Chapter two: Canterlot and the Everfree
I am so sorry! I don’t know what happened. Ok I bought a shit ton of games and procrastinated, but I am so sorry!
Braveheart opened his eyes and saw the creatures again. The same strange, odd were standing there, staring him down. “Find the wanderer, find the blade. You’re the last hope for survival!” One of the figures kneeled down. “Please, save this world.”
His eyes opened, and a bright light flooded his vision. “Where am I?”
“On a train to Canterlot.” A white earth pony with a pink mane wearing a nurse hat answered him. “Nice of you to join us, I’m Nurse Redheart.”
“Braveheart.” He extended an arm but recoiled away.
Nurse Redheart shook her head. “You have some bruising around your ribs,” She explained “Don’t move too fast.” Braveheart nodded. Nurse Redheart asked some questions about how he was feeling than let in a five ponies that had a lot of questions.
The train moved slowly; it was carrying all of Ponyville. It groaned under the sheer weight of the ponies. The town had become uninhabitable, so the citizens journeyed to Canterlot for aid. When the train stopped in Canterlot, a group of guards began to organize the refuges, they took everypony’s names and took them all to make shift accommodations. The five remaining elements and Braveheart were escorted to the castle. They entered the throne room and Celestia sighed with relief. “They are all safe.” She said quietly before she rescanned the group, six ponies but no purple mare. “Where is Twilight?” The five turned to Braveheart, who stepped forward.
“You did what?!” Celestia roared. “How could you let that happen?!” Braveheart flinched at the yelling. “You just let Twilight, MY student, a holder of an ELEMENT leave with that lunatic!” She stared into the earth pony’s eyes. “What do you have to say for yourself?!”
Braveheart cleared his throat. “I vow to rescue Twilight Sparkle, no matter the risk, it is my responsibility to get her back.”
“No.” Celestia said sternly. “No, you have done enough!” Her eyes burned holes into Braveheart. “You are a disgrace!”
Braveheart stared back, trying not to overly surprised. “Very well.” He turned and left. He planned to go find Twilight on his own, with or without Celestia’s blessing.
Luna approached her sister. “Was that wise sister, he could’ve been helpful.” The nocturnal princess asked.
Celestia turned towards Luna. “I believe it was.”
That night Braveheart started to pack. He gathered maps, water containers, medicines, anything he thought he might need. He inspected his sword, looking for chips or imperfections. He was interrupted by a knocking at his door. “Hello?” He called out. No answer. “Hello?!” He called again. He walked over and opened the door. On the floor in the hall outside his door was a package warped in brown paper with a note. He brought it inside and read the note. ‘To Link, from John Smith’. He opened the package. A forest green tunic along with a long green hat, several brown leather belts, a leather gauntlet, and a shirt of chain mail. He set them down and noticed a second note. ‘Sorry I forgot to mention this in the first one. Good luck. Now that I think about it why didn’t I write this on the first one? Oh I’m still writing fancy that!’ Braveheart put the note down. The entire page was filled with writing. He looked at the clothes, they looked warm. Equestria nights were cold.
Braveheart packed a saddle bag and headed out dressed in his new outfit. He hummed softly as he walked through the streets of Canterlot. The streets were relatively empty exception for one or two other ponies going about their business. When he reached the train station somepony grabbed him with magic.
“A stealthy escape at night?” Braveheart was spun around. “Really? We see everything that happens under the moon.” Luna let him go. “Off to save a damsel in distress?”
“No out for a stroll.” Braveheart lied.
Luna shook her head. “We see everything under the moon.” She sighed. “But... Let’s say we missed you leaving, let’s say something else was more important.” Braveheart raised an eyebrow. “And let’s say a certain shield that is blessed by our power went missing.” She slid a black shield to Braveheart. “And that we were out looking for the shield so you never caught our attention.” She gave the earth pony a smile.
Braveheart smiled back. “Well then, I should be off.” He turned and boarded a train with the shield in hand. “Good buy princess.”
“Call us- me Luna.” She waved to Braveheart expecting the train to start moving. She stood there confused.
“The train leaves in ten minutes.” He laughed nervously.
Braveheart stood on the back of the speeding train. He looked over the railing at the tracks speeding by below. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and jumped. He landed with a thump and rolled down a hill. He got up slowly and collapsed. The injuries from the attack hadn’t healed all the way, and the tumble didn’t help. He started walking, slowly and carefully. The longest walk he would ever take had started. A few hours later he arrived at his destination, Ponyville, the ruins were still smoking. “Where to start?” He asked himself. He scanned the area. “If I was an evil villain where would I hide... Hmmm...” His gaze landed on the forest. “The one place everypony is afraid of.”
He entered the forest, the darkness seamed to swallow him. A low wind sailed through the trees and carried voices, angry voices. They talked of an intruder, one who can’t be trusted. The trees groaned and creaked. He carefully watched his surroundings. Behind him a twig snapped and his instincts kicked in, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw next. “Hiya silly Billy!” A bouncing pink pony stared at the armed pony. “Where ya going?”
“Pinkie! Don’t run off like that.” Rainbow Dash landed next to her eccentric friend. “Braveheart, what are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same thing.” Braveheart sheathed his sword.
“Rainbow did ya find her?” Applejack’s voice came out from the trees.
The blue pegasus turned to its direction. “Yeah, and Braveheart!” She called back.
Applejack emerged from the trees followed by Rarity and a quivering Fluttershy. “Did ya say Braveheart?” She looked at the green earth pony. “What in the name of Celestia are you doing out here?”
“OH MY GOODNESS WHAT ARE YOU WEARING!!” Rarity suddenly grabbed Braveheart by his shoulders. “Look at that hat! It’s awful!” She turned him and examined his sides. “A tunic? I don’t mind some retro but this is over kill! And look at that color! Well actually that is the only thing I approve of, it suits you.”
Braveheart pulled himself free of the fashionista’s grasp. “I like the hat.” He said while adjusting the hat.
“Darling, no just-“ She was cut off by a howl in the distance.
Braveheart reaches for his sword. “Let’s keep moving.” The five mares agreed.
They made their way into the forest. The mares huddled close together; they had never been this deep in the forest. Nopony had ever been this far in the forest in over a thousand years when Everfree was still tamed. Every rustle of the trees, or snapping twig sent the mares’ nerves into overdrive.
Applejack leaned towards Rainbow Dash. “Somethin’ following us.”
“AJ, are you scared?” The pegaus joked.
“Rainbow, I’m being serious! somethin’ out there, stalking us. Just listen.” The two mares strained their ears.
Mmhf mmhf mmhf mmhf.
“Now what tree makes a noise like that?” Applejack asked sternly. Another howl filled the silent woods making all the ponies look towards the source.
A hunched creature with pale yellow eyes and dark fur growled at them. “Get behind me!” Braveheart ordered, his companions didn’t protest. The creature charged and Braveheart readied his sword. He swung when I got in range but it back flipped away and countered. Braveheart managed to block. He swung again but the creature raised its front legs and blocked.
“Hey!” Pinkie called out. “Watch out!” He bounded over to Braveheart. “Lure it close to you and watch its movement carefully! Attack when it drops its guard!”
Braveheart dogged the creature’s attack, after the second swing of his arm it spun around and faced away from its opponent. The green clad pony attacked the creature, his blade priced the animal’s abdomen and burst out its chest. The animal let out a sickening howl and burst into flames.
“Oh my gosh that was amazing!” Rainbow tackled Braveheart. “Where did you learn to fight?!”
Braveheart laughed. “I just know.”
“What?”
“I just know how to, I always have.” He pushed the pegasus off and stood up. “I can’t re-“
“Look out!” Rarity screamed. Braveheart turned and was tackled by a second creature. It snapped and bit at the pony’s face. More came out of the woods snarling and bearing their teeth.
Applejack ran up to Braveheart, and used her momentum to send the animal on Braveheart flying. “Let's get goin’!” Applejack grabbed Braveheart and helped him to his feet. “Come on, everpony run!” She yelled. The group ran pursued by the pack. The farther they ran the louder the sounds of their pursuers grew.
“Farore save us!” Braveheart yelled. In response the trees started to moan. Timberwolves emerged in force. The two wolf packs collided. More of both tribes came to the battle. The group of ponies backed away as the trees closed around the conflict. They all stood in awe; the forest came to their rescue.
“That was... I...” Rainbow stood slack jawed. “Aweso-!” She turned around to see a sight never seen by ponies.
A colossal tree stood before them. Its gargantuan branches reached out into the air, covering the area in a constant shadow. Its roots had crushed rocks and dammed rivers. It was the legendary father tree, the oldest living thing in equestria. A path lead up to an opening in the tree’s base, cut by powerful creatures over thousand years.