The ponies had returned to Ponyville for the day. They were going to take one day to prepare before going into Lot D to rescue Spike. Musky Brew had made a potion to for them to take that will allow them safe passage through the lands of the dead even though they were still alive. It looked like a silvery liquid with bubbles suspended within. Yellow shine of oil spread over the top.
Everyone was preparing differently.
Twilight was in the library, of course, looking through books. She sat at her desk with nose almost touching the pages. Many of wooden shelves behind her were bare. A large pile of books was scattered behind her.
The booky unicorn was looking up everything about Lot D. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of information as it wasn’t a place living ponies went. Supposedly, the city of Subterrania was located around that location as well. The entrance went through Lot D so not much information was available about there either. She only knew it was a huge mining empire.
Twilight also went through several books on spells and magical items. One book had a description about the Gem of the Dead. The effects were exactly what Musky Brew had said. A magic glow surrounded the book as Twilight tossed it away to bring in the next one.
Prepared, that was what the unicorn wanted to be. Everypony else was following her, so she had to be responsible for all of them. She had no idea what to prepare for so she would simply prepare for everything. That was what Twilight wanted to do, but she knew she had no time. Only the most important spells were studied. She still had other things to do during the day.
She situated the body of spike on her back. Taking the spell book along to practice, Twilight left the library. With a final look back, she said, “Owlowiscious, take care of everything till I get back alright? It might be a few days.”
Rarity was inside her boutique packing. Many colorful clothes were strewn about the area. Fabric and jewels were tucked away within box shelves. Several model pony stands were near the back. Some of them had partially finished dresses on them.
Rarity walked about, picking things up with her magic then putting them down again. Just what was one supposed to pack for going to Lot D? It might be hot so she brought a fan. It might be cold so she brought a scarf. If there was a lot of wind, a shawl might be needed. Dry air would certainly necessitate conditioner.
She zoomed from shelf to shelf, picking out the items to bring along. Anything that was in the way was just thrown to the floor.
A couch, Rarity definitely wanted to bring that along.
While going for it, she passed a jewelry stand on her dresser. A heart shaped ruby set into a gold necklace caught her eye. She rubbed the tear out of her eye before it smudged her makeup. Rarity put on the necklace. It still looked dazzling. She touched her hoof to the ruby and promised to bring Spike back.
Applejack sitting on the farm with a clearly troubled expression. She didn’t really need to bring anything. After all, Bucky McGillicutty and Kicks McGee (her hind legs) were all she needed.
“So, Apple Bloom, Big McIntosh, Granny Smith, I’ll be going away for a while. Will y’all be alright on the farm without me?” She looked to a small filly, a powerful stallion and an old mare in turn.
“Eeyup,” Big McIntosh said.
He was a sturdy dull red pony with simple yellow mane and tail. An apple half was on his hind quarters, and a wooden harness was around his neck.
“Where are you going Applejack?” a small, bright yellow filly asked.
She had yet to get a mark on her flank. A pink bow adorned her bright red mane while her tail was left plain.
“Er, I’m going to well.” Applejack looked away, uncertain of how to answer. “I’m going to an exotic location with my friends.”
“Can I come?”
“No!” she said more forcefully than she intended. Seeing her younger sister’s sad face, Applejack added, “It’s not really a place for fillies like you.”
“Las Pegasus?”
“Not exactly. Something like that though.” Applejack attempted an innocent smile to her family. It was clearly suspicious.
Granny Smith, a wrinkly, apple green pony, leaned forward on her rocking chair.. A delicious pie was featured on her flank. Her white mane and tail were tied into a neat bun. Her eyes looked her granddaughter up and down.
Applejack tried to smile even more, but sweat was starting to form under her hat.
“Alright, have fun. It’s not harvesting season or anything,” Granny Smith said.
“Bring me back something!” Apple Bloom said.
“Sure thing.”
Applejack wanted to say something else but two other fillies came running over, an orange pegasus and a white unicorn. Neither of them had marks on their flank either.
“Hey, Apple Bloom, let’s go ice sculpting,” the pegasus said.
“Yeah! Ice sculpting cutie mark go!” Apple Bloom ran off with her friends, a big smile on her face.
Applejack tilted her hat down. There wasn’t any need to worry her family. For now, Applejack just enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the orchards. Apple trees extended as far as the eye could see. Rolling hills of green created a soothing landscape. A red barn was right next to them.
Pinkie Pie was inside Sugarcube Corner, a cake shop filled with lip smacking pastries, cupcakes, regular cakes and many other types of desert. Everything screamed bright and colorful, from the cakes down to the decor.
“So, Mister and Misses Cake, I’m going to be going for a while.” Pinkie dramatically looked away with one hoof out and the other on her face. “I’m sorry, but I must do this,.”
“It’s okay, Pinkie, you can go,” Mister Cake said as he checked the oven to see how the cakes were doing.
He was a tall and rather thin pony with a strong jaw. He wore an apron with his striped bow tie and cap. Three scrumptious looking cake slices adorned his hind quarter.
“Don’t try to stop me! This is very important.”
“We never try to stop you,” Misses Cake said. A bag of green frosting was in between her hooves, and a tray of golden pastries was on the table in front.
She was a plump blue pony. Her mane and tail had the appearance of dark pink frosting. Three cupcakes were displayed on her flank.
“I know it will be hard, but I’m sure you can make due without me.” Pinkie Pie crawled along the ground and grabbed onto Mister Cake’s front legs. “Don’t worry, for I shall definitely return.”
“Go be with your friends.” Mister Cake tried to move back but the pink pony had a really strong grip. “We’ll be fine on our own for a few days.”
“And show my picture to Pound and Pumpkin every day, no wait, every half day. I want them to remember me exactly as I am now.” The Pinkie Pie of now was groveling on the floor though.
“We’ll do that, Pinkie.”
“No more protests!” Pinkie stood up again. “I am leaving.”
“Have a nice trip.” Misses Cake waved with a bright smile..
Fluttershy was inside her homely cottage. Everything was very simple and down to earth. Several animals had made their home inside hers. There were mouse holes, bird nests and many other burrows. Pots of flowers were hanging everywhere. The inside was like a nature preserve, full of soothing energy. A dark forest filled the view of the back window.
The yellow pegasus was in front of a table. There were five identical cloths on the table. Each one was packed with things such as ointment or bandages, simple supplies for scrapes and such.
“So Angel, I’m thinking of making care packages filled with my good thoughts for them,” Fluttershy said to a white bunny. “I hope they’ll do okay inside Lot D.”
Angle was tapping his feet with his head tilted to the side.
“What? Oh no, I’m not going. I won’t be any use at all. I’ll be much more helpful sending out positive thoughts to the universe.”
Angel sighed and shrugged.
A visitor suddenly stormed into her home from the window. It was a speedy blue pegasus with rainbow colored mane and tail.
“Hello, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said.
“How’s it going, Fluttershy? What are those?” Rainbow Dash pointed to the cloth bundles.
“Oh, these are just some simple supplies that you girls could use in Lot D.”
Rainbow Dash shot a crooked eye look at the other pegasus. “Why are there only five of them?”
“I was just thinking that I would be useless if I went. You guys going without me will be much more effective,” Fluttershy said as she finished tying up the care bundles.
“No way.” Rainbow Dash swiped her hoof horizontally across the front. “You’re coming too.”
“But I couldn’t-”
“No buts.”
“However I couldn’t-”
“No howevers.”
“Although I couldn’t-”
“No althoughs!” Rainbow Dash said sternly. “I learned last time that bringing you along is always a good idea. You’re not scared of the monsters rumored to be within Lot D are you?”
“I am,” Fluttershy said meekly
“There are only things like mothmen, gargoyles, zombies, catsabers, dragon zombies, wood golems, rifle lords.”
With every creature listed, Fluttershy shrank smaller and shook harder. Her wings became rigidly glued to her body, like they were made of stone.
“Easy stuff,” Rainbow Dash said. She shot a wry grin at the stiff wings. “Alright, Fluttershy, let’s go.”
The blue pegasus dug underneath the yellow one and lifted her up. She grabbed all of the little packages before flying away.
“Put me down,” Fluttershy pleaded.
“You could just fly off.” Rainbow Dash looked back with a toothy, evil smile.
But Fluttershy couldn’t. Fear had caused her wings to seize up. Try as she might, her wings remained stubbornly stuck to her body. She grabbed tightly onto Rainbow Dash’s body to keep from falling off.
“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” she repeated over and over again.
“Be cool, Fluttershy. We’ll go in to Lot D, get shorty, be back out by dinner time,” Rainbow Dash said as she flew away.
Twilight had walked into the Everfree Forest, a place with trees so thick the sun was blocked out by branches and leaves. Dangerous animals lived within these woods, but she knew the way well enough to avoid trouble.
The unicorn continued on until she came upon a clearing. A small, wooden hut was located within the forest.
The stylings of the hut looked foreign compared to the buildings of Ponyville. Decorations of the inside was even weirder. There were shelves full of strange plants and jars. Masks were hung all over the wall. In the center of the room was a large cauldron sitting on a fire pit. It was currently empty and the fire off.
The person that lived here wasn’t a pony. She was a light grey zebra with black stripes. Her mane was styled like a mohawk while her tail was simple tied at the base. A line drawing of a sun was on her flank. She wore a series of golden necklaces and bracelets.
Seeing the unicorn’s worried expression, Zecora asked, “What seems to be the trouble, my dear Twilight Sparkle?”
“It’s Spike.” Twilight nodded to the dragon on her back.
“He seems rather lifeless. What is going on in this mess?”
Twilight Sparkle explained the entire situation. She also retrieved the potion made by Musky for Zecora to examine.
“I do not know much about your lands of dead. In order to make it, you must keep your head,” Zecora said. Her face was close to the silvery liquid. One eye looked magnified by from water distortion. “As for this brew, it might be true. I do not detect any ill intentions.”
“That’s good enough for me, I don’t have time for contentions,” Twilight said. “Also, can you watch over Spike for me while I’m gone?”
Zecora nodded.
Spike was placed, sitting against a wall. Twilight lingered a moment before finally moving away and letting him rest on his own body.
“Thank you. I’ll be back soon with his soul.”
“I look forward to your victory. Everything will work out, you’ll see.” Zecora smiled as she place a hoof on down cast unicorn’s shoulder.
Twilight nodded. She had to leave but she found it hard. From far away, Spike just looked like he was sleeping peacefully. He could wake up at any moment. But that was just hopeful dreaming. Twilight knew what she had to do, and she was going to do it.
One step at a time, the young unicorn walked out of the Everfree Forest. She refused to look back until she could speak with Spike once again.
Everyone else was already at the edge of town.
Rarity was looking determined. A shiny necklace gleamed under the light, and a large suitcase was behind her.
Applejack stood proud and ready. She gave a reassuring smile.
Pinkie Pie was bouncing happily. There was no hint of worry in her at all.
Rainbow Dash was looking very stiff with wide eyes and teeth clenched as Fluttershy had her front legs wrapped around in an iron grip. The sky blue pegasus could barely breathe.
“Here, everypony,” Rainbow Dash said in a strained voice. It took a bit of shaky effort, but she held out the care bundles Fluttershy had made.
Everypony, except for Twilight, took one. She left it for Fluttershy instead.
“Alright.” Twilight turned towards Lot D. “Let’s go, girls.”
Meanwhile, Spike had been taken onto a large ship. The ship was old and made of wood. Many parts had been cracked or warped. There was even a large hole in the hull, but somehow the ship stayed afloat. Large masts extended towards the roof of the tunnel. Torn sails hung lifelessly on the wooden posts.
His fellow passengers were other misty forms, mostly ponies. They were travelling down a large river inside a huge tunnel. A walkway lined both sides of the river. Hundreds of lanterns provided light within the underground.
The crew of the ship was a bunch of cloaked ponies. The captain had a skull like mask on over his face and a torn pirates hat on his face. The passengers mostly consisted of balls of light. Fog drifted of their immaterial forms. Only Spike happened to keep his original form.
The ship ride seemed to pass in a daze for Spike and the other spirits. Images of glowing eyes and fantastic scenery passed their sight. They passed sparkling lights and light blue eyes, pillars of flame and a green gaze, deep pits paired with spotters of amber, heavy fog where purple peered out, and a massive bridge watched over by grey.
The final destination for the souls passed through a massive doorway, easily capable of fitting entire buildings if opened all the way. A colorful glow leaked out from the partially opened doors. The boat entered into a massive chamber room. It was luxurious, despite being a cavern under the ground. In the center was a raised throne. A regal pony looked down at the newcomers with a stern face. Narrow, red eyes scanned the room.
“Welcome to Lot D,” she said with her voice booming through the entire area. “Let’s get along, everypony.”