As the 2 young stallions fell from the cliff, Miracle tried to use a levitation spell on not just Apple Core but also himself. However, self levitation is a rather tricky spell. He still needed to work on it and it's hard to lift another pony when you're bumping and rolling. The stallions quickly and rather painfully made their way to the bottom where they were able to pick themselves up. "Oh my gosh that sucked!" Apple Core said as he was trying to brush all of the newly acquired dirt off his coat.
"You're telling me," Miracle said as he was doing the same thing. "Good thing that wasn't a taller cliff or that would have been a lot less fun."
"Yeah."
"Hopefully that fall will be the biggest problem we're going to face while we're here," Miracle said as he couldn't help but doubt his own words.
"Are we going to have to climb all the way back up there?"
"No, I can just work the locater spell from here and figure out which way we need to go."
"When we do figure out where we need to go, do you think we'll come across any wild animals?"
"Oh I think it's a safe bet, this is the Undiscovered West. Nopony has settled here, it's all nature. We're probably the only ponies that have set hoof in here in who knows how long."
"Wow so it's kind of like we're boldly going where nopony has ever gone before," Apple Core said feeling this adventure of there's was becoming more and more of one.
"Yeah it kind of is like that," Miracle agreed. "When we do find the next element maybe we can explore this place a little more and make some kind of map."
"By the way, how exactly did that spell thing work?" Apple Core asked but before Miracle Maker could answer a large and violent manticore popped out of nowhere and attacked. Thankfully both of the young stallions were able to get out of it's way, but that didn't stop it from trying again. "What's this thing's problem?"
"Maybe it's angry because it got a thorn stuck in it's paw, no that's stupid." The manticore then suddenly lunged at Miracle but he was able to dodge it by teleporting behind the manticore. Then followed by blasting it with a spell. In response the manticore swung it's tail which hit Miracle right in the head knocking him onto the ground. Miracle was able to get back up and jumped out of the way right before the manticore could sting him and suddenly it was hit in the chest by a rather big rock.
"Yeah how do ya like that!?" Apple Core asked who bucked the said rock. "Plenty more where that came from!" Apple Core then bucked some smaller rocks while Miracle hit it with more spells which caused the manticore to roar in absolute rage. It then charged at Apple Core who ran out of rocks. Apple Core wanted to get out of the way but seeing the anger and fury in the eyes of the manticore froze his legs in place.
"Apple Core!" Miracle called out when he saw that his friend was in danger. Then he teleported in front of him to protect him, however, as a result his chest was hit dead on by the scorpion tail of the manticore. Miracle despite the painful sting not only stood his ground, but since the beast was so close to him Miracle knew it couldn't dodge a close range attack. So he charged his horn and hit the deadly creature dead on. Which knocked it back and on to the ground, while it was able to get up it finally cut it's losses and run off, disappearing into the wilderness. "Yeah, that's what you get," Miracle said as he started wobbling because he started having trouble standing.
"Uh Miracle are you okay?" Apple Core asked noticing his friend was acting strange.
"Yeah Corely App we got nothing to worry about."
"What?" Apple Core asked when suddenly Miracle Maker threw up and fell to the ground.
"Maybe, maybe not so good, borderline horrible actually," Miracle answered before he suddenly blacked out.
***
Miracle suddenly woke up and puked not nearly as much as before, but a series of coughs followed. "Oh gosh," a voice Miracle didn't recognize said. The pony then offered him a cup. "Here drink this, it cures manticore poison," the pony said and Miracle did as he was asked taking the cup with his forelegs and sat up on his own feeling better already. "Oh, wow manticore poison. You're lucky I found you," the pony said and Miracle Maker was able to get a much better look at his helper.
"I should say so," Miracle replied before taking another slip from the cup recently offered to him. "You know for medicine this really isn't all that bad."
"Oh thank you," the pony said. "It's just a little something that I learned how to put together and give it my own twist with some herbs and spices."
"I'm the one that should be thanking you, if it weren't for you I might be in real trouble. Thank you."
"Yeah thank you," Apple Core said.
"Oh it was nothing, really. I just heard what I thought was a manticore attacking somepony so I flew over to where the sound was coming from and I found you. When your friend explained what happened I brought you over here while carrying you on my back and made my poison cure. The cure itself was pretty easy too because like I said it was something I learned to make which is pretty easy with my knowledge of plant life. So, oh gosh I'm starting to ramble aren't I?"
"No not really, well maybe a little but it's no big deal. By the way I didn't get your name. I'm Miracle Maker and this is my friend Apple Core."
"Oh I'm Cryme, Cryme A. River." Apple Core then shook his hoof and Miracle tried to get up to do the same but had a little trouble.
"Yeah I wouldn't get up just yet. You still need time for the poison to get it's way out of your system."
"How long will that take?" Miracle asked.
"Well not too long, maybe a day or so."
"A day or so," Miracle said in almost a whiny tone.
"Well, I mean you could get up if you really wanted," Cryme replied. "But it's gonna be hard to stand or walk or not throw up, but whatever you want to do."
"(sigh) Well I guess it can't be helped," Miracle said.
"I have a cottage that's not too far away from here where you can rest until you're better."
"Thank you that's so kind," Apple Core said. The 3 ponies quickly went to the said cottage and this time Apple Core was the one that carried Miracle on his back. When they got to the cottage Miracle was placed in the bed and quickly drifted off to sleep.
"Okay so it should only take a day or 2 for the poison to get out of his system, oh wait I already said that didn't I?" Cryme said as he put his hoof on his muzzle.
"Thanks again for doing this for him," Apple Core said.
"It's no problem, I mean I couldn't just leave you and your friend out all alone and by yourselves, oh that was a bit redundant isn't it?"
"Well not a whole lot," Apple Core said. "Are you sure that he's going to be okay?"
"Positive," Cryme answered with a smile. "The poison isn't that strong. He's past the worst of it. It looked like he got stung right in the chest though, that had to be insanely painful." Suddenly Apple Core left the cottage and sat by a river not too far from it, he wanted to storm out but restrained himself from doing that as Miracle was still asleep. Cryme then left the cottage as well and saw that Apple Core was very upset. "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"You ran out because I was talking way too much, I'm sorry I didn't mean to annoy you, please don't be mad at me."
"No that's not the reason ah left," Apple Core said as Cryme noticed he wiped a small tear from his eye. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at myself."
"Yourself? Why?"
"Because it should have been me?"
"Huh?"
"Miracle got in the way to protect me and got stung. When we fought the manticore it came at me and I couldn't move because ah was frozen with fear, again." After that Apple Core told Cryme about how he met Miracle Maker when he came to his town and his plan to stop all the misery in Equestria and stop Witchcraft.
"Wow that's a pretty tall order for a pair of colts, not that I don't think you can't do it."
"Well ah can't," Apple Core said more upset at himself, he then told Cryme about how they entered the Castle of the 2 sisters and got the Element of Honestly, and Deception.
"Wow, that must have been really scary."
"It was, and just like the manticore Miracle pretty much did all the work because ah was too afraid. When he left Ponyville ah came with him not just because ah didn't want my only friend to leave me, but because ah wanted to help him out. While also doing a better job then ah did at the castle to make up for it, but ah froze again!" Apple Core then raised his forelegs and repeatedly hit himself on the head. "That was so dumb stupid stupid stupid!"
"Hey hey now," Cryme said as he grabbed Apple Core's forelegs with his own. "Don't be so hard on yourself, we all make mistakes."
"But my mistake could have gotten my friend killed, he's the only friend I've ever had," Apple Core said as he started to cry a little more. Suddenly, rivers of tears came out of Cryme's eyes which rather surprised Apple Core.
"That's so horrible," Cryme said while crying and Apple Core placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Apple Core said a little worried. "Ah didn't mean to upset y'all."
"Oh no you didn't," Cryme said as he stopped. "It's just so sad and sometimes when I get sad I can't help myself. Would you like to know what cheers me up when I feel sad?"
"What?"
A hug, would you like one?" Cryme asked and Apple Core nodded his head. So Cryme pulled him into a warm embrace which made Apple Core feel a lot better. "Would you like to help me get some food for supper, if I had somepony else helping me it wouldn't take as long?"
"I'd like to but, ah don't want to leave Miracle all by himself."
"Oh don't worry this is a remote area. I almost never see animals at my cottage, he'll be okay."
"All right then," Apple Core said before taking off with Cryme to find something to eat. Thankfully Cryme was able to find food easily. Before leaving Cryme grabbed a basket that Apple Core carried on his back, which in what seemed like no time at all filled up. While collecting food the 2 had a few close encounters with other wild animals but Cryme knew how to avoid them, or at the very least get them to not attack.
"I think this should do it for now," Cryme said noticing the basket was so full of food, it was almost about to fall out. "We should head back, unless you don't want to."
"It's fine ah want to see if Miracle is okay," Apple Core said as they started heading back to the cottage. "You really know yer way around here, don't yah Cryme?"
"Well I don't want to brag but yeah, it's nothing really when you stay somewhere for so long you know where to go."
"How long have you been out here in the Undiscovered West?"
"Oh not all that long, 8 years."
"8 years!? You've been here for almost a decade!?"
"It's not so bad once you get used to it," Cryme replied.
"But don't you ever get lonely?"
"No I have friends out here, oh look there are a few of them right now." Cryme then pointed to a small bundle of flowers beneath an old oak tree. "This is actually why I went down this path, so I could meet up with some old friends of mime, you want to meet them?"
"Um, all right." Apple Core then followed Cryme, who talked with the flowers and a few more of them on their way back to the cottage. "Right where we left it," Apple Core said as they returned to the cottage and found Miracle still asleep. "And right where we left you."
"He actually looks a lot better," Cryme said as he took the basket off and placed it on a nearby table. "We're gonna eat like pigs tonight."
"Pigs huh? I like the sound of that," Miracle said as he woke up and got out of bed.
"Should he be out of bed?" Apple Core asked.
"Don't worry I feel much better," Miracle answered as he walked over to Apple Core and Cryme.
"I think he should be fine," Cryme said as he got started on dinner with Apple Core and Miracle helping. Not too long after dinner Cryme thought it was time to call it a night, despite the sun still being up.
"I just woke up and you think I should go back to sleep."
"Well I mean the more you sleep the less time you'll have to be awake with the poison in your system," Cryme answered Miracle.
"Huh, good point," Miracle said as he was about to get back in bed, then realized it was the only one in the tiny cottage. "Wait where are you and Apple Core going to sleep?"
"Oh you're right," Cryme said. "I was so focused on getting dinner and helping make the cure for your sting I forgot all about that."
"Well you should have the bed," Miracle said. "This is your cottage after all."
"No no, it's all right," Cryme replied. "You still need to rest and get the poison out of your system. I can deal with it. I have a hammock that I made out of large leaves out back in case I ever got visitors, this is the first time I've ever needed it. You can sleep on that Apple Core."
"What no ah can't do that, you're giving up you're own bed and now this."
"It's fine I'm a pegasus I can just grab a piece of cloud to sleep on."
"Oh yeah, ah forgot pegasus can do that," Apple Core said before he made his way outside and Cryme did the same. Apple Core found the hammock behind the cottage between 2 large trees which provided shade that would keep the sun out of his eyes. Cryme then flew up to grab a cloud which he found right away since it was quite the cloudy day, after taking off a piece of a large cloud he flew down with it and brought it inside the cottage.
"Thought I'd sleep in here in case you needed help," Cryme said to Miracle already in bed.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Miracle said. "It's funny I just woke up but I still feel really sleepy, must be a side effect of the poison. I can barely keep my eyes open."
"You think you're tired," Cryme replied. "Me and your friend Apple Core traveled all over getting some food, I think I might be even more tired than-" Cryme stopped himself when he saw that Miracle had already fallen asleep. So he went over to the bed and pulled the blanket more over him before he flew onto the cloud and fell asleep himself.
When they all woke up it was still the middle of the day. Ever since Witchcraft took over Equestria the nights and days didn't always go as scheduled. Sometimes one or the other would last far too long or barely. Despite this the ponies found a way to adapt and keep up by use of clocks and calendars. That was how Cryme knew how long he'd been in the Undiscovered West, something he explained to Miracle Maker when the 3 of them were having breakfast.
"8 YEARS!" Miracle said.
"Ah kind of had the same response," Apple Core said.
"It's just so shocking I mean 8 years, doesn't your family worry about you? Though I guess I'm one to talk," Miracle said kind of whispering the last part to himself.
"No," Cryme answered as it looked like he was fighting the urge to cry like crazy again. "They aren't."
"Huh?" Apple Core and Miracle Maker asked at the same time. Cryme then looked even sadder, but once again looked like he was really trying not to cry.
"It was so long ago but I remember it like it was yesterday, I was born and raised in a town located in a rather remote part of Equestria. But even our lives got affected when Witchcraft took over. I was about 8 or 9 when the royal ponies no longer ruled, and I was around your ages when it happened. My town used this special crystal to protect us, but 1 day it's power just died out. That was when the shadow ponies attacked. We tried to defend ourselves but we hardly stood a chance. Before long, the shadow ponies were tearing the entire place apart. When I tried to talk a shadow pony out of breaking open the water tower, it threw me into the woods and I hit my head on a tree. When I woke up I was all alone."
"Wait you mean your parents and your friends and neighbors-"
"All gone," Cryme finished for Apple Core. "I looked around but there was nopony else, there was barely even a town. After that I knew I couldn't stay there anymore, so I packed up and I got as far away as I could. I figured the shadow ponies would never come out here, then I built a small cottage and the rest as they say is history."
"Oh my gosh," Miracle said as at the moment it was all he could say. "I'm so sorry that I brought it up."
"You don't have to be sorry you didn't know, and honestly it was nice to talk about my old home. It's nice to talk about anything really." Cryme then started to cry once again letting out a river of tears. "It's been so long since I've had somepony to talk to. It's been so long since I've had a friend. A pony friend anyway."
"Hey I don't blame you one bit who wouldn't be lonely after being out here for so long," Miracle said. "I somewhat know how you feel."
"You do?" Cryme asked as he stopped crying.
"Yeah I do, my parents died when I was just a baby I never knew them."
"And mah older brother and sister passed away little after ah was born, so ah never knew them either," Apple Core added.
"Oh that's so horrible," Cryme said as he shot rivers of tears yet again causing Miracle and Apple Core to run over to him.
"Hey easy you don't have to cry," Apple Core said.
"Yeah if you keep it up you might get dehydrated," Miracle added.
"Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself."
"You don't have to say your sorry," Miracle said. "I understand perfectly, there's so much misery so much suffering. But we are going to put a stop to all of it."
"We are?" Cryme asked confused as he stopped crying again.
"Yes we are," Miracle answered as he got into his own saddle bag and took out the Element of Honesty then gave it to Cryme.
"Wow that's so cool, what is it?"
"It's an Element of Harmony," Apple Core answered. "Ah just realized ah left that part out of my little story."
"An Element of Harmony?! Are you serious?!" Miracle and Apple Core nodded at the same time. "Oh my gosh it's like I'm holding part of a legend in my hoof, but that still doesn't explain why you 2 are all the way out here. I wanted to ask earlier but I thought it might have been personal, if it is never mind."
"I know a spell that can help us find the rest of the elements. When we do, we can use them to defeat Witchcraft and have harmony return to Equestria once again."
"A spell what kind of spell?" Cryme asked.
"Oh yeah, ah kind of asked you about that or was about to when that manticore got in the way."
"Well," Miracle said as he took the Element of Honesty back. "Basically it works like a compass pointing you to what you want to find, but you need a part of what you're looking for first."
"What do you mean?" Cryme asked.
"Well let's say you're trying to find the entire Daring Do book collection, but for the spell to work you need one of the books from the said collection."
"Kind of a weird rule," Apple Core noted.
"Yeah, but that's how magic works sometimes, it has rules and limitations. Anyway if you find one of the books that will let the spell help you find the others."
"Well I don't think I need to tell you this place can be quite dangerous. Maybe you and Apple Core should get the others first and find some other ponies that might be able to help you out."
"Well unfortunately Cryme, the other condition of the spell is that it can only lead me to the other "books" 1 at a time. We need to find the element here before the spell will point us to another."
"Oh, that is unfortunately, I mean unfortunate," Cryme said.
"So we're going to have to head out and look for it. If we split up we should be able to cover more ground, but that would be more dangerous," Miracle said.
"Uh, are you sure yer okay to head out?" Apple Core asked.
"Yeah I feel much better, good as new even."
"He does seem like the poison has managed to work it's way completely out of his system," Cryme said.
"I always was a fast healer, so Cryme I know you've already helped us out a lot, but do you think you could help us search for the element?"
"Oh I don't mind, I'd love to help in fact I bet I can help you out a lot," Cryme me answered as he went over to a book shelf and grabbed a scroll. Cryme then placed the scroll on the kitchen table and opened it up revealing a map that he had drawn. "There are advantages to living here for almost a decade. I've done quite a bit of exploring and have discovered quite a lot in the Undiscovered West. Mostly rare and exotic plant life, I really like plants."
"We can tell," Apple Core said as he and Miracle Maker looked over the map Cryme made. "Wow you've really been all over."
"Yeah, I have, but that might be a problem. See if your spell says that the element your looking for is somewhere here I haven't found it."
"Well that won't be that much of a problem, we just need to use the process of elimination," Miracle said. "Where exactly have you been?"
"Well, like I said I've kind of been all over," Cryme answered as he tapped his hoof on various places on the map. "Though I've made sure to avoid highly populated areas, some of the animals here aren't all that friendly, but a few are that's important to know. You know, don't let the one or several give you a bad opinion of the whole and all that."
"What about this 1 part?" Apple Core asked as he tapped on the center part of the map.
"Oh I've never gone there before," Cryme answered to the surprise of the Apple Core and Miracle Maker.
"You haven't?" Asked the former.
"How come?" Asked the latter.
"Well every time I came near that place I noticed that there were no animals in that area at all, the ones that do get near it don't stay there for long. It's like there's something in that area none of them want to get close to."
"Which means that the element is most likely there," Miracle said.
"Of course it is," Apple Core added.
"You really think so?" Cryme asked, and when he did Miracle then got out the Element of Honesty.
"Where's the cottage located at the map?" Miracle asked. Cryme answered by tapping it's location on the map which was around the bottom right corner of the map. Miracle then activated the spell, making a red triangle appear around the element and it pointed to the upper left towards the center. "Yeah, I think so."
"Oh dear oh my," Cryme said as he started to shake wondering what they were going to run into when they reached the center of the Undiscovered West.
"Don't worry between my magic, Apple Core's strength and you're.....supportive nature we should be able to handle it."
"Well, alright if you think so," Cryme said as he stopped shaking.
"Yeah whatever's there let's take it down," Apple Core said. It's probably another guardian, Apple Core thought to himself. Ah am not going to let my fear get the best of me again and force Miracle to do all of the work.
***
"Wow I don't even think these types of flowers can be found here in the Undiscovered West," Cryme said as he along with Apple Core and Miracle Maker had already nearly reached the center.
"Well I'm glad to see he's doing all right," Apple Core said to Miracle.
"Yeah, he looked pretty scared for a minute back at the cottage," Miracle Maker said back.
"We should be getting pretty close to the next element right?" Apple Core asked.
"Yeah I think we're right on top of it," Miracle Maker said as he checked his spell. "But that means we should keep our guard up for whatever everything around here is trying to stay away from."
"Right, you watch my back ah got your front," Apple Core said as he walked in front of of Miracle Maker before he suddenly stopped. "Actually, maybe it should be the other way around since you know, you're the one with the locater spell."
"Right, probably a good idea," Miracle said as he walked in front of Apple Core before stopping all of a sudden like Apple Core. "Uh, Cryme," Miracle called out to get his attention.
"Huh? Oh sorry," Cryme said as he flew to help him catch up with Apple Core and Miracle sooner. "I'll look at the plants later." Before long the trio came to a rather large rock that kind of looked like a throne and sitting on it was a tiny crystal butterfly.
"There it is!" Miracle said as he jumped up and down like a little colt at Hearts Warming.
"Wow this was easy," Cryme said. "Maybe there wasn't anything dangerous in here that kept all the animals away after all."
"Oh how wrong you are," a female voice said that put all 3 of the stallions on edge. The source of the voice then flew down from the sky revealing a large black changeling with long green hair.
"What is that thing?" Apple Core asked.
"Now that has got to be a changeling," Miracle answered.
"A changeling? I didn't know they lived out here," Cryme said.
"I was a changeling a lifetime ago, but now I am Cruelty, guardian of the Element of Kindness."
"Another guardian," Miracle said.
Called it,, Apple Core thought to himself.
"Another?" Cruelty asked as she noticed the Element of Honesty Miracle put back in his saddlebag. "I see you managed to defeat Deception, but don't let that go to your head. She was the weakest of us, I can promise you the rest of us guardians are much more powerful. In fact, 1 guardian is more powerful than all of us combined."
"Uh is she you?" Cryme asked.
"I wish I could say yes but no she isn't me," Cruelty answered.
"Well I don't care if you're as strong as Witchcraft," Apple Core said as he approached Cruelty. "We came all this way to get that element and we're not leaving until we get it."
"Well I love to disappoint you but you won't leaving at all."
"Uh don't you mean-"
"I know what I said," Cruelty answered cutting off Cryme before she flew up and fired beams of magic at them. Cryme ducked behind several trees while Miracle put a force field around him to block them. Apple Core simply dodged them while running over to where a pile of rocks were, then bucked the rocks right at Cruelty. While she dodged several, one managed to get her right between the eyes which forced her to the ground. When she landed Miracle dispelled his shield and fired a spell of his own similar to the one that he used to defeat Deception. However, as Cruelty said herself she was much more powerful than Deception was and fired a spell of her own causing them to clash.
"She's right," Miracle said. "Deception wasn't this strong."
"My my," Cruelty said as the 2 continued to clash their beams. "Such raw power for a pony so young, but it's not quite enough." Suddenly Cruelty pushed her beam forward and it managed to get all the way to his horn and forced him back. Miracle then fell to the ground with a bit of black now on his horn.
"MIRACLE!" Apple Core said as he saw what happened to his friend. "HANG ON I'M COMING!" Apple Core then made his way over to Miracle, but before he could, Cruelty teleported behind him and bucked the earth pony all the way over to Miracle. Cruelty then teleported over to them and stomped on both of them with her forelegs making each of them scream out in pain.
"Now that's what I like to hear, let's see if I can make you scream even louder."
"L-Leave them alone!" Cryme called out to Cruelty trying to yell out to her, but was too nervous to do that.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Cryme said once again trying to sound tough and once again not doing a very good job of that.
"No, I don't think I did," Cruelty replied. "Why don't you repeat it."
"I said leave them alone," Cryme replied as he took a bold stand with his chest out. "Please," he added with a sheepish smile as he lowered his head which made Cruelty laugh out loud.
"You are so pathetic," Cruelty said as she laughed out loud once again. But she was laughing so much she didn't notice that Miracle had been charging up his horn and didn't know until she was blasted point blank. Like Miracle she was forced to the ground but she was able to get right back up. However Apple Core who also managed to get back up ran over and bucked her so hard she was slammed into the nearby boulder.
"Turn about is fair play!" Apple Core said happy to have dealt the guardian a painful blow.
"You sneaky little brats!"
"That was your own fault for lowering your guard," Miracle said.
"How can you even still fight after I overpowered you?"
"It's like I told my friends earlier, I always was a fast healer."
"Well if I were you I wouldn't let it go to your head," Cruelty said as she flew on top of the boulder to take the high ground. "I have plenty of fight left in me, and you only got a shot at me because that pathetic pony distracted me."
"Oh yeah," Cryme replied. "If I'm so pathetic why do I have this?" Cryme then reached into his saddle bag and pulled out the Element of Kindness. Cruelty looked below at the boulder and saw where the element used to be, her jaw nearly hit the ground.
"But how did-"
"There are advantages to being a wall flower, you were so focused on my friends that you didn't even notice me grabbing this little trinket."
"GIVE IT BACK!" Cruelty ordered as she flew right at Cryme with death in her eyes. Despite the look of hers that nearly made Cryme void his bowels, he reacted right away and grabbed one of her forelegs then flipped her making her land on her back despite having wings.
"Wow, nice move," Miracle said.
"Yeah, you really let her have it," Apple Core added.
"She looked like a shadow pony when she charged at me," Cryme said as he flew over to Miracle Maker and Apple Core. "I wanted to dodge but I flipped her instead, I have no idea where that came from. I doubt I could do that again."
"Good to know," Cruelty said as she got back up. "You 3 are more capable than I thought, but I won't let you leave with that element."
"Come on we need it, or rather they need it I'm just trying to help," Cryme said surprisingly trying to be reasonable. "What do you even need this element for all the way out here?"
"I'm guarding it, or did you not here me earlier?"
"No I heard, but if he has it you don't need to guard it, so you can do whatever you want."
"Well I want to kill you!" Cruelty then once again charged at Cryme. Miracle created a large barrier around them that blocked her path or rather literally forced her into a complete stop. Before she could break the wall, Miracle expanded the barrier forcing her back.
"All right you overgrown stinkbug round 2," Miracle said ready for a fight. "If you want that element back you'll have to take it from us."
"Seems you haven't learned from the first time," Cruelty said as she made a smile that matched her name.
"I learned plenty, like that a direct attack won't work, but there are other ways." Miracle then teleported directly below Cruelty. Blasting her point blank, forcing her into the air. Only to teleport directly above her to blast her once again point blank back to the ground. Miracle then teleported himself back to the ground before gravity did it for him.
"Wow that was amazing, I've seen talented unicorns before but that was something else," Cryme said as he watched Miracle continue to fight Cruelty who tried to blast him but couldn't land a single blow.
"Well come on, let's back him up," Apple Core said as he was about to run over to the fight and back up his friend. But just as he started to run Cryme got in his way. "Huh? What the hey are you doing?"
"I understand you want to help but those spells are getting wild," Cryme said as he pointed over to Cruelty now angrier and her spells started making rather large holes in the ground after missing Miracle. "Neither of us are unicorns if we get in the middle of that we'll just be in the way, Miracle will worry about us and make mistakes, then who knows what Cruelty will do to him."
"I have an idea!" Cruelty said as she teleported to Cryme then grabbed the Element of Kindness from him. Cruelty then flew right up and charged her magic to the fullest and blasted at them.
"NOO!" Miracle yelled out in shock wanting to stop it but it happened too fast and when the smoke quickly cleared there was a hole the size of a small crater. "Apple Core, Cryme, no," Miracle said as he teleported inside the hole his shock replaced with sadness.
"Now all that's left is to send you to join them," Cruelty said standing just outside the hole she made. Cruelty was about to charge her magic once again, but didn't have the chance. Miracle teleported right in front of her and decked her right in the muzzle, while also grabbing the Element of Kindness in the process.
"How about I send you to meet Deception instead," Miracle replied his sadness now replaced with rage. He then charged his magic while Cruelty did the same and once again their magic beams clashed, but this time Miracle's magic was on the winning side.
"What the?" Cruelty said shocked that she was going to be on the losing side this time around. "No this doesn't make any sense, I beat him last time," Cruelty said before she got blasted, similar to Deception. Afterwards she started to fall apart when she once again was forced to the ground.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Miracle said.
"But how?" Cruelty asked she was on the ground. "How did he get stronger all of a sudden or did I somehow get weaker?"
"Both," Miracle answered. "My magic is stronger now I can feel it, but it also helped that you took a beating earlier. Making it harder to attack at full power, especially since you did that just a minute ago. You may be powerful, but you used up your energy too much in battle."
"Well, nice plan there kid," Cruelty said with a surprisingly sincere tone. "Too bad for you it's a shallow victory, because now you're all alone, like me."
"Not quite," Cryme said as he flew down holding Apple Core with his forelegs.
"Cryme! Apple Core! You're okay! Thank goodness!"
"Don't thank goodness thank Cryme, he grabbed me and got us out of the way just in time," Apple Core said.
"I wanted to come down earlier, but I saw you 2 still fighting and didn't want us to get in the middle."
"Well that's just great," Cruelty said as she could tell her end was close. "You couldn't even have stayed up in the air a little longer and let me at least believe in my somewhat victory, now that really is, cruel."
"Oh, I didn't think of it that way I'm sorry," Cryme said lowering his head as he felt pretty bad, but it was too late as Cruelty disappeared without a trace. Not even shards like Deception were left behind, which Cryme noticed when he lifted his head. "Oh you vanished, nevermind," Cryme said as he rubbed the back of his head while trying to think of something else to talk about. "Uh, nice work Miracle you beat Cruelty."
No thanks to me, Apple Core thought feeling bad about not pulling as much weight as he wanted to, but not showing it to bring down his friend's victory. Miracle then reached into his saddle bag to bring out the Element of Honesty and held it with the Element of Kindness.
"All right, 2 down 4 to go," Miracle said to himself as he used the spell once again and the triangle now bigger pointed somewhere else at last. "Thanks for all the help you gave us Cryme."
"Oh it's no big deal, I just did what I could, but, I would like to do more."
"Well now that we don't have to stay here any longer, can you show us the quickest way out?"
"Can't you just teleport us out Miracle?"
"I would Apple Core but I'm kind of tired, borderline exhausted actually from beating Cruelty."
"I know where to go just follow me okay," Cryme said. The 3 ponies took off with Apple Core carrying his friend once again. "Are you sure you want to carry him, I can do it for you it's no problem."
"Ah got him, ah live on a farm so I'm strong and have a lot of stamina," Apple Core answered. At least I'm good for something, he thought to himself still disappointed in himself. Eventually they made it back to Cryme's cottage where he grabbed a few things to put in his saddle bag. Such as some of the things he had when he came to the Undiscovered West, as well as a few things he collected when he came to it.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Miracle asked.
"I'm packing," Cryme answered.
"Packing? For what?" Apple Core asked.
"I, want to come with you guys."
"What?" They asked at the same time.
"I know it's strange to ask since we just met, but it's like I said I would like to do more. You guys are doing something dangerous, but it's for just about the most noble reason there is. I can't just stay here if I could go with you and help you out, even if it's just a little bit." Miracle then got off of Apple Core and they looked at one another for second or 2.
"Well he did help me with the manticore poison," Miracle said.
"And he is a pegasus," Apple Core added. "He can fly and maybe scout ahead or something like that."
"Yeah I could definitely do that," Cryme said.
"All right you can come," Miracle said and Cryme almost literally jumped for joy. "Grab on I think I can teleport us out of here."
"Actually do you mind if we take the scenic route?" Cryme asked.
"Um all right, I guess that's okay." The 3 ponies then left the cottage and Miracle and Apple Core both couldn't help but notice that Cryme looked back at his cottage several times. When the cottage was out of his sight Cryme focused much more on what was ahead which Apple Core and Miracle Maker liked, because he was the one leading and picked up the pace.
"I'm sorry guys, I didn't think it would take this long," Cryme said as the sun was setting.
"It's all right none of us can really tell when the sun is going to set these days," Miracle said.
"Besides, we already should be out of the Undiscovered West soon, right?" Apple Core asked.
"Oh we already left the Undiscovered West," Cryme answered. "We're in the Whitetail Woods."
"We are?" Apple Core asked as he and Miracle looked around neither one noticing they left 1 place and entered the other. "How can you tell?"
"The plant life is different."
"Was there a reason you wanted to come through here?" Miracle asked.
"Yeah," Cryme answered as he saw what he wanted to find was just up ahead and flew towards it with Apple Core and Miracle Maker not too far behind. "I wanted to see this place again." Suddenly the trio were in the middle of a completely abandon town, while several of the buildings were still standing, plants were growing all over them with several animals running around.
"Is this, is this yer home town?" Apple Core asked.
"Yeah," Cryme replied while sounding rather somber which made Apple Core and Miracle worry he would cry like crazy again. They tried to think of something that might cheer him up but were drawing a blank. "It's beautiful," Cryme said to their surprise.
"Huh?" Apple Core and Miracle asked at the same time.
"I've always wanted to work up the courage to come back here and now that I have, there's so much plant life, so much new plant life."
"Uh, look I like plants as much as the next pony, unless that next pony is you. But shouldn't you be sad about what's become of this place?" Miracle asked.
"Miracle's right, we were worried you were going to cry again, but if you want to, now's probably ah good time. Ah wouldn't like to see my home turn out like this. Nopony would."
"Don't worry about me I am sad," Cryme replied. "I've been sad for 8 years. But even though I'm sad, I won't cry because I understand."
"Understand what?" Apple Core asked.
"Everything in the forest has it's season, and not just the forest or the Undiscovered West but all over. Where one thing falls another grows, maybe not what was there before but something beautiful all the same."
"I think I understand," Miracle said as he would think more on what Cryme said later.
"It's going to be dark soon, do you 2 mind if we stay here until the sun comes back up?"
"Ah think that would be fine," Apple Core said.
"It's fine with me," Miracle said. "But first Cryme would you mind flying up and looking for our carriage. I don't want to leave it alone longer than we already have?" Cryme then flew up and spotted the carriage close by his old home just outside the woods, in fact it was conveniently right next to a trail that led right into Cryme's old town. After getting the carriage in the town just as it was getting dark the 3 settled down for some well needed rest, all in different places. Miracle went to a small house similar to his and would think about not only what Cryme said, but also how he got strong enough to beat Cruelty.
"How did I get stronger?" He asked himself. "It could have been adrenaline in the heat of the moment, no it was something else. Something pushed me to go beyond my limits, I just can't figure it out. Maybe an answer will come to me in my sleep, I hope you're all sleeping well too. Uncle Blueblood, Moondancer and her friends, the Cakes, and Apple Core's family."
Apple Core decided to stay in a barn since he's a farm pony, also with all the space in there he had plenty of room to practice fighting. "Take that and that and some this too with a whole bunch of this as well," he said to himself pretending to fight something. "Ah will pull my weight better, Ah have to. Ah refuse to be a burden to Cryme and especially Miracle."
Lastly Cryme stayed at a rather large 2 story house that he used to call home with his parents. "It's so nice to be back home," Cryme said to himself as he already got back in bed and would soon drift off to sleep.