//------------------------------// // Suprise // Story: Help Is On The Way // by Brony Eagle Scout //------------------------------// "Yeah, it's me Twi." Rainbow Dash rushed to Twilight and enveloped her in a tight hug, pinning her arms to her sides. "Dash...need t-to breath," Twilight squeaked out. Dash blushed in embarrassment and muttered an apology as she loosened her grip. Twilight smirked and returned the hug with the same initial force Rainbow did, "You cannot believe how much it means to me that you're here Dash." "After everything that has happened today, I think I can." Dash said. The two unwrapped themselves and sat in the sand. "So how did you get here?" "Well, it went something like this..." "Then Arrow and I flew down the stairs into the first chamber and then things started going to Tartarus after that." "Wait a minute... you were able to fly after the botched transportation spell? Do you know what could have happened?" "Don't worry so much, Twi. I didn't get specifics but I got a general idea of what could go wrong." "Just promise me to keep it easy till you see a doctor." "Okay Twi, I'll go see one after we get out here." After a moment of silence, Rainbow Dash got to wondering, "What exactly happened after you sent the message Twi?" Dash questioned. Twilight brought her hind legs under her chin and her eyes started to water. "I almost walked outside when the Death Bringer started chasing all the ponies out of camp." Twilight tried to control her breathing as tears started hitting the sand as she continued. "I heard their screams for help and all I did was cower and hide like a scared filly. Damnit, I'm an element of harmony, I should have been able to save them." Dash scooted closer and put her hoof over Twilight's shoulders. "Twi, I can't fathom what was going through your head with everything going on but I know this, you always make the right decision." "*Sniff* Thanks Dash, that helped." Twilight said as she tried to wipe away the tears. "As soon as the coast was clear, I got inside here and tried to find a good hiding spot." "I think you found the right spot Twi. I almost got squished by some of the old traps in this room." Dash chuckled. However, Twilight did not share in her friend's amusement. "Oh Celestia I'm so sorry Dash. I set the all the traps in the room in case that thing showed up." Dash's mouth dropped at the revelation. "I knew I recognized some of those traps from the Daring Do books!" Dash exclaimed. Twilight looked at Dash strangely, "Wait...you're not mad?" "Why would I be mad? If anything I'm proud by what you did. I know for a fact that I wouldn't think to use traps from books." Twilight blushed at the praise. "I'm certain you would have thought of something Dash. You would probably use your wings to do some clever maneuver to get away." "Ugh, don't remind me about flying. Altmane blasted my wings with some kind of paralytic spell and I can't open them anymore." Twilight's face soured from her friend's misfortune, "I wish I could fix the effects now but I need more sleep before I do anything to your wings. Wait a minute, Altmane hit you? I was beginning to believe I was the only one left. What happened to him?" "Well..." Dash rubbed the back of her head, "you are the only one left now. Kalros got him in the room I just came from." "Oh... so I surmise Kalros is the Death Bringer." "Yep, the ponies from the Canterlot Archives classified him as a big Chimera." "Huh, a Chimera... haven't heard of one those before. I hope we don't see him anytime soon." "I agree. We should probably get going soon-" "Wait... " Twilight interrupted, "I do have one thing I need to ask. How much of the transmission did you hear?" "You called for help and said sorry before you faded into static." Dash answered, "Why do you ask?" Twilight let out a small sigh."Just wondered how much you heard me ramble. By the way, why do have a book in your vest?" Dash looked away from Twilight as she pulled the diary out. "I found this by your cot and I thought I could keep it safe for you." "I appreciate the gesture but please tell me you didn't read any of it?" Twilight worryingly asked. "I wouldn't dream of it Twi." "Good, I would hate for the surprise to have been ruined." This was Dash's turn to look at Twilight strangely, "What surprise?" Twilight smirked. "This one Dash..." Twilight grabbed Dash's head and kissed her. Dash's eyes almost sprung out from her sockets in surprise. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh... she feels the same way and I didn't make an ass out of myself by trying to confess." Dash closed her eyes and melted into kiss. She put her hoofs around Twilight and deepened the kiss. After a good minute the two pulled away and Twilight put her nose against Rainbow's. "I guess by the way you tried to use tongue, you feel the same way I do." Rainbow turned beet red at the statement. "I was gonna try and find a way to confess when I got back but after today... it just felt right to do that." Twilight said. "Twi, I can't believe that you liked me and I couldn't see it before." Dash said as she gave Twilight a small light kiss." You know if you hadn't told Celestia about your infatuation of me, I doubt this would have happened." Rainbow said before embracing Twilight again before standing up to leave. "As much as I want to sit down to talk about this, we need to get out of here; Kalros will probably be coming here soon. What's the safest way to get out of the room Twi?" "Well... up is the safest option out but I guess we'll have to go on my memory to avoid the rest of the traps." "Just tell me there isn't a stone boulder that will chase us if we hit a rope..." Dash asked as she shimmied back out of the hole. "Of course not... I wasn't able to find a way hold back the rock I had in mind so I set the simpler ones." She looked at Twilight with wide eyes. "Please tell me that was a joke?" Dash worryingly asked. "Follow me Dash." Dash groaned in fear as she stuck the light in her mouth. The pair safely navigated passed a pit and two falling traps but the faint and familiar sound of a predatory growl could be heard behind them. The pair tried to quicken the pace as the sound got louder and louder. Dash saw the doorway and immediately tried to bolt towards it. Rainbow Dash spat the light out, "Finally we can get out here!" "Wait, it's not safe!" Twilight grabbed her tail before she got too far. "Ow, what was that for?" Dash yelped in pain. Twilight grabbed the light and shined it closely to the ground. Dash saw the gossamer wire shining in the light as it blocked the home stretch. "What do those set off?" Twilight pointed the light at the two closest pillars, "If a few of those strings are pulled, the two pillars by the door will collapse." "Come to think of it, I would have preferred being chased by a boulder now." Dash said as she grabbed her light back. "Come on, there is a way to get through, just step where I step." A thought passed through Dash's head, "Couldn't you just teleport us across? That'll be easier than going through this mess." Twilight sighed as she put her hoof into the first gap. "I think I could do one but I'm basically running on fumes right now. I have been working near a full twenty four hours of no sleep except for that small nap you interrupted. Now would you shine the light in front of me, please?" "Wait, I was told that the castle received the transmission only minutes after you sent it." "Dash, I studied through last night trying to find any info in any of the journals I brought along on the chimera. Everything else started happening this morning when I tried to get some sleep so I can only guess that weather or something during the day caused the message to delay." Twilight snapped back. "Sorry I just wanted a clarifica-" "WAAAAG!"A large roar interrupted the pair's argument and Twilight quickened her pace. "Damn it that sounded close." Dash exclaimed. She turned to look back from where they were and saw the chimera walk up. The blood stained maw shined a rose red under the light. Kalros licked its lips as it got into a pouncing position. "TWILIGHT RUN!" Dash yelled as she started sprint to the exit, breaking the wires with great ease. Twilight turned her head around and saw the glowing eyes only meters away from her. She gave no thought as she pushed herself to catch up to Dash. Kalros leaped after the ponies as the pillars by the door started to break away into pieces as the strings were cut. Dash cleared the doorway and skidded into a stop while Twilight barreled into her. The pillars collapsed in a broken heap in front of the exit as the chimera was just shy of being crushed. Rainbow Dash jumped onto her hooves as a muffled roar came from behind the wreckage. Twilight grabbed her head with both her hooves as she sat up. "Ugh... why did you stop?" Twilight groaned. "Sorry about that, Twi." Dash walked up to Twilight and offered a hoof. "Can you still run? We need to meet up with Arrow and beat Kalros back to the entrance." Twilight grabbed the limb and pulled herself up. "Don't worry about me, I can still run. But what makes you think Kalros will go back to the entrance?" "I call it a gut feeling." Dash said "You ready Twi?" "Remind me to add running to my schedule, I'm starting to appreciate on how it can save my flank." "I'll keep that in mind for the first date." Dash blurted out as she took off down the hallway. Twilight blushed as she chased after her. Arrow had found the exit to the second room blocked by a pile of loose rock. After the Dash's report of finding Altmane and the subsequent radio silence, Arrow has been shoveling rocks out as fast he can. His makeshift spear was against the wall by the door as he continued working. "I'm not losing another one. I'm not losing another one. I'm not losing another one..." Arrow continued his mantra as he slowly started to see inside the hallway. "Bucking finally..." Arrow swore as he tried to make the hole bigger. By the time he could fit the hole with ease he jumped back down to get his spear. He climbed through and slid down the rocky slope on the other side. He almost broke into a gallop before he noticed something. A certain rainbow colored blur and a purple one was coming towards him. "Thank Celestia you girls are all right." Arrow yelled. The two mares stopped running as they reached him, both panting hard after their run. "Yeah yeah, group hug." Dash said as she caught her breath. "What's the rush?" Arrow questioned, "And when did you find Twilight?" "Found her in the last room and Kalros caught up to me. We managed to stop him from following us but I think he's heading back to the entrance." "And what about Altmane?" "He got what he deserved..." Dash said, "Now can we get moving? I'd rather beat Kalros to the entrance then get trapped." "Do you have a plan to get past all the debris?" "Helllooo, we have the single most powerful unicorn in Equestria. I think she can manage to teleport us the last couple of meters." Dash reasoned. All the while, Twilight was leaning against the wall, sweat pouring down her face. "Dash," Twilight breathed out, "can I get a minute of rest? You of all ponies know I'm not used to this type of physical exertion." Dash got next to Twilight and put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "Yeah but we need to go soon so start moving once you are ready and we'll follow behind." "Okay I'll be ready soon." Twilight panted as she slowly tried to stop her heart from beating a thousand times a minute. Dash walked up and leaned against the wall next to Arrow. "Remind to punch Savant for almost getting me blown apart." Arrow chuckled, "I wondered what happened to your radio after I heard the report on Altmane... glad you managed to stay alive and rescue your friend. Savant hasn't been talking much ever since I accidently chewed her out for that." "Has she talked since then?" "I haven't heard anything in a while, let's fix that." Arrow said as he grabbed his radio. "Savant can you read me? Please respond." Silence answered Arrow as he tried again. "Savant please respond. Rainbow Dash caught up to me and she found Twilight Sparkle." No sound came from the radio. "Let's hope that she's still up there... I'd hate for her to have to face a pissed off Princess after I drag her flank back." Arrow said. "You said your wings got banged up from the crash earlier. Are they any better?" Dash asked. "I'm afraid not, must be a busted nerve because they will not unfurl. Anything happen to you?" "Altmane hit me with some sort paralytic spell and I can't use my wings at all." "Damn, I really hope that we don't see the monstrosity then." "So whatcha doing when we get back to Canterlot?" Dash asked. "Finding a nice bar and having a drink, you?" "Probably head back to Ponyville with Twilight but I think a drink sounds good after this little venture. That is if you don't mind Twilight and me crashing your little party." Arrow chuckled, "I won't mind..." "I'm ready now. Let's get the buck out of here." Twilight said as she stood back on her hooves and started to climb up the rock slope. Rainbow Dash looked at her with a loving smile as she followed the mare. Arrow rolled his eyes, "I should have known the Princess didn't send Dash just as a friend to comfort her student." Arrow thought as he fell in behind them. The trio ran through two cluttered rooms as Twilight led surprisingly quick pace and stopped at the blocked exit to the entryway. Twilight sat down in exhaustion in front of the rubble. "Damn it I need to get into shape." Twilight said in between pants. "You're doing awesome, Twi. Just tell us what to do when you're ready." Dash said as she took a seat next to her. Twilight nodded as she took some deep breaths. "Okay, I'll try and place us in front of the door. Put a hoof around me so I can transport all of us." The two pegasi wrapped a hoof around Twilight. The trio was slowly encompassed in a bright white light before disappearing and appearing in front of the wrecked door in the opening chamber. Dash and Arrow let go of Twilight when the light dissipated. "Now be careful, we don't know if we beat Kalros here." Arrow called out as he readied his spear. "I don't feel so good..." Twilight groaned. The muscles in Twilight's legs started to spasm and she collapsed to the ground. "You okay?" Dash cried out. Twilight grunted as she tried to lift herself up but her hooves couldn't support her. "Just peachy Dash," Twilight replied sarcastically, "I think that last spell took a bit too much from me." Dash was about to give a snarky reply before a faint roar interrupted her train of thought. "Rainbow Dash, get her up and head up to the surface. I'll meet you up there." Arrow ordered. "There is no way in Tartarus I'm leaving you here. Besides, you can't take on that thing alone." Dash answered back. "Look at your friend," Arrow pointed at Twilight, "you and I know she won't survive the next encounter with the creature and I highly doubt you want to risk her life to test that. So please, get out, I'll be fine." Arrow said. "Arrow..." Twilight quietly said, "Thank you for everything." "I'm holding you to that drink for when we get back to Canterlot." "I wouldn't dream of missing that, Rainbow." Arrow said. "Now get out here." Rainbow picked up Twilight and draped her across her back before heading to the exit. He followed behind before stopping in the middle of the room. He got onto his back hooves and readied the spear in front of him. "This is one of my stupidest plans yet..." Arrow mumbled as he watched the pair start slowly walking up the stairs. He turned his head back in front and saw the chimera walking out of the doorway. Arrow stared into the fire orange eyes as he gripped his spear harder. "Nice to see you again, you son of a bitch." Arrow called out. "Because of you I have to tell two mothers that their sons won't be coming back home." Kalros growled as started to pace in front of the grounded pegasus. "But I believe they'll have some closure when I show them your head on my knife." Kalros growled deeply as he stared at Arrow. "Show me what you got, you ugly bastard!" Arrow yelled. Kalros seemed to snap as he roared and started running toward Arrow. Arrow screamed back as he ran towards the chimera.