//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Journey through the Everfree Forest Part 1 // Story: The Legend Of Harmony: The Eternal Eclipse // by Radiant Eclipse //------------------------------// The Everfree Forest. Many ponies regard it as an unnatural place, something that should not exist. For them, it seems like an anomaly in this world, nothing more than a failure. But the irrefutable truth is that this forest is one of the most natural places in this world. Other species like zebras or griffin are aware of that, but not the ponies. This is very ironic because all of Equestria was like the Everfree Forest when the founding fathers discovered it and made it their home, though not all of it was overgrown with plants. But you may ask why for example the clouds do not move in Equestria, or why rainbows have to be made and do not emerge from the reflection of the sun light. It is simple. The ponies’ magic has oversaturated the nature in Equestria itself. Both flora and fauna have adapted to the ponies actions and made themselves dependent, no, overdependent. The reason is nothing more than evolution and natural selection. They have adapted to the ponies will to have control over everything and get rid of those things they cannot control. The forest’s natural enmity and hazard protected it from being seized. How delightful. The self-proclaimed most nature-loving and with it coexisting race is actually the race that corrupts the nature and imposes its will on it the most. But do not blame them. Almost all ponies do not even know this. ======== The sun merely began to rise when the assembled group stood in front of the entrance to the Everfree Forest. They were strained, but also got excited about the new adventure that waited for them. Twilight, as the leader of the group, made sure that everyone was prepared and ready for the quest. “Good, we’ve got everything we need. We may take about 10 hours, depending on breaks and getting lost for a short time, to reach the other side of the Everfree Forest. Then we have to scale the snowed mountains to possibly reach the secret place where this mysterious power is supposed to be. Is everypony ready?” Everyone nodded to the pleasance of Twilight. “Excellent. Then let’s go. Follow my lead!” Everyone rejoiced and laughed, while the sky slowly turned summerlike blue. After a few steps taken into the forest, Fluttershy seemed to become nervous and remembered earlier journeys through the Everfree Forest. “Oh no. Not this again…” With a speedy, but prudent pace, the group cantered through the dark, mildewed forest, not having a premonition about what is to come. Applejack broke the silence of the forest with a question “May I ask ya somethin’, Twilight?” “Sure. Go ahead!” “Thanks. Ääähm… why did you actually want to keep the fact that you met the princesses a secret? Seems mindless to me.” “Well, I feared that you might trust their opinion more than mine… and not help me at all.” “We were that unfair to you the last times that you don’t even want to tell us everything?” Rarity asked Twilight dolefully. “No, no. Of course not. You were…” Twilight stuttered, trying to explain herself, but immediately got interrupted by Fluttershy. “No. We were. We were that unfair…” She said and suddenly, the happy mood of everyone but Twilight became a mood composed of self-reproach. Twilight could not stand the sad face of her friends and brought everyone to a stop. “Listen guys, everything is all right. We are here, together, that is all what matters. Honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, loyalty, magic and Spike. We are all together now, because you wanted to be by my side. You aren’t bad friends. You are the best friends I ever had and ever will. Let’s forget what happened and move along. That’s all I want and need.” Her friends were moved by tears, especially Spike. “This is the most touching thing I’ve ever heard.” He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be a manly dragon. “Ääähm… I mean, it is very friendly to say that.” Everyone else giggled and became happy again. “Yeah… I thought you would laugh…” But Rarity consoled him “Don’t take it bad, Spike. We don’t laugh about you, we laugh with you.” And her words flowed like blood into his heart. “Ok Rarity. Whatever you say.” Although it is quite a funny situation, Twilight had to end it. “Ok then, guys. We have to continue. Everything all right?” Her friends nodded happily and they moved along, only to discuss another topic 2 minutes later. It was Rainbow Dash to point out a possible threat to their quest. “You know Twilight, first I’ve got to say that I’m sorry about that I questioned your state of mind in the library.” “No problem. It’s not the first time you did that. Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore.” “Okay then. Yet, I’ve got to ask you something.” “Sure. Go ahead!” “Don’t you think the princesses and everypony else will realize that the artifact and the elements are missing when they wake up? I know they will sleep ‘till noon, but we won’t be through the Everfree Forest that time, even if we would gallop like Nightmare Moon would chase us.” “Shoot! I knew I forgot something!” Twilight yelled to herself, but got interrupted by Pinkie Pie. “Nah... Don’t worry about that. You said the princesses are keeping something secret. Maybe they even want you… or us… to find whatever we are going to find.” “Would make sense in this framework of nonsensical eventualities…” Spike pointed out. “But still, it is just a possibility after all.” Applejack commented, leaving Twilight to think about it. After a minute, she gave a untypical, but also expedient answer. “Well, I guess we will find it out if we surprisingly have to face royal guards.” She argued slightly careless, but after all, this was truly the only reasonable way to regard this topic. ------------- 2 hours went by and the group talked about several things, detracting themselves from the tedious march and the lack of sleep. Rainbow Dash flew like the wind through the treetops and landed next to Twilight. “Still on the right track, captain!” “Ääähm… yeah… thank you.” Twilight responded ruggedly. “Like thirty seconds earlier when you scouted the area the last time.” “Sorry. It’s just… boring.” “I guess we are all still a bit tired.” Spike commented and got bad response by Applejack. “No hay, Sherlock. I thought we were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Thanks for presentin’ us your wisdom.” “Wow… harsh.” Rarity told Applejack and she apologized to Spike. “I’m sorry. My ol’ brain doesn’t work like it should do. And I guess I drank too much cider that night. My head’s still spinning a bit.” “No worries… I know what you mean…” He replied, accepting her apologize and burying the topic. 5 minutes passed when Rarity realized that something was wrong about the situation the group was in. “The Everfree Forest is so extraordinary peaceful and calm today. Spine-chilling, but peaceful.” “Hey. Sometimes we just have to have luck, don’t we?” Applejack answered confidently. “Pah! Luck? I prefer skill. You know, something that is inherent, like in my case.” Rainbow Dash noted, only to get attention by Spike. “I wish your overconfident ego wasn’t inherent.” “Tzzz. I don’t have to listen to something like this coming out of your mouth! I’m going to fly and look if we’re still keeping the right direction.” “Yeah… do it once more…” Twilight responded and Rainbow Dash lifted off, taking her time above everyone else. A sudden sound, a loud smack, reverberated through the forest, but Twilight knew exactly where it came from. “Pinkie, stop eating all of the cupcakes.” Pinkie Pie wiped all crumbs out of her face and packed the remaining cupcakes back into her saddleback. “Sorry. Not even I can resist the S.S.R.” “But… we need those for later…” Fluttershy answered indicatively. “Don’t worry about that. I Pinkie Promise not to eat anymore cupcakes. Cross my heart…” And the group joined in canon. “… Hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" “Wow… Am I getting that repetitive? They really should give me some new jokes…” Just a few moments later, the group heard another smack and Applejack reacted visibly annoyed towards Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie Pie, do we really have to drum your own promise into your head?” “But… but I’m not eating anything… at all.” Realizing that Pinkie told the truth, the group immediately stood rooted to the ground and the ponies nervously observed the area around them. Crinkly bushes, creaky branches and this smacking sound made the ponies and Spike feel observed and they were frightened. “Guys… I… I am… scared…” Fluttershy mumbled tremulously. “We are all scared. Just stay by my side. They won’t lay a finger on you or they will feel my hoof.” Applejack told her and she did as requested. “We also have magic. We can defend ourselves if we have to.” Twilight said to keep up the morale. Unfortunately Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen, so the group lacked a stubborn, but strong fighter. An obscure creature tramped out of the bushes. It had the shape of a big dog, but it had no coat. Instead, its skin looked like it was made of wood. “Dear Celestia. That things are Timberwolves; maybe even the same we once faced!” Applejack yelled, making the group realize that it was indeed a threat. “Fluttershy, can you talk with it?” Twilight asked her. Fluttershy shook like a leaf, but then she swallowed her fear and took a deep breath. She slowly walked towards the timberwolf and when she stood right before his face, she began to speak with it. “Hello… sweet-natured, strong wolf. Would you mind leaving me and my friends alone and cut your own path? We just want to travel through the forest to reach the mountains. We didn’t mean to break in your territory and we promise to leave as fast as possible. No struggle, no complains, no pony gets hurt. Sounds good, right? What do you think?” She looked fearfully into its cold, dead eyes. The timberwolf growled in different frequencies, emulating the language ponies speak. “Aha… aha… ok. I understand. Thank you for your understanding.” Fluttershy told the wolf and turned to her friends. “And? What did it said?” Twilight asked her.” “It said the following,” Fluttershy then cleared her throat and began to repeat what the wolf said. “What we think about is not in our power, you already unleashed the fury this hour. Like a wave we will break through your fragile dam, running away is all left what you can. Yet you can’t hide from our blistering claw, because in this place, the strongest determines the law. But you don’t have to worry, it will not smart, quickly our prey that is you, we are tearing apart.“ Fluttershy smiled stubbornly, but then she understood the content of the poem. Her eyes widened when she heard the snarling timberwolf behind her. A small squeak was all what she could say and as she turned around, she fell on the ground. The timberwolf slowly splayed its claw over her head, ready to finish the poor pony of. She could not move. Her blood was frozen and her body was like in stasis, unable to do anything. As she looked away so she must not see her fate, all she could hear was her own heartbeat and the claw that rushed through the air towards her. A single tear flew down her face and Fluttershy accepted her end. Suddenly, before the claw reached her face, she heard something. It was like something would crash into a piece of wood. She did not feel anything, not a single bit of pain. That was why she slowly opened her eyes again and saw her true blue hero. It was Rainbow Dash standing in front of the now unconscious timberwolf. “No pony will ever lay hand on her, got it?!” She said furiously, but then she and the others immediately ran to Fluttershy to console her. “You’re alright, darling?” Rarity asked her while Applejack and Spike helped her standing up. “Yes… I’m fine. Thanks to Rainbow Dash.” “Don’t worry! You can always count on me!” She said while winking at her. The timberwolf regained consciousness and stood up, slowly walking backwards to avoid another confrontation with the rainbow colored pony. “Oh yeah! Now you’re not so tough anymore, huh?! Let your kind know that they should never…” “Ääähm… Rainbow Dash…” Applejack mumbled. “Not now!” She replied to her. “Like I said, puppy, you and your kind should never, ever attack a pony anymore, or I will kick…” “Rainbow Dash, you should really listen to..:” Twilight tried to explain to Rainbow Dash, but she did not listen. “…Or I will kick your flanks to the end of this universe.” She flew, but was face to face to the awed timberwolf. “Got it?” “Rainbow Dash!” Rarity shouted for her anger. “What is it?!” She asked furiously “How about lookin’ around for a second or two…” Applejack told her provocatively. “What? Why? What is there more to gaze at than my glorious… vic…to…ry…” And that was the moment she realized why the others wanted her to quit her humiliation. Dozens of snarling, bloodthirsty timberwolves surrounded the group. Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, scratched her head and then began to explain herself. “Uups… Did I hurt your friend? Oh… I am really sorry about that. It wasn’t on purpose, it just happened. So… peace?” But grinning into the face of the timberwolf she just ambushed did not help at all. All what she got was a short snarl. “It said No.” Fluttershy explained to Rainbow Dash to her annoyance. “Oh really?! I thought they want to snuggle with us.” Rainbow Dash slowly walked to the rest of the group while the pack corned them entirely. “Wouldn’t you rather want my S.S.R. cupcakes? They are mouth-watering and you’ll be full up quickly.” “Or what about apples from the Sweet Apple Acres. Nothing is more juicy and healthy than those. Freshly picked from the tree… for the tree-creature. Hehe…” But the lame joke was not any help. They were easy prey, delivered on a silver tablet and ready to be eaten. They could not escape and it seemed like they would meet their fate. “Twilight. Your turn…” Rarity whispered to her. Twilight’s horn began to glow and when the whole pack jumped towards the group, they disappeared in a flash. In an unknown spot in the wood, they reappeared and breathed deeply. “Pew. That was close. One second more and those things would have made a hotpot out of us.” Applejack commented and breathed a sigh of relief. “Good job, partner.” “Not a big deal. Wow. Everypony else also want the boring forest, again? I would appreciate it.” Twilight suggested sarcastically to the others. But then they heard the timberwolves’ snarl again and jumped on their lags. “What?! They chased us?” Spike yelled in the air. But that was not the case. Twilight realized what actually happened. “No. They didn’t. I transported us just about… 10 inches. Uups…” The whole pack stood right next to them, ready to ambush the group another time. “You know Rainbow Dash, I always wanted to do that.” Applejack said and then she hit her very hard on the head. “Ouch! What was that for?!” She asked Applejack furiously. “For being an overconfident, holier-than-you jerk!” “In that case… I deserve that.” She admitted Fluttershy then made a suggestion. “Ääähm… guys. You know, I really don’t want to interrupt you… and I’m really sorry for doing so… but ääähm… how about, you know… RUN AWAY!” She and the others ponies jumped into the air and galloped away as fast as their hooves could carry them. But the pack chased them like a gundog chased a little bunny. “Suddenly, I remember the day I was supposed to learn not to brag when I’m a hero. You remember that?” Rainbow Dash asked the others. “Yes!” The group yelled synchronously. “Well. Ääähm… Next time when I’m going to behave arrogant… do yourselves the favor and throw something directly into my face… as hard as possible.” “Oh don’t worry! We will do ourselves this favor!” The group yelled synchronously another time. After a few minutes of rushing, they began to run out of stamina. Fortunately, this problem could have been ignored, because a drifty river blocked their path. Unfortunately, there was no place left to run. They were caged. “Twilight, teleportation!” Rainbow Dash yelled to her, but she was too exhausted. “No way… I can’t…” Twilight replied. She even tried it, but it was futile. “Then Fluttershy. Try to communicate with them, again.” Rarity suggested. “Are you crazy!? Those things aren’t animals… they are… demons!” “But… what are we going to do then?” Pinkie Pie asked the others. The group was totally surrounded and jumping into the river would probably end deadly. There was only one possibility left and Twilight knew that. “We’ve got to fight.” She mumbled and then she threw Spike down from her back. She jumped in the middle of the half-cycle the timberwolves had created and moved into battle position. “You want us?! Then take us!” She shouted to make the creatures aware of her resistance. Her friends knew that this was the only thing they could do, so they rushed next to her and went into battle position as well. They were 7, one of them was a baby dragon and of them was a pacifist. Not the best cards to open up a match. --------------- It was obvious. They could not win this fight. They managed to knock out some of the timberwolves, but every time they did that, it felt like just two other would replace the predecessor. They were done for. They were not hurt yet, but they were totally exhausted. “We… we can’t defeat those... things…” Applejack said while the group got constantly pushed back to the river. And then Rainbow Dash did something no pony would have ever expected her to do. She went forward and talked with the wolves. “Listen! I am really sorry! Ok?! I’m regretting that I humiliated you! I wish I could undo my mistake, but I just can’t. Please… I’m begging you…” The poor, blue pony felt on her knees to ask for forgiveness. Fluttershy rushed to her and stood by her side to console and help her. One of the timberwolves, the one that got hit by Rainbow Dash, walked closer to the blue pony, while the others stood on spot. “I’m begging you… please… don’t punish my friends for my mistake.” Rainbow Dash begged the creature. “Rainbow Dash… you… you cry…” Fluttershy realized as she held her. But Rainbow Dash pusher her away a bit and continued. “If you really must have your vengeance… or fulfill your desire… then take me.” “WHAT?!” The others shouted, questioning Rainbow Dash’s behavior. They wanted to help her, but she refused with a simple sign. With her distressed, swollen eyes, she looked straight into the face of the timberwolf. Deadly silence ruled the whole forest. A small wind streamed through the manes and tales of the ponies. It seemed like the whole world was focused on the blue pony that knelt on the grass, regretting her doings. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours. And then the timberwolf reacted. It groaned two different frequencies, nothing else. “What… What did it say?” Rainbow Dash asked Fluttershy. “It said… proof it…” “What...?” The Timberwolf jumped over Rainbow Dash, landed behind her and assaulted Fluttershy. But Rainbow Dash slid over the ground and managed to get between the two, holding the wolf back with her arms. Bit by bit, she managed to get up. She was not sad anymore. She was furious. “Why won’t you believe me?!” She shouted, pushing the arms of the timberwolf away and kicking him in the chest so it would make him fly a few meters. “You want me to proof it?! Then I will!” She breathed heavily as she saw the timberwolf standing up again, ready to attack. Her desperation was gone, and pure anger blinded her mind. “You coward!” she screamed when both of them rushed towards each other and tried to push the opponent on the ground. “You jerk! You should be the one to excuse yourself! But what can you expect from a dumb, wild animal?” She said and with that, the timberwolf got real mad and lifted her into the air. “Is that all what you got?!” She shouted and opened her wings, dashed down to the timberwolf and crashed right into it. The impact caused both to slide over the ground in opposite directions, creating skid marks. Both the ponies and the pack were fascinated of this intense clash. Then it seemed like the timberwolf would collect all of its remaining energy into one, final attack. His right claw tensed up in an attacking position and he sprang forward Rainbow Dash. Again, she was able to hold its arm, but this time only one. The left claw whizzed in the direction of her chest. She barely managed to pull hers in and tried to strike back, only to miss it. It was like in slow-motion when she saw that her opponent performed an unforeseen uppercut. Rainbow Dash could not dodge the attack anymore, so she clenched her teeth and stole herself for the pain. “Holy sh..” And then there was it. Dead silence. The only thing the ponies could hear was their own, slow heartbeat as they saw that the claw had reached Rainbow Dash’s chest. The heavy strike made her flew over the heads of her friends and land in the river, her powerless body immediately carried away by the current. Fluttershy did not think for a second and jumped into the water and because there was no other option left, the others did as well, despite the high risk of drowning. As the others struggled so they would not sink, Fluttershy submerged to reach the lost Rainbow Dash. Together with her, she emerged again and made sure that Rainbow Dash’s head was above the water level so she could breath. “Fluttershy…. Thanks….” “Shush, easy. Your hero is here to save you.” The current seemed to wound down, but as they began to feel safe, they heard something. “Hey. Do ya hear this whooshin’?” Applejack asked the others. Twilight replied. “Yes. It becomes louder. Like… a…” “Waterfall! That’s the word you’re looking for, isn’t it? It surely is!” Pinkie Pie answered, beaming with pride.” And then the group got the flash of genius. “A waterfall!?” Everyone screamed. They tried so swim against the current, but especially because Fluttershy still had to carry Rainbow Dash, it was useless. They had to prepare themselves for a hard landing. They were flushed away over the edge and fell down, dozens of meters into the abyss. Fluttershy tried to open her wings in midair, but they were too wet and Rainbow Dash was too heavy for her to carry. Besides, the others immediately slammed into her and dragged her downwards. Finally, they disappeared in the dark depths of the lake under the cascade. --------------- Everyone was near by passing out when they and their saddlebags were washed up at the shore. They pulled themselves out of the water and tried to stand up, but collapsed. Rainbow Dash was the last one who was still conscious, possibly because of the pain her wounded chest caused. She saw the timberwolves on the waterfall, but they left for good. “Seems like… we’re… even now…” She mumbled before ultimately passing out, barely seeing a shadow of something running towards her. And there was the group, defeated by the forces of nature. Was it because they were flathoofed? Was it because they were too weak? Or was it because the situation was as tricky as the actual problem they intended to solve. In the end, it does not matter. They failed. And if they failed here, what would happen when they would face the gigantic threat Pariah possibly is? Would they fail, again? Were all efforts, all hope, futile? ======== They have met with a terrible fate, haven’t they? But never fear. The destiny of all true heroes is to survive until the very end, the final climax. That is how stories work. Heroes never die. And what is this but nothing else than a story. A story amongst infinite others. Some people may think this is my story, but it is not. It is their story, the story of everyone, the story of friendship, the story of the whole world, the story of destiny itself. When these six ponies and the little dragon are the protagonists, then I… merely am the trigger.