"Come on, everypony, it's got to be around here somewhere!" said Sunny, her eyes on a map rather than the road ahead.
After the great adventure of reuniting the three tribes, there is one thing lurking in Hitch Trailblazer's mind: a well-deserved rest. But unfortunately for the sheriff of Maretime Bay, he is good friends with a pony named Sunny Starscout, who wields an unhealthy amount of determination. Despite the historical event they accomplished, Sunny was still starving for more answers to ancient history's greatest mysteries.
Hitch didn't understand the fascinating aspect of history, nor did he want to follow her and the others, but if there's one thing he knows, trouble follows wherever Sunny goes. As sheriff, it's his duty to keep every citizen safe, even one as ambitious as her.
It also doesn't help that they are in the middle of very thick woods. Despite the morning sun rising a few hours ago, its shining light was obscured by the tree's heavy crowns.
"You know, nature gave us eyes to see where we're going, not staring at a 100-year old map for a whole day," said Hitch.
"It's over 1000 years old, actually," Sunny replied, no eyes on the road.
Pipp Petals, princess of the Zephyr Heights, was frustratedly swinging her phone in every direction. "Why didn't we just use my MapZ app to find this old town? We could have at least gone through a road with service." Tripping thanks to tree root, Pipp lands on a heavy bush with slightly sharp thorns. "And without nature's torture devices. Ow!"
Pipp's sister, Zipp, helps her off the bush. "I'm pretty sure that app would have no set coordinates for ancient ruins nopony cared about till now," said Zipp, removing thorns piercing her sister.
The only enthusiastic one aside from Sunny, Izzy, joyfully trots while making leaves hover magically in the air. "I wonder what we'll find? Do you think it might be an object of great power like the crystals?"
This question kickstarted Sunny's sight to shift to her friend, "Could be! Maybe it could be a sacred temple where we'll have to solve puzzles to get through! Ooo! Maybe we'll discover a new kingdom of another species! We could befriend dragons again! Or Griffons! Maybe even changelings!" Sunny began prancing like a filly. "We are actually taking the first steps to gain back Equestria's Golden Age of Friendship!"
Hitch rolled his eyes, "Sunny, as your long-time foalhood friend who always tried to get you out of trouble, and I know you've proven me to be wrong; but do you think we were once friends with other creatures also? Dragons, seriously?"
Despite Hitch's bewildering doubt, Sunny was already used to nobody believing her, and his words didn't break her determination in the slightest. "I don't just think, I know we were all once friends. Besides, you haven't even caught a glance at my dad's research, so get ready for the tons and tons of slideshows, Hitch!" She gushed, which now made Hitch hope the journey never ends.
"But those species you mentioned," pondered Zipp, "I remember learning about griffons and dragons back in school. The last recorded sighting of them was centuries ago." Zipp explained sympathetically, "I don't mean to kill the mood, but there's a chance we might never see them again."
The Hitch's words didn't bother her in the slightest; Zipp's has struck a chord. Indeed, other creatures could still be out here, but there's also a possibility that they are long gone from this world. "We just have to have faith!" Sunny noted as the group ventured onwards.
Along the way, the group has made fascinating discoveries, at least for Sunny. Many branches and carved wood resembling a wolf were littered around every corner. Zipp swore she saw one of them twitch but assumed it was her mind playing tricks.
Pipp uncovered a luscious field of blue flowers and attempted to take some before being snatched by Izzy, claiming they should stay far away from them. When asked why, she had no answer, just a feeling that it could lead to incurable conflict.
After a short journey throughout the forest, they see the exit light, "Alright, just a couple more steps, and we're here!"
With a few more steps, they went through, shielding their eyes from the sheer brightness of the sun. What they saw later was a breathtaking piece of Equestria's past.
A woodland cottage defeated by the hands of nature sat comfortably on top of a tiny hill. Its walls and doors showed signs of decaying paint and wood, a little broken bridge over a creek, and birdhouses beyond repair laying on the floor.
But what left the group in awe wasn't the cottage's decaying body but the abundance of fauna that lurked around every corner. Various nests rested comfortably on the leaves that formed the roof, a mama bear with her cubs was exiting through a broken door, and the immense fluffle of bunnies surrounding the house was a sight to behold. Predator and prey were relaxed and stood by one another like old friends, a complete contradiction to what you would typically see in nature. This place is a haven for every critter.
Despite its natural beauty, Hitch felt a sinking feeling that they shouldn't be here. It might have been his sheriff instincts, but something keeps telling him to get all of his friends out of here.
Sunny took a few steps forward, amazed by this historical finding. "W-we found it! According to the map, we are on the edge of the old town of Ponyville!" she shouted, catching the attention of all the animals.
The birds hid under the leaves, the rabbits ran towards the nearest bushes, and the rest fled to the cottage's inside through windows and door.
The uneasy tension that Hitch felt spread to the rest of the ponies. "Sunny, I think we should get out of here," spoke Zipp, her wings spread.
"It's fine. These critters probably never saw ponies this far before. Hitch will use his usual charm, and we'll win them over." said Sunny, not worried in the slightest.
The mama bear, the only animal who hadn't entered the cottage, began growling with her cubs hidden behind her. What worried Hitch more wasn't that it was trying to threaten them; it was the fact it looked like the bear was instead calling something else. "I don't think it's the critters we should be worried about," warned Hitch.
The door slammed open, and before Sunny could blink, Hitch ran and tried to shield her from whatever was coming. What appeared to be a snake with appendages soon grew in size to where one look would mistake the monster for the legendary dragons of the East. It stood before their eyes. His teeth resembled swords, his eyes burned like collapsing stars, and his horns made it take on the appearance of the monstrous evils that were only spoken in otherworldly tongues. Its body was a chaotic mess of various parts of different animals that loomed over the little ponies.
Hitch stood his ground, and although he was terrified beyond belief and a bit angry at his foalhood friend for endangering everyone, his eyes focused on the beast. If this monster were to attack anyone, let him be the first one to take the hit.
They didn't move an inch, and the creature stared them down like a lion to a horde of mice. Pipp tried to take a picture but was stopped by Zipp, not willing to take the risk if the camera's flash was on.
"Um, Sunny, now would be a good time to transform into that half-unicorn half-pegasus form," Pipp nervously whispered.
"I can't do it on command!" Sunny tapped Izzy's shoulder, whose pupils were nearly nonexistent upon seeing the beast. "Izzy, can't you zap him with your magic?"
The unicorn shook her head as if she lost her concentration, "I-I can only carry things. I don't know how to use my magic other than that, besides…" Though she's terrified of the creature's appearance, something about him made her think he wasn't dangerous after all. Izzy can see the "sparkle" of many species, and the one from this beast resembled an arrangement of different colors that came off as angry, cunning, chaotic, and… protective?
"Guys, I don't think he wants to hurt us. His sparkle is telling me he's only protecting something," Izzy whispered loud enough for all to hear.
"How can we prove we mean no harm? We're just here to explore." Sunny asked her friends but only backed away upon hearing Hitch's order.
"I think it's best we walk away quietly," commanded Hitch, "Does this monster look like he's open to reason?"
One of the cubs tucked behind the mama peeped to see the situation, and upon seeing Hitch, he gently revealed himself to the others. Before his mother could catch him, he ran close enough, right below the jaws of the beast.
The monster's talon quickly shielded the cub from reaching any further while the bear struggled to pass through. Hitch lowered its guard a bit upon seeing this.
Soon a bird flew past the beast and landed gently on Hitch's head, nuzzling him as if it was somepony it knew. A bunny hopped from the nearest bush and embraced the young stallion. The guardian of the cottage looked surprised and hesitantly let the cub through, who soon hugged Hitch's leg, which almost threw him off balance.
"Ok, little critters, this isn't the time for hugs," Hitch panicked.
Other animals emerged from their hiding places, realizing these ponies weren't threats but friends. Their guardian's posture relaxed, and he obscured his teeth from view. Tilting his head to the right, he curiously observed Hitch; one can wonder what thoughts lurked in his mind.
The sheriff glanced at Sunny for some help getting these animals off of him, for even the mama bear was embracing him. Yet, he was only met with Sunny's knowing smirk. "I told you, just use your usual charm, and you can win any animal's heart," said Sunny.
"Sunny, I'm serious; I think this bear wants to adopt me," said Hitch, slightly distressed.
Everypony laughed, thankful that this adventure wouldn't endanger their lives after all. But their laughs, and Hitch's pleas, ended quickly. A flash of light took away the monster's gigantic body and seemed to have shrunken down. He no longer resembled a dragon, but a snake-like creature with a notable bluebell gently placed on his ear. His eyes now had a red iris but still looked at the ponies like any suspicious farm animal would give to a fox.
Sunny's eyes grew like plates, and she reached for a book that the guardian seemed to recognize. After browsing through many pages, she found one that answered her question. "Are you… Discord?" she asked.
A snap of his fingers shook the air; all animals ran away from the ponies and stood behind "Discord." He unnaturally stretched his neck, and soon Sunny and he were eye to eye.
"Who are you?" He leered.