//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight: Competition // Story: An Elder Power // by Twogunkid //------------------------------// “The entrance to the prison should be nearby.” Trixie led the group through dense foliage. The ponies grumbled pulling her wagon in addition to their own supplies, grumbling about having to hide their intentions. Bristle had promised them the next dragon though, so they would persevere. They came to a clearing in the jungle, and there it was a gigantic lake with a spire raising out of it. “Such powerful magic. The Great and Powerful Trixie has never sensed power like this. It’s most concentrated at the bottom of the lake bed. That is where the battle must have taken place.” Bristle surveyed the area. The lake was deep and very large, but at one point a very narrow stretch of land was all that separated the lake from draining out into a nearby valley. “There.” Bristle pointed to the stretch of land “Plant explosives there. It will drain the lake.” Trixie’s mouth was aghast with horror. “Think of the damage you will do to any ponies living in the valley! There must be another way for us to access the temple.” “Look Great and Powerful Trixie, don’t worry about it. You’ll get to study your precious little magics. We get what we want.” Trixie again seemed confused, but the Earth ponies planted the large sacks of gunpowder on the face of the cliff. Before Trixie could object a deafening explosion rocked the forest and millions of gallons of water began flowing into the valley. Trixie began to speak, but the other ponies just began walking over the land bridge into the structure. Trixie decided not to tell them, that the bottom of the structure was still underwater, but decided to follow to see what was really going on. The ponies entered into a grand chamber, pipes filled with water ranging from normal sized to some you could pull a wagon through dominated the room. The very path they walked on was a pipe leading in and out of the walls. The ponies looked on in awe, Trixie studied the pipes, they were enchanted to show an illusion of running water, there was something else trapped within. Trixie began doubting this was a simple archeology expedition and suspected they were here to plunder any treasures they could find. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The train rolled to a lethargic stop, and Bluebell led the group quickly out of the town, and over the Delemare River. The group followed along a dirt road for several miles. Spike cleverly avoiding walking by stowing away in Legion’s saddlebags. The path grew less and less well traveled, the occasional buildings now became few and far between., and eventually stopped all together. Farmer’s fields became untamed meadows, and the meadows became a rich forest, before the forest turned to jungle land. Legion had to land; the foliage had become too dense for him to fly above the ground level. The sun began to set, and Bluebell signaled a halt. The group had journeyed in almost complete silence since they left the train. Murphy trusted Legion, and he liked Spike, the same could not be said of their fearless leader. She did not let them look at the letters she got from the Princesses, not even Spike got a chance to see them. When she sent letters she always wrote them personally, and had Spike send them right away. Murphy’s police instincts told them there was more going on than Bluebell was telling them. “Be careful. You never know what’s in these jungles.” Bluebell’s warning seemed superfluous. The group was hunting dragons, scratch that Dragon gods, and she was worried about what was in the jungle? Spike laughed. “I sneer at danger. The more the better!” The dragon received odd looks from both Legion and Murphy. Murphy laughed “Try saying that outside of Legion’s saddlebags!” Legion smirked and bucked the dragon out. “Legion did you just have fun? I think that’s a first.” Murphy never missed a trick, but Legion calm as ever replied in his typical monotone. “Nonsense, we merely were tired of carrying him.” Spike got up dusted himself off, flexed non-exsistant biceps, and took a deep breath. “I sneer at Dang-” Spike was interrupted by the ground giving way. The group fell into a pittrap “Who did this? I’ll show them” “Relax Spike the ground probably was weak there. I don’t think anyone is laying traps for ponies” Bluebell consistently had to have the last word and reminded Spike of Twilight before she had made any friends. “Boss! Our pony trap caught something!” The words were scratchy and lower than any pony voice, talking seemed strained, as if it was difficult. Three silhouettes with long snouts and pointed ears looked down the pit. Spike crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at Bluebell. “Spike now isn’t the time for arguing. We need to get of this trap. Legion carry Murphy out. Philomena will take care of Spike. I’ll take care of myself.” Bluebell’s horn flashed and she began walking straight up the wall as though it were the floor. The phoenix and the Pegasus ascended and narrowly beat Bluebell out of the pit. “Ponies.” “You! You kidnapped Rarity!” Spike had clenched his fists and we would be running full speed if Philomena wasn’t holding onto him. “You friend of whiny-” “Complaining” “of complaining pony. Why you destroy Diamond Dogs’ home? We said sorry. We gave Pony gems. Lots of gems!” “Ponies destroy Diamond Dogs home!” The three main dogs’ fur was standing on edge, they had their teeth barred and paws spread. The lesser hounds behind them let a low guttural growl lose and waved their weapons in the air. Spike raised his claws and looked to his companions, Legion had drawn his sword and Murphy had broken off a branch as an improvised club. Bluebell did not prepare for battle in any way, she saw they were outnumbered and planned to avoid confrontation. “We didn’t destroy your home.” “Ponies flood valley. Destroy Barkingham. Diamond Dogs get revenge on Ponies” The dogs on all fours and armor began barking in anger, waving their spears in the air. “Diamond Dogs teach ponies lesson for ruing dog’s home.” “But we didn’t-” “Dogs sick of ponies’ lies!” The lead Dog cut Bluebell off. The hounds moved angrily towards the ponies. “So much for diplomacy. Spike light this branch!” Spike breathed fire onto Murphy’s improvised club. Brandishing the flame he drove the dogs past the tree line. Bluebell began knocking trees over with her magic forming a wall around the dogs. Murphy lit the wall, and the Dogs were surrounded by a ring of green fire. “Uh-Shouldn’t we worry about the fire spreading? I don’t want these dogs dying for a misunderstanding” Legion seemed unmoved by Murphy’s plea. Spike reassured him though “Don’t worry, Murphy old pal its magic fire breath. It doesn’t spread if I don’t want it to.” Angry barks and howls persisted as the group left the scene. Bluebell again looking at the letter, hastily rolling it up the moment Murphy tried to look at it. Murphy slowed his pace to talk to Legion. “Don’t you think it’s odd, she never lets us see the letters she gets from the Princesses?” “We do not concern ourselves with such matters” Murphy sighed getting the far too typical response. “Don’t you wonder if Princess Luna has sent you any new orders?” Legion could tell Murphy was trying to change his opinion and would have none of it. He began trotting faster, Murphy did not take the hit and increased his speed to match. Legion rolled his eyes and ignored Murphy’s continued attempts to back him up in a confrontation with Bluebell. Legion picked up his speed even more, the duo now overtaking Bluebell as the rushed ahead. “Guys wait up!” Bluebell Philomena and Spike rushed behind, Legion and Murphy were at a full gallop now. They crushed foliage underfoot and startled plenty of small creatures. Legion took to the air, using his wings to go even faster. Murphy lowered his head and ran as fast as he could, until… Murphy landed with a mighty splash. “That’s odd there shouldn’t be a lake here.” Bluebell looked at the map. Murphy glared at Legion. Spike couldn’t resist a laugh seeing Murphy sopping wet. Philomena let out a cough before landing on Bluebell. Murphy got up and saw the guffawing Spike, he burst into a wide grin, before grabbing the Dragon and tossing him into the water, the two laughed and splashed. Legion landed on the ground no longer worried about Murphy’s paranoia. Murphy and Spike stopped splashing and gave each other full toothy grins. Legion suddenly found himself shoved into the water. Murphy and Spike were beside themselves laughing when a small wave crashed upon them. Legion stood in the water bat wings fully extended, Spike and Murphy charged in and a three way splash war began, Legion dead set on victory and Spike and Murphy laughing all the way. “Will you three quit horsing around? This Lake isn’t supposed to be here!” The men stopped their splashing for a second. Spike and Murphy got that mischievous glint in their eyes again. “Oh no you two aren’t bringing me into this. Legion stop them!” It was too late Murphy and Spike had hoisted Bluebell into the air and tossed her into the lake. She went careening through the air, before landing with a gigantic splash. Murphy and Spike rolling on the ground laughing as Bluebell flailed. “Help! I can’t swim! SOS!” Murphy and Spike stopped laughing. The two saw a blue hoof fall under the water and were rushing as fast as they could. Legion swam underwater, looking for Bluebell. He was forced to surface as his heavy armor made it difficult to swim. Murphy dove under water, his conscience filled with guilt he pumped his hooves in a vain attempt to move faster. He craned his neck and back and moved his body in a wormlike motion under the water. As he moved closer to the bottom he began to notice things. The water was filled with crude buildings and fully grown trees. Murphy almost let his breath out when he saw a fully armored Diamond Dog, with a small star badge establishing it as the constable, sitting at the bottom of the lake. He spotted Bluebell sinking to the bottom, her body limp and lifeless. Grabbing a hold of Bluebell with his fore hooves he began squirming his way back to the surface as quickly as he could. He was several feet below the surface when he realized he was out of air. He spent his last air on a little chuckle, he survived two dragons and an army of Diamond Dogs and here he was going to die of a little splash fight. An armored hoof wrapped around him, and another around Bluebell. Legion had grabbed the two of them and was flapping his wings furiously underwater to pull the trio to the surface. The moment Legion could breathe his wing flapping increased and he pulled the trio free of the water, before crashing near exhaustion on the shore. “Murphy once we have caught our breath we are going to kill you” “By Celestia Legion did you just crack a joke? I should almost drown more often” Bluebell coughed water and shot an angry look at the three men she was traveling with, Spike and Murphy offered sheepish grins, while Legion maintained his ever present poker face. Bluebell magically lifted all the water off her and splashed the trio. Murphy actually felt compelled to stop the fun though. “The dogs weren’t lying.” The laughter stopped. An eerie silence fell, like the wild itself was listening to what Murphy had to say. “Under the water, there were… buildings and” Murphy struggled through his words “…bodies. Drowned in the middle of their daily routine.” It was odd to see the police pony near tears, he had never shown any hint of sadness before. “There was nothing they could do. It looked like the water was just dumped on them from above. “The police were helpless. Those Diamond Dogs we trapped are probably all that’s left of their entire city.” Murphy was weeping, he did not know the Diamond Dog police, he just knew to protect and serve. The diamond dogs had been unable to do either against this flood. The group kept a respectful silence as Murphy tried to regain his composure. “Whatever pony is responsible for this is going to pay” The sun was begging to set and Bluebell suggested making camp for the night. The somber group began erecting tents and preparing for the next day. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Another dead end. This maze of pipes seemed full of them. The Great and Powerful Trixie was convinced these ponies weren’t archeologists of any kind. They had passed up many interesting murals, some of which showed pony like creatures swimming freely through the water. One of them showing a strange creature with a yellow mane with a pony that reminded Trixie of the pony she humiliated with her own rope, being rescued by the swimming ponies. It certainly puzzled her. Bristle grew increasingly frustrated with each dead end. His little helpers began to grumble more and more. Trixie saw opportunity. “Perhaps you should tell me what we are looking for if you want me to navigate” Bristle brushed her off. “Maybe I should just go wait out by the caravan.” Trixie was bluffing; she did not want to head out to the wagons. Bristle put a hoof to his mustache and began stroking it. “Yes go sit at the carts. Someone walk her out.” One of the ponies with the shovel cutie mark lead Trixie away. She was silently cursing herself, now how was she supposed to see any ancient magic lying around. She hung her head in disappointment. Bristle figured the dragon had to be trapped deeper. The lake had not fully drained, so that meant any of the lower levels could still be submerged. They had to be careful, Bristle finding a staircase that curled around a pipe as it descended deeper. The Earth Pony lead his followers deep into the bowels of the structure. It was almost entirely made of metal, yet had not rusted despite being in constant exposure to water for all these years. It was cold but somehow dry. “Perhaps its magic, or maybe this was never underwater.” Bristle thought to himself. The stairs eventually ended as the pipe leveled out. Making the short jump onto the pipe they could see many pipes large and small carrying into one large chamber kept in a state of constant turbulence. Pipes carrying oil mixed with the water and who knows what else. The whirlpool seemed to be a mix of messy sludge. The bottom of the room was almost fifty feet down and open to the water. Overcoming a mild case of vertigo the intrepid Earth Pony lead them towards the large contained mess of sludge. There in faint colors was a mural showing a white dragon being brought gold by pegasi. A strange sensation crept over Bristle, he thought he something in the sludge. Below it in even fainter but readable writing was the inscription “Vayu, the Wind Guardian”