//------------------------------// // Chapter 140 - Fang // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// The chilly air was filled by a foreign hum-like noise as the green-glowing blue crystal fragments flew towards a spot on the sandy shore. Clicks and clanks echoed as each fragment stuck together, and appeared to have combined with each other as they magically began to form into something tall. Four tall things, to be precise, as far as the three humans plus one pegasus have noticed so far. The four were still inching their way towards the ground. Despite their effort to hurry, they could do nothing but to wish that the water would grant them even more speed. A maroon dragon, who floated on the water meters away from the struggling four, inhaled sharply and exhaled, only to fall into a nasty coughing fit. Black smoke erupted from the dragon's mouth and nostrils as she coughed. After she has recovered, she tried again, only to achieve the same result. Another try, and she managed to cough out red sparkling fumes of fire. It was tiny, but she considered it progress. She continued. Jay turned his head slightly to see what was going on with the dragon, but before he could start to connect things in his mind, his thoughts broke down when a sharp gasp reached his ears. Turning his attention back at the nearing shore, he saw Rainbow Dash was the first to reach the shore, and her shocked face was directed at the four towering blue crystals. He looked at the crystal pillars, and wished he hadn't. He almost slipped when his mind suddenly went black at the sight his eyes were giving him through his mask. Those four crystal pillars were now the large and tall feet of a giant crystal wolf. “S-shit!” He cursed, though he didn't want to. Hurriedly, Jay and the other two humans exerted more force into their climb out of the water. Rainbow turned and was nervously fidgeting as she chanted “com'on com'on hurry up hurry up” at the three incoming humans. Bug and Xilfer got out of the water and hurried to Rainbow's side. Jay was about to walk out when a crystal fragment struck him from behind. It didn't hurt that bad, but it pushed him forward and made him stumble and fall on the watery shore. He blinked awkwardly at what just happened, but two sets of hands grabbed him and pulled him up. “Stop messing around!” Xilfer hissed. “But I wasn't!” Jay countered. “Enough sappy talk let's go now!” Rainbow shouted in one breath before she turned and gallope— The sandy ground shook violently, causing the four to stop and stumble. The massive crystal wolf pushed it's body towards the four and let out a boom of a roar. “Go!” Xilfer shouted loudly, “go go go!” He pulled Bug and Jay back in an instant with both hands and pulled them as he ran towards the trees, Rainbow Dash following close behind. The giant crystal wolf turned its head and hissed, it's yellow-glowing eyes followed the four smaller creatures. It quickly pulled itself down, preparing to leap after them, when it's crystal ears tilted to the side when a burning-like noise was getting louder. A fireball struck the wolf's side, pushing the crystal wolf towards the forest and fell over a large number of trees. Thankfully, Jay and the others weren't on that part of the forest, though they shivered at the thought if they were. The wolf quickly flailed its large limbs a bit before it finally pulled itself up and growled at the coughing dragon. It barked once, twice, and leaped towards the dragon, disregarding the salty water that was now but a tiny problem for its giant being to worry about. Xelene eyed the fast approaching wolf, and quickly pushed it's claws, throwing herself forward. The two giants' heads clashed, but the wolf had the upper hand, and pushed the dragon back. Quickly, it opened its jaws and struck at the scaly neck of the dragon. Xelene growled and struggled as she flailed her claws, scratching the neck and shoulders of the crystal wolf, but they appeared ineffective. The scene couldn't be viewed inside the thick layers of trees and leaves where Jay and the others were running through. The dragon's pained growl reached Rainbow's and Jay's ears, and Jay felt a huge weight of regret and felt like turning back to help, ‘but what can I do?’ he argued to himself. “Is that it?” Bug asked, as he and the others could see a mountain's base through small gaps of trees up ahead. Xilfer nodded. “Ye-yes, that's Mount Comet!” He panted with a small hint of a smile. Bug and Rainbow had small smiles as well. Finally, they were nearing the end of all of this chaos. “There should be a cave on the other side.” He added as they were about to reach the clearing. As soon as they got out from the trees however, a loud noise — as if a huge pile of metal was rolling down a solid cliff — was heard from up above. Turning up— “SHIT!” Xilfer shouted and hurriedly grabbed Bug's and Jay's shoulders as he ran back towards the trees. The other two, if only they weren't stunned, would have been thankful. Rainbow, after finally recovering, gasped and ran back just as soon as the broken helicopter broke down on the flat ground, and exploded, sending large chunks of fire and metal all around. The pegasus landed behind a large root with a yelp. Xilfer took a breath before he turned, his eyes reflecting the lights from the blaze. He was about to walk out of the forest again when a flat metal-piece landed flat on his head with a dull clang. His eye twitched as the metal object tilted to the side and fell, bumping on his shoulder before landing on Jay's head. “Ow...” Jay winced slightly, grabbed the metal that landed in front of him, and pulled himself up. He turned as he studied the metal. Seeing that it was nothing now but a piece of junk, he was about to toss it thoughtlessly, but instead he gasped at the burning scene on the foot of Mount Comet. Xilfer walked out of the line of trees, his head tilted upward, as he tried to see what happened, but the thin layer of mists hanging in the air blocked his vision to reach further than the height of the trees. Rainbow slowly walked out and stood beside Xilfer, and wondered what had happened to the flying metal thing. Jay and Bug walked out soon after, and the earth shook, though faintly. It was followed by another, and another, and then another. Each one felt stronger than the earlier, and soon, the burning noise was accompanied by a low growl. “Tsk,” Bug looked around, “what is it now?” Jay turned, and saw the area of where the campsite was, of where he woke up. It was now nothing but a complete wreck, and from the mists on that area, something blue reflected the light of the burning chopper. A thick and massive blue foot emerged from the mists, it's firmed step shook the earth ever so slightly. Jay and the others' eyes slowly worked their way up, following the tall creature's body, up until the many necks and heads, and pairs of glowing eyes locked hungrily at them. And another step, and the earth shook lightly. While the others were frozen, Xilfer sighed. “Oh, you've got to be f*cking kidding me...” he groaned. Another step, and the massive creature stopped, its crystal tail moving slightly as it pulled its many heads down as far as it could manage. The four large crystal heads reflected the fire, and four pairs of glowing yellow eyes were all fixed on the four smaller creatures. Their crystal tongues slithered out occasionally. Jay and the others, after finally snapping back, slowly took a step back. Nothing. They took another step. Nothing. Another ste— Rainbow stepped on a fallen twig, and it snapped, painfully breaking the silence. Three human heads turned to her, and the pegasus' ears drooped as she smiled nervously and apologetically. Four serpentine-like heads roared.