//------------------------------// // Old Stones // Story: Surviving Sand Island // by The 24th Pegasus //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash nearly couldn’t resist throwing herself into the water when they finally reached the lake. It was clear and clean, with hardly any plants sticking out of the surface or detritus floating across the top. She couldn’t tell how stagnant the water was since she couldn’t see a source, but something was causing it to bubble and ripple occasionally. Perhaps there was a spring or something that provided the water. In any case, Rainbow wasn’t going to waste any time thinking about it. She fell to her knees right at the water’s edge and thrusted her muzzle beneath the surface. It was warm, but after hiking up the backbone of the island, Rainbow didn’t care. All she needed was several large gulps of water to quench her thirst, and then she finally slowed down to breathe. Rarity fell to the ground beside her and mimicked her desperate thirst. The seamstress’ eyes fluttered close as she plunged her muzzle into the water almost up to her face and took several drinks, her body slowly settling into a more comfortable position while she drank. Eventually, she pulled her muzzle out of the water, and droplets cascaded over her white hair and plunged into the lake below. “Don’t drink too much,” Rainbow warned her. “You’ll get cramps on a stomach full of water.” “I think I’d almost prefer that over the agony shooting through my legs,” Rarity said, gingerly stretching them out. “I was practically shriveling up in this heat during this climb. My muscles were so dehydrated that I could hardly move them.” “Nah, you’re just not used to that much exercise,” Rainbow teased her. “You’re gonna be stronger than AJ by the time we get back.” “That I very much doubt,” Rarity said. “I’d also prefer to not have bulging muscles ruining my smooth contours and fine figure. If I can escape this cursed stretch of sea with my beauty intact, I will consider that a victory.” “I think I’ll just settle for alive.” Rainbow took a few more sips and held her good wing out to the side, letting heat pour off it like a feathery radiator. “We’re certainly not doing ourselves any favors in that regard.” “I believe the turn of phrase you’re looking for is ‘no risk, no reward’, darling.” “I guess. We just gotta do what we gotta do.” When both ponies had their fill of water, Rainbow stood up and adjusted the spears and bags on her person. “We should keep going,” she said, eyeing the mountain in front of them. “We’re not gonna make it to the top just by standing here, and I don’t want to wait around and see if this is the only watering hole on the island that the minotaurs use.” Rarity groaned and collected her things as well. “I suppose,” she mumbled, forcing herself back onto tired and shaky legs. “I’m not sure I’ll even make it to sundown,” she said as she stifled a yawn. “Today has been exhausting!” Rainbow looked out over the island to the west, where the sun was slowly inching its way down toward the horizon. “It’ll probably be dark by the time we make it to the mountaintop,” she said. “Let’s just push as far as we can while there’s still light and then we’ll find someplace to make camp for the night. The further we get from the minotaur village down there, the better.” She started off through the woods again, Rarity following slightly behind. It was all uphill from there, unfortunately quite literally. Her legs screamed in protest after another half hour of climbing up slopes and navigating the angled terrain. Without any water to take with them, Rainbow was already starting to feel dehydrated again, though certainly nowhere near as bad as she had had it before making it to the spring. She sucked on a couple of star apples for the juice to try and keep her strength up as they pushed onwards. Eventually, her hooves found purchase on a flat stretch of land where the trees started to thin out. Blinking several times, it took Rainbow a few seconds to recognize what she was seeing. Instead of huge tree trunks, she saw moss-covered stones and bricks stacked high. Many were scattered about or simply laid where they’d fallen, but enough still stood to get an idea of what they once formed. The sight left her with stone hooves and a slackened jaw. Rarity ascended moments later, daintily panting and huffing. She hardly made it to the top before she flopped onto her side, trying to catch her breath. When she saw Rainbow’s face, she tried to lift her head but simply ended up wheezing. “What… is it… Rainbow?” Rainbow finally closed her jaw and pointed. “It’s… a city,” she said, her eyes wandering over old stones. “Ruins of a city.” Grunting, Rarity managed to sit up and look out in front of them. “Oh… my…” she managed, losing her words in her astonishment. “This is amazing!” Amazing was certainly one way Rainbow would describe it. The crumbling ruins of an old gate stood before them, made of mossy stones that once supported an archway leading deeper into the city. They could see the remains of buildings all made from stone falling apart where they stood without anypony to maintain them. There were clear streets, but nature had reclaimed them, hiding the dirt roads beneath ferns and grasses. The whole thing had an eerie feel to it, like they were looking upon a graveyard. “It’s a whole city,” Rainbow breathed. “This must’ve been one of the Ponynesian settlements that Uncharted Lands was talking about. And it’s been abandoned for ages.” “It’s massive,” Rarity said. “Thousands of ponies must have lived here. Who knows how many more lived on the rest of the island?” “No idea,” Rainbow said, stepping forward. She passed through the arch with only a moment’s hesitation, and then she found herself inside the city itself. A stiff wind blew through empty windows and doorways, and plants swayed from their perches atop crumbling stone. Several families of bright and colorful birds flitted here and there, returning to their nests with the dying of the day. As night loomed over the mountain, the quiet ruins started to fall deathly silent. It was an effect that was as haunting as it was peaceful. Rarity shivered; whether it was from the atmosphere or the falling temperature, Rainbow couldn’t tell. “We should find somewhere to stay for the night,” she said. “We’re not going to be able to navigate the city much longer.” “Yeah,” Rainbow agreed. She peered up the main road, scrutinizing the buildings that stood on either side. Then her eyes traveled further down, where the road turned into a grand staircase. The stone steps, covered with slippery moss, ascended for almost a hundred feet before they flattened out on some unseen plateau below the mountain’s peak right above it. “I have a feeling where our temple is, though.” Rarity’s shoulders sagged as she looked upon the staircase with unrepressed horror. “I simply cannot climb another inch today,” she growled. “Leave that for the morning. I don’t want to climb up all those stairs only to find out there’s nowhere decent to camp for the night, and then slip and break my neck trying to go back down in the darkness.” After a moment to survey her surroundings, she pointed to a single-story stone house that didn’t look too weathered. “This one should suffice. It looks sturdy enough and it should be out of the way in case we have any unwanted visitors late at night.” “I guess,” Rainbow said, following Rarity over to the building. She cast her eyes up the stairs as she did so, though. Truth be told, she’d wanted to simply scout out the temple and maybe see if there was a way in, but trying to pressure Rarity to do that right now was a guaranteed way to a headache. Better just to let it lie and go look in the morning. As much as it pained her to admit it, it was the smarter thing to do anyway. The inside of the building was cluttered with plants, dirt, and rubble; one of the southern walls had collapsed, creating an opening several ponies wide that let in the elements. But thankfully Rainbow couldn’t sense any rain in the air, so it would hopefully be fine. And the ferns would make decent bedding to rest on. At least it was better than lying on the hard dirt. Both ponies shed their gear in a corner and started pulling up ferns and grass to make a sleeping mat. They had a few bites to eat while they worked, favoring the juicy star apples over the custardy sugar apples. Rainbow snooped around a bit for something to hold water in, both for while they were on this island and after they returned to their home base. She already wasn’t looking forward to wandering back down the mountain to the spring in the morning. In the end, she found a clay jug that didn’t look badly damaged. If she wrapped a rope around one of the handles, she could easily carry it around even when it was filled with water. Rarity wasted no time flopping down on the bedding once it was complete. “Celestia, I feel like I can sleep forever,” she murmured, curling up and nuzzling the ferns. “Today has been so exhausting.” “I know how you feel, Rares,” Rainbow said, smirking at her. Twilight had fallen outside, and the first of the stars began to appear in the sky, casting tiny little lights down on the earth below. “We’ll just rest up and get ready to do some more exploring tomorrow. How’s that sound?” Silence. “…Rares?” Rainbow looked over her shoulder when Rarity didn’t answer. Moments later, she smiled softly. Rarity’s breathing had already slowed, and the sleeping mare nuzzled a pillow of moss. She’d occasionally squeak or mutter something, and her hooves twitched ever so slightly. Shaking her head, Rainbow walked over to Rarity and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Sleep well, Rares,” she whispered, backing away. Once more she found herself looking through the cracks in the stone to the stairs in the north. “I’m not tired yet.” Then she set off, leaving the seamstress behind.