The next day the group went down into the massive field. The temple Lily's team had stayed at was the team's first stop.
Silver stepped into the cold, stone temple. "Incredible, just amazing! Who do you think built this?" he asked to nopony in particular. Velvet went in next, followed by Ebony. Lily stood outside, staring up at the roof of the small temple.
Velvet turned to her and trotted back out. "Something the matter?" she asked worriedly.
Lily sighed. "Rose... The ponies here displayed her body up there," Lily stated. "She was my friend."
Velvet stood silently, not sure how to reply.
"It's just weird... being back."
Ebony and Silver trotted out to the two ponies. "I believe this temple is some kind of altar, how about you Mrs. Spring?" Silver asked.
Lily was silent; she just kept staring up at the roof.
Silver glared at her. "Ok… be that way! Am I the only pony who cares about our exhibition? In any case, all that’s here are markings on the walls similar to that of the cave. The valley, we'll head there next." With that, Silver trotted towards the valley, Ebony close behind him.
"Lily?" Velvet asked. Lily turned to her, but said nothing.
It was only a short hike to the valley where Lily's team was captured. Simply standing at the entrance to the valley, Velvet could tell that the group’s presence had been noticed. With every step, Velvet felt like somepony was watching, and much closer than her eyes led her to believe. As they stood at the valley's entrance, Velvet turned to Lily. Ever since the they had arrived at the temple, Lily had been quiet. She couldn't tell if it was fear, or guilt. Maybe a part of her knew her team was dead.
"Ebony," Silver said. Ebony looked at him. "Be a dear and stay on guard." Ebony nodded and the group trotted into the valley. It was a strange place, far different than the green fields that lay behind them.
“So barren and empty,” Velvet thought. Again, she turned to Lily.
"Hey, could we stop for a moment?" Velvet asked Silver.
Silver turned to her. "I suppose we can. Why?"
"One sec," Velvet told him and trotted over to Lily, pulling her aside.
Silver sat down with a huff and looked to Ebony. "How are we looking?" he asked her in a serious tone.
"We're being followed," Ebony stated.
"I figured as much. How many?"
As the words left his muzzle, a lone pebble dropped down from the ridge above them. As Silver looked up, his eyes widened. Quickly, Ebony grabbed him and flew the both of them out of the way as a giant boulder came crashing down where they had just been. It landed with a loud thud, hitting the ground with thundering force.
Silver collapsed next to Ebony and she slowly drew her sword from her saddle bag. "Sweet Celestia thank you!!" Silver exclaimed.
"Are you two okay?!" Velvet screamed, running over to them.
"Quiet!" Ebony yelled, with the sword handle still in her mouth. The group was silent.
Ebony quickly looked directly above them and saw it—a massive stallion pegasus in a cloak and mask flying at the group at lightning speed. Ebony spread her wings and took to the sky. The two flew directly at one another, and right as they were about to collide, Ebony spun, slicing down the stallion's massive side with her blade, blood splattering the ground just inches from Silver. The stallion landed a few feet from the group but looked back to the skies and to Ebony who was hovering there. His cloak was stained on the right side in his blood—he didn't seem to notice, let alone care. He spread his massive wings and flew full speed at Ebony again.
The idea of spinning and slicing him again crept into Ebony's mind but she knew he'd be ready this time. She looked to Silver and pointed to her forehead, Silver stood up and nodded to her, his horn beginning to glow. Ebony turned her gaze back to the stallion who was closing the gap between her and him at incredible speeds. Five seconds and he'd collide with her and considering his size, he'd crush her. Four seconds—Ebony adjusted the handle in her mouth. Three seconds. Suddenly the stallion's wings gave a hard flap—he rushed her and doubled his already-swift speed. Ebony's eyes widened. Silver cast the spell, but half a second too late. The stallion smacked into Ebony for a moment before she was teleported back down to the group.
The green pegasus immediately dropped her blade before gasping for air and coughing.
"He's coming back!" Velvet yelled, pointing up to the blur of a stallion flying like a bullet right at them. Thinking quickly, Velvet's horn began glowing and she shot a bolt of magical energy at the stallion. The bolt smacked him directly in the face, burning his wooden mask and stopping his flight in a panic as he quickly began trying to take the mask off. Ebony took back the sky, her sword in both hooves. As the stallion removed his mask, he saw Ebony was only inches from him, but before he could react, she plunged her sword right into his ribs. He let out a yell as Ebony used all her strength to drive it further. He cried out and suddenly delivered a powerful right-hooved punch to the side of Ebony’s head, sending her plummeting down to the valley below.
Ebony hit the ground with a lifeless thud. The stallion removed the blade quickly and more blood spat out of him like a fountain. He coughed and wheezed before falling to the ground just as Ebony did, but before he had even hit the ground, the group was at Ebony's side. The green pegasus looked around, trying desperately to move. After a few brief seconds, her head went numb, and her eyes closed.