//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Those We Leave Behind... // by Dreadnought //------------------------------// The forest floor lay dark, shrouded from the sun by the dense canopy above. Courting birds sang in the trees as squirrels scurried from branch to branch. On the floor a jackrabbit nibbled on a fern, then moved on to the next one. It sat there eating, for several minutes, but suddenly bolting upright. Its ears alerted to potential danger, twitching at the slightest sound as it scanned the surrounding forest for movement. Quickly it scampered off to hide amongst some scrub as the air became deathly quiet. A bush parted to reveal a white unicorn wearing a pith helmet, her long purple mane escaping from underneath. Though laden with several heavy saddle bags, she remained unconcerned with the weight and instead focused upon her destination. She pressed onward, levitating a compass and roughly-sketched map at her side. A moment later a small dragon, also carrying a heavy pack, hiked after her. Rarity had poured over the book repeatedly, scrutinizing every detail. While it didn’t provide any useful spells, it did speak of a powerful sorcerer who lived beyond the borders of Equestria, deep in the forbidding Black Forest. Rarity determined to find this practitioner and enlist his help. Though providing little in the way of specifics, she had used her feminine charms to enlist Spike’s help on this quest. Similarly, the book had been rather limited on directions, and it was apparent that geographic features had changed over the many centuries. The two had journeyed along the Red River beyond Thunder Falls and through the formidable canyon known as the Narrows. But they had failed to find the river’s horseshoe bend, and therefore had great difficulty determining the proper tributary to follow. Eventually they had decided upon a process of elimination and, after two days of ascending the wrong valley, they had moved onto the next one. Now, they trekked through the forest along the slope of a great mountain, its snow-capped peak looming high above. On they wandered for hours, without rest or food, pushing through thorny scrubs, icy-cold streams, and thick spiderwebs. Eventually the two emerged into a large mountain meadow, filled with tall grass and the occasional scrub tree. Seeing her young companion tired, Rarity suggested the two take a break. But after a light lunch prepared by Spike, they continued their search. After rounding a spur, the pair found a rocky outcropping, like several they had seen before. But for some reason, Rarity was drawn to it. Quickly taking out the book, she reread the description over and over again, comparing every detail to what lay ahead. Replacing the tome into her saddle bag, the two climbed down to the base of the bluff and walked along slowly, carefully examining the face of the rock. Rarity stopped when she saw a narrow crevice. They squeezed through the tight rock walls, until it finally opened up into a slightly larger space. Rarity looked about and discovered a small space underneath a large boulder. Poking her head underneath, she lit her horn and discovered a long shaft, so deep that the light faded into darkness before reaching the end. Rarity turned to Spike, “Wait here.” He protested, “I can’t let you go in there by yourself Rarity.” Smiling at the concern of her friend, she responded, “I appreciate your concern. But I’m afraid this is something I must do alone.” She hugged her friend, “Trust me, I’ll be alright.” Grudgingly he agreed, “Okay.” Rarity slowly descended into the tunnel, her horn only providing a faint glow against the blackness. The walls were rough and the floors uneven, making her journey difficult and slow. Long stalactites hung from the ceiling as stalagmites passed under her hooves. The wet walls glistened as drops of water occasionally pattered off her helmet. Ominously the cave felt lifeless – was lifeless. She had expected to find bats or maybe some birds, but nothing. Only stone and puddles of water. The stale air made breathing difficult. And the cave was silent, with only the sporadic drop echoing throughout. As she pressed onwards, a thought entered her head. Perhaps this wasn’t a cave, but a lair, with something terribly horrific at the end. But nothing would stop her mission, and if anyone or anything lived in this cave, she would find it. After an hour of stumbling in the darkness, climbing up and down, twisting back and forth and back again, and squeezing through tight spaces, she entered a room. Pouring more magic into her horn, the light grew stronger, revealing a great cavern, a massive expanse with ceilings high above. Ahead lay a narrow path across, dropping off into deep pits on either side. At the other end of the room, barely perceptible in the twilight, lay a large ledge populated with piles of boulders. Cautiously she began walking across the causeway, every few steps her hoof slipping off the edge. Though scared, she steeled her nerves through pure resolve and approached the other end of the room.... “Who are you?” whispered a draft. Looking about in the twilight, she found nopony was there. “Hello?” she hesitantly asked. “Who are you?” repeated the voice. “I’m Rarity, from the town of Ponyville,” she explained, trying not to be intimidated or sound frightened. “What do you seek?” the voice asked louder. “I seek a way to bring somepony back from the dead,” she answered. “Where are you going?” asked the voice. “I’m going to find the necromancer. He lives somewhere in these hills,” said Rarity, growing slightly more confident. “Lives yes. And lives no.” Rarity noticed the voice now emanated from one of the piles of rocks. “What do you mean?” she asked apprehensively. “He exists between here and the after death, a spirit roaming the hills.” “Do you know where he is?” she pressed. “Yes.” “Where is he?” Two faint yellowish glows suddenly gazed upon her and the pile of rocks rose and menacing loomed over Rarity. “Here.” Struggling to remain calm, she searched for something to say. “It’s – uh – uh – pleasure to meet you.” She began looking around for an escape route. “You seek to bring a pony back from the dead?” the glowing eyes cutting deep into her. “Yes.” “Somepony close to you?” he, or it, asked. “Yes. My sister.” “Necromancy is not something to be taken lightly,” the pile moving back into an upright position. “So, it can be done?” “Only at great cost.” “I’ll pay you everything I have.” “Life cannot be bought with bits.” “What then?” “One must trade life for life.” “In order to save my sister, I must sacrifice myself?” asked a shocked Rarity. “It is natural law. Life can only come from life.” “I knew the price would be high...” thought Rarity for just a moment. “I’ll do it.” “Are you sure? Once it is done, there is no going back.” “I’m sure. But before we start, I’d like to write some letters.” From her right came a light, shining down on a rock with parchment and quills. Rarity stepped over to the impromptu desk and quickly scribbled the letters. When she was done, everything wisped away. Turning back to the dark form of rocks, she said, “I’m ready.” The rock pile stood up, a towering hulk that almost scrapped its head on the ceiling, and its eyes turned to balls of red flame. A gust of wind howled through the cavern. Rarity gently levitated off her hooves and into the air, the wind growing into swirling torrent around her. Suddenly she felt a deathly chill course through her, the muscles go limp, and the bones grow brittle. Her breathing became shallow, with each breath more difficult and labored than the last. She saw a dull blue aura escaping from her, draining her magic and life forever. Her body slowly faded before dissolving away as dust into the wind. Rarity’s vision turned dark, and then black.... Rarity stood alone. Below lay a thin layer of cloud, overhead a beautiful starry sky. She didn’t know where she was, but it reminded her of Twilight’s description of where she teleported to during her ascension. A form slowly faded into existence. “Rarity!” “Sweetie Belle!” cried Rarity. The two raced to one another and wrapped each other in a loving embrace. Sweetie Belle felt intensely warm and her fur soft. Rarity could feel the filly growing stronger, filling with life. “What’s going on?” asked Sweetie. “Where are we?” “We haven’t much time, dear. Just know that I love you very much and I did this for you.” “Did what?” she asked, looking up into the tearing eyes of her sister. Rarity knew the moment was over, and she stepped away from her sister. “I will be waiting for you on the other side.” “Rarity! Wait!” Sweetie Belle found herself lying on the ground in the middle of a forest. She didn’t know where she was or how she’d gotten there. She peered through the trees and saw a sunrise or sunset, she couldn’t be sure. “Sweetie Belle!” She turned towards the familiar voice, “Spike!”