Elements
The words on the page danced across the yellow parchment, swirling and twirling into an unintelligible mass of letters. In the corners of my vision, I could see the crypt’s many bookshelves fall into the floor, and the walls and ceiling start to flitter away into a grey void. Mentally I took a deep breath, because I was no longer in my own body anymore – and no longer in this memory.
This would be so much easier if I could close my eyes until it was over, I thought to myself. In seconds I was drifting under an endless sea of colours all streaming down and mixing together. Lilacs and dark blues painted the scenery, transforming the canvas into the ruins of a city. Up above, pinks and deep purples blended together, crafting a sky after dusk. Swirls of red streaked in the sky and solidified into a dragon flying overhead. Finally, beyond the massive creature, specks of white collected together and created the early stars and the moon.
I felt my head physically drop down, and the sensation of having legs, wings, and a heartbeat quickly settled in. I was lying underneath a fallen wall, quietly hidden from the angry eyes of both Dragons and Diamond Dogs roaming the city. Sounds of battles and raging fires clamoured all around me, but the rubble I had crawled under felt safe; even if it would easily become my tomb if more of the building collapsed.
My body was racked with shudders, and I closed off my wandering thoughts entirely.
My saddlebags and canteen poked and prodded into me, but brought a little security of their own. I had brought along some potions, my spare canteen, some sticky bandages, a sewing kit, Zecora’s book, and my scarf. I had run out of food a few days ago, but snacking on grass and daisies on the way to Canterlot was better than nothing. After this trip though, I would have to find a better source of food – and I didn’t look forward to it.
“Focus, Fluttershy, keep your eyes on the prize,” Rainbow’s voice echoed from the past. “You can’t do something if you’re worried about what other ponies think.”
I swallowed hard, and gazed out to the solitary towers making up the remains of Canterlot Castle. Smoke and ash billowed from war-torn parts of the great city, eerily hiding the base of the towers – and the wreckage of the castle – from view. I couldn’t see Canterlot Tower, and I didn’t expect to after what had happened there last time. Still, I hoped the Elements were still there, or that there was at least a clue showing me where they had been taken.
The moon continued to rise higher and higher into the sky, trying to catch a fleeting glimpse of the sun it barely knew. It had been subtle at first, but with each passing day and night the sky changed from how it used to be. Without the Princesses to guide them, the sun and moon simply rose and fell to their own rhythm. The moon would rise sooner at night and chase after the sun, occasionally leaving a blanket of stars just before dawn, but not her gentle and loving glow for the early risers to say ‘Good morning’ to before she dipped beneath the horizon.
Maybe the moon was grieving; maybe she craved the sun’s comforting embrace. They couldn’t stop moving though, not for a single day. If they stopped they would never move again, and the sun seemed to know this. Like me on the ground, she pushed herself onwards, never knowing where exactly she’s going or how long she can go on without guidance.
At least in the end, if the sun decides to stop, the moon would be there for her.
A chilly breeze swept through the street, whistling through wrought-iron fences on balconies and lifting paper and dust from the street. I peered out from my hiding place once more, this time looking in the direction of the wind. Looming over the summit of the mountain were the first storm clouds of the winter front Philomena had warned me of. A stronger gust of wind groaned through the city, seeming to blow out the last of the setting sun’s light. Night had finally come. That was all that I was waiting for.
Checking left, right, and up in the sky for danger, I wiggled out from my shelter. My belly scraped on stones and debris, but I paid little attention to them; being distracted for a few seconds in the open could put me in danger. Quickly I crossed the cracked road. A quick down stroke of my wings lifted me into a silent leap, sailing me over smashed seats and tables lining up the front of a ransacked coffee shop.
I landed gently on a clear space of tile flooring and folded my wings back to my sides. The cold air slinked around my ankles and prickled the skin underneath my coat. I took a breath; the smells of stale food and rancid milk rushing up to greet me. On the few tables that hadn’t been turned over or broken, small cups of stagnant liquid still stood. A near-empty cup on the counter, joined by a newspaper and a flat cap spoke of a pony enjoying the late night catching up on news. In a dark alcove in the far side of the room were two cups seemingly full to the brim. They sat closely together on the same side of the table, well within each other’s comfort - as intimate as the ponies who had bought them.
Carefully I walked across the room, being cautious of where I treaded. When the… Event happened it was a late night, and so there weren’t many ponies in the coffee shop when they all disappeared. In a gut-wrenching way I was glad it was like that; I didn’t want to see dozens of dried stains on the floor.
There was something amiss about the scene, and that was how little had been disturbed even after being sacked by Diamond Dogs. The shock wave I saw threw my train off the tracks, but here in Canterlot, the spell only took the ponies away – leaving everything else untouched. If the spell struck somewhere in the Appaloosa Desert, then maybe – just maybe – somepony had enough time to protect themselves.
No. I can’t fool myself like that, my thoughts warned. Not again.
I pressed up against the wall in the backroom, beside an open doorway looking out over an alley. Outside the war continued to ravage the capital. It hurt to see Canterlot like this, especially now in an even worse state than it was no more than under a week ago. What damage the Event hadn’t caused had been made up for by the invaders picking at the bones of this mass gravesite. It didn’t matter to them that thousands of ponies had vanished in a flash no more than a couple of weeks ago. All that mattered were the valuable possessions that had been left behind. In the weeks following a horrible disaster, the Diamond Dogs and Dragons had simply flocked here like scavengers, and began picking away at the body of the city until there was nothing left but bones made of brick and mortar. Shivers ran up and down my spine at the image.
Before I could take a few steps outside, an enormous dragon flew directly over with a deafening roar. When I opened my eyes I found myself shaking inside the coffee shop’s pantry, cowering behind unopened crates. The roars rattled through the walls and ceiling, followed by a crash that shook the floor violently. Seconds later howls rang out, and the clamour of battle soon followed. I crept out of the pantry and made my way back to the back door. Taking a quick glance in the direction of the fighting, I saw the massive dragon loom above the rooftops of the city, standing upright in a distant street. Spears sailed up to his waist and tried to stab through the creature’s scales, but only a few lodged themselves in place, and even then the dragon only brushed them off like pine needles. He took in a quick breath, and without hesitation I looked away and covered my ears. Orange light flickered against the walls, and faint screams wriggled inside my mind, making me try harder and harder to block out what I knew was happening. A few moments after the light faded, I dared myself to look back. I peeked around the doorway to where the dragon was, and saw that it was under attack again. Not wasting another chance, I broke it into a shaky gallop and ran down the road. Rounding the corner of a junction, my eyes fell upon the remaining towers of the castle again. Relieved I wasn’t taking a long detour, my eyes lowered to the street, which stopped me dead in my tracks.
No more than twenty feet away from me was a dark grey hound in a blue jacket and black collar. He was sitting down against a wall. One of the hound’s strong arms rested on the stone slabs of the pavement, idly digging its long claws into the rock. The other arm was carefully lying over his chest, pressing against his ribcage. The noise of my panicked stop alerted him, and his eyes darted over and locked with mine. In an instant, he began to spring up to attack. My eyes snapped shut in a flinch and I tensed. Instead of a ferocious bark and a tackle, I heard the powerful hound gasp painfully for air, and stumble onto all fours with a grating scrape from his claws.
Peeking with one eye, I saw the hound picking himself off of the ground. His breaths were ragged and pained, and gingerly he covered his chest again with one of his enormous arms. He stood on his hind legs and looked back at me, growled indignantly, and started hobbling in the opposite direction.
My mind screamed for me to turn around and pretend nothing happened, but my legs decided to follow him down the road. I couldn’t turn away if I wanted to, not with the way the sight of someone in pain.
“Are you... Are you hurt?” I quietly asked. I could barely hear myself over my own heartbeat. “Do you need help?” I wasn't sure what to expect, I wasn't even sure if this kind of Diamond Dog could speak or if he would attack me again. It was dangerous, but I knew deep down that I couldn’t walk away without trying to help him. The weather front alone would be dangerous for anyone outside, but with dragons also combing the streets, could an injured Diamond Dog stay safe? My head shook before my imagination could create an answer.
The hound stopped where he was and stared ahead for a moment, then he turned around and scowled at me. “I don't need help from puny pony who runs into forest like scaredy cat!”
The gears in my head clicked; I had seen this Diamond Dog before in Ponyville, and he was the hound that chased me out of my own home. Now I was stood just out of his reach, ant not even thinking of fleeing. Yet.
The hound stretched upward and flexed his arms. “I’m strong! My hurt will go away! Stupid Gryphon can't keep me down!”
Griffins in Canterlot? My face twisted in confusion. If they had been in Equestria the whole time, then that would mean that they were spared by the spell. If not, why would they come here to fight this poor hound? Before I could ask, the Diamond Dog had started going down the street again. There you have it; he won’t let anyone keep him down! Can we leave now? My mind rattled. I shook my head and caught up with him, keeping my distance. I watched him closely, and listened to every muted grunt he made. I tried talking to him again, “Um, excuse me, Mister Diamond Dog, I don't mean to be a bother, but what do you mean by a Griffin keeping you down?”
He tried to sigh, but it came out as a curt huff. He cringed and clutched his chest for a few seconds and then started to speak. ”Stupid Gryphon came down from sky. Hit me really hard here.' He waved his left paw over his chest, taking care not to catch himself with his claws. "Then it took shiny necklace away and flew away before I could get claws on them. You happy? Now go away or I will hurt pony like I want hurt Gryphon!"
The hound stormed off but didn't get very far. Just as he started passing a burning building he cried out in agony and fell to the side, catching himself with a free paw. Deadly sharp claws or not, he needed my help! I hurried over to his side, abandoning my protesting thoughts, and wedged myself against the much larger creature. For a split second he leant against me, but then bolted upright like he had leant on something disgusting. The hound stumbled sideways for a moment, staring at me in surprise for a second before hardening into a scowl and I looked over myself for something in my coat. I looked back up towards him, and shrank under his furious glare. His arm cocked back to strike, and I scrambled backwards, falling onto my back and covering my eyes with a yelp. No pain came, but for a moment I stayed in the darkness of my eyelids, wondering if the sound of fire was the burning building behind me or the massive beacons marking the gate to Tartarus. Ready or not, my hoof dropped down, and quickly I took a peek – finding myself staring at the sharp points of the hound’s elongated claws. My gaze followed up his arm and froze on his expression – his eyes ablaze with frustration and pain.
"What you want... Now?!” He demanded, pausing to take uneven breaths. ”Can't you... Just go... Away?! I must find... Fellow Dogs. They will... Help. Not Pony! “
I started to squeak, “I, um, I just wanted to-“
“Huh?” he growled. “What?”
I kicked my hooves into the ground, scurrying backwards and away from the hound’s claws. He stayed where he was, breathing shallowly and never taking his eyes off of me. Slowly I turned to my saddlebags and pulled out a green bottle with a thick mixture inside. On the bottle were two labels, one with writing, and the other with a picture of a bone. The label read: “Enaroot Bone Repair: For big breaks and fractures the size of a hair.”
Tentatively, I reached my hooves out with the bottle in their grip. I forced the calmest voice I could manage with those angered eyes burning into me. “I-I have some medicine. That mean Griffin has hurt your ribs. This will help you if you drink it – it will make it stop hurting.”
"Blech! I hate medicine! I don't need it!' He bellowed, pulling his arm away and storming off again. Seconds later his outburst caught up with him in the form of agony tearing up his chest, and I winced at the sound of it. I rolled onto all fours and stood up. I grabbed the bottle up by the cork and rushed over to the injured Diamond Dog. Hopping about on my hind legs, I held the bottle with my forehooves and yanked the cork out. I dropped the cork to the floor, and switched over to hovering with my wings as I held the potion out to him. Without a word, he took his left arm off his chest and held his paw out, barely missing me with his claws. “Hrk! Fine!” He grumbled as I dropped the bottle onto his paw. He straightened up to look at the bottle, and I politely hovered away.
A small smile crept onto my face. And for a few moments I felt a warmth sweep over my heart while I watched the hound start drinking it the potion. He kept drinking it, and drinking it, and drinking it. Um… I covered my mouth in surprise. The Diamond Dog guzzled the liquid down, and threw the empty bottle aside, shattering it into hundreds of tiny shards glimmering in the light of the fire. The Diamond Dog cringed a little bit at what I imagined to be a bitter aftertaste. Oh my… I hope there isn't a maximum dosage.
The hound’s mood hadn’t improved yet. “There. Now I get better, and you happy, yes?” he said bitterly.
I nodded and smiled, “Make sure you get plenty of rest too, and you'll get better in no time.”
He looked away and grumbled, I took that as his way of forcing himself to say 'Thank you' and said ‘You’re welcome’.
“If you don't mind me asking, what is your name? I'm Fluttershy.”
“Names are for friends. And family,” grumbled the Diamond Dog. “Pony and I not friends. Now go!” He threw his free arm outward, pointing it down the road. My smile collapsed on itself, but the hound didn’t seem to care. I hesitated, and the dog pulled his lips back in a snarl, showing a full set of jagged and sharp teeth.
I unfurled my wings and lifted off, quickly backing away from the Diamond Dog. In silence and still clutching his side, the Diamond Dog watched me start to fly away. I paused for a moment, and started to twist around to say goodbye. Before I could say anything, the dog painlessly leapt up after me and barked, sending me rocketing into the sky with a yelp. Now in plain sight of any nearby dragon, I quickly spun around and dived back down, swooping over the rooftops of several buildings and landing in a street very close to the castle’s wall.
I hid myself inside a burnt building, panting and struggling to keep my heart from leaping from my chest. I looked through a cracked and sooty window, my eyes fixed on the sky. No hulking monsters came into view, but the clouds made up for it: Giant stubby fingers grasped over the mountaintop, gripping the rock in a stranglehold that seemed to choke even the sounds of battle in other parts of the city.
My head ducked away from the glass and I shivered. A blizzard was coming, and if I wasn’t out of Canterlot by then…
No time to lose, Fluttershy! Hastily I left the building and ran out into the street. A glance in the sky showed it was safe to fly, and so I took off from the street and made my way for where Canterlot Tower once stood. Freezing air stung at my cheeks and nipped at my primaries, but I ignored it and kept flapping my wings. Below me were dozens of homes and business bathed in either the orange glow of fire or the bluish aura of the fading moonlight. Ahead loomed the last three towers of the castle, one of which being the same tower I narrowly escaped the Diamond Dogs from last time. At the base of the towers were the crumbling remains of the rest of the beautiful jewel that hung from the neck of the mountain.
I swung down, searching for last place I saw the Elements, and softly touched down at the top of a familiar flight of stairs. The strengthening winds greeted me, blowing dust and snowflakes into my eyes. I raised a hoof at the breeze and closed my eyes. The grey and shattered ruins were momentarily replaced by the magnificent buildings, exotic plants, and purple and gold banners I remembered this place for. My eyes opened, but the vision didn’t end. From the freezing wind came a swarm of snowflakes with pairs of icy eyes. I blinked, and my friends were there beside me, but the Changelings had surrounded us. I blinked hard, squeezing the images until they folded and left me alone – alone in front of the lifeless stone skeleton of Canterlot Tower. No banners of purple and gold. No vibrant flowers overflowing from hanging baskets – gardens in their own right - and not one of my friends by my side.
My bones creaked and popped as I shivered, and moved stiffly as I moved up to the double doors to Canterlot Tower. The doors wouldn’t move, but with the missing windows and roof, there was nothing preventing me from getting inside. I quickly took wing and glided over the wall. My heart pulled me down onto the rubble, weighed down by the complete destruction of the tower, and the slim chance that I would find anything under the rubble that had been left behind. All of the Elements of Harmony were in here with Princess Celestia's crown. In the chaos of the fight between a Dragon and an army of Diamond Dogs however, I could not have taken them all and escaped. I… I was selfish; as the last thing left of my friends, I shouldn’t have left the Elements behind.
“It’s okay…” Twilight assured. “It could’ve happened to any one of us.”
Hot tears stung at my cheeks, quickly falling and freezing on the stones at my hooves.
“Aw, Fluttershy, don’t cry! It’s not ya fault. We’re here for ya!” Applejack soothed. I could almost feel her hoof resting on my shoulder. Almost wasn’t enough.
“You’re not though,” I sputtered. “Th-that’s why I’m…” I fell to my haunches, staring out over the toppled columns, ruined flower baskets, and indistinguishable piles of rubble. “That’s why I’m to blame.”
“Don’t be silly!” bounced Pinkie’s voice. “We’re always with you!” Something warm brushed my cheek – too tender to have been imagined. I lifted my hoof to my cheek, crushing a tear that was still there. “Always.”
A shimmer caught my eye, and my teary gaze darted over to it. Something was shining erratically through the cracks of a stack of boulders and wreckage about two dozen feet away from me. I hoisted myself onto my hooves, and scrambled up to the rubble, slipping and scraping my ankles on loose and sharp rocks. As I drew nearer it became stronger and brighter. I hurried up and flew over, feeling gentle warmth wavering in the wintery breeze. I grabbed a large chunk of stone and pulled with all the strength of my wings, lifting the dead weight aside and dropping it carelessly. I touched down and started digging away at the smaller stones and wreckage. Finally, I pushed one last rock aside, and was bathed in a pure white glow. I gasped at the sight; there in the debris was the Element of Magic, undamaged, glowing brightly, and providing the comforting blanket of heat.
I had never seen any of the Elements of Harmony do this before, at least not when activated by each of my friends and I. I held my hoof over the tiara tentatively, worried that the heat might burn, but the Element was cool to the touch, and its glow settled into a calming purple hue.
There was a foreign, relaxing heat that seeped into my veins, tingling and numbing my leg in seconds. I wanted to pull my hoof back, but the Element had quickly put my muscles to sleep. I began to tip over and fall, making me snap my eyes shut in fear of landing in something painful. Instead I felt the sensation of flight. The warmth in the air had wrapped itself around me, and the aura was cradling me with the Element of Magic nestled in my forehooves and up against my chest. In the back of my mind, a part of me was squealing in utter terror, but the rest accepted it – welcomed it. Even though I was in the middle of war-torn city, I felt safer than I ever had been since the train crash.
My eyelids drooped down, slowly closing completely to sleep. In moments I found myself drifting through a tunnel of clouds. I could hear a steady beat of a pony walking and distant voices that I couldn’t place. My view bobbed from side to side, falling in time with the rhythm of hoof falls. Gradually, foggy and dark silhouettes of five ponies in a group emerged in the tunnel, and the bobbing and hoofsteps stopped once I was close enough to see that two were Pegasi, two were Earth ponies, and one was a Unicorn.
The whispers became louder, and the silhouettes shuffled like one of them were speaking though I could not tell who. The voices were distorted and broken in speech, but still remained distinct as they quietly murmured to one another. A voice directly above me began talking. “Are we prepared? Time is leading us to battle whether we are ready or not.”
A Pegasus leapt into the air, pumping a hoof in the air while the other flinched at the sudden movement. “Our best warriors have joined up,” the flying Pegasus said. “As soon as they learnt of the threat they immediately offered their wings to face it.”
“Excellent, send them to my enchanters straight away; a ward imbued in their armour shall help all of us in the long run.” The unicorn decreed.
“Does that also mean we have the Celestial mages at our disposal?” The voice above me asked.
The Unicorn turned her gaze towards the pony above me. “They were a challenge – even for me – but they are willing to lend their abilities providing more capable fighters protect them.”
“My own squadron will keep them safe.” The other Pegasus quietly assured.
“And the same applies for my ponies,” an Earth pony chimed in. “We don’t have super magic powers or fancy wings – a lot of them are builders and bakers really – but that doesn’t matter! We are all in this together!”
The other Earth pony silhouette nodded in agreement. “We have to watch each other’s flanks out there and stick together. Windigos draw strength from dividing and conquering.”
“Hey! If anyone knows conquering: It’s us!” The flying Pegasus jumped in, placing her hooves on her companion’s shoulders and giving them a little shake. The more reserved Pegasus shrugged out of her friend’s grasp, backing a little bit away from the group.
“Please… That was a long time ago.”
“Oh don’t be like that. I was only making a point.” The flying Pegasus dismissed with her hoof before pointing towards me – or the pony above me. “How about you, huh? You seem awfully quiet, Lucky Swirl.”
The group all shared a small amount of laughter. Even the voice above me betrayed itself with a chuckle. “I would scold you on calling me that, but I reckon we needed that. I’m a little preoccupied, to tell the truth. This battle… I… I don’t know. It almost feels like something’s very queer about it.”
“First battle’s got you skittish, hmm? You aren’t the first or last one. Sometimes I wonder if this gentle, pudgy pony next to me will ever grow out of it.” The flying Pegasus chided, jabbing her hoof into her comrade.
“It’s not that,” the voice above replied. “It’s like… It’s like something is going to happen. It worries me.” Suddenly, the vision of the pony silhouettes in the cloud tunnel disappeared from view, like somepony had covered my eyes. “I feel it right here; a little pressure like something is there.”
There was a pause, and I felt the five silhouette’s gazes pass through the darkness and stare towards me. The warped but distinguishable voice of the flying mare spoke first, her voice quickly fading with distance. “Hmm, better put some armour over that, then.”
Millions of specks of white filled my sight, raining down and settling all around me. I lay still, feeling the thick flakes land on my coat and melt with an icy nip. The rubble around me already had a thin layer of powder settling on it, and soon would be disguised under the innocence of pure snow. The wind picked up and raced over the rubble, nibbling through my coat.
I sat up and rubbed my temples with my hooves. The full brunt of the cold clawed into my face, and snowflakes clung to my hair and eyelashes, forcing me shiver for warmth. I quickly grasped the Element of Magic with my teeth and packed it away. I tilted my head back, gazing up at the sky. The moon was nowhere to be seen, but neither were the stars. Instead were thick, dark grey clouds rolling and bowling overhead, dragging wind that grew bitterer with each passing minute. I didn’t know how long I had been asleep, but I should’ve left Canterlot a long time ago. It may be too late to leave now.
I turned my gaze towards where the rest of Canterlot lie, and took off into the dense snowfall. The heavy snow created a thick wall that made everything vanish in less than a dozen feet. I flew low to the ground, carefully rising and dipping when obstacles emerged into view. I passed a few burning buildings, and adjusted my course to follow a road. The sounds of battle had died away, leaving only the crackle of blazes and the occasional distant roar of dragons. The blizzard had put a stop to the violence, finally wrapping the city in cold silence. I didn’t belong here, not among the vacant ruins, but where else did I belong? There was no warm fireplace beckoning for me at home, and no animals huddling up near it and sleeping soundly in the orange glow. After the looting the Diamond Dogs had done throughout Canterlot, I was afraid to go home and see what they had done in search of anything of value in my cottage...
Shivers wracked through my body, dropping me down a few feet. My wings stiffly pushed onward, numbed by the cold but far from giving up. The snow lifted slightly, revealing the looming mass of rock pointing up to the sky. The summit of Canterlot’s mountain was breaking up the storm for a part of the city. If I was going to have to wait out the blizzard, my best bet was in the shadow of the defiant wall of rock.
The city’s buildings stopped a long distance from the mountain wall, leaving a rare open space on the ledge the Canterlot hung onto. I landed on the second floor of a smashed building overlooking the field, and stared into the thinning veil of snow. Ovals waved and bobbed in the wind, tied down by cables and silhouettes of boats and yachts. To the right side of the field stood a tower with an orange flag barely staying attached to its pole. Straight ahead – just as the snow all but stopped for a moment – were two huge figures towering over the vast collection of airships. The dragons stood by each other, the one on the right seemingly counting up the wealth he had stolen, while the other leant against the mountain beside his friend. The right dragon seemed to be reddish, while his friend was clearly as pale as the snow falling from the sky. I wasn’t the only one who seeking shelter here it seemed.
Before a flurry of snow waned and showed them to me again, I ducked down behind a portion of wall, and peered over what was left of the window frame still sitting on it. The dragons were talking idly, their deep voices muffled by the weather. I stared at the red dragon and the loot he cradled in one arm. Tons of gold, gems, and shiny objects made up the hoard - whose homes had he destroyed for just a fraction of it?
There was a sparkle. I blinked and focused on the red dragon’s armful of loot. I saw it again, this time was brighter and flashed in a burst. I squinted, trying to make out the source of the light. Could it be? Could it another Element of Harmony trying to catch my attention?
White flurries of powder obscured the dragons from view, and I wasted no time in hopping out from my hiding place and swooping down into the airfield below. Up close, I could see a variety of airship styles and designs: Simple vessels powered with props and steam engines, exotic and large yachts owned by the richest ponies in Canterlot, and even a couple of hot-air balloons had found a place to sit in the shelter of the mountain. Sadly, the hot-air balloons had long since collapsed, covering small airships with a massive tangle of fabric and wires. Some airships had fallen victim to vandalism; balloons slashed open or cut free, or even the entire vessel being burnt into nothing but a blackened skeleton. Other ships had drifted or broken free accidentally, crashing into each other in a mess of splinters. The chaos and damage on the ground tugged at the strings of my mind, twisting sounds of creaking wood into painful groans, and warping debris into the forms of trapped and forgotten ponies. I blinked a few times, shivering and taking stuttered breaths.
The snow started to let up again, and I gently drifted down behind a tipped boat, hiding away from the dragons. While I looked around for the best route to move among the wreckage, I listened in on the talking creatures – now close enough to hear them clearly.
“I thought you said we could wait out the storm here, Grundle,” the pale dragon complained. “I’m already feeling ice settling on my spines. We should go back with the others.”
“Puh!” the red dragon, Grundle, spat. “And let some little reptile come along and get the rest of the loot? It’s bad enough those yappy little runts came crawling out of the woodwork, and now you’d rather let the rest of the treasures in this city be snapped up just because you’re cold?”
Tracing a route among the wreckage, I started making my way towards the dragons. I had to know if the red one had what I thought he had. How I would get it from him if he did was a train of thought I didn’t want to board. The conversation carried on, assuring me that I was still out of sight.
“You do know that Lulenkha owns this mountain, do you? I hear she’s coming to reclaim her territory - she will smash us into the face of the cliffs if she catches us.”
“Sheesh, that old bat? I hear she’s been loopy ever since she lost her eye all those centuries ago. Do you think that ancient relic can even keep up with us? Now shut it – I’m trying to work out the value of this hoard.”
“Hmph! Well if you want to tangle with a dragoness, be my guest. But I don’t want to be anywhere near you if you anger the Elders.” I felt a low rumble as one of the dragons shifted footing. The lopsided remains of the yacht I was inside of creaked and groaned at the disturbance. I hurried through, skittering onto the deck and hopping over to another wreck that didn’t seem likely to collapse. The dragons emerged from the snowy shroud as I darted behind some barrels. The pale dragon was ready to leave, while Grundle had stopped e8xamining his treasures to look at his companion.
“And that’s another thing! Those Elders are toothless snakes, why should we take orders from them? Kagnarak didn’t think he should – and now he’s out there living the high life!”
“Kagnarak is older than our ages combined,” the pale grey dragon grumbled impatiently. “Of what life he’s managed to carve, he’s quite capable of protecting.” The snowy dragon quickly swung around, his tail flattening and flinging ships caught in its path. A hot-air balloon’s basket arched over towards me, and I threw myself clear before it could crush me. The basket bounced off and landed somewhere in the carnage behind me with a crash and a crunch. Roars and growls filled the air, flames sprayed out into the dull sky, and the ground rumbled and shook in time with the struggle. I chanced a peek over the splintered remains of the yacht, and saw that the pale dragon had stolen some of Grundle’s treasure. Now the two were locking claws and butting heads with each other.
“Give me that gold back!” snarled the red dragon. Puffs of smoke billowed from his flared nostrils, but the pale dragon only smiled wryly, barely struggling against his opponent.
“If you were anything like Kagnarak, you’d have already got it back yourself!” The pale dragon teased, shoving his opponent against the mountain. The impact exploded in the air, the deafening crash freezing my muscles faster than the snow. I kept my eyes glued on the pale dragon, and watched as he threw the stolen gold in his grip at the dazed form of Grundle, peppering him with jingling pieces of jewellery and coins – and the source of the sparkling light. The riches fell to the ground, disappearing from view. Now was my chance!
Hastily racing through the maze of wreckage, I made my way for where the dragons were stood. If the source of light was another Element of Harmony, then the risk with getting close to a gigantic fire-breathing dragon was worth it. If I can get to it before he finds it… I thought as I slipped through a hole in the bow of a ship, quickly clambering over toppled crates and barrels. The low grumbles of the two dragons talking permeated through the wood.
“I’m going back to Kinsmeer. There’s better company and a bunch of lava pools waiting for me there. Unless you still think you’re as tough as the likes of Kagnarak or Lulenkha, I expect to see you soon.” With that the ground shook once more, eliciting a series of creaks and crackles from the stressed frames of the trashed vessels.
My hooves drummed on the stairs leading onto the deck – abruptly ending once my wings took over. I glided over to an intact ship with its balloon still attached – making the deck of the ship easier to hide on. I scampered over towards the stern and settled in the doorway to the captain’s quarters. Peeking around the corner, I saw that the pale dragon was long gone, leaving Grundle alone to pick up his stolen loot. He was already recovering the valuables that had been dropped in the scuffle, and my heart sank at the loss of my chance. Grundle stood up, and just as his armful of Canterlot’s wealth pass my eyes a sparkle shone into my eyes. The red dragon noticed it too, picking the item out and placing it under his scrutiny.
My hoof flew over my mouth before I could yell or make any sound. It was an Element of Harmony! It was my Element! The red dragon had it between the points of his index and thumb claws.
“Well, well… This is unique.” The dragon grinned, his eyes glazing over with a frightening gaze. I couldn’t help but gulp. He chuckled to himself, spitting out flames and smoke. “Maybe Stickle has a point; I shouldn’t tangle with Lulenkha – not with a strange treasure like this at stake.”
Grundle’s wings rapidly unfurled, and launched himself into the grey sky with a single beat of his massive wings. I had just barely braced myself in the doorway of the ship, which saved me from being blown away in the wake of the red dragon’s take off. The airship I was aboard lurched and jerked upwards suddenly. The bow dipped downward, knocking me from the doorway. I slid down the deck, desperately digging into the floorboards. I kicked off the floor, pumping my wings to fly away from the ship. Moments later, there was a loud snap, and before I could react the deck of the ship rocketed up, plunging everything into darkness.
Drearily, I came to lying on my back. I was sprawled out on the deck of the airship – now level and ascending rapidly into the full force of the blizzard.
Ascending?! It’s too dangerous to be in the air!
I rolled over and pushed myself onto my hooves. The ship was going up! It had broken free from its anchor, and now it was at the mercy of the storm. The wind howled in my ears, pellets of ice spiked and prickled my skin, and the bitter cold was quickly freezing into my bones. Even if I knew how to do it I couldn’t bring the airship down; it was too dangerous to stay out in the open.
Dizzy from a headache and the wind trying to push me over the nearest railing, I wobbled and stumbled over to the captain’s quarters. I tested the door, and to my relief it burst open with wind. Taking a final look out over the ship and the brunt of the winter storm hammering it, I slipped indoors and forced the door shut behind me.
Fumbling in the dim light, I dropped my saddlebags and dug out my lantern, scarf, and my box of matches. A few matches broke from shivering too much, but soon the room was filled with the fiery glow from my lantern. Now able to see, I wrapped my scarf around me and huddled into a corner, rubbing my hooves together and holding my chest to keep the warmth in. I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to have not been knocked out for too long, another minute or more…
No, my thoughts interrupted. Don’t go there.
I closed my eyes, nodding. There were more important things to think about right now. What was I going to do with this ship? How far away from Canterlot was the storm going to take me? What in Equestria was that dream I had? The Element of Magic did something I had never seen before, it had started shining when I was nearby, and it put me to sleep when I touched it. My own Element was shining too, would it put me to sleep as well? Would it make me have another dream?
My hooves rubbed the sides of my skull, trying to ease the throbbing pain setting in. What does a dream of six ponies preparing for battle have to do with me? I thought. I can’t fight. I hate fighting. Is there something I'm missing? Wait, what was that name again? Was it… Lucky Swirl? A long groan bubbled out from my lungs. Something was hammering on the inside of my skull until I couldn’t concentrate anymore.
My body slumped over to the side. The room was spinning wildly while my heavy heartbeat pounded in my eardrums. The storm raged outside. Relentlessly hurling hail and rocking the ship back and forth. The airship kept rising though, refusing to be weighed down by ice. How does a pony even control one of these? I pondered. Is the wheel outside or inside?
Flashes of the ship spiralling in an impossible nosedive filled my head – all because I touched the steering wheel. Where do they keep the parachutes?
Groggily, I stood up and started searching the room for anything on safety or operating an airship. All I could find was a pamphlet on proper lighting, manoeuvres, and required equipment – none of which I had ensured, trained for, or packed. I opened up my canteen and took two gulps of cold water, drowning my nerves. At least I could still remember how to navigate with the stars from back in Flight School.
But there’s a blizzard hiding the night sky.
I took another gulp of water, and pressed the canteen against my forehead. I just had to stay calm, and stay focused on something. My head lifted up, bringing a glance onto my open saddlebags. I walked over and pulled out a folded and crumpled parchment from the bottom. Carefully I unravelled it and spread it out on the captain’s desk, holding the corners down with the Element of Magic, my canteen, and an empty inkwell that had fallen off the desk a long time ago.
Before me was a large map of Equestria, including a fraction of neighbouring lands around the edges. I looked down at the label locating Canterlot, and slowly swept my eyes over the little tears I had made in the page when I first picked it up. Las Pegasus, Manehatten, Crinkleshade, Little Shoe, and Appaloosa had marks and rips beside their names where little flags had been placed. Each flag represented the girls and I - we had split up to check those towns. Twilight and Spike had stayed in Canterlot to help coordinate the investigation and search the library for leads, and it was up to the rest of us to look for clues all over Equestria.
My head bowed down until my head rested on the desk. Nopony expected this to happen. I never thought that the day I left Canterlot for Appaloosa would be the last time I would see my friends again. I… I should’ve hugged them one last time. I should’ve made sure that they knew they were all so special to me.
Muted sobs shook my body, and I lifted my head up and away from the desk so that I wouldn’t smear the ink on the map. Through glassy eyes I stared over to the door, staring through it like it was a portal. On the other side I could see a beautiful meadow during summer, and each of my friends were there, together, looking back through the doorway with smiles on their faces.
“Wh-why did I survive?” I sputtered. “Why did you leave me behind?”
The ponies on the other side said nothing, but their expressions fell until they couldn’t bear to look at me anymore. The world around them started to drain of all colour and life, turning into a bleak and dull scene. I walked around the table, slowly approaching the doorway.
“Please…” I begged. “Come back. I can’t do this without you! Please!”
The scene started to disintegrate; flaking away like specks of snow caught in the wind. I rushed up to the portal, slamming into it but not passing through. I blinked, and the stoic wooden door with a tiny little window stood between me and the raging winter storm outside.
My legs buckled and gave out, dropping me down onto the floor with a thud. I stared at the door, repeating the same thing over and over again: “Why did I survive?”
