//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Part II // Story: Dawning Reality // by WordSPark37 //------------------------------// CHAPTER 10 - PART II ******************F****************** All she saw was Applejack. It was all she was focusing on. She felt her cheeks turning red, her heart beating fast against her chest, but it didn’t worry her. At least, not as much as it usually did. The situation had allowed for her to be close to AJ, to lay in her hooves, and that was all she really cared about. That was all it took for her to relax and let her worries simply melt away. Even if it was for just a few seconds. Catching her breath, she only focused on AJ’s hooves running through her mane, caressing her, like an odd replica of some of her most private dreams. Just thinking about that sent shivers up and down her spine. Fluttershy couldn’t quite place an exact date on when she’d started having those strange feelings towards Applejack. In a way, she supposed, she’d always felt that way. Applejack was honest and brave, hard-working, patient, and all-in-all, a true friend. But even more so than any other pony she’d ever met. Ever since the whole ordeal with the smoke-snoring dragon, when Applejack kindly went out of her way to make sure she could get to the top of the mountain, Fluttershy had detected something in the orange farmpony. The way she’d never lost her temper, and always tried her best to make things better without resorting to anger or frustration. She just... “Fluttershy...?” Applejack’s voice snapped her out of her daydreams. With a blush that left Applejack’s apple cutie mark pale in comparison, Fluttershy propped herself up, sitting up on her haunches. Still, AJ’s hooves on her chest and flank helping her up made her lose focus. After a few more seconds of trying to stop thinking about Applejack’s hooves, she finally regained enough control to tell them what she’d found out... “I found... Pinkie...” she said, still struggling to speak in full sentences. “She said she’d seen him...” After uttering out the last words, she suddenly felt her heart choking her right at the back of her throat, its incessant thumping battering inside her head. Just thinking back on what Pinkie had said, on what Spike was planning to do... It made her forget everything else completely. For a while. Applejack leaned down close to her, her nuzzle softly rubbing against her sensitive ears, and whispered. “Go on sugarcube... What else?” It was just something about her, something about the way she was, the way she felt, the way she spoke... It just seemed to relax her. Looking up at her innocent friend, she gulped, readying herself for the response. A response, that in all fairness, she didn’t expect. “Pinkie said Spike had gone South... Southeast...” ******************T****************** Southeast. The dreaded direction that everypony feared and for good reason. It was a well-known fact that going Southeast would only guarantee your safety for so long. The Everfree Forest was dangerous enough, and that lay right in the middle of Equestria, adjacent to their own tiny little village. Even if somepony somehow managed to get through the forest alive, Dodge City would unquestionably be the last safe place they’d see, and the last smiling faces of anypony, possibly for the rest of their unnaturally short lives. Haysead Swamp was almost completely uncharted territory, known for the mysterious medley of deadly mythological creatures that called this place their home. And it was through here that Spike would have to travel in order to reach what he had undoubtedly set as his objective. Dragons. No one knew where dragons came from exactly, and that, for Twilight was completely unacceptable. It aroused her curiosity in insatiable ways, especially since she’d been living with a dragon for well over five years. And throughout all of their time together, she’d learned close to nothing about dragons. And as it turned out, it seemed she had learned nothing about Spike specifically either. Never, in all of their time together, had he ever mentioned wanting to attempt such a foolish thing. Not after the whole incident during the Great Dragon Migration, which turned out to be just another failed attempt at understanding dragons. But now, here he was, this time having departed on a much more dangerous journey than ever before, and this time, without anypony to watch his back. Twilight knew only one thing for certain at that precise moment. She had to get him back. She had to bring him back home, no matter what it took. No matter the cost. Spike was smart. Smarter than her, as a matter of fact. At least, in some ways. If anything was certain, it was that he would not be stupid about his journey. He’d trace out a path. He’d try to take the safest route. Or the fastest. And if he was going to attempt such a feat, he’d have to pack. Although maybe he’d try to travel as lightly as possible... Twilight brought her hooves up to her temples and applied pressure, trying to alleviate the pressure building up in her head. It wasn’t helping. She simply had too much to think about... That was it. It suddenly clicked. That was the reason she was suffering so much. She was thinking too much. She was over-analyzing something that was so ridiculously simply, that she would’ve solved it with half as much effort. She simply had to rely on her emotions. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Spike was going to try to traverse the Everfree forest. Therefore, there was only one destination. The boundary between Ponyville and the forest. She focused hard on the old oak tree that marked the official magical boundary between both mystical places, and began casting the teleportation spell. As she was about to dematerialize from where she sat in the library, she suddenly felt a tremendous weight smash right into her ribs with a brute force. She tried to focus again, she tried to stop the spell, but it was a split second, she lost focus, and everything went dark. She definitely should’ve thought things out just a little bit more. ******************F****************** There was a flash of blinding light, a sudden shift in the atmosphere, and Fluttershy felt her insides twist, nausea overpowering her. She shut her eyes tight, trying in vain to fight against the massive headache that had presented itself, and curled up into a ball on the library floor. She didn’t know exactly how long she’d have to lie there. She wasn’t sure how long she had been laying there. All she knew was that she felt awful. Just awful. Sick, nauseated, dizzy, and just. Plain. Awful. But she wondered, was it only because of Twilight’s teleportation spell? Drowsily rubbing her eyes, Fluttershy tried to sit up, only to fall forwards, with her tail swinging high above her head. With wobbly knees, she finally managed to rise up to her full height, and admire the beautiful mess that used to be Ponyville’s library. Books that used to be in neat little piles atop the several desks around her were now strewn across the floor in a mangled heap of paper, leather, quills and ink. A few leaves of parchment still floated around, being carried about by an unexistent breeze. Too busy, or rather, too distracted trying to focus her eyes again amidst the blurry chaos before her, she didn’t notice the abrupt entrance of another pony through the Library’s front door. At least, not until she called out her name, and she froze. Slowly turning her head towards the source of the startling commotion, she squinted, trying to make out the mysterious pony, and finally recognized her good friend. “Oh. Rainbow Dash. You startled me..." “Fluttershy, what’s...? What’s going on?” Rainbow asked, struggling to pull herself together. Her tongue hung partly out of her mouth, and she panted heavily. Fluttershy was reminded of how she had run out of breath throughout all this ordeal, but knowing Dash and the exuberant amounts of energy she had, she didn’t even want to imagine how much of an effort she had made to locate their friend. Based on her face, however, her search had been fruitless, and she supposed it would be better to simply not ask. “Fl-Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asked again. It was the second time that she had to be snapped out of a stupor. She just shook her head, her mane flailing madly around her head, before finally coming to rest in perfect place, before she tried to answer to the best of her knowledge. “Pinkie found Spike.” Rainbow Dash’s jaw hit the ground. Not literally. That was something only Pinkie had really been able to do efficiently, but it still reminded her of that feat. She was absolutely stunned, and despite her weariness, she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. “Um... Dashie...? Are you alright?” “She... But... How’d she... Wh... How?” Fluttershy simply shrugged. She had no idea how Pinkie found Spike. She had been too frightened about the news she gave her t even ask. Still, it was Pinkie, so really, she doubted there would even be a logical explanation. Rainbow snapped out of her own stupor, something Fluttershy would have to learn to do, and became dead serious. She had to admit, Dashie was awfully loyal to her friends, and whenever there was risk, whether it be physical, emotional, or simply a danger to their friendship, next to Applejack, she was undoubtedly the strongest, most persevering pony she knew. Once she’d made up her mind, there was no stopping her. Her eyes narrowed, a plan already forming in the back of her mind, and she looked straight at her. “Where is he?” “Huh?” She answered innocently, not really paying attention to the question. “Where’s Spike? You said Pinkie found him. Where is he?” “Yes, Pinkie found Spike, but...” Rainbow leaned forward with a nerve-wracking intensity, and Fluttershy couldn’t help but cringe a bit. She felt awful having to admit what she was about to admit. “Spike left. Pinkie didn’t stop him. She just told me he was heading Southeast.” Cracking open one delicate eyelid, she looked towards Rainbow Dash, and watch her as she slowly shrank back, her eyes now staring blankly into the distance, her entire body growing pale. Even she knew what that meant. Seeing her friend lose her bravado so quickly, giving up in such a rush, it sent a pang of cold pain to her heart. She felt absolutely useless. She shrank down as well, laying down and doing her best to disappear behind her mane. For a while, they both just sat there, letting all of the past night’s events catch up with them. Finally, after a good ten minutes or so had passed, Rainbow Dash finally spoke up. “So where is everyone? Do they know about this already?” Fluttershy thought for a moment, making a mental headcount of all the ponies she had encountered. Other than Pinkie who had been the source of the news, she’d told Applejack and Twilight, who had now disappeared, probably to go look for Spike. That only left Rarity. “Everypony but Rarity knows. Twilight and AJ have already gone after Spike.” “WHAT?!” Rainbow shot up immediately, and the sheer volume of her shout made Fluttershy jump back a good twelve inches. Trembling slightly, shocked by her friend’s sudden outburst, Fluttershy did her best to explain what had happened. “As soon as I found out I... I came back here, and I found Twi and AJ... They were arguing I think, but when I told them, they teleported. They’re probably somewhere in the Everfree Forest by now...” Her voice faded with every word as she rushed through that sentence, finishing with a high-pitched whisper that she doubted even Winona could’ve made out. “AJ’s gone too?” “Mh-hm” Fluttershy answered meekly, though curiosity took over her as she thought about what Dashie had just asked her. “What was she thinking? Going out into the middle of the Everfree forest with Twilight? Chasing after a dragon?” A worried expression shot across Rainbow’s face, but disappeared within a split second, as she once again focused her eyes, and put on her best determined expression. “I’ve gotta go find them. I have to make sure they’re safe. Besides, they’ll never catch up to Spike on foot.” Rainbow Dash announced, mostly to herself, probably trying to reassure herself. Fluttershy still felt something was a bit off. Just as Rainbow was about to turn to leave, Fluttershy asked, “Wait, Dashie, what... why are you so worried about Applejack?” Rainbow Dash froze. Turning back to face her friend, but not meeting her eyes, Rainbow struggled to come up with an answer. “Well, it’s just, you know... She’s my friend, and I, I don’t want anything to happen to her... Or, you know...” “Dashie?” Fluttershy asked, worry tugging at her innards. But was it worry for her friend, or worry for her own fictional romance? Dash sighed, lowering her head in defeat. She looked up at Fluttershy with sad eyes. “She’s like family to me. I can’t let anything happen to her, not if I can prevent it.” Fluttershy felt as though she’d just swallowed a rock. Gulping down a sob, she put on a brave little smile, and thought happier thoughts. “Well, then go get her!” She said in her own, quiet little whisper. With the same kind of half-hearted smile, Rainbow Dash turned around and ran out the door, quickly taking flight once outside. Back inside the library, Fluttershy began making plans, and ignoring the pain she felt in her heart. It was simply cruel, how the happiest moments were sometimes buried amidst much darker ones. ******************A****************** It had to be done. She couldn’t let Twilight go off on her own. Despite her respect for her friend, Applejack knew that she tended to be rather rash at times, and not think things through. At least, not in the right way. That was why she couldn’t let her go, much less alone. That was why she tackled her just as she was teleporting. Big mistake. AJ just felt a flash of blinding white light, her insides twisting, and her body and mind flung into an entirely different part of space. It was simply too much for the already stressed and tired pony. She soon felt her body hit the ground, or what she assumed was the ground, with a loud thud. A similar sound resounded nearby, but she paid it no mind for now. Opening her eyes, the only thing she saw was a dark blur. Her insides were still twisting within her, and it felt like some parts of her hadn’t finished teleporting. Struggling to lift herself up unto all four hooves, she clambered a few crooked hoofsteps forwards, and emptied the contents of her stomach. Spontaneous teleportation? Not so much fun after all. It took her a few minutes of ragged breathing and swallowing the taste of bile before she regained her senses, and remembered what she should have been doing all that time instead of recuperating. Looking around, she quickly spotted her target. Twilight was lying in a clump of tall grass not too far away. As Applejack stepped closer to her friend, she realized that it had been quite an ordeal for the both of them. And it seemed like the unicorn had gotten the worst part of the magical interdimensional beating. A simple visual check let AJ know that she was alright. Her breathing was steady, there was no visible blood or limbs twisted at awkward angles, or anything that might have pointed to a serious injury. For that, Applejack was grateful. Still, the stench of a vile concoction of bodily fluids near to where Twilight lay, and simply the battered state of her friend, did not let her forget how badly off they were. “Twi? You alright?” Applejack asked worriedly, although not really expecting much of an answer. Still, much to her relief, Twilight lifted her head just slightly to meet her gaze, and gave her a small nod. There was no sign of remorse or anger in her face, simply weariness. Applejack exhaled in relief on the inside. The last thing she needed was an emotionally impaired, desperate unicorn, furious with her for ruining her spell and making them crash into... Into... Applejack suddenly realized she’d broken one of the most important rules of basic survival. Too worried for her friend, she’d ignored her surroundings, leaving both of them at serious risk. She mentally reprimanded herself for her error, and, still gasping for breath, she turned to all directions, inspecting every inch of the small clearing in which they now lay. It was dark, darker than it should’ve been, especially since the sun had risen well over an hour ago by then. Towering trees loomed overhead, their sinister canopies blocking out the sunlight, and any sign of life above their heads. Their trunks, as thick as two ponies head to tail, created an almost impenetrable maze in all directions around them. Wild plants and flowers grew haphazardly all around them, and the sounds of feral beasts and critters filled the air in an eerie ambiance. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew exactly where they were. For them, it was probably one of the worst places to be. They were deep in the heart of the Everfree forest, a good twenty kilometers from the border with Ponyville. Even the timberwolves didn’t dare delve into such depths of the forest, fearful of the more dangerous creatures that called them prey. And for such creatures, ponies were less like prey, and more like hors d'oeuvres. And she had just served Twilight and herself up in a silver platter. Never taking her eyes off the dark breaches in between the trees around her, she whispered, “Twi!” No response. She tried again, daring to speak just a bit louder, even if it meant risking detection by some unfriendly critter. “Twilight! Come on Twi! Get up!” The rustling of undergrowth behind her, and the grunting of a tired pony confirmed her friend’s presence, and that she was still safe and sound. For now, at least. “Wha... What happened...? You...” “Ah had to.” Applejack interrupted her before she began her lecture. And knowing Twilight, she’d get at least one lecture in before she got a chance to stuff an apple in her mouth and keep her quiet. Still, she didn’t hear a single peep from behind her. AJ though that perhaps Twilight had realized that now wasn’t the time for making a ruckus. She should’ve thought better. A quiet sob escaped Twilight, and Applejack had to think quick. She couldn’t let her friend have an emotional meltdown in the middle of a deep, dark forest whose residents would not think twice to gobble them up. Obvious reasons aside, she was her friend, and fighting her best survival instincts, which told her to play statue, she spoke to Twilight in a quiet, caring tone. “Twilight? Honey, I know you’re achin’, but right now I need you to be strong, ya’ hear?” The sobbing became quieter, and eventually reduced itself to a mere sniffle. Applejack took this as acknowledgement, and continued, never taking her eyes off of the forest and its tenebrous shadows. “Ah’m... Ah’m sorry, alright? Ah shouldn’t ave done that, but I couldn’t let you go off and do somethin’ rash like... like this!” Still no response. Beads of sweat were forming on Applejack’s brow, and she was almost certain that she had heard something moving just a few hoofsteps away, towards her right. She kept trying. She had to get Twilight away if she herself wanted to get away. Twilight wouldn’t be able to catch up to her, and she couldn’t leave her friend behind. She knew that right now, her only chance of catching up to Spike, and saving her own hide, was running. “Ah know y’all got feelings for Spike.” She said, unintentionally sounding rather disappointed. The sniffling stopped completely, and she was sure she had Twilight’s undivided attention by now. “Ah saw that look in your eyes Twi, you can’t deny it. Ah can’t blame ya either.” She wasn’t doing a very good job of masquerading her own feelings, but she didn’t really think much of it. If Twilight figured it out, she’d figure it out. If she didn’t, then she didn’t. Either way, she didn’t really care anymore. “But you’re not helping by teleporting yourself into the Everfree forest all on you own! You’re just putting yourself in danger.” “But... But then how...? How will we get him back?” Twilight responded, her first full sentence in quite a while. She sounded like a little filly, asking her mother when she’d be coming back from work. Applejack knew the answer, but she really didn’t like it. But it was the only way. She sighed, lowering her ears in both shame for not coming up with a better plan, and fear. “Ah’ll go lookin’ for him. And Ah’ll bring ‘im back, safe and sound, just like Ah promised Twilight... But I can’t do that and take care of both o’ us.” “So what am I supposed to do then? I can’t just sit around while you risk your life!” Perfect. She was being stubborn again. AJ had already come to the conclusion that Twilight and Emotions were not good bedfellows. Still, she was partly right. She knew that if their roles were reversed, something Applejack kind of wished right now, she wouldn’t feel right going back home. She’d feel useless. She’d feel like a waste of pony. “You’re right Twilight, you can’t just sit around.” Applejack said, and if she didn’t know better, she could’ve sworn she’d hear Twilight’s eyebrows raise and her eyes widen. She had to think of something to convince Twilight. They were wasting precious seconds, and no matter what anypony would’ve told her, something was watching her. Suddenly, the epiphany hit, and things just fell into place. With a deep breath, she slowly began relating her plan. “You’ll have to take care of things back home before I come back with Spike. There’s surely gonna be a whole mess o’ ponies looking for ‘im, and you’re the only one that can calm the waters for Spike to make a smooth comeback. Come on Twi, if anypony can convince ponies that he’s innocent, it’s you.” Silence. That was all that remained between the two ponies as Twilight considered her proposal, and she herself clenched her jaw, grating her teeth in nervousness. Finally, after a few grueling seconds which felt like years beneath the scrutinizing gaze of the forest’s shadows, Twilight finally spoke up. “But... What about you? What...?” “Ah’ll be fine, but you have to leave. Now.” Applejack said, nothing but the harsh truth in her tone, giving herself goosebumps at the solemnity in her voice. She though she heard Twilight begin to voice another protest, but she apparently thought better of it, and with a bright white flash, Applejack was suddenly all alone in the deep of the Everfree. She didn’t hesitate for a second. Her hooves left the ground the instant she was sure Twilight had gone, and she set off at full speed through the forest, letting the sun guide her direction. She ran and weaved between the thick trunks. She had speed and agility on her side, and all she had to do was run. Just keep running. Just keep running. It was all she could think of until she found somewhere relatively safe to take shelter and plot out her next move. Still, running for your life did have its advantages. It cleared her mind, and didn’t allow her to think about her own emotional troubles while she focused on saving her backside. That, at least, was one of the few advantages of running away.