✨Ding-a-ling!✨
A young teenage girl entered Sweet Shoppe. A patisserie that is known for making delectable treats, cakes, and milkshakes for almost any occasion.
"Good Afternoon Mrs Cake!" The girl greeted, placing a large basket onto the counter. She wore a long-sleeved button-up blouse with a bright green vest on top of it, and with a little cute red flower bow with a silver medal as its centre. But it wasn't the outfit that made the girl's identity recognisable. Rather, it was her peculiar yellow hat with a pair of goggles as an accessory, the type of hat worn by young delivery boys back in times where horse-pulled carriages were the main form of transport.
"If it isn't Francesca!" Mrs Cake beamed widely, "Good Afternoon to you too! Ah... May I?" She pointed at the basket, a lid upon its top.
"Knock yourself out!" Francesca nodded with a smile.
Mrs Cake eagerly opened the lid, revealing the contents to be a neatly packed and sealed tray of assorted fruits & vegetables like strawberries, bananas, cucumbers and carrots. Underneath those trays, Mrs Cake comes across a tightly packed row of bags filled with flour. Mrs Cake took one of those bags and carefully opened it.
"Oh..." Mrs Cake smiled as she tipped a few grams of flour onto her finger, and rubbed it with her fingers. "It's perfect. And the fruits and veggies look wonderful as always." Satisfied with the product, she took the basket of goods off the counter and replaced it with an empty identical basket. "Here is your basket from last week and..." She pulls out a paper brown envelope. "Your payment! You know... A lot of other bakeries and patisseries would benefit greatly from your produce!"
"You're too kind Mrs Cake, but we're a local provider. Whilst extending our customer list is very advantageous given your feedback, the process will be difficult."
"Oh, I understand completely..." Mrs Cake nodded, "I've seen my fair share of stores come and go, some better than the other. I'm just really blessed that the shop owned by my dear and I are still popular with the youngest generation! This is a regular joint for the nearby schools, like Canterlot High School!"
"Oh!" Francesca jumped, "You mean that school with that statue of an Ali-- I mean a pony? Y-Yeah! I've been there before! They're energetic and... Harmonious..."
"Speaking of which... How is she doing? Your boss and caretaker?"
"She's doing well. Very healthy and strong." Francesca responded, "She gives off the impression that she's timeless in body and beauty!"
"Deary me! I wish I could learn her secrets..." Mrs Cake laughed, "Anyway, you take care now! Say hi to her for me!!!"
"Will do. Thanks once again, Mrs Cake!" Francesca smiled and waved goodbye as she picked up the empty basket with one harm and picked up the envelope.
"Wow!!!" Francesca exclaimed as she looked at the invoice within the envelope. "Mrs Cake must have been really happy... I'd better get back soon. She'll be expecting me back before lunch." She increased her pace to a powerwalk. "It's a good thing that the park opened two months ago. Ever since using it, I've been saving precious time!!!"
Within five minutes of crossing intersections and streets, she comes across the park in question named 'Mayleaf Park'. It has cherry-coloured bricks to mark its borders across the street while it covers acres full of lush environments and amenities on the inside. It was reviewed by some to be 'The Perfect display of where Nature and Human Constructs can Co-Exist'. Aside from the fact it was built right next to a large forest, five landmarks are proof of that;
One was the Picnic Area that was purposely located at a position where the Sun and Moon can shine on them, yet all benches and grassy spots provide supports where people could set up shade without any difficulty. There were also plenty of vending machines for food, drink and other essentials.
The second landmark was a large pond. Although deep, it was rich with aquatic wildlife. Fishing and boating were allowed to make the perfect romantic and recreational spot.
Then there was the 'Shadow Playground'. Aside from the perturbing and powerful colours and hues of Purple, the playground consists of straightforward and crazy slides, swings, spinning carousels, and even flying foxes. Perfect for all ages and all levels for a calm but fun time or a white-knuckle thrill.
The Fourth was known as the Labyrinth of Light. A very innovative attraction that can change its routes and walls through the clever use of light from the sun and electricity. When the day changes into night and vice versa, the maze morphs in tandem with it. It boggles the mind of child and adult alike and is just as fun... Though frustrating to the impatient.
And finally, there was the Mayleaf Trail, the largest of the landmarks while connected to the forest adjacent. This was a rather special walking trail through the forest, where multiple paths split for the casual stroller or the bold hiker. Each path can lead to special photo-worthy locations where many achievements can be captured for people to see if they so wish. Despite how harmless and fun it sounds, Francesca knows one little secret about it. That's where her shortcut is!!!
But today was a day when Francesca's daily routine changed dramatically. When she glanced over to the Picnic area of the Park, her body froze in dumbfounded horror. Twelve different figures seemed to make themselves comfortable... Twelve people whose very existence haunts the merchant's memories...
"Over here! Over here Applebloom!!!" A young schoolgirl, with green eyes and curly hair, frantically waved her hands towards a group of friends around her height and age. She was signalling to her friend named Applebloom, who had red apple coloured hair tied with a large red bow, who had a frisbee in her hands. Catching that signal, Applebloom tossed the circular disc at her friend's direction and watched it spin through the air. The moment she did, the girl who wanted the frisbee, alongside another girl who had short and pinkish-purple hair, made a mad dash towards the flying frisbee.
"Look at those three..." A taller girl with luscious and stylised purple hair sipped a cup of tea as she watched the three young girls playing frisbee from the picnic chairs, "So young, and so full of energy..."
"We're not that old Rarity!" Pinkie laughed as she plopped down right next to her while munching a slice of cake in hand.
"Thanks for inviting us along to your picnic." Sunset thanked,
"No need to, Sugarcube!" Applejack raised a hand, "Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo wanted to visit this here park for a while and she thought, why not invite our siblings along?"
"That explains Big McIntosh." Twilight elaborated, looking at the big, calm brother of Applejack, lying on a nearby grassy knoll and peacefully gazing at the sky. "But what about him?" Twilight pointed to a teenage boy with spiky hair, laughing and making some noise as he helped two girls unpack a box of outdoor toys and props. One girl has long light pink hair, and the other girl had short hair and colours that interestingly contains all colours of the Rainbow.
"Flash Sentry?" Pinkie looked at the boy, "He's invited by Scootaloo!"
"And why is that?" Twilight continued her inquisition, "If she was able to bring someone along, it would certainly be Rainbow. I've never seen her affiliated with him."
"Sweetie told me that Scootaloo was originally going to bring Rainbow." Rarity answered, "But the three agreed that 'we can bring our sisters' friends!'. So for their +1's, Applebloom and Scootaloo invited their big brothers."
"They're siblings!?!?" Sunset, Pinkie and Twilight exclaimed with astonishment.
"The best term to describe the relationship between me and Scoots is 'family friend.' Though Scoots would strongly disagree." A cheery voice came from Flash, who was approaching the picnic tables with a tray of cutlery, "We spend lots of time in each other's home, doing what friends do; Play games, share gossip, help each other in our studies, etc, etc. We promised not to bother each other in our school lives unless its something emotional."
"Huh," Rarity carefully examined the cutlery tray with careful eyes, "All types of cutlery separated into categories. Rather impressive."
"You say jump, I'll say 'how high?' Then jump." Flash chuckled, "That and household training is mandatory homework for me."
"Yeah yeah..." Rainbow moaned, "You also make a lot of unrelated comments, noises and distractions when you jump. Seriously, how are you friends with Scoots if you're this annoying?"
"To be fair," Fluttershy defended, "He's not as bad as Zephyr..."
"We don't talk about him," Rainbow leaned back, "He doesn't count. Any guy is better than him, period. But Flash? Well... No offence. You're a handsome dude, but your kindness and niceness are pretty boring to hang out with."
Flash's smile widened, "Funny. 'Kind and nice' sounds a lot like Fluttershy, and yet you're best friends with her. Is it because you don't need another 'kind and nice' friend? Or do you have something against the opposite gender?"
"And that's another thing!!! You won't take criticism without retaliating! And all with that stupid smile on your face!!! Can't you at least get offended or something?"
"Well, if you don't like me now..." Flash calmly spoke, a finger on his chin, "You'd like me even less if I get serious."
"In any case," Rarity interrupted, gesturing to a table filled with scrumptious cakes and sandwiches, "Feel free to dig in!!!"
"Phew..." Francesca sighed as she watched the spectacle from a distance. "Looks like they're too busy with their things. I'd better get back before any more unlucky things pop up--"
"Hey! Watch out!!!" Sweetie Belle yelled. The merchant turned at the warning to see a frisbee heading right for her direction. She didn't have enough time to prevent the frisbee from striking her head but instead kept her hat from getting knocked off before hitting the ground.
"Oh my Goodness!!! I'm so sorry!" One of the girls walked towards her, Sweetie Belle it sounded like, "Are you okay?"
"Seriously you three..." Rarity moaned as she ran towards the merchant. "I'm sorry for my sister and her friend's accident. Are you okay? Do you need help with your things?"
"Oh no..." Francesca gulped, "I should have shut my bag tight! And how did she get close so fast!? Without a word, she picked herself up, began collecting her dropped items and closed her carrier bag quickly.
"Umm... Hello?" Rarity waved to the ignorant merchant, "Can you hear me? I said I'm sorry..." But she didn't respond. Instead, she walked away from the group, and quickly towards the forest.
"How rude... and to think we said sorry..." Rarity pouted,
"Hey, sis?" Sweetie pointed to the ground, "It looks like she forgot something."
"That was close... That was close!!!" Francesca picked up her pace away from the two. "Sorry if I came off as rude! Actually... Why should I say sorry? I'm stuck doing things like this thanks to you guys!!!"
"Hey!!!" Rarity called again to Francesca, "You dropped your money!!!"
The merchant froze in place. With a dreadful feeling, she rummaged through her bag with her hand and a shiver ran down her spine. The absent feeling of the paper brown envelope proved that Rarity's claim wasn't a lie. To think she'd be this unlucky; If she showed her face, let alone speak a single word to her, she'll be in deep trouble! But... She can't escape this now. Slow and steady, she turned to face her threat, hiding her eyes and face as much as she could.
Her heart sank even further.
For some reason, every one of those wide-eyed, accursed girls stood right behind or beside Rarity. Francesca could recognize their mix of confused, concerned, and smiling faces. Pinkie Pie... Rainbow Dash... Fluttershy... Applejack... Twilight Sparkle, though something seemed way different about her... and Sunset Shimmer. It even attracted the other two guys and three younger girls, those she didn't care about. Francesca knew she had to get that envelope. It's partly the entire reason why she's still living! But if she utters one single wor--
"Here you go!" Rarity offered the envelope with a wide smile, "Thank goodness we're able to stop you!"
"Oh! Thank you!" Francesca smiled, accepting the envelope.
"!!!" Rarity's eyes widened in realization and yanked the envelope away from the merchant's fingertips. "I recognize that voice..."
Oh no! The merchant realized her blunder. She just said 'thank you' instinctively after an act so kind. Now, her cover's been blown!
"... Who are you?" Rarity narrowed her eyes with great suspicion.
"U-Um... I'm Francesca!" The merchant laughed with her head down, "I'm a merchant and a delivery girl for Alberia Markets! We sell fresh fruit, veggies, flour, and all that sort of stuff! N-Nice to meet you!"
"Hang on..." Rainbow looked at the girls, "She does sound familiar!"
"Really???" Rarity continued, trying to catch the Merchant's eyes, "Then tell me 'Francesca', why so shy? And why did you try to ignore me after I apologised for my sister's actions?"
"I-I was in a hurry! I needed to get back!" Francesca blabbered, "So uh... apology accepted, no harm was done! Now uh... Can I have my money? I need to get back to my boss who's around here. She's expecting me to return soon!"
"That's a very unlikely argument." Twilight Sparkle stepped forward, "This park may have been built a month ago and this is our first time here, but having a fresh produce company's base of operations in this district of Canterlot, let alone this park, is unprofitable and impossible."
Francesca blinked with disbelief. This was not the Twilight Sparkle she knew back then.
"To add to that," Sweetie Belle shook her phone, "I did a quick internet check. No such company called Alberia Markets, or something like that. You're a liar!"
"You annoying, nosy, little thorn!!!!" Francesca's thoughts raged,
Rarity shook her head, "Whatever your name, hairstyle, or story, you are not fooling me with that voice and your coat. We all know who you are..."
Rarity gripped the merchant's chin and pulled her head back up, revealing a pair of sharp Brilliant Raspberry eyes and a shocked face of pale apple green.
"... Adagio Dazzle." Rarity finished. "I'd like to say that your new hairstyle matches your current outfit very well, but what's even more intriguing is that you've shown your face once again."
I'm Busted
That was all Francesca... no... Adagio thought about. Looks like its time to do what she did before.
The exposed Dazzling swiped the envelope from Rarity's fingers and high-tailed it straight into the Mayleaf Trail.
"Hey!" Sweetie Belle yelled, "Give that back!" And to the shock of her friends, followed in hot pursuit.
"S-Sweetie Belle! Wait!" Rarity, her suspicion of Adagio, now replaced with the worry of her sister, followed behind.
"Are you girls crazy!?" Rainbow wailed in alarm, "That's the Mayleaf Trail! You do know it's a bushwalking area right? You're going to get lost!"
"Sorry Rainbow..." Applejack sighed, "But as a sister, we care lots for our little ones. Might as well give chase! Come on Mac!"
"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded and joined the chase. Applebloom was going to join her older siblings, but Applejack caught on.
"Nuh-uh Applebloom, you're stayin' put here!" Applejack responded, "You and Scoots better stay behind and protect the food,"
"Come on!" Scootaloo protested, "We're not little you know! We can take care of ourselves!"
"Sorry kid," Rainbow saluted, "But you've got a long life ahead of you, might as well keep it. I'll chase after Sweetie for you."
"Not alone!!!" Scootaloo stopped, "Flash! You're going with her!"
"Huh!?" Rainbow jumped,
"Now now..." Flash raised his hands in a reasonable gesture, "Don't you have faith in Rainbow?"
"I do, but the more the merrier. Especially from you!" Scootaloo smirked, "I mean... Unless you're telling me and your dad that our chivalrous Sentry chose to leave his friends in the woods."
"Okay okay," Flash's hands quickly gave two thumbs up, still keeping his cheery face, "I got your back Rainbow. Let's roll!"
"I'll join you," Sunset responded as the two ran off,
"I-I'll stay behind!" Fluttershy volunteered, "I'll keep the girls safe..."
"So will I," Twilight responded, "I don't think I'll have enough stamina to do this chase..."
"Then I'll go!" Pinkie cheered and dashed onward with Sunset trailing behind.
"I thought the deal with the Dazzlings were over." Sunset addressed, "But even if she doesn't have her pendant, we need to make sure she isn't threatening others!"
"Something smells funny..." Pinkie pondered while bouncing, "Is it me or does 'Mayleaf Trail' sound a bit on the nose?"
"Hey Flash!" Rainbow challenged, "I don't believe you care a lot for Scoots as she says. Whoever finds Sweetie Belle first and return with her is truly the one who cares for Scoots!"
"This isn't a time to see who's better..." Flash gulped, "But whatever!"
The pursuing group entered the Mayleaf Trail. The path began to be strewn with leaves and trees, and a majority of the sun's rays were unable to reach the ground.
"You two better not run far. It ain't worth it!" Applejack grumbled, Big Mac said nothing but focused his efforts on catching up.
"Sw-Sweetie!!!" Rarity reached her hand out, "I-I can't run for so long! Please!!! You don't have to chase her!"
"No!!!" Sweetie dashed ahead, "I'm not going to let someone's hard-earned money go to the villain!" She broke to a sprint, "Even if she's the fastest, I'll get her for you!"
Adagio turned around and jumped when she saw the littlest girl straining herself to catch up, almost impressing the Dazzling. But it's not enough...
Just up ahead, was a fork in the road. One continued the bushwalking trail, the other was a narrow lane, surrounded by curved trees that forms a continuous archway, with a thick cloud of mist halfway ahead. Adagio smiled, this was the secret of the Mayleaf Trail that only she and another person knows! If her pursuers were not fully motivated to catch her, then they never will if they enter this mist!
"Hey!!!" Sweetie Belle yelled as Adagio hopped towards the Misty Road. Without a single glimpse at her chasers, she ploughed through the mist and kept on running. Obscured by the mist, the young girl could only see a silhouette of the runner once she took the same path. Getting closer to the mist, the silhouette became fainter and fainter, until it became the colour of the mist itself.
"Grr..." Sweetie panted and tried to regain her breath as she stopped right in front of the misty wall. "For Rarity and her friends' sake... I will get you!!!"
"Sweetie Belle no!!!" Rarity cried, but it was too late. Rarity could only see her mischievous but beloved sister gallop into the mist, disappearing from view like Adagio.
"I'm not..." Rarity gasped for air. A sense of desperation fuelled her body, "I won't be leaving you!!!"
"Rarity!" Applejack and Big Macintosh caught up, "Did ya nab her?"
"No to both..." Rarity shook her head, pointing towards the misty area, "They've gone through this mist and I can't catch up! I never knew Adagio could run so fast! And Sweetie Belle had so much energy! If I knew I'd be chasing people, I'd come better prepared!"
"Well, no use complainin' now eh?" Applejack encouraged, "Sides', this path seems pretty straightforward. We'll catch up with Sweetie Belle, and Adagio too!"
"How 'bout we wait for a while sis?" Big Mac suggested, "Seems like our lady here needs to rest."
"What?" Rarity looked up, "No... I mean yes, I'm really tired, but... I can regain my energy on my own, thank you, Big Mac."
"This is our first time here right?" Big Mac continued, "Ain't going to help lots if we venture out as a lone wolf. S'a job fer two if ya ask me."
"That's what we're here for!" Rainbow Dash smiled as she and Flash arrived, followed by Sunset and Pinkie Pie.
"Here, have some water!" Pinkie offered, shoving an open water bottle into Rarity's mouth.
"Thanks!" Rarity sighed with relief after a few gulps. "But you don't have to shove it in my mouth next time!"
"Alright then... We'd better hurry or we'll lose precious distance!" Rainbow commanded, taking the lead, "We'll go in two by two! You're with me Brad," She grabbed Flash's hand. "We've got a competition to settle!"
"Hey Rainbow, this is getting a little serious here." Flash smiled awkwardly, "We need to prioritize finding Sweetie Belle instead of making it a competition. Besides, going together when we're--"
"Oh shut up!" Rainbow moaned, tightening her grip on Flash "And buckle up! Here I go!!!"
"Ahh!!!" Flash yelled as Rainbow sprinted into the mist, dragging the poor boy so hard that his feet were swept off the ground.
"Well..." Sunset looked blank as both Rainbow and Flash were unable to be seen in the mist. "Ready Pinkie?"
"Oh yeah!" Pinkie laughed, "I'm sure this will lead us to somewhere fun!!!" Locking arms and elbows together, both Sunset and Pinkie ventured into the mist.
"Well then... Just us now Sugarcube." Applejack turned to her brother and Rarity, "Y'all rested up?"
"Yes..." Rarity nodded, finishing off the water bottle. "I'm fine now."
"We'd better work as a team of three." Applejack strategized, "how's that sound?"
"Good." Rarity nodded, "I'm ready to find Sweetie Belle at all costs!"
"Eeyup." So did Big Mac,
"Here goes nothing then'. Yeehaw!!!" Applejack yelled as the three ran through the mist.
The atmosphere of the mist was silent in sound, but full in touch. Rarity could feel the cold weight in the mist gently rubbing on her skin and clothes. And despite being extremely foggy... Rarity found it very easy to breathe in.
"This mist... It feels comfortable for some reason!" Rarity exclaimed, "Don't you think so?" She turned to her companions but saw no one in her view. Her confidence dropped a little when she discovered that only after a few minutes did she get lost.
"Oh no..." Rarity shivered... She knew that she just kept walking straight and at an average pace too. Did she walk too fast? Or did she fall behind? She regretted not holding her friend's hands. While deep in regret, her mental process was interrupted again when she saw ahead on what could be a glimmer of hope; A clearing in the mist.
"Yes!" Rarity smiled and ran forward and forward until she could no longer feel or see the mist around her. Finally, she was standing around a visible atmosphere.
"We're out!!!" Rarity cheered as she turned around.
No one was behind her... And the mist that she walked out from had disappeared too.
Rarity's face shuddered. No way... She did get lost!
"Rarity," A sudden deep voice came from behind her. Rarity jumped forward and spurred around with a fighting stance.
"Calm down," Big Mac raised his hands, "Jus' me."
"Oh... Big McIntosh." Rarity relaxed, "Don't sneak up on me like that."
"Sneakin'?" Big Mac raised an eyebrow, "Ah jus' saw you standing at the end of mist with yer back turned to me, so ah approached you." He started looking around. "But if you add up everything that we jus' felt, minus the presence of Applejack, Ah'd say that was not some ordinary bushwalk."
"Where are we???" Rarity mumbled, pulling out her phone. "Darn. Typical reception in a forest: None."
A loud grumbling sound can be heard.
"And to make matters worse..." Rarity growled in frustration and embarrassment. "I didn't get to eat at all."
"Ah've packed an apple just in case--"
"Rarity!!!" A familiar voice called out to her.
"That voice!" Rarity's eyes widened, her spirit lifted in hope. Turning to the source of the voice, she saw her young adorable sister rushing towards her with open arms. "Sweetie Belle! It is you!"
"Rarity!!!" Sweetie Belle jumped into Rarity's embrace, "I'm so happy to see you!!!" She hugged her tightly.
"It's okay dear..." Rarity comforted, patting her head, "I'm here... so is Big Mac..." Following behind Sweetie Belle was yet another familiar and surprising face "... And you too Flash Sentry?"
"That's me," Flash pointed a thumb to himself, "Glad to see you two reunited. That's half of our battle won."
"Half? What's the other part?" Rarity asked,
"Getting out of here." Flash gestured to his surroundings, "I think chasing... Adagio was it? Has landed us in a dire situation. Not only that, we may have found Sweetie but finding Applejack, Sunset, Rainbow and Pinkie is a new priority."
Rarity's face dropped into despair once again. Her arms around Sweetie Belle went limp and weak,
"No..." Rarity dropped to her knees, alerting Sweetie Belle to let go, "And after we've come so far..."
"Read the mood Flash." Big Mac offered, "We've got a hungry and melodramatic girl here."
"Okay then, do you want to know the story of how Sweetie and I met?" Flash offered,
"Be a bit more helpful than a story..." Big Mac frowned,
"It should be helpful." Flash defended, "You remembered how I got pulled into the mist?"
"By Rainbow..." Rarity wailed as an answer. "She dragged... You along." Her face flashed back to colour,
"Yeah, and she was like that when she ran in." Flash nodded, "A few minutes later, I felt our grip beginning to slip, and despite me telling her to slow down, she just continued running. It was a good thing I learned Martial Arts, or I would have fallen flat on the ground when she let go!"
"So you guys got separated in the mist..." Rarity summarised, "Interesting..."
"I think that within the mist, the pathway we were on grew wider until it became an open field." Flash remembered, "I knew the direction Rainbow was heading, so I followed her trail as much as I could... That's when I saw an opening in the mist. Getting out of that, I found out that the mist I emerged from just disappeared, leaving nothing but a path I can't even recognise. Happy to know the Great Goddess up there is looking out for us in times of trouble because I spotted Sweetie Belle nearby. After teaming up, It wasn't until a minute later did we spot you from a distance."
"So that wasn't an ordinary bushwalk." Big Mac concluded, "Or more likely, that Mist must have taken us to a different place!"
"Exactly!" Flash smiled, "And I believe Adagio knows that too! She used it to secure herself an escape route. The real question, however, is how that mist works."
"GRRRR..." An inhuman growling voice passed through the teens and spurred three of them with fear. Only Flash was undisturbed.
"Okay then," Flash took a deep breath. "That's a question for another time. Something else has their eyes on us!"
"Adagio?" Sweetie asked,
"No..." Flash shook his head, his dumb smile still smeared on his face. He approached a nearby tree and snapped off a long branch, "It's something hostile. You girls better get behind me."
"Ah'm a guy." Big Mac added, "But you know how to fight?"
"Duh!!!" Flash spat, effortlessly twirling his branch then holding it tight like a weapon. "Didn't I say I've learned Martial Arts!? I have two years studying the art of Bojutsu!"
"Well then..." Rarity nodded, raising her arms in a fighting stance, "At least I'll have some support in beating back whoever has the nerve of jumping us!"
"GRRRR..." The inhuman voice grew louder,
"Sweetie, get behind me and Flash." Rarity commanded,
"Only two? Aren't you fighting Big Mac?" Sweetie turned confused,
"Ah'm a farmer... Not a fighter..." Big Mac swallowed, "Ah ain't so good bein' the hunter, let alone the hunted."
"There!" Flash pointed, "Behind those trees!"
Right on cue, a floating figure slithered out from its hiding place with a sneering growl. This ghostly-like creature's body was covered top to bottom in shredded indigo and magenta cloth with the only body part seen in plain view was its glowing golden eyes and its sharp, lilac-tipped, three-fingered claws.
"And over there!" Flash pointed to the opposite direction of the beast. From the bush, another creature similar in appearance clawed its way through the leaves and branches, slicing them without any effort and hesitation.
Rarity dropped her arms a little, "I... I don't think I can fight..."
"Cold feet already?" Flash smirked,
"Sorry that I decided to chicken out." Rarity sarcastically spoke, then changed to a serious defensive tone, "But look at their claws!!! I can fight them, sure. But do you honestly think I can survive a slice from that!?"
"Point taken..." Flash nodded, "Then do you want a weapon like mine? It can keep a distance from those claws!"
"How 'bout flight instead of fight?" Big Mac suggested, "We know jack squat 'bout these things, and half of us don't know how ta fight anyways."
"I forgot about that, a good idea!" Flash exclaimed, "But it will be tricky. Both paths of escape are blocked by a monster each. One of us is going to have to distract it temporarily so the other three can get through. I'm happy to volunteer of course."
Suddenly, four dark globes of light burst into view and disappeared a split second after, each leaving behind the same sharp-clawed creature. Now each side had three of these Fiends, making six in total, surrounding the now outnumbered party.
"On second thoughts," Flash's smile dwindled a little, "That window of opportunity has closed. Fight it is."
"GRRR!!!" One of the Fiends crept forward, swinging one of its claws through the air.
"Hey! Shoo!" Flash stabbed at the air in return at the approaching Fiend, "Begone with you! Pick on somebody else!"
"Ah hate to say, but ah think we're doomed..." Big Mac concluded. Sweetie Belle said nothing, but gloomily snapped a picture of the three floating creatures on her side with her phone.
"Seriously Sweetie?" Rarity raised an eyebrow, spotting her in the process.
"If all else fails... at least we can send a warning or dying message to whoever dare ventures here..." Sweetie meekly responded, full of despair.
"Okay, that's it." Flash clutched his weapon, "No one's going to die while I'm around! And, you monsters won't be harming anyone here when I'm done with you!" The brave teen charged forward, his branch high in the air. Every friend and foe of Flash watched him bring the branch down with one mighty swing and gasped as the branch dreadfully snapped in two when it made contact with the head.
Flash looked at his broken stick with a dumbfounded gaze. The attacked Fiend looked a little dazed but lightly shook his head around... The beast looked down to see the broken remains of Flash's branch, then viciously glared back at the attacker. Without another word, Flash charged forward again and lunged the broken branch directly towards the Fiend's face. It was pushed back a great deal, but any sign of damage, injury or pain, was not to be seen.
"Wow..." Sweetie moped, "You are some fighter Flash."
"H-Hey!" Flash defended, "This is just a branch! At least I tried fighting!"
"ROOAR!!!" Feeling like this battle has gone long enough, the Fiend flew charged towards Flash with his claws in the air. Flash, unintimidated despite his attempts, bravely held his stick in defence. Flash grinned as he felt the force of the Fiend's claw collide with the half-stick he wielded. A split second later, however, he tensed up. He looked at his stick, sliced into four pieces, now truly unusable. He then looked at his enemy, its lilac-tipped claws painted with a fresh hue of red. Finally, he looked down at his body; His black jacket had three oval-shaped holes with sharp edges, revealing his white shirt, which also had three oval-shaped holes with sharp edges. That, in turn, revealed his orange-like skin which similar to the other two, had--
"AHHHHHHH!!!!" Flash yelled at the top of his lungs, dropping what's left of his weapon and clutching his bleeding wounds in pain and shock.
"Flash!!!" The other three humans yelled back in horror.
"O-Oopsies..." Flash stumbled, excruciatingly turning around to face them with a smile and giving a bloodstained thumbs up before falling to his knees, "I... looks like I messed up!"
"Flash! Run!" Rarity warned, seeing the Fiend that injured him, alongside its other two companions, began to approach.
"Behind you! Watch out!" Flash, his body burning, mustered up the strength to warn them back, alerting them that the Fiends on their side were charging for them.
"What!?" Flash, Rarity, Big Mac and Sweetie Belle turned around, unable to act as the fiends had their claws out at a metre's length.
"Welp..." Big Mac spoke to himself, closing his eyes, "S'over for me. Pray ya get out of here Applejack. And take care of the family in mah memory."
"Sorry Rarity..." Sweetie quickly clutched her older sister once again, "I'm so sorry I led you all to this... Feel free to yell at me as much as you want, wherever we end up in..."
Rarity held her sister tight without a sound and closed her eyes, waiting for the demise of herself and her friends...
*SLASH*
The sound of rending flesh and fabric was heard, spurring Rarity to open her eyes. Looking to the left, she saw a blurry figure dashing away from what seemed to be the Fiends (ambushing Flash) disintegrating into blue motes of light, and straight towards the three Fiends ready to attack Rarity and the rest. She watched in awe as this figure spun around with a dagger in its hand, creating the sharpest whirlwind that blew the Fiends away, turning them into disintegrating ribbons.
Rarity blinked rapidly... There was no mistaking it. It was an absolute miracle. The four humans were saved.
"Tch... I knew you'd get yourself into trouble." The former blurry figure approached the generous fashionista. Rarity looked up at her saviour, her jaw dropped once she recognised that pale orange girl wearing the clothes of an old-time merchant.
"Adagio!?" Rarity exclaimed, "You saved us!!!"
"Way to state the obvious." Adagio grumbled, "After all the things that you, Sunset, and your friends did to me, I end up saving your prissy behinds a few months later."
"Wha--... Never mind that!!!" Rarity put the criticism and insults aside, "Flash! He's in trouble, I think he might be dying!"
"Then I believe that's my cue." A beautiful and mature voice came from behind Adagio. The three looked behind the Dazzling to see a young lady as tall as Rarity with extremely long purple, magenta and blue-ish hair tied in big, bushy twintails and kept together with yet another large black ribbon behind her head. In her hands, she wielded a funny crooked stick. The three teenagers recognised the stick to be a 'Staff'; An item that was used to channel magic in cartoons, video games and the like.
"Wh-Who are you?" Sweetie Belle spoke as this mysterious new girl knelt beside the injured Flash, writhing in agony on the dirt ground.
"You may call me Cleo," The lady turned around, showing her eyes of black and pinkish-purple. "And I'm what you would know as a 'healer'." She raised her staff out,
"I guarantee you this will not be painful. Elder Cure!" She chanted. A ball of brilliant green light burst within Flash, stopping his squirming and grunting, and magically sealing the three large gashes on his body right before everyone's eyes.
"Uhh... Umm..." Flash could feel the pain on his wound dwindling. He smoothly ran a figure across it. There was a little bit of stinging, but he felt nothing but the softness of his skin. It was as if instead of a wound trying to repair itself and leaving a scar, it never appeared in the first place.
"Although the type of magic that healers like me use brings the body right back to its optimal and undamaged form, I suggest you give it time to recuperate," Cleo suggested, seeing his confused yet awestruck face. "Can you stand?"
"Y-Yes." Flash nodded, standing up without any issue. "I owe you big time."
"No need to worry." Cleo smiled, "I have always lent my healing powers to many a person."
"Now guys," Adagio snapped the people's attention to herself, "I'm sure you have lots of questions now, and even later on. But we're going to take you to a haven first, and you can ask questions along the way."
Rarity's stomach, alongside Flash Sentry, Big McIntosh and Sweetie Belle's, grumbled for all to hear.
"With food," Adagio added with a frown, "So follow me and Cleo. Otherwise, more Fiends will show up."
"Okay then." Rarity started as the six began to walk, "Where are we? Is this Mayleaf Park?"
"No and yes..." Adagio responded, "Specifically, you are in Rovetelle Forest, which connects to the Mistholt and the Mayleaf Trail. As for the 'yes', this entire forest and a whole lot more is still part of the Mayleaf Park. And I know what you're going to say; The forest next to the Mayleaf Park doesn't have a name. Well, this place isn't the Equestria you are familiar with, and it's sort of hidden from the outside world."
"An alternate world or dimension? Did we just get Isekai'd?" Flash continued,
"I don't even want to know what that last word was... whoever you are. But no, it will be hard to explain without seeing things too, so that question can be answered once we get to where we need to be."
"So uh..." Big Mac was the next to ask as they reached a path that led them to an even darker area of the forest. "What were those things back there?"
"They are called 'Fiends'." Cleo answered, "They are creatures that spawned from another world. Someplace evil and dark. They aren't classified as animals for that matter. They'll strike at any innocent being, human or animal. Sometimes, they may take the guise of any creatures living here and are just as hostile, although they won't leave any remains when slain."
"To follow on Flash's question," Rarity jumped in, "When we chased you, we ended up here. Is it safe to say that the mist is the gateway between the park and here?"
"Yes." Cleo nodded, "Consider the mist as a portal. But it's not any normal portal, it's one that can read your hearts whenever you enter its midst and will take you to where you desire. It's the only way to enter this place and beyond."
"Basically if any if you were not passionate in chasing me down, you'll be taken somewhere else, well away from me." Adagio explained, "When I entered that mist, I need to think of exactly where I want to go, and that's where I end up. However, I had the feeling some of you could have gotten through, and as much as I'd want to, I couldn't leave you out there with Fiends running about."
Rarity gasped with delight, "Does... Does that mean you've--"
"Shut it!" Adagio snapped, "Or I'll push you off the bridge once we get there!"
"Never mind..." Rarity raised her hand in disappointed understanding,
"Now do YOU have a question, you little brat?" Adagio maliciously turned to Sweetie Belle,
"Well..." Sweetie innocently looked at Adagio, then pointed at a necklace resting on her chest, "I like that pendant of yours. What is it?"
Rarity tensed up and prepared to strike at the word 'pendant'.
"This?" Adagio fiddled with the mentioned pendant, a necklace-chain connected to a green crystal-like stone with small crystal pieces dangling from below. "It's called a Pactstone. Cleo gave it to me as a gift. And before you go all defensive on me Rarity, it does absolutely nothing as of now. It used to a long time ago, but not today."
"It looks really beautiful." Sweetie complimented, with Rarity dropping her stance with an astonished look.
"Thank you." Cleo smiled, "I'm sure if the dragons were here, then they'd be very happy."
"Wait. What?" Flash blinked, "Did you just say dragons?"
"Oh look! Here we are!!!" Adagio interrupted as they spotted a bright mistless light at the end of the forest. Desperate, the six of them hurried towards the light. On the other side, the group was finally enveloped by the full radiance of the sun. Standing on one side of a firm stone bridge was a stone wall with an arrowhead gate. Leading from the gate, the four pairs of eyes followed a path to a hill with an assortment of plateaus of different heights, each of its edges fenced off for safety, containing very unique buildings and statues built from materials that were considered old or unknown compared to the times they live in. However, their travelling eyes rested on the top of a large castle, standing proud and beautiful on an elevated rock platform, accessible by a wonderful, smooth flight of stairs.
The four were taken by surprise. Flash's jaw dropped, Big Mac blinked rapidly, Rarity was struck with awe, and Sweetie's eyes sparkled with wonder and delight, the previous form of despair long gone.
"Welcome to the remnants of New Alberia." Adagio introduced with a deadpan voice, "The Halidom!"
"Good Grief!!!" Flash exclaimed at the top of his lungs.