Button Mash and his mother (who both seemed more interested than scared of him), the Doctor and his friend (who asked him if he was by any chance related to Pyroviles) and Filthy Rich (who tried to sell Tom something or other).

While Pinkie tried to explain to Filthy that Tom didn't actually have any money, Tom tried to give Diamond Tiara a hard look.

She in turn glared back at him.

ME + CMC'S = FRIENDS

Thomas erased the board, rolled his shoulders and cracked is neck. Which was, honestly, pretty impressive now that he was made out of stone.

Tiara gulped and smiled shakily while silver spoon hastily left the table and sat with her parents. Nopony else noticed Tom's slight intimidation except the Cutie Mark Crusaders who chuckled to themselves and gave Tom the hooves up from the other side of the barn.





After they had met most of the ponies in the barn Pinkie let Tom sit down for a rest by a bale of hay on one side of the barn.

For some reason Tom couldn't keep walking and waving and moving for too long before he became exhausted.

Must take a lot of energy to keep this new frame of mine up and about. Note to self, nearly indestructible, super strong, but I tire easily and require frequent rest. Don't let Rainbow find out about this.

At that moment however Twilight got up on stage, as Scratch and Octavia left, and pulled out what sounded like a set of thick note cards while everypony in the barn grew silent.

"Thank you everypony for coming," she said, aligning the deck, "I would first of all like to thank all of your for giving Thomas such a warm-"

"Uh Twilight," said AJ, walking onto the stage, "Could I say a few words?"

"It's OK AJ," said Twilight, pulling out a rubber band, "I came prepared this time."

Hooking the rubber band around the cards she pulled it taught and then let go, sending the cards flying out into the audience of ponies.

"They were blank anyway," she said, stepping down from the podium.

Pinkie chuckled from next to Thomas and AJ tapped the microphone cautiously.

"Ah jus' wanna' say thanks to Tom. Without him ma sister would probably be nothin' but a statue in the Everfree right now."

"And the same goes for me too Darling," said Rarity, sneaking around Applejack just for a second to get to the microphone.

"An that's why ahm' offerin' him a job at my farm for as long as he wants it while he's stayin' here in Ponyville."

Thomas was flabbergasted. First of all he hadn't been planning to stay in Ponyville that long, second he hadn't even considered getting a job, third he was just shocked that Applejack would trust him so much, so soon.

"Oooh, good job Tommy!" said Pinkie grabbing his hand and, somehow, shaking it fiercely.

As Applejack stepped down from the podium Thomas walked over to her and held up his chalkboard.

WHY?

"Ah like this fella'," said Granny Smith from next to the stage, "Don't need ma ear thingamawachit ta talk ta 'im."

"It wasn't all ma idea," said AJ, "Big Mac suggested it as an apology for his actions, Granny Smith had a good feelin' about ya, an' Applebloom really seems to get along with ya. I jus' put it all together."

THANK YOU





The rest of the party went off without a hitch. However, after all the ponies had left and the main six started setting down, with Thomas helping of course, something weird happened.

Thomas was hauling an empty barrel of cider over to the empty pile to be reused later, when he felt something slide over him.

It was almost like for a moment he could see.

He turned around and darted after whatever it was.

It wasn't so much a thing as an area. As he got nearer to it he could feel it's presence.

It's a person, or some kind of consciousness.

He followed it into the barn and shut the door behind him.

SOMETHING'S HERE

Twilight and the rest looked around the barn.

"I don't see anything," said Twilight, looking cautiously around.

IT'S HERE

"Eep," squeaked Fluttershy.

Rainbow darted over to her friend.

"There's something here alright," she said, her wings flared out, "I can feel it in the air, and I don't like it."

Suddenly there was a quiet mumbling which drifted lazily through the barn.

"Rainbow-bobby-bibabuble-fmmbbleeeee..."

Whatever it is it sounds like it's running down, said Thomas to himself.

"Who are you and what do you want?" asked Twilight, stepping into the middle of the barn and raising her head.

"Soooo sleeeeeepppyyyyyy..." returned the voice.

"Well then why don't 'cha just hit the hay?" asked Applejack, backing towards Twilight, her eyes darting around her barn.

The voice seemed to hiccup and then groaned.

"Falling... apart... can't... hold... myself... together... sooo... Tired....."

"But what are you darling?" asked Rarity.

"I'm... zzzzzzzzz..."

The voice seemed to drift off for a second and then it snapped back.

"AIR! I'M AIR!"

At that moment several things clicked into place in Tom's mind.

But first of all they needed something to keep her in so she wouldn't fall apart when she fell asleep.

JEANIE IN A BOTTLE?

Twilight nodded and turned to Applejack, "AJ do you have any spare cider bottles lying around here?"

AJ nodded and went over to one of the tables. She uncorked the bottle and looked into it.

"It's still a little ways full-"

Rainbow grabbed the bottle from Applejack, swigged the lot, handed it back to her and belched.

"Problem solved," she said.

AJ shook the bottle a few times and passed it to Twilight.

"We have a bottle here," she said, "If you trust us you can sleep in here until tomorrow morning."

There was whistling moan followed by a pop as whatever it was squeezed itself quickly into the bottle.

Twilight capped it off and looked at her friends.

"Any ideas?" she asked.

AIR

They all gave Thomas strange looks.

STONE He tapped himself on the chest.

AIR He pointed towards the bottle.

"So yer sayin' some poor ponies are bein' changed into the elements?" said Applejack.

NOT PONIES

"This new... being, is like you?" said Twilight, squinting to try and see through the dark brown bottle.

"But what are you?!" said Rainbow, who was now getting mad.

A FRIEND?

All the ponies went silent.

"Definitely," said a voice from Tom's side, and he could feel Maud standing next to him.

"Ya saved my little sister-"

"And mine," cut in Rarity.

"So I guess that's good enough fer me."

"Any friend of AJ's a friend of mine!" said Pinkie, jumping up and down excitedly, "She's almost as good as my Pinkie sense and that's telling me you're alright too."

Rainbow grumbled a little but at last she said, "Well if Pinkie says you're OK then... ah whatever."

Twilight tucked the bottle into her saddlebags and said, "I'm going to have to ask you two some questions in the morning but... Tonight I'll let you get some rest. Let's all meet here tomorrow, early."

REALLY TIRED? Thomas pointed to the bottle.

Twilight blushed, "Whoops, OK then after noon some time."

The rest of the ponies all nodded and left the barn.

Thomas lay down in the bales of hay and started thinking.

Another human like myself? I'd better warn him/her tomorrow so they don't give anything away about Bronies. That is if they're even from the same universe as me. I wonder what it all means though. If I'm here, and now someone else in the form of air... What purpose are we meant to serve?

As Thomas's mind drifted off to sleep he could only hope that this new person as well was getting the rest they, so obviously, needed.





As Rainbow flew away from Sweet Apple Acres towards her home she couldn't help but dislike this new development.

It was the same voice from last night. However if it's some strange creature from somewhere far away how does it know about me? I know I'm awesome, but how did it know about me and flowers?

Rainbow half considered turning around and dropping in on Twilight to get some answers but decided against it.

It can wait for tomorrow. Besides *yawn* I'm tired enough as it is.

As she got into her bed though, she silently promised whoever it was in that bottle that she would get all the answers tomorrow.

I'll find out what you're hiding. No matter what!
> Chapter 7: Seeking Answers, We Don't Know What To Do...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 7: Seeking Answers, We Don't Know What To Do...


Thomas awoke the next morning feeling well rested. The minute he opened his eyes he understood why.

He couldn't open his eyes.

Ever since he had become stone he hadn't had any stiff or painful joints. He wasn't numb, he just never felt like his body needed to 'warm up'.

That might be one thing I'll miss when I go home... if I go home. thought Thomas.

The reality that he might be stuck in Equestria was really beginning to hit home.

I could be stuck in worse places I guess. At least it's the real Equestria and not Fallout.

He wandered out of the barn and looked around.

Whether the sun had come up or not he didn't know, but he was definitely up.

He spread his arms out trying to feel the warmth of the sun.

Some of the moss on his shoulders tingled as it stood up and he could just make out a touch of warmth creeping over the horizon.

"Nice ta see yer up," came a voice from behind him and Thomas nodded to Applejack, lowering his arms.

"I'd ask ya to buck some apples but at yer size I reckon you'd buck the tree an' not the apples."

He nodded and then raised his right hand a little as if asking her to go on.

"Well, judging from Big Mac's description I'd say ya could probably haul apple buckets. How does that sound to ya?"

Tom nodded and headed towards the barn where he could feel Big Mac was pulling out buckets.





The apple family was amazed by how many buckets Thomas could carry at the same time. Aside from Big Mac, who just calmly watched the whole spectacle with a smug smile of satisfaction, AJ and Applebloom gawked, wide eyed, like a couple of stunned owls.

"Now that's how we did'it in ma day!" yelled Granny Smith from on the porch, waving a hoof in the air and nearly falling out of her rocking chair.

Thomas saluted casually and continued with the work. Bucking apples was pretty quick, but hauling them, that was the slow part, at least for the rest of them. Hauling bucket after bucket across Sweet Apple Acres didn't even feel like work to him.

Probably because I have such a strong connection to the earth.





Meanwhile Twilight was organizing all the books she would need to talk to the two visitors today.

Rainbow had showed up rather early that morning and just kept leaning on Twilight to get over Sweet Apple Acres until Twilight figured that whatever it was that was in the bottle had gotten enough sleep.

Packing up her saddlebags she headed off towards Applejack's farm. She could fly but it was such a nice day that she decided to walk there. Besides, she still wanted to give the creature in the bottle a little more rest.

Rainbow flew slowly above her, her hooves crossed in exasperation.

"Can't you speed it up?" she said.

"Come on Rainbow," said Twilight, giving her a look, "Don't you have any patience whatsoever?"

"Twilight, you can't tell me you're not just as curious about these guys as me."

Twilight bit her lip and said, "Well yes, but it doesn't seem that urgent. Can't you just come down here and walk with me? Look here comes Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie hopped up next to them and said, "Hey Twilight, hey Rainbow. What's up?"

Rainbow landed grumpily and continued on with her friends.

"Rainbow's particularly excited about our new friends," said Twilight.

"Supposed friends," said Rainbow.

"What do you mean supposed?" said Pinkie, "Tommy's great!"

"She doesn't trust this new one," said Twilight, "Don't know why though."

You'll soon find out, said Rainbow to herself as they approached the farm.

They could just make out the huge figure of Thomas sitting near the barn along with AJ, Rarity and Maud.

"HEY MAUD!" yelled Pinkie as they got nearer.





Rarity had shown up a little after Thomas had finished helping the Apple family with their chores. Hauling the buckets of apples was the most tedious part of it all and Tom had cut that task down to about 20% of what it used to be.

Maud had showed up after Rarity and as they sat there waiting for the rest of them to show up Rarity decided to ask a question which got Tom's attention.

"Excuse me Mr. Thomas," she said, cautiously, "Forgive me for asking but... where are your eyes?"

Thomas felt that tightness that came when he got nervous now and turned to Rarity.

WHAT?

"Well you are made completely out of stone, but you're alive. I was just wondering how you see."

All the things Thomas should have been doing right now he was unable to do. He couldn't sweat profusely, he had no pulse, and hyperventilating was out of the question.

Maybe I can tell them Rainbow's the one I can't trust... yet.

He patted the grass they were sitting on.

SEE THROUGH GROUND. NO SEE AIR. DON'T TELL RAINBOW.

"I see," said Rarity, "Don't worry Thomas. Your secret is safe with me."

"Me too," said AJ, "Understand where yer comin' from though, Rainbow would just make a nuisance of herself with that knowledge."

"What's it like under the ground?" asked Maud, an almost imperceptible interest in her voice.

Thomas hadn't thought about that. Feeling the ground with his hands, he tried pushing. That didn't work.

Next he tried to feel into the ground. To his surprise it was almost like his body descended into the earth and he could feel it all around him.

He could feel where there were particularly well packed spots, as well as roots, rocks and the ever present life beneath the soil.

It all felt very firm and solid, unmoving... reliable.

However as he was down there he realized that the further down he felt the farther out he could feel. As he descended into ever more tightly packed earth and the weight of it all above him pressed down upon him, he could stretch out and feel across hundreds upon thousands of feet.

However as he felt deeper and deeper beneath the ground he could hear something like a shrill buzzing in his head. He stopped for a second to listen and could just make out that it was Rarity screaming.

He had become lost in the earth. But the minute he heard Rarity it all came racing back and he shot to the surface to find himself lying on the ground, with Rarity and Maud tried to wake him up.

"Please tell me you're OK Thomas. Please tell me you're OK."

"You're the first rock who ever talked back to me. You can't die now."

"Come on Sugar-cube!"

Thomas raised his left hand and pushed himself into a sitting position.

SORRY. GOT LOST DOWN THERE

"Don't do that!" said Rarity, cuffing Tom on the shoulder (it didn't hurt), "You had us worried to death."

"All of the sudden ya just keeled over and wouldn't get up," said Applejack, "Ya were out for a good five minutes."

Wow! thought Thomas, I've got to be more careful. Can't go too far down or else I lose touch with everything up here.

SORRY. WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE?

"Yes!" said Maud in an enthusiastic voice this time.

Rarity, Applejack and Tom (kind-of) stared at her in shock.

"What? I like rocks," said Maud in her normal tone again.

LIKE WARM WATER. ONLY VERY THICK. COULD FEEL THE EARTH AND STONES.

"Any gems?" asked Rarity as Tom erased the board.

YES. LIKE SHARDS OF GLASS IN A SEA OF EARTH. VERY SHARP. VERY CLEAR.

"And what were the stones like in their natural habitat?" asked Maud, excited.

CALM. AT PEACE. AT REST. AND YET FILLED WITH THE LIFE OF THE EARTH.

Maud sighed contentedly. "I wish I could see that."

Rarity raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything for at that moment they heard Pinkie call out "HEY MAUD!" and they turned to see Twilight, Pinkie and Rainbow coming up the path.

"Hey there Pinkie," said AJ, "We're still waitin' fer Fluttershy but ya got that bottle, right Twilight?"

Twilight levitated it out of her saddlebag and balanced it on her right hoof so Thomas could see it.

"Got it right here."

"Sorry I'm late," said Fluttershy, coming around the side of the barn, "But a squirrel was in desperate need of CPR."

She gave CPR to a squirrel!? thought Thomas to himself, Wow! That's the old Fluttershy we all know and love...

"Well now that we're all here," said Rainbow, "Why don't you open the bottle so we can get some answers!"

WARN FIRST!

Twilight nodded, "Exactly my thought. Thank you Thomas."

She tapped the bottle a few times, then just to make sure she tapped it again much harder.

She waited a few seconds and then uncorked the bottle.

There was a whooshing, yawning, spitting sound as whatever was in the bottle came shooting out spraying leftover cider across some of the ponies standing there.

Fluttershy blinked, AJ coughed slightly, and Rainbow licked her lips.

There was a hiccup followed by a groan.

"Ooohhh! Now I know why my mom says never to drink."

"How did you sleep?" asked Rarity, politely.

"Seriously?" said Rainbow, "I think we should skip to the important questions."

"I'm just being friendly," said Rarity.

"A little too friendly," said Rainbow under her breath.

"Rainbow I want to apologize for my actions last night... or was it the night before. That last few days are kind of a blur."

"So it was you who insulted Rainbow," said Twilight.

"It was just a joke. Besides I was really tired at the time. I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm sorry."

Rainbow sighed, "I guess I forgive you. But I've still got a question. How did you know about me and flowers?"

Thomas felt the tightness once again as he realized that, whoever this was, they had just made a huge mistake.

Rarity and Applejack gave Rainbow a weird look.

"But Rainbow, everypony knows ya hate flowers. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is," said Rainbow, raising her voice, "That she's not a pony. How would she know that about me?"

The ponies all turned to look at the newcomer and then realized they couldn't see her.

I... I...

"I might have accidentally told her," said Pinkie, smiling nervously, "Sometimes I just can't help myself. You guys know how I like to talk, right?"

Rarity rolled her eyes and said, "Well that solves that problem. Now why don't you tell us your name."

Thomas stepped closer to where the voice was coming from as she spoke.

My name's Mira, and Rainbow's right. I'm not a pony. I don't think I should tell you what I am though. Suffice it to say I'm not usually made out of air.

As Thomas got closer he could feel Mira wrap herself around him, suddenly everything got much clearer and brighter around him.

Hello

Thomas felt his senses tingle as he could hear a voice in his head.

Can you hear me? he thought.

Yes. Can you hear me? came the voice again, definitely in his head.

Yeah. You a brony?

Eeyup. 20% and all that jazz. You haven't told them anything they shouldn't know, right?

Thomas almost nodded his head then thought against it.

No. How about you?

Aside from my little 'mistake'? Nothing.

OK then. Glad to know we've got this private line. Don't use it too much though. We have to pay attention to them as well so they don't know we can communicate like this.

Got it.

Thomas and Mira focused their attention back on the ponies however Tom could still see much better.

We must be sharing our vision somehow.

My thoughts exactly.

"So do you two know each other?" asked Rarity.

"No," said Mira as Thomas shook his head.

"But you are the same species?" asked Twilight.

Human? asked Tom.

Human, confirmed Mira.

"Yes," said Mira as Tom nodded his head.

"Do you have any idea how you got here?" asked Twilight.

"No," said Mira, as Tom shook his head, "I don't even know why I'm here. I was hoping maybe you knew."

"Well for once, I have absolutely no idea," said Twilight, "Any idea's Thomas?"

They turned to look at Tom as he wrote on his board.

NO IDEA. HOWEVER MAYBE WE SHOULD START LOOKING FOR THE OTHERS.

I can't read that, said Mira in Tom's head.

Me neither, but they can, replied Tom, and told her what it said.

"What others?" asked Fluttershy, gulping.

FIRE, EARTH, AIR, WATER.

"Of course," said Twilight, "Why didn't I think of that. Where should we start?"

Pinkie looked around at everypony and when nopony said anything she raised her hoof excitedly and said, "Ooooh pick me! I've got an idea."

"Um... Pinkie?" said Twilight, pointing her hoof at the vibrating mare.

"How about we look for water down at the fountain in Ponyville square?"

"That's oddly precise..." said Twilight, suspiciously, "But I guess it's a reasonable start. Let's go."

They headed off towards Ponyville however Thomas and Mira stayed a little ways behind along with Pinkie.

Pinkie told you about Rainbow? asked Tom, mentally.

No. I haven't even met her till today.

"Why did you cover up my mistake like that?" asked Mira quietly to Pinkie.

"They couldn't handle finding out that they're famous," said Pinkie nonchalantly, "Besides now you two are eternally in debt to me, and I demand payment RIGHT NOW!"

"What do you want?" asked Mira, who was just as confused by Pinkie's strange transformation as Thomas.

"HUGS," said Pinkie, with a look of extreme severity.

"Sorry Pinkie but it's kind of hard to hug air," said Mira.

"You hug Tommy and I'll hug him too and presto... GROOUUUUP HUUUGGG!"

Thomas stopped walking as he felt the air wrap around him again and then Pinkie embraced them both, somehow.

Wow! thought Thomas and Mira together, Pinkie's a reeaallly good hugger!
> Chapter 8: All the Earth is a Sponge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 8: All the Earth is a Sponge


Lucas had lost count of how many times now he had tried to leave the fountain. All through the night he had tried to escape his little prison, but the minute he touched the ground it was like he was walking on a blender. The ground would absorb him like a maximum strength sponge.

After every attempt he had to convert more water from the fountain into his being. He was positive by now he had drained half the fountain.

At last, some time, probably around two in the morning, he had managed to try every side of the fountain and learned that, no matter where he tried to step out, the ground would always win. So he lay back in the water, which was himself, and fell asleep.

He had awoken the same time every morning in his life for the past nine years. Today was no different.

At least it means I'm never late for school, not that that's something to be too happy about though.

He listened as the ponies started to wake up and begin their daily lives. He had to admit, despite everything he had heard yesterday, the town seemed like a peaceful little place; nothing like where he lived.

Most of the ponies didn't pay any attention to the fountain in the middle of the square. However he did hear three female ponies discussing the rather low water level.

Must be the nit-picky, notice-every-detail type, he grumbled to himself. He didn't like that type.

Sometime later in the day he heard what sounded like the same pony from yesterday walk by, she was talking with somebody named 'Rainbow' about some guy named Thomas. Lucas didn't know what to make of it all. Thomas seemed like a really normal name for a pony. These ponies seemed to always have some type of 'thing' as their name, from Roseluck to Bon Bon. However he had heard of a pony called Lyra, so maybe there were normal names mixed in with them all.

As he lay there though he got to thinking.

Maybe I should jump up or something. Get their attention. They'd probably go nuts. At least it would be a change from just sitting here.

He thought about it some more and finally decided against it. Maybe something would happen. Who knows...

So he waited there in the small pool praying for something to break the monotony.





He didn't have to wait long.

After a little while he began to feel a steady thumping through the base of the fountain.

As he thought about it he realized that they were footsteps.

At first he was a little scared, but then he thought about it and realized that as long as he stayed still nobody would pay any attention to him. Besides the footsteps appeared bipedal and not quadrupedal.

It came nearer and nearer as he lay there, wrapped around the base of the fountain.

At last the footsteps stopped and a large stone object was thrust into him. A voice came with the stone hand.

My name's Thomas. You a Brony?

He thought for a moment, trying to figure out what was going on, then he replied.

No. I'm not a troll though. My name's Lucas. What's going on here?

We have no idea but as long as you're here it looks like we're all in this together.

Who's we?

There's me, I'm the earth elemental, and then there's Mira; she's the air elemental. We've got no idea why we're here in Equestria or why we're elementals but we're trying to figure that out. Give me a second to tell the mane six you're here.

Lucas tried to ask who the heck the mane six were but Thomas had already removed his hand from the water.

OK, he said 'Brony', so he's gotta be a human. At least I'm not alone anymore. I just hope he's not one of those pushy types who tries to get me into the show. If I want to watch it, I'll make up my own mind, thank you very much!





Thomas withdrew his hand from the water and, turning to the ponies behind him, nodded his head. He had shared the entire conversation with Mira while he talked with Lucas.

HIS NAME'S LUCAS.

"My word!" said Rarity, "You're all just popping up everywhere aren't you? No offense."

"None taken," said Mira.

"Is he going to come out of there or does he have a case of the jitters just like you?" asked Pinkie.

Thomas leaned over the water again.

Are you going to come out? he asked.

Can't. The ground's like a sieve. By the way I can hear everything they're saying, you don't have to relay it back and forth.

Got it.

He withdrew his hand from the water and turned around.

CAN'T TOUCH THE GROUND. NEEDS SOME KIND OF CONTAINER. AND HE CAN HEAR YOU ALL.

"Oh the poor darling," said Rarity, "Trapped in that pool like some kind of prisoner."

SEEMS LIKE NICE GUY. DON'T THINK HE LIKES PONIES THOUGH.

"Whadda ya mean he don't like us?" asked Applejack.

"He is another species Applejack," said Twilight, "I'm sure he's not overly fond of being ripped from his home, being given a new body with severe limitation, and being shoved into a town with another species. Let's just be friendly and try and make him feel welcome while he's here."

"I agree with Twilight," said Fluttershy, who was staring into the pool.

"So do we need like a big barrel or somethin'?" asked AJ, looking at the still reasonably sized body of water, "Cause that there's a whole lot'o water to haul around."

Thomas dipped his fingers into the water and asked Lucas for any ideas.

Give me a second and I'll reduce myself. You shouldn't need more than a small cup or bottle or something.

Thomas told the rest of them and Twilight pulled a flask from her bag.

"I came prepared this time," she said, "And I've got another for you Mira so you don't have to wake up with a hangover again."

"Thanks," said Mira, hovering over the water.

"You said he can hear us," said Fluttershy, "Can he see us as well?"

Thomas thought back to when he had stuck his hand into the water and what he could remember seeing.

NO. HE CAN ONLY SEE IN THE WATER.

"A blind prisoner!" said Rarity, who was just about as shocked as the rest of them.

Thomas felt bad for a second about revealing the extent of Lucas's sight, then realized that, unlike himself, Lucas couldn't hide his handicap.

"I bet he's really lonely," said Fluttershy, then she took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks adorably, and stuck her head under the water.

Man I envy that guy, thought Thomas to himself, The cutest face in Equestria. What a welcome.

"How is it that you can understand him?" asked Twilight, looking at Thomas inquisitively.

Oh boy, sure hope I didn't give away our little secret.

At that moment however, Fluttershy's head emerged from the water.

"He can talk!" she shouted, in her small voice.

"I didn't hear anything," said Rainbow, giving Fluttershy an odd look.

"I could hear him when I stuck my head underwater."

"So that's how Thomas could hear him," said Rarity, "Let me say hello, Fluttershy."

Rarity bend over the water and greeted Lucas while Twilight handed Thomas the small flask.

Thomas let Rarity finish her introduction and then dipped the flask into the water. He felt Lucas squeeze himself into the flask and pulled it out trying not to let that much run out of the top.

"Do you think he can hear us if we cap it?" asked Twilight, hesitantly holding the cap to the flask in her magical aura.

There was a bubbling whistling sound and all the ponies as well as Thomas and Mira could hear a tiny voice coming from the top of the flask along with a small stream of foam.

"Try it. I'll let you know."

"How'd he do that?" asked Applejack.

"He must be using the flask as a kind of reverberation device to create the sound," said Twilight, "If that's the case I have several much larger more resonant containers back at my place, what do you say we head down there and talk this out."

"We're capping the flask now," said Rarity, handing Thomas the cap, "We'll uncork it when we get to Twilight's castle. It's not that far."

Lucas acknowledge her and let Thomas cap the flask. Then they headed towards Twilight's castle.





When they got there they found Zecorra waiting outside with a worried expression on her face.

"Hello Zecorra," said Twilight pleasantly but was interrupted.

"I'm afraid I have bad news to convey. It is very important; I must tell you today!"

"Come in then," said Twilight, opening the door, "And don't worry about Thomas, he's OK."

Zecorra nodded at Thomas and walked in.

"I already know I need have not fear of the one of the earth who has been sent here."

Thomas held up his chalk board and uncapped the flask so that Lucas could hear.

SEND? WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

"A great evil has awoken, of it the Everfree has spoken.
A power long since forgotten, with a soul deeply rotten.
More powerful than the Changling hoard or even the now reformed Discord,
this creature is many eons of age, with power so great it can be defeated by neither pegasus protector nor unicorn mage.
With every passing minute it grows closer. I warn you all beware the dark secret of the... Dead Island."

She didn't rhyme! thought Tom to himself, Man. This is serious.

The rest of the ponies seemed to notice the same thing.

"What can we do to stop it?" asked Twilight.

"Only four great heroes summoned for this quest can stop this creature and past the test.
Three are here, you must find the fourth, find the creature and send them forth.
Only together can they defeat this threat in the darkest of times in the depths of their depths.
Four shall become one, a weapon of great power.
For only when they have given their all shall they save us in our darkest hour.
I warn you now for it comes fast, already my home tonight it will have past.
Do not challenge it for it feeds on magic, warn the towns and cities or else the results will be tragic.
In two days time it will arrive at Horseshoe Bay, it comes from the East and it brings darkness and decay.
It comes to feed on a great source of energy you six cannot stop it for it is your worst enemy.
By the Elements you shall fail but by the elements you shall prevail.
Stone shall lead, and water scout, air above all shall find things out, the last you know will be of great use when he awakes, but be careful his temperament matches his namesake's.
In the end though you shall all share the same task and in completion of it, it will be your last.
With strong hearts, calm minds and acceptance of fate you will stand tall at the proper time and share one state.
In the end death shall not come, only a new beginning, for life shall go on."

As she finished her long speech Zecorra opened her eyes, looked around and said, "I take it I just gave a prophesy. Would somepony tell me what I said for of it I have no memory."

Thomas looked around in shock to find that nopony had written it down, not even Twilight.

He could remember the basics but unfortunately most of the details were swiftly fading from his mind.

"Please tell me somepony remembers what Zecorra just said," said Twilight, her eyes wide in fear.

All the ponies in the room shook there heads.

There was a slight pop and some fizzing as Lucas cut in.

"I've got a pretty good memory. I think I remember everything she said. Anyone got a piece of paper?"

Twilight grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill and said, "Would you like a different flask so you can speak more easily?"

"Write it down first," said Lucas, "Then we can go for improvements."

Twilight nodded and, taking Lucas from Thomas, she placed him on the table and started taking notes.

When she was done she read it out to the rest of the ponies and thanked Zecorra for the valuable information.

"I have not given a prophesy in a long time, I do hope I have not confused the rhyme."

"I don't think we need to worry about that," said Twilight, "What we need to worry about is finding this fourth element. Spike would you go get that big flask from the basement?"

"Sure thing," said Spike who had come in after Zecorra's speech and heard the recounting of the prophesy by Twilight. He already knew about Thomas and Mira, but Lucas was still new to him. He headed off to get Twilight the flask as Zecorra left the castle.

At least we know why we're here now, thought Thomas to himself as he considered Zecorra's chilling words, Although I'm not sure whether that's such a good thing now.





After Zecorra had left and Lucas had been transplanted into the new urn, which gave him a deep sonorous voice, Applejack looked around and said, "So now what do we do?"

"I think that Zecorra gave us pretty thorough instructions," said Twilight, "We need to find the fourth element."

"Why can't we just take care of this no-good thing that's coming?" asked Rainbow.

"You heard Zecorra's prophesy," said Rarity, "Nopony's powerful enough defeat it."

"But we were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony!" said Rainbow.

"Exactly," said Twilight, "We can't win with Friendship Magic. Only Thomas and his friends can stop whatever it is that's coming."

Rainbow groaned, "This is just like what happened in that town with Starlight Glimmer! How come we don't get to be the heroes?"

"Because the story's about Tommy and his friends, silly," said Pinkie, then raising her head she yelled at the ceiling, "By the way No One, keep up the good work. I know you're not getting many comments but I like how the story's going so far. By the way, could you make me funnier?"

By Faust! Pinkie's breaking the forth wall... I think. thought Thomas, Mira agreed with him, and Lucas had no idea what was going on.

The rest of the ponies just ignored Pinkie.

"So how are we going to find this fourth element?" asked Rarity, "After all, that is what we're going to do, right?"

After Pinkie's last spurt of genius everypony in the room turned to look at her. She was still looking at the ceiling though, as if waiting for a reply of some sort.

"I think this time I actually know what to do," said Twilight, looking away from Pinkie towards her library, "I think I can use a version of one of my conjuring spells to summon the spirit, wherever it may be, of the fourth element into any arbitrary spot, so long as that spot is an aspect of that element."

"Aahhh-" said Applejack, while Rainbow just rolled her eyes.

"Spike lights a candle, and I magic the fourth element into the flame," said Twilight.

Spike grabbed a candle and lit it quickly with his breath while Twilight searched through the shelves for one volume in particular.

"Ah! Here it is," she said, pulling a book down and levitating it over to the table.

She flipped through it until she found what she was looking for and then said, "I'm going to need everypony- and, I guess, every being, to stand back. This is a little more complicated spell and I don't want any of you to get hurt."

Oh boy! Super magic with Twilight Sparkle. I really wish I could see this!

Thomas felt Mira wrap around him and, thinking quickly, he dipped his finger into the urn containing Lucas. He could still see like he normally saw, but now he could also see through the air a little. He watched as Twilight stood in front of the table with the candle and the book on it. Slowly he could see the air around her begin to heat up and swirl around her.

SO AWESOME!!!

After a minute or so the spell ended and Twilight turned around, visibly tired.

"I tried to make the spell as complete as possible, since I was dealing with a spirit of somebody and I didn't want to lose any aspect of  their being."

The rest of the ponies approached the small flame and looked it over.

"Well that's underwhelming," said Rainbow sarcastically.

"I don't understand Twilight," said Applejack, "What are we supposed to be lookin' at?"

"I don't actually know," said Twilight, "Thomas and his friends are like no magical creature I've ever dealt with before."

Thomas felt Mira let go of him and move towards the candle.

"Wait a second..." she said.

There was a small rushing sound and suddenly Thomas could feel a rush of heat across his body.

He could hear Twilight and Rarity scream and he lost track of Rainbow as she jumped into the air.

He felt the moss on his body bristle in order to try and find out what was going on. But as he did so he could feel it get singed.

Then he heard it, a loud rushing voice. It almost sounded like a barbecue was talking.

"What's going on here?! I hate MLP! Mira is that you? Get me out of here! I'm not a Brony and I'm never going to be one!"
> Chapter 9: The Fourth Element
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 9: The Fourth Element


Mira had been standing/floating there, watching Twilight through her own eyes as well as Thomas's and sharing her view with him.

It was interesting. Large things and very insubstantial things stood out to her like a sore thumb but small, solid things were harder for her to see. She could barely make out Twilight, but she could see the magic she was doing, it was like a cloud around her of charged air.

Luckily with Thomas's help she could see much more clearly; he had a better attachment to solid things.

After Twilight completed her spell Mira waited there for a second but then she suddenly got an overwhelming urge to go over to the flame, which she could see, and touch it. She had no idea why, it just seemed familiar to her in some way.

"Wait a second," she said, and floated towards the candle.

As she left Thomas she could feel some of her sight fade. But that didn't matter; she could still see the flame.

Reaching out an intangible finger towards the flame she said to herself, I bet I look like sleeping beauty about to get zapped.

Suddenly there was a rush and she could feel herself being drawn into the flame. She wasn't being pulled in all at once but some of her was being definitely being siphoned off.

There was a WOOSH and Mira saw the flame shoot up and flail about, almost as though it were stretching. Then it looked around a couple of times and started yelling.

That's right, the flame started yelling, but if that wasn't the weirdest thing. The weirdest thing was... Mira knew that voice.

"What's going on here?! I hate MLP! Mira is that you? Get me out of here! I'm not a Brony and I'm never going to be one!"

Mira, despite the fact that she was touching a flame with her non-existent finger, felt her body (or rather the constituents of her body) go dead cold.

No! Please anyone but him. He's going to hate me for this. Why Michael?!?!

Michael was Mira's younger brother, and he hated MLP and the fact that his sister liked it.

Mira, not knowing what to do, started yelling at him though their mental connection.

Yes Michael, it's me. I don't know why you and I are here, and I'm afraid I can't get us back so you're just going to have to man up and get over it. Now-

"I'm not getting over this, I don't like your stupid ponies and I'm not going to shut up until you get me out of-"

Michael shut up now or when we get home I swear I am telling Mom you were the one who set fire to her garden last year!

That shut him up. It had been an accident. Michael had always had a thing for fire, that's why he had burned himself twice on their last camping trip. But the incident with the garden had been an accident. Mira had promised she would never tell a living soul.

Now you listen here Mr. I don't care how much you hate the show or not, we're stuck here till we defeat some awful monster or something. Then I think we can go home. But until then you are just going to have to put up with this whole thing. Now I can keep the ponies as far away from you as you want but NEVER EVER... mention anything about bronies or the show to them or else I promise you, that incident with the garden will be the least of your worries.

Mira could feel herself being siphoned off a little more and she put a cork in the flow. She could feel Michael roll over and give in.

Fine! But this doesn't change anything. I still hate the show.

Well good for you, I'll get you a medal that says "I totally hate something I know nothing about." Now if you'll excuse me I have to figure out how to explain your stupid move.

Mira detached slightly from her brother and she could feel him start to diminish.

"Hey! Don't leave me!"

You'll be fine.

Mira felt a cloud of something descend around her and reaching out to Thomas she could see that Twilight had a fire extinguisher and was dousing the table to put out several fires Michael had started on the bookshelf behind it and on several of the books on the table.

"Mira Help! I can't breathe!"

Mira wrapped herself around her brother or order to keep him from being smothered and yelled at Twilight, "STOP IT! You're smothering my brother!"

Spike tried to grab the extinguisher from Twilight but he was batted away as she continued to smother both the living and inanimate flames. Several of Twilight's friends looked at each other, trying to figure out what to do. Luckily Fluttershy dropped back down to the ground and kicked the extinguisher out of Twilight's hooves.

Twilight gave Fluttershy a startled look and then, glaring at Mira and her brother (who she could actually see), she started screaming.

"YOU TORCHED MY BOOKS!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WENT INTO COLLECTING THEM ALL? SOME OF THOSE WERE ALMOST PRICELESS! WHY I AUGHT TO-"

By now Twilight was six inches off the ground and her mane was on fire, of it's own accord. However, she never managed to finish her sentence because at that moment Thomas stepped in.

YOU CAN HAVE MY EARNING FROM AJ AND ANYTHING I'LL HELP RARITY FIND UNDERGROUND.

Twilight's mane went out and she landed back on the ground.

"Are you sure Thomas? I don't think you should have to pay for this jerk."

MY SPECIES HAS TO STICK TOGETHER

"Not bad," said Rainbow, who was still hovering above their heads.

WE MUST ALL HANG TOGETHER OR MOST ASSUREDLY WE WILL ALL HANG-

Thomas erased that part and just wrote.

WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER IF WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THIS WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S COMING.

Twilight nodded her head and said, "I guess you're right... But you buster-" she pointed at Michael, "Should be glad someone as nice as Thomas is around to bail you out of hot water!"

Who's Thomas?

Mira eased up her hold around her brother so he wouldn't drain her to oblivion and said, He's the stone elemental. He was also the first one who found the ponies. You're the last. We also have some guy named Lucas, he's the water elemental.

Keep him away from me.

Don't worry he's stuck in a jar. He can't touch the ground.

Better for me. How come I don't have any legs?

Mira took a closer look at her brother and could see that he did indeed have no legs. He had a head, torso and arms but it everything else narrowed down to the wick of the candle.

We're all pretty much in the same boat. From what I've gathered, Thomas can't see anything that's not on the ground, I can't really see anything small and compact, and Lucas can't see anything unless it's submerged. Not to mention I can't touch anything, Lucas is stuck in a jar and Thomas can't talk.

That explains the chalk board.

Mira took a look at what her brother could actually see and was surprised.

You've can see everything! she said, And not just all around you. You can actually see like you have eyes.

Well I am a light-emitting source. I probably see like my whole body's an eye.

Mira nodded mentally and let go of her brother. He could be pretty smart... when he wanted to be.

"I want to apologize for my younger sibling's actions," she said, "He doesn't always think before he acts."

"Hey!" shouted Micael, "I'm standing Right here and I can hear everything you’re saying..."

But as he talked he shrank down until they couldn't hear his voice.

Mira gave her brother a quick touch of air to feed off of and said, Little tip: don't talk, you use up your air.

Yeah, I got that...

"Yeah but what did he mean by MLP? And what in the name of all things apples is a brony?"

Mira didn't know what to say. She reached out to Thomas for some ideas.

Tell them it's a term for someone with an open, accepting mind. And MLP is an abbreviation for a set stories back in our world with creatures similar to them. If they ask what the stories are about, tell them they wouldn't get it, what with it being another species and culture and everything.

Mira repeated what Thomas told her and the ponies seemed to accept it, only Twilight seemed interested.

"You're going to have to tell me some of these stories later," she said, "I love new stories, and learning about other cultures..."

NOW WHAT? wrote Thomas.

"Well I know that you said he doesn't like us," said Rarity, "However it's only good manners to introduce yourself. So why don't you introduce your brother Ms. Mira?"

Since she was composed completely of air with nothing to block it, Mira couldn't cough. She tried but all that came out was what felt like a puff or air in all directions.

"This is my brother, Michael. Like I said he doesn't always think before he speaks so don't listen to everything he says. He can be a nice guy and pretty smart sometimes though... when he really tries. He can see everything unlike Lucas or Thomas or I and-

"Woah! Wait a second," said Rainbow, "What do you mean you guys can't see everything? What exactly can't you see?"

"Never mind Rainbow," said Rarity, "Let Mira finish."

"Wait! You know?" said Rainbow, "Am I the only one here who doesn't?"

"I don't either," said Fluttershy.

"It's not that we don't trust you Rainbow," said Twilight, "But you haven't really been that nice to Thomas or his friends ever since they got here."

"What, do you think I was going to like prank him and stuff?" said Rainbow.

"Well..." said the rest of the ponies, except Pinkie.

"Come on guys. Pranking a blind dude?! That's low."

Mira felt Thomas reach out to her and heard him say, Tell her. We've got something important to do and that requires trust.

Mira agreed and said, "Thomas can only see things on the ground and I have trouble seeing really solid things. As you all know, Lucas can only see underwater but my brother can see pretty much normally. However we can share our sight to some degree."

"So can you see me?" asked Rainbow hovering a little ways off the ground.

"Your lighter bones mean I can actually see you a lot better than AJ" said Mira.

"Bad guy. Plan." said Michael, trying to conserve his air.

They quickly filled him in on Zecorra's prophesy and what they were up against.

After that Mira laid down the most likely plan of action, "First of all we need to warn the public to get to safety."

"We can head to the capital and let the princess's know what's coming," said Twilight, "Then we can find transportation on to Baltimare and Horshoe Bay."

"Perfect," said Mira, "Then I can scout around and see if we can spot it coming. Know what we're dealing with and all that."

"Fine," said Rainbow, "So when do we leave?"

"As soon as possible," said Twilight.

"Twilight do ya mind if I get some stuff from ma farm first?" asked Applejack, "I got a few things that might be useful."

"And I'll go pack us a lunch for the trip," said Pinkie, hopping out the door.

"And I might have something for our new guest as well," said Rarity, leaving the castle with a secretive smile.

That's that stupid fashion pony isn't it? said Michael, If she tries to put a dress on me there's going to be nothing left of it... or her.

You might be surprised, said Thomas, letting the flame lick at his left index finger, She's not the stereotypical fashionista. I know she certainly surprised me first time I watched the show.

I told my sister I'm never going to be a Brony and you aren't going to convince me, said Michael.

I'm not trying to, I'm merely saying don't be surprised if she surprises you.

Michael snorted and almost blew himself out.





A little while later Pinkie showed up with a huge basket which Thomas was sure was full of an inordinately large amount of sugary confections.

Applejack showed up a little while later with some handy metal flasks with carrying cords.

"Thought these might make carryin' around you lot, easier," she said, setting them down.

Rarity was the last to come back, she had what looked like a bunch of dirty old sacks on her bag.

"Where did ya get those?" asked Applejack, "An' what's in 'em?"

Rarity set them gently down on the ground and said, "Many years back some of my ancestors were also in the gem hunting business, however they took thing a little more seriously then I do. These would dig around in dusty old mines and this is some of their equipment. I had it buried away in my basement, and I thought that Michael here might find something useful."

Rarity opened one of the sack and dumped out what looked like an assortment of random mining equipment, she nosed around through it a little until she found what looked like some kind of lamp.

If he could have, Thomas would have been grinning from ear to ear at that moment.

"What is it?" asked a confused Michael.

"It's a carbide lamp," said Twilight Sparkle, who was loading herself up with ancient monster literature, "Miners used them years ago because it's nearly impossible to blow out the flame."

"I figured it might make you feel safer," said Rarity, "After all you do seem to be the most vulnerable of your friends."

Thomas expected some cheap reply like "They're not my friends," or "I'm not vulnerable," so he was surprised when Michael said, "Thanks," and left it at that.

Spike lit the carbide lamp, after they had filled it, and touched the flame to the candle. When he drew it away the candle flame went out and the carbide lamp's flame seemed to change color.

Now Michael spoke with a slightly louder, rushing voice, and he didn't seem to need to stay quiet as much.

Thomas picked up the flasks, the basket of food, some extra supplies AJ brought, Twilight's saddle bags and headed towards the train station.

"This is going to be so much fun!" said Pinkie, bouncing along behind her friends.

"Cut it out. You're spoiling my good mood," said Michael.

Pinkie raised an eyebrow at him and said, "You better watch yourself buster or else next time you come into the family room while you'll older sister's watching me and try and give her a hard time, I'll reach out and knock you upside of next Tuesday."

"And she can do it too," said Mira, "She's known for breaking the fourth wall."

Michael didn't talk the rest of the way to the station, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking.
> Chapter 10: Train Ride to Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 10: Train Ride to Canterlot


While Twilight got tickets for everybody and everypony Thomas just stood there holding the supplies and watching the ponies going about their daily business.

Then he noticed one pony in particular coming towards them. She wasn't moving particularly fast, but Thomas recognized that tread easily.

HELLO MAUD

"Hello Tom," she said, stopping and looking up at him, "Heard about this big adventure you're going on."

HOW?

"Pinkie sent me a letter," she said holding up a folded piece of paper. Thomas had no idea how Pinkie had managed to sent a letter so quickly, but then again it was Pinkie so...

"Mind if I come?"

YOU WANT ADVENTURE?

"To be honest I was already heading out that way to finish some of my rock studies. But I figure no one probably understands rocks like you, so I was wondering if maybe I could get some help when you're not busy fighting this monster."

OK. TWILIGHT'S BUYING TICKETS.

"I'll get my own," she said, walking off.

"Seriously man?!" said Michael from the lamp, "You're a human, you've only been here maybe a day or two, you're not even organic and you're already hit-

Thomas put his finger into he flame and interrupted, She's really into rocks. I haven't done anything. She's just being friendly.

Oh yeah, sure. I believe you... returned Michael in an obnoxiously sarcastic voice.

I know what you mean, and if it was anyone else I might be inclined to agree with you. But this is Maud Pie we're talking about, from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I'm pretty sure she's really just trying to be friendly.

Seriously dude how do you stand watching all this garbage? asked Michael.

Couple years ago this guy I knew, actually my only friend at the time, told me about this show he was watching. In all honesty I pretty much felt the same way as you for the first couple weeks. How could anyone stand something so...  childish? But then... I don't know. Something changed. I started really liking it. I'm perfectly fine if you don't get it or enjoy it. To each their own, right? But I think your sister's right. You can't judge a book by it's cover (or a TV show either, for that matter).

I'd still keep an eye on that one though. said Michael, I'm positive she's hitting on you.

I'll keep that in mind. However it's not really in her character.

What's her character?

Thomas thought about that for a second then said, In the show she was portrayed as somepony who didn't react the same way as the mane six. However in the end the episode demonstrated she still felt for her sister Pinkie the way her friends did, if not more. The moral, just because someone acts different doesn't mean they are bad or evil or something. At least that's what I got out of it.

Wait! She's that pink one's sister?! said Michael, stunned, How?

Well Pinkie did grow up on a rock farm even though she now-

A what farm?!

Rock. Her parents are rock farmers.

Michael didn't say a word for a second. He just sat there his flame gently swaying back and forth.

O...K......

If you're getting tired about talking about ponies we could always go over what we know about this monster, said Thomas.

What?

Well I know I don't really like pushy people, and I never want to be seen as one so... We can drop the whole pony thing for now and talk about what we're going up against.

Fine... Big monster. We find it. I torch it. We go home. said Michael, matter-of-factly.

What makes you think it's big?

Huh?

Thomas, excited to nerd out a little, raised one hand and continued, Big monsters happened in all the old movies: Godzilla, Transformers, War of the World. Newer cartoons have all kinds of monsters. Zecorra never really described it's size or actual species. It could be anything from a parasitic organism to some sort of epidemic, magical creature or mystical curse.

But in her fourth line she calls it a creature, said Michael, So I don't think it's any type of micro-organism.

You've got a point. Still organisms don't have the same biology here as back home so we can't define 'creature' to be some sort of multi-cellular creature similar to us. It could have an anatomy composed entirely out of magical energy. That would explain why it feeds off of magic.

You mean like a living spell of some sort? asked Michael, intrigued, How would we fight something like that?

No idea.

I'm more worried about the last few lines, said Lucas, interrupting, The ones that describe the end of the battle and our fates. Zecorra said that this task would be 'our last' doesn't that sound ominous to you?

I just took that to mean our last in this world. I figure when we're done here we get sent home, said Thomas, Besides she went on to say none of us will die, didn't she?

She said 'death shall not come.' She never said who death wouldn't come too, said Lucas, What if she just means none of the ponies will die?

It seems pretty general to me, said Michael, I figure it means nobody's going to die and then we just get the heck out of here.





While the boys were busy talking, Mira was following Twilight and AJ to get the tickets.

"Is that, uh... Thing, getting on the train?" asked the station pony, looking at Thomas.

"He certainly is darling," said Rarity in a somewhat miffed tone, "And his name is Thomas."

"I don't have anything against him," he said, "It's just that something of that size might upset the balance of the train car."

"Oh," said Rarity, "I didn't think of that."

"It'll be fine," said Twilight, "He can have a car all to himself, somewhere in the middle."

"And so he doesn't get lonely I'll join him," said Maud, walking over.

"Oh hello Maud," said Twilight, "I didn't know you were headed to Canterlot."

"I'm actually headed to Rambling Rock Ridge," said Maud, "But since I'm headed in that direction, I thought I'd join you."

"Oh?" said Rarity, raising an eyebrow and the corners of her lips at Maud, "How... kind of you. I'm sure Thomas will enjoy your company."

Twilight rolled her eyes and thanked the pony for their tickets.

"Let's get moving," she said to Thomas and his friends.





As they boarded the train Thomas handed Lucas and Michael to Twilight and her friends while he and Maud stepped into another car.

He could just make out Michael say, "Told ya. Watch your back!

It's a kid's television show not a shipfic he thought to himself, Right?





Michael sat/stood/lay... Oh forget it. He was in the lamp on the top of one of the seats, waiting for the train to start.

As he sat there he suddenly realized that the train felt like an ordinary train preparing to depart.

Sure everything was ridiculously frilly and girly but the train still had that kind of quiet private feel of trains back home.

Twilight came back into the car and sat down saying, "Tom's situated. It took a little time, getting into the car. But once he got past those steps he was fine."

"How is he fitting in there?" asked Rainbow.

"He kind of spread himself out," said Twilight, vaguely.

"Oh," said Rainbow, trying to envision Thomas sprawled in the floor of the car.

How are you doing? asked Mira, touching her mind to Michael's.

I just want to get this over with so we can go home, said Michael, By the way. Promise you won't tell anybody at home about this?

Who'd believe us?

Good point.

Twilight came over and sat down on the chair next to Michael.

"Mira, are you around here?" she asked.

"I'm right here," said Mira, brushing up against Twilight's right wing.

"Oh, I was thinking we should discuss what we're going to do when we get to Horseshoe Bay."

Mira nodded, then remembered Twilight couldn't see her and said, "Got it. But first we should talk about the evacuation of nearby towns and getting everypony to safety."

"We'll go over that with the Princess but you're right we should probably review procedure."

Somebody get me out of here, said Michael to himself.

He felt somebody grab the lamp and move it to another seat.

It was that marshmallow pony with the stupid purple hair and dumb fashion stuff.

"I figured we could talk," she said, putting Michael down on the seat next to her, "Twilight's nice but she can have a tendency to go on."

Michael didn't say anything.

"I take it, since you're a stallion, you're not into fashion. Have you read any good books lately?"

"I'm not a pony. I'm..." Michael thought about it for a second and then said, "Something else."

"Oh, yes Mira and Thomas both don't seem too forward with their species but you are a young man, aren't you?"

"I'm not that young," said Michael, angrily.

"Oh? Well just how youn- er old are you?" she asked, trying to reel him into a conversation.

"Old enough to know I don't have to talk to you," said Michael and returned to his silence.





Rarity was positive that beneath his cold (relatively speaking) exterior Michael was actually a nice guy. She just had to figure out how to get him to open up.

Maybe he'll open up about family, she thought to herself.

"So is Mira you're only sibling?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," grunted Michael.

"She seems like a wonderful sister."

"Uh-huh."

"Are your parents kind pon- I mean excellent caregiv- I mean, Um... are they nice?"

"Uh-huh."

Rarity was at a loss. She didn't know what else to talk about.

As the train started forwards, she opened her mouth one more time, trying to think of something to say.

However she was interrupted by Rainbow doing a back-flip out of her seat and catching a cupcake Pinkie had thrown, in her mouth.

Rarity looked down to see the flame in the lamp leaning towards the side as if trying to see Rainbow's landing.

She picked up the lamp and set it down on the top of the seat in front of her so he could get an unobstructed view of Rainbow and Pinkie's antics.

He definitely seemed more their type anyway.





Thomas had had a little trouble with the steps to get onto the train. But after he had gotten past without breaking them, things got much easier. The way the seating was arranged it was much easier for him to maneuver than it would have been on a human train.

He sat down in the middle of the car and let his lower portion separate so that he could fit in the isle. Maud came in and sat down in a seat behind him. He turned his mental focus and now she was sitting in front of him.

For as worried as he had been she didn't seem to have anything in mind, romantic or otherwise. She just sat there, staring out the window.

The train jerked forwards and a rock from his right foot rolled across the floor to rest next to her.

Maud looked down at it and then back at Thomas. Her calm, almost bored gaze, didn't give him any idea what she might be thinking.

She dug into her pocket and pulled out something.

Now that they were on a moving train Thomas had even more trouble seeing than before, but he was pretty sure that it was Boulder.

"Do you want to hold Boulder?" she asked, nonchalantly.

Thomas gave what he hoped looked like a shrug and held out his left hand.

As Maud set Boulder in it Thomas felt his curiosity pique. Boulder didn't feel like most rocks. There was more... Thomas didn't know what to call it.

Rock energy. Stone Chi. The life force of intrinsically dead objects.

Whatever it was, Boulder had a lot more of it than most rocks did.

"Can you feel it?" asked Maud, still staring calmly at Thomas, "Most ponies just think of rocks as rocks. But when I first met Boulder I knew there was more to them."

Thomas nodded, then grabbed his chalkboard.

CAN FEEL SOMETHING. DON'T KNOW WHAT THOUGH.

"Me neither. But I figured maybe you could tell me something I don't know."

Thomas wrapped Boulder in both his hand and held it to his chest listening closely.

He could almost make out a quiet whisper. Like the voice you hear in your head in movies when nobody's around and things are getting creepy. Except that this voice was incredibly peaceful and calm.

It was almost like someone a million miles away was singing quietly to themselves and didn't care if anybody was listening or not. Thomas couldn't make out the words but it was a song of stability, patience and strength.

I can't really hear it, or make out what it's even about. But if I had to call it something, I'd call it the song of the earth, he thought.

Thomas held out his hand towards Maud and, when she came over, held Boulder to her ear.

"I can't hear anything," said Maud, guessing what Thomas was trying to tell her.

Thomas held her head in his left hand and put the side of his head (where his ears used to be) right next to Maud so that Boulder was between them.

They sat there for awhile until Maud's left ear perked up.

"I can hear something," she said, a touch of excitement in her voice, "Not sure what. But it's definitely something."

Thomas nodded and pointed at Boulder in his hand.

"I knew asking a rock for help was a good idea," said Maud.

A couple of days ago Thomas would have probably taken offense at that. However at this point, and coming from Maud, it almost felt like a compliment. He had begun to think of rocks and stone less as objects and more as peaceful creatures quietly living out their lives like any other animal.

For the next hour or so, Thomas and Maud talked extensively on geology and rock farming.

I never knew the study of the earth could be so... interesting, thought Thomas to himself, Plus I bet I'm one of the few Bronies who now actually understands what it is rock farmers actually do. Who'd a thought that they actually-

Thomas's inner monologue was interrupted by Pinkie running into the car, darting around a few times yelling "IT'S COMING! IT'S COMING!", and finally running out of the car.

Thomas held up his chalkboard.

WE'VE ARRIVED?

Pinkie popped the door open and said, "Not Canderlot silly... the next chapter. Bye."

With that she winked, slammed the door, and left two very confused characters staring at each other.

> Chapter 11: Arrival in Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 11:  Arrival in Canterlot


"IT'S ARRIVED! IT'S ARRIVED!" sung Pinkie, happily hopping through the car.

"We know darling," said Rarity, "The conductor announced it a little ways back."

"I'm not talking about Canterlot," said Pinkie and disappeared into the next car.

Rarity shrugged and picked up Michael who was still paying attention to Rainbow.





Lucas had been thinking mostly about the monster and the prophesy during the trip. That is until Rarity came over and started talking to him.

For a fashion designing, snooty type she wasn't actually that bad. In Lucas's view she did read a little too much romance but then again she probably would have thought he played too many video games.

They had talked about a couple mystery novels that she had read that didn't sound too bad to Lucas and then they got into fabrics. Lucas never expected Rarity to be so knowledgeable when it came to the chemistry of textiles. Lucas's one favorite subject in school had always been chemistry. He loved to learn about how the building blocks of the world around him worked, how different chemicals added together and through chemical formula the product of these reactions could be calculated.

Twilight had put in her two cents every now and then but she had spent most of the trip talking to Mira.

From what Lucas could make out, those two were practically planning out an evacuation plan for an entire nation!

This is going a little too far to be just a little girl's show, he thought to himself.

Then he started thinking about their newest member.

He's Mira's brother, so I think we can trust him. Besides it's not like he would betray us or anything just because it's a little girl's TV show. Plus he wants to get home just as much as we do.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that Michael was carrying this hatred of MLP just a little too far.

Lucas had always considered himself an open-minded person so he had tried not to judge his friend when he had told him about My Little Pony. However he'd be lying if he said he hadn't felt just the least bit weird when he had promised to give the show a shot.

What's it about this show that could make somebody like Thomas love it and somebody like Michael hate it?

Lucas's train of thought was interrupted as the train came to a stop at the Canterlot platform.





Disembarking from the train carriage was just as hard for Thomas as boarding had been. He had to moved cautiously because his weight would cause the train to rock back and forth, and he had to take one gigantic step off the train to the platform so that he didn't break the steps on the carriage.

Maud followed and encouraged him.

O.K. I'm really beginning to doubt that Maud is this nice. he said to himself, Could Michael be right? Is she ... Naw!"

As his foot touched the platform the world came back into focus  around him and he was aware that the Canterlot station was much more crowded than Ponyville's.

He placed his other foot on the platform and waited for the screaming to start.

One mare standing with another somewhat older stallion suddenly let out an ear-piercing shriek.

Here we go again, thought Tom to himself, then he had an idea and quickly wrote something on his chalkboard.

MONSTERS! NOW TRAVELING BY TRAIN. EVERYPONY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

He heard a snicker to his left and, turning his focus, saw Pinkie with a big grin on her face. Standing next to her was Twilight with a less than pleased expression.

"That's not funny Tom!" she said.

"Sure it was Twilight," said Pinkie, patting Twilight on the head, "Nice one Tommy."

The older stallion stepped cautiously around Thomas and towards the main six.

"Greetings Ms. Rarity," he said in a refined voice, and Thomas immediately recognized Fancypants, "Am I to assume that this ... fellow is with you?"

"Hello Fancypants. Yes, Thomas is with us. He is a wonderfully polite young gentlecolt who's been sent here to defeat some horrible monster and save us all."

While that technically was why he and the others had been sent here, Thomas felt awkward when he heard Rarity put it that way.

"How noble of him. However, no offense intended, I thought that was what you and your friends normally do."

"So did I," said Rainbow sarcastically.

"Apparently this monster is immune to all pony magic," said Twilight, "So Thomas and his friends have agreed to help stop it."

Thomas couldn't see it but he could feel Fancypants gulp hesitantly and say, "There are more like him?"

"Not exactly," said Twilight, gesturing to AJ and Fluttershy who were carrying Lucas and Michael in their containers, "The others are in less... conspicuous forms."

"Well I take it you are here to introduce them to our benevolent princesses... including you of course my dear," said Fancypants, almost forgetting about Twilight.

"Actually," said Mira, breaking into the conversation and confounding Fancypants, "We came to go over the evacuation plan with the princesses before we head out to Manehattan.

Fancypants looked around wildly for a second before his gaze stopped on Thomas and he said hesitantly, "One of your friends?"

Thomas nodded.

"That's Mira," said Twilight, "She is composed of air, AJ's carrying Lucas in that flask, and Mira's brother is in the carbide lamp Fluttershy's carrying."

"I see. So they're all of an elemental nature," said Fancypants, "Well I wish you all the best of luck... In fact, may I escort you to the Castle?"

"You certainly may," said Rarity politely, "Lead the way Fancypants."

Before anypony could move though, Thomas walked over to Applejack and, picking up her rope, wrapped it a couple of times around his hands before handed the other end back to AJ.

"What in the hay are ye doin' sugarcube?" said Applejack, looking at the end of rope Tom was offering her.

"He's trying to appear less intimidating," said Twilight, "I commend your effort Thomas. But I don't think that will be necessary."

Thomas, however, didn't let go of the rope.

"I ain't leadin' a friend of mine like he's some kind'a fellon," said AJ, glaring at Thomas.

Thomas didn't even blink; he couldn't. Instead he turned to Rainbow.

"Now that's just insulting," said Rainbow, "We're pals, buster. I'm not tyin' you up and you can't make me."

Pinkie jumped onto Thomas's back, grabbing the rope in her left hoof as she did so and screamed, "HI-HO TOMMY. AWAY!"

As she leaned back, Pinkie pulled the rope (and Thomas's hands with it) up, connecting with his jaw and knocking them both over onto the ground.

AJ groaned and rolled her eyes, "You ain't droppin' this are ya sugarcube?"

Thomas shook his head and, pulling the rope out of Pinkie's grasp, held it out to AJ again.

"Ok, fine!" she said, grumpily, "But just this once... Fer you... An I ain't doin' it again..."

AJ took the end of the rope in her mouth and they started walking towards Canterlot Castle.

She shuddered and said through the rope in her mouth, "This just feels so... wrong!"

Can't argue there, thought Thomas to himself, A pony leading a human on a rope... The irony is not lost on me.

Ponies were everywhere. Most didn't pay them any attention... that is until they say Thomas.

Several mothers stood in front of their children and many ponies stepped back in alarm. Luckily, when they saw AJ with the rope in her mouth, they seemed to calm down.

As they made their way through Canterlot, Rarity walked along next to Thomas.

"This is really way too much darling," she said, "Do you really think this is necessary?"

As they rounded a corner they met a older stallion who, upon seeing Thomas fell against the wall and clutched at his heart, his breathing labored. Then he saw AJ with the rope in her mouth and and his pupils expanded back to their normal size.

"Woooh, for a minute there I thought we were bein' invaded again," he said.

"No sir," said Applejack, "This here's Thomas an' he's a good friend'o mine."

The older pony laughed creakily and said, "Right... keep yer friends close, and yer enemies closer. Heh-heh-heh."

He wandered off laughing to himself as AJ looked after him and then turned to glare at Thomas.

"I'm never gonna live this down," she said.

Thomas would have loved to say something to calm her down, however he wasn't able to write with the rope around his hands. Luckily Rarity stepped in to defend him.

"Well how do you think he feels? He's the one who's putting aside his personal dignity in order to avoid a panic."

Why does Rarity keep overstating my actions like that? It was just the logical thing to do; it's not like I'm trying to be some big hero or something.

AJ's glare softened and she apologized, "Sorry Tom. I just don't like people treat'n ya like yer some kinda monster. It ain't right!"

All Thomas could do was shrug.





The guards let Twilight and her friends into Canterlot Castle, after Thomas had been cleared with them, and they made their way to the throne room.

As they approached the throne room door, Mira thought about what she was about to do.

So I'll have to do most of the talking for us. Don't panic. Twilight and I went over this on the train. If you can't think of something to say I'm sure Thomas can help me out.

Just to make sure of this she brushed up against his mind and he assured her he would give her any help she needed.

At last the doors opened and they stood in the throne room of the rulers of Equestria. Both celestia princesses were there.

"Welcome," said Celestia, getting up from her throne and walking towards them.

...

Silence.

...

Celestia looked at Twilight. Twilight looked at Thomas. Thomas looked at Lucas. Lucas had no idea anybody was looking at him.

At last a small 'squee!' echoed through the chamber.

Everypony (and body) looked around trying to figure out where it had come from.

"I-i-it's LUNA!" came the joyous voice from behind Celestia, and Princess Luna backpedaled furiously from the sudden voice yelling in her ear.

Thomas smacked himself in the face and tried to convince himself he hadn't heard that.

Then he heard a gasp and turned his gaze to see that when Applejack had bowed to the two rulers the flask around her neck had tipped over on the ground and some of Lucas had spilled out on the floor. AJ was hastily trying to figure out how to get Lucas back into the flask without spilling any more of him.

Thomas bent down and tried to cup some of Lucas in his hands, but they were to large. All he could do was listen to Lucas.

"I'm out of the flask! I'm on a tiled floor so I'm not getting absorbed, but I can't see a thing; I don't know where I am. Oh, hey Thomas, thanks for the assistance. I-"

He stopped as Thomas felt some of the water trickle up his stone fingers and soak into whatever the center of his hand was made of.

"Thomas. I'm in your hand!"

"Yeah, I can feel that."

"No, I mean... I can see, and hear a lot better and you can move me around. Get me out of that flask! You can absorb the rest of me and..."

He trailed off as he realized what he was asking.

"Oh... uh, I mean, only if you want to, I guess."

"What's goin' on," interrupted Applejack, "Where did tha' puddle uh' Lucas get to?"

Thomas lifted his hand off the floor and held it out to AJ. Both he and Lucas tried as hard as they could and separated a little. AJ's eyebrow went up as she saw Lucas pool a little in Thomas's hand.

"Yah mean y'all can carry 'im all this time an yah ain't said nothin? Here."

AJ handed Tom the flask from around her neck, and he dipped his finger into it. He had expected a cool rush or something, but instead he got a kind of slow trickle.

"This is going to take awhile," he said to Lucas.

Luckily in all this excitement Mira reeled herself in and brought her voice to a much more manageable level.

"I really liked your night skies when I was flying to Ponyville. They were beautiful!"

Luna's eyes darted from her sister to Twilight and back to where the voice was coming from and then said, hesitantly, "I... thank... thee...?"

Thomas pulled his fingers out of the flask snapped them three times (which sounded like a rifle). This got Mira's attention and reminded her why they were there.

"My friends and I were sent here to stop some monster. Twilight and I figured out the best plan of evacuation for Manehattan on the train and..."

Celestia interrupted Mira with a raised hoof and said, "Yes, I know. Twilight sent me a letter towards the end of the train ride and I understand what needs to be done."

"Oooh! Good one No One," said Pinkie, smiling up towards a large stained glass window, "Skip the exposition and jump to the action. Show don't te-"

Meanwhile Celestia kept talking without missing a beat.

"I've already send out messages to evacuate Manehattan as we speak. By the time you get there it should be empty."

WHEN WILL THAT BE?

Princess Luna stepped forward and said, "Now that the citizens of Manehattan are safe, and you shall thus be able to fight this monster on thine own terms.... We should start thine training."
> Chapter 12: Working Together
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 12: Working Together


As Thomas walked down the hallway with Twilight and Rainbow, following Luna, he listened to Lucas.

Most people in his situation would have been talking up a storm now that there was somebody to listen to them. But Lucas preferred to listen more and talk less.

Apparently Lucas's friend William had suggested the show to him a few weeks ago and Lucas had said he would give it a shot. But he hadn't quite worked up the gumption to actually watch the first episode yet.

Sounds a lot like me, first time I heard about the show thought Thomas, then he realized that Lucas had stopped talking.

He came to a halt and looked around to see that Luna had brought them out of the castle and into some sort of courtyard.

"My sister crafted this area many centuries ago," said Luna, looking around cautiously, "Without our guards' knowledge."

Thomas looked at the courtyard a little closer, but he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, aside from the armored statues.

"She concluded, after my banishment, that t'would be prudent not to rely solely on her royal guard for protection. When I returned from the moon, I agreed with her. Thus, we used our magic to construct this training area."

Makes sense, Thought Thomas, Considering Firebrand thinks your military stinks.

Who? asked Lucas, confused.

I'll explain later, said Thomas, realizing he had to keep a hold on his thoughts. Apparently lacking a mouth for this much time had unconsciously affected what he mentally verbalized.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Both Tom and Lucas were intrigued.

"My sister sowed these statues and the very ground we stand on with a great deal of her magic. When I returned I refined her magic and wove her spells into more intricate mechanisms. Let us begin."

Luna lit her horn and a large wolf-shaped sack, stuffed with straw, walked into the middle of the courtyard.

"Thou seem honorable and of kind natures, so I think we need'st first teach thou to direct thine blows."

Thomas would have done a double-take if he actually had eyes. Writing something quickly on his chalkboard, he walked over to the stuffed dummy and flattened it with one punch.

THAT'S HOW YOU THROW A PUNCH

Lucas, chuckled. Nice one. I really liked that movie.

"Very goo-" started Luna, then stopped as Thomas lifted the partially deflated dummy off the ground and ripped the head off.

"Thine enthusiasm is-"

Thomas then tore the body in two.

Luna stood there. Then she raised an eyebrow.

"Our species isn't exactly shy when it comes to fighting" said Mira, cautiously, "In the past, we've fought for honor, justice, and everything in between. Lately though we've tried to act in a more peaceful manner. But trust me, I think each of us has at least had some experience with fighting."

You ever play Black Opps? asked Lucas.

I'm more a TF2 player myself, returned Thomas.

Luna nodded and said, "I see. How much damage does't thou think thou could'st deal the dummy."

There was a flash of magic and the dummy stood, reformed, in the middle of the courtyard.

"Not much, I'm afraid. I don't think I could actually put enough force behind me to really deal any damage. I'm not exactly Aang."

Luna blinked and Mira continued, "Sorry. Inside joke."

Thomas nodded, both he and Lucas chucked inwardly.

"But I guess I could try."

Thomas could feel the air around him begin to gather, and there was a quiet rushing noise like a miniature jet was preparing to take off.

Thomas set Michael on the ground and waited for Mira to make her move.

There was a rush of wind, a jet of flame, and a column of fire which spiraled up before toppling over to land near the carbide lamp and reignite it.

The rushing sound returned as Mira reformed herself after her attack.

"Michael, why did you do that?"

"One, I was bored. Two, you wouldn't have been able to do anything anyway; You're just air. Three, I wanted to see what I could do."

Luna stared at the smoking pile of straw and then her gaze move over to the two fighting siblings.

"I believe attacking shall not present thee any trouble. However it appears to me that we shall need'st work on thine team skills."

Thomas nodded as Mira and Michael finished their argument.

What are you capable of doing? he asked Lucas.

A lot like Mira, I'm afraid, returned Lucas, I'm not a water bender. About the most I can do is stand up a little.

"Deposit thine friend in yonder pool," said Luna, gesturing to a small fountain in the middle of the courtyard.

"What do you want him to do?" asked Mira, for Lucas.

"We shall see just what he is't capable of accomplishing with his form."

"Tell her I'm afraid of what will happen if I touch the ground, and I don't want to be stuck in a fountain again," said Lucas to Tom.

Tom relayed the message to Luna who nodded and lit up her horn. With a quick flick of her magic and a tap to the ground with her hoof all the stones on the courtyard flipped over in a wave-like pattern to reveal a smooth marble floor similar to the one they had just left behind in the courtroom.

Tom could feel Lucas flow out of him through his legs and spread out across the floor, becoming invisible to him in the process.

There was a splash as a small portion of Lucas jumped off the ground and into the fountain. He did it again, with a little more of his substance then he paused and practically lifted his entire being off the ground and into the fountain.

Luna lit up her horn and stabbed a hollow metal tube into the center of the fountain. Next thing they knew Lucas was communicating through the resonating structure.

"I guess all my failed attempts back in that last fountain wrecked my confidence. I'm not as strong as Tom, but I definitely have more substance than Mira. Now the only problem is that I still can't touch the ground."

"Is there not some way thou could'st carry thine friend and find some way for him to help in the battle?" asked Luna, looking at Thomas.

Thomas did have something of an idea. Unfortunately he didn't want to say it because it would place a lot of pressure on both him and Lucas.

"Well?"

I COULD...... JUGGLE... HIM

"Hmmm," said Luna, considering Tom's idea.

What did you say? asked Mira, who had missed Tom's idea and couldn't read his message.

He told her and Tom could feel her frown.

"Isn't that kind of... dangerous?" she asked.

"What is it?" said Lucas from the pool.

"You know, that's kind of what Mira did to me," said Michael, in a thoughtful voice, "I didn't really think about it at the time."

"What is it?!" asked Lucas again, "Come on guys, don't leave me high and dry."

Mira laughed and said, "So I guess jokes and one-liners come with the whole "super-hero" thing, huh?"

"Maybe," said Michael, "Thomas suggested that he could juggle you."

"Are you any good?" asked Lucas.

It was a hobby back home. That and Hacky Sack... Maybe a little Volleyball.

"What are super... heroes?" asked Luna, confused.

"You need to read more comic books," said Mira, "Talk to Spike."

"Maybe later," said Michael, breaking in, "For now do you suppose we could work on my burning stuff. Right now I'm only as dangerous as the guy holding this lamp."

Luna nodded and said, "Alone, thou are only dangerous when thou hast fuel, and oxygen in abundance. Together with thine sister thou can'st punch through the barriers of distance to get all the fuel thou need'st."

She lit her horn again and several torches sprung up spanning the courtyard.

"Here is thine fuel, work together to cross the distance."

Tom, lifted Michael up and lit the first tiki-like torch, then he stepped back.

The flame flickered almost as if Michael was breathing in an out, to psych himself up, then he went still. Mira gathered behind her brother and Thomas held the lamp halfway between the two torches as a safety precaution.

There was a whoosh, a spiraling jet of fire, which engulfed Thomas's hand, the lamp, the second torch and finally died at the third.

Thomas stepped back and patted out the flaming moss on his arm, as the lit lamp burned away in his right hand.

The first torch was still lit, the third was also now lit (with Michael), and the second was on fire.

"Twould seem you are a powerful duo," said Luna.

"Yeah, imagine if I actually had a whole lot of stuff to burn," said Michael, sounding way too excited.

"Could we see what Tom and I are capable of here on this tile? asked Lucas from the fountain.

You actually want to try it?! I thought it sounded Crazy.

"Well if you miss me I can always bounce a little bit of myself up and you can catch that." said Lucas, "And we'll never know what I'm capable of if I don't actually contribute."

Thomas shrugged and reached into the pool, he felt Lucas actively drain into his arm and pulled him out.

"I shall prepare thine targets," said luna, her horn glowing.

Several bags of straw, a couple clay jars and two glass spheres and a bronze disk levitated above the courtyard and stayed there.

Thomas walked under one of the clay jars first and held his arm as though he was about the throw a baseball straight up.

Like an explosive powered piston his arm shot up and hurled Lucas with it, straight through the jar, blowing it to smithereens. Lucas disappeared into the sky as Thomas suddenly realized he couldn't see what he was doing.

Thomas's head jerked back and forth as he ran madly about the yard trying to communicate that there was a blink catcher on the field.

Mira caught his point, darted around him, saying she'd help and then shot up into the sky to find Lucas.





By the time she reached him he was still shooting up like a rocket, all though he was beginning to slow down.

How are you doing?

O.K. That guy should join a baseball team; he's got one heck of a fastball.

Yeah, well he's also blind. Don't worry I'll help him catch you when you land but I don't think he'll be juggling you any time soon.

Mira left Lucas and wrapped herself around Thomas. They looked up together, scanning the sky for Lucas. At last they saw him descending more slowly than his ascent. He had ballooned himself out so he looked like a deformed bubble parachute.





Thomas tucked his head in and rolled across the yard faster than he could run, his hands came out, expanded and he caught Lucas perfectly.

It literally felt like catching a Hacky Sack. Lucas's body splatted against Tom's hands but he held himself together so he didn't splash all over the courtyard.

Bad idea? he asked.

Bad idea, confirmed Tom.

"Twould seem juggling is out," said Luna, "But shall we not still see what thine friend is capable of on his own?"

The targets descended to the ground and Lucas agreed to hit them from a much less precarious position.

He approached another clay pot and jumped into it, a few seconds later a crack zipped across the surface of the jar. There was a gurgle from the jar as though Lucas was jumping up and down in it and then cracks spider-webbed down the jar on all sides, flattening the jar into a crumbled mess.

Lucas slid across the tiled floor like a snake to his next target, a glass orb.

Wrapping his body around it in a tight bubble of water, the orb began to vibrate back and forth slightly.

Suddenly it exploded, spraying glass across the yard.

"Interesting use of acoustics," said Luna, intrigued.

Lucas darted underneath the bronze disk, and it began pumping up and down like a speaker, causing a tinny voice to reverberate from it, "Actually I just started spinning it until the centrifugal force ripped it apart. I'll use acoustics on this one.

Sure enough the metal began pulsing up and down faster and faster, until ripples danced across the surface. Then, suddenly, it ruptured with a resounding "BLANG!"

"It would seem that thine strength shall not a problem make, but rather thine speed and interaction as a team," said Luna, "How fast canst thou travel or dodge?"

"Well," said Mira, speaking for Thomas, "Tom says that he can move pretty fast even though he's made of stone. However he tires quickly and needs to rest. As for me I'm not actually sure. At first when I was on my way to Ponyville I just kind of cruised above the clouds. Then I got tired and didn't really want to go that fast."

As she said this, Lucas made his way back across the smooth tile to the pool and, getting in, remained silent.

Mira left the ground behind her and soared up into the sky.

"WAIT!" called Luna from below, "Take this so that we may track thine progress."

Some dandelion seeds wafted up to Mira and she discovered that by concentrating and turning herself back inwards in a sort of infinite loop she could keep the seeds within herself.

With that she took off across Canterlot, pushing herself to see just how fast she could go without losing the seeds within her.

Unfortunately she soon realized that this wasn't that easy. She was very light and could slip through the air fairly easily. However the minute she tried to go faster the air resistance became too much and she couldn't seem to get a grip on the air she was pushing against. It was like trying to push yourself on a skateboard with a broom by sweeping.

Meanwhile Thomas had been watching the pool of water, since he couldn't see Mira even with the dandelion seeds.

Approaching the pool, he bent down and stuck his hand into the water. His mind was overwhelmed by the the intense sensation of speed and he could practically see something similar to a flash of light zipping around the pool like the Indie 500.

How are you doing that? He asked in astonishment.

It's not about how fast you can travel in the water, but how fast you can travel through the water, said Lucas, "Tell Mira that the secret to speed is how fast she can can convert the air in front of her into herself. In short it's not really her body that's moving but rather her consciousness. From what I can see there's no speed limit, G-forces aren't a problem, and medium resistance is non-existent."

Thomas nodded and walked over to Luna, who was observing Mira's progress through the sky.

"It would appear thine friend's speed is limited by her form," she said.

Thomas held up his chalkboard.

TELL HER TO COME DOWN HERE. LUCAS FIGURED IT OUT.

Luna nodded and called to Mira.

After Thomas explained what Lucas had told him, Mira agreed to give it a try.

There were a couple restrained grunts as it sounded as though Mira was giving it her all and the dandelion seeds drifted to the ground.

Lucas's voice resounded through the metal tube, "Practice converting a little bit at first, then give a good thrust and fall into a smooth rhythm. It will take a little time to get up to speed but you'll get used to it."

Tom, Luna and Michael could hear Mira's sounds of concentration quickly getting farther away. Then suddenly they disappeared completely.

Luna looked around, her ears moving this way and that.

Then Mira's voice came suddenly from behind Thomas.

"IT WORKED!"

They all spun around only to hear Mira's voice behind them again.

"This must be how Superman or the Flash feels. I just give myself one good push and suddenly it's like I'm in a video game with one of those speed boosts. I just went all the way around Canterlot to get behind you guys and it only took about five second. THIS IS SOOOO AWESOME!"

Thomas raised a finger to ask Mira a question, "How do you react that fast?"

Mira chucked and answered, saying, "I don't need to react that fast, Thomas. I'm made of air, remember? If I crash into anything it doesn't exactly hurt."

Thomas lowered his hand as he realized it was a stupid question.

"Now tis not the time for dejection," said Luna, knocking Thomas on the back with her hoof, "We must prepare for battle."

The way she said 'battle' made Tom chuckle inwardly.

The rest of the day was devoted to learning strategy, teamwork, and how to apply different fighting techniques to each of their forms.
> Chapter 13: Dissension
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 13: Dissension


As the sun sank into the west, veiled in Celestia's yellow aura, Luna and the four humans trekked back into the castle after a long, grueling afternoon of learning and fighting. Thomas wrote on his board.

WOULD LOVE A TACO, MY IPOD, AND AN EMPTY CHAIR RIGHT NOW

"Truly I am sorry to disappoint thee," said Luna, "But now we must see to the mental pre-battle preparations. To succeed we must out-plan as well as out-fight our enemy."

"Sounds simply delightful," said Michael, sarcastically.

"In here," said Luna, ushering them into a side room with one long table surrounded by chairs.

ONE OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD, wrote Thomas, sitting down in the largest chair which was obviously meant for him.

Twilight and her friends were already there, going through volumes upon volumes of ancient tomes.

WHAT LOOKING FOR?

Twilight looked up after she was nudged by Rainbow and answered Thomas.

"Remember Zecorra's prophesy? I'm looking up all kinds of monsters to see what we might be dealing with. I was trying to find some link to the prophesy, and I think I managed to uncover something."

"Indeed," said Celestia, who was also sitting at the table, "An old student friend of Twilight's managed to locate a book with some reference to the Dead Island. It has been referenced in several other books, and we have a pretty good idea where it is, but none of these other works give any kind of history or even a very good description of the island."

Thomas felt Twilight's head sink at the mention of 'an old student friend' and decided to ask about it.

WHO FOUND BOOK?

"Some pony named uhh... Moondancer," said Applejack, "But that ain't important now, right Princess?"

Celestia seemed to notice Twilight's change of attitude but then, sighing, she continued, "True, there will be time for that later Applejack. Right now we must focus on what we have found. As I said the island is referenced in several ancient books, but never explored or expounded upon. In fact very few seem to take any interest in it."

"Why?" asked Mira, curiously.

"We do not know," said Luna.

"However we know enough to determine its location, and the rest we inferred from some local legends regarding it," said Celestia, turning to Twilight.

"We have traced the island," said Twilight, pushing a volume of Ancient Equestrian Explorers across the table for them to see, "Down the eastern coast past the badlands and Zebra territory practically to the bottom of Equestria. It's a small volcanic island no more than four miles off the coast."

Thomas touched his finger to Michael's flame so he could get a better look at the map and shared it with Lucas and Mira.

"Apparently," said Rainbow, "There are a whole bunch of legends surrounding the island about it being cursed and stuff. But the weather there is wild, there are rumors about free magic running amok, and mysterious creatures."

"But other than that," said Twilight, "We don't know much about the history of the island or anything that might lend itself to some kind of monster."

Thomas leaned back in his chair, which squeaked loudly in protestation, and scratched the back of his head. Then he leaned forwards and, raising his hand, let Mira translate for him.

"We have one day left before the creature arrives, according to Zecorra's prophesy. It seems to me that we can't learn anything more about whatever it is that is coming, so I suggest we head down to Horseshoe Bay and prepare for the attack."

Mira paused for a second and then said, "Tom, what if I went to check out the island? I'm pretty fast and -"

No! thought Thomas to Mira, It's too dangerous. Besides we'll need you to scout the area around the bay to figure out how best to set up defenses.

"But we won't know what type of defenses to set up if we don't know what type of monster we'll be fighting," said Mira.

We'll do our best, and try to plan for all contingencies thought Tom.

"But -"

"Excuse me," interrupted Michael, "But the rest of us are only getting one half of the conversation."

"Oh, sorry," said Mira, "Thomas thinks it would be better if I stayed with the team."

Lucas piped up and Mira had to translate him for everyone else as well.

"I think Tom has a point. When we get to the bay, I can explore out to sea, and figure out what's coming. Exploring the island just sounds like a waste of time. Plus I think sticking together is a good idea."

"But what if this island has some sort of old weapon or ancient secret that could stop this monster?" asked Mira.

"We're the weapon," said Michael, "The important thing right now is to know what we're up against and Lucas can do that, without you leaving on some wild quest."

"Refraining from Michael's bravado," returned Lucas, through Mira, "I still think Tom's right. We need to know what we'll be fighting first and foremost, and then we need to prepare. Splitting up is good if we're searching for something, but right now it sounds like a very unsafe idea. Besides how would you sleep without a bottle handy?

The silence that followed was cut short by a snorting laugh from Pinkie. Which soon turned into loud guffaws from both her and Ranbow.

"Let's try and keep the story G-rated," said Pinkie, through her laughter. Then, looking up her face fell, "Aw Peanut Brittle, TEEN?! COME ON!"

"I mean, you won't be able to sleep if - You need someone to ... We ... " stammered Lucas, trying to make up for his blunder.

"I know what you mean," finished Mira, for him, "But I still think-"

"Sorry Mira, but you're outvoted," said Thomas, "It's not safe, a waste of precious time, and we don't even know if it would be worth it."

Even though she had to say all this for her friends, Mira still felt that her idea had merit and was practically fuming that it had been brushed aside merely because everyone else thought she couldn't handle herself. If she was so helpless, then why did they need her to come along in the first place?

"Then it's decided," said Celestia, "You four shall continue on to the ocean to prepare for the coming battle."

"And I shall join them," said Luna.

"Are you sure Luna?" asked Celestia, "This monster feeds on-"

"Yes, I know sister," said Luna, "I shall keep my distance and direct from afar, but these four still require assistance."

"Very well then."

"Rainbow an' me are gonna be helpin' load 'n unload the train, and Pinkie 'n Fluttershy'll help evacuate the city," said Applejack.

"And I," corrected Rarity.

"I thought y'all wouldn't want t'get yer hooves dirty," said Applejack.

"Twilight and I shall be staying here," said Rarity, "To keep searching for anything that might help you. And once you're all done at the bay, we'll meet back here to help guard Canterlot."

"Then why did'ja say ya were helpin' us load the train?"

"I didn't. I was correcting your grammar."

"There ain't nothin' wrong with ma grammar; you need to stop bein' so fussy."

Rarity rolled her eyes.

"I know Zecora said we wouldn't be able to do anything," said Twilight, "But I think we'd all feel safer if my friends and I are all together if it gets to Canterlot."

"Hopefully, it should not come to that," said Luna, frowning.

"I shall warn the nearest towns beyond Horseshoe Bay," said Celestia, "Just in case you need any extra leeway during your fight."

THANK YOU.

"Think nothing of it," replied Celestia, "Twilight would you get the maps of Horseshoe Bay and the surrounding area?"

Twilight unrolled the maps and Thomas held up Michael, one finger in the flame, to get a good look.

"Assuming that whatever it is that's coming, sticks to the prophesy and lands on Equestrian soil at Horseshoe Bay," said Twilight putting her hoof on the horseshoe shaped inlet on the right side of the map, "We have several things to worry about. One being that the monster follows the river upstream to this fork, ending up either in the Everfree Forest or passing right by Canterlot. The other thing to worry about is that it changes its mind and, once it arrives, leaves the bay and attacks somewhere else along the coast."

Thomas raised a hand and let Mira verbalize his thoughts.

"What about Baltimare?"

"A ghost town," said Luna, "Long since evacuated following your first message yesterday."

"How do we know it's limited to water?" asked Michael, strangely serious, despite all the ponies present and the ponified place names.

"We don't," answered Celestia, "But since it's attacking from the sea we are assuming it's aquatic in nature."

"That means I should be really useful," said Mira for Lucas, "Right?"

"Indeed," replied Luna.

Unlike me, thought Mira to herself.

You are of great use, said Thomas through their connection, Just look how you're helping us now.

You mean helping you, said Mira again, but this time, privately.

Thomas put his other finger on the map following the edge of the bay as Mira translated, "We should create some kind of barrier which we could close across the opening to the bay once it enters, and create some kind of deterrent to it crossing this small patch of land to reach the ocean again."

"I can'st deal with this," said Luna.

"Perhaps some fire along the beach," suggested Michael, "If it's aquatic, I don't think it would like fire that much."

Celestia nodded to a pony by a side door and said, "Oil, and lots of it. Attach it to the train leaving tomorrow."

The pony bowed slightly and darted out the door to see to his princess's orders.

"I think we should see if we can trap it in the bay," said Mira for Thomas, "But if that fails let's funnel it upstream."

"Nearer to Canterlot?!" said Twilight, obviously distressed.

"Make a dam," said Lucas, "Send it to this Everfree place."

"That's dangerous," said Twilight.

"Yeah, there are all kinds of kooky, spooky creatures in there," said Pinkie, "Not to mention friends."

"Tell the Zebra to wait in town," said Michael.

"There's also a friendly sea serpent, a deserted castle with many precious works of literature, and possibly the most magical tree in all Equestria," said Twilight.

Dang! Forgot about the Tree of Harmony, said Thomas to himself.

"Is this tree really that important?" asked Michael, doubtfully.

"Without a doubt," confirmed Twilight, "It helped us defeat Tirek, and it protects the Elements of Harmony, possibly the most magical artifacts in existence."

"This Everyfree place is out then," said Michael, "Simple, we just send it the other way."

"Right past Canterlot?!" cut in Twilight again.

Thomas tapped the map again and Mira narrated for him, "We've got plenty of room between the fork and Canterlot. More room, in fact, than we would have had if we diverted it into the Everfree. If you ask me the hard part, considering the Tree, will be getting it to head towards Canterlot in the first place."

"Not if my sister and I are both here," said Celestia.

"But Princess-" interjected Twilight.

"The good of our subjects comes before us," said Luna.

Twilight bit her lip, but didn't answer that.

Yay! The princesses are doing something for once, thought Thomas, Sure they're being glorified targets but still...

Suddenly an idea came to Thomas. Pointing to the map, Mira translating, he laid out his idea.

"If we get whatever it is lined up perfectly just before Rambling Rock Ridge we could cause a rock slide from the opposite direction. That would stop pretty much anything wouldn't it?"

"True," said Twilight, frowning, "But it would also completely destroy the train-line as well."

"Is the train really that valuable?" asked Mira. Then, speaking for Thomas, she continued, "Unlike you, Mira, I can't fly. The train makes it easier to travel, therefore complicating things."

"Your idea could work," said Celestia, looking at the map, "If timed just right that could be a last ditch defense. As for the transportation, if we position a train on either side of where the rocks should fall, well away for safety, facing in opposite directions it could solve the issue of transportation."

"I didn't think of that," said Mira for Thomas, "This could work."





They stayed up for a few more hours going over further considerations and defense strategies, but at last Celestia stood up, and said, "I think it is time that we retired for the night."

Thomas raised a finger, but she cut him off before Mira could say anything, "A rested body is just as good, considering we must still prepare tomorrow, as a sturdy defense. I have already had some of the best rooms made up for you all."

Thomas raised his hand again.

"Yes, even for you Thomas."

Thomas kept his hand up, until at last Celestia let Mira speak.

"Thomas says he doesn't really need a bed. Considering he's made of stone, anything is pretty much soft enough, and he doesn't want to ruin a perfectly good bed."

Celestia raised an eyebrow, "Is he saying Equestrian beds are of inferior design?"

Thomas and Mira shook their heads in unison (though only Tom's was visible), as Mira quickly restated, "No! Absolutely not, Thomas wasn't implying anything about the quality of ... "

Mira stopped as she saw the grin spread across Celestia's face.

"Good. Then he should have no problems sleeping in it," said Celestia, a mock severe expression forming on her muzzle, "Unless he is disagreeing with me."

Luna stepped in adding a little more to the joke, "Indeed I would not suggest that; the moon is exceptionally cold this time of year."

Thomas crossed his arms and tried to give Celestia an equally sarcastic expression to show he understood it was all in fun.

Celestia just grinned at his blank-faced expression and, turning to leave the room, called out in a sing-song voice, "Good night, My Little Ponies. Sleep well."





Mira circled around the inside of the bottle fuming.

Michael never did anything back home, he just sat around and played video games. Don't know about Thomas or Lucas, but they don't sound like they did much either... She paused for a second, Alright maybe Thomas.

She resumed circling her bottle, Who was it that single handedly fixed our plumbing issue? Who is always helping Mrs. Swinson down the street? I could do more with one hand tied behind my back then my brother could do with two good hands, a driving permit, a full tank of petrol and ten buddies.

Mira started circling faster.

Why I bet I could get to the island and back before they even knew I was gone, probably by tomorrow morning. In fact, I don't really need that much sleep, and I can see just fine, morning, noon or night.

Mira stopped circling as the bottle began to wobble.

Woah, she thought to herself, as she tried to stabilize it, Don't want to fall.

They had placed her bottle on a small table outside of the rooms where Thomas, and the rest were sleeping. As much as Thomas had objected to sleeping in a good bed, the minute his head had touched the pillow, he had been out like a light.

As the bottle stopped moving, Mira got an idea.

I can't push the cork off the bottle, but I wonder if I could break the bottle by knocking it off the table.

Mira began moving back and forth inside the tall container, until at last it started to wobble back and forth.

Mira pushed forward with all the might she could summon and the bottle toppled off the table and landed, without shattering on the marble floor.

"Dang it!" said Mira, before getting another idea.

The rooms that had been reserved for the new guests of Canterlot Castle were situated in a tall tower on the east end of the castle practically next to the mountain itself. Very near to the table had been a long spiral staircase, right out of Harry Potter, which led to their rooms.

If I rolled the bottle to the edge and managed to slip through the railings I bet that fall would break the bottle.

Mira began rolling the bottle in the direction she remembered the stairs being. Bumping into something she figured was a railing, she pivoted the bottle and began trying to slide it lengthwise through the gap. At last she felt the bottle tip up and fall...

Mira would have described the landing as having a bomb go off in your face, if you were Superman. The impact didn't hurt her of course, however, having the bottle shatter around her and suddenly being free was a lot like being inside a small bomb.

As she floated up, leaving the pieces of broken bottle behind her she could hear the approach of hooves on tile. A guard came trotting into the hallway along with AJ and RD from the opposite direction.

The guard illuminated his horn and scanned the room quickly, not noticing the glass shards on the floor.

"Hey would ya turn that thing down?" asked Rainbow, holding up a wing to shield her eyes.

"Forgive me, Ms. Dash," said the guard, the illumination dying from his horn.

"Why don' y'all head upstairs," said AJ, smiling pleasantly in the gloom, "Dash an' me'll look aroun' down here."

The guard nodded and headed up the stairs.

"What 'ya thing caused all that ruckus Rainbow?" asked AJ, looking around.

Mira snorted at the alliteration.

"You hear that?" said Rainbow, taking a step forward.

She drew a hoof back from the glass on the floor and, examining it, looked up.

"I know you're here," she said, flapping her wings a little, "We heard you, I can feel you, and that's your bottle."

"Sorry," said Mira, floating down closer to the ground.

"Good gravy girl," said Applejack, yawning, "What 'cha doin' up this late?"

Mira paused for a second before saying, "I'd rather you keep it a secret... at least until next morning but... I'm going to the island."

"Why?" asked Rainbow, "I thought we already decided that place was bad news."

"Thomas, Lucas and Michael did," said Mira, "They don't think I can handle myself. But I've just got this gut feeling that there's something I need to see on this island."

"Reckon' I can believe ya on that second part," said Applejack, "Feller's often don't always trust that gut feelin'. But I can't say I agree with ya first point."

"Yeah," said Rainbow, "That Thomas guy sure doesn't seem like the disloyal type to me, and even your brother is kinda cool."

"But I reckon' if this is somethin' ya gotta do, ya gotta do it," said Applejack, "Not like I could stop ya anyways."

"Bet I could though," said RD, grinning.

"Go fer it Mira," said AJ, pointing with a hoof, "Head down the hallway. Then make a right right turn, a left, an' there should be a door on yer right. I'll let yer friends know about this in the mornin'."

"You think they'll understand?" asked Mira, almost reconsidering.

"If they're yer friends, I reckon so."

Mira found the door, exited out through the keyhole and the next thing she knew she was soaring up into the sky.

Now on to Dead Island! She thought to herself, with a brief shiver of excitement, anticipation and mostly... fear.
> Chapter 14: Leaders and Followers, Past and Present
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 14: Leaders and Followers, Past and Present


Mira zipped through the sky following the coastline. Everything around her was blurrier than normal since she couldn't really get a good view through the air around her. Her passage through the sky, though probably long past supersonic, left nothing in her wake.

Finding the sea had taken her a little less than five minutes, but she had now been traveling south for almost half an hour. Every now and then she would stop moving to get a lay of the land and make sure she hadn't overshot her goal. After a while she realized that the island was probably a lot further away than she had first assumed, and sped up.

After about forty-five minutes of Superman-like exhilaration a small dot of landmass, slightly off the cliffs of land flew by beneath her. Stopping, Mira turned around, even though she could see the island just fine and technically didn't even possess a "forward".

Too small, and too close to shore, she said to herself and continued down the coast.

After the first spot of land poking through the surface of the ocean grabbed her attention, Mira began noticing more and more, but they were all either too small, too close to land, or too far away. Just as Mira was getting worried that she might have missed the island or that it could have been one she passed by, she caught sight of something on the horizon. Slowing down, she checked it out from a distance.

No doubt about it...

The Dead Island certainly stood up to its name. Even though Mira could see just as well in pitch black as in direct sunlight, the island seemed black. It was obviously volcanic in nature due to the tall mountain that took up the majority of the island. There were tall, dark trees scattered like patches of mushrooms on the mountain's base, and even though the mountain was actively spouting black smoke, there was an overwhelming silence over the island that seemed to stretch out across the water to Mira.

She could swear that the air in the region of her stomach was doing flip-flops as a cold shiver ran up, not where her spine would be but rather, over her entire body.

Gilligan's Island it isn't, she said, trying to smile halfheartedly, I'm beginning to understand why Thomas didn't want me coming here...

At that, Mira felt her indignation rise just enough to push aside most of her trepidation and start towards the island... slowly.

No reason to dart into a bad situation, she said to herself.

The sand on the beach that welcomed her was as black as coal. As Mira thought about this she suddenly came to a horrible realization.

I can't see light. How do I know what color everything is?!

The smoke had been obvious, but the fact that the island itself or the sand actually had a black color frightened her.

It's like I'm reading a story from a dog's point of view, and just realized they described the color red... only it's not a mistake and it's creeping the heck out of me.

Mira landed on the black sands and almost fell over as she felt her feet sink into the sand, slightly.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she discovered that she wasn't solid so much as somewhat less ephemeral; she couldn't quite kick the sand but her feet could create slight indentations in it.

Maybe it's the smoke, she said to herself as she looked up to see the dark clouds billowing away far above her, Right...

Looking to her right, she saw  a steep cliff made up of flat-topped stones interlocking in an almost honeycomb-like pattern.

Just like the Giant's Causeway, she thought, Only... not.

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about this place was really freaking her out.

It's like I'm in a dark alley, at night, in a bad part of town, with someone watching me.

Mira spun her gaze around, but even though she saw nothing, she still felt as though eyes were watching her from behind dark corners, and in the shadows of the small forests.

Aurgh! screamed Mira to herself, gritting her teach and clenching her hands in anger, and immediately being surprised she could do so, There shouldn't be any shadows in the first place! What is wrong with this crazy island?!

Looking around one more time, Mira began to climb the mountain of stair-like rocks.

As she stopped to catch her breath after pulling herself up onto another flat-topped stone, she muttered mean things to the mountain under her breath. She hadn't wasn't even questioning why she now seemed heavier and couldn't float above the ground anymore.

Something is really messed up with this place.

Stepping forward, her foot felt a groove in the rock and, as she looked down, she could see a large circular disc-shaped glyph made up of many different markings. She could tell that some of them were from the Russian alphabet and others she recognized spelled out words in foreign languages. But mostly her eyes were drawn to the letters that spelled out words in English.


DANGER

WARNING

GO BACK

BEWARE


Mira stepped over the glyph and onto the stone next to it only to discover that the same messages were carved into this stone as well. As she ascended higher she could see that every stone around her had the same markings.

This isn't natural, but who would go to these lengths to warn people away?

As Mira pulled herself onto another stone she saw that sharpened stones, pointed sticks and thorns that resembled barbed wire had been placed, jammed and hung from every crack and cranny for the next hundred feet or so.

Someone really doesn't want someone climbing this cliff.

As Mira grabbed onto the lip of the next stone above her one of her feet got caught in some of the thorns. It didn't hurt but as she tried to pull free , she felt the tension wire give way.

Looking up Mira watched as one of the stone pillars began to tilt slowly her way. Without thinking, Mira jumped and went sailing over the spikes, thorns and other assorted deterrents to land on another stone as the pillar crashed into where she had just been standing and toppled down the mountain.

I don't think that would have killed me, said Mira, breathing hard, But in my current condition it certainly would have hurt.

Mira continued bounding up the mountain so as not to set off anymore traps. The only other one she triggered was a purposefully loosed stone that tumbled out from underneath her when she landed on it. Luckily, she managed to grab onto a thorny vine and pulled herself onto another rock next to the empty spot.

As she stood there, hunched over, panting for breath, wondering why it was so tiring to breath now, she spotted a hole in the mountain about fifty feet above her.

I know I'm probably just giving in to a cliched old horror movie stereotype, thought Mira, looking at the mouth of the cave, But then again this whole island feels like a stereotypical mad scientist's castle.

As she entered the cave she noticed that the area outside the entrance had been trodden many times by lots of heavy hooves.

Or... feet? she said, noting something that very much resembled the elongated, webbed foot of a frog in the sand-like pulverized stone.

The gloom of the cave engulfed her as Mira tip-toed into the cave, not wanting her footsteps to alert anyone.

What am I thinking? Why would anyone in their right mind live in this place? she thought to herself.

If it weren't for the fact that she could feel motion through the air rather than see it, Mira would have never seen the shadow detach itself silently from the wall behind her and rear up almost to Thomas's size before slamming a giant stone into place, blocking the way out.

Mira screamed as the cave went pitch black.





Michael awoke to the curtains being drawn and morning light flooding the room. The servant pony then trotted over to the bed and tapped Thomas several times carefully.

As he stretched the servant moved towards Michael.

"I'm up!" he said, grumpily, and the servant quickly withdrew her hoof.

As the servant pony backed quickly out of the room, Thomas picked up his board and wrote, RUDE MUCH?

Michael just snorted and said, "I don't need some mamby-pamby pony waking me up in the morning."

NO HELP AT ALL?

"No. I'm fine."

FINE. BYE.

And with that Thomas walked quickly out of the room and down the stairs, leaving Michael yelling for help.

"You blumin' dirt-bag! Come back here, how am I supposed to get downstairs? MIRA!"

After a minute or so, Michael stopped yelling and glared at the door, but Thomas was nowhere to be seen.

A couple seconds later another pony, this time carrying some folded towels, came walking by.

Michael groaned and then coughed, trying to get her attention, "Excuse me... pony."

The maid stopped and backed up to stare curiously into the room.

"Hello... Is somepony in here?" she asked, looking left and right.

"Yeah, over by the lamp."

The pony trotted in and made the bed with her magic before setting down the clean linens on the sheets. She stared at the lamp for a few second and then looked under the table before doing a full 360 and checking out the entire room.

"Did you hear about us elementals?" asked Michael, somewhat enjoying the pony's confusion.

"Not really. I did hear some important guests were supposed to be staying the night, but I just clean and fold the linens," she continued, still trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

"Fine. Then just take the lamp downstairs."

The pony shrugged and picked up the lamp and folded linens in her magic before walking out the door and down the stairs.

As Michael floated in the levitation field he considered saying something to the pony about keeping him upright and level, but decided against it.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs Michael saw the orange pony with the cowboy hat walking down the hallway. The maid bowed to her and said, "Greetings."

"Howdy," said the cowgirl-pony, tipping her hat, "We're all meetin' in the dinin' hall. Ya'll want me to take Michael off yer hooves?"

The maid looked around confused before saying, "Umm, who?"

Cowgirl-pony grinned and pointed at Michael, "The tough-talkin' guy in the lamp."

The maid's eyes darted to the lamp and then nervously back to the mare in the Stetson.

"Umm... OK," she said, floating Michael closer.

The orange pony grabbed Michael in her teeth and continued down the hallway as the confused maid stared after her.

"Thanks ... um," said Michael, forgetting the pony's name.

"Ay-jay," said the pony, through the lamp in her mouth.

"Right. What time is it?" continued Michael.

"A little ahter day dreak," mumbled AJ, opening a door and depositing Michael on a long table.

A blue field enveloped him and he slid down the table to where Thomas was sitting with the white unicorn, the pink one (who was eating far too many pancakes) and the purple one who looked tired and was drinking a steaming cup of what looked like coffee.

Michael saw Thomas hold up his board.

MIRA?

AJ turned to look at the blue-rainbow pony and said, "Ya mean ya didn't tell 'em?"

Rainbow pony looked up, her cheeks bulging with pancakes, and shrugged before swallowing, "I figured you would. Besides I was eating."

"She left, didn't she?" said Twilight, yawning.

Thomas flicked the board onto the table and rested his face in his right hand. While Michael started yelling.

"What?! Why? We decided that was a bad idea. Is she trying to kill herself? What am I supposed to tell Mom?"

A thin stream of water shot out of the top of a nearby urn and sputtered on Michael's flames.

"Shaddup jack. Let her do her thing."

"First of all, my name isn't jack, it's Michael. Second, she's my sister, I'm supposed to look out for her."

"Ja right. Jacks kinda like dude, and your sister's been doing a lot more looking out for you than you have for her. Sheesh, your sister was probably the most mature one in the room last night."

Before Michael could retort, Thomas smacked his hand on the table causing everyone to jump. Picking up Lucas he reached his hand into the urn and let him translate.

"Tom says we don't have time to do anything about Mira. If she makes it back she knows where to find us."

"But-"

Thomas picked up Michael in his other hand and started towards the door.

Rainbow pony groaned and stuffed about four pancakes into her mouth before following. Meanwhile the pink one picked up a fork, a knife, a plate with about ten pancakes on it, a jug of milk and a bottle of syrup and stuffed them into the pink poof of her mane before hopping after them.

As they headed down the hallway Michael saw the yellow pegasus talking to a small bunny with a disgruntled look on its face.

"Now you stay here till I get back, OK?" she said, before looking up, "Oh, we're leaving already?"

"Don't worry Fluttershy," said the pink one in a singsong, "I've got pancakes."

As Michael watched he could have sworn he saw the bunny give him the 'I've got my eyes on you' sign with a very dark look.

"Don't worry," he snorted to the little creature, "I'm not laying a hand on your stupid pony friend."

At least with Mira gone I don't have to keep up the facade as much.

	
> Chapter 15: History
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 15: History


As darkness surrounded Mira, she leapt into the air and tried to spread out to protect herself, only to find that she was even more solid now then when she had first landed on the island.

Mira backed up, panicking, as the creature moved towards her, dragging long sharp claws against the wall. Sparks fell from the trail it left, outlining the monster's arm up to its shoulder in flickering light.

Not paying attention to where she was going, Mira backed herself up into a corner of the cave as the creature advanced. Without warning it lunged, sending even more sparks flying, and Mira sat down, throwing her hands up in front of her in self defense.

Mira blinked in surprise as the warm light washed over her. Dropping her hands, even though she didn't really need to, she looked up to see what looked like a miniature, much older Tom, holding a torch and gazing down at her with an unreadable expression.

Mira just stared up, not moving, in fear of what ever it was bringing the heavy-looking torch down on her head. She couldn't see any eyes on the face of the creature, only dark shadows beneath a heavy brow of moss that grew on its forehead. Where Tom often looked off kilter due to the misshapen rocks that made up his body, this creature seemed off balanced do to the amount of moss, grass, ferns and tree-roots it had growing over it's entire body.

It stood perfectly still, staring at her. Mira didn't move. She just sat there unable to breath, gulp, shiver and too terrified to say anything.

The silence was overpowering except for the subtle whoosh of the flames. After a solid minute of silence Mira tried cautiously sliding to the side without making a sound.

Though her movements were more silent then an owl's wing-beat, the ominous figure moved with her, shadowing her sideways slide. Mira froze again. The 'creature' moved like a robot, silent, precise and completely unexpected. Again, everyone in the room reverted to a state of motionlessness.

Then suddenly the figure raised its foot and slammed it down on the cave floor with a violent crash that reverberated through the cave. Mira was so frightened she felt like she could snap but she couldn't move.

As the echo from the impact died out, Mira thought she could hear music in the distance slowly getting louder.

"...Δυο πόρτες έχει η ζωή,		"Life has two doors,
άνοιξα μια και μπήκα,				I opened one and entered,
σεργιάνισα ένα πρωινό			walked one morning
κι’ ώσπου να 'ρθει το δειλινό,		and by the evening
από την άλλη βγήκα..."			I had left by the other"

Finally the voice became so loud that Mira was certain the singer was standing inside the cave right in front of her. As she listened, still too terrified to move, the singer transitioned from the first song into a completely different one in Russian.

Again the being slammed its foot into the stone floor, Mira tensed up (figuratively speaking) and the music stopped.

"Today is the night of music my friend,"
"Сегодня ночь музыки, мой друг," said the strange voice from somewhere nearby, almost in a singsong, "La luna crea locura y misterio."
"The moon creates madness and mystery."

Mira had taken a little Spanish in school and recognized something about the moon and mystery. Though frightened, she took hold of the only semblance of reality she could and whispered.

"¿Hablas ingles?"

"A voice in the dark? The moon sends a messenger..."
"¿Una voz en la oscuridad? La luna envía un mensajero..." The voice seemed to wander through itself like it was exploring it's own words, then it snapped back like a rubber band and Mira was certain whoever was speaking was right in front of her, speaking directly to her. "English? English it is then! Lovely day tonight isn't it? The moon sings so sweetly..."

Mira had no idea what to say to this. First a monster, now a crazy person... so she remained silent.

"Straighten!"
"Выпрямить!"

It was the same voice but with a different inflection and more focus this time, almost like there were two people sharing the same voice.

Mira also noticed the creature lean forward slightly as if to punctuate a remark.

"Umm... Hello?" said Mira in the quietest voice she could muster.

"-Guests are always welcome. Yes, indeed, but I'm afraid it's far too dangerous right now. You'll have to come back later." said the first voice, suddenly, as if having just drowsed off before it started to hum some unrecognizable tune to itself.

"They are like us. Pay attention!"

"Они похожи на нас. Обращать внимание!"

Now Mira was really confused.

There was some more humming and what sounded like some grunts, then the voice returned clearer and slightly more sane-sounding, "English... You are American?"

"I'm from England, actually" she said, pushing herself up against the wall.

"Are you ummm..." Mira couldn't come up with a polite way of phrasing her giant observer.

"Where are you?" she asked instead.

"I am in front of you and behind you, on your left and right, above and below," said the voice in the cheerful first tone before changing to a lower register and saying simply, "You are sitting on him."

Mira ran her fingers over the moss that covered most of the cavern floor, including where she was sitting and said, raising a cautious finger in the creature's direction, "And ... him?"

"I am me" said the voice in the second, deeper tone.

"But who are you?" asked Mira, slowly standing up.

"I am Nathaniel Chloros, and my quiet little friend is called Alexei," then the second tone of voice cut in, saying, "Алексей."

There was a brief silence before the first tone of voice returned, saying, "I take it you don't speak Russian?"

Mira shook her head, but before she realized whoever was speaking probably couldn't see her, the voice returned.

"That's what I thought. You can just call him Alexei."

A deep grunt rumbled through Mira's mind as she realized that the words weren't vocal but mental.

"You communicate telepathically?!" she said, shocked.

"So do you," replied the deeper tone.

"Right," said Mira, "But does that mean that you are also Elementals?"

"Elementals... Of the elements- of the sun and stars, the moon and the sea, whither I go? Not far from thee. Mother earth, and father ocean ever to thee my great devotion. Singing sweetly-" the second voice grunted an unintelligible interjection in Russian and the first voice returned to a its previous sanity, "So that's what we're calling ourselves now? I always just called myself Mr. Moss and frankly my friend only answers to Алексей. Isn't that right my friendly little friend?"

The creature raised the torch and knocked it against a patch of moss growing near its left ear with an audible "THUNK".

"Ow!" said the first voice.

With that small gesture, it all began to come into focus for Mira.

"So Nathaniel, you're the moss?"

"Yes."

"And you are..." Mira pointed to the giant, hesitating, "A...lex...ey?"

There was a long mental sigh and Alexei nodded slowly.

Mira smiled and began to relax, "My name's Mira. There are three other Elementals who couldn't come here with me. There's Thomas, he's stone, Lucas is water, and my brother Michael, who's fire. Wait... Are there only two of you?"

The torch wavered as neither being replied for a second then, "Yes, there are only two of us," said Nathaniel in a quiet voice.

After a long pause Mira asked cautiously, "What happened to the others? Did the monster-"

She never finished her sentence. At the word 'monster' Alexei's posture changed dramatically. He slammed his hand into the cave wall right above Mira's head, shoved the torch right up next to Mira and his deep voice thundered through her head, "What do you know of it?!"

She cowered against the rock once again thinking as fast as she could, "There was a prophesy that it was coming, and my friends and I are supposed to stop it and I thought there might be something on this island that would help us."

The torch was pulled away and Mira could swear she saw Alexei fighting with himself over the torch. Listening, she could hear Nathaniel fighting with Alexei.

"Give it here -- LET GO OF ME! -- Not until you stop frightening -- SHE COULD BE SENT BY -- she hasn't been sent by anyone. Now drop that torch!  -- LET GO OF MY ARM! -- She's looking for answers. -- SHE DESERVES NOTHING! WE DO NOT KNOW HER. -- Not if you don't put down that torch and stop threatening -- I DO NOT THREATEN, SHE IS LIKE US. LOOK. -- Fine, but keep the torch away from her. We aren't barbarians."

Mira saw the roots around Alexei's left hand loosen as he stepped back up to her and raised the torch again. As the light from the wavering flame moved, Mira could just make out the outline of her fingers.

"Why is everything so different here?" she pondered.

"In what way?" asked Nathaniel, much calmer after Alexei's outburst.

"Back in Equestria my body was like air, not solid. But here, it's semi-airy, and I can SEE things, almost as if I had eyes."

"So that is what they meant..." muttered Nathaniel.

"What?" asked Mira.

"Those on the island who have been off the island have told us that this island is not like the other lands. How long have you been on the island?"

Mira was about the answer, when she realized she wasn't sure. How long had it taken to climb up to the cave? A few minutes, an hour?, "I'm... not sure." She said.

"Time, shadows, like and dark. Memories, thoughts, they all move with mystery here. Many a night, madness brings the moon. A silver light-" Alexei grunted and re-railed Nathaniel before he could derail again.

"You go out of the cave too much."

Mira was inclined to agree.

"Well... as it is. However, to ask you a question, what do you know of the monster?" returned Nathaniel.

"Besides what Zecora told us. Very little."

"Who?" he said.

"Zecora, the zebra," said Mira.

Dead silence.

"Zebras do not talk," intoned Alexei.

"Neither can moss," returned Mira, realizing that Alexei probably wasn't a Brony.

"She's got you there-" started Nathaniel, but Alexei cut him off, "Explain."

Then a thought crossed Mira's mind, "You guys seem different than the others. Hope you don't mind me asking, but how old are you and where and when are you from."

"The moon took that knowledge from me long ago," said Nathaniel, "But I remember growing up in Thessaloniki, Greece. I think I attended the Aristotle University, that's where I learned to speak French and some Spanish. I... remember my mother congratulating me at graduation, 1975."

"6023 years, Georgiyevsk, Russia. 1946," said Alexei.

Mira stared at them in utter shock.

"6023!? How have you not gone insan-" Mira stopped herself before she could finish her sentence. However she knew it was too late.	

Nathaniel started to laugh.

"Trust me sometimes I think I am fighting a losing battle. But I do my best to keep him just as sane as me." He said.

"Time feels different here," returned Alexei, "And as he says, the moon does change things. The day is better."

"OK," said Mira, still mentally kicking herself for her blunder, "But why have you stayed here? The mainland's not to far away."

"Cannot swim," said Alexei.

"But you've had over six thousand years to learn," said Mira.

"You don't understand," cut in Nathaniel, "It's not that he doesn't know how. Alexei is the Iron Element. Saltwater isn't good for him, and I can't breathe without air."

"Why not build a boat? You've got the wood."

"We are outlasting a lineage," said Alexei, "Guarding the weapon."

"Is the weapon... the monster?" asked Mira, cautiously.

Both Nathaniel and Alexei were silent for a while, then Nathaniel said, "Mira... before I tell you anything, where and when are you from and how much do you know about this island?"

"Bristol England, 2014, however I've only been here a couple days, and everything we know about this island we either got from Zecora's prophesy or from the royal Canterlot archive."

"What archive?" said Alexei.

"OK so I take it you two have never heard of the show  My Little Pony?" asked Mira.

Alexei nodded.

"Well right now you are on the Dead Island just off the coast of Equestria, near Zebra territories. Equestria is a country not located on Earth. It's part of a fictional universe from a TV show back home. The inhabitants are all cartoon, anthropomorphic ponies and mythical creatures. So yes, the Zebra's talk."

"That might explain a great many things," said Nathaniel, quietly.

"Anyway my companions ended up here in our new bodies, Zecora gave a prophesy saying that we would defeat a monster from this island and I decided to check it out."

"Well then I suppose it's only fitting that you know our story..."

With that Alexei and Nathaniel began; their voices together weaving a tale long since ancient, each helping the other to remember.

"Many, many, many years ago, Nathaniel was just a college graduate looking for work, Alexei was a metal worker in Georgiyevsk, Ambre was working at a daycare center in Paris and Chanming was painting by the Hai River when we each of us was grabbed and dropped here.

Nathaniel came first. I was dropped several thousand feet up as a spore, and landed near the top of the mountain where I spent a month or two growing and integrating into my new form. It's not just moss I control. I can control fungus too, which means that through symbiosis I can control many different varieties of flora.

Ambre was the second. She found herself trapped in a solid glass crystal on the beach, and spent a week watching the sunsets alone, unable to move, until Chanming joined her.

Chanming came third, in the form of light. From what he told us, he saw the most of this world. When he landed, he traveled all across this land several times before he ended up back here and trapped himself inside of Ambre's crystal. They kept each other company for a couple more weeks until Alexei came.

Alexei was the last to arrive and the only one to arrive here unconscious. When I woke up I was chained in this very cave. Unable to talk I was forced to remain trapped without any explanation for four days. All the while a strange creature in a dirty cloak would shuffle in and out of the cave with different ingredients that it would mix into a giant stone pool in the corner."

Alexei led Mira over to a particularly dark corner of the cave and, holding the torch up, showed her what was left. A giant crater, previously unnoticed, glared back at Mira from the wall. The dark indentation seemed to swallow up the light cast by the torch, like a black hole.

"I couldn't quite see what was going on because the light is never very good in here and my eyes couldn't adjust, but I could hear fine. The creature was constantly wheezing and even though I only saw its face once, it looked neither human nor animal.

It was missing most of the left side of its face, had only one eye, half a nose and the mouth was constantly dripping drool because it couldn't fully close its mouth."

At this point in the story Alexei interrupted, saying, "Looking back, I think it could have been Zebra. It did have stripes."

"Well anyway while the Zebra never looked or even talked to me, it did constantly talk to itself. It would ramble on and on about revenge, justice, power and fame. At least Nathaniel's mind is lost to the poetry of the moon. This zebra only left the cave on moonless nights. From what I gathered the Zebra was trying to create some sort of monster. I was unable to escape until after it had accomplished its task.

I was asleep at the beginning and awoke to the sound of thunder and the image of lightning combined. The zebra and I were both stunned. However, the monster was not. Somehow, I couldn't see, it consumed its creator but, when it grabbed me, it ripped the last of my chains from the wall. I lashed out with all my might and escaped the cave to hide in a nearby forest that night. The next morning I spotted something sparkling on the beach and when I investigated I found Ambre and Chanming. Chanming explained that he had seen many lives that would be harmed by the monster if we didn't stop it, so I picked them up and climbed back up the mountain to the cave, only to discover that the monster had retreated deeper into the spiderweb of caverns that run through the mountain.

With the help of Ambre's light-storing abilities and Nathaniel's growing presence on the mountain we found each other and I helped the group locate the monster through my network of roots, tendrils and spores.

We fought together, deep within the mountain, Ambre and Chanming blinding it, while I slowed it down and Alexei pummeling it with everything he had.

The creature managed to find a passage outside and Alexei knocked it off the mountain to its death, but not before it struck down Ambre and Chanming. They worked together and they died as one. We buried what was left of them in the quietest clearing we could find and then continued on to locate the remains of the creature. We found it, split in two, on an outcropping of rock near the base of the mountain, and that's when Nathaniel realized the terrible truth.

The creature was capable of parthenogenesis. It could reproduce asexually, and we had no idea if there were any offspring. Since then we have been searching through the mountain for any signs of the creature's offspring and guarding against the lineage of the creature that spawned the monster in the first place.

Only two have ever come to the island. Shortly after the battle, one moonlit night, a small boat carrying two hooded passengers came near the beach and one of the hooded figures called out to us. We answered as best with could by writing with charcoal on stone. The two figures said they were the parents of the one that created the monster. He had been exiled for his past crimes and his future plans, which we now knew he had accomplished. We told them this and they warned us to be wary of others for their lineage was supposedly cursed. Their boat vanished back into the fog and we never saw them again.

The only other visitor was, what I assumed to be, a gryphon. But he too, only stayed a short while to explore the island before leaving. Even with the monster dead this island isn't a very hospitable place."

"I know. That must have been one of the explorers who documented the island," said Mira, "And the monster that's coming, must be the creature's offspring. Did the creature you fought seem aquatic? What was it like? Did it have any weaknesses?"

"The creature we fought," said Alexei, "Was six stories tall, and bore resemblance to a large crab-spider. We do not know what it fed on inside the mountain but it grew fast."

"He's right" said Nathaniel, "I would describe it as similar to a scorpion spider, but with shorter legs, a larger carapace and long tentacles where the mouth should have been. If it possessed either mandibles or proboscis, we never saw them. The only thing it did was burrow into the walls of the cave to get to these crystalline minerals. But it never ate them, it just left them scattered throughout the cave. It wasn't aquatic, and the only weakness we used against it was to blind its many eyes with light that Ambre and Chanming supplied."

"It feeds on magic," said Mira under her breath, then to Nathaniel and Alexei, "I bet those crystals were magic gems and the creature was feeding off of them."

"Sounds possible-" started Nathaniel, but he didn't finish as a rumble shot through the cave and everything began to shake.

"What's going on?!" yelled Mira over the noise.

"Quakes," said Nathaniel, "They happen every so often. They usually only last a couple seconds. The volcano is dormant after all; we've checked."

The rumbling continued.

"-Although, it's never lasted this long before" continued Nathaniel, his voice wavering.

"Why don't we head down to the beach and start building a raft or boat of some kind?" said Mira, "According to the prophesy what you were guarding is already on its way. I don't think you need to stay here any longer."

Mira listened as the two conversed and the rumbling seemed to die down.

"OK," said Nathaniel, just before the rumbling began again, much louder.

Alexei turned left and right as stones began dropping from the ceiling and a crack opened up in the middle of the cave.

"Go!" yelled Mira, "If worst comes to worst, we can float Nathaniel on some bark and Alexei can go underwater."

"The salt-" started Nataniel.

"We can rinse him off when we get to shore."

Alexei headed for the cave entrance, and pulled aside the boulder blocking the way. Mira jumped out and sailed down the mountain. Now that she was leaving the island some of her airiness seemed to be coming back. She leapt from stone to stone, jumping over the traps Alexei had laid to keep people away. Behind her she could hear him barreling through them, not paying any attention to the thorns or trip wires. She could see several stones toppling over behind him but he was moving too fast to care.

As she made the last jump and soared out over the ocean, Mira felt full flight return to her and she quickly gained altitude before looking behind to see something she would never forget.

There was no giant wave of lava, for this wasn't a true eruption. More black smoke was leaving the mountain than when she had first arrived, and here and there it was laced with white streaks of steam leaving vents and cracks in the mountain. Then suddenly the cave mouth they had just left exploded, spraying steam and red hot shrapnel everywhere.

Mira watched in horror as a large fragment of the cave came soaring through the air leaving a great parabolic steam trail in its wake. It stuck Alexei's shoulder separating it from the rest of his body even as it sent him spinning out of control.

Alexei's body toppled down the mountain of stair-like stones to land in the shallows of the ocean. With a bone-jarring crash, towers of stone and what remained of the cave's entrance buried the two ancient guardians alive.

Just as Mira started to head towards where they lay, there was another explosion and the top of the mountain began to roll down towards the beach, taking tree's and everything in its way with it. A tremendous cloud of steam billowed up into the sky after the explosion, and then there was silence. A terrifying, deafening silence the likes of which Mira had never heard before. A gaping hole where once had been two beings like herself.

Mira hovered over the pile of rock and stone that marked where the two had fallen and looked around, moistness filling where her eyes should have been.

Something green and slimy floated to the surface and Mira reached out to grab it, only to discover she couldn't.

Thinking fast, she started batting and blowing it towards the shore. As it washed up on the sand, she placed both hands over it and listened, praying Nathaniel was OK.

"Greece is lovely this time of year." came a tiny voice from the small patch of green.

"Nathaniel! Please, don't..." begged Mira, her voice choked, the silence rushing in to fill what was left.

"It's OK" he replied, "My little friend and I just overstayed our welcome. We're... going... home... now... - "

"You can't..."

"Look up Mira..."

Looking up, Mira could see the moon as the clouds of steam rolled off. Like a great eye watching from the night sky, a far off, but not silent observer.

A purpose fulfilled,
a memory left,
a torch passed,
and many blessed.

Mira could feel something leave the shred of green and she was left sitting there on the black sand, alone.

This truly was the Dead Island.
> Chapter 16: Preparation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 16: Preparation


As Thomas and his compatriots made their way down the hallway Thomas reached a hand towards AJ's rope, but she flicked it away from him with her tail saying, "One. Time. Don't even think about it."

"Yeah Tommy," said Pinkie bouncing between them, "I spend most of yesterday bouncing around Canterlot buying cake and spreading the word about you and your friends."

"There, ya' see. They ain't scared uh ya' no more," said AJ, just before she was interrupted by a loud scream and a door slamming as they walked by it.

The screaming stopped as a young, impudent male voice started yelling for guards about the "Monsters in the hallway."

AJ sighed and knocked on the door saying, "There ain't any monsters out here Mr. Blueblood, just us."

The door opened a crack and Blueblood peeked out. Thomas could swear that he was shivering and shaking more than Fluttershy at a Nightmare Night Convention.

"You may address me as sir," he said, before re-shutting the door, undoing the chain, and backing out the door wearing a long trench-coat, a hat pulled down over his face and dark sunglasses. He was followed by three small porters carrying what looked like half the castle's furniture shoved hastily into large suitcases.

"Where are you going?" asked Rainbow.

"Didn't you hear?" said Blueblood, looking shocked, "There's a monster even worse than them coming to get us. I'm leaving this place before it gets here."

"An' where ya' headed?" asked AJ, obviously unimpressed by the prince's lack of bravery.

"Somewhere far away," he said, looking off into the distance, with what he thought was probably a tortured longing expression, "I've heard of this place that's so out of the way it's probably not even on any maps. I should be safe there."

"But where is it?" asked Rainbow.

"Somewhere called... um..." The prince's face went blank for a second then he spun around to the porters and stamped his hoof a few times.

"Ponyville," grunted the lead porter who was probably supporting four times his weight in luggage, "Sir Blueblood has rented a room from my aunt Honeysuckle who..."

"Yes, yes. I figure in a place that far out of the way I should be safe until you all take care of the menace. Which reminds me, do you think it's safe to already be letting these creatures into the castle?"

Thomas was just about to take a step forward and lay the bum out on the floor when AJ turned and winked at them, before saying, "Well that's a mighty big shame cause' ya' see we ain't the ones stoppin' it. They are."

Thomas touched his finger to Michael's flame just in time to see Blueblood's face mask Braeburn's expression when he found out about the buffalo. Leaning slowly to one side he looked, horrified, at Thomas and the rest and ran screaming back into his room accompanied by the porters.

"PACK MORE FOOD! MORE PILLOWS! WE'RE ALL DOOMED!"

AJ, Rainbow and Pinkie Pie rolled on the floor, tears pooling on their faces from their uproarious laughter. Even Fluttershy tittered a little at Blueblood's display.

"What the heck was that?" asked Michael, in shock.

"One of the worst un-reformed creatures to ever be spawned from the universe of pony," said Thomas, chuckling.

Wiping the tears off of her face, AJ stood up and continued down the hallway, still chuckling.

Thomas started after them, then stopped and wrote something on his chalkboard.

MAYBE WE SHOULD THROW HIM AT THE MONSTER.

Once again the hallway was filled with the hysterical laughter of the three ponies.

"Bad idea," said Rainbow, still laughing, "They might join forces."





As they walked through the Canterlot streets Thomas and the ponies were still laughing, although nobody could hear Tom.

The ponies of Canterlot definitely seemed less wary of the group as they made their way towards the train station. Once or twice a pony even stopped to tip their hat at Thomas.

Suddenly there was the sound of galloping hooves and a hoard of fillies and foals came barreling towards them yelling,

"THERE THEY ARE!"

"WOW HE'S BIG!"

"WHERE'S MIRA? I CAN'T SEE HER!"

"YOU CAN'T SEE AIR DUMMY."

One little filly seemed to take charge the minute they got within range.

"Are you mister Thomas?" she said, tilting her head back to look up at him.

Thomas stopped walking and nodded down at the blue coated filly with a red mane striped with lighter shades.

Michael's flame flickered around Thomas's finger, trying to get a better look, and the color vanished from Tom's vision.

"My name's Rosy Cheeks, but my friends call me Rosy. And we were wondering..."

One of the other ponies, a little pegasus with a buckball cap, interrupted saying, "Is it true that you're really here to stop an evil monster that's comin' to smash Canterlot an' stuff? 'Cause my mom says you're makin' it all up."

Another filly pegasus next to him, probably his sister, thought Thomas, nudged him and said, "What did mother say about your grammar?"

The pegasus tilted his head back and to one side. Thomas could imagine him rolling his eyes.

Before any of the ponies could cut in, however, Michael spoke up.

"Well I don't know about your mother, but everything you just said is true. While I'd rather be home playing video games, I guess we're stuck here fighting monsters until we get sent home so... You're welcome."

Michael's flame settled down again and Thomas could make out the confused expressions on several of the colts and fillies. They probably weren't expecting that from their prospective protectors.

Thomas put Michael under one arm and wrote quickly on his board.

HE'S IN A BAD MOOD

Rosy didn't seem fazed by Michael's bad manners at all; she just kept staring up at them.

"Where are you from, and how did you get to be like you are now?" she asked.

Thomas started walking again, as he held up his chalkboard.

CAN'T SAY. DON'T KNOW.

One or two of the children didn't follow, but the majority, led by Rosy, did.

"Do you know what the monster's like?" she asked.

Thomas was about to answer when Lucas began talking in the tinny voice that AJ's water tin gave him.

"Don't know. That's why Mira decided to go find out."

"She must be very brave."

Thomas could practically feel Lucas staring at where he knew Thomas to be. He still wasn't sure if what Mira did was a good idea but he held up his chalkboard and braced himself for something from Michael.

YES. SHE IS.

Michael, unexpectedly, didn't say anything.

You ok? asked Thomas.

Michael mentally sighed and said, I'll give her that much. My sister never was one to back down from a challenge. Still don't think it was a good idea, her running off without us and all.

"When is she coming back?" asked Rosy, distracting Thomas from Michael's thoughts.

"We don't know that either. But Mira's pretty smart; she'll be able to find us, some how. But now shouldn't you be getting home?"

"My parents won't mind," said Rosy, "Besides, I like hanging out with my friends, and you guys are cool."

There was a general sound of agreement from the rest of the little ponies tagging along behind, and there was even a feeble cheer or two.

Thomas turned his head to look at Applejack, but she just grinned at him and said, "Told ya' they weren't afraid no more."

"You're all welcome to tag along," said Lucas, "But all we're going to be doing is loading the train and then heading off to Horseshoe Bay."

"Can we come too?" asked a green pegasus by Tom's left leg.

"Sorry," said Rainbow, "But this is official business. Too dangerous for kids like yourselves. Maybe when you're older. For now, you just leave this to us. Don't worry, we've got this."

Thomas felt Rosy's head droop at that but bounce right back up as she said, "Don't you mean, they've got this?"

Thomas couldn't see Rainbow since she was hovering like she almost always was, but he could imagine the disgruntled look on her face.

"Yeah... that's what I meant to say."

As they approached the train loading area Thomas could feel the flurry of hooves pounding cement, wood, wheels creaking and voices calling out directions. Though he couldn't see it Tom could feel the sense of urgency as pony porters ran back and forth moving and loading supplies.

As they stepped onto the platform, Tom felt a porter approaching. While there was a definite caution to his step, Tom was still grateful that the porter was still willing to talk to them.

"Mr. Thomas, we were wondering if you wouldn't mind helping us. There is one more load of supplies we have yet to pick up and bring back here for loading. However, while small, they are by no means light."

Thomas passed his two fellow compatriots off to the mane six and saluted the porter smartly. Thomas felt the porter flinch as his hand darted up to his forehead, then relax as he realized what Tom was implying.

"Hey, we need one of the wagons!" He yelled to his fellows and soon he and Thomas were walking and trotting off towards the west side of Canterlot.

As they walked, Thomas took in every aspect of the city that he could. Since he couldn't see the colors and architecture, he listened to the bustle of the ponies making their way from shop to shop. He could hear fillies and colts playing in the streets as well as in private backyards.

Tom had never really taken in the world like this before. He often thought of himself as a detail-oriented guy and tended to miss out on the bigger picture. Now that he was 'detail choked' and forced to take in every aspect of the area around him, he couldn't help but appreciate the atmosphere Canterlot provided.

When they came to the end of the street, they began following the waterway that cut the city in half and provided water for the hanging pools that decorated the side of the mountain.

WHERE GOING?

The porter didn't notice what Tom had written until he tapped the chalkboard a few times.

"West side of town is a small shop that sells earthenware containers, we hired them to craft several large jars for the princess' needs. They were filled after crafting and are a little beyond my capabilities as a unicorn."

After crossing one of the three bridges that spanned the waterway, Tom noticed the neighborhoods were becoming smaller, making way for a multitude of small shops.

At last they came to a little square, in the center of which stood a dilapidated old fountain, the water still barely flowing. As they passed by the fountain Thomas stopped and stood still a moment, listening. The porter stopped when he noticed Tom standing and asked if anything was wrong.

QUIET

The porter sighed and nodded, "I used to live near this side of town, it's not exactly bursting with business anymore. Shame too, there are some really good crafts-ponies over here. The shop we're headed to is right there."

The shop was definitely... odd, to say the least. The front portion of the store consisted of a large wooden plank which, since it was hinged at the top, could either be swung down to cover the front of the store or propped up to provide shade for those who were browsing. The plank was held up by a gigantic clay jar about the size of a pickup truck that could be rolled out through the front window to prop up the plank. Tom rolled the cart up next to the store as the porter headed in. Walking up to the gigantic container, Tom tapped it's side and was able to feel the store name scrawled on it just as the young colt at the counter piped up, welcoming the porter.

"Hello and welcome to Lar's Jars, home to the biggest and the best, where our motto is just try 'an break it. My name's Jug, how can I help you today?"

The porter explained they were there to pick up the princess' order and and Jug nodded cheerfully.

"Your friend out there, movin' them for yah? 'Cause they're a little out of my weight class."

"Yes. Mr. Thomas, would you mind rolling the merchandise out to the cart? And please be careful, the last thing we need is what's inside these jars spilled out in Canterlot," said the porter, motioning for Tom to come into the store.

"Oh, he can't hurt 'em," said Jug, waving a hoof nonchalantly.

"Be that as it may," replied the porter, "They're filled with a mixture of magically-primed oil and dragon scales."

Thomas felt Jug raise an eyebrow and then shout out to the back of the shop, "Hey Pop, I think we got ourselves another up-tight 'ere."

Placing his hand against the wall, Tom could just make out a set of wooden steps climbing up the back wall of the store to a wooden balcony and door set in the wall. As he watched, Tom could hear the squeaking from the rocking chair stop and an elderly pony get up and stretch. Then in one quick motion he kicked a large jar sitting next to him off the balcony and the porter gave a practically audible wince as the jar landed with a sickening crunch on the granite floor.

The porter's ears raised back up and Tom could hear a hint of annoyance in his voice, "What was that for?!"

Jug just grinned and hopped over to where the jug lay on its side, a hole practically guaranteed.

"That floor's Griffin Granite," said Jug, lifting the jar out of the hole punched in the floor by the jar, which was itself unharmed, "Stuff's about as hard as the heads of the fellows we bought if from. Can't tell you how many times we've dropped this here jug on that there tile, but I'd say the results speak for themselves."

The porter stared in shock at the undamaged jar, as the old pony on the balcony broke into laughter, "Best darn 'vestment I ever made. If'n the hardest stuff out there don' break it, what chance 'ave ye?"

Tom walked up to the jar and felt it. Instantly he knew the old pony on the balcony had far more skill when it came to magic than clay. The jar wasn't perfectly symmetrical, but the magic that lay within practically dared him to try and break its adamantine hold on the container. He couldn't resist.

Taking the top of the jar in his right hand, Thomas lifted and slammed it down onto the tile floor. Jug never even blinked.

Lifting the jug once more, Tom discovered another pulverized hole in the granite floor, and the completely intact jar almost laughing at him like the old pony above them.

"Tol' ya- Tol' ya, but did 'e listnen ta me- ha-ha. Nee-ope, they never do- he-he-he."

Turning, Tom noticed that the poor porter looked like he was starting to get a migraine, so he placed the jar down in the hole in the floor and watched as Jug lifted it back up to the balcony with a winch system.

While the porter paid Jug, Thomas lugged the heavy jars of oil and scales out to the cart. When he was done he signaled the porter to wait a moment and walked back over to the massive store-front jar. Curious, Tom reached under it and tried lifting it a little with one hand. The jar wasn't too heavy and Tom's strength was more than enough to raise it slightly off the ground without disturbing the store-front.

"Lightweight as well as strong," piped up Jug from the door of the shop, "That's the very first one my father ever made, biggest too, and the one we're most proud of to boot. It's so light, I roll it back into the shop when we close up for the night."

"Using your big fat head..." said someone and Tom realized there was another pony in the town square.

"Ooh, run back home to your basket case family, Sandy," returned Jug.

"Your father looking to replace you with something a little lighter in the brains department?" replied the female pegasus, giving Tom a sideways glance.

"Hey! At least I don't have tree bark for hair, PINE CONE BREATH!"

"CLOD-HOPPING DIM-WHIT!"

The two were practically nose-to-nose at this point, and yelling at the top of their lungs. If Tom hadn't been standing right next to them, he would have never heard what came next.

"See you tonight by the bridge?" whispered "Sandy."

"Of course..." whispered back Jug, "-AND THE SAME TO YOUR FATHER!"

"Sandy" drew back, stuck her nose in the air and, with a 'hummph', trotted off toward the edge of town.

Tom tilted his head and tried to give Jug the impression he was staring at him.

Covering his blush with a cough, Jug said, "That... individual... was Sandy Turnips. Her family runs a basket shop by the edge of town and is sworn enemies with our family... "THEY" say our father stole some of their clay to make ol' faithful here. But Pop'd never do something like that. Nasty weed weavers."

Surrrrre... Thought Tom to himself, I ain't buying it Romeo.

There was a commotion from inside the shop and Jug yelled back, "Yeah Pop, that was one of those Turnips. Don't worry I told 'em off." Then in a more pleasant tone of voice, "My apologies for all that, but I hope you have a nice day, and remember our motto is Just try an' break it!"

Tom gave Jug a quick wave good-bye, took hold of the cart and started back towards the train station.

As he watched the two head off, Jug patted the tremendous container fondly and whispered, "One day my friend, you're gonna be famous. Then you won't have to worry about holding this old store open anymore..."

Then quietly to himself, "And I won't have to worry about who I can and can't spend time with."

There was a fierce racket from inside the store and Jug called back, "Yeah, I'm coming Pop, keep yer teeth in and quit yakin' about lunch. The sun's barely up yet."

When they got back to the train station, most of the foals and fillies were nowhere to be seen. All except for Rosy.

Picking up Lucas's container, Thomas learned that the children got bored pretty fast and had run off to play. But for some reason Rosy stuck around, asked questions and offered to help.

After the porters told her most of the stuff they were loading was too heavy for her, she just sat there, out of the way of Thomas and the porters, and watched it all. Every now and then she would ask a question and Lucas did his best to answer while Thomas worked and Michael, who they had placed next to Lucas's tin, kept silent.

Thomas didn't know what to make of Michael. He didn't seem to have the same animosity towards Rosy that he still directed at the mane six. On the other hand he wasn't coming out of his shell and conversing with her either. He just seemed... quiet.

Probably still thinking about his sister's decision, He thought to himself.

At last Thomas loaded the last crate of oil and supplies and knocked his knuckles with all the porters' hooves at once then he picked up Michael and Lucas and looked around, noticing that Rosy was gone.

"She left a little while ago," said Michael, "Think she said something about hanging out with some of her friends."

NICE KID.

Michael didn't say anything.

Thomas handed him to Fluttershy, Lucas to AJ and boarded another car with Rainbow and Maud to keep him company.

On their way to Rambling Rock Ridge, Maud continued their discussion about Boulder and rock farming. Rainbow fell asleep within minutes of their departure and snored most of the way with her head lolling against a crate of supplies.





Meanwhile in the car ahead of Thomas, Lucas was circling his water canteen and thinking. Ever since the big planning session and spending the night in the castle he had come to several conclusions.

The first was that he was going to check out the show when and if he ever got home.

The second was that this whole situation was really starting to take its toll on him. He was now even more worried than before that they might not make it home. Zecora's prophesy still nagged at the back of his mind, and though he kept trying to piece it together into a concrete future, it was just vague enough that he couldn't pull anything besides a few potential ideas from it.

Now that they were headed towards Horseshoe Bay and he was probably going to be the first to encounter the monster somewhere out at sea, he was also beginning to rethink Mira's idea.

A pony trotted up to his seat, humming a gentle tune and deposited something that sounded like Michael next to him and then walked back to her friends on the other side of the car. Michael didn't say anything and Lucas felt no need to break the silence.

They sat there thinking for about ten minutes then Michael spoke. "Why did you snap at me this morning?"

Lucas, startled from his thinking, looked around before realizing he was still trapped in the canteen.

"I'm sorry," he said, swirling himself around the canteen in a way that almost felt like kicking the ground with his foot, "That wasn't me, that was my father. Sometimes I get upset and he rears his head a little."

"You don't like your father?"

Lucas paused to think for a little before answering, "He's a good guy, in his own way. However, we don't always see eye to eye exactly. Mom wants me to get a college education, probably could make it with a scholarship too, with my grades... But Dad thinks it's a waste of time. Wants me to get a job, get married, settle down, have some kids and get a life. Neither of my parents ever really got a good education, but my mother's got high hopes for me. She wants me to become a doctor... or somethin'."

"Do they..." Michael started before changing his mind, "And you? What do you want?"

Lucas knew what Michael wanted to ask but answered the other question instead. "Dunno... Getting a scholarship would be hard work. Dad would find out too. Don't know how he'd deal with that... Mom would be happy, maybe me too. Can't say I enjoy school, but chemistry's interesting. I guess I've been thinkin' about it all. Haven't made up my mind yet. How 'bout you?"

Michael snorted, "I've got plenty of time before university. Plenty of video games too. Mira's leaving in a couple of years though."

"You going to miss her?"

"Dunno. She's always been into weird stuff like this. I prefer my older brother, we play Halo and Smash Brothers together."

"How does he feel about your sister's hobby?"

"He puts up with it same as me, though he's even watched a couple episodes with her. You got any siblings?"

"One. He died in Afghanistan in 2011."

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok. You didn't know. Besides, he died a hero, Dad's even got the medal and everything. My brother was a really great guy... Dad's really proud of him."

"What was he like?"

Lucas chuckled a little and said, "He was pretty intelligent, not as smart as me, but he was a great singer. He even had plans to get a good education, that's why he joined the army. Had a girlfriend too. They were even planning to get married when he got back from his last tour of duty. He saved two of his teammates from a sniper, even after getting shot in the chest... My whole family misses him."

Michael didn't push Lucas any further the rest of the trip.
> Chapter 17: Arrival
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 17: Arrival


The city of Baltimare lay silent by the bay as the Friendship Express rolled into the station.

The train came to a halt, let out a rush of steam then sat there motionless, as if waiting for something.

After a couple of seconds, a door in one of the carriages opened and Tom stepped out onto the earth. The train had pulled past the station to the end of the line, closer to Horse Shoe Bay.

Bending down, Thomas laid both hands on the earth and reached out, being careful not to get lost like the last time. After a minute or so he stood up, reached back and accepted Michael's lamp from Applejack, who was standing just inside the car.

Holding Michael in his left hand, Tom curled his fingers so they were in contact with the flame and let Michael speak for him.

"Most of the town is deserted, however there are some stragglers in the town center as well as some who aren't leaving at all."

"My soldiers shall encourage them to leave," said Luna, heading back towards the rear cars.

Along with several earth pony porters and a couple unicorns, Luna had also seen fit to bring as many earth pony guard volunteers as she could find.

As the royal guards got into formation by the caboose Thomas started helping the porters unload the supplies.





Less than half an hour later Thomas had most of the supplies unloaded from the train onto carts they had brought from Canterlot.

Just as Tom was about to take hold of two heavily loaded carts and make his way towards the beach, several guards came running back from the town, calling for Luna.

"What is thine trouble?" she asked, as Thomas put down the handles to see what was going on.

"Your highness, while we were able to get most of the remaining populace to leave there are several..." The guard paused, unable to come up with the right word.

"Stubborn pin-heads," volunteered Michael.

The guard coughed before continuing, "Well... yes, with all due respect. Several old families demand that they take their heirlooms with them, and since they don't have the necessary transportation they are refusing to leave."

"Then I, their Princess of the Night, shall tell them... They. Art. Leaving." said Luna in a voice that brooked no arguing.

Thomas nodded in agreement and was about to begin pulling the carts when Lucas spoke up.

"Hold it princess. How many carts do we have?"

"Seven," said a porter standing by the train with a checklist in his hooves.

"And how many families are there?"

"Truly, thou art not suggesting that we acquiesce to their demands?" said Luna, in a shocked tone.

"Hear me out." continued Lucas, "We need you here, helping us move supplies, and setting up defenses. None of us has the leadership qualities or local knowledge to manage the set-up process. And besides, if I know set-in-their-way types, it would take a lot longer than it should, even if you were to go talk to the families."

Luna paused for a second to consider Lucas's words, then she turned to the soldiers and said, "How many?"

"Two families in the center of town, and one near the bay," replied the soldier, saluting.

"That leaveth us still with four wagons," said Luna with a hoof on her chin. "Very well. Take thee the three carts and help the families to vacate thine premises at once."

"Tell them to take some of the less necessary supplies as well," said Lucas, "You know some of the supplies we won't need until later, like the tents, cooking supplies and stuff. They can bring them back when they return. It will simplify things for us."

"Excellent suggestion," said Luna, turning to the porters, "Load those supplies on the carts and hitcheth them unto the guards. Also, you four," she pointed to several porters, "Go with them and help."

Tom grabbed the handles of the two carts again and heaved them towards the beach as, behind him, two porters started tossing supplies from one cart to another and Pinkie, Fluttershy and the guards started hauling the other wagons towards the town.





As Thomas pulled the carts through the town, he aimlessly considered how much Equestria was like Earth.

Even here there are idiots that doubt the Princesses, like people who think they can weather through a hurricane, outwit a tornado or find a deal worthy of Black Friday.

Aboard the cart, Michael's flame danced back and forth to the rhythm of the cobblestone street.

Suddenly there was a noise from a back alleyway and Thomas stopped and shifted his focus to peer into the mass of trashcans and dumpsters. Even Michael stayed silent, waiting for something to happen.

Then a cat hissed and jumped from behind a trashcan, causing the lid to fall to the ground with a clatter that echoed through the alleyway.

Tom stepped back involuntarily and the cat, taking one look at him, turned tail and fled down the road in fright.

"CCAAATT!" Yelled Michael in mock terror, then he snorted. "Nervous much? And here I thought you said this was just My Little- ... That dumb show."

Tom reached out a hand to grab Michael and establish the connection.

Have a look at what I can see.

Michael looked around through Tom's eyes and could see nothing but building foundations, and a couple meters of buildings rising up on all sides.

You've got a wonderful view from up there of all the sights to see, in color. All I can see is the building foundations, cobblestones, utilities and basements. You hear that?

Michael listened in silence for moment before he caught the sound, Yeah, sure. It's a flag flapping in the breeze.

What's it look like?

Two stretched ponies orbiting around a sun and moon on a blue field of stars.

Yeah, well I can't see that. Think about it. Look up, what do you see?

Sky, clouds, sun an' stuff.

Right, now have a look through my eyes again.

Michael did as he was told and suddenly realized what Thomas was getting at.

Nothing.

That's right, no sun, no clouds, no light. Every time I look up at the sky I'm reminded just how blind I am. Sure I can see things a lot of people can't, but other than that... Nothing. No color, no light, no reflections, the barest hint of textures, not even shadows.
Growing up my favorite things to look at were massive, awe-inspiring things, mountains, and clouds. My favorite vacation we ever went on was to see the Grand Canyon. Now I can only see about as far as I could throw a stone, any further and I risk getting lost in the earth.
You have anything else you'd like to say?

Michael was silent for a moment, then, Sorry man. That was... stupid of me. Like my sister said, I can be a real oaf sometimes. Do you forgive me?

Thomas placed Michael back in the wagon and picked up both wagon hitches. Then he set the right one down and gave the O.K. sign before picking it back up and continuing towards the bay.

When they got to the ocean, Thomas set the hitches down and picked up Michael. Using the lamp like an eye he sorted through the boxes in the wagon until he found what he was looking for.

Setting the box on the ground he reached in and took out a life preserver, an anchor and a length of rope.

I still don't get our end, said Michael.

We anchor the life preserver close to shore and it provides a quick way to find Lucas in such a large body of water, returned Thomas.

Yah, I got that. But how will he know we'll be looking for him?

He can hear us under water, and besides it's only meant to be a visual marker, not a telephone.

Looping the rope through the anchor and the life preserver, Thomas threw the preserver into the ocean and began pulling until Michael told him it was within reaching distance from the shore. Then he wound the remaining length of rope around the anchor and dropped it in the sand.

Now back to the train.

Why aren't they hauling anything? asked Michael, careful to keep his voice neutral.

Because the other wagon is mostly full of heavy stuff. They could have hauled this one but I did it so they could continue loading the other wagon. They'll help unload the stuff once we get it here.

You know what amazes me, said Michael, with a note of comedy in his voice, We're humans from a greatly advanced civilization. We get sent to another universe where the dominate life-form is horse, and we're the ones who lack the fine motor control required to do anything. Ironic, huh?

Thomas paused for a second. Then he shook his head, chuckling.

Let's just get back to the others. The sooner Lucas gets out there, the sooner we find out what we're up against.

Leaving the wagons, Thomas headed back towards the train.





Thomas pulled the last two wagons filled with oil, weapons and deterrents through the town streets. Luna hovered above while the porters trotted carefully behind Thomas and a squadron of earth pony guards held up the rear. Fluttershy, Rainbow, AJ and Pinkie had returned to Canterlot and there was now one train left in the station, should they need to follow the whatever was coming.

Suddenly Thomas stopped and held up a hand. Several guards fanned out surrounding the porters and Luna charged her horn in preparation.

A porter darted forward and held Michael's flame to Thomas's back so they could hear him.

"Somethings not right. I feel... fragile. Like something important was just taken away from me. And... something else-"

He paused as if searching for the right words and a gentle breeze blew down a nearby alley, scattering leaves in its wake.

"Wait! It's Mira. My sister's back!"

The guards immediately eased, the glow faded from Luna's horn and several porters let out an audible gasp of relief.

"Mira?" said Michael, confused, "Are you there? ... What's wrong?"

There was a short moment of silence before Mira spoke, "I just got back from the dead island. Luna, four heroes from our world gave their lives there to protect Equestria. What's coming now, is the offspring of what they defeated."

Luna nodded her head, "Rest assured, if we get through this I will personally see to it that they shallt be honored and remembered for their sacrifice."

"I have some information about what the creature looks like, and where it came from. But I'm afraid I still have no idea what is could be." continued Mira.

"We'll figure that out after I get a better look at the thing," said Lucas, from his jug aboard one of the carts, "Right now we need to prepare for the attack. We would appreciate it if you would continue acting as Tom's translator. Just out of curiosity, I assume that what is coming is an aquatic creature?"

"Both, from what I heard," answered Mira, "I was told that it fought on land as well as being parthenogenic."

"The possibilities narrow," said Luna, squinting her eyes as they continued towards the beach, "Didst thou receive a physical description?"

"I was told it resembled a giant crab spider," said Mira, as they stepped onto the beach.

Luna's face froze in shock as she hovered in mid-air above them, "That's... Impossible..."

Everyone stopped and looked up at her as she continued, "How would one...? Why would one ever...?"

"Do you know what it is?" asked Lucas.

"Perhaps. It would answer many questions, but also raise many more. We canst discuss it whilest we unload."

Landing, she lit up her horn and began taking crates off the wagon, talking all the while.

"I may be mistaken. But Mira's description, suggests the monster couldst be a Moon-Beetle. They are indigenous to the Equestrian Moon and, in the wrong circumstances, incredibly dangerous."

"But the moon is-" started Michael, before his sister interrupted him in a comically dull monotone.

"Magic."

"Dangerous in what way?" asked Lucas.

"Moon-Beetles live in a symbiotic, parasitic relationship with the Equestrian Moon." explained Luna, "Many objects in our universe exhibit magical tendencies and some build up magical reservoirs. Our sun and moon art two such examples. However, magic hath a tendency to proliferate and, on our deserted satellite, requires redistribution. The sun naturally distributes its inherent magic, but the moon lacks this ability."

"Is that why you and your sister can move them?" asked Mira.

"Verily."

"So if these creatures are strictly moon-bound, how is it you know about them?" asked Lucas.

"Whilest confined to the moon during my banishment," returned Luna, with a note of regret in her voice, "I noticed the Moon-Beetles and transcribed a small study of their natural behaviors. They art parasites that feedeth on the moon's magic field. But once they art full and reacheth maturity they self-combust and distribute all their magic in a different location. They art capable of storing massive amounts of magic within their carapace, thus I conducted mine research from a distance. Fortunately, the moon possesseth such vast reserves of magic that they ignored me for the most part. But if one hath found its way to Equis it will be starved and I knoweth not what we canst do to stop it. Art thou certain thine description is correct?"

"That's how Nathaniel described it," said Mira.

"Let us pray then that your Nathaniel was mistaken in their description. But place Lucas into the water, to be sure."

Thomas took the jug off the cart and walked over to the ocean. Walking in the sand was difficult, but the minute Tom set foot in the ocean the sand beneath him gave way and he fell face-first into the waves. Sediment swirled around him has he tried to get upright, but the liquefaction of the sand made it nearly impossible.

"That's one way to do it," said Lucas through the water surrounding them.

Thomas could feel the broken jar in his right hand as he lay there trying to grasp some form of equilibrium.

"Here let me help."

The ocean seemed to draw itself back as, from above, Luna provided Thomas with a little magic support.

Ripping his feet from the thick sand, he stumbled back onto the more manageable sand of the beach.

"Thou understandeth what thou needst do?" asked Luna, landing on the beach.

After a minute of silence she realized Lucas had no means of speaking back. So, with an uncomfortable look on her face, she stepped into the surf and, taking a deep breath, stuck her head under the water.

A few seconds later she raised her head and said, "He is on his way."





The second that Lucas entered the ocean he realize just how limited he had been in every other situation he had been in before. He could see for what felt like forever. After being confined to pools, jugs, jars and pots Lucas felt like a little kid in a candy factory... Wonka's... with infinite funds.

"Thou understandeth what thou needst do?" Came the Blue Princess's voice from above, and he wondered again at her archaic dialect.

He waited for them to do something and was pleasantly surprised when the princess shoved her head underwater to get his answer.

"Ready, willing and able." he replied.

She nodded her head and he was off.

Unlike back home, where light could only penetrate so deep below the surface, here Lucas could see not just by sight but also physically through the water. As he dove deeper into the murky depths while the color faded everything was still as sharp and clear as when he was a human.

Though the temperature decreased rapidly, Lucas's body (or the water that made it up) just seemed to integrate to the new temperature and adjust that as the new 'warm'. Though he knew it was getting darker, and the sediments floating the water provided some cloudy obscurance he still felt little to no fear as he descended. He could feel for what felt like miles, and the insubstantiality of his being provided him with a sense of near-invulnerability.

He was now traveling straight down, having left the continental shelf far behind him. As he waited to touch down on the ocean floor he hummed the Superman theme to himself mentally.

At last he spotted it far below him and, with a quick shove, thrust himself through the water to land (metaphorically and actually) on an alien planet.

With a mental anchor and a horizon to orient himself, Lucas stretched himself, trying to feel farther in all directions. He was now limited completely to the tangibility of the water, having left all sunlight far above him. But this was more like removing a distraction than providing a handicap.

The farther he stretched out, the more deep sea creatures he could feel.

But no giant monster beast...





Thomas, Luna, the porters and several soldiers, having constructed the defenses, were helping set up camp for the night.

Several soldiers had asked the Princess to sleep within the safety of the soldier camp. Luna replied that she would be sticking with Thomas and his compatriots. However, she did allow a couple soldiers to guard her tent.

As two porters began constructing a large tent in which Tom and his friends would sleep, Tom reached down and carved out a small fire pit with one hand, before depositing several rocks around it.

Looking up, he asked Mira to translate for him, "So how long do you guys plan on staying with us?"

The porters looked up and, the unicorn on the right, replied, "I'm heading out after this. But a couple earth ponies are staying through the night to help set down in the morning and prepare for departure in case you need to follow the creature along the river."

"Aren't they scared?"

The earth pony porter answered, "We are. But we trust the princess, and the soldiers have been told to defend us. We're just glad to be helping."

Meanwhile Michael, who was unable to help set anything up, and had gotten in trouble for yelling at a porter, had been stuck with the soldiers.

One young soldier named Heavy Hoof decided to build a fire and let Michael sit in the flames. The commander of the squad felt it was best to keep Michael distracted and let Heavy Hoof stay and talk to Michael.

"-And then I took a deep breath and said, 'yay' and the sergeant said, 'private... you are now my favorite private in the history of ever. Now get over there and give me fifty push-ups!"

"...I don't get it."

"Yah, me neither at the time, but apparently I sounded like someone he knew really well."

Heavy Hoof sat there for a minute before Michael spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

Hoof nodded.

"I hope you won't get offended by this, but... what exactly do you guys do? I understand you're helping us with this monster right now, but I can't imagine you get that many of those."

Hoof chuckled. "Actually you might be surprised just how many creatures do attack us. But you've got a point, this isn't really our true purpose. We are mostly the royal guard. We watch over the princesses and guard the city of Canterlot. It may not seem like much-"

They watched as Luna arranged some logs in a tipi-like fashion before setting them aflame with one sharp flash of her horn.

"But it is our duty. And it is an honor to serve the princesses!"

"I guess I know what that means. We've got... guards who do the same where I'm from. They're the butt of a lot of jokes, but they still do what they need to."





After almost an hour of searching Lucas came to the conclusion that, even though he was fast, he wasn't capable of searching the entire ocean floor to find the coming creature.

Settling once again on the ocean floor he looked around for some... something that might help him. But all he could see were some heavily armored crustaceans, weird ghostly fish and a large dark fish with huge teeth.

"Little help guys?" he said.

Then he got an idea.

Wait a second. You're all heading one direction. And I'm betting it's, away from the coming storm.

With that Lucas lined himself up and darted off into the darkness, in the direction from which all the deep sea creatures were fleeing.

The further he traveled the fewer creatures he saw, until he was forced to spend several minutes figuring out which direction a sea slug was going for directions.

But finally something loomed before him, several miles off the shelf, slowly lumbering towards the bay. As he got nearer, Lucas knew that he and his friends were in trouble.





It was several hours after the camps had been set up, all the unicorns had left, and Michael had been transplanted into the fire pit near his friends.

Luna had made several attempts to cook some sort of vegetable on a stick, with no success. At last she gave up and through her stick in the fire.

"I don't understand! How is it my sister canst do this and all I get are the cinders?"

Heavy Hoof, who was one of the guards allowed to protect the princess that night, gave a hopeful look at the fire and, sighing, Michael formed the flame into a donut allowing Luna an even roast.

"The trick, if my princess will allow me," said Heavy Hoof, "Is to be patient with the flames. Take it easy, rotate the stick, and let it cook gently."

Once again Luna tried cooking what to Thomas, with his foot resting in the fire-pit, looked like an artichoke.

After a few moments, the Princess of the Night withdrew her food and proclaimed, "Huzzah! We hast cooked the food. In thine face sister!"

She took a quick bite and Michael's flames sizzled as she spat it back out into the fire.

"This is disgusting! How can she eat this stuff?"

Thomas raised a mental eyebrow at the princess's momentarily dropped dialect and, getting up, he walked over to where the waves lapped at a small dock where they had repositioned the life preserver for easier access.

Dipping his hand in the water, Tom was surprised to find Lucas waiting for him.

Did you find it? he asked.

Yes. Can you get me out of here?

Thomas gave a signal and a porter came over carrying a large fluted jar. Dipping the jar into the water, Tom felt Lucas zip in and wait to get back to the others.

Walking back to the fire. Tom set the jar on the sand and sat down.

Luna was the first to speak, "Didst though find it?"

"Yes. I'm estimating it was about 100-120 miles from here in deep water, but sticking near the continental slope."

"And what didst thou behold?"

"...Exactly how Mira described it. Six large, heavily armored legs with two large frontal appendages kind of like claws and a mouthful of tentacles. I'm not quite sure just how tall it was but it was probably close to a hundred feet."

"Approximately 85 feet, the average adolescent," said Luna. "My fears are confirmed. What is coming is't most certainly a Moon-Beetle."

"So then how did it get here?" asked Lucas.

"Mira told us of what she learned from the previous Elements. I am certain that the zebra who-"

"Hold it! What zebra? Previous Elements?"

Mira explained to Lucas what Nathaniel had told her on the Dead Island and Luna continued.

"As I said, I am certain that the zebra was summoning the creature from afar. Zebra's lack our inherent magic but are able to summon and create with runes and potions. The important thing now, is't determining how best to stop it."

"How long till it reaches shore?" asked Mira.

"I couldn't stop it, and I barely slowed it down, but it's not exactly sprinting with all that water resistance. I'd say late morning at best, early at worst."

"OK then, like Luna said," stated Mira for Thomas, "Till then we figure out how best to defeat it, get some rest and prepare to fight tomorrow morning."

"You said you were on the moon before, couldn't you just... send it back?" asked Michael.

"T'would be best for everyone," agreed Luna, "Alas, so long as the Beetle is alive, it will absorb all magic directed against it, even to return it home."

"There's no way to talk to it?" asked Lucas.

"They art normally a peaceful, if unintelligent species." replied Luna, "They know no other language than their own, neither canst they read or write and even simple logic is beyond them. I know no way to communicate peaceful intentions to it."

"So then what do we do?" said Michael.

Slamming his right fist into his left hand, Mira translated for Thomas, "We fight! Kill it if we must, incapacitate if we can."

"I thank thee," said Luna, "Whilest the creature is a danger of the moment, it possesseth a destined purpose and place. However, what you suggest will not be easy."

Raising her horn up, Luna released a spell and a large tome appeared in front of her which she caught and, levitating it in front of her, flipped to a specific page.

"The Moon-Beetle's internal biology is very similar to most insects. It hath a distributed nervous system, and appears to use magic to breathe minerals. Thus rendering it unconscious is not an option. The Moon-Beetle's digestive process consists of passing magic-permeated substances across it's Labium-"

"English please," piped up Michael.

"Those mouth tentacles I told you about," said Lucas.

Tom nodded, relieved that someone had asked for him and Mira said, "Oh, those things... Of course. Luna, could you keep the technical jargon to a minimum. We don't all speak Twilight."

"My apologies, I shalt attempt to paraphrase across it's... mouth-parts, where the magic is siphoned off and distributed throughout the Moon-Beetle's carapace- shell."

"What happens if we break it's mouth?" asked Michael in a matter-of-fact tone.

The firelight was just bright enough to illuminate Luna's raised eyebrow as she responded, "Surprisingly enough I hath witnessed just such circumstances. A Moon-Beetle was trapped upside-down neath a collapsed lunar mountain when an outcropping of rock managed to pierce the mouth-part. When I approached the creature, I discovered said incident had rendered the organ useless. I also saw the beetle had laid its egg. Thus I extricated its offspring to a new location before returning and relieving the parent's suffering. However, as I carried the egg away the beetle ended its own life prematurely."

"So you're saying if we take away its ability to absorb magic it blows itself up?" said Mira, speaking for herself as well as Thomas.

"Verily. If thou seekest to render it incapable of consumption, thou needeth a mage to return it from whence it came lest it detonate on Equis."

"Great, so if we defuse the threat, it explodes in our faces, leaves an egg and the whole thing starts over again," said Mira, trying to match Tom's voice a little.

"Who's capable of sending the beetle back to the moon?" asked Mira.

"Myself, mine sister, her student or at least three highly skilled unicorn mages."

"So we need some way to provide a signal if one of us takes the mouth out," said Lucas.

"That should not provide much difficulty," said Luna, her horn engulfing everyone and everypony around the fire, "Merely scream it out, and my magic shall provide the signal."

"OK, but if this beetle's as tall as a building how are we going to hit it? Tom doesn't really look like he could use a pair of stilts," said Michael.

"What do you mean throw you ?" said Mira, addressing Thomas.

Thomas reached his hand out and tapped Luna on her horn, then he raised his right hand and slammed it down into his left. 

"Would that not hurt thee?" asked Luna, tilting her head inquisitively.

"He says he might have a solution for that," replied Mira, skeptically.

After discussing as many potential modes of attack as they could think of, several of the guards even chipping in, and Tom letting Luna pick him up a few times, they tried to get some rest.

"I will stand watch," said Luna, "Rest while you can, for it may not be possible for some time."

"Your Highness," said one of the guards, stepping forward, "We shall stand with you."

Luna gave the guard an indecipherable look and replied, "I am the Princess of the Night, nothing in the darkness shall harm me," then, turning to walk away from the camp, she paused and continued, "However, I would not forbid two by my side, should you wish it."





As the night wore on Lucas tried to get some sleep, but all he could think about was what he had tried to do to the Beetle when he first encountered it.

Nothing I did could stop it. A maelstrom of sand, silt and stone filled the depths of his memories as the dark hulking juggernaut continued slowly onward.

In the end death shall not come, only a new beginning, for life shall go on.

The prophesy repeated itself again and again through his head as his mind turned it over trying to parse together a physical future.

If the Beetle lives, does that mean we'll die? And if we kill it does that mean we'll live? Or are our fates linked and its death signal our own? But if an underwater landslide can't stop it, what chance do we have?

Meanwhile, on a cliff overlooking the bay and ocean, two unicorn guards stood watch as a single blue light scanned the waters for the moon's wayward child.
> Chapter 18: First Attack
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 18: The First Attack


The sediment swirled through the pitch black of the deep abyss, the constant hissing sound drowned out by the overwhelming hunger. One step at a time it made its way towards land. Yet the darkness did not diminish.

Then a light above, blue, shining, piercing, seeking. The creature's eyes followed the light hungrily watching as it traced back and forth over the ocean floor. Moving without thinking it made its way around the beam and upwards towards the light. Climbing higher and higher until it slipped silently from the water and began its ascent towards the calling light.

From the shore Thomas watched as the creature moved, silent as a shadow, up the cliff face. Luna unaware of what was coming. Tom tried to call out but Mira was apparently asleep. Unable to warn the princess, Tom began to run. However, as his feet sank into the sand of the beach, his progress became slower and slower. The lizard was almost to the top now. Desperate, Tom dove into the surf hoping maybe he could swim faster than he could run. The underwater sediment was even worse, like hands it pulled at his legs, pulling him down.

Through the undulating mirror of the ocean's surface Tom watched as the giant lizard poked its head over the top of the cliff like something from an old horror movie. Its head twitched left as Luna fell back in surprise and then tried running for her life towards the shore. The lizard's tongue shot out and snared the Lunar Princess, dragging her back kicking and screaming towards its open maw. The eyes rolled back in its head as its lids blinked and the mouth worked in quick jerking motions to work around the princess's frantically flapping wings, like some large insect.

Tom watched the delicate wings bend and snap as the mouth closed and darkness claimed the Princess of the Night. As the lizard blinked and looked around from the top of the cliff to the tune of crying foals, Tom sank lower beneath the waves. Darkness was closing in from all sides and he could feel the smooth sand wrapping around him and pulling him deeper, as if to say "You've failed, just give up."

Then a voice cut through the darkness, clear, sweet and unexpected.


"Oh, come on!"


A heart as strong as a horse! He thought, pulling his right hand free.

I've got you man, said Lucas, supporting Tom's right arm.


"You're just chicken!"


He pulled his left arm free.

Here let me help you, said Mira from above him.

Looking up Tom could see the shadow of the lizard on the side of the hill, outlined by the moon.


"Winners or not, we still have the chance to be awesome!"


Bracing himself against the two, Tom pulled. Straining against the sand, his right leg began to slide free.

Need a boost? said Michael and Tom could feel a burning sensation across his leg and down underneath his foot.

Pushing down Tom felt the water around him surge with energy, almost like he was stepping on the gas. But Michael was still more support than the slippery, swallowing sand below him. As Tom pushed Michael was equal parts agony and assistance.


"I hate losing..."


Tom's vision went red as he pushed down with all his might and the ocean around him exploded.

Through the flaming brilliance of a meteor Tom could see the lizard, large unblinking it stared at them. With laser-like precision he focused on that. Time seemed to slow down and the world fall away as they got closer. The last thing they saw was the lizard opening its mouth.

Then everything went black as a deep echoing sound reverberated through Tom's head.





BBWWWOONNNNNGGGGG!!!

TAKE THY PLACES! THE CREATURE APPROACHES!

Tom sat upright and the beach flew into focus. Mira was quickly roused, her bottle opened and the world focused even more. A guard grabbed Lucas's container and hurled it into the bay. Several unicorns tipped up the left over jugs of oil and dragon scales into the bay, as Heavy Hoof held Michael's lamp to the fire.

Luna landed on the beach, her horn flashing brilliantly and the two guards appearing beside her. More flashes and soon every unicorn in the group was shielded by a gently glowing aura.

"I hath hidden thine magic behind my own. Do not use it lest you reveal my deception."

From the other end of the bay, the earth-pony porters stood by the oil-coated nets and permeated sandbags, ready at a moments notice to close the bay with an unquenchable fire.

Lucas's empty container bobbed to the surface and floated on its side, his voice echoing across the shore, "IT JUST CRESTED THE CONTINENTAL BREAK! GIVE IT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT ENTERS THE BAY."

Tom could feel the soldiers shuffle uneasily, then started in surprise as everything went black.

Luna had picked him up in her magic like they had practiced last night. He heard her ask him if he was ready. Mira wrapped herself around him and he nodded and gave the princess the thumbs up, thinking back to his explanation of that gesture last night. Luna nodded back and the bay fell silent as everyone began waiting.

"ETA 2 MINUTES AND COUNTING!"

Even as Tom floated in the air, suspended by the eons-old celestial diarch, prepared to do battle with a giant insect-monster the size of a building, he couldn't help but reflect on the dream he had just had. Something about it was nagging at his mind. The first part was obviously from the beetle's perspective, but why did the beetle turn into a lizard? And was it just a dream or did the beetle and his friends share some kind of connection?

Not really a good time to be thinking about dreams! prodded Mira, a definite sense of worry to her mental voice.

Yeah but there was something about the dream... in the beginning, that feels really important... I can't put my finger on it though answered Tom, I didn't forget it, it was all too vivid. Something about the beetle's perspec-

"IT'S IN THE BAY! IT'S IN THE BAY! CLOSE IT OFF! CUT THE EXIT!" Lucas's voice went silent as a wave of water lapped the jar onto the beach.

The net blossomed into view from across the bay, even as it was plunged into the steaming water. The hazy fog of heat arching up and across both edges of the bay closing it in on land and sea.

Heavy Hoof touched Michael's flame to the mat of oil, which was quickly coating the surface of the bay. The entire patch of oil flashed a soft blue while the brilliant orange flame of Michael hovered near shore, still getting used to his new form.

A surge of water plowed towards the beach, a mountainous hump forming the size of a small plane. It grew and grew until, a couple thousand feet from shore, it exploded upwards like something from a nightmare. A giant colorless creature halfway between a Coconut Crab a Giant Spider Crab dialed up to the size of Godzilla rose from the water.

Tom felt his gaze pulled towards the cluster of colorless dome-like eyes on the head and suddenly the beginning of the dream became crystal clear.

"IT CAN SEE MAG-" But before Mira could shout Tom's warning, Luna hurled him with all her strength, the precision of a laser and the pinpoint control of more than a millennium of magic experience.

Tom flew straight and true, Mira clinging to him providing the vision to witness the Beetle calmly, with the experience of eons, raise its right claw from the water and deflect Tom harmlessly away from his head.

Tom barely felt the impact. He'd seen it coming a mile away. He braced himself as Luna course-corrected his flight and swung him around for a second pass at the mouth. This time, he reached out and grabbed hold of the claw as it blocked his trajectory.

Hanging from the lower segment of the claw, Tom explained it to Mira, It can see magic. Luna's making me a floating neon sign! Tell her to stop before it catches on and zeroes in on her!

His vision narrowed to the armor of the beetle he was hanging from as Mira directed his words towards Luna who was trying to wrench him away from the creature.

I've got to keep hold and stay close. Just a little closer to the head...

Unfortunately, the beetle was having none of Tom's plan and shook its claw just as Luna let go of him. His weight reasserted itself as he lost his grip and dropped away from Mira into the dark emptiness of the sea below.





Lucas watched as the beetle rose from the water, above him Michael could see the hungry red eyes rolling this way and that, as if scanning the beach for something. Then Tom came flying towards it, Luna causing an impact crater on the beach from the force directed upon him. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, thought Lucas as he watched the beetle absentmindedly bat Tom away like an annoying moth. As Luna curved his trajectory back around for a second pass, Lucas saw her straining and unconsciously take wing as the forces she was exerting pulled her out over the bay.

For some reason Tom was holding onto the beetle now as Luna tried to pry him off. Then she stopped and her ears perked up as if someone was talking to her. At that moment the beetle shook its claw and Tom lost his grip and plummeted into Lucas.

IT CAN SEE MAGIC! LUNA'S A TARGET! He screamed mentally as he hit the water.

Lucas surrounded Thomas and tried to support him, but Tom slipped through his grasp and sunk into the sand at the bottom of the bay.

Lucas was trying to pay attention to Tom's explanation about his dream, but they were both interrupted by Michael's warning of what was happening above water.





Mira caught what Thomas said and left him hanging off the the creature with only his tangible viewpoint to guide him.

"Luna it can see your magic, you have to stop!" She cried.

Luna's ears perked up, her eyes opened wide and her magic flashed out as she whispered, "How could I have forgotten? They're thaumaturgivorous. They see in the same spectrum!"

Her eyes darted downwards to the falling Thomas and dove after him.

Mira could feel the beetle's upper thorax deflate slightly and something wet and sticky flew through her towards the diving princess.

"LUNA LOOKOUT!!!" She screamed, but it was too late.

The motorbike-sized wad of phlegm-like substance struck Luna directly between her wings, gluing them to her sides and nosediving her into the water.

Darting down, Mira tried to help, but all she could do was flail helplessly as the princess tried to stay afloat. Then a tentacle whipped through Mira's head, wrapped around Luna's back legs and jerked her out of the water.

Panicking Mira screamed for her brother to do something, not even considering he was a living third degree burn. To his credit, Michael did begin slinging globs of burning oil at the creature, taking care of the struggling princess, while also alerting their friends below water what was happening.

As liquid fire burst against the beetle's head and upper carapace the beetle raised its right claw and pulled back as though it couldn't tell where the attack was coming from. With Luna struggling in its powerful tentacles, trying to escape before it pulled her into its mouth, the beetle turned around to face away from shore. Mira, unable to do anything to help the princess, flew towards the beach to warn the panicking soldiers not to use their magic.

"What do we do?!" Asked Heavy Hoof, as his officer commanded the guards to refrain from using their magic, "We have to save the Princess!"

Thinking as fast as she could Mira yelled, "If Luna can't free herself, then you all won't be able to do anything either. We have to attack some other way."

"How?!" asked the commander.

Mira had no idea, but from behind her, Michael flared a brilliant red to get their attention. Turning, they him he sent a blue streak of fire zipping across the water to create a spinning circle of flame around an open patch of water to the right of the beetle.

As Mira and the guards watched in confusion, she felt the patch of water tremble and then a momentary bulge broke the surface like a giant underwater bubble had just popped.

"I know what to do!"

"We are at your command!" barked the officer, and the guards immediately came to attention.





Below water, Lucas was struggling frantically to free Tom from the grip of the seafloor, while Tom tried to pull free himself. Thomas felt like he was stuck in movie-grade quicksand, he was going down like a rock, and the more he struggled the deeper he sank. But unlike his dream, no magic voices were crying out words of encouragement.

Then he felt Lucas stop pulling.

What's wrong?! He asked.

I just remembered something my brother told me. He she, "The best of us are the ones who keep a clear head. Especially when everything is falling apart around them."

Thomas didn't even know Lucas had a brother but, as he thought about it, that idea did make sense. Tom stopped trying to heave himself out of the sand and tried to regain a neutral view of their position. Without the ability to breath, it was a very difficult task.

OK, why can't you pull me out?

You're too heavy.

We're underwater.

I don't have the physical tangibility to lift you.

Then compress yourself some tangibility.

Liquid isn't compressible, gas is.

Then how does a water-jet cutter work?

FORCE! Compression of effort not matter is the answer. Hold still.

Tom lifted his arms up and fanned them out to give Lucas as much surface area as possible. He felt Lucas swirling around him like a hurricane before imploding inwards and downwards into the sand below him. The liquefaction of the sand was near-instantaneous and Lucas directed the surge of force back upwards lifting Tom from the seafloor.

As he rose Tom lifted his feet, planning to push off Lucas's water pressure in an attempt to breach the water and grab hold of something.

HOLD IT. You do that and it will completely mess up my vortex.

Then how do I get out of here?

With those, said Lucas, directing Tom's attention towards the long tree-like legs sticking up from the sea floor to the watery ceiling.

OK, let's do this.

Wait said Lucas as Michael cut it.

Guys, Mira's got a plan. Get over to the area I've marked and prepare for my signal.

Through Lucas, Tom could see a bright flash of blue light and steam spinning in a circle on the surface of the water, as if through frosted glass. But it was off to their right, away from the beetle's legs.

Can you do this? asked Tom.

Just give me a second, muttered Lucas, and Tom felt the pressure fall away as Lucas spun up the force again and redirected it horizontally towards the marked spot.





Above water, Luna was doing everything she could, save using her magic, to free herself from the grasp of the beetle.

As the tentacles reeled her towards where she knew the mandibles were located, she bit, kicked and struggled. Then she felt the the penumbra of her tail graze one of the gnashing mandibles and she knew she had no choice. Her horn flared brightly, surrounding her lower body with a magic field to keep from being drawn in. However, as she did this she felt the tentacles around her begin leaching off the free magic like the "vacuum cleaners" the castle staff now used. Every passing second more magic flowed from her straight into the beetle, but there was now no other option available to her.

I can only do this for so long before I'm completely drained. Focusing all her efforts on her magic, Luna waited, hoping and praying that Thomas and the others would figure out how to free her before it was too late.  Please let them know what to do...





After Mira explained her plan to the guards the officer nodded, turned to his troops and shouted, "GO!"

Seven unicorns lowered their heads and focused on the spinning ring of fire across the water as Mira streaked for the same target.

The nearer she got, the hotter it became. Her brother was increasing the heat to signify the unseen progress of their underwater target.





Underwater Thomas and Lucas heard Michael echo the commander's"GO!", and Lucas once again increased the implosive upward force to lift Tom towards the glowing target on the water's surface.

The nearer they got, the brighter the flame became until Tom breached the water. The circle of flame exploded, a field of magic surged around him as both the onshore unicorns and Lucas lifted him up towards the, through Mira, now visible beetle.

The higher he rose the more he could feel Lucas's and the unicorns' force diminishing. I've only got one shot at this. Please forgive me if this hurts, Luna.

Tom reached out his right hand and it closed around Luna's two front hooves. He could feel the soft fur beneath his stone digits. Then Lucas and the magic supporting him cut out and he was left hanging onto Luna in midair.

He dropped a little and shuddered as he felt something above him stretch and snap, Please Luna be strong...

Then whatever it was that was supporting them gave out completely and Tom and Luna dropped into the water below them, Mira forcing air into Luna's lungs.

As they hit the water, Tom let go of the Princess and Lucas informed him she was still in one piece, then he sent her flying back towards the beach in a rip current, right underneath the beetle.





As she felt the cold wet stone wrap around her hooves Luna cut her magic and curled her hooves a little to make it easier for Tom to hold onto her. Please don't let go!

She could feel the tentacles around her legs straining to hold onto her and some of her tail even got caught in one of the mandibles of the beetle. But at last it let go and they fell, wind whipping through her mane and into her mouth?!

Luna's eyes went wide as air flooded her lungs. Then realization grasped her and she shut her mouth and eyes just before they hit the water. She felt Tom let go as the water around her took hold and started pulling her through it. Opening her wings, Luna kicked and flapped pushing herself with the flow of the water towards what she hoped was shore.

Then everything got darker and Luna felt and heard a tremendous boom above her. Tom and his friends will have to take care of that. Just keep pointing me towards shore-





Lucas was pushing Luna towards shore when Thomas got his attention.

Take me back up.

Why?

Look up.

Lucas didn't need to. The beetle's chest impacting the water was like a tree falling in a cave as it tried to follow Luna underneath it.

As Lucas lifted Thomas once again towards the surface Tom apologized in advance for what he was about to do.

No problem man. Say hello for me.

With that Thomas's legs drove down and his fists rose up at the same time sending Lucas reeling in the resounding aftershock.





Mira's gust of wind cut through her brother's oil slick, creating a break in the flame as he pulled back as much of the flame as he could.

Then the water under the beetle concussed upwards, shock waves rippling across the surface like a torpedo had just hit the giant insect.

The guards stood in shock on the beach until one of them cried out and dashed to a blue shape floating towards the beach. Every guard immediately ran to their princess, supporting her onto the sand. Mira, who had been pushing the unconscious princess's outstretched wings towards land, now began inhaling and exhaling for Luna's emaciated frame.





Thomas felt like a lighthouse in the midst of a hurricane. He had ridden through the cavitation bubble he had caused like he was resting in the middle of giant pillow. However, both Lucas and the beetle weren't doing so hot.

Lucas was over the moon that they had actually hit the beetle, however he now had no idea which direction was up, or even that "up" was a valid concept.

The beetle, on the other hand, had decided that Luna was not worth being in the water for, and had lifted its now cracked shell out of Tom's reach.

As Tom sank back down towards the bottom of the bay, Lucas still too stunned to share his sight, he held his arms out on either side, straining to feel anything in the dark void that surrounded him.

He never could remember whether his fingers actually brushed up against something, the barest hint of a ripple through the water gave it away or perhaps he sensed it in a way no sighted person could imagine. But faster than a gunshot, his fingers traced the outline of one of the beetle's legs, his two hands came together and with a deafening CRUNCH he sent the beetle stumbling to the right as its leg gave out underneath it.

The beetle toppled into the water sending a wave crashing towards the south side of the bay and Thomas touched down in the seafloor sediment, still blind.

"Hey Lucas, could you share an eye or two?"

"Sorry dude, but you just blew me up give me a second to-" As Lucas was saying this, some of his perspective spilled over to Thomas. It felt like he had just come down with the flu, while being tumbled inside a washing machine, on the most loopy roller-coaster on the planet, inside another washing machine during a hurricane.

Bracing himself against the sand underneath him, Tom tried to feed some sense of direction back to Lucas.

"OK, that helps. Keep it up."

Quickly the world began to reassert itself and stop spinning. Lucas picked Tom back up and threw him this time, towards the monster. However the beetle was learning and as soon as it righted itself it slammed a claw down into the water to guard against future attacks. Unfortunately, this coincided perfectly with Lucas's throw, and Tom was caught in the backwash from the impact of the claw.

Before they could right themselves the beetle regained its footing and scurried out of the water onto the southern side of the bay. Michael watched for them as it headed across the beach, away from the ponies, and into the swamps beyond.

"AFTER IT!" Yelled Thomas as Lucas halted his wild spinning.

"Dude what about the Princess?"

Tom inwardly winced at letting his aggression get the better of him and apologized.

"Understood man, I was hoping we could end it that quickly too."

With that, they made their way back to shore, Michael informing them that Luna had just come to.





"Did we get it?" Asked Luna, between coughs as Tom crawled from the water, fighting to 'swim' through the wet sand.

"Sorry your highness, but it escaped. My brother saw it heading into the swamps."

"Tom did break one of its legs though," cut in Michael, "So we should be able to catch up to it."

"Alas, I'm afraid it has many legs to spare. Quickly, after it before it gets far!" Commanded Luna, trying to stand.

"You are in no condition to follow anypony," said the unicorn commander, supporting his princess with a shoulder, "I say we head back to the train and get you to Canterlot-"

"I may be partially drained of my magic, but I have still raised the moon for over a century. Besides..." The commander nearly fell over as Thomas lifted Luna in one hand and cradled her like a baby, "I'm through meddling. Tom and his friends are our only hope now and we can't risk losing the trail. Now, after it!"

Tom took off across the beach with Mira on his shoulder, Luna in his right arm and the guards behind him. Lucas headed for the nearest estuary carrying part of Michael's oil slick with him.

Though he had taken the lead and had long, powerful strides, Tom realized the guards could run faster than him. As they dashed through the beachgrass and the sand merged back into soil, Tom considered how things had changed.

That shell wasn't that hard a nut to crack. However, when we were in the bay, the beetle was partially submerged. Now that it isn't, it definitely has the height advantage. As he thought back to the size of the leg he had crushed he couldn't help but worry, Now that it's on land, how do I reach the head?
> Chapter 19: Running Scared
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 19: Running Scared


The deeper they ran into the swamps the denser the atmosphere grew and the slower they could progress. Despite the obvious trail left by the beetle Thomas was certain they were falling farther and farther behind because of the encumbering topography.

Tom had expected to encounter difficulty running through the swamp from his experience in the Everfree. But there's a big difference between 'marshy' and 'swampy'. The mud clung to his feet and sucked him down with every step like superglue, while the hot oppressive air and bugs clung to anything and everything. If Tom hadn't been holding Luna in his right arm he would have been furiously swatting insects. Even though they couldn't do anything to him, there was something about the high-pitched whine of wings around him that still drove him up a wall.

Lucas too was having trouble. Moving through salt or fresh water was a breeze, but the 50/50 water/clay mixture of the swamp was like trying to swim through damp straw.

As Luna watched Tom struggle through the mud and Lucas drag the burning patch of oil across the surface of the swamp like a firesnail, her worry grew. She could see the trail the beetle had left behind. You'd have to be blind not to. A tunnel was plainly visible straight through the branches in front of them as well as slowly filling holes in the mud left from the beetle's frantic strides.

But at last she'd had enough.

"Thomas. THOMAS-" Their forward progress came to a stop.

"I understand thee wisheth to end this swiftly. However, would it not be prudent to reconsider our options in light of this-" Luna swatted furiously at a swarm of insects that was trying to nest in her mane, "Environment?"

"But we're so close..." said Mira for Thomas.

"Then scout ahead for us Mira. We shall wait here and recuperate."

"If I leave, Tom's going to lose his sight. The ground here isn't conducive to his vision."

As Mira was saying this, Tom tugged his sinking feet out of the mud and replanted his stance only to begin sinking once again.

"I shall watch out for him and call thee, should we have need."

Mira turned back to Tom who wasn't quite thinking clearly. His mind, absent the heaving breaths, was exhausted and all she could make out was, GO! FIND-FIND-IT! UUngh

"OK, see you soon guys!" Mira called out and peered deeper into the swamp. While on Tom's shoulder she had limited herself to the general area. Now that she was taking a longer look at the swamp there were some things that confused her.

There were spots, blobs and blurs in her vision. Did the beetle do something to me?

Focusing, Mira cleared her mind of worry. I left the island behind. I'm intangible. Nothing out there can hurt me. She aimed for the hole in the treeline and took off like a rocket-

Directly into a polluted waterfall,  through the pitch black of a musty cave to end up floating, lost inside a dense patch of fog that tasted of rotten eggs.

"GUYS! WHERE ARE YOU?!" She called out into the greasy swirling blur that filled every particle of her being.

Much to her surprise the response was instantaneous and... nearby!?

"Mira? What is thy trouble? Why hath thee chosen to linger?"

"What do you mean linger? I'm lost in some giant fog somewhere."

"Thine voice resoundeth from nearby. Art thou sure thou hast traversed a great distance?"

Then Mira heard something she didn't recognize. A great whooshing sound accompanied by a flash of heat to her right and shouts of surprise.

Then her brother's voice, with the depth of Flutterguy, and the power of the Royal Canterlot Voice, echoed through the swamp.

"SWAMP GAASSSS! HECK YEAH!!! WAIT HERE MIRA. I'M GONNA GO TORCH THIS STUPID BUG-

There was the sound of a jet engine. One continuous explosion washed over her, boiling the fog from her vision and fading into the distance behind her. Luna, Tom and the others stood, revealed, less than a hundred feet to her right.

"What happened?" She asked.

Lying on the ground with half his face in the mud, Heavy Hoof started talking for Lucas.

"Your brother wasn't happy with how fast we were going. When he heard you calling out from in front of us that you were stuck, he tried aerosolizing some of the oil and I guess that put him in contact with a free floating gas pocket."

Standing up, Heavy Hoof continued from his point of view where Lucas's stopped, "There was a big fire blast and I... fell down in surprise. But I saw your brother hold his position for a few seconds in a geyser right over there-" He pointed to a dry black spot in the mud surrounded by burning branches and still rising smoke, "Then he took off in that direction."

"Canst thou follow thy brother's lead?" Asked Luna.

"Actually," replied Mira, "Those pockets of swamp gas my brother's burning... I don't think I can see through them. Basically they're giant bubbles of blindness floating around out there. I could try to follow, but I won't be able to keep up with him."

"Very well, then we shall wait here for his return."

Tom found the most stable bit of ground he could and sat dow- sat in it. However, they hadn't been resting for more than a minute or so before one of the guards stood to attention and called out, "SOMETHING APPROACHES!"





Michael was getting more and more impatient with every passing second. It had all started well, monster pokes its head out of the ocean, he could throw fireballs and the beetle didn't like that. Then that stupid pony princess had stuck her nose in and everything had gone to $#!+. The beetle got away and at last he was reduced to riding a damp puddle through the middle of a swamp at the speed of paint drying.

His flame was visibly rocking back in forth from the pent up boredom, anger at a missed opportunity and frustration at having to keep the fireball-throwing to a maximum of none.

Lucas could feel Michael's attitude radiating from him like unexploded ordnance and had chosen to keep silent during the "chase" so far. Insects sputtered and popped in Michael's growing flame as his anger rose.

Then the blue princess called a halt and suggested they take a break. This was almost too much for him. But then she send his sister off by herself, without him... again.

Droplets of molten fire began to dance above his brilliant form as his flames grew hotter and hotter and the voices around him grew fainter and fainter.

All of the sudden it was like he took in a breath a thousand times larger than himself. The world flew into bright, brilliant focus and the guard next to him fell to the ground. The breath only lasted about a second, but it was enough for Michael to reach out and find a new pillar of "air" to breathe. A geyser had just popped up in front of the group. As Michael hung there, fire screaming through every fiber of his being, the hope of killing the beetle, going straight home and getting to torch everything along the way rose up inside him. This hope and his new-found freedom meant he never noticed that he might have gone a little off the deep end.

"SWAMP GAASSSS! HECK YEAH!!! WAIT HERE MIRA. I'M GONNA GO TORCH THIS STUPID BUG- He called out before taking one explosive leap into the swamp, straight through another cloud of gas and leaving his older sister behind him.

Flying through the swamp was awesome! Jumping from gas-cloud to gas-cloud was a little bit like climbing on the furniture and pretending the floor was lava. Except rather than jump from cloud to cloud it was more like he stretched out a hand to the next and it pulled him to it. Almost like Spider-man web-zipping through the city.

The farther he went the faster he went, leaving a trail of burning bushes and smoldering leaves in his wake.

Then at last he saw the beetle, just beyond a fringe of trees. It hadn't noticed him, But then who could? Fast as fire, swift as liquid lightning, like flaming quicksilver-

While he saw the beetle above him, he never noticed the pony step out in front of him until it was too late.

Though hardly what one would call a 'physical' collision, to Michael the shock of feeling burning flesh, smelling smoking fur and the sight of two hopeful eyes transfixed with terror before melting into a small, deformed ball of  pitied sobs felt like he had been hit by a truck.





Tom jumped to his feet as the rush of flame flooded the clearing where they sat.

"PLEASE HELP! GUYS- I CAN'T- YOU GOTTA- SHE'S- PLEASE HELP!" Michael's voice was choked up and Tom's exhaustion was barely a second thought as he slammed his hand into the ground and ripped up a slab of mud, permeated with Lucas. Then he darted after Michael as Luna (who had recovered much of her strength) and the guards chased after them.

Mira clung to Tom, sometimes guiding sometimes being carried through patches of blinding gas. Until at last they came to another clearing, fire still clinging to the edges and the silhouette of a pony outlined against a dark patch of scorched mud in the center.

"Michael... what have you done?!" Said Mira.

The mud in Tom's hand melted out of his grasp and landed on the ground, Lucas literally plowing a furrow through the soil to the pony. Steam rose up from the earth around the pony as Lucas filled the soil with water and the bright colors of the pony sank into the dark gray of the mud. Luna took slow steps towards the body.

Through Mira, Tom could see Michael resting in a comparatively gentle flame behind them, just out of the pony's sightline. Tom could almost see the outlines of his hands covering his head as he rocked back and forth, sobbing breaths making his flame bob and quiver.

"Who is it?" Asked Mira for Thomas, although he could feel she had a few other words she wanted to use.

"I can't even remember her name. I didn't see her. I just- she just ran out in front of me- I couldn't stop- I couldn't put out the- I-I'm... I'm so sorry!"

Luna levitated the small ball of fur gently out of the mud and Tom could see the two small hooves of a foal drop down and then convulse in pain.

A tendril of Lucas touched Tom's leg and he said, It's Rosy. She's badly burned, but still alive.

Mira was listening, but Lucas's statement only seemed to fuel her rage.

"YOU CAN BLAME MY *%#!ING BROTHER FOR THAT! HIM AND HIS STUPID HATING- JUST BECAUSE HE THINKS PONIES-"

MIRA! Tom tried to cut in, but was interrupted by her brother.

"Mira, I'm sorry-I'm sorry-I'm so sorry. I'd never do that to anyone. You know I wouldn't. Please, you've gotta- Just help her... Please" and with that Michael broke down, his tears of smoke rising into the sky.

"Back to the train, this filly needs medical attention!" Said Luna, lifting Rosy's small frame higher.

But before they could make a move, a gasping cry came from the little pony, "...wait..."

Luna hushed everyone and lowered the little filly to eye level.

"... Back... there... in the bushes... I saw it... Just... wanted... to help..."

Luna nodded to one of the guards and he came over to take Rosy gently in his magic. With that, Luna went to check where Rosy had gestured to.

As the princess nosed through the bushes, Michael flinched at every shiver and sob from the floating foal. Then Luna stepped back, a knotted, ovoid object held in her magic.

"Is that what I think it is?" Asked Mira for Tom.

Luna's horn lit up, followed by a layer of over-glow, then the (roughly microwave-sized) object blinked out of existence back to its rightful habitat hundreds of thousands of miles away.

"It was," replied Luna, "But, at least, that threat... is no more. Now, to the train!"

Tom once again dug up a chunk of Lucas, Michael flashed into the small wick of the lamp sticking out of Heavy Hoof's saddlebags and Mira clung to Tom's shoulder as they took off back to the bay; Luna magically lifting Tom's feet for better traction.

Luna sent up a flare as they neared the bay and as they crested the beach and darted for the train station, they could see porters hauling carts through the city towards the train. Luna's Royal Canterlot voice rolled across the sand and spurred them all to action.

"DROP EVERYTHING EXCEPT MEDICAL SUPPLIES, WE HAVE A WOUNDED FOAL. GET THE TRAIN READY, WE'RE LEAVING!"

Michael watched the limp foal, hanging in the magic field, from the bouncing saddlebags and prayed they would make it in time.

As they piled into the train, Tom found himself and the rest of the Elementals in one car while Luna, several guards and medically trained porters piled into the one in front of them. A pony tried to make his way into their car, but Mira's voice stopped him.

"If you wouldn't mind, I think we need to work some things out. Please let the princess know we shouldn't be disturbed for a few minutes.

The pony nodded at Tom's imposing form and trotted to the other car, leaving Mira, Thomas, Michael and Lucas alone for once.

Tom sat down on the floor and then raised his arm as if to hold someone back. He could feel Mira tentatively grasp his hand and he said, Mira, I don't know your brother as well as you do. But... try to keep in mind we need to all be together if we're going to end this.

He could feel her anger waver just a little, then she replied, I know; but this isn't about Rosy. My brother's had this coming for a long time, and I think this might be the one time I'll be able to get through to him.

Tom dropped his hand and was thankful that the train started to move, loudly, out of the station as Mira set into her brother. From what he could hear, she had been telling the truth. This was barely about Rosy. Apparently her brother had been mistreating her and the whole family for years. Nothing like domestic violence, just a surly attitude and misbehavior. But she had had enough of it. Tom had expected her to bring up the show, but she never even mentioned it. All the while Michael just sat there, silent as Thomas.

At last Mira quit yelling and breathed a sigh that could be felt throughout the whole car. Lucas and Tom sat waiting to see what would happen, then Michael spoke.

"You're right Mira. I'm sorry, for how I've treated you. I used to think that you, Mom and Dad were just against me, but all this... Everything we've been through... It puts it all in perspective. I've been a jerk, puberty probably helped with that, but that's no excuse. I'm sorry. I promise to do better. I don't know how well I'll do but, with you're help, hopefully I can change."

There was a moment of silence and then, "You're forgiven. And... I'm sorry too. I've been pretty hard on you the last few years. I take it your old nickname didn't help things?"

"It didn't."

"Sorry... I guess I've been a little too focused on myself as well. I just hated to think of you squandering your talents. I just wanted the best for you."

"Well that's no reason to try and make me do stuff."

"Yeah, sorry about that. How 'bout, I promise to lay off you if you ask me, and you promise to lay off me if I ask you, deal?"

"Deal!"

The tension drained from the car and Lucas took that moment to ask Tom, So what do we do now?

Mira voiced Lucas's question for everyone and echoed Tom's reply, "I think we're headed to that trap we had planned at Rambling Rock Ridge. Honestly I had hoped to stop the beetle before then, but I suppose a rockslide should stop it.

At that point the door to the next carriage slid open and Luna walked in.

"Art thou done with thy discourse?"

"Yeah. Are we headed for the rockslide plan?"

"Tis our only option... lest you have another to suggest?"

Tom shook his head then Lucas asked a question through Mira, "Could I have a container or something? This glob of mud is getting cramped."

Luna levitated a jar over and wrung out Lucas into it, then she added some more water and Lucas's next question reverberated from the container, "How do we know the beetle's even headed in the right direction? We didn't send anyone to follow it."

"Tis less a problem than you may think," replied Luna, "The egg signifies it nears its end. After my... idiotic blunder, it seeks one more meal for its fill."

"But how does that tell you where it's going?"

"It hath taken one half of a two-part feast. It hath sipped of the night, now... it seeketh the the day to satiate itself."

"OK, but how do we cause the rockslide? I take it you're still to exhausted to move that much stone... no offense," said Mira for Thomas.

"Non taken. Tis true I am too weak at the moment to bring about that end. Thankfully, we hath prepared in advance. The end carriage hath enough explosives to level all the stone we require."

Tom couldn't help but notice, through Mira, that Luna looked particularly pleased with this arrangement.

"How is Rosy?"

Luna's face fell as she turned to look at Michael's lamp.

"Thou hath brought about much pain and, even with the royal physicians, she will retain the scars till her last days. However, she possesses a strong spirit and I can imagine nothing could deter her from healing, and living a long and beautiful life.

Almost in a whisper, Michael asked one more thing, "Do you think... she would- If I asked, I mean. Could she ever... Just consider... forgiving me?"

The silence in the carriage was deafening.

"I cannot say. I know, at the moment, she would definitely fear you, should you enter the other car. Given time... I truly cannot say. We stabilized her by horn-light. Even a candle frightened her."

The rest of the journey Michael was silent while Luna discussed the trap setup with Tom, his friends and a few guards who had joined them. Luna informed that guards that, after they got Rosy to the Canterlot doctors, they should warn everypony to flee the city.

She left out however, that if the beetle survived the rockslide, it would probably be too late for Canterlot.

All the while Michael just sat there. The light from his flame reflecting off the glass as he stared at the blacked-out windows of the train car in front of them.





It had been several hours since the train left and they had finished setting the charges. Luna had directed the guards where to place them. Now they waited.

Tom could feel the sun beating down, it was probably around noon by now. His hands held tight to the stone he sat upon, feeling deeply into the earth, waiting for the telltale footfalls.

Luna was standing by the tracks, on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the forest below. The guards had tied a rope around her, to pull her away in case the beetle actually took the bait.

Michael and Mira waited above the blast zone. Poised to light the charges at a spit second.

As Tom sat there he thought about Rosy. It had never even entered his mind, even after the beetle had taken Luna, that anypony could get hurt. He knew it was possible, and had even worried about what might happen should they fail to stop the beetle. But that had been on such a massive scale he couldn't wrap his head around it. But one foal suffering? A dark seriousness had fallen over the group.

Mira and Michael were like two parts of a dead machine; working together, but with the lifeless teamwork of automaton.

Lucas too had been deeply affected by Rosy. He sat, silent, in his urn with the guards away from the blast radius; calmly pondering what to do should they fail and silently praying for Rosy's recovery.

Thomas could feel the somber attitude like a blanket over them all. A brief thought that this is what it felt like to be the brooding hero fluttered through his mind, before it was swallowed up by the emptiness. 

Depression, not brooding, he though, I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

It felt like they were trapped, unable to do anything... Anything but wait.

THUD-THUD-THUD

Tom barely registered his hand hitting the rock. The signal that he could feel the beetle approaching.

The guards tightened their hold on the rope, and Tom could feel everyone tense, even though no one could see the beetle but him.

THUD-THUD

He hit it again, twice this time. It was close.

Luna spread her wings and perked her ears. This time, relying purely on Tom to warn her when to make her move.

He sat there, his hand hovering inches from the rock.

THUD

Luna leaped into the air as the head and tentacles flew out of the branches below them towards her, just missing her tail.

He had been so focused on feeling, he never even heard the explosion. There was a concussive burst of flame behind him and Tom could feel the mountain lift into the air and begin to slide down towards the beetle, which was quickly obscured behind a cloud of falling rock.

Luna landed to the side of the rockslide. The more Tom thought about it, the more the term 'rockslide' fit. The cliff and train track had fallen, but most of the mountain was still sliding; chunks of stone moving slowly along, as though carried in a river over the edge.

No one could see what was happening below. No one, save Tom.

Through the pounding thunder of earth and stone, Tom could feel the beetle fighting. Not pushing up or digging out, but pushing back; trying to escape before the downpour engulfed and buried it. Its back legs pulled, its claws pushed and Tom could feel the beetle below him, its crippled leg caught, but the unburied body still trying to pull free.

Three failures: one at the bay, the second in the swamp and now the third here? Mira and the rest of them didn't know what came over Tom. All they knew was what they saw.

Thomas was fed up. Rosy... the depression... their complete ineptitude as saviors. Mira wasn't even there to guide him as he dove off the cliff towards his last felt position of the beetle's head.

There was the sickening CRUNCH of something like a tree-limb snapping, the psychic scream of a thaumaturic monster, Tom swung at empty air and was then engulfed by the dark embrace of the falling mountain.

As the earth and stone came down on top of him, and everything became darker and heavier, Tom could feel the beetle's missing leg still sticking out of the deepening darkness. Like a stabbing finger, it pointed him out.

Failure! ... Failure! ... Failure!

Tom couldn't move. He was pinned on all sides by the raw power of the earth. The pressure was oddly calming.

Just give up... Give in... Surrender to the earth... It seemed to say, You failed at everything else... A rock is all you're good for.

Tom could feel the depression closing in, even tighter than the earth that bound him. He was narrowing, compressing down to something less than small. An absence, a void, a hole in the earth. Worth less than that which surrounded him.

This is just like my dream. Except, my friends can't help me down here...

Then a thought, like a spark in the darkness, flickered into view.

Rosy could make it. Rosy would make it. Despite our failure, that little foal has more spunk than Rainbow or Scootaloo!

This thought seemed to push back some of the darkness that filled his mind. The earth wasn't the problem, the darkness was.

Then the spark burst into a flame.

Rosy was still alive! There was still the chance to save her!

The flame grew into a massive brilliant figure, an impossible ideal. Rosy in all her unstoppable, undeterrable and undeniable joy stood before him. Challenging him to escape.

Should my back break, my bones crumble to dust and my very soul beat itself to death against this prison. I. SHALL. ESCAPE!!!

Tom had no idea where the strength came from, but he braced his arms and legs and heaved with all his strength, and then some. And the walls... shifted.

It was barely noticeable, but to Tom that was all he needed. Once more he strained against the stone. He could feel cracks working their way through his body, but he didn't care. That flickering smile, those lowered eyebrows. She wasn't encouraging, she was daring him to make it.

The minutes felt like hours. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, the stone he was trapped under started to rise. After every desperate centimeter, Tom braced his legs and started again, not letting the stone claim back even a hair's breadth. The more he pushed the more certain he became that he wouldn't make it. But for some reason that just pushed him to try harder.

Then, just as he thought his body would burst into a million pieces, a stone above his head rolled away and a grey hoof descended to rest on his shoulder.

"Here, let me help you," came the monotone voice and Tom, with all his might, shifted his right arm and took the proffered hoof.





It had taken quite a while to dig Tom out from beneath the rock-slide, and only slightly longer for him to apologize for his thoughtless attack.

"Could have been worse," said Michael, "At least you didn't hurt anypony..."

Only Maud failed to catch the self-deprecating support. But she was too busy walking back up the rockslide towards the train tracks.

"Where are you going?" Asked Mira.

"Canterlot."

"Thou will not make it in time, I'm afraid," said Luna, resting a hoof on Tom's knee.

"Don't care!" Said Mira for Tom, as he stood up, took Lucas's and Michael's containers, and followed Maud, "Better to try and fail, than never try at all.

Making his way, slowly up the still shifting slope towards the now ruined track, Tom could feel the ponies behind him, one by one, pick themselves up and start after him.

As they walked along the tracks, the guards surrounding Luna, Maud leading and Thomas following close behind, he couldn't help but think back to his dream.

I'm missing something. Something important. Something I've been missing since we started fighting the beetle this morning. Tom couldn't help but delve deeper into his memories, trying to pry something of meaning from his unconscious, or had it been his unconscious?

Tom was so deep in contemplation, even Mira couldn't follow his train of thought. He was totally unaware of his surroundings and deaf to all outside sound...

Which was why it was such a complete surprise when he walked headfirst into the front of the train engine.
> Chapter 20: Last Shot of Canterlot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 20: Last Shot of Canterlot


There was only one thing on everyones' minds as they piled into the train car, and thankfully Luna asked it as soon as they sat down.

"Is Rosy safe?"

The two guards looked at each other nervously and then the one on the left stepped forward and said, "She is stable and recovering in the Canterlot infirmary, your highness. We got her there the minute we arrived, and the doctors even said she should be able to recover her 20/20 vision. She's a fighter and shouldn't face any long term psychological issues. The scars, will be the only thing that never fully heal."

There was a halfway sigh from everyone in the car. They were all relieved Rosy was OK, but could still feel there was still something the guards hadn't told them.

"And how of Rosy's parents? Have they been informed?"

The guard gulped and then looked down at the floor, "She... is an orphan, your highness."

There was soft moan from the carbide lamp and Tom felt Mira draw back to comfort her brother.

"Great," said Lucas, "So anyone have any plans? Maybe another rock-slide to keep it from climbing up to Canterlot?"

"I'm afraid the beetle shall not come by such an obvious way," replied Luna, "Far more likely it should resort to the caverns beneath the city."

"Could your sister fly away and distract it, to gain us time?" Asked Mira.

"Once the beetle reaches Canterlot, if my sister isn't there, it shall turn to easier prey."

"How much time do you think we'll have when we get there before it arrives?" asked Mira for Thomas.

"It wouldst be lucky if we arrive before it at all."

"COULD THINGS GET ANY WORSE?!" Yelled Michael.

"Well, as my sister likes to say," intoned Maud, "When you're feeling low, there's nowhere to go but up."

At the word 'up', Tom felt the world fall away and his dream jump back into focus as an idea began wiggling its way out of the shadows of his mind.

Working together... they'd need something to contain it... and a good vantage point... but they'd only have one, last chance...

The more he thought about it, the more Tom knew this was their only option. But this time, he wasn't going to lose his temper and dive in. He wouldn't let the others rush in either. He'd failed as a leader three times before. This time needed to be different. Also... the ponies couldn't know the plan.

Tom spent the rest of the train ride contemplating, not the plan, but his execution. This all turned on him. When the time came, he'd need to explain it and hope the other Elements would agree to it. There was a risk. But they'd all been through so much together...

If this is the right choice then there's nothing to do but tell them when the moment's right. I hope I can count on them.





Michael was angry. And for the first time in his life, he didn't know why.

It had always been easy before. His sister was annoying him, his mother was belittling him, his father wasn't respecting him and everyone was stabbing him in the back. But this time, the anger seemed to be coming from no where.

Something else was weird. Before all this, he'd never noticed he was angry in the moment, only after his actions. But now he could actually see the anger inside himself, and the fact that he had no idea where it was coming from or what to do with it scared him a little.

Usually, when he got angry, he'd just snap at his sister to blow off some steam, not that it ever helped. But today-

"You OK Michael?"

His sister was helping him, and stabbing her in the back wouldn't make the anger go away; it would just make it worse. He needed to do something with it. But he wasn't any good at redirecting his anger, the only one in his family who had any skill at that was his sis-

"No Mira. Can I ask you a favor?"





Mira was worried, but not so much about the beetle. Despite the fact they'd failed three times to stop it so far, they'd grown closer in every way since that morning. And Mira couldn't help but feel that something was about to break.

She needed to do something... anything.

As the guards explained about Rosy, Mira heard her brother moan and it was like a switch went off in her brain.

Grow up Michael, she wanted to say, You caused it, accept responsibility for your actions and try to figure out how you can help us rather than just moaning and whining.

But as she hovered by her brother she remembered her promise from before, inhaled and instead said, "You OK Michael?"

What followed made Mira wonder if, for all those years, she'd been the real problem the whole time.





Everything was falling apart. But the more things went wrong, the more focused Lucas felt. It was like every time something bad happened his brother was there with his hand on his shoulder.

Mira was silently helping her brother and without Tom's chalkboard, Lucas was the only one who could ask questions.

"Evacuate the city?"

"Tis faster than anypony. If Canterlot is not evacuated now, it is already too late."

"Blow it up?"

"The shell isn't the weak point, and it knows now to guard its mandibles."

"Drop a building on it?"

"It hath already dodged a rock-slide, and mining a building would take more time than a mountain."

"Lock your sister somewhere it will be hard for the beetle to get to?"

"Then it shall attend to myself or our subjects."

"Well we need to do something. I've had enough watching from the sidelines."

The princess tapped Lucas's jar and said, "What doth thou mean? Thou hast assisted thine friends all day."

Lucas sighed, or whatever he took for sighing, "That's not what I meant. Back home, I think I can tell you this, both my parents want me to do different things with my life. And I guess, since I love them both and was caught in the middle, I chose to do neither."

"Which of these things doth thou think thou could'st do best?"

"That was the whole problem. Both plans my parents had for me were good, and I could have done either of them well. I just chose... not to choose."

"Sometimes it is as thy friend said, 'It is better to try and fail-'."

" '-then never try at all.' Yeah, I guess it's just easier to realize things when you're about to be stomped by a giant bug."

"Drastic situations doth tend to bring forth either our best or our worst. But it is up to us to decide which."





As the train rolled to a stop, Tom's focus flew back to the present. He could hear shouting, galloping hooves. Then the train was filled of ponies and they were thrust out onto the platform into a panicked herd, all clamoring to escape the city before it was too late.

Tom had managed to hold onto Lucas's jar but did not know where Mira and Michael had gotten to. Then the Royal Canterlot Voice echoed over his head and the crowd froze.

"MAKE PASSAGE FOR THY PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT AND HER COMPANIONS!"

Almost instantaneously a path opened up in front of them into the streets of Canterlot and Tom bolted away from the train station. He assumed that Luna was flying above him and either she or the guards had Michael's lamp.

As they made their way into the city Tom realized that the crowd of ponies at the station had either just been the most panicked or quickest packers. The city was still teeming with ponies.

Luna landed beside them and looked around, "It wouldst seem our enemy hath not arrived yet-"

Tom still didn't know where Mira was so he was forced to gesture with his hand for them to follow as he took off towards the west side of Canterlot.

As he ran he heard Mira ask him, "Where are we going? Do you have a plan?"

Not till we get there. Follow me. He replied mentally to her.

Ponies jumped to the side of the road as Tom ran, cutting a path straight towards his destination. Luna and the guards we close behind, only the Princess was short of breath.

As they crested the first bridge Tom heard Luna call out, "Thomas, slow thy pace. We are not all so rested as thou."

Can't exhaust her, but she needs to be too tired to follow us. He thought as he slowed his pace just enough for the ponies to fall in behind him.

As they approached the second bridge one of the guards ran alongside Thomas and asked, "What's the plan sir?"

"Follow me," replied Mira for Tom.

"And then?"

"Wait for my signal."

Mira could see the puzzled expression on the guard's face, but Tom was too focused to notice.

By the time they got to the third bridge, Mira, Luna and the guards had consigned themselves to waiting for Tom's appointed time to reveal his plan.

Upon entering the square by Lar's Jars, Tom slowed to a walk, took Michael from Heavy Hoof and held up his hand for the ponies to halt.

"Wait here," said Mira, a sudden feeling of dread passing over her.

Then Thomas and the other Elements walked up to the container store that was still propped open with the colossal jar.

Placing the lamp on the ground with the flame licking at his ankle, and reaching his finger into Lucas's jar Tom connected them all in a private conversation that not even Jug, who was standing in the doorway, could overhear.

I've been thinking about my dream, if that's what it really was, and it's given me an idea.

Tom laid his hand on the huge jar, feeding the strength of the clay into his explanation of the whole plan and then waited to hear their input.

Are you out of your ever-living mind?! Asked Mira.

Mechanically, it should work. Don't ask me how I know. Added Lucas.

But you know what would happen if went go through with this, right? Asked Mira.

I know what will happen if we don't go through with it, returned Lucas.

But what if we fail? We'd have one chance. We can't squander it like this! Please tell me you've got something else Tom. Pleaded Mira.

I don't. This is it. Our one, last chance. I can't make any of you do it. It has to be your own decision. But this requires a team effort; it's all or nothing.

Mira was beside herself. You can't expect us to  go along with this crazy idea, just like that. It's ridiculous, it's crazy, it-

It's a chance at redemption, cut in Michael, I don't care if it's our only shot. It's the best one so far, and a chance to make up for our mistakes. I'm in.

It's what my brother would do, said Lucas, Count me in.

I think we're crazy. But... If it gives me the chance to actually add something physically to the team... What the heck, I'm not letting my little brother show me up. Sign me up too.

Without another word, Tom grabbed the giant jar in both hands and wrenched it free from the front of the store. Jug barely had time to dive under the falling overhang before Tom and the others were walking back to the Princess and her guards.

"I take it thou hath reason to steal this young store-owner's property?" Said Luna, raising an eyebrow at them.

"We do, your Highness," said Mira, "Now, we need you to teleport us and this container to the castle courtyard."

Luna cocked her head to one side and said, "I'm afraid it would take far more magic than I have to teleport us all to the castle-"

"Just Tom, myself, Lucas, my brother and the jar," interrupted Mira.

"Excuse me," cut in Jug, "Beggin' my Princess's pardon, but wherever my father's jar goes, I go too."

"Something tells me I should be in on this action as well," droned Maud, stepping forward.

"That wouldst be a more manageable load, but I-"

Before Luna could finish her sentence a sense of foreboding washed over everyone present and screams  began echoing across Canterlot.

"It hath come!"

Tom picked Jug and Maud up and held them under his arm. On the edge of his view, he could just make out a mare standing at the edge of the square. Jug was staring in her direction. Then he smiled and stuck out his tongue.

"No time Luna. He and Maud can come along, but we need to go now! Do you trust us?"

Luna stared hard at the group, then her eyes darted to the castle, then back to them. At last, she lowered  her horn, the earth Tom was standing on did a backflip and he landed on his back in the castle courtyard, just barely managing to keep Lucas's jar from spilling.

As the glow faded from Luna's horn she toppled to the ground, her guards diving to catch her. With her guards supporting her, Luna raised her head to gaze at the castle, a tear rolled down her muzzle and she whispered, "Good luck... and goodbye."

Then she passed out.





Tom sat up. Thankfully, the earth was stable, the spinning must have been from the teleportation. Probably shouldn't have exhausted Luna like that. Oh well.

Standing, he could feel the beetle below him, it was attempting to crawl out of a waterway into one of the hanging gardens below the castle walls. Fortunately for them, it was stuck. They had a few moments to prepare.

Hefting Lucas and the jar, Tom walked over to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard, exactly where he remembered it. Gripping the lip of the fountain with his hand, he pulled and the side caved out, draining the water from the pool. Setting the jar down, Tom pried off the lid and upended it in the empty fountain basin.

Oh crud.

"What's wrong?!" Asked Mira.

It's empty. For some reason I thought there'd be oil in it or something. How could I have been so stupid?!

"What's the problem?" Asked Maud, as calm as Tom wasn't.

"We need something to burn," said Michael, "Really hot."

Looking around Tom and his friends settled on a wagon full of straw, which they immediately started breaking down and filling the fountain with. While they were doing this however, Maud was chewing on the metal axle and some garden tools she'd found and spitting the pieces into her garment, which she'd laid on the ground.

After they'd filled the basin with fragments of wood and covered it with straw Maud called to Tom.

"Hold out your hands," she said as he approached.

He did so and Maud emptying her dress of the metal fragments into his hands.

"Focus on your hands," she said, placing her hooves under them, "Focus and make them harder than the metal."

Tom did as she said and she closed his hands together over the metal, then she pushed her hooves together and Tom could almost swear his hands had crumbled to dust.

"Focus," she commanded.

Tom obeyed, and Maud began working his hands together in a rubbing motion. Tom had no idea how she could be so strong, all he could do was focus on his hands to keep from moaning in pain.

At last, Maud withdrew her hooves and Tom opened his hands to find a pile of brownish-red powder.

"Thermite," said Maud, stone faced.

"Hah!" Interjected Lucas, "I should have thought of that. Put it under the wood."

Tom nodded and walked over to the fountain while Mira explained to Maud what she needed to do.

"We need you to run into the castle, find Celestia and tell her to get out her as soon as she hears our signal. Once we incapacitate the beetle, it needs to be send back to the moon and only Celestia will have the magic to do that."

"What's the signal?" Asked Maud.

"Trust us, she can't miss it."

Maud nodded and galloped into the castle.

The guards won't be able to stop her. Perfect. Thought Thomas as he gestured for Jug to lift up the wood and straw in the fountain so he could spread the thermite under it. Then Tom poured Lucas into the giant empty container and set it in the fountain basin on its side.

Explain to Jug what he needs to do, he told Mira. Then he got Jug's attention and gestured towards the nearest castle wall before climbing into the jar with Lucas.

It was just big enough to fit Tom. It had a small neck but, once he was past that, the jar opened up just enough for him to shift ever so slightly.

You ready for this? Asked Lucas, lapping against his ankles.

Physically? Yes. Mentally? No. Are you?

Dumb question. Same here.

Tom felt the jar tilt a little to rest against the side of the fountain and he was able to feel the beetle pull itself out of the waterway, pulverizing the stone around it in the process.

THUD-THUD-THUD

The sound of his hand against the side of the jar echoed around them. As Tom braced himself against the walls of the jar, sealing Lucas beneath him, he could hear the sound of straw catching fire below them.





When Jug heard their plan, and his part to play, he was mortified.

"Why me?" He asked.

"Because, you're the only one here who knows our plan. And since you're a unicorn, you won't burn yourself aiming the jar. Can you do it?

"Can I? Of course. No pony knows that jar better'an I do. Will I? That's a different matter."

Mira sighed and said, "Listen, I'm not a hundred percent sure about this plan either, but I trust Thomas. If that beetle gets up here and eats Celestia, it will explode and destroy this whole city... including your marefriend."

"What tipped ya off?"

"She's very pretty. You think I don't know what that smile meant?"

Jug gave a sad chuckle.

"Will you do it... for her?"

"In a heartbeat."

With that, Jug's horn lit up and he lifted the jar to rest on the side of the fountain, the top of the jar facing the wall that Tom had indicated.





Michael felt the unicorn pick him up and touch him to the straw that fringed the broken fragments of cart in the fountain. Then his sister surrounded him and he could feel the anger rise up in him once again. But this time he controlled it, not the other way round.

Rather than a raging wildfire of rage there was a calm flame of focused fury his sister had showed him on the train. At the heart of that unflickering flame was Rosy, and it was focused completely on the unseen beetle that Tom would show them. 

Michael's part of the plan was to stoke the flames at just the right pace. Too fast and the fuel would burn out before the beetle arrived, too slow and it wouldn't be hot enough for their purpose. Right now Michael was spreading across the straw, being careful not to dive deeply into the material.

Establish the fire base by three strokes. At two strokes into the wood. On one, thermite. He and Mira thought in tandem as Tom knocked on the jar three times.





In the last moments just before the beetle rose over the castle wall no one in the courtyard said a word. The elements communicated wordlessly through the jar, sharing the pent-up tension they all felt. Jug stood, his eyes and the jar trained on the wall Tom had indicated. In the distance, growing closer was the steady pounding of giant legs scaling the stone walls.

THUD-THUD

Jug's horn flickered, but both he and the jar stayed focused in the same direction. The vague outline of Mira, funneling oxygen into her brother, could just be made out as he dove into the wood beneath the straw. Inside the jar, Lucas could feel the heat radiating through him, affecting a change. It was like a giddy energy was flowing through him, not quite sickening but highly addictive. The more he took in, the harder it became to hold himself together. But then, somehow he felt Tom holding him back. Only Tom's feet were touching him, but Lucas could feel every surface surrounding and bounding him.

PV=nrT he thought to himself, As long as Tom maintains the volume and the pressure from decreasing, I can't flash to steam. Keep it going man, we're doing fine.

Meanwhile, Tom was focused on watching the beetle and maintaining the increasing pressure of Lucas at the same time. Keeping Lucas contained behind him felt like holding up a building, but he couldn't let the pressure drop. Still, at least for the moment, it was easier than trying to escape from beneath the rock-slide.

THUD

The tentacles rose over the wall and everyone flew in to action.

Mira sucked in oxygen like her life depended on it and throttled it down into the core of her brother's flame. The more air she pulled in, the more her brother pulled her down until at last Mira took one last gasp and vanished into-

The power of the fire was overwhelming! Every part of every piece of wood was alight and, as Mira pushed, Michael reached down and touched the Thermite. The reaction was instantaneous and runaway, and Michael and Mira went up like a house on fire. Michael focused all the flame and heat into the bottom of the jar, until there was nothing left to burn and he himself passed through the clay to fade into-

The raging liquid fire of Lucas swirled around the bottom of the jar. The pent up pressure inside meant that Lucas couldn't turn to steam and as such wasn't even boiling. But the energy flowed through him, more blinding than the sun, and yet invigorating rather than consuming him. In barely a fraction of a second Lucas felt the heat die below him, he let Tom know, and felt him give way. Then the world exploded around him. Lucas felt the jar underneath him shrink to a pinprick as he expanded out of existence and was left-

Flying through the air, the dull THUD of the steam cannon dying below him. With the barest nudge from Jug's horn to aim, Tom found himself careening through empty space, the invisible world rolling and spinning underneath him, but the afterimage of the beetle's roiling mass of tentacles fixed as his target. Time slowed to a crawl as he focused inwards, hardening. His sense of self falling away like when he had frozen at his welcome party or when Maud had ground the thermite in his hands. Despite this, the impact was still the most painful thing he had ever experienced. Every shard of his being was ripped in two and the world fell away forever, as pieces of him exploded outwards and rained over the castle wall to plummeted down towards the base of the mountain far below Canterlot castle.

The last thing he could remember was the beetle reeling back, but he couldn't tell if he had hit his mark.





The castle doors flew open and, flaring her wings, Celestia teleported to the castle wall. In a bright flash of light the still falling beetle winked out of Equestria and several minutes later, had the moon been visible, you might have just been able to make out a flash of light and a new crater on the silver sister of the night sky.

Twilight and her friends came dashing out behind Celestia, directly into the fog of steam that filled the courtyard, and started coughing.

"Thomas! Lucas! Mira! Are you guys OK?" Twilight called out.

A voice, of many voices, echoed through the fog and a chill went down the spines of the mane six.

	Did we get it?
	We won?
	Redemption?
	Success?

Twilight looked around as Celestia landed in front of her, a sad expression on her face, and said, "You succeeded. The monster is no more. Thank you. You shall always be remembered."

At Celestia's words Twilight's pupils constricted and darted around, tears filling her eyes as she called out, "Don't go. Please. We can fix this. It can't end this way!"

	It ends in victory
	harmony,
	and peace.
	Don't question a good end.

"I never got to give you the gift Boulder picked out for you," said Maud.

"I never got to throw you all a going-away party," cried Pinkie.

With tears streaking her and her friends' faces, Twilight attempted a smile and called out, "And you never did explain what a Brony was, or tell me those stories from your world."

	We are Bronies.
	Some of us-
	Most of us-
	And you know our story. It ends like this...

The voices mingled together using the same words, Mira to Michael to Lucas to Tom, four become one and the creature undone. Themselves burned, peace is returned. Lessons were learned, and answers are earned. Farewell...

"Thank you for everything you did for us," called out Rarity.

"We'll never forget you," Fluttershy called out meekly.

"Ya'll were true heroes."

"I'll let the CMCs know how awesome you were!"

And with that, Tom, Lucas, Mira and Michael left Canterlot and Equestria behind, and faded away...





They floated. But not through space, and it was neither light nor dark. Tom felt they were beyond those earthly descriptions, as though on earth those were just shadows of the real thing here.

He could feel his friends. Ever since they'd worked together they were like one being. That was why, when Tom felt something behind the veil, Michael started pulling them all, like a flaming comet through the night sky, towards whatever it was.

Words had no meaning here, but rather meaning itself was the method of communication. Because of this Tom could never quite sum up what was said or how it was spoken. All he knew was Michael was angry, and wanted an answer from something- no, someone... someones... some 'some-ness' behind the veil.

The question amounted to "Why did you send us there? If you could send us there, why didn't you stop the beetle?" Tom realized somehow that the assumption Michael was making, that whatever it was had put them in Equestria, was true. Though he didn't know how he knew this. Michael's question was tinged with anger over Rosy, anger at what they'd been put through, but not anger for the sake of anger. His question was sincere.

Slowly, Tom and the rest felt meaning coming to them. But it was like the meaning had been diluted down a million-fold till it almost took on the appearance of words.


Here some things are known, and some are shown to you. For as you say, "a picture is worth a thousand words" but a memory, a thousands pictures.



You know why we send you to Equestria, you can accomplish the task. We choose you because we know it is within you.


Each of them remembered what they'd experienced, but not from their own perspective but from each others'.

Tom saw, A young man, unsure of himself, but with the humble heart of a leader still learning, Intelligence, and a calm demeanor open to new ideas, and A person of reserved conviction, uncertain but capable of being the leader he knew he had to become.

Mira saw, A young woman strong of heart and head, not afraid to back down from a fight, A heart filled with love and a head filled with peace, and The wisdom of a longsuffering soul and vast stores of calm reserved strength.

Lucas saw, A genius, unaware of his own intelligence, A observer, someone who listened silently, and absorbed every fact with a clear head and a steady eye, and A level headed young man who stoically bore the weight of the world on his shoulders and reserved his words for just the right moment when they would do the most good.

Michael saw, A brash young fellow, concealing a gentle flame within that was stronger than the most out of control wildfire, A friend, emerging from the shadows, a warm smile on their face, and A quick whit, sometimes a little too quick, but with a heart as tender as his head was hard.

And that's when they realized something very strange. All this they were "experiencing" wasn't happening to them. They couldn't tell whether it had happened and they was remembering it, was happening in one moment, or would happen and this was all some premonition. Everything had a dreamlike quality, or maybe dreams had a quality like this, otherworldly, like time didn't matter.

At this, everything broke down and they saw what would happen, remembering it as vividly as though it was happening at that very moment.

They had experienced Rosy. It was like watching a 3D film spread out, not in front of them, but inside them. They felt the weight of every passing moment, the world even more solid than reality. They couldn't have been more there had they been the earth beneath her hooves, the air in her lungs, the flames that took her parents or the water that quenched the housefire. They remembered her growing up, experiencing every memory, thought, joy and sorrow she would experience. Through her eyes they watched her step out and could feel the flames that would ripple over her body. The train ride to Canterlot was passing in a blink, and they knew she would soon be recuperating in a bed in Canterlot castle.

Together they watched as time intersected itself, and they experienced what could be, was and had always been.





Rosy lay in bed, her breathing labored, bandages covering her whole body. Every now and then a bout of coughing overtook her, pain lancing across the skin under the bandages till she would fall silent again except for the wheezing breaths.

As she lay there, recovering from her last set of coughs, a glass of water floated over to her and she sipped from it, the water soothing her parched throat.

She couldn't see through the bandages they'd wrapped around her eyes. But something about this pony, maybe it was their silence, gave her the impression they weren't part of the medical or castle staff.

"My name's Rosy," she squeaked in a hoarse voice.

"My name's Jug," came the clear reply, "Can I get you anything else?"

"Do you know what's going on out there?" She asked, "Have they stopped the beetle?"

"They have," replied Jug, "You knew 'em?"

"I kind of... stowed away on the train to Horseshoe Bay," she tried laughing, but it turned into a coughing fit that lasted several minutes.

"Then I tried stopping a explosion with my face, and well... You can see how that turned out."

Then she realized what Jug had actually said.

"What do you mean 'knew them'? What happened?! I need to talk to Michael!"

Rosy tried to jump out of the bed, but Jug held her down gently with his magic, "Whoah there. Why do you need to see this fella?"

"Cause he's the one that burned me... and I haven't forgiven him yet."

"Why do ya need to forgive him? Ya said he burned ya, and it sure don't look like an accident to me."

Rosy rested back into the pillow, winced and said, "It really was an accident. And besides, I think I now know why he was always so upset... He's like me."

"What do ya mean?"

"Well, when I lost my parents several years ago I was really angry at... pretty much everything. I was so angry I said some really terrible things to my closest friends. I hurt them so much that they left me. Since I didn't have anypony else to talk to I started talking to myself. And eventually I figured out, the fire wasn't to blame, neither were my old friends or even Equestria. I was. I took a bad thing and made it worse by letting my anger get the better of me. Since then, I've apologized and made even more friends than when my parents were alive. I know everypony at the orphanage and around the orphanage. Sheesh, I even met Princess Luna and before I tried face-planting Michael I think I was even friends with the Tom and Lucas. Not to mention I found the beetle's egg and showed them where it was."

"Ho-ho, looks like we've got more in common than I thought," interrupted Jug.

"What do you mean?"

"I helped Tom and his friends take out the beetle by setting 'em up and aiming 'em at it."

"Wow. So I guess we're both like... Equestrian Heroes."

"Sure looks that way."

Outside the room they could hear somepony walk by, arguing in a monotone voice about where 'Boulder' had put Tom's gift. After a long silence, Rosy finally spoke.

"You suppose... as Equestrian Heroes I mean... we could stick together?" She asked, cautiously, "I don't think my friends from the orphanage will be able to visit me for a while."

"I'd love to," replied Jug, "Though, if you don't mind, I might introduce you to one of my friends too. I think you'll really like her."

"You think she'll like me?"

Though Rosy couldn't see it, Jug had a huge smile on his face, "Trust me, I think we'll all become the best of friends."





Tom awoke to the buzzing whine of his alarm clock.

He hit the snooze button and sat up in bed, his Twilight Sparkle plushie falling to the floor.

Slowly, as if scared what he'd find, his hands touched the skin of his face. He combed his fingers through his hair and ran them down over his still closed eyes, reveling in the smooth skin and sparse fuzz of a recently shaved chin. Then his body gasped involuntarily as his long absent biological functions once again reasserted themselves. Taking a deep breath of morning air, Tom opened his eyes and looked around his room.

Everything was where he had left it. The sun was shining through the blinds over his rather messy room, motes of dust hanging in the beams. The house was silent and Tom wasn't sure what time it was or where his family were. But none of that mattered at the moment. It had started as the barest hint of worry. But as he sat there in bed, reality pressing down on him, he couldn't help but wonder, Had it all been a dream? Equestria, the Mane Six, the beetle, Michael, Mira, Lucas and Rosy... 

It had all seemed so real. Multiple days away from home, painful experiences, all those physical sensations and he couldn't even remember what day it was now. But something in the silence of the room and the way his Twilight plushie just lay on its side on the floor seemed to suggest the fictitiousness of the whole ordeal. Though he could remember the events as clear as a bell, something about the pain, worry and magic he'd experienced began to dull to the voice in his head that told him, Nice dream, but it's time to wake up and get back to the grind. Maybe you can tell your friends about it some time. With that, Tom sighed and fell back against his pillow.

"AUGH!" He cried as his head impacted something rough and hard.

Gripping the back of his head with his hand he turned and looked behind him. Sitting on the pillow was a small stone, no bigger than a mouse, separated in two halves.

Picking it up, Tom separated the pieces to reveal a perfect geode, the likes of which you'd never find on earth, and a short note.


	"Dear Tom,
Thank you for everything you showed me.
Remember, you judge a rock based on its center,
not its exterior.
-Maud"


> Epilogue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Epilogue


Lucas exited the classroom into the warm afternoon sun as his fellow classmates darted for the cafeteria. Standing there a moment, the dappled rays playing over his short black hair, blue eyes and warm brown complexion, he exhaled and cracked his neck.

He turned as someone put their hand on his shoulder and greeted his chemistry professor.

"Headed to tutoring?" Asked Landon, smiling.

"Yes sir. Hopefully, more people show up today."

"After my last test? You'd think they would, wouldn't you?" Landon chuckled.

"See you later," Lucas called out as he dashed away, his legs pounding like pistons. Ever since an extremely vivid dream he'd had several years ago, Lucas couldn't help running. Something about the air flowing through his diaphragm, the rhythm of his strides and the physical freedom it gave him had captured his imagination. And now he was attending college as a chemistry engineering major on a track & field and two academic scholarships.

As he flew past the fountain in the center of the college square and several art students sketching it, he thought back to how well his parents had taken his decision. His father had grumbled a bit and made a few implications about him. But Lucas had calmly outlined his thought process and explained that he'd made up his mind to try college first and if it fell through find a job and settle down. Then he'd pulled out the scholarships he'd applied for, explained them and thanked them both after his father gave his grunt of approval.

Before he knew it he'd arrived at the chemistry building and, walking into the tutor lounge, he set up his computer, not really expecting anyone to show up. The tutor lounge was a large room with four tables in a circle and chairs scattered around them. Lucas had learned that, during the chemistry 101 tutoring hours, it was as silent as the grave.

There was a knock on the door-frame and he looked up to see a rather skinny, blonde young man with large glasses standing there looking nervously in.

"Ahh, is this tutoring for chemistry 101?" He asked, sheepishly.

"Eeyup," replied Lucas, unconsciously mirroring his favorite pony.

Lucas saw a quick flash of smile as if the young man had recognized something before he darted in like a small mammal and grabbed a chair near Lucas.

Before he pulled it out, he stopped and asked, "Are you one of the tutors?"

"Eeyup."

"My name's Thomas Therrell, and I was hoping you could help me on some of the homework. I didn't do so hot on the last exam."

Lucas scooted his laptop over and offered a handshake, "Lucas Edwards. Glad to help, you're the first person who's come in this semester."

"Really, I thought more people would be looking for help," said Thomas giving Lucas a quizzical look.

"Yeah, professor Landon, said they won't start coming in till after they bomb on the midterm."

"I see," said Thomas, pulling out his 3-ring binder, "I guess I figured, after that last exam, people would just start trying to course-correct. Then again, I've learning things the hard way before..."

"Me too," said Lucas, pulling out his text book and flipping to the last chapter they'd covered in class, "So what are you having trouble with?"

"Could we start with Limiting Reactant and Theoretical Yield calculations? I don't quite get why I have to convert to moles to solve."

Spinning the chemistry book around and flipping through a few pages till he found what he was looking for, Lucas began explaining.

"Moles are just an alternative unit, kind of like a chemist's dozen of particles. Grams are mass units, and thus dependent on the atomic mass of each element, so if you wanna use stoichiometry you need to put it in moles. You follow?"

Thomas was giving him the 'deer in the headlights' look. Slowly, he shook his head and replied, "Sorry, I don't speak Twilight. Could you slow down a little?"

Smiling, Lucas responded with, "Are my fancy mathematics muddyin' the issue?"

"Eeyup."

Lucas tried again, "OK, so moles are just another way of saying 6.022x1023 particles. Think of it as saying, 'some number of moles', is like saying 'some multiple of that number of particles'. Like two dozen is two twelves is twenty-four. On the other hand a gram is mass, not number of particles. But if you want to use the chemical formula you need the number of particles. It's like..." Lucas looked around trying to come up with a good example. Then he got an idea and pulled out a can of peanuts from his backpack, "It's like calculating how many peanuts you have by container size. That's mass. Sometimes you get the shelled and sometimes you get the unshelled brand. If you want to do the math first you have to take brand out of the equation by putting the numbers in terms of straight peanuts."

"OK, I think I get it," said Thomas, "By the way, do you mind if I ask how you became a brony? I love hearing peoples' stories."

Lucas sighed and said, "Sure, but then we get this problem straightened out, OK?"

Thomas nodded.

"So a couple years ago, when I was in high school, a friend of mine suggested the show to me. I know now that he thought I was struggling with depression at the time and was just trying to help. Anyway, a few days after he told me about it and explained the show a little I had the craziest dream."

Lucas could see Thomas's smile vanish, as his eyebrows knit together and he leaned forward, listening intently.

"I dreamed I was in Equestria, fighting this big monster-"

"A moon beetle?" Cut in Tom.

Lucas's train of thought slammed head first into the wall as he turned to look at Thomas... The Thomas. The Tom from his dream, two and a half years ago. The nervous attitude had fallen away and Lucas could see the young leader and remember every feeling and sensation he'd left behind so long ago.

"It was real..." He whispered. As though somehow, he'd never doubted in the first place.

"Oh yeah, although I never thought we'd all meet up again so soon."

Lucas blinked and shook his head, "You know Mira and her brother too!?"

Laughing, Tom pulled out his phone and, after fiddling with it a little, showed Lucas a string of private messages from a "RedBedHed".

"When we woke up back on Earth, both I and Mira's brother had souvenirs that helped us accept the whole thing as a real event. Neither of us knew the other but after I started writing this:"

Tom navigated through the site, which Lucas recognized as fimfiction.net, to a story entitled The Elements in Harmony.

"We ended up finding each other and reconnecting online. They're both doing great. In fact they were hoping their family could fly out this year to tour the US and I was planning on meeting up with them."

"Did her brother ever...?"

"Nah. But from what she's told me, he's a changed guy. Even freaked his parents out a little just how much he has changed. But then again not everyone has to be a brony. How 'bout you, what have you been up to?"

Lucas's mind was still reeling from what he'd just learned.

"Hold it. I'm still trying to internalize this all. What souvenirs are you talking about?"

Tom grinned and, leaning back in his chair, pulled a small stone on a necklace from under his shirt. It looked to be two halves of a geode, joined by a hinge and held together by a small silver clasp.

"Little gift from Boulder and Maud to me. As for Mira, her brother woke up with the carbide lamp in his hands."

Lucas whistled.

"What about the previous elements? You think, since we made it, they got back home too?" He asked.

"They made it alright."

"How do you know?"

"Mira told me her great-grandfather emigrated at a really young age to Britain from Greece. His name was Nathaniel Chloros and he was apparently an eccentric poet who married early and raised Mira's mother with wild stories about talking ponies and a mythical land where the moon wove more stories than in the whole history of the world. Unfortunately, he died about 4 years ago at the age of 87. As for the rest, I think it's fair to assume they made it too."

"Did he ever mention anything about... You know... What about what happened afterwards? You remember that?"

Tom's face grew serious, "Yeah, I do."

"What do you think that was all about? Who- what were- you know. What do you think it meant?"

"I don't think that was really any of our business. I reckon we saw a bit more than we should have. The important part was what we saw afterwards."

"Yeah. Even if I didn't believe it all happened, I'd be lying if I said it didn't change me," said Lucas, nodding his head and letting his gaze linger on the table as Rosy's life seamlessly wove itself back into his memories.

"It changed all of us. Maybe that was the point. If some... outside force had intervened, nothing would have changed. There would certainly have been less suffering, Luna, Us... Rosy. But that outcome would have never arisen... At least, not in that form."

"You think they're happy now?"

"Are, were, will be? Who's to say? We did our best, and I get the feeling that was the important part. Anyway, you never did answer my question. How have things been going? What're you up to?"

"Chem and Nuclear Engineering double major on a few scholarships. You?"

"I'm going for a geological engineering degree. Guess you could say I'm getting my... Rocktorate? Eh-eh?"

Lucas put head in his hands and sighed saying, "Leave the jokes to Pinkie Tom..."





Several blocks into Canterlot there is a small fountain. Almost everypony in the city knows what it stands for. The story is etched into the base of the statue in magic runes that whisper the tale in the perpetual breeze that whistles through the stone and steel of the colossal figures. The two celestial princesses had ordered the rebuilding of the fountain to commemorate the heroes who had given their all for a world, not their own.

A tall bipedal creature, constructed out of stone and metal, as though two separate statues had been merged into one, stands at the center of the fountain. The figure is not whole but made of pieces, some of which look cracked or broken. Water spurts through chinks in the statue and flows down the moss-covered sides into the pool below. Over the statue's right shoulder is a jar, so big it almost dwarfs the creature that holds it. And in it's left hand, outstretched, is a polished crystal that shines like a diamond in the daylight and glows like a torch at night. At the feet of the figure is a single flame, magically enchanted to never go out, despite the breeze that playfully nudges it to and fro.

Resting by the side of the fountain today, was a young unicorn filly. It was approaching evening and from a distance it looked like the light blue coated pony with the long, luxurious red and pink mane was reading a book with her head resting on the edge of the fountain and a few strands of hair trailing in the water. But if you got close, you'd be able to see that she wasn't paying attention to the book or even staring at the statue, but rather staring past the statue, her mind elsewhere.

As she stared into the distance, the wind whispering a long-familiar story to her, a blonde and brown coated earthpony colt started sneaking up behind her. Just as he was within reaching distance of her tail she absentmindedly said, "What do you want Snickerdoodle?"

"Oh, COME ON!!!" Shouted the colt, stamping his hooves in anger, "I was that close."

She turned her head to look at him and revealed a mass of faded pink scar tissue streaking the left side of her face and upper body. Strangely enough it did absolutely nothing to taint or even distract from her startling beauty.

"Snickers, you'll never be that close."

"Well then... Maybe I won't help you with your homework," he returned, pouting, "So there."

Rolling her eyes the filly stood up, walked over to the young colt and said in an over the top beseeching voice, "Oooh, please Snickerdoodle, save me from the wicked homework. I cannot face it alone..."

The colt backed up hesitantly then pursed his lips and swiveled his head away from her.

"Great and wise Snickerdoodle. Please share thy vast and projiderous brainpower with I, a simple unicorn of low intelligence."

The colt's face blanked for a second in a confused expression then he turned to say, "You mean prodigious?-"

Almost too late, the colt whipped his head back around and closed his eyes to avoid those huge golden orbs that could usually get him to do anything.

"Exactly. That is why you are the smart pony and I'm just the pretty pony," she continued, leaning up against his side.

Despite the fact his hooves were, for some reason, rooted to the cobblestones, Snickerdoodle had his head and face swiveled and stretched as far away from the filly as they would reach. His face looked like he'd just eaten a load of pickled peppers it was so scrunched and red.

"Rosy, dinner time." Called a voice from a nearby shop and she pulled away and started walking towards the edge of the square.

The colt opened one eye and rolled it around to see if the coast was clear, then he relaxed and turned around to leave. That's when he noticed the book laying by the side of the fountain.

Groaning and lowering his head, he picked it up in his mouth and trotted after her.

As they neared the doorway to the shop, Snickerdoodle mumbled something with his mouth full to get Rosy's attention, but she seemed to be ignoring him.

Stepping into the shop, Snickerdoodle looked around at all the pots, pans, jugs, jars and containers of all sizes and shapes.

"Who's your friend?" Interjected a friendly voice and he looked up to see a tawny pegasus mare setting bowls of food on a table by the window.

Rosy turned, gave him an absentminded look and magically took the book out of his mouth before saying, "Oh this is Snickerdoodle. He helps me with my homework sometimes."

"Well if he's helpin' feed your head, then we'll help feed his stomach. Sit down fella, we don't bite. Your parents mind if you have dinner with us?"

"Ah no-" he started to say before he was interrupted.

"HEY JUGHEAD, GET YOUR FLEA-BITTEN CARCASS OUT HERE BEFORE YOU DRY UP AND BLOW AWAY!" Shouted the pegasus.

From the other room Snickerdoodle heard a male voice shout back, "COOL YOUR HEAD YA OL' BATTLEAXE! I'M COMIN'. KEEP THE FOOD FROM DRYING UP AND BLOWING AWAY."

Rosy intercepted his gaze, which were furiously darting back and forth between the pegasus and the doorway the voice had come from, and patted the seat next to her.

Cautiously, as though he was sitting down on a live minefield, Snickerdoodle eased into the chair.

"Hey," said Rosy, sticking her face towards him with a mischievous grin, "Wanna hear how I got these scars?"

"No scary stories at the table," cut in the pegasus.

"Oh, come on," said Rosy, her face falling.

"Cut 'er some slack honey," said another unicorn who had just exited the other room, "It's a great story. Full of brave heroes and grand deeds. You know I'm in it too, right?"

The two female ponies rolled their eyes and droned in unison, "Yes. We know..."

"And I take it you were going to wait till after dinner to introduce me to your new friend Rosy?"

"My name's Snickerdoodle, sir."

The unicorn raised an eyebrow and said, "My father's a sir. I'm Jug. What can we do ya' for?"

"I'm here..." Snickerdoodle sighed, "To help your daughter with her homework."

Jug grinned and said, "Good, she needs it. Also, don't mind the shouting. Me, Rosy and Sandy really do love each other. But unfortunately... old habits die hard."

"Remember the time the royal guards kicked us out of the castle 'cause we were disrupting a royal argument?" Asked Sandy, grinning devilishly.

"You started that one," said Jug.

"Well you made it worse," she returned.

"And I helped," piped up Rosy, grinning from ear to ear.

"Could somepony pass the butter please?" Asked Snickerdoodle, gingerly.

"I can't help it if I'm loud and proud of what I accomplished for my country," returned Jug, puffing out his chest, "Besides, you didn't seem to mind when your parents were ecstatic to let you marry a genuine, one of a kind Equestrian Hero."

"And I helped."

"Of course not. It's a wonderful story dear. But if I let you tell it, you'd be running your big mouth till midnight. NOW BE QUIET AND EAT YOUR DINNER!"

"I NEED A BIG MOUTH TO STOMACH YOUR COOKING!" Said Jug, levitating some of the delicious-smelling food into the air. Steam wafting gently into his nostrils as he took a long breath. Snickerdoodle could smell it from where he was sitting and his mouth was watering. All he needed was the butter.

"Uh, butter please?"

"WELL MAYBE YOU'D COMPLAIN LESS IF YOU HAD MORE OF MY COOKING IN YOUR MOUTH!"

"I'M HELPING!" Sang Rosy, at the top of her lungs.

"PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER!" Shouted Snickerdoodle. Then his eyes flew open and he ducked his head down, glowing the color of a tomato.

Everypony stared at him, then they grinned and Jug said, "Not bad. I think we're going to get along just fine..."