//------------------------------// // Northward // Story: Misadventures of Trixie // by Tau22 //------------------------------// Saying her goodbyes had been quite difficult, even if they had been the modified 'Goodbye for now!'. The journey itself would take a while. A day by train alone, then who knows how long spent walking and trudging through tundra and mountainous areas. Luckily, she did have ample supplies for the trek, gathered over several weeks. Crystalline tea was a noteworthy inclusion. Canterlot Station, usually bustling with activity, was almost empty. That was to be expected, few travellers needed to catch the very first train headed for the Crystal Empire, no matter how beautiful that place was. Some commotion reached the area, however, when the Moon entered the building. Trixie blinked, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Princess Luna strode towards her with a smile. Trixie immediately grew unsure. Had she forgotten something? Surely not, having a bloody princess bring you some random item was an embarrassing thought. When Luna closed the distance, teacher and student shared a bow. The princess said: "Trixie, it is good I made it in time." "What is the matter, Princess?" "Please, come with me." "Is it that urgent? My train is leaving in..." "Do not worry, you shall travel. I have, however, been able to negotiate more non-conventional means of transport." "Is that so? Are they faster?" "Very much so." "That is most convenient. You did not need to bother, Princess." "Based on what you've told us, time may be of the Essence. Besides, it is the least I could do." "Thank you. What is this transport, then?" "Well, I... I think it’s better that you see it with your own eyes." Miskatonic's Parlour of Occult Delights. Trixie couldn't help but feel that the name had been different. It still looked the same, at least. Unassuming little building with peculiar items behind its display windows. Surrounded by rumours, horror stories and mystique. The writing on the sign was a bit crooked, and for some unnameable reason, the place sent chills down her spine. Luna strode forward confidently, however, and the showpony followed. The inside was almost predictable. Ancient, dusty tomes? Check. What appeared to be preserved brains of several different animals? Check. A whole plethora of alchemical reagents, supplies and funny-shaped flasks? Check. Three large emerald eyes violating her personal spa- HOLY HAY! Trixie yelped and jumped back as the creature merely tilted its head. Tall, thin and carried on a quartet of insect-like legs, not much more was visible of the shopkeeper. Its hooded cloak did a marvellous job at hiding its features. Its almost skeletal fingers clicked and clacked in the air as it spoke in a raspy voice that seemed to echo within her head: "Our apologies, Dreamwalker." "T-that's quite alright." "Excellent," the thing walked sideways, its eyes never leaving Trixie. Finally, it stopped at Luna and turned to her, "the preparations are complete, Your Highness." "Excellent. She shall depart at once." It nodded and scurried off to the counter, once again not looking away. Trixie leaned in closer to the princess and whispered: "I am almost afraid to ask, but how am I going to be travelling?" To her dismay, Luna chuckled: "Och, surely you would not wish to spoil the surprise, dear Trixie?" "We may go," came the unnerving shopkeeper's voice. In its right hand, the creature held a large ornate key. The door it belonged to looked even older than the shop itself and opened with a mighty creak. A staircase awaited them beyond, twisting down into the cold embrace of the earth. Torches lit the way down, casting ominous shadows as the trio passed. It seemed to be never-ending. At irregular intervals, the design and material of the individual stairs shifted. It was like taking a walk through the history of architecture. Steadily, the cool air started warming up once again and, perhaps alarmingly, she started hearing the distant echo of a mighty, regularly repeating sound. Windows suddenly appeared in the wall and she dared peek through. In a cavernous cave, tall, irregular structures stretched from the floor all the way to the ceiling, illuminated faintly by what appeared to be luminescent fungi. Luna commented: "Pretty little place they have here, isn't it?" "Indeed. Reminds me of the City of Night, though, more alien." "The nature of its inhabitants has rubbed off on it." "As is only natural," their guide commented. The sounds intensified with every step. As Trixie wanted to ask a question, she noticed a small, fleshy, prehensile appendage slithering upwards. It seemed to notice them and rose above the ground. Their guide suddenly moved into action and swatted the tentacle with a grunt: "No eating the guests!" The limb recoiled and darted back into the darkness. Trixie and Luna shared a look. The princess sighed. It was obvious that Trixie was becoming more nervous with every step. She said: "No need to worry, dear Trixie. The Caretakers take good care of their charge." "Caretakers? I shudder to think what they're looking over." "The Dreamer," came the guide's cryptic answer. "What exactly is," she didn't even notice that they finally reached the bottom of the staircase until her eyes looked around and went wide. With baited breath, she blurted out, "that?" The form was titanic. Its darkened flesh heaved with every powerful inhale, and its monstrous snore caused its immediate vicinity to rumble. Even through her shock, Trixie could tell that it was in fact a draconite of horrific proportions, its head clearly lizard-like in appearance. In place of wings, an entire legion of tentacle-like appendages sprouted from its back and spread across the underground, dipping into cracks and fissures in the earth. Trixie merely gazed with her mouth wide open, while Luna commented: "Gaia, Old Dragon of the Earth." "Come, come," their guide said, "your transport awaits." Trixie kept staring for a few moments, then caught up to Luna. The showpony spoke in a worried whisper: "There's another ancient sleeping dragon under Canterlot?!" "Yes, though, this one my sister has no knowledge about. Also, I think she is technically under Equestria rather than just Canterlot." "How come I've never felt it while dream walking?!" “Because I thought it wise to hide her.” "Aren't we worried she could wake up?!" "She never will." "How can we be so sure?" "I know the tale, as told by the Caretakers. If I may?" she said towards the guide. "You may, Your Highness." The elder dragon Traxex was not a foe opposed easily. One of the few creatures that he considered a worthy foe was his sister, Gaia. The two dragons wished to settle their differences once and for all. And so they did, and as ancient lore now knows, Traxex was victorious. Beaten and bruised, Gaia did not have wings with which to fly to safety. Instead, she burrowed deep into the earth as Traxex' roar of triumph echoed across the world. She dug deep, deeper than any creature before her. But then, in the depths, she encountered something inconceivable. The people some know now as Caretakers, and their master and creator. The Elder Thing. Weakened, but undeterred, Gaia opposed the Undergod, a being that somehow predated even mighty Tiamath. Their struggle is said to have morphed the world above, dividing the land into continents and giving them shape. At last, she struck what had to be the killing blow. But the Old One was not quite done. In its death throes, a curse was placed upon Gaia. Eternal slumber, coupled with the corruption of the Elder Thing. The Caretakers, now free of their master, honoured Gaia as a goddess and to this day make sure she can slumber forever in peace. “I do believe that sums it up nicely.” “Adequately, Your Highness.” Trixie ran it all through her head. Oh, sure, the revelations were strange, but they fit neatly into the grander image of the world and universe like puzzle pieces. After a little bit of silence, she turned to the shopkeeper: “And I assume your shop exists so that you are kept in touch with the surface?” “Indeed. The deep has many treasures for your kind, while the surface has many for mine.” “Makes sense. And, well, great job on the whole caretaking thing.” It turned its entire body to her without missing a step: “Thank you.” “I must ask, however. What exactly is my mode of transportation?” “It awaits ahead, Trixie Lulamoon. As does your destiny.” “Sheesh, no pressure or anything, huh?” They made their way to what looked like the entrance to one of the many tunnels which snaked through the underground. Their guide stopped and simply stood there for a few moments in awkward silence. Then, with a sigh, he bashed the wall. What Trixie had considered part of the wall suddenly moved. The creature rose up with a horrid yelp and stood up on four short, muscular legs. Its body was covered in a layer of hide so thick, it reminded her of the very rock around them. Reptilian in build overall, the draconite did not possess any eyes at all, in favour of more natural plating on its elongated head. With some amount of anxiety, she noticed the makeshift saddle for two strapped to the thing’s back. She shot Luna a glance and the princess put on an apologetic look: “In my defence, it is the fastest and safest way to travel I know of. Based on my own experience.” The magician looked first at the drake, then the caretaker, then her mentor. With a sigh, she commented: “I suppose it can’t be as bad as it seems.” And truthfully, it wasn’t. Oh, sure, the draconite moved at frightening speeds and the vertigo from some of the manoeuvres it pulled as it navigated the underground made her sick, but hay, after a while, it was like a nightmarish rollercoaster! The insectoid guide on her side, silent for a good part of the way, suddenly said: “You walk a dangerous path, Trixie Lulamoon.” “So I have been told. I’m not about to turn back now, however.” “We understand. The burden you bear compels you.” She tilted her head: “You sound like you know something, friend.” “Only that your mark is familiar. We have felt it before. In the Elder Thing,” Trixie put on a frown, then yelped as the draconite suddenly leapt over a small chasm, “and we have sensed a smidge of it in others, even ones like Princess Luna. You possess it in spades, Dreamwalker.” “The more information I gather, the less I seem to understand the whole ordeal.” “Understanding shall come with time, Dreamwalker.” “I have been told that, as well.” The rest of the journey was silent, contemplative, save for the snarls and growls of their transport. And despite the overall roughness of the experience, Trixie somehow managed to doze off. Then, she awoke. What she saw wasn’t immediately different. Just another cave, with a pathway leading upwards. But she could feel the shift in temperature clearly. Her breath was visible, the air chilly. The drake lay there, resting, while her guide commented: “Rise and shine, Dreamwalker. Welcome to the north.” “H-how long did it take?” she asked, groggily. “If you venture outside, the early hours of morning shall greet you. We have taken you as far as the tunnels permit. Your journey must continue on hoof.” “And so it shall. Thank you for everything, Caretaker.” “Save your gratitude for the trip back, Dreamwalker. We shall await you in this cave. Such was our pact with Her Highness.” “Surely you will not wait indefinitely, though?” “Until the dawn of the seventh day.” “And how exactly can I find this place again?” The insect tilted its head a little: “We rest beneath an ancient landmark. You will manage. May Gaia watch over your steps, Dreamwalker.” “And may her slumber remain peaceful, Caretaker.” With that, she walked up to the surface, taking out necessities from her travel bag on the way. Now equipped with a comfortable and, more importantly, warm set of clothes, she braced herself for the north proper. A mighty wind howled across a snow-covered landscape. Had she not stashed her magician’s hat, it would have been blown away, never to be found again. She looked upwards, a pair of violet goggles shielding her eyes. The cave entrance sat at the base of a massive statue, crumbling in disrepair. A mighty centaur seemed to be raising something to the heavens, but his arms were gone, snapped off by the merciless elements the north was famous for. She set her sights upon the horizon and started walking, pushing through snow and gale in equal measure. Two days, she trudged through the snow and ice, across flatlands and along treacherous ravines. The loneliness was the worst part. Other than a few stray, cautious animals, she was alone with her thoughts. Many of those were doubts. With no clear idea of where to go save for ‘north’. She wondered if this was just how Stargazer had felt, so many moons ago. Drifting through the icy wind to her untimely demise. Trixie shook her head, banishing such ideas… at least for a while. They would surely crop up again eventually, during another moment of… The showpony froze as a horrid screech washed over the area. Instinctively, she vanished, then cautiously scanned the area. At first, it seemed that the only ones there were her and the wind. Then, she spotted a form. Large and bulky, the creature walked forward with a slow, steady gait. Towering above her, it simply trudged on through the snow. A yeti? A sasquatch? A completely different cult-worshipped being? Whichever it was, a plan was formed. Quietly and swiftly like an arctic fox, Trixie followed the thing. It was a straightforward affair, as it did not do any erratic movements. Just that slow, driven gait through the tundra. Suddenly, it came to a halt, seemed to gaze down and then jumped. It fell downwards and Trixie quickened her pace. She soon stood at mouth of some sort hole, its rocky walls heading deep below at a steep angle. Scraping could be heard somewhere below. She hesitated for a few moments, but then steeled herself and descended. She slid down cautiously and silently thanks to some magical assistance. The place reminded her of a changeling hive. A labyrinth of interconnected tunnels, but with the added bonus of horrific cold. She reached the bottom. The footsteps of the creature echoed through the tunnels, but darkness was everywhere. Not wanting to risk magic, she looked into her enchanted travel bag. Hat, cape, miscellaneous supplies… ahah, the torch! In no time at all, its fire blazed defiantly against the shadow. She immediately gasped. The tunnel walls consisted of both ice and rock, and in that ice, Trixie could see shapes. Some vast, some small, all assuredly dead. Remains of ancient creatures, preserved eternally by the cold. Then, she noticed something far more alarming. Something was burrowing through the ice. Tendrils of unnameable black substance dug their way towards the remains, coiling around them. She furrowed her brow and looked down the tunnel. At a brisk pace, she traversed the labyrinth, always cautious of any other creatures. Distant clangs and smashes could be heard, repeating at regular intervals. Every so often, she would gaze into the ice and follow the tendrils. The ooze led her deeper. The sounds kept her on edge constantly. A few times, she even caught a glimpse of irregular shapes hobbling in the distance, though she herself remained undetected. The path suddenly came to an end at what seemed like an underground lake. Its surroundings were strangely warm. She shined her torch above the water. A chill ran down her spine as the stuff bubbled, black as the depths around it. She could not see how big the lake was, but it stretched out far into the darkness. Some… things jutted out of the waters like massive claws, but she had no way of getting a better look. To the right, the entrance The smashing suddenly stopped, only to soon be replaced by a horrid scraping. Was something being dragged along? Before she could contemplate it further, something landed in the black lake, the impact sending the substance everywhere. She flinched as droplets landed outside of the lake, only to quickly return to the main mass on their own accord. A massive skull was sinking into the ichor, elongated and reptilian. Tendrils of ooze enveloped it, before finally pulling it underneath. The lake stirred as a whole, then began to spontaneously drain. Trixie dared gaze down into the resulting chasm. Her torch soon bathed a huge, unsettlingly thin body in light. Monstrous ribs and other weathered bones poked out from the ichor. It had no wings, but its claws were thick, powerful. Ideal for tunnelling. The defiled remains of the dragon moved, stretching upwards before finally coming to stand. It was nowhere near the immense size of a dragon like Traxex, but, compared to a pony, still absolutely humongous. The Thing’s hollow, eyeless skull turned towards her. A chill ran down her spine, a feeling of dread mounting. Worse yet, looking at the Creature’s visage, she felt something… almost a familiarity. The magic between pony and god faintly resonated. She took a few steps as a dishevelled claw rose into the air. You have come to Us. Trixie galloped back into the labyrinth as fast as her legs could carry her. Yet no matter how fast she was, she could not escape those alien, invasive thoughts. There is no escape. A rumbling sounded to her left and she dashed to the side as one of the frozen constructs emerged from a side path. She managed to glance more clearly into the ice. The silhouettes of bones were encased within, surrounded by a layer of black nightmares. It reached out for her, its fingers like icy spears. Let Us mould you like Our world. The thought echoed through her mind as she ran. More and more constructs emerged to confront her as she dashed, weaved and teleported out of their reach. She was, however forced to turn off the path she remembered. There was no time to slow down and contemplate a suitable path. Trixie galloped into the unknown, taking whichever turn seemed like it might get her to the surface. All she seemed to find was more and more shambling horrors in the dark. Suddenly, there was a flash of hope. Sunlight in the distance. She rushed forward with what strength she still had. She rejoiced at the sound of a powerful wind. Then screamed as the ground in front of her suddenly collapsed. Another of the creatures rose from the hole, talons ready to skewer her. She tried her best, but could not evade the attack entirely. They scraped along her side, sending unnatural cold into her veins and tearing her clothing. She cried out. With a sudden snap, she suddenly felt lighter. The showpony looked first at her new, bleeding wound, then at the corridor behind her. Her trusty travel bag was unceremoniously flung somewhere into the dark as the golem rose from the hole. She cursed inwardly, then turned and continued towards the light. The closer she got, the less optimistic she became. The light streamed in through a small opening in the wall. Beyond that was a narrow, ice-covered bridge. All it seemed to connect to was another small hole on the opposite side. Nonetheless, this gave her options. If only ones of retreat. She pushed through the hole and was immediately assaulted by the north’s relentless winds. They bit into her side mercilessly, but she carried on. Progress was slow, the surface of the bridge slippery and treacherous. The air threatened to knock her over the side and into the chasm below. A crash echoed through the area. She glanced back again. The abominations had crashed through the wall and were crawling closer. They traversed the bridge on all fours with frightening speed, clinging to it from all sides. That was a lot of added weight. Tired, freezing and wounded, she nonetheless turned towards her pursuers. Her horn glowed as she gathered her magic for a few tricks. First, she vanished in a flash of light, reappearing in the air above the bridge. The creatures gazed up at her as she unleashed her second trick. A blast of pure force slammed into the bridge and, as the laws of physics demanded, sent the sorceress flying through the air. The beasts groaned as the surface beneath them crumbled. Trixie wished she had time to scream, but her flight was interrupted prematurely as she crashed down on the other side of the bridge, slamming into a wall shortly afterwards. Grunting, she shakily rose. Most of the bridge was gone and so were her pursuers, at least for the time being. There was no time for rest, however. Not yet. With what strength she still had, she hobbled inside of the other opening. This side of the icy depths seemed far more serene than the rest. There was no sign of the black tendrils and blessed silence ruled. As soon as she calmed down a little, she finally noticed she was freezing. Quickly, she performed a simple spell to stop the bleeding, though that did little to make her feel warmer. With her clothes ruined, it was only a matter of time. The ice would rob her of precious energy. She didn’t have her supplies, either. She still had one last chance. She concentrated and tried to gaze beyond her immediate area. To successfully communicate over long distances, one had to locate the recipient by following their ‘trail’ in the aether, so to speak. It would be difficult over such a distance, but with enough time, surely, she could... as soon as she tried to move her attention outside of the frozen wastes, it felt as if her extra sense was being blocked by some outside force. She was as good as blind. She stared into space for a good minute afterwards. That was it, then. It was all for naught. Adventures, new friendships, outstanding theatrics… it all culminated in her freezing to death in this lonesome place. She only noticed she was crying when a few tears literally froze on her face. “I guess the two of us weren’t so different, in the end, Lucretia.” She commented. The tunnels echoed her words. It was then, on the very verge of giving up, that she noticed something. Her horn was tingling. There was magic nearby. Unicorn magic. As fast as she could, she followed her horn deeper. There, at the precipice between ice and stone, she found a small chamber. Unassuming at first, until she noticed a small pile of stones, assembled into a mound in a very… deliberate manner. On top of the mound was some kind of folded, violet cloth, held down by a sizeable tome of some sort. With baited breath, she took a few steps closer. On the ground next to the mound, a message was carved into the stone. It took her a while to decipher the letter, as they were an ancient dialect, but as soon as she did, her heart skipped a beat. “Here lies Lucretia Stargazer, the lonely explorer.” Using her magic, so as not to disturb the stones, she levitated the items on the mound. As soon as her magic touched it, the cloth unfolded on its own accord. A cape, its colours as vibrant as if it was new, and a tall, slender magician’s hat, both covered in stars of various colours. But how were they in such good condition? A closer look at them revealed elaborate patterns of glowing runes sown into their fabrics. Longevity, protection from the elements and even the ravages of time itself… it must have taken weeks to weave the patterns alone, weeks more to imbue them with magic. She glanced over the cloak, then at the mound. She whispered: “I am sorry to disturb like this, I merely need a bit of warmth. I’ll make sure to fold them back.” Slowly, she placed the cloak over her back and almost immediately sighed with relief. A pleasant heat radiated from the cloth, negating the horrid cold of the north. Finally, not freezing to death and able to concentrate, she moved the tome closer and examined it. A simple, unassuming little book from the outside. On the inside, it was a goldmine. Lucretia’s journal. Her research notes and recordings of events. She flipped through the pages, mouth wide open. Finally, she reached what was the final entry, a little more than three quarters into the book. Deciphering it took a fair bit of time, especially since many parts of it had been crossed out, no doubt in hasty revisions. Gods bless those late-night readings with Princess Luna. This shall undoubtedly be my final entry. One might call my point of view pessimistic, but the odds are stacked against me. These frozen depths shall be my tomb. I refuse to wallow in misery. Instead, I collect my thoughts for you, dear reader. I hope they aid you, at least in some small manner. I followed the old draconite’s relatively cryptic words here. I simply had to confirm my theorems about the nature of the six elements and whether I might harbour one of my own, which would go against the established wisdom of their functioning and nature. I instead found a nightmare, crawling through the depths of this seemingly abandoned glacier. Something foul stirs within the earth and burrows through the ice. Its appetite is ravenous. Even now, the wounds the horror inflicted refuse my attempts to mend them Worse yet, when I gazed at it, something about it felt… strangely familiar. Was that what Talos had spoken of? Is it an element? I cannot say, our collective knowledge on the subject as limited as it is. But if it is one, it must resonate with a powerful emotion or mindset. Why do I have it? It is surely not my reclusive nature. It must be my drive, if I am not incorrect entirely. My desire to overcome any obstacle to achieve my goals. To push through any hardship if it means getting closer. My… Ambition, I suppose it could be termed. Perhaps you, reader, might make more sense of it. This tome and my robes should survive even these harsh conditions. For some time, at least. Please, take them. The dead have no use for such things. They will help you, especially if you are attuned to magic. I would ask for only one thing in return. Please, bring this tome to Canterlot, help spread the knowledge within, so that I may live forever, at least in this sense. Consider that my dying wish. May your travels be more fortunate than mine. The signature at the bottom, unlike the rest of it, utterly perfect, unmistakeable. Trixie looked at the makeshift grave, a chill running down her spine, and whispered: “I will do all I can to fulfil your wish,” with a faint smile, she added, “cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” The air in the room seemed to stir. The tome was encased in a small box with a strap attached. Ideal for carrying it on her side. Not the mauled one, naturally. She flung it over, then glanced at the magician’s hat. Carefully, she placed it on her head. Almost immediately, a jolt of power rushed through her body, followed by a tingling sensation. She closed her eyes. The flow of energies around her was much clearer to her extra sense. Unlike something like the blasted amulet, there were no whispers from unknown forces, no horrid insinuations or subconscious influence. She could get used to this. Her eyes snapped open. Time was of the essence. Going back wasn’t an option at this point, but there had to be another way out of these frozen caverns. And she would find it, if it was the last thing she did. Which, considering her lack of supplies… she shook her head and got to work. A few hours of stumbling through the tunnels, along with some arcane aid, was all it took. The faint light of the surface shone in the distance and she rushed forward. She was blinded for a good few seconds. The wind was back, and almost masked the other sounds. Galloping. In the blink of an eye, she was surrounded. Each of the centaurs was at least twice her size, clad from head to hoof in heavy armour. No less than eight mighty halberds were pointed right at her. She assumed a battle stance, her horn glowing with energy, though the odds were most definitely not good. The horse-men blurted amongst each other in a familiar dialect: “Poník? Čo tu robí poník?“ “Ak to vôbec poník je... podľa mňa je to trik.“ “Vaša Výsosť, čo myslíte?“ At that moment, a new form appeared. The creature walked on two legs, tall, proud and mighty. Like his compatriots, he was clad in heavy armour, but his was obviously of a higher craftsmanship, with elaborate symbols carved into the chest plate. The owner’s face was bestial and elongated, monstrous. What she had at first mistaken for a cape turned out to be a pair of majestic, bat-like wings. Finally, there was a short tail, which ended in some fluff. The newcomer took a few steps closer to her, then knelt into the snow. And while his form was intimidating, his eyes… were kind, reassuring, friendly. He smiled and ordered: “Pohov,” the centaurs rested their halberds against the ground. He turned back to Trixie, “greetings, pony. You are a pleasant change of pace compared to the usual horrors that exit the glacier.” She relaxed and replied: “I assure you, I am a proper monster when I do not get enough sleep,” he laughed heartily, “if I may ask, who do I have the honour of speaking to?” "It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure to converse with your kind. Perhaps, however, you might recall the name Scorpan.” A mighty gate opened before them as their entourage approached the city walls. She galloped next to the king as he continued his speech: “And that is the current situation. Our cities and towns are besieged by these foul beasts and their even fouler progenitor. We have tried asking for aid, but my messengers never return and what little magic we have cannot pierce whatever veil the thing is projecting. At the same time, we have been able to contain the blasted things to the other side of the glacier, but cannot push any further,” Scorpan sighed, “but I fear that is a small victory, considering.” Trixie said: “If what I dread is true, it may even be of no concern to these creatures. Their prize lies to the south. And based on what I’ve seen, I fear they may move out soon.” “To imagine what havoc they could wreak in Equestria… as if my brother’s senseless rampage was not enough.” They finally passed the gate. The city was large, its people a varied mix of bestial races, many of them hybrids of once distinct creatures. Locals bowed as they passed, while the showpony continued: “Do not worry, I shall do everything I can to bring this nightmare to an end. For both of our peoples. First, I must warn Equestria. They will not be caught unawares.” “Do you think your magic might be able to pierce the veil?” “No. But I know of other methods that should be able to bypass this barrier entirely.” The entourage halted for a moment as he looked down at her: “And if even those fail?” Her look was one of unshaken determination: “Then I will gallop through day and night to reach my home ahead of the enemy.” The king smiled: “You know, many of my kin think of you ponies as a fairly fragile sort. But I know better. When you put your mind into it, you are something else. Now, come,” with a bark at his guards, they continued towards a large structure in the distance, “the sooner we send this warning of yours, the better.” “I agree wholeheartedly.” The circle was just like she remembered from all those sessions with Princess Luna. Double-checked for even the smallest error. Finally, the Dreamwalker stepped into it and closed her eyes. The ancient incantation was recited without error: “Tieň, poskytni útočisko v týchto snoch. Nech nás nevidno, ani pri hviezdach miliónoch.“ When she opened her eyes again, the sea of cloud awaited her. Immediately, she rushed to find those she needed. The draconite greedily devoured its final, packed morsel. The first rays of light were streaming in, on the seventh day. Three emerald eyes watched the pathway to the surface with an uncanny amount of unease. The Caretaker had always known this was one of the possibilities. Failure. Fate may have weaved itself in one pattern, but reality sometimes rejected its visions. It had happened to the Lulamoon already. Fate had already written several ends to her tale and yet… she stubbornly defied them. And yet there was still no clop of hooves. Had fate caught up to her at last? Had she finally fallen, somewhere in the deep, dark depths of this frozen wasteland? Time was swiftly running out. A crack suddenly sounded from above. Part of the ceiling collapsed as an irregular form came crashing down through the ice. The draconite roared, and the Caretaker could feel why. Within the golem, something foul flowed instead of blood. Ancient ichor, rotten and corrupt. A second form jumped down, its wings spread just enough to slow down the fall. As soon as the king landed, he hefted the golem into the air as if it were a toy, and flung it against a nearby wall. The ice cracked, yet the bones and ichor still rose. A blast of energy, blinding and searing, engulfed the abomination. It emitted no sounds as the ichor was burned away into nothing and merely collapsed afterwards. The proper gargoyle roared to the heavens with a battlecry, then turned to the comparably tiny adventurer at his side: “Finely done, Miss Lulamoon!” The Caretaker’s unease vanished, replaced once more with hope. The showpony strode forth, her outfit glowing brighter than ever before. She replied to Scorpan: “You also performed quite well, Your Highness. Thanks to you and your warriors for providing the escort.” “’Twas nothing,” he laid eyes upon the dragon and its peculiar rider, “I must say, Equestrian modes of transport are far more peculiar than what I remember.” “Peculiar transports for peculiar ponies.” “Hahah, well said!” She approached her transport. The draconite lowered its head and she nuzzled against it, earning herself a monstrous purr. With that, she turned towards her travelling companion: “Caretaker, I must reach the Everfree forest. Time is of the essence.” “Truer words are seldom spoken. Your will be done, Dreamwalker.” She hopped onto the dragon’s back and strapped herself in. Subconsciously, she checked for the tome. Still there, nice and safe in its box. As the beast of burden turned towards the underground, she took a deep breath. She could only hope she had given them enough time.