//------------------------------// // The Druids // Story: Final Equestria // by Asch13 //------------------------------// “Come on, Crescent!” Twilight yelled behind her, “It’s getting away!” “You try hurrying while carrying somepony.” Crescent was slower then the mare, making sure the blanket covering his passenger on his back wouldn’t fall down. “Why in the hell of it are we chasing this over-grown chicken anyway?” “This is no chicken, Crescent. Just think of all the scientific discoveries we could make if we actually caught a wild Chocobo!” “I’m thinking more of all the delusions you’ve already made.” All day the two trudged on, sometime the only thing letting them know of the bird was a loud ‘Kweh!’ Multiple times Crescent had thought of heading a different direction from Twilight, only for Luna to tell him to stay with her. It was late before Crescent came to a clearing with Twilight standing in the center. “I can’t hear it anymore. This is so frustrating!” “Well then.” Crescent set his passenger down, “Maybe we should set up camp. And get Applejack some help.” “I-” Twilight noticed her friend, and remembered the problems they currently had, “-r-right…” With the camp set and Twilight’s magic keeping anything that would harm them at bay, everypony settled in for the night. Both hoping this would be their last night in the forest of Everfree. ~~~ Standing in a clearing, Luna watched her apprentice arrive “Ah good thou are here.” “Yup, so what’s the lesson tonight?” “Two lessons, to make up for yesterday.” Using her magic, Luna created multiple practice dummies around her, “I will show you a spell for striking anything, and anypony, around you.” Taking a deep breath and holding her hands close to her, Luna throws her hands out to her sides; Releasing a flashing wave a dark energy, breaking each practice dummy. “There, now it’s your turn.” Using her magic, Luna created more dummies around Crescent. “Gather your magic, then release it with a push.” Doing the same as Luna, Crescent released his magic, yet in a weaker fashion. Instead of destroying the targets, crescent only knocked them over. “Well it’s a start.” Luna said smiling. Crescent returned the cocky smile, “I think I did good. New spell and all.” “Hmm, yes. Maybe. Now then, next spell. And this one may well save your life.” Holding out a fist, Luna focused on her magic. When she opened her hand, a palm sized hexagonal disk floated around her hand. “This spell is called Shadowskin.” The disk started multiplying with all rotating around in front of Luna. “I want you to strike me.” By now Crescent had gotten used to Luna’s… oddness, and decided to go with it. Summoning a spear with his magic, Crescent launched it towards his teacher. Luna just stood there, but one of the disks quickly moved to deflect the spear. And once it was done it went back to rotating. “Well now, are you going to just stand there in awe, or are we going to spar?” ~~~ Crescent woke the next morning after another night of being face down in the dirt from sparing. Looking around he found he wasn’t the only one awake. Silently sitting on her sleeping bag, Applejack stared off into the forest. “Mornin’ Crescent.” She said drawing Crescent out of his staring. “Yer an awfully heavy sleeper.” “What do you mean?” “When ah finally woke from Twilight’s spell, well lets just say Twilight may sleep fer awhile.” Applejack finally moved, turning her head toward her sleeping friend. With a face of shame on her face Crescent noticed. “Ah kinda woke up screamin’ again.” “It’s understandable. I mean, you’ve woken up twice with your hands gone. That can be a harrowing experience, I’d say you weren’t a normal pony if you didn’t scream.” “Maybe.” Curling up with her head resting on her knees, applejack stared at the ground. “The fire is getting low.” With Twilight still sleeping, Crescent figured they’d be there awhile, “I’m gonna get some more fire wood.” ~~~ After finding an armful of firewood, Crescent started making his way back to camp. Or at least where he believed camp was. “Damn my since of direction.” The only thing giving him any idea he was heading the right way, was the few cut down saplings he had cut for the fire. For a while, he had been hearing rustling in the brush, getting closer and closer. Crescent kept telling himself it was just a bunny or squirrel, yet Luna’s constant telling him he’s delusional kept him from believing that. ‘There are many more creatures in these woods young Crescent. Most more terrifying than a bunny.’ “Thank you, Luna.” Luna chuckled at the venom in Crescent’s voice, “Once again you have been the wind underneath your apprentices wings” A low, deep throaty growl came from behind; making Crescent stop scared in his tracks. ‘Crescent-’ “Shut up, Luna!” Slowly turning around, Crescent came face to face with a large purple snout that could only belong to one creature. “Behemoth!” Crescent didn’t waste any time turning around and running away. “We’re gonna die, we are going to die.” ‘Oh Crescent, lighten up. I use to raise these little cuties.’ “Luna, theses are not cuties.” Weaving in and out of the trees, Crescent made his way back to camp, only to find his friends captive. Two more behemoths were in the clearing around his friends, along with a pony on top of one of the behemoths. ‘Luna, can I summon Shiva yet?’ Crescent asked, unsure of how to act. ‘Yes, but I wouldn’t try it. Hold my book up for the beasts to see.’ Crescent didn’t know what good it would do, but trusted Luna was sometimes right. Holding up the book, Crescent thought he saw a hint of surprise on the beasts’ face. But before he could think he was in the clear, something large and heavy hit his head, knocking Crescent to the ground. Before he knew it, Crescent was tied to Twilight and Applejack and placed on top of a behemoth behind its rider. “Oh… my… I hope my little critter friends didn’t hurt you too much” The rider said timidly. “Nah, ah love bein’ hogtied and thrown on the back of a varmint.” “Oh… ok.” The rider quietly turned her head back forward. ‘Crescent, don’t, panic.’ ‘Oh, Luna. Why would I panic? I’m just TIED TO A GOD DAMN BEHEMOTH!’ Crescent called back in his mind, ‘Luna, what the hell do I do?’ ‘Well what you do first is stop yelling. Just wait and watch what happens.’ Crescent began to feel Luna’s magic again, till he knew she was looking though his eyes again. They rode for a while, both Applejack and Twilight struggling against their bonds while Crescent just sat there, till they came to a large tree. So far out into the Everfree that no light from Ponyville could be seen. Standing up, the Behemoth’s rider revealed her wings, slowly floating to the tree she placed a hand on it and began chanting. From her hand, a glow started to move down the tree, slowly splitting the tree for everyone to walk through. As they entered, the three tied up ponies noticed the well-developed village, all within the tree. Each house resting on a platform high off the ground and all connected by bridges and a lift and pulley system. While two of the captives were shocked beyond words, the young scholar could hardly contain her enthusiasm. “The lost city of the Druids!” ‘Wow. Give an ant a hole, and it’ll build a colony. Guess the same can be said for some ponies.’ Luna called The druids lead the ponies through their city till they came to a small hut within the tree. “Our leader is inside. You’ll need to talk to her.” Their druid guide turned towards the door to open it but turned back around, “I-if that’s ok with you.” Inside the hut the walls where lined with jars, pots, and potion bottles. At the far end of the hut sat a large caldron leaking green smoke, with a zebra sitting on a stump beside it. “Hello my dear Fluttershy, yet something seems awry.” “Y-yes, I brought these travelers that I found in the Everfree.” The yellow mare Fluttershy looks back at the three adventurers flanked by her behemoth friends. “My friends thought they should meet you…” She looked back at the druid leader with the same uncertain/shy look the zebra had seen many times from her top protégé. The zebra looked towards the three tied up ponies, “My name is Zecora”- Walking towards them, magic started emanating from her hands, -“You have come here as a merry band. But it seem to me you need a hand.” Kneeling down next to Applejack, Zecora took both Applejack’s arms and started working her magic. Applejack grumbled at Zecora, thinking her last words were a jab at Applejack’s unfortunate circumstance. The pain slowly eased from her arm nubs as Applejack slowly grew tired. Two zebra guards came and cut the three friends free and helped Applejack to stand. “Your friend must rest.” – the two guards carried the half asleep mare away, - “While the healing is to reach its peak, we shall speak.” As soon as her hands were free Twilight began taking notes of anything and everything she could. Mumbling to herself the entire time. “How can non unicorns use magic?” She asked Zecora, looking up from her notes. “My magic comes from the all mother, yet our magics are not so different from one another.” Crescent and Twilight regaled their stories to Zecora and her protégé Fluttershy. “So that’s our story, do you think you can help us?” Twilight pleaded. Zecora leaned back in her seat, and looked at the three ponies in the room. “It’s nearly impossible for you to leave right now…” Fluttershy squeaked. “But why? I thought the druids controlled the forest.” Crescent stepped forward. “A necromancer keeps us trapped in a hold, our prison this forest of old.” Zecora spoke growing sad, “Killing our trees and our fruitful flowers, is the result of this plague for many hours.” ‘What if you took care of them?’ Luna asked. “What if we took care of the necromancer?” The words left Crescent’s mouth before he could even realize. “Hmm, destroying the work of our great planter, deep within the forest awaits the necromancer.” “Then we’ll do it!” – Closing her note book, Twilight couldn’t believe her luck, - “This will be a great opportunity to observe the forbidden practice” A smile on her face, Zecora motioned towards Fluttershy, “To show you the way, you shall take my protégé.” The color quickly drained from the brightly colored pegasus. “B-but, Zecora… I’m not r-ready.” Pink mane drifts down to cover her eye, leaving only one shy eye starring at her mentor. “You have come a long way. For I could never trust somepony more, I am so proud to be your mentor.” “Your friend should be healed by morn, get some sleep and save what is warn.” “I’ll show you where you can sleep.” Fluttershy lead the two ponies up long winding stairs and across bridges to a small hut. Inside were three beds, one with Applejack sleeping on one, multiple small animals run up to Fluttershy excited to see their friend. “Welcome to my humble home.” A smile growing on her face seeing her critter friends. Twilight noticed her friend lying on the bed and walked towards her. Laying on her back, Applejack’s arms had been unwrapped. As if it were a unicorn making hands, Applejack’s hands were back but yet see through; almost good as new. After making sure each of her animal friends had had a treat, Fluttershy got some extra pillows and blankets to make her own place to sleep. “If it’s your house, you should take the bed. I’ll gladly sleep on the floor.” Crescent said grabbing the blankets in her arms. “Oh no, I couldn’t let a guest sleep on the floor.” “Well I insist.” Smiling all the time, Crescent made a makeshift bed on the floor and sat down on it, “See, it’s good enough for me.” Fluttershy reluctantly took the last bed. Cuddling up on the bed with her critter friends, Fluttershy drifted off to sleep. With Twilight falling asleep after her furious note taking, Crescent was the last one awake. ‘Crescent, may we look around before bed?’ ‘Uh, sure Luna. What are you wanting to see?’ ‘I wish to see if there is any record of an old friend…’ ~~~ Crescent wandered through the ancient druid city, down winding stairs, across rickety bridges. Crescent didn’t know what Luna was looking for, but with her seeing through his eyes he wasn’t too worried. Walking through the firefly-lamp lit city, Crescent couldn’t help but noticed the careful eyes of the druid guards on him as he passed. The looks of curious bystanders couldn’t vex him, but the guard’s accusing eye certainly would. Following Luna’s suggestions, Crescent stood tall and kept his head high passing each guard in turn. Walking around the city it was no wonder the druid’s city was lost, lock away in a large tree was an even larger community of druids that only wanted to be left alone with their nature. At the end of the walkway rested the plaza. Surrounded by extra lamps, the plaza was the most well lit place Crescent had found since nightfall. Yet oddly enough, to Crescent’s surprise, there are no guards in sight. Among the firefly lamps different plants grew, their flowers glowing in the dim light of the twilight. Within the center of the plaza stood a large bronze statue of a stallion with vine’s meticulously growing up it. In one hand rested a large staff made of wood and with the other hand raised holding a skull. Carved into the bronze base was the name ‘Kalan’ “Since when do druids also use necromancy?” Crescent said, going back to his habit of talking to Luna aloud. ‘Not a druid… nor a necromancer before you ask. Kalan was both…’ Luna finally said in a somber tone. “What?” “Cres?” Came a voice from behind. A tan coated stallion with an unkept green main and tail stood behind Crescent. A decorated loincloth around his waist and from it vine shoots sprout up his torso to make a vest of vines. “Druid Leaf?” Tilting his head in confusion, Crescent couldn’t believe it. With a burst a speed, Druid rushed forward to embrace his friend ligting him up in a hug nearly suffocating the unicorn under the earth ponies natural strength. “I thought I lost you to the Nightmare.” “Well your gonna loose me to suffocation if you’re not careful.” Crescent managed to choke out. “Oh” Setting his friend down, Druid couldn’t believe his luck, “Well how did you get away from Canterlot?” “It’s a long story my friend, but why are you here? I mean, this is a lost city.” “This is my home, I’m a druid. That’s why I was such a good medic in the guard.” “… So did your parents have a weird sense of humor, naming a druid ‘Druid Leaf’?” “Oh uh, that’s a fake name. Didn’t wanna take a change with my real name in the city. But I prefer my new name.” Wanting to change the subject, Druid looked behind Crescent to see the statue of Kalan. “Oh, so do you know of him?” He said pointing to the statue. “Not really I just kinda stumbled upon it-” Crescent looked up at the towering statue, “-Could you tell me about him?” “Um, never took you for a history conesuer. But Kalan was the first leader of the Πία, who were the survivors of the battle between the ancient royal sisters. The lived here within the Everfree. They followed a belief in something called the Balance… Whatever that is.” As druid paused in his story Luna started in, ‘The Balance wasn’t just a belief, it was a way of life. It was the even distribution of Light and Dark, of Good and Evil. They believe that without one or the other the world would become stagnate and die. And yet, how did the Balance that my sister and I tried to keep fall in to myth…’ Slowly, Luna voice turned more somber from her reminiscing. “So how did the … Πία… Change to become druids?” “Uh, I believe the elders say the Πία society fell apart after a few centuries. Becoming the Druids and the Necromancers, one for good one for evil.” ‘I find that hard to believe’ Luna admitted. “I find that hard to believe” Crescent said simultaneously. “I don’t know Cres, to be honest I don’t understand how necromancers and druids were the same thing once either.” “Not what I meant…” The red stallion said under his breath. ‘Neither one could be inherently good or evil. Not if they both followed the Balance.’ “Hey Crescent?” Hearing his name brought him out of his train of thought, “Hmm?” “I’m glad to know you made it out of Canterlot safely. But how did you find this place?” “It’s a long story, I’ll explain it on the way back to where I’m staying.” ~~~ That morning, the four ponies got an early start to the necromancer’s lair. Crescent was over joyed that Luna had skipped the sleepless night lesson, letting him be well rested that morning. With the help of the druidic magic healing, Applejack was as strong as ever. Every so often one of the other ponies would catch Applejack looking at her hands and rubbing them together, almost like she could hardly believe they were gone yesterday. It was easy to see Fluttershy wasn’t too sure about her new guide status for the group. She still couldn’t see why Zecora thought she could do this, but she refused to go home without trying. Twilight, being the ever studious scholar that she is, started reading a tome on necromancy to find a weakness. She had already read the book multiple times with no luck, but to learn everything in the book she would read it multiple times. A dense fog began to set in as the group walked through the dark Everfree forest. The fog wasn’t doing anything for their moral, nor was the sound of whimpering coming from their guide. “Don’t worry sugarcube-” Coming up behind fluttershy, Applejack placed a reassuring hand on her timid guide’s shoulder “-yer doing fine. Just try to relax.” Looking at the orange mare, Fluttershy shyly looked away and spoke more assertively, “R-right.” As they continued through the forest the trees started to become sparse as they came to a small clearing. Along the clearing the trees were withered and dieing. Through out the clearing rested infertile soil, restricting further growth than what few dead plants there was. The sun hung low in the sky giving off some light, but with the heavy fog the light was just dull and dreary sight to the group. “I don’t like the look of this place,” Crescent summoned his sword from the ether “Be prepared incase of an attack.” Keeping close together the group hoped to watch out for an ambush. The sound of shuffling suddenly came from all around them. “Uh, any of y’all see where that’s comin from?” Applejack took her axe off her back gripping it harder as the anticipation sat in. A yellowed bone hand emerged from the ground near Fluttershy making her jump and squeak. The four travelers watched slack jawed as the hand pulled the rest of it’s bone frame from the ground, to stand in front of them. Looking at the four terrified faces starring back, the mold soaked skull’s maniacal grin opened, emitting an ear splitting scream signaling the rest of the skeletal army to burst from the ground and charge. Acting fast, Twilight started chanting a spell to push back the advancing skeletons. As she finished, energy pulses moved the skeletons back giving the ponies room to move. Flipping through her spell book, Twilight found the perfect spell to help her friends. Casting her spell, a field of magenta covered the clearing. For every step the skeletons took, the field would stagger the skeletons slowing them down so the others could hit their foes.