//------------------------------// // There Was Danger Everywhere... // Story: Back in the Day // by 23 KM To Nerdiness //------------------------------// According to legend, the Rosewood Crystal is said to be one of the most difficult treasures to ever obtain, even by the most skilled adventurers. If you somehow manage to come across it, it was apparently quite impossible to leave the mountain with it in hoof. If the crystal by chance did leave the mountain, this "curse" would be lifted. I, being the stoic sorcerer stallion that I am was, paid no heed to everypony's many warnings and pressed forward. Only thing that was on my mind was finishing my experiment. I needed that blasted crystal, I just had to get my hooves on it. I just had to... And no insignificant curse was gonna stop me. It took me half a day to reach the desolate maple tree-covered mountain, and an hour or two to traverse it, for the mountain had a spell that rebuffed teleportation. The hike itself was very......unnerving, to say the least. It was like a violent struggle had occurred long ago. There were some cracked, faded pony statues scattered about in the grand woods, covered in vines and strange claw marks to the point of being unrecognizable. Chunks of stone were strewn across the dirt path and trees were snapped in half and left laying about. I needed to find that treasure and get out of there. But then, I finally found it. Standing tall before me was a large, stone totem, expertly carved and robust. Sticking out in the center of the base of the totem lied the Rosewood Crystal itself. Crouched atop the mighty totem was a statue of a rather demonic figure, claws digging into the totem's top and razor sharp teeth bared. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a tad uneasy with it staring down upon me as I approached it. As I got a closer look at the encased crystal, I notice a dirty scroll resting on the ground in front of the totem and examined it in my magic. "Hmm, step one," I read to myself, following the scroll's instructions. "Turn crystal clockwise. Step two, twist crystal back counter clockwise. Step three, firmly dislodge crystal." PLUCK! I successfully tug out the pulsing crystal. "Ha!" I exclaimed. "Success! Most glorious!" Right there before my eyes, I witnessed a horrible red mist leaking out the foundation of the stone totem like a punctured dam as trails branch out and surrounding me. "That doesn't look right..." I uttered, flipping the scroll around. "Step four, ignore step three and run like the Dickins?! Who gives instructions like this?!" Whoever had the job to write those instructions like that definitely needed to be fired... SLASH! "AUGH!" I shuffled back as something sharp swiped at my cheek. The demonic statue had suddenly sprung to life and clawed at me, drawing a little blood from my cheek. It's haunting howls shook the earth as its stone skin chips off to reveal it's rough, red hide underneath. It's roar must've been the dinner bell, for dozens upon dozens of identically hideous demons had emerged from the red mist, surrounding me on all sides. "Begone, ye spawn of evil!" I barked. "I have no business with you lot! I have the crystal in hoof, now return to the pit of hate from whence you came!" The flock of demons spread their bony wings and take flight, hovering over me like vicious vultures waiting to strike. My horn warms up for the grisly assault that was soaring down upon me. With a swift nod, I blasted a dive bombing demon through the chest, reducing it to dark ash. The rest of its bad brethren gnash their jaws and leap into action. Blast after blinding blast, swift buck after swift buck, I laid waste to the awful army, not letting them lay a claw on me or my luxurious beard! But with every demon I fought off, two more crawled out. And for every three I take out, another six appear. Twas one devastating slice at me after another, barely giving me a moment to defend. They clawed at my face, at my hat, at my robe, at my body! They nearly nicked my......my beard! At that point, I knew I was clearly outmatched. I quickly grabbed my hat and basket and crawled under the nearest pile of rubble, narrowly escaping the enemy's oncoming onslaught. I had come this far on my journey, and that very moment felt like the perfect time to use my secret weapon. A handy technique for life-threatening occasions like this, one that's helped me through the stickiest of situations. I put the crystal in my beard a safe place and carefully held my fragile basket close. I grabbed a small bag of sugar cubes from it and dropped a few inside. With my two most trusted weapons loaded and ready for battle, I emerged from my hiding spot with a triumphant STOMP. "Say hello to my little friends!" I bellowed in my epic wizard voice. "Weeeeeeeeee!!!" li'l Tia squees. "Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!" li'l Luna cheers. PEW! PEW! It was glorious. Strapped to my hooves in soft fabric were my two most valuable allies, little peppy Celestia, and little silly Luna, powered by child innocence and SUGAR! "Woooooah!" li'l Tia squeaked. "Yayaaaaah!" li'l Luna shouts. There we were, horns burning bright and evening the odds. My little companions uttered little "pew" sounds with each magical blow, blissfully ignorant to the extreme danger that we were all in at the moment. I pushed forward, however, dashing through on path down the mountain as the furious demons give chase. Dipping and dodging their swooping attacks, I maneuver through the rubble on the path and leap onto a large, sturdy log. Using my magic, I tuck the little ones safely under my hat and forced the log off the nearest cliff, taking the quick route down as the beasts flock after me. On the bumpy way down, we had made an impressive streak of......what do you kids call 'em nowadays? "Head-shots"? Suddenly, one sneaky demon steers the log off course and bounces it off the mountain, sending me tumbling against the boulders below. "Bad dah!" Tia huffed, blasting the creature into dust. I recovered from the disorienting fall, secured the children and crystal, and managed to reach the mountain's exit. As soon as I land safely, one determined beast lunges after us... The CRYSTAL..." it hissed. Give us back the CRYST-" Before turning to black dust mere inches away from us. The rest of the defeated army growl in defeat as they all melt into dust as well. The struggle now over, and the curse finally lifted, I collapsed on the ground. "Stah-Swah?" Luna chimed, hugging my face. "Heh......I'm okay, little ones." I sighed with a smile. "Just a little exhausted, that's all." "Cue!" Tia squeaked, clapping her little hooves. "Cue!" "No more sugar cubes, I won't say it again, Tia." "Myeh!" I eventually got enough strength to stand, levitated my two allies onto my back, and head down the quiet path. I got what I came here for and I anticipated using it for my special project. "Let's go home." I hummed. "Yaaay!" the little fillies cheered. My journey was finally over. I'm too old for this...