//------------------------------//
// Strange Forces 
// Story: Parallel 
// by CocoaPone 
//------------------------------//

	Zaldia tracked through the fierce blizzard, each step bearing the weight of a thousand burdens. Back in Ponyville he had heard rumors that the mysterious Crystal Empire had been overtaken by some sort of evil tyrant. Of course it was just rumor, no use in heading up North to the middle of no where just for a rumor right…? He began to doubt himself, no pony has ever seen the Crystal Empire besides the crystal ponies themselves, what were the chances of him findin— Suddenly he tripped over a rock that sent him tumbling down a steep slope. The ice sped up his fall until he crashed into what seemed like a wall. Slowly he got up and looked in amazement. Now most people would think that he found the Crystal Empire that day, but really he just found the side of a cliff with an amazing rock formation. Nevertheless it was time to continue his quest, he traveled a bit farther, using his magic to keep him warm. 
Soon he reached the edge of a cliff that was raised above a large valley. This looks like a nice place to rest, plus it gives me the high ground against any danger. He chuckled, Danger? What danger? The only danger here is frostbite, there is absolutely nothing here… He paused and thought about that last statement.
“If theres nothing here.. then why did I decide to travel out here?” He said out loud trying to force himself to understand what he had just said. Then almost as if a reply to that question, the blizzard calmed down a bit to show that there was a large gray puff of smoke coming from the distant. He grinned, then sniffed the air, which just caused his face to get hit by tiny snow flakes flying at a hundred miles per hour, but if he could smell he would have said that he smelled Adventure.

Zaldia suddenly had the urge to see what that was, and he couldn't wait, he had to see it now.
“I just need to find a quick way down…” He said to himself. Then he looked at the cliff, it was slightly slanted so that it was possible to slide down it, but it wouldn't be a smooth ride. No.. No… are you crazy?? wait am I crazy?!?! He closed his eyes and took a breath. Then as gracefully as a yak, he tripped himself down the cliff. Knowing his luck he knew that this was not going to be a easy landing, and he was correct as the first thing that happened during that fall was that he hit his head on a rock that so happened to be jutting out exactly where he landed. Then he finished the rest of the ride to the bottom unconscious. He awoke at the bottom in a pile of snow, then shook his head to get the snow off him. He looked back at the cliff as if he had just defeated some sort of mythical monster.
“I told you it would work” He said, then he blushed because he realized that he was talking to himself. He cleared his throat then pointed to the sky and shouted “Onwards!” Suddenly he paused and looked up at the moon. He had two instant thoughts, is the mare in the moon able to see me acting like this? And how long was I out? He discarded the first thought then thought about earlier when he fell down the cliff, was the moon out during then? He couldn't remember plus it hurt his head too much to think about it. He walked to the peak of a small hill and from here the source of the smoke was clearly visible.