//------------------------------// // Prelude // Story: A Link to Equestria // by Wandering Quill //------------------------------// ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ ~-~-~-~-~-~▼~-~-~-~-~-~ ‘Head to the Temple of Time in the Everfree Forest!’ Lyra had said just as the first howl pierced the profuse silence in the tree house. ‘You will be safe there! Leave!’ What ensued remained a foggy memory for Applebloom, despite the small amount of time that had passed since. In one moment, Lyra and Sweetie Belle's horns flared with life. In the other, the windows had been shattered by multiple lanterns, and the house had caught on fire. Flames hungrily consumed the wooden cottage wherever she looked, and before she knew it, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were running into the Everfree Forest thicket. They coughed as they fought to overcome the columns of dark smoke. But even when they got out of the hazy labyrinth, they weren’t given a moment to rest. Silhouettes moved under the cover of the night, rampaging directly through the core of the woods. They were everywhere, just like the terrifying wails they unleashed with their passing. The earth pony’s eyes had remained closed for most of the trek; she wished only that no tree would cross her way. The tired wheezes in the air around told her that her friends were still close by. Oddly, bells rang in the air, the type of sound she was familiar with from her farm's cattle. Could it be that there was a simple stampede going on? That couldn't be it. The cries that tormented them were not those of scared animals. They were much fiercer, more devilish. They were vicious snarls, deep bellows she could only compare to those of a manticore, or even a dragon. She struggled to hold back her tears; she wasn't about to give in to this hardship. "I-I'm tired..." Sweetie Belle weakly croaked from her side, her voice stained by exhaustion. "Jus' h-hold on a while l-longer!" the earth pony replied, still unwilling to open her eyes. A decision she regretted the moment she crashed against their pegasus friend, effectively tossing both off their feet. "What's the big idea, Applebloom?!" she immediately barked. The devious laughter that echoed the moment after doused any anger either of them possessed. They instinctively huddled together, all three shivering violently. The flames of the little clubhouse spread like wildfire across the forest, granting the otherwise dark blue sky a vivid orange appearance. Shadows continued to populate the innards of the woods, filling the air with their screams. There, in the middle of the Everfree Forest, they could only comfort themselves with each other’s presence. They didn’t know which way was back. Which of the trails led back to Ponyville. They could only cower into the shrubbery, and hope for the best. Surely, they would be found soon. Their sisters would know what to do. They would arrive. To save them. But after several agonizing, restless moments, the stampede met an abrupt end. The quakes beneath their hooves suddenly stopped, and the cackles and bells were no more. Now, the only sound they heard was the quiet rustling of the leaves above, and the occasional snivels from either filly. Scootaloo hesitantly raised her head, first just barely from its resting place, then slowly higher and higher. Head poking out of the top of a bush, she took a tentative look around. She was greeted only with the dark emptiness of the forest and the flaming crown of the fire in the distance. “I-I think… they’re gone…” Receiving no response from her friends, she dove back into the bush and shook the other two ponies. “Hey, it’s safe now! They’re all gone!” "Ya... Ya sure?" Applebloom stuttered from under her hooves. The pegasus sighed profusely and carefully peeked out the brush. The Everfree Forest's characteristic quietness had indeed returned. "Yeah, let's go before those things return!" Though hesitance was still patent in her actions, Applebloom uncovered her head and slowly rose to her hooves while Scootaloo tried to call for Sweetie's attention with several anxious pokes. "C'mon, Sweetie Belle, we need to go!" "I-I don't wanna..." she sobbed in reply, swatting her friend's foreleg away. "I-I wanna wait for Rarity... A-and Applejack..." "They won't find us if we're hiding here, so come on!" With a fierce pull, Scootaloo managed to propel both ponies out of the bush, drawing a loud shriek from Sweetie Belle. The unicorn immediately shrank against the ground, curling herself into a ball. "Sweetie Belle, come on!" "N-No! I-I don't wanna go!" "Get up!" The unicorn was practically squealing at this point. "NO!" "Stop! Stop it, both a'ya!" a third voice desperately cried, immediately ceasing the argument between the other two ponies. Though Sweetie's head remained covered by her hooves, Applebloom succeeded in grabbing her other friend's attention. "We ain't goin' nowhere! We're waitin' for Applejack to save us!" "Pfft! Yeah, right!" Scootaloo blurted back. "You all think your sisters rule, right?! Then you stay here!" "We're not leavin' ya alone, Scoots. What's gotten into ya?" "Nothing! What are you going on about?!" the pegasus turned around sharply, her cape fluttering behind her. When silence fell upon the crusaders and Scootaloo didn’t move, Applebloom tilted her head questioningly. “…Scoots?” she quietly called; much to her surprise, a quiet whimper was the reply she got. The earth pony stepped closer, and the snivels grew louder. “What’s the mat-” Her words died in her throat when the pegasus abruptly embraced her around the neck, burying her muzzle into Applebloom’s mane. Just moments later, the filly began to shiver violently, and she openly cried. “I-I’m scared…” she managed to stutter between every hiccup. Applebloom tried to react, but every time she attempted to speak, the lump in her throat threatened to open the floodgates. She settled with placing a foreleg over her friend’s back, resting her head on the pegasus’s shoulder. The warmth of their embrace reminded the earth pony of just how cold it really was out there, in the forest. As if it was a cruel prank, a fire burned brightly in the distance, but this one, they couldn't get close to. She felt tired, she realized. Both their capes were slightly tattered on the edges, and dirt blemished both their coat, mane and tails. From the corner of her teary eyes, she spotted a new source of light amidst the shrubbery. She carefully placed her friend down, running a hoof through her back in a reassuring manner one last time before approaching the shimmering bush. Pushing the branches aside, she spotted a broken, metallic lantern lying in the dirt. Orange glass shards lay scattered around it. They seemed to be part of the lantern, as the object of jagged edges still had some fragments of the cover. A blue flame escaped it, providing the filly a comfort she had longed for. Without a second thought, she took the broken lantern in her mouth and left it near Scootaloo. She reacted immediately to this new source of heat, hurriedly cuddling next to it. Satisfied, she trotted over to Sweetie Belle's side and gently nudged her, guiding the unicorn to the lantern's side. It was a small fire, but it would have to suffice. With every pony settled, she lied down as well, gladly soaking in the flame's warmth. The soft sound of weeping died down, and silence once more fell upon them. The murmur of a bell was carried to them by the wind. "You think... You think they'll find us?" the pegasus asked in a hushed voice. Applebloom promptly gave a confident nod; if there was somepony who could venture into the forest and find them, it was her sister. "B-But... What if they return?" Sweetie Belle shifted in place to raise her head. "What Miss Heartstrings- N-Natural Scale, I mean, said about the Temple of Time..." "We ain't goin' nowhere," the earth pony readily spoke, causing her friend to wince slightly. "...sorry. Ah jus' dunno if Miss Heartstrings was in her right mind." "She was. I-I know it." "Ah find that kinda hard ta believe, Sweets," she answered with a raised eyebrow. "T'way she was jus' babblin' 'bout'em powers'n whatnot..." "She did something. She gave me something. I can... f-feel it," the unicorn looked down at her hooves. "I don't know... I just... feel it..." "Feelin' tired, more like." "She knew what she was saying, Applebloom!" the unicorn's sudden mood shift surprised even the earth pony. "There's no way she could have known that stuff if she wasn't Natural Scale!" "She could'a read 'bout it somewhere! Jus' ta pull our leg'n all!" The other filly opened her mouth to reply, but Applebloom readily denied that possibility. "We ain't foals, Sweetie Belle! Believin' she was bein' possessed by some ghost is like believin' in Santa Clops! They. Ain't. Real." The filly wanted to answer, but no argument she imagined could top her friend's. Her eyes fell upon the azure flame between them in reflection. What reasons would Miss Heartstrings have to trick them? To trick her, her student? It couldn't have been a prank. She felt something, when their horns touched. Magic. Incredible amounts of power. A gift. She couldn't vouch for the existence of ghosts, or spirits, or zombies. But there was no doubt in her mind that that had been Natural Scale. She blinked twice, hoping that it would clear her sight, as though it were the result of her exhaustion. When it didn't, the filly felt her legs tremble uncontrollably. Against her better judgment, she approached her muzzle to the flame, feeling the sudden increase in temperature. There, amidst the deep blue flames, she could see three pitchdark blotches. Had she seen them separately, she wouldn't have paid them any mind. Together, however, they took on the frightening appearance of a face that bore a mischievous expression. Its eyes, the two higher points of blackness, stared into hers as though they plotted a devilish scheme against her, while its mouth was curved in just as ill-meaning a grin. Sweetie Belle slowly pulled her head back. Her mind tried to dismiss the image - it was likely a coincidence. Her imagination doing things. Then she heard something giggle, and her ears shot up. Neither of her friends seemed to be in the mood for laughing: Scootaloo was curled up, next to the flame, the orange of her body hidden under her mane and tail, while Applebloom remained transfixed on her own hooves. And fire can't laugh, right? "I see you, little pony..." a cold voice rang in her ear, causing her the fur on her coat to stand on end. She sat up immediately, startling even the earth pony across the fire. "D-Did you hear that?" "Consarnit, stop doin' that, Sweetie Belle!" Applebloom scolded instead. Before she could reprehend her friend again, the unicorn leaped over the lantern and huddled against her. "I heard something this time! I know I did!" "No, ya didn'." Applebloom slowly pushed her away, but Sweetie Belle was unrelenting. "T'was just you, so stop scarin' us!" The sound of the rustling of a nearby bush made her swallow those words. Their heads immediately craned in the sound's direction, their fright reaching unprecedented levels. The two fillies held each other in a tight hug, only barely suppressing the desire to yell as loudly as they could muster. The moonlit bush shook again. One by one, all other bushes around them began to shake as well, causing the silhouettes in the shadows to shift. Soon, it was as if the forest had a mind of its own, a twisted mind that was determined to shock the fillies into unconsciousness using only the clamor of its foliage. Another giggle. The slightest breeze blew. It went cold. If they weren't shivering out of fear before, then the frosty air would force them to do so now. Sweetie Belle hazarded a look behind her back. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed that there was no longer a flame, or even a lantern. Or a Scootaloo. "S-Scootaloo?" she hiccuped before squeezing Applebloom harder. Her voice was barely audible in the middle of the ruckus. "S-She's gone! S-Scootaloo's gone!" The earth pony's pupils shrank to pinpricks. She knew her friend couldn't be lying, but she looked regardless. There was no pegasus filly there. "I-If that's you, Scoots, y-ya can quit it! It ain't funny!" she called to the bushes. The forest paid her no mind; instead, a light blue layer of fog enveloped the grove, inspiring further panic in the fillies' minds. "S-Scoots, come on..." A particularly violent movement to their right called their attention. There, a figure was emerging from the shadows: it was a pony, there was no doubt about that. It stepped out of the foggy barrier and into the moonlight, wings spread wide on its sides. It wore a sort of uniform, much like the one the two fillies were used to see from Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash's rambling about the Wonderbolts. Save for the fundamental difference of the color. Where the Wonderbolts were garbed in a bright, colorful blue, this one had a deep purple color. An even darker shade of blue covered its head, hooves and neck like a hood, zigzagging down both sides of its chest. The typical winged thunder on the performers' flanks was here replaced by a white skull, one with wings, no less. And those eyes... The two fillies could only imagine was what behind that mask, those glistening yellow goggles, their shape akin to the eyes of an insane pony. Combined with the twisted smirk it gave, they knew that the pony before them was anything but a famed rescuer. "Oh, my..." from the sound of its voice, they could deduce it was a mare. This made her none the warmer to their eyes, as they took one step back with every step forward she took. "What do I see? Two lost foals in the middle of these dangerous woods?" "S-stay back!" Applebloom cried, apparently to the mare's mirth. "Watch out, we've got a rowdy filly over here!" the pegasus laughed. In the blink of an eye, a single beat of her wings brought the mare to Applebloom's side. The two fillies froze in place, unintentionally allowing the mare to rub the sides of her uniform along their backs. An intense scent of dust filled the air. "So, what are you going to do," she began, whispering at Applebloom's ear. "if I get any closer?" "A-Ah'll..." She gulped. She couldn't think, let alone act. She felt trapped, paralyzed. "Thought as much," the mare answered after a prolonged silence. Smirking, she turned her head to Sweetie Belle and said, "Sleipnir, get the unicorn." Before said filly could even realize what was going on, a pair of forelegs wrapped themselves tightly around her neck. She wasn't given the chance to scream; a dark blue wing promptly covered her mouth, completely suppressing the sound of her voice. Applebloom only snapped out of her trance when Sweetie Belle's embrace broke. She instantly turned around to seek the other filly. All she could see around her was the same, all-encompassing layer of mist. “So, you think you’re tough, huh?” Her anxiety grew with every second that passed. She turned back to the mare; the way she loomed was not making it any easier for the earth pony to think. Instinctively, she began to backpedal. It took no more than a few steps for Applebloom to bump into something. Looking up, she was met with yet another azure muzzle, the corners of its mouth tilted upwards in a mischievous grin. "What should we do with this naughty little pony, Val?" it asked in a melodically voice, inching closer to Applebloom. Another mare. 'Val' simply laughed. “This one’s tough, Hel.” “Do you know what happens to the naughty ponies who go into dangerous forests alone?" "A-Ah..." "They might run into the wrong ponies!" Val gasped in fake shock, making her presence immediately next to the filly known. "Your friends found that out the hard way. But you... You can do something about it, right?" The other pony's hoof prodded her flank, causing her to leap in surprise. "Yeah, blank flank. What are you going to do about it?" Val watched with satisfaction as Applebloom struggled to find her words once more. The pegasus smirked and reared up, fully extending her wings before stomping the ground and yelling, "ANSWER THE QUESTION, BLANK FLANK!" By the end of her demand, the mare’s snout was inches away from Applebloom’s own. The filly slowly pulled her head away, uttering nonsensical sounds. Val was the first to snort derisively, bursting into laughter shortly after. “Cut her some slack, Val, she’s just a blank flank.” When Hel joined in, Applebloom’s eyes shifted nervously from one pony to the other. Diamond Tiara had accustomed her to this sort of comments, but she was just another filly. Them… they were full grown mares. She wanted to run. To escape this. “Aw, are you going to cry now?” “What good is a pony if they can’t even talk?” “You’d be better off as cockatrice fodder!” “Not even Cerberus would want you in Tartatus!” “Maybe that’s why you’re out here! Nopony wanted you!” “A mute, blank flanked filly? Who would want that?” “Bet her parents just dumped her in the forest!” Time slowed down that moment. That had been the last drop, the one blow that hit too close to home. She couldn’t hold her tears anymore, but she wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She was given no resistance when she broke off in a mad dash towards the fog. The clouds presented no more of an obstacle than the tears that blurred her sight as she galloped. Had she been able to see, then she would have noticed how the path ended abruptly just steps ahead, where the trees concealed the top of a steep hill. Once she lost her footing, stifled sobs became a full-blown cry for help, and the pony tumbled down the hill. Moments later, a loud splash echoed across the forest, and silence took its place. Behind her, the two pegasi laughed louder than ever - a mirth that was short lived, as the imposing figure of a rather large, winged stallion emerged from the fog. Just like the mares, the coat underneath its uniform was dyed a dark blue color, but much unlike them, his expression was the exact opposite of merriment. "Valkyrie," he spoke, his quiet voice sounding as deep as a canyon. "Why did you let the filly go?" "Relax, Sleipnir," the mare simply replied. "That one won't be bothering us. Couldn't even find the guts to stand up for her friends. We have to feed the sea serpents from time to time. But never mind that." Her expression darkened visibly. "What's Valhalla's plan?" "He wants a host," the stallion spoke nonchalantly. His attention was clearly focused on the growing corona of fire above the trees. "Says he'll take what the Stalponies don't kill." "San Palomino all over again, huh, Val?" Hel coolly asked; a tone of voice that seemed to disturb the stallion, judging from the disproving frown he shot her afterwards. "We were unlucky that time. Damned princess popped up right when we were reaching the temple. This time, there's no princess." Valkyrie's gaze rested on the path Applebloom had taken. "It's like the best defense they have is a bunch of frightened fillies." Sleipnir snorted and flapped his wings once in annoyance. "It's the quiet ones you have to look out for," he added, turning back. "Valhalla is calling every pony in. Don't slack off." "Oy, Sleipnir, I'm the commander here in Valhalla's absence!" Valkyrie readily commented, earning another fearsome frown from the stallion. "Best you start acting like one then." ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ ~-~-~-~-~-~▼~-~-~-~-~-~ "H-Huh... Wake up... Please, wake up! Oh no, this is disastrous…" Leaves and branches flying by. The roar of a fierce current down below. A never ending world of deep mist. Applebloom felt her body crashing through the surface of the water. The world twisted and turned around her, forcing gallons of that cold water down her throat. Then, when all air had been vacated from her lungs, she blacked out. "Y-You need to breathe, right? That's what ponies do when they're alive, right? So why won't you wake up?!" The panicked voice called from deep within the darkness. "Do you need mouth to mouth? I can do that too! ...no, that won't work. Think, Magnet, THINK!" She felt something touch her chest, very carefully exerting pressure afterwards. The voice squeaked in delight as she spewed water from her mouth before breaking into a fit of coughs. "Huzzah, you're awake! Steven Magnet strikes again! HOO yeah!" the voice instantly celebrated. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The moon was still high up in the sky, surrounded by the same, endless sea of clouds that covered Equestria. For some reason, it was a reassuring sight for the filly. A sudden headache took her by surprise, forcing her to sit. While one hoof rubbed the side of her head, the other inspected her surroundings. Her head bolted to the right when the other hoof hit a hollow object. And the filly screamed from the top of her lungs when the carapace turned out to be a skull. The cracked skull of a pony. "Hey, hey, hey! Calm down, will you?" the voice hurriedly spoke. Applebloom faced forward immediately, nearly bumping into a long, purple snout that was too close for comfort. An orange mustache graced its sides, and two large, black eyes stared back at her with unease. Just as she was about to scream again, a giant finger forced her mouth shut. "Hey, not so loud! I-I don't want those things to come back! Okay?" The cogs in the filly’s brain began to turn. This gigantic beast was… scared? Her expression softened, and the being let out a long sigh. “Y-You won’t yell, right?” Applebloom shook her head slowly, and the finger slid off her snout. The creature straightened itself, allowing the filly to see it in all of its glory: it was a massive, purple scaled serpent, countless times larger than the young pony, its head so high up that it seemed to touch the clouds. Most of its body was submerged in the lake before her. In the distance, she could see the old, ruined palace. The serpent gave a contented grin and reached into the water with one of its hands. After a moment of searching, it dropped several items next to the filly, all of which covered in mud: some rocks, red cloth – which she immediately recognized as her ribbon and most importantly… a sword. “Oh! Is it yours?" the serpent asked, noticing her wide-eyed stare. "You would not believe the amount of filth that gets washed down the river.” Something about the monster’s demeanor reminded her of Rarity. “It’s like the ponies up the stream don’t know what they’re doing to it! Pol-lu-tion!” "A... sword..." "Pray tell, my dear, what has happened to you? You were unconscious when I found you! You looked like you'd just been to Tartarus!" it paused momentarily, as if reflecting on its own words."If the sword is yours... Don't tell me you have been slaying these beasts as well!" "W-What- no! It's not mine..." Yer darn close though... She realized just how roughed up she should look. From being covered in soot to rolling down a cliff, her cape and her body had already been through tough times. It was a good thing that Sweetie Belle was such a good- "Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo!" she suddenly yelled, somehow startling the serpent. "Ah... Ah forgot about them! They're still... Still..." The serpent lowered its head, as if to hear better. "Still... what, dear?" "They were taken away..." "Oh, no..." the serpent gasped - a gesture that seemed completely uncharacteristic in Applebloom's opinion. "Did the monsters take them?" She shook her head sadly, facing her hooves. "They were pegasi... Ah jus'... Wish I could do somethin'..." "Oh, that is sad... Very sad. I, too, wish I could do something to help your cause..." The filly’s eyes rested upon the sword. She studied it contemplatively. She had considered taking the weapon; its wooden handle and ruby-encrusted guard begged for her attention, the sharpened blade promising to deliver her revenge. No. These couldn't be her thoughts. It was too extreme. A sword... killing... she'd never resort to something like it. Maybe she could be like the heroes of old and rescue her friends. To use whatever she had at hoof and venture after those who had harmed her. Like a Cutie Mark Crusader... Crusader. She shook her head again. Even she knew that handling a sword required knowledge. Skill. Skills she didn't have. Perhaps even skills she didn’t even want. Deep down... she was just as helpless as the mares had led her to believe. She was just a little filly. A blank flank. "Dear?" the serpent called, breaking her concentration. She looked up to find the sea monster her, a strange look of concern marking its features. "Is something else the matter?" Applebloom remained silent for a moment, choosing to regard the floor instead of the massive serpent. “They said Ah couldn’t do anythin’ to save’em.” She didn’t see it, but the serpent tilted its head in puzzlement. “Why not?” “’Cause Ah’m a blank flank! See?!” She abruptly rose to her hooves and turned the side of her flank to the monster. “No cutie mark! Nothin’! Ah should have it! But Ah don’t! Ya know what that means?!” “I-” “It means Ah ain’t good with nothin’!” Her voice cracked discreetly at the sound of the last word. “They’re gon’ do things to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo! And Ah can’t do anythin’ ‘bout it!” “But-” “That’s why ma and pa left!” A lonesome tear escaped her eye, and she shut both to prevent any more from falling, only to be presented with the opposite result. “They didn’t want a foal who can’t even get’er cutie mark! A foal like M-HUFF!” The serpent sighed. Apparently, sticking a finger in the filly’s mouth was the perfect way to keep her quiet. “Dear, please,” it spoke, using the other hand to carefully remove the tear from her snout. “I don’t know much about your pony cities, but I am fairly certain that parents do not just abandon their child at birth. And surely not a beautiful filly like you.” Applebloom tried to say something, but only muffled noises were heard. She felt her cheeks warm up. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Taking the red cloth in its hand, the serpent drenched it in the waters of the lake. After properly cleaning it, the beast blew it dry, and wrapped it around the top of the filly’s mane, tying it underneath to give it the impression of a bandana. Or a pointy hat, it considered. After it was done, Applebloom approached the edge of the water. It wasn’t the ribbon she was used to seeing, but it was a nice change. Somehow… it fit her. “Thanks, mister.” “I have to say, no matter how you put it, that will always look so *faaaabuloooooous* on you!” the serpent sang. “You are, of course, welcome! But, listen carefully, dear…” Its face grew gloomier. “I am unfortunately bound to this lake and the rivers it feeds, so there is little I can do to help you or your friends. But I can offer you this much. If you would give me your hooves…” The serpent lowered its hand to her height, motioning with its fingers where she should place her legs. The filly hesitated at first; she was, after all, literally trusting her hooves to the hands of an aquatic beast. In the end, she complied. Slowly, Applebloom raised her hooves and placed them on the palm of its hands. “Long ago, when Equestria was still young, the gods created five guardians. Each of the guardians was in charge of protecting the waters that flowed upon their lands. One north, one west, one south, one east. One who would be the guidepost.” The serpent gave a smile and closed its hands, as well as its eyes. “So that you may save your friends…” it spoke. A bright light erupted from within its hands, forcing the filly to tightly shut her eyes if she didn’t want to be blinded. “I, the Guidepost of the Guardians, bestow upon you the gift of swordsponyship.” When the light was at its brightest, Applebloom felt that her eyelids weren’t nearly enough to keep the violent brightness at bay. She tried to pull her hooves off the hands, but they were firmly clenched. She tried to scream, but the light itself would overpower her voice. “Stare into the light,” the serpent commanded, its voice ethereal. “Receive the power.” “A-Ah don’t…” The filly never got to finish her thoughts. She couldn’t take it anymore, and her eyes snapped open. She cried out as loud as she could, hoping it would stop the searing pain in her eyes. The light engulfed her entire line of sight. She couldn’t not look at it. It demanded her attention, and was willing to engulf her if she didn’t obey. So it did. Soon after, Applebloom no longer felt the earth under her hooves. There was no more serpent, no more lake, no more Equestria. Just an endless expanse of whiteness. And in the bright void, carrying with it a certain glee, a certain musicality, the serpent’s voice echoed, “Receive it now!”