The ponies had been walking for days. The ground below smelled like nothing. It felt hard, whether it was rock or sand or rock on top of sand nopony could be sure. Rarity couldn’t feel her lips anymore, only the raspy core inside her burning throat.
“I’m so thirsty.” She whimpered.
“We all are.” Rainbow Dash said irritated.
“How you girls have strength to argue?” Fluttershy asked weakly, her wings dragging behind her.
Cera shot the ponies a sullenly look. “How come some of you have wings and some don't?”
Twilight thought she might pass out. Her head ached. “There are three kind of ponies. Earth pony, pegasus pony and unicorns. Unicorns like Rarity have horn and pegasus have wings. Earth ponies have neither but are very strong. I am an alicorn because I have both wings and horn.” Twilight’s voice came out hoarse and rustled. Rainbow Dash wasn’t surprised. Twilight was exactly the kind of bookworm that she imagined would be happy die lecturing.
“Yea, I get that you’re different, I just can’t figure out why those of you with wings can’t fly.” Cera complained. Rainbow Dash shot the threehorn a fat glower.
Littlefoot whipped his tail on the Threehorns’ flank. “Cera! Don’t be rude.”
“I Didn’t mean anything bad!” Cera replied innocently. “It’s just, if they could fly then they could be up there, looking for green food and water.”
IF we could fly!? Rainbow Dash ranted inside her mind. Lady. You have no idea.
“The air is to heavy...” Fluttershy answered Cera, then accidentally changing the subject matter. “...The air heavy, I can’t breathe. Need water.”
“How come you three be so fresh?” Apple Jack asked the dinosaurs. There was a weak lecturing answer coming from Fluttershy.
“They are of the reptile family, Apple Jack. They are cold blooded, which means they don’t sweat. They don’t sweat, they don’t need water the same amount.”
Ducky was walking this time around. She looked worried back at the struggling poor creatures with beautiful colors. She turned to Littlefoot. “Maybe we should stop?”
“No, we can’t. If we stop they might collapse and you don’t want to fall asleep out here.”
“Then we must find water.” Cera added.
Twilight spotted a piece of dry bark on the ground, probably blown here from a forest. It was formed like an bent arch inside, creating a bowl like shape. “Hold on everypony. I’m going to try something.”
The bowl had a large patch of sand inside. Twilight had the spell in her mind, she only hoped her weakened magic would be enough. The alicorn closed her eyes, making sure to keep the bowl lodged in her head. It contained sand in the first part of her mind, the words of the spell in the second second part and the bowl containing water in the third.
Cera may have repressed the thought to the ‘nonsense’ part of her mind but she still remembered when the Rainbow Faces visited The Great Valley a long time ago. She remembered all the Spiketail crap about the Stone Of Cold Fire and how she, Littlefoot, Ducky, Petri and Spike risked their lives for some dumb legend about the stone being magical.
The threehorn watched Twilights’ horn light up, the bowl likewise. The sand inside started moving. It became spectral. The spectral surface turned mushy and conjoined, creating one singular shape. It loosened.
And that was that. The sun above reflected against the watery surface inside the bowl. Cera felt her mouth drop. “Did... Did you just turn sand into water!?”
“Wooooooooow, She did! Light Horn did. Yep yep yep.” Ducky awed.
Littlefoot hovered his head above the ponies just to be sure. His curious eyes met the lavender alicorn. “I don’t know how nutritious it is. But it should cleanse the basic thirst. Take a sip each everypony, I don’t know how many times I’ll have the strength to do this.” Twilight said.
Cera closed her eyes and shook her head. “Wait? Was that just magic I saw!?”
Twilight took a sip of the water. Her voice became stronger. “Yes Cera, it was. A basic spell.”
Cera looked at Twilight like she had just seen a ghost. “Twilight Sparkle? Was it?”
Littlefoot was completely flabbergasted. “But I don’t understand. How?!”
Cera turned to Littlefoot. Her eyes still seemed to wonder if they were awake. “There is no ‘how’, egghead! It is magic, not science.”
“Actually. Magic and science is not that unlike one another. Magic is about making something specific that you want to happen, happen. It takes practice and years of study.” Twilight lectured.
The dinosaurs nodded like they understood, barely. Littlefoot remembered when he was a child. For one second he had turned around and sworn that the Rainbow Faces disappeared out of thin air, probably flown back to space. He remember that time thinking that magic was something for wonders and places far away. Now, when he had witnessed it with his own eyes, it felt like he could reach out and grab it with his tail, like learning to shake a patch of leaves from a tree, like his Grandpa Longneck once did in The Great Valley, a long time ago.
“Can you teach me?!”
Twilight Sparkle turned to Littlefoot. Her eyes was an odd mixture of surprised of receiving the question and not so. “Teach you?”
“Yes. Teach me how to turn sand into water!”
Cera backed slightly away from the longneck. Rainbow Dash swallowed the water she had in her mouth.
“I hate to break it to you, but like Fluttershy said, you are a reptile, not a unicorn.”
“Rainbow Dash! Have some manners.” Rarity scolded.
“Whaaaaat?” Pinkie Pie squeaked. “It wouldn't be that odd. We have seen magical creatures other than unicorns in Equestria, have we?” The pink pony jumped up to the Longneck. She leaned relaxingly against his leg. She pointed her hoof at the white stars on his flank. “Despite. He has this now, has he? If a reptile from another dimension can get a cutie mark then what says he wouldn’t be able to cast a convenient or inconvenient but randomly-super-fun spell to?”
There silence fell over ponies. “Pinkie Pie has a point.” Fluttershy said.
“Will you excuse us for a moment?” Rainbow Dash lead the ponies were the dinosaurs couldn’t hear. “I don’t know about you guys, but am I the only one who feel this is a waste of time?”
“What do you mean Rainbow?” Rarity asked.
“What I mean is...” Rainbow Dash casted a glance back at the dinosaurs. “Do we even know why we are following them?”
“Littlefoot helped me.” Fluttershy pointed out.
“Yea, I know, but how do we know we can trust them? We know they won’t hurt us, but what if their Valley friends eat ponies?”
“Rainbow Dash, how can you say something like that?!” Fluttershy said melodramatic.
“But neither we or they would know that, won’t they? And how are we going to get back to Equestria again?”
“Exactly!” Twilight broke in. She had waited for the angle to pop up. “I don’t know about the Longneck doing magic stuff, but one thing I’m sure of, and that is that Littlefoots’ cutie mark can not be a coincidence.”
“What are you saying sugarcube?” Apple Jack asked interested.
“Do you all remember those objects that turned into keys that allowed us to open up that tree chest?”
“You mean the ones we received after doing something that living up to our elements wasn’t easy and later used to defeat Tirek?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“Thank you Pinkie. Now, those objects couldn't have had that magic before we received them, what if Littlefoot absorbed some of Equestrias magic when I touched him, the same way those objects did?”
“You’re saying he is a key?” Rarity asked.
Fluttershy imagined the giant longneck lifting from the ground and spinning around in circles before turning into a small key. She giggled to herself.
“Well, he’s got to have a purpose. That is what a cutie mark means, after all.” Apple Jack looked back at her own. The other ponies did the same.
Meanwhile, a bit out of ear reach from the ponies, a dinosaur was doing the same.
“I wonder what it’s for.” Littlefoot said.
Ceras’ mouth twisted bewilderingly. “It looks like nothing to me. Can you get it off?”
Littlefoot used his tail to rub the skin over his mark. “No Cera, I’ve tried with water too. It’s like it’s a part of me.”
Ducky studied the mark on Littlefoots’ flank, which was a white star surrounded by several smaller stars. “It looks almost like Light Horns’, but hers is the color pink.”
The ponies came up to the dinosaurs. Twilight and Littlefoot met in the middle. The alicorn spread her wings and spoke. “It is to early to say if I can teach you magic, but I will tell you some of the facts surrounding the basics. If noting else, it will be an interesting lesson about Equestria and its habitats.”
The herd of ponies and dinosaurs kept on following the bright circle in the sky. Twilight managed to perfect her spell, giving Littlefoot time to look for and find the traces of a herd. The tracks lead the group to a green area. The dinosaurs found a patch of trees which had leaves growing on them. For the dinosaurs, at the moment, the dinner was served. - For the ponies though, it was another story. - Raritys’ face cringed. “You eat leaves?”
Littlefoot swallowed. “Green food. Delicious.”
“It contains both nutrition and water, perfect food for reptiles.” Fluttershy lectured.
“Thanks Fluttershy. Tell us when your animal lesson is ready for devouring cause I’m starving!” Rainbow Dash blasted.
Littlefoot interrupted his dinner to face the ponies. He was immediately met with Fluttershys’ modest appearance. It was like her voice was the wind itself blowing against Littlefoots’ skin. “I am happy for you that you’ve found food, I hope it nourishes you far. But us ponies, we don’t eat leaves. In fact, some leaves are downright poisonous to us.”
“We need hay, grass or fruits.” Apple Jack informed.
“I think i saw an opening further back. We could go there and have a look. Maybe we’ll find fruit?” Ducky suggested.
Cera had been chewing throughout the entire discussion. Littlefoot looked at the grubbing Threehorn, then at the swimmer. “Take them Ducky. Me and Cera can stay here.”
Littlefoot saw Ducky leave with the ponies. This was as good of a time as any.
“Cera?”
Cera devoured the green. She grabbed another big chunk from the tree.
“Cera...?”
“What!?”
Littlefoot knew the threehorn well enough to know that she was usually this angry when something was annoying her, and that something could as well be the wind. Littlefoot grinned. “Do you remember when we met?”
Cera chewed and swallowed. “Ugh, of course.”
Littlefoots’ grin formed into a smug. “I would have totally bet you.”
Cera kept on eating. For a minute she thought she had pulled off her diss flawlessly. She should have known it would be impossible when it came to Littlefoot.
Oh yes, Cera did remember. She was just a small threehorn girl those days, banging her head against rocks like some noob dinosaur with mental health issues. One of those rocks had been hiding in the bushes like a coward. The rock had from there seen Cera bang her head against another rock, one that turned out to have an insect on top of it. The insect may then have emptied all of its bowels in her face, causing the hiding rock to burst out into uncontrollable laughter. Noticing the hiding rocks’ staggering amusement, Cera faced the him. “What are you laughing at?!”
Cera challenged the rock. The rock accepted and jumped out of its hiding place.
Target acquired. Ready, set, go!
Cera came at the rock. The rock came at her. They both lowered their heads, ready for the impact. One big shadow casted itself over both Cera and the rock. The grown threehorn landed in-between Cera and the rock. Ceras’ father looked straight into the horrified eyes of the rock. His voice rumbled Ceras’ flashback.
“Come Cera. Threehorns never play with Longnecks.”
Longnecks... Longnecks... Longnecks... Her fathers words, bathing in disgust, circulated Ceras head. She faced the first friend she ever had.
“Is something wrong?” Littlefoot asked.
“Yea. You would have totally bet me. I’m sure.” Cera said accommodatingly.
Littlefoot looked bewildered at the threehorn. Not only was it unlike Cera to admit defeat, but a premature defeat after a no-contest at that.
“But your father...”
“Yes! Your father, Bron.” Cera interrupted.
Now it was Littlefoots’ turn to dodge the subject of a conversation. “What about him?” Littlefoot failed.
“Well, he’s the leader of a herd, is he? You two must have had so many adventures since you left The Great Valley.”
This time it was Littlefoot that turned to grubbing. “Hm, no.” He answered.
“No?”
“Hurgh, no.”
“You mean you haven’t seen him?”
“Hm yes, that’s what ‘no’ means.” Littlefoot answered irritatingly.
“You don’t need to get angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Yes you are, and I remember how close you two were, don’t you want to see him?!” Cera asked assertively.
Littlefoot munched the leaves he had in his mouth, the ones that had been in short supply during The Great Drought.
His grandparents were already dead at the time, leaving Littlefoot as the only longneck in The Great Valley. Littlefoot remembered sitting on a cliff, waiting for those longnecks to show up behind the rocks, waiting for his father to return as his hunger burned. He remember waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
Littlefoot swallowed the leaves he had in his mouth, the only thing he felt he could rely on. His answer came out acid.
“No Cera, I don't.”
The ponies followed Ducky to a place that had fewer trees. Ducky scanned the surrounding crowns. The ponies didn’t feel like waiting.
“Oh, my hunger.” Rarity complained. She ran her hoof through her blue mane, feeling the conjoined hairs inside it. “Oh, my mane.” She whimpered with equal misery.
“What is that?” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof at a patch of rocks. White balls protruded out between them.
“It’s eggs.” Fluttershy was unable to keep the temptation out of her voice.
“Eggs.” Twilight mirrored, feeling her tummy fill by the bare mention of the word.
“Eggs would be nice.” Apple Jack said honest while grabbing her belly.
“Wait? Are we thinking about eating someones’ kids?!” Rarity exclaimed.
“No, of course not.” Fluttershy answered hesitantly.
“Oh no, not eggs, no.” Twilight rushed.
Pinkie Pie came dancing between her friends. Her highly pitched voice sang.
“Eggs! When I wake up, first thing I dooooo...” She pulled Fluttershys’ face close, looked straight into her eyes and whispered lustfully. “...Eggs.”
Fluttershy made a long whimpering sound and shrunk to half her size.
“Up there!” Ducky was pointing her finger upward. The ponies caught up with the swimmer. Above them, high on a branch grew a circular fruit thingy.
“Is that a fruit?” Rarity asked.
“I have no idea, nope nope nope, but it looks good. I don’t think its poisonous.” Ducky reassured hesitantly.
“You don’t think?” Apple Jack asked suspicious. There was a rainbow blur.
“First on it gets the first bite!” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings but never gained air. The pegasus sailed right over the area and face planted the rocks beside the egg nest. There was a small pond there, resulting in a splash and watery fluid flying all over her. Fluttershys’ scream echoed over the crowns. It quickly faded into relief and blushing when she saw that the eggs were ok.
“Well, we have to get it down somehow. I’ma starving for Celestias sake!” Apple Jack said.
Twilight tried to use her weakened magic but the fruit was to far away. She asked Rarity for help but it was like the fruit was nailed to the tree.
Apple Jack tried to buck the tree. She tried again, and again, and again. The fifth time a big chunk of leaves sailed down over her. Apple Jack looked around in confusion until she realized it had only been Ducky. The swimmer laughed nervously. “Forgive me, i just felt sorry for you.”
“Argh! Come on! We defeated Sombra two times for Celestias sake. How hard can it be to get one overgrown orange down from a tree!?” Rainbow Dash blasted incredulously.
“Easy.” Twilights’ face twisted in determination. “We climb.”
And climbed they did. Apple Jack was the strongest and took position at the bottom of the tree. On top of her Pinkie Pie climbed, allowing for Rarity to climb on top of her. Next climbed Twilight, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, who grew more angry each second she didn’t had her hooves on that fruit. Even though the ponies were six their combined height wasn’t enough. Rainbow Dash stood up on two hooves and stretched herself on top of Fluttershy. “Just... A bit... Further.”
Apple Jacks’ hoof suddenly tunneled through an underground hole. There was a unison grump when everypony except Rainbow Dash hit the ground, Duckys’ leaves wavering around them.
Rainbow Dash had her hooves grasping the branch. She groaned and reached out her hoof. With one final push she slammed the fruit, causing it to start wavering. Rainbow Dash lost her grip and plummeted. She flapped her wings clumsily like a bird fledgling leaving the nest. Duckys’ encouraging words could be heard from below.
“Fly Rainbow Dash! Bring out those wings! Fly, flap your wings!”
Rainbow Dash sailed limply down and landed on her butt beside the tree. Her bewildered eyes met the rest of the ponies. There was a subdued ‘thump’ accompanied by a small splash when the orange fruit pierced Rainbow Dashs’ head like a shishkebab. The fruit without eyes looked stale at the ponies. Fluttershy giggled. The fruit leaned back against the trunk. A raspy groan resonated from inside it.
The fruit tasted like water, but for ponies that had eaten roots for days it tasted like a Canterlot buffet. Ducky grubbed on some of the leaves she had tossed over Apple Jack.
“Thanks Ducky. This was really nice of you.” Twilight said.
“Its the least I could do. I couldn’t stand to see you hungry. I’ve been hungry myself and i have seen my friends hungry. Believe me, hunger is one of the worst things that can happen to you.” Ducky empathized ‘worst’. The ponies looked at each other. They each thought the same thing. - What a wonderful, caring creature Ducky was. “I remember The Great Drought.”
Twilight had heard so much ominous things about the famine by now. She remembered when she walked hungry in the desert. Her face contorted in sadness. “What happened?” She asked Ducky.
Ducky made a long sigh. She swallowed the leaf she had in her mouth and told the tragic story from the beginning.