//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: Haven // Story: Avatar: The Last Alicorn. Book 1: Pegasus // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Deep under the Everfree forest, through twisted chasms and narrow tunnels, Rainbow and Gilda laid with a small glow stick between them. The pegasus slowly spread out both her wings before flapping them a few times. “Feelings returning so at least there's that,” she mumbled as she slowly sat up, each movement drawing a groan. “How are you feeling?” “Exhausted,” the griffon said as she lightly panted, “hauling your butt around is hard work. I thought you pegasi were supposed to be light and stuff, but you weigh as much as a boulder.” “I do not weigh as much as a boulder!” Rainbow said curtly and narrowed her eyes at the giant winged creature. “I am light and aerodynamic, like any great pegasus. You're just out of shape.” “I am not out of shape!” the griffon growled as she got to her claws and stretched out her arms. “You ready to get moving?” “Course. Ow...” Rainbow said as her legs spasmed. “I should be able to walk if we go slow,” she slowly smirked. “Even like this I can probably out run a couple of over grown eels. We should try going up. Who knows? Maybe we'll finally find a way out.” “Right. Let's 'go up'. Because we haven't been trying to do that this entire time,” the griffon complained. “It's your fault we're here.” “How is it MY fault?” “You were leading and then you woke up the whole forest with your flapping. Making me save your- stop!” she hissed, reaching out and grabbing the pegasus. The griffon's ears twitched as her eyes narrowed. “Do you hear that?” “Hear what? I don't hear anything...” “Shut up and listen,” Gilda ordered before she began walking down one of the tunnels, deeper into the bowels of the earth. “I don't hear anything. We're supposed to be going up, not down,” Rainbow called after her. “Come on, feather brain,” The larger winged creature ordered. After a few moments the pegasus sighed and started after her. “I think I heard yelling...” “Really? I still don't hear anything. How long we been down here anyway?” the pony asked as she glanced around, the low illumination made by the glowstick barely piercing the darkness. “Don't know,” Gilda said with a shrug. “How could you not know? You were the one who carried me and... you didn't,” The pegasus face hoofed with a groan. “Didn't what?” “When I was unconscious... Were you napping?” the mare accused. “... I may have caught a few hours sleep. What's the big deal?” “We could have been eaten! What if something snuck up on us?” Rainbow objected. “You were the one who got herself knocked out," Gilda snapped as she poked a claw to the pegasus's chest. "Even with my little naps I was awake long before you were. So how about you just shut up and follow me.” She stormed off in a huff, forcing Rainbow to trot in order to keep up. “... Right... sorry. Thanks for watching out for me. When you were awake,” The pegasus mumbled with a light shuffling of her hooves. “Yeah yeah, whatever...” the griffon said with another shrug of her shoulders. ------ At the fire bender's village, in the same tent Twilight had been staying, the alicorn paced back and forth rapidly as her friends watched. Even Ashmane was sitting on a chair in the small living space, watching while chewing on her lower lip. “I didn't think they even still did agni kai's,” the avatar said, “Ashmane do you know the rules? Have any of them changed since I've been away?” the purple mare asked as she finally stopped pacing but continued to shuffle her hooves. “Well... as I am not a fire bender I don't know everything about them, but I think I can explain the rules as they are now,” the earth pony mumbled as she watched Twilight for a few moments before glancing away. “Can you explain how they were when you were around first?” Twilight began pacing again before glancing over to her confused friends. “An agni kai is a fire bending battle. Simple in most cases, but sometimes they can be to the death” That elicited gasps from her friends. “They don't have to be! I surely don't intend to kill Blueblood! The fight is simple, one versus one until one submits or is unable to fight any more. It used to be the primary way for two fire benders to settle arguments.” “You settled arguments by fighting? T-that's... That's horrible...” Fluttershy gasped. “What? No! Well, some arguments. It wasn't all arguments, just usually things of honor... Sometimes political things, occasionally zoning arguments and once or twice about who was in line first. Anyway, by the time I was advanced enough in fire bending they had mostly died out and were used only as a ceremony at most. How common are they now?” Ashmane sighed as she began, “About the same. Arguments that would elicit an agni kai are almost non existent. In my entire life I've only seen one that happened years ago, to a mare called Colgate. Unfortunately it was with Blueblood and she did lose.” “What? Why? How did the fight go? Why did it happen?” “She helped ponies escape the forest. Normally that wouldn't have been so bad, at least not worth an agni kai, except they were water benders. She never stood a chance. He was brutal with his fire bending and no pony really wanted to stop him after... Well... You're in a pretty similar situation as she was.” “Why? I thought every pony was happy to have me here!” “... They were. Until you started making requests,” Ashmane said as she glanced down again, “Most of the ponies here have never left the forest. We know how dangerous and terrifying it is, but to us it's home. We also know whatever is out there, such as the Water Nation, were so dangerous that our ancestors decided this place was safer. The very idea of them finding us here is our worst fear. Many believe what you have planned will bring them to our homes to slaughter us. They also believe that the world doesn't need the sun lowered, that you are exaggerating the effects to get your way.” “But I'm not, the world really is in danger.” “... That may be true, avatar, but as it is your supporters are becoming few and far between. Many will want you to lose this fight so we can stay the way we have, safe in the forest where we don't have to worry about the Water Nation ever finding us.” “... Then what's the point of fighting? Even if I beat him, if they are to afraid to fix things...” “Perhaps. While it may not be the way you preferred to do it, if you can defeat Blueblood and show your strength they may be willing to follow your decisions. Even if they are scared, you are the avatar, the pony we have waited decades for. Many ponies just need a reminder.” “Really? Do you think I'll win then?” Twilight asked as she stopped pacing and smiled at the earth pony. “...” Ashmane went silent, watching the Avatar. After many long moments passed she let out another sigh before answering. “I believe you have a chance. He is a powerful fire bender, but you are the avatar. If anyone could defeat him it is you.” “Well that is less than comforting... Oh! Colgate! I would like to talk with her before the fight! If she's who I think she is I could... What's wrong?” “... Colgate is dead,” Ashmane said gently as she hung her head. Twilight froze in mid step. “Did... Blueblood kill her?” “No. He beat her pretty badly, but he didn't kill her. For betraying us and helping a water bender she was taken into the forest and left to die. With her wounds there was no way she could have survived. I'm sorry.” “... But... that can't be. It was thanks to... those ponies she helped weren't members of the Water Nation anymore! They were running FROM the Water Nation!” Twilight insisted as her wings rose out. “They were on our side! If it wasn't for Colgate helping her then I wouldn't even be here!” “I'm afraid I don't understand, Avatar. How do you know of her?” the earth pony asked as she glanced up again. “The pony she helped, no, the pony she saved is named Vinyl. She's now a resident of Cadence and she...” Twilight took a deep breath before explaining how it was they came to find the village. As the story drew to a close Ashmane looked away from them again. “I'm sorry, but... even had all that been known I doubt anything would have changed. Many consider her one of our worst traitors. I would advise against mentioning her to any pony else.” “... Fine. If you think that's best, but she was a good mare. If it wasn't for her I likely wouldn't have ever come here.” “Your friend would still be with you and you would not be facing Blueblood in an agni kai,” Ashmane reminded, “Many things could have changed what happened, but now they are set in motion. Thinking about how things could have been will help nothing.” “... Fine.” Twilight grumbled. “How about this. Are there any books or tomes, maybe written rules about the agni kais? Maybe I can find a loop hole or something to give me an edge. Maybe not even fight him or at least get more supporters.” “There are many manuscripts from the olden days, but I cannot vouch for how useful they will be or if any pony will even listen to your findings.” “Well... We can at least try. Show me the way?” “Very well, Avatar, come.” Ashmane exited the tent quickly, followed by the three ponies and the little dragon. “I will help you gather what we can and then we shall return here to search.” ------ Gilda slowly tossed the glow stick around the corner, before peeping her head out and scanning the tunnel. “Good. Come on,” the griffon mumbled as she walked around the corner. The tunnels they had been following had been going both up and down at times with the occasional sharp turn, but had yet to have branched off. She tried spreading her wings again, but the walls made it impossible so she merely continued on. “Where do you get those from?” The sudden sound behind her made Gilda's wings jerk. “Get what?” “Those glowing things. Is it a magic or some kind of torch or what?” “They're called glow sticks. They're made by mixing glow rock and a few other things inside a tube. When you snap the internal casing they mix together to give off a glow,” she mumbled as she held the stick over a small pile of rocks. There was a small tunnel besides the rock pile, far to narrow for one of the bigger eels or even Rainbow to fit through. “This is strange... I'd swear this rock was shaped like a wing. This tunnel is to small for one of the big ones, but I guess a small one could get in it. Doesn't seem to be too deep though.” “Why not use a torch? You can put those out,” the pegasus mumbled as she glanced at the small tunnel. “Because these don't go out when they get wet and are quicker to set up. They also don't give off as much light and don't set anything on fire,” the griffon answered with a roll of her eyes before continuing down the tunnel. “Where did you get them from?” “It's one of the many tools I have. Griffons don't have magic, at least not like ponies use. So instead we use other items. I know how to make some poisons and things like that but I mostly get these supplied from others. One griffon I know claims he can make explosions without using fire bending, even some that work underwater.” “That's impossible! The water would put the fire out!” Rainbow said as her eyes went wide. “I'm just saying what the griffon claimed, never said it was true. I never trusted those things anyway, didn't seem very stable. I'd rather not explode because some idiot made them wrong. Besides, why wou...” her voice trailed off as she reached down to grab something. She lifted it up and brought it to the light. “A helmet. A Water Nation helmet.” “What? Let me see!” Rainbow darted in front of the Griffon and took the helmet. The pegasus held it up to the light and groaned before speaking, “Oh buck me. I think I'd have preferred the giant eels. Come on, let's go back.” “What? No. This helmet wasn't old, it was dropped here recently. Look, there are still some mane hairs in it. Whoever dropped it might know a way out. They might have also been those sounds I heard.” “But they're from the Water Nation! I have no problem beating up a few in an open area, but in these tiny tunnels?” “You can go back if you like, flutter. I'm going ahead.” Gilda started walking ahead, though she did keep her pace slower and quieter for the first few steps. After a few moments the helmet could be heard as it was dropped on the ground and the light foot steps of the fleet footed pegasus followed after her. “Fine. Whatever. I'll come along just so you don't get in trouble,” Rainbow muttered as she followed besides the griffon, glancing over at her on occasion. Her wing jerked a bit as she thought about the last time she had faced a water bender. She shook her head and glared, “I'd rather not meet another one, but I'm sure if there are any I can handle them.” “Sure, whatever you say.” ------ In Ashmane's home Twilight and her friends were hard at work, rummaging through the small collection of scrolls and books the village still had. She let out a groan as she tossed one of the books onto the floor. “Nothing?” Spike asked as he picked up the book to stack it with a growing pile of others. “Not a word. Even with all the scrolls and books all I can tell is there aren't many rules to the agni kai at all. The good news is there isn't any rule against me using the other elements. The bad news is that pretty much limits me to fire and air since I don't know anything about the other two. Pinkie, Fluttershy, did you two find anything?” “Yesly doodly!” Pinkie said with excitement as she held up a scroll in her mouth. “'Ook! 'Ook!” Twilight dashed over to see... before glaring at the words. “I fail to see how a recipe on super spicy fire cupcakes will help in the slightest,” the avatar said flatly. “Ptoo,” the pink earth pony spit the scroll out, grinning. “Of course it helps! First we bake a bunch of these cupcakes and give them to Blueblood. After he eats them he'll be best friends with all of us and he'll take back his challenge and help us fine Dashie!” While Pinkie spoke she held up a number of paper slides with pictures of the things she described. “... Sadly that is the best plan we've had so far. Unfortunately we don't have access to most of the ingredients this recipe calls for. Where did you get those slides?” “Made them.” “Of course you did. Any other plans?” Twilight sighed as her friends shook their heads in unison. “I guess I am going to have to fight him... Ashmane?” she called out. “Huh? Wha?” From under the covers in one of the beds the dark coated pony's head popped out. “What? I was trying to get some sleep...” she grumbled. “Err, sorry. I just wanted to know. Is there anything else you can tell me? Any advice? Anything?” The mare sighed as she laid her head against her pillow. “Don't be afraid to surrender if need be. I doubt Blueblood would try to kill you, but that doesn't mean he won't hurt you.” “... If I surrender, what are the chances that any pony will help me find Rainbow?” “To be honest Avatar, I doubt any pony will either way. Your friend is as good as dead. You need to accept that. I know it's hard but she's gone,” the pony said firmly. “... I won't,” Twilight mumbled. “As long as there is any chance she is still alive... I won't give up on her. I know she wouldn't on me.” “... Fine. Maybe if you do a good enough job, some pony will be willing to go with you. Don't count on it,” Ashmane grumbled as she laid on her stomach and buried her face in her pillow. “Ashmane do you want us to leave? We can find somewhere else to prepare if you want...” Twilight asked as she looked around at the mess they made. “No. You're fine,” the pony grumbled into her pillow. “Are you sure? You seem... annoyed.” The mare sighed and slowly turned her head sideways to face the alicorn. “...Avatar, you fail to realize how you are affecting others with your demands.” “What do you mean?” “I brought you here. Every demand or request you make goes on my head. Intentional or not when you leave, if every pony hates you I'll be blamed for it. I'll be an out cast in all but name. So if you don't mind I just want to rest until the fight is over with and I can try and decide what I'll do from there. Okay?” she said curtly. “Errr... Y-yeah. S-sorry... ummm... yeah,” Twilight squeaked as she quickly turned her gaze downward. She motioned to the door as her friends followed her outside. “I guess I should just practice and prepare. Maybe I can get some of the other benders to help me train? Maybe some light sparing?” She stopped for a few moments. “Wow... sparring. It feels like years since I had an actual sparring match... Well, I guess it was years. Over a hundred. But... yeah.” She started walking again, her friends following close behind. ------ Rainbow slowly nudged her hoof forward, tapping it against a very strange rock. “They look so life like... they all do. I've never seen anything like it...” she mumbled as her mouth hung slightly agape. Four statues carved out to look like water nation soldiers. One pegasus, two earth pony and one unicorn. The earth pony one was missing his helmet. “Think another unicorn turned them to stone?” Gilda asked as she nudged one of the pegasi. It was the only one still standing, the other three having fallen on their sides. “Kinda reminds me of that weird wing shaped stone from earlier.” “... Possibly. This one has both wings though. I don't know much about unicorn magic but I guess turning a pony to stone might be something they can do,” Rainbow said as she circled the statues. “I'm surprised, I though you'd be happier? Whoever did this obviously isn't a friend of the Water Nation.” “Yeah I know. But well... what if they're still in there? Trapped inside their bodies, unable to move. Maybe even aware of what's going on out here. Unable to do anything but watch and wait...” “We should get going. Come on, featherbrain,” Gilda said quickly as she started walking again. “Yeah, whatever,” Rainbow muttered as she followed the griffon, only giving one last look behind her before the statues were out of range of the light. Before long the two stopped again as the passage suddenly opened up. The walls spread out from them into the darkness and their meager light was unable to see to the opposite wall. “You don't think one of those eels made this, do you? What's that smell? It's foul...” “I didn't until you said that. Thanks by the way. If one of those made this it would have to be as big as a castle... That's probably the smell of the last pony that decided to come down here and annoy her companion,” Gilda grumbled. “Well... guess we should go either left or right. Any idea which?” “Hold on...” The griffon closed her eyes for a few moments before continuing, “I can't hear anything. Guess we have to guess it. Maybe... wait.” Quickly she looked to the left, holding the light up high. “I think I heard something that way. Let's go.” The two headed off to the left, staying close to the wall. More tunnels had been dug into the walls. Some were level with the ground like theirs had been but a few were dug higher up or even further down so they came out of the floor. As the two continued the smell got stronger making the two retch. “Here,” Gilda said as she held out a cloth and wrapped a similar one around her beak. “Hopefully it'll stop some of this stench.” With their sense of smell slightly protected the two continued on. They reached the back end of the tunnel and found what seemed to be a sort of nest. Trees and other fauna had been pulled from the ground and stacked up to a size larger than most buildings. The structure now seemed to be abandoned, though the nearby plants had been crushed and chunks of it had been torn out. The size of the thing proved to be the least of their worries once they got closer and shed more light on it. Ponies. Dozens of them scattered and buried under the nesting materials. All wearing the Water Nation armor, their bodies torn and bloody in the nest. “What could they have possibly wanted from this place that would... what could any pony want from this place?!” Rainbow snapped as she turned away from the carnage. She gasped when she saw Gilda. “What are you doing?!” “Salvaging, what does it look like? Some of these ponies had rations on them before they croaked,” the griffon grumbled as she flipped over a body, talking a number of things from under its armor. “Not like they need it any more.” “That's horrible! Who would eat stuff taken from the dead?!” she hissed, glaring. “I need it more than they do. Think that's enough... let's go. Whatever it is they pissed off might be back any minute, but if we hurry maybe we can get outside.” “Outside?” Rainbow backed away from the nest, moving a bit out of range of the light. “Yeah. Whatever nested here is obviously very big but has a thing for trees and plants. Some of these are fresh. I'd be willing to bet the end of this tunnel will take us outside. All we have to do is follow the wall.” Gilda started walking after the pegasus. “Come on, let's- RAINBOW! Look out! Behind you!” The pegasus turned around quickly and backed away. The first thing she saw was a strange chicken head with green wings. A soft chuckle escaped her throat before she looked at its eyes and froze. Her back legs began to hurt but she couldn't bring herself to look away. Its eyes were fascinating, red orbs that seemed to swallow her whole. Her eyes began to slowly slink shut... A knife suddenly jammed into the creatures abdomen. It let out a hiss of pain and turned from her to look at the griffon who was running at them. With one claw she grabbed Rainbow's side and yanked the mare along. “Come on you feathered lemming! What's wrong with you?!” The griffon turned again, holding the light in her beak and a dagger in her claw. The creature had gone into the darkness, leaving a small pool of blood. “I can't feel my legs!” Rainbow finally shrieked as she shook her head. She turned to look at them. They were hard and a weird gray color. “I... it... that's impossible! My legs, they're stone, that can't-EEK!” In one swoop she was tossed back onto the griffon's back. She wrapped her front hooves tight around Gilda's neck as they took off. ------ Twilight banged her head against a tree with an annoyed groan. Not a single pony will help me! None of them. Do they really think I'll buy excuses like house sitting for a bear or having to wash their hair?! Her friends merely watched from afar as the alicorn vented her frustration on the tree. “I'm not prepared for this. I don't know how he fights. I can't remember the last time I had to fight a fire bender!” she finally said to her friends as she stomped her hooves down. “I can't believe how they are treating me. They're my people! They can't just ignore me and run off!” The others nodded as well before motioning behind her. She glanced back and saw Ashmane approaching. “Avatar,” the mare said softly, “it's time.” “Huh?” Slowly she looked up at the earth pony and then groaned. “Of course...” Gingerly she followed the mare through the village, her three friends skulking about behind her. At least Pinkie is managing to keep from jumping around, she thought to herself. The three ponies were led to a large patch of barren dirt, devoid of any plant life. A small ditch had been cut into the ground to make an oval and mark the edges of the arena, the entire area about thirty feet at its widest and fifteen at its shortest. Blueblood was standing at one end, only wearing ceremonial golden hoof guards on each hoof which bore the symbol of the fire tribes. He watched Twilight with a confident smirk as she slowly moved into the opposite side of their little arena. Every pony quickly backed away, surrounding the oval but keeping back far enough to give them plenty of room to fight. “The rules are simple!” a red coated unicorn yelled. “This is a fight until one combatant is dead, unable to fight, surrenders or falls out of the arena.” Twilight's eyes went wide at the last rule. I hadn't read any rules like that. I guess it makes sense with such a small fighting area. Why didn't Ashmane mention it? It could have helped my preparations. Did she hide it intentionally? Ah! We're starting! “Begin!” A hush fell over the crowd as the two ponies bowed politely before standing up and watching each other closely. Slowly they began to circle through the small arena, keeping opposite of each other at all times. As they stood at opposite ends of the narrowest area, Blueblood struck! He turned and bucked out with both of his back hooves, sending two balls of fire straight at the alicorn's head. Quickly she ducked but, as she did, the stallion turned around to face her as a whip of flame formed from his horn and slashed out under her. Twilight watched the incoming fire and quickly she held out her left hoof. Her tiny wings began to flap as she focused on amplifying the air around her. As the flame came within inches of her, a small whirlwind encircled her. The whirlwind turned into a flaming tornado around the mare as it sucked in the inferno before lifting up away from her into a blazing spiral. She then moved her head towards Blueblood as the whirling heat flew through the air at him. The stallion dived to the right as the flames scorched the ground, singing his back hooves just a little bit, but for the most part missing him. “I see you aren't a complete beginner, Avatar. However, it'll take more than a little fancy air bending to defeat me!” His horn lit up as fire shot from his horn in a steady, but powerful, stream of blazing heat. Twilight lifted her horn as she flapped her wings rapidly again. They were far to small to allow flight, but they did create a small enough burst for her to manipulate and increase. Unfortunately the air blasts were nowhere near powerful enough to overwhelm the flames, doing little more than splitting it so it spread to either side of her and forcing her to encircle herself in another air burst to avoid being fried. The heat caused sweat to flow down her skin as she flapped her wings as fast as she could. She gulped and looked from side to side before taking a deep breath. I don't have any choice if I want to win. It's this or hope he tires himself out. Here's hoping it doesn't hurt to bad, she thought to herself as she folded her wings to her body and let the fire envelope her. She charged forward as her flames mingled with his to coat her body in a powerful blaze. Within seconds she broke through the torrent and slammed straight into Blueblood, startling him and sending him flying backwards. The crowd gasped and shuffled about as they tried to get a better view of what happened. Both combatants were burned, Twilight far more severely than Blueblood. The stallion had been shoved back hard from the tackle. So far in fact, that he had half his body out of the ring. “I... I won?” the avatar said as a grin formed on her lips. “I did it! I actually beat him! I won the agni kai!” she squealed with delight as she hopped around. “NO!” Blueblood yelled, getting to his feet as rage filled his eyes. “You won nothing! You cheated, you foal!” With that he moved his horn to the left and then the right. Electricity crackled as Twilight's eyes went wide. “I-Impossible!” Twilight said as she watched with wide eyes. Lightning suddenly struck out from his horn at the alicorn as she threw herself down and to the right, the smell of burning tail filling the air as the bolt singed her. The spectators started fleeing at the sight of the lightning, leaving the Avatar alone to face him. “How can you know how to do that? Only a master fire bender can do that!” “Oh little Avatar.” More electricity began to crackle from his horn. “I'm the most powerful fire bender you'll ever meet. The real fight starts now.” ------ “I... think... we lost it... Can't believe there's a bloody cockatrice down her. Didn't think those things were real...” Gilda groaned as the glow stick fell from her beak. She dropped to her knees and panted. “You weigh... a ton...” “I can't help it! Being turned to stone will do that.” Slowly Rainbow rolled off the gryphon's back. With a grunt of effort she was able to stand back up, though she wobbled from side to side. “How do you think we can cure this?” “We? What makes you think I'll help any?” “... Easy. You could have left me back there. Instead you carried me to safety and risked yourself so you could get to me. Face it Gilda. Like it or not you like me.” “Pfft. Dream on feather brain. You're just bait to get the Avatar. I don't care what happens to you.” “Uh huh. Surrrre, but don't worry claw face. It's quite common.” Rainbow let out a sad sigh. “It's tough going through life being this awesome, radical and cool. Every pony hopes they can get close to yah and have it rub off on them. Sadly, it's not something you can gain. It's something you have to be born with.” Gilda rolled her eyes, “Come on, hoof for brains. Let's go.” She started walking off. “What? Hey! Wait up! I can barely move like this!” “I'd carry you, but I don't want you getting the wrong idea, Rainbow Crash,” the griffon said with a chuckle as she tossed the glow stick back to the pegasus before walking into the darkness. “What? Come back! I was just kidding. Come on!” Rainbow crawled on her front hooves to the glow stick and held it up. “Come on, beaky. I know you're out there. Hello?” The pegasus laid down, panting from the exertion. She slowly reached to where the stone met skin and lightly scratched at the itch. She looked around with a slight tremble before calling out again, “Come on Gilda. Please? I'm sorry. I didn't mean it.” “Oh relax. I wasn't gonna just leave you to die here.” Gilda stepped back into the light from behind the mare. “You're way to easy.” “... Whatever,” Rainbow grumbled before tossing the glow stick to her. “This things getting dimmer anyway. How many more of them you have?” “Not many. Let's get going before-”She was cut off as a roar echoed through the tunnels and the ground began to shake under them. “What the buck was that?!” Rainbow snapped, wings flapping as she tried to get into the air. She shot up like an arrow. A few moments later she called down in a pained voice. “Ow... found the roof. I'm coming down. At least I can still fly like this, though it feels like I'm hauling three of me...” she grumbled as she landed on the ground, a hoof rubbing her head where she hit the roof. “Don't know what that was, but it came from the direction we're heading so we'll probably know soon enough,” The griffin grumbled as she took the glow stick in her beak and tossed Rainbow onto her back again. She let out a pained grunt as the stone legs hit her side. “Come on, Dash. Let's get going.” “Heh. You called me by my actual name,” Rainbow snickered as she held on. “Don't get used to it, tiny. Let's get out- Holy bat wings on a crocodile!” she hissed and fell backwards, sending her passenger to the ground. “What is it?!” A strange mutant roosting sound filled the air as the cockatrice slithered out in front of them, blocking their way. It went straight for Gilda, catching her eyes in its gaze as the griffon froze. “Gilda! Stop, look away! Don't stare into its eyes! GILDA!” Rainbow shrieked as the powerful fighter's body began turning to stone, starting from the tips of her wings and tail before slowly spreading along her body. The pegasus looked around but there was nowhere to hide, no weapons except rocks. I need to do something! If I didn't my friend will... Oh. Wow. Gilda is my friend. Sure, a strange friend, met under strange terms, but still a friend. Ack! Wrong time! Focus! she thought to herself as she scanned the area again and grabbed a rock the size of her head in both hooves and chucked it at the creature's face. The rock sailed through the air and missed the creature by a few inches. It did, however, make the creature glance away from Gilda to stare at Rainbow. The pony charged at the strange monster! Flapping her wings she took to the air and flew at the beast and, stony legs scraping the ground, slammed head first into its upper body. She thrashed about, punching her hooves into the creature as it clawed and pecked at her. The pegasus kept her eyes tightly closed as she wailed on the creature, refusing to look at the monster's eyes. It pecked, clawed and flapped its wings against her face as the two struggled and rolled on the ground. Rainbow let out a startled gasp when it's tail coiled tightly around her front hooves, pinning her under it. She struggled and thrashed about, wings flapping wildly, but was unable to dislodge it as it pecked her. She shrieked out and opened her eyes for just a moment as she pulled her head back. Her eyes were caught in its gaze and slowly she went limp as her body began to turn to stone. As more of her body turned to stone the pain ebbed away. It didn't really hurt. Sure it was itchy, but it didn't hurt. It felt more like she was just going numb. All of her. She went limp as the stone slowly started up her neck and her mind went blank, thoughts of escape or fear disappearing. It took her a few seconds after her mouth froze to realize the face had disappeared. She couldn't move to see where it went, but it had stopped with just her eyes and nose remained. Her head began to clear and she struggled to scream. Is this some kind of sick joke? Leave me trapped, unable to move? Body turned to stone? I'll never able to fly again! she screamed internally as her eyes looked around wildly. “Hey. You okay, twinkle hooves?” Gilda's face came into view. She looked tired and exhausted, but she was alive. “Don't move. I think you're gonna be fine.” There was a crack as a soft light filled the area and a newly activated glow stick was put in her face. “Eeyup. Try moving your head.” Rainbow sighed. “I can't, it... It's...” With a great deal of effort she was able to move it to the side, and the more she did it the easier it became. “I... I can talk!” “It's retracting. Seems whatever magic the thing was using depends on it to be... well... alive,” the griffon said as she reached out a claw to scrape along one of the pegasus's stone wings. The cyan mare looked to the side and could see the creature laying limp on the ground. A blade had split its head nearly in two. “Oh... that's good. Heh. I guess now is as good a time as any. You don't think there are any more of those, do you?” Gilda suddenly scanned the area as she held the glow stick up high. “I really hope not...” ------ Twilight gasped for air as she ran, her lungs burning and chest heaving. “I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!” she squeaked as a bolt of electricity flew over her head. It narrowly missed her and singed one of the tents. The other members of the village were doing their best to avoid the confrontation, sticking as far from her as possible. “Come back, Avatar! I though you wanted to finish this fight?!” Blueblood yelled from behind her, his horn crackling with electricity. “Out of cheap shots? Afraid you can't beat me in a straight fight? All you have to do is give up and leave! Then all this will be over!” he yelled out at her. The Alicorn dove behind one of the homes as another bolt of electricity narrowly missed her. Her breath was ragged, her heart was pounding and her legs felt like rubber. Worst of all she was pretty sure he wasn't even fully trying. That or he was just a really, really bad shot. She leaned against the small wooden crafted home and caught her breath as she tried to focus. If he would just use normal fire bending I could try that trick again! Sure, the fire body technique hurt and is a bit draining, but at least it's better than being hit by lightning! She peeped around the side of the building, ducking back behind it with an eep as another bolt of lightning flew by her head. She moved her hoof through the air as she tried to think, Okay so he is a good ten meters away at least, walking at the average stallion walking pace. Calculate for time needed to fully get a clear shot at her and unleash one of those... I have time. Her horn glowed as she began to gather flame and once again compress it into a small orb. Blueblood grinned as he came up to the little home and thought to himself, Soon, Avatar, you'll crumble at my hooves and I'll be done with your antics. Sure, I'd have preferred to have beaten you in the first fight, but an actual show of power will do just as well. He struggled to keep his horn steady as the lightning tried to glance off his horn in random directions. He turned the corner and prepared to unleash the lightning. It took him a few seconds to realize that, one, there was no pony behind the house, and two, that little orb of fire was going to hurt. His horn crackled as flame shot out of it, a moment before the orb exploded and sent him flying across the village with a pained thump. He skidded along the ground a few moments after landing in a groaning heap. Twilight practically pranced as she headed towards his prone form. “Okay every pony! You can come out! I won! He's... oh dear,” she squeaked as slowly Blueblood rose to his hooves, glaring hatred at her. “You have won NOTHING! Avatar, you are nothing more than a troublesome filly that doesn't understand ANYTHING! You can barely even fire bend! If you were I'd be dead now, rather than just having a few burns!” His horn lit up with electricity as once again he started sending them crashing at her. Fortunately for the alicorn she was fast and each blast was pretty easy to tell the general direction it was coming from. “Stand still and take it!” he yelled, frothing a little at the mouth. If I can just hit her once! That's all I'll need! Out of the corner of his eye he saw her little friends. All three of them, huddled in the distance. Just watching. A grin formed on his lips as the plan formed in his mind. “Hey, Avatar. You're pretty good at dodging. How about we see how good you are at blocking?” She stared at him with a cocked eye and confused tilt of her head until she saw him turn his head towards the right. She looked towards what he saw and paled. “Hey, they aren't a-” She turned to him and let out a scream as the electricity shot through her body. It felt like her nerves were on fire, every inch of her feeling as if little explosions were going off under the skin. After a few moments of pain she dropped to the ground, mercifully unconscious. The smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the air as the gathered ponies stared, mouths agape. “I win, Avatar. You were too young to face me. Too easily distracted,” Blueblood sneered as he walked over to her prone form. “Now when she awakens she will be taken from our village. Both her and her little friends.” He turned his head towards the three again. The yellow pegasus and the little dragon. The pink one seemed to have run off. He felt a little tap on his withers followed by explosive pain in the right side of his jaw as a hoof slammed into it. A moment later a similar pain hit the left side, then the right and then under his face. He fell backwards on the ground, groaning in pain as he looked up at the pink earth pony. Weird, before she looked funny and odd with her big poofy hair. Now it was completely limp and she had a terrifying murderous glint in her eye. “No pony hurts my friend.” she said barely above a whisper. There was no mishearing it and he let out a soft frightened whimper. A moment later her hoof slammed into his stomach, making his body contort momentarily into a painful V. She then used it her advantage by grabbing his horn and slamming him into the ground so hard he felt as if his ears might explode. ”Sh...shtop it...” he groaned. “I... I am a fire... fiwe... benda... and- Oh sweet mershiful heavensh no.” She grabbed his tail next and used it as a handle as she flipped him around and slammed him into the ground repeatedly, as if he was a small dolly and not a grown stallion. “This is for bad mouthing my friend.” She grabbed him by his horn again and proceeded to slam his face into the ground over and over, until he was no longer sure he had a face as opposed to a long flat piece of pain attached to his neck. “This is for hurting my friend.” She then wrapped one of her front legs around his neck, placed her back hoof against his back and pulled back. His body and spine were formed into one of the most painful positions he had ever been in as he struggled to scream through the tightness around his throat. After a few moments of pain she finally let him go. He stared up at her from the ground, whimpering. She stared down at him, the light at her back shrouding her body in darkness while her eyes almost seemed to glow malevolently. She raised her hoof. “And this is for the galla.” He shrieked as her hoof went straight for his stallion berries! They then stopped. “Nah. I'm not that mean, silly. Two for flinching.” He let out a sigh of relief, which disappeared the moment she jumped into the air and landed on him, legs first into his stomach. “I said two,” she said ominously as she got back up and turned her back to him. “...Oh sweet merciful sun n-” his cries were cut short as the mare leaned forward and slammed both hooves back into him, bucking him a good eight yards before he slammed into, and through, the walls of one of the tents. He mercifully lost consciousness a few moments later. “Okay every pony,” Pinkie said as she put a hoof in her mouth and blew, her hair puffing back up. “Let's get Twilight inside so Fluttershy can take care of her.” Every pony just stared at her, mouths open. “I said move it!” she snapped as the ponies quickly bounced to it, taking great measures not to look her in the eye. “How... when... how can... s-since when could you do that?!” Spike asked, mouth open. “Why haven't you done that before?!” “Oh silly Spike. It's called avatar, not pinkatar. If I did that all the time I'd steal too much of the spot light.” “... What?” The dragon cocked an eye brow as he stared at the terrifying and yet oddly silly mare. “Come on, let's go make sure Twilight's okay before the scene change. Uh oh, too-” ------ “Come on yah slow poke!” Rainbow said as she galloped ahead of the griffon. The cave had gotten considerably brighter from its original pitch blackness. They still used the glow stick but even without it they could make out the outline of the rocks and boulders as they went. Massive paw prints easily bigger than both of them put together lined the ground as well, but they didn't let that slow them. The path was uphill now and far off in the distance they could see something that made them both let out shrieks of joy. Light! Actual light! Not the small bit of light that penetrated the forest to make it only slightly brighter than a moonless night, but actual sun light! Where ever the cave let out, it seemed to be outside. Outside the forest. The pegasus couldn't help but jump excitedly as they ran. “Oh hush up yah featherweight. I've earned the right to go slow, after all that time I've spent hauling your fat flank around,” Gilda said from behind Rainbow. “Excuses excuses. Race to the end?” “Pfft. What would be the point of that? Why burn myself out? Hey, what's that?” “Huh?” Rainbow turned just in time to have the glow stick bounce off her head and land harmlessly on the ground. A moment later Gilda flew by like a brown dart. “Hey! Cheater!” she called out as she laughed and took off, flapping after the griffon. Soon the two were neck and neck as they flew, the limited light enabling them to see obstacles in their way and maneuver around them. The griffon was actually able to keep up with Rainbow as they flew, something very few ponies could even hope to do. Soon the two were almost at the finish line, neck and neck as they flew as fast as they could, bursting out of the cave and into fresh daylight with victorious cries. “I won!” They said in unison. “What? No way! I won by a mile!” Rainbow objected. “No way tiny wings, you were eating my tail feathers!” Gilda said with a smirk as she landed on the ground. “No way, I had you totally... totally...” she went quiet as she landed besides the griffon. The land ahead of them was torn asunder. The cave let out into the forest, or the remains of one. The ground was covered in deep gouges, trees crushed and chopped down. A path had been carved through the forest large enough for an army to go through. Hoof prints marked the ground as well as massive paw prints like the ones they had seen in the cave. “What happened here? What could do something like that?” “I don't know, but I sure wouldn't wanna mess with it,” Gilda mused as she moved a talon to draw in the dirt. “Seems it's going... hmmm... assuming the sun hasn't moved since we were under and if we didn't move to far to affect it... I'd say it's heading west. A little south west.” “South west? Don't see why it would be going there. That would...” Rainbow paled. “Cadence is that way!” She took a step forward, but then stopped. “No. Probably not. What are the chances it would go somewhere like that? I mean... right?” “... Not my problem. I still need to get the avatar. You're on your own if you wanna go after that thing,” Gilda said dryly. She spread out her wings and prepared to fly off. “Wait! You still want the avatar, right?” “Of course. A job is a job.” “... Then come with me.” “What? Why?” “I'm going back to Cadence. I should be able to meet back up with Twilight and the others there. But finding the way on my own will be hard, especially if I need to try and get ahead of that thing. Would you be able to find the way?” “Well yeah, but why would I help you?” “Twilight will go there. It's the best way to have a chance to meet her.” “Why shouldn't I just ambush her when she leaves the woods?” “... Gilda... please.” Rainbow put a hoof over her heart. “There are ponies in Cadence. Whatever is headed that way, they need to be warned. They could be killed. Please help me do this. I'm begging you.” The griffon watched her for a few tense moments before letting out a sigh. “Fine. I'll help you. Only to meet the avatar later. But there's a catch.” “What?” “When the time comes... you have to stay out of it. Don't interfere when I catch her.” “What?! You can't think I'll-” “Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.” “... Fine.” Rainbow grudgingly accepted with a nod. “Twilight would understand.” “Good. Let's go,” with those words the two of them took off. They raced as fast as they could after the prints as they tried to catch up with the force. ------ Fluttershy gently massaged Twilight's back, her hooves glowing with a soft green light. Inch by inch the green magic seeped into the alicorn's body, slowly repairing the darkened flesh. It was a slow process and the little yellow mare's eyes were drooping, but she continued on to reduce her friends pain. Hours passed of her gently guiding her hooves over her friend before the purple mare's eyes opened up. “What... happened?” she asked with a groan, trying to stand up. Forceful hooves kept her pinned to the bed. “Don't move. You're still very hurt,” the yellow mare ordered in her soft voice. “I... I need to get going. There's still so much I need to do,” Twilight objected as she slowly began to gather herself. She was sore all over, but slowly she was able to gather her energy to stand up despite the pegasus trying to hold her down. “I need to go find Rainbow and get everything fixed...” “Hush. You aren't going to help any pony like this. Just rest. It won't do Rainbow any good for you to get yourself hurt.” “N-no... get off... I... I can do this...” Slowly she climbed out of the bed and wobbled towards the exit. “I need... I need to... what... what? What happened?” As she stepped outside of the tent, she froze. It was dark. Very dark. Large bonfires had been lit around the village. When she looked up through the tree branches she saw a black canopy with twinkling stars, instead of the light blue of the day sky. “It's... it's night time,” she said in shock. “The sun, where's the sun? What happened to the sun?!” “It has been lowered, Avatar,” Ashmane said as she trotted over to the confused mare. “Your lessons have paid off. Though, there does seem to be a small problem.” “What's wrong?” Twilight asked as she stared up at the night sky. It was beautiful. No clouds, just a few branches hindering the view. “It's beautiful... I could look at it for hours.” “There's no moon. It's gone.” “What? Don't be silly, it's right... it's right...” Twilight turned her head left and right as she looked through the foliage. “Ummmm... Maybe it's just obstructed? Maybe they haven't gotten around to raising it yet. I mean, they hadn't finished the spell before I left so it's probably just that,” she sighed again. “That's not important. I need to go find Rainbow. She could be out there, hurt! Needing rescue! Who knows what kinds of things she's encountered so far?” “... To be honest, Avatar... The chances of your friend still being alive are almost non existent. You are in no condition to be running around these woods. It's amazing you can even stand.” “... It's not easy, but I'm fine. There has to be at least one pony here willing to go with me to find her.” “... With all due respect, it is suicide. No pony would go there.” “Then I'll go back alone.” She stomped a hoof down and nearly fell over from the movement. “I don't care if it's dangerous. Rainbow would do the same for me in a heart beat!” “You need to listen to sense. Healer!” Ashmane called into the tent. “Yes?” Fluttershy squeaked as she popped her head out. “Talk to your friend. You've already lost one and you will lose another if she persists on her suicide mission. She needs to rest, give her body time to heal.” “I don't have time to heal! Rainbow needs me. I just... I can't just stand here and wait.” Twilight looked away as tears began to form in her eyes. “I have to do something...” “W-well... ummmm... there... is one thing we could do...” Fluttershy offered with a soft squeak. “What?” The alicorn asked, cocking an eye brow. “W-well... If Rainbow got out of the woods, she would have tried to find the start of the path we took to get here. M-maybe we should try going back that way a-and check on Cadence. While we're gone they can keep a look out for her and ummmm... i-if they haven't found anything when we get back, we can go try and find her again.” “Fluttershy, don't be ridiculous. That could take forever! We need to find her! Don't you care about Rainbow at all? She could really need us!” “Of course I care about her. She's one of my best friends. But... Twilight we're going to need you at a hundred percent if we are to have any chance at all,” Fluttershy said softly as she looked down. “Other wise we are just going to die. If you won't lay still and rest, at least small travel should be enough to help you recuperate so we can do the search properly. Rainbow would not want us running off and getting hurt and killed for her sake.” “.... Fine.” Twilight grumbled, “I can't deny it, you're right. We leave immediately and we will come back as soon as we're done. Ashmane, can you please spread the word to keep an eye out for her? And... raising the sun. Normally I'd say wait until the moon goes around the horizon, but until it's up that won't work. Ummm... just... tell them to raise it after a full nights rest. Also can you please set up a guide to take us to the entrance and bring us back here when this is all done?” “... Of course, Avatar. I'll see what I can do.” “One last thing.” “Yes?” “Where is Blueblood? I know I beat him and then he... went berserk, but what happened?” “... He is unconscious right now and likely will be for a while. Fear not. You are considered the winner of your little bout.” “Great! How did he get knocked out?” “.... Ask your little pink friend,” Ashmane mumbled as she trotted off quickly. “Huh?” Twilight glanced to Fluttershy, “What happened to Pinkie? Did she do something?” “Errr... well... ummm... no?” she squeaked softly as she looked back in the tent. Pinkie was shaking her head. “N-nothing at all.” “Oh... okay then. Well, lets get ready to... ready to...” She stumbled backwards, barely caught by Fluttershy in time. “L-let's just sit down for a bit until our guide gets here. Okay?” “Yes... just sit down.” Fluttershy softly pushed her hooves onto the mare, the green glow returning. It wasn't long before the guide joined them and they were once again walking through the forest, led by a unicorn called Firetail. For the first time since their adventure had begun, the stars sparkled serenely over head while the occasional flapping of their cyan colored friend was desperately missed.