//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Adventures // Story: Out of the Old, Into the New // by SentientHydra //------------------------------// A few metres from Fluttershy's cottage sat a large hill, old and grassy with a gnarled willow tree sat atop it, for more than a century it had sat watching over the town of Ponyville as it grew and prospered. For several years now this particular hill had been home to a bear, who made his den in between the old roots of the oak, in the last few months this bear had been carefully introduced to a three excitable young fillies. Today, the hulking form of the bear slept in a shaggy pile in the corner of his den while those same fillies held hushed conversation, the great grizzly ursine had received a large gift of berries and fish (liberated cautiously from Fluttershy's stores) in exchange for the quiet use of his little hole in the hill. So long as the tiny ponies kept themselves to a reasonable volume, he was more than content to let them get on with whatever they wanted. Little did he know that these particular ponies were keeping quiet for reasons beyond letting the bear sleep. Applebloom was first to speak “Ya sure you ain't been followed Scoots?” The orange filly stting across from the bow-haired farm-filly made a dismissive wave “Sure I'm sure Applebloom, I just climbed out of the window when nobody was looking and got my scooter. Nobody could've followed me” she finished a little proudly, nodding towards the red scooter and cart that sat idly against a wall. Sweetie Belle was less sure “I don't know about that Scootaloo, my sister was awfully set on me staying in the shelter. What if she got Miss Sparkle to cast a tracking spell on your scooter?” All three fillies looked warily at the red contraption for a minute, until Scootaloo spoke up again “They would've found us already if she had. Did you two bring the stuff?” The other two nodded, Sweetie Belle unslung her little saddlebags and pulled out their CMC capes along with jar of cookies. Applebloom set down a burlap sack and let a few of the shiny apples inside roll out “Weren't easy getting all this past Ma brother and Granny, they were guarding the stairs, so I had to climb up into the attic and get out through the barn.” She smiled as the other two nodded sagely, acknowledging her efforts. With their supplies ready Scootaloo pounded her hoofs together loudly, the other two crusaders put their hooves over her mouth to stop the shout that followed escaping. With a few quick glances to check that their host was still sleeping the little pegasus continued in a low whisper “Right then, get it loaded up into the wagon and we can get going” All three fillies worked in tandem, moving in harmony as close friends could until the little red wagon was loaded up to the brim, with two spaces left for the passengers. The Cutie Mark Crusaders suited up in their emblazoned capes and climbed onto their vehicle, then with a buzz of wings they were off, Scootaloo's wings humming like a fan as they propelled the team of fillies off along the road. They curved right and then left, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle working to keep their cargo of apples and cookies from falling out of the cart as the cart turned onto the bumpy dirt road that lead towards the Everfree Forest. But before they entered the forest proper the driver suddenly put on the brakes, scraping and grinding to a halt before the looming shadow of the wild trees enveloped them. Scootaloo looked back to her friends, who gazed back with questions in their eyes “A-are you sure sneaking out to see what Rainbow Dash and the others are doing is such a good idea girls?” The pegasus pilot asked hesitantly, rubbing the back of her messy mane in embarrassment. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other for a moment, then looked back. The farmer-filly spoke with just as much hesitancy lacing her tone “Ah.. Ah dunno, mah sister was pretty worked up about that there thing in the sky. She'd probably get real annoyed about me sneaking out” Unsure of their next actions, the three fillies climbed from their craft and sat on the grassy track-side, breaking out the cookie jar to share. *Author's Note* I bet you thought that they were going to go on crazy adventures.Of course not XD. What kind of person would I be if I let small children play near men with guns? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flying high and silent on ultra-jet engines, the scout lander kept to the very high edge of the atmosphere while it flew over the village far below. When it passed over the forest the craft rolled into a steep descent, . Inside the metal walls of the lander craft ten marines sat restrained by flight harnesses, they were not dressed in their power armour, instead they wore the un-powered but considerably lighter, 'Nomad' Mark II scout armour; a newly designed suit made of flexible polymer plates joined by super-silk webbing, all covered by a tight weave of 'smart fabric' -Polymer strands laced with electronics, the fabric shifted colour and texture to match that of its surroundings. Each of the marines also wore a breather mask and thermal goggles, and instead of their standard heavy rifles they were armed with sniper rifles (able to accurately fire the standard 'hard' or 'soft' ammo at ranges of more than five miles) and hand-cannon pistols. The pilot's voice rang through the speakers on the walls “Okay boys, I've spotted a clearing in the forest, I'll set you down there and let you grunts get on with the search. I have four more trips to go so forgive me if I don't hang around. Landing in five, get locked and loaded.” The marines all checked their weapons over, counting out their ammo supplies as the craft leveled out its descent and began to slow to subsonic speeds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The three fillies were halfway to the bottom of the cookie jar when Sweetie Bell cocked an ear to the sky, she looked to her friends "Uh girls... Do you hear that?" she asked curiously, motioning to the open night sky. Both Applebloom and Scootaloo abandoned the sugary treats and pointed their ears up. They all kept silent while they listened, until Applebloom broke the tenuous stillness "Yeah.. Ah hear it. Sounds kinda like a thunderclap, cept it ain't fading away like one." Six eyes glared up towards the noise, trying to pick out the source of it past the darkness and the light cloud cover, then Scootaloo make an incoherent gasp of shock, keen pegasi eyes picking something out that neither of the other two could see. While they stared wide-eyed in the direction she pointed the orange feathered filly got on the scooter, buckling in tight she yelled over the roar "Well come on!?" At their confused looks she growled in exasperation and snapped "There was something weird flying over the forest, going really fast, but I think it was slowing down for a landing. I say we check it out." Sweetie Belle shrunk a little and dug at the loam with her hoof "I dunno Scoots, the forest looks real creepy at night" Scootaloo grunted and tapped a hoof on the wagon "Oh come on. It's not that scary... We'll just scoot over to Zecora's if she says that it's too dangerous, then we'll go back" Applebloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other, then back. Moving slowly they both picked up the cookie jar and climbed back in the wagon "Alright, but only out to Zecora. No further" Applebloom said firmly. Scootaloo rolled her eyes, but said nothing and nodded. With a buzz of wings the three friends headed out into the deep dark forest depths *Authors note - Hah You thought that the CMC were going to be sensible for once XD