//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Onward Bound 
// Story: World of Chaos 
// by ugugg93 
//------------------------------//

	For the first time in her entire life, as far as she could recall, Pinkie was unable to get to sleep. She had been tossing and turning earlier, but now she lay still. She didn't want to rob Applejack of any rest that the orange earth pony would desperately need the next day. Pinkie had tried everything that she could think of: counting cupcakes, flipping over her pillow to the cool side, or even controlling her breathing. Nothing seemed to work. She was just so worried about what they were about to set out to do, and while Rarity had helped cheer her up, she was still uneasy. How the other five girls were able to stay so calm and find sleep was something Pinkie would never understand. Even Fluttershy, the most timid pony she had ever met, was able to calm down enough to go to sleep.

Sighing in frustration, she got out of her bed, carefully so that Applejack would not wake, and trotted as softly as she could to the restroom. Once inside, she closed the door, and ignited the gas lamp, filling the bathroom in light. Looking into the mirror, while she looked alright now, she knew that not getting sleep tonight would surly change that appearance to the typical insomniac look ponies got. She turned on the water, and splashed some of the cool liquid into her face. Looking back into the mirror, she felt like Rarity as she inspected her poofy pink mane, making sure nothing was out of its proper place.

Pinkie stared deep onto the mirror, her face still dripping as she looked into her own blue eyes, as if they would give her answers to one of the many unanswered questions that she had at dinner. 'Maybe Rarity is right,' she thought to herself, 'Maybe that Pinkie Sense only means that a crazy dragon is about to give us gifts! I mean, that's never happened before, which would explain the newness of the newthing. That makes sense... right?'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Looking to her right, she saw Twilight walking in. The lavender unicorn's appearance was much more disheveled than she herself had. The unicorn's mane was in every direction, and the single pink stripe that ran through her mane and tail was blurred into the purple surrounding it. Pinkie was about to bombard Twilight with an endless train of words, when Twilight spoke.

“Oh... hey Pinkie. What are you doing awake? The unicorn asked, the exhaustion obvious in her cracked voice.

“Well, I was trying to sleep when... umm... I couldn't get my mind off of that Dragon Cupcake!” Pinkie lied, doing her best to sound like her cheerful self, “I mean, sure he's an old dragon, but how the hay did he even make that thing!? How did he even carry the thing? Its like he was magical! Maybe he's half unicorn? Though I don't wanna think how that would work! So how about you, Twi-Twi? Why you awake?”

Twilight sighed, “I guess I couldn't sleep.”

“Really!? Me either!” Pinkie giggled.

Walking up to the sink, the lavender unicorn proceeded to wash her face, “Say Pinkie, I have a question. What were you are Rarity talking about at dinner? I looked over and you seemed... well... not yourself. Sad even.”

“Oh...” Pinkie's ears flattened, “You saw that?”

Twilight nodded, “You wanna talk about it?”

Pinkie looked around, nervously stepping with her front hooves, the thought of sharing her secrets with Twilight scaring her. After a few seconds of her nervous fidgeting, she nearly ran to the bathroom door, and locked it. Turning back towards Twilight, she started in a  hushed tone uncharacteristic to the pink pony,  “Well... I was trying to be happy, but I was thinking about a lot of things. Like how did this happen? Why do we have to go on this trip?” Pinkie looked down, “Can't it be somepony else...”

“Pinkie Pie...” Twilight softly spoke. She walked over to where the earth pony was standing, and nuzzled her neck with her cheek, “Its not like you to be the one that's stressed and worried. That's my job.”

She smiled slightly, letting out a single giggle, but as she kept her head down, the solemn face she held before returned,  “Do you think that we'll all be alright? Do you think everypony will... come back safe? Do you... think that we can go home soon?”

Twilight kept her cheek to Pinkie's neck, “Of course we're going to be fine. I'm feeling much better than two days ago. Rarity is has been a little weird since dinner, but she apparently got a weapon of some kind from Sp... Sarlaka. Rainbow is too protective of Fluttershy to let anything happen to her. Fluttershy has that creepy stare thing that she pulled on that cockatrice a few months ago. As for Applejack, well, she's the most able-bodied pony I've ever met, so I'm sure she'll have no issues.”

Pinkie looked up, “... and me?”

“Really? You?” Twilight pulled away, showing Pinkie her smile, “I didn't think I'd even have to mention you. I may have been nearly passed out at the time, but I saw you in that fight a few days ago. Those guards didn't even get close to you, and I still have no idea WHERE you got that confetti.”

Pinkie pulled Twilight into a hug, holding it there. There was a long pause in the conversation, before she finally worked up the nerve to speak up, “Its hard,” Pinkie finally said, “being the Element of Laughter. Everypony expects me to be happy and giggle all the time, but I feel so sad sometimes, and I don't know how to laugh when I'm sad. I just don't know...”

“Pinkie... is this why you couldn't sleep?” Twilight whispered in her ear. Pinkie nodded slowly, “Oh Pinkie Pie...  you can be sad too if you have to. You don't need to laugh all the time.”

“I don't?”

“Of course not!” Twilight pulled Pinkie closer to herself, “If Rarity was always generous, how could she run her business? If Fluttershy was always kind, then how could she have saved me and the Cutie Mark Crusaders against the cockatrice? If I always did magic, then how could I have participated in Winter Wrap Up?”

“Uhh... Twilight? Didn't Applejack say you DID use magic during the last Winter Wrap Up?”

Twilight muttered something to herself about Applejack and her honesty, “Well... ok yeah I did, but it was once, and it really didn't help at all. Other than that, I didn't use magic.” Pinkie looked skeptically at Twilight, “Ok, that wasn't a good example I admit, but you get what I'm trying to say.”

Pinkie put her hoof to her chin and thought. Even with Twilight butchering her own argument with that last example, she did have a point. “Well... okie!” she smiled, jumping with a quick bounce.

“There's the Pinkie I know and love. Now how about we try to get some sleep already?” Twilight let out a big yawn, “I'm beat.”

Nodding, Pinkie let go of Twilight. She watched as Twilight slowly trotted out of the bathroom. Pinkie frowned, “Hey Twilight. Why were you awake anyways?”

The unicorn stopped her walking, and looked down, “I was just thinking...”

Pinkie walked up to Twilight, sat down, and just looked at the unicorn. Twilight paused for a fleeting moment, kept her eyes at her hooves, and released a breath, “In three days, I went from having the perfect life a pony could have, to this. I had the five greatest friends a pony could ask for, had the best little assistant in Spike, and I was the prized pupil to Princess Celestia herself. Now? The six of us have been thrown into this completely bucked up world, Spike is... gone..., Luna is gone, and Celestia...”

Twilight sniffed, “...I'm doing my best to put on a brave face, but its taking everything I have not to just altogether fall apart... and now I'm about to lose four of you for who knows how long...”

Pinkie wrapped her forelegs around her friend, feeling Twilight shutter in response, “Twilight, I know things are all saddie waddie, but even if we aren't there next to you, doesn't mean we aren't with you. I'm here for you. Well, mostly to laugh at your silliness of course, but I'm here.” She smiled as Twilight faced her, “I'll always be here,”

The two ponies sat there in the glow of the lone gas lantern casting shadows that danced against the walls. Suddenly feeling an urge, Pinkie slowly pulled herself closer to the unicorn she was embracing. Their faces grew closer as they gazed into each other eyes, their breathing being the only sound that cut through the void. As she neared, she felt Twilight tense.

She raised a hoof up, and pressed it against the unicorn's nose, “Honk!”

Twilight sniffed again, giggling, “Hehehe... thanks Pinkie. You're smarter than you let yourself on to be. You know that?”

Pinkie smiled and gave off a mock gasp, “I am? Oh Twilight, you have to help me! I think somepony switched my brain out for some other pony's! You have to help me find a harmonica, a quill, and a ducky that can sing 'Rock-a-Bye Filly!'”

“Oh Pinkie, you're so random,” Twilight rolled her eyes, a grin now plastered on her face. “And thanks. I don't know what I would do without a crazy pony like you with me.”

“Probably eat icky cupcakes.”

“Heh, probably.” Twilight pulled Pinkie into one more hug, then back into the bedroom. Pinkie looked on as the unicorn disappeared past the doorway, into the darkness, and her smile slightly disappeared. She turned back towards the mirror next to her, and looked at the face of the pink pony in the glass. The signature Pinkie Pie grin did not greet her. However, a much warmer and genuine smile looked at her as she peered into her reflection. For whatever reason, it looked like the happiest smile she had ever shown in her life. Still, she sighed. Suppressing that urge just now wasn't what she wanted, but it wouldn't have been right, considering everything that's going on.

With a renewed bounce in her step, the pink mare quietly walked over to the bed she and Applejack were sharing, and slipped under the sheets, smiling at the comfort of the warmth the blankets provided. Beside her, the orange pony was softly snoring, her hat placed on one of the chairs next to their bed. Pinkie looked at her, and once again thought about the crazy journey that the two of them were about to embark on. This time though, she wasn't worried about their well-being, for even through all the danger that they would encounter, she knew the two would be alright. Well... unless Applejack finally got fed up with her crazy monologues, but Applejack would never crack under something like that.

But even after Twilight's pep talk and half an hour of rolling around, a pressing feeling was still weighing on Pinkie's mind, and it just wouldn't go away, no matter how much she tried to reassure herself. She could barely see past her own bed, but she could tell that the other ponies, as before, were contently asleep. Pinkie's soft smile slowly turned into a frown the more she thought about the dangers that lay ahead. Sure, she wasn't the fastest, strongest, or smartest of the group, but she knew that as long as she was with her friends, she could keep them safe. But tomorrow, they would split up, and with only Applejack with her, how would she keep Fluttershy safe? How about Rarity?

And Twilight...

Pinkie turned herself over so she faced towards where Twilight and Rarity were sleeping. “Psst! Twilight!” she whispered into the dark, “Are you sleeping?”

There was no answer. “Psst! Twilight! You awake?” she again whispered, this time slightly louder. Getting no answer for a second time, it was obvious that she was asleep. However, Pinkie couldn't contain what was on her mind, “I know you're sleeping, but... I want you to promise me you'll be careful. I know Rarity will be there with you, but... I think something bad is going to happen to one of us. Please please PLEASE look after yourself, alright? I... umm... I... well I don't want anything to happen to you. Anyways... Twilight, I... umm... I think I might... well...” Pinkie sighed, “... nevermind. Goodnight Twilight.” She rolled over, and tried to will herself to sleep once more.

Two mares would not be getting any sleep that night.


__________________________________________________________________________


Everypony was quiet at breakfast the next morning. Even with Sarlaka absent, which Pinkie had noticed the others ceased idle gossip when he was around, her friends were eating their oats in silence. Her five friends were probably thinking about their journey ahead, considering that they were completely packed and had their saddlebags next to their chairs. Normally, she would've jumped at the opportunity to start a silly song or do something random to get a smile out of them, but right now, even she didn't feel in the mood for her spastic antics.

A bad sign.

Pinkie was only half done with her bowl when a familiar “Meanie Dragon” walked in carrying a similar looking bag from the previous night. Calmly, he approached his usual place at the head of the table, and laid down. Instead of initiating conversation like the last two days, he seemed to be content just observing the six friends eat while he silently watched. Stealing a glance at him, she saw none of excitement on his face that he usually wore. Instead, she saw the same concerned frown that she had seen way too much from her group recently. It was as though he was fresh out of sarcastic remarks.

Another bad sign.

She was getting anxious. The anxiety, worry, and fear, not to mention the lack of sleep was building up inside of her. Not feeling like acting like her bubbly self was only causing the stress to become harder and harder to hold inside. Three more minutes of silence, and Pinkie had lost it.

“Aaaahhh!!!” Pinkie screamed, causing Rarity, who was sitting next to her, to jump a few inches off her chair. Feeling everypony's staring eyes on her, she brought her face to the table. She had intended to bring her forehead down on the table itself, but she instead slammed it into the edge of her bowl of oats, causing it to flip up, and flop on top of her head, spilling the contents on top of her. Ignoring the embarrassing situation, Pinkie just sat motionless in frustration.

The silence in the air was still thick enough to cut with a knife, except now that she had pulled 'a Pinkie', as she suspected Rainbow would call it, it only made it feel worse. Normally, she would love to be the center of attention, but not right now, especially with the mind numbing silence that was impossible to get out of the air.

She heard a giggle.

Then another.

Soon, she heard all the others laughing at the sight she had just created. Not wanting to laugh with them, she left her head on the table. The only one who was not laughing was Rarity, who had started to poke her in her side.

“Oh dear. Pinkie, are you alright?” Pinkie heard Rarity say, a slight giggle in her voice. Not moving her head from off the table, she looked over at the white unicorn, who was looking at Pinkie with amusement plastered on her face. Pinkie didn't want to laugh, but she couldn't resist the mental image.

“Well duh! If I wasn't ok, it wouldn't be an 'Aaaahhh!!!' It would be more of a 'Blurble!!!” Pinkie rambled. “Or maybe a 'Phhhhh!!' Of course, I would be even more ok if these oats had sugar in them, but they don't, so I thought to myself 'Gee Pinkie, why don't you add sugar to it?' Of course I don't have sugar on me, but I thought that maybe if I slammed my face into the bowl, I could imagine it was a Dragon Cup-”

She was stopped by Rarity pushing her hoof into Pinkie's face. “Really darling? You look like an absolute mess! Please have some table manners when you are eating,” the dignified mare smiled, the obvious amusement apparent.

“Oh boy. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time,” Sarlaka smiled. “Sweet Discord am I glad I met you, you crazy, crazy pony.”

Pinkie lifted her head off the table, and smiled at him, leaving the oat bowl on her head.

Several minutes later, after all the ponies had started to settle down, Applejack finally spoke, “So Ah guess tha' we all should be leavin' soon on our little trip, huh?”

Sarlaka nodded, “Sadly, that would probably be the best idea. But before you ponies go, I have three things to say. First, Honesty and Laughter, I put a medallion with my seal on it in your saddlebags. It will help you get past the border, plus guards should look the other way when it comes to minor... grievances. Just don't give me too much of a bad name.”

“My dear Lord Sarlaka, I don't mean to be rude, but why only those two?” Rarity questioned as she took another bite of her oats.

“Because you and Magic aren't leaving my domain, nor are you going into any urban areas, so there's no point. As for Kindness and Loyalty... well... they'd probably be in a worse situation if they were caught with them.

“As for the second thing, I put a map of the locations that you need to go into your saddlebags as well. The routes aren't that hard to follow, but I would rather you ponies follow a map instead of guess at the locations of the artifacts.

“Finally, I have a final gift for you all.” The dragon flung the bag he brought in with him onto the table in front of them, causing a couple of other, smaller bags to fall out of it.

The girls looked at each other, each with a confused face on. Twilight was the first to gather her wits, and used her magic to envelop one of the bags. Bringing it to herself, she dropped it in front of her, opened it, and looked inside. Her eyes grew slightly wider as she showed the others what was inside: a giant pile of golden coins.

“I know that some of you forgot to pack a few things, and I know situations will come up that will require some... greasing of gears so to speak. Considering the amount I gave each of you, it should be well enough to last all of you through the trip, plus some.”

“Just how much did you give each of us?” Rainbow asked as she flew over, and grabbed a bag in her teeth.

Sarlaka smiled, “From what I've been told by some of the ponies in the Conflound treasury, I suspect at least as much as an average pony in my domain would earn in a decade...”

Applejack spewed milk and oats across the table.

“... if not more.”

“Your kidding...” Rarity spoke up, looking in her bag that she had just brought over to herself, “This can't be as much as that.”

“Well, considering that each one of those coins could probably buy a month or two worth of a common pony's 'stuff', no. I am not kidding.”

Fluttershy quietly spoke, “Oh... my...”

“Just please don't waste it. I know I have enough in my hoard to buy everything I could ever dream of, but I don't condone that sort of behavior, especially out the ponies that will be using my money.” Sarlaka spoke, smiling a little bit.

“Well... thank you... um... Sarlaka,” Twilight said. “I don't know what to say.”

“Then say nothing. Please. I have enough subjects thanking me for little nothings every day. I don't need six more.”

“Fine by me!” Rainbow said through her teeth as she did a couple of flips in the air, landing on the ground next to her seat. She placed the bag into her saddlebags, and put them over her back. Wiggling a little bit, she eventually got them balanced onto her haunches perfectly. Looking around, seeing five ponies and a dragon looking at her, she spoke again, “What? I thought we were leaving.” 

Pinkie grinned at Rainbow, and threw her own saddlebags into the air, catching them on her back. Seeing Rainbow start trotting towards the door, Pinkie decided to follow her, and with a quick pull of her saddlebags' straps, they together headed towards the main hall. Looking back, Rainbow smiled at her.

“Sweet Celestia I thought we were never going to get out of this cave. I can't remember the last time I've wanted to fly so much. Being all cramped in this cave is driving me crazy!”

Pinkie merely smiled back as she bounced out of the main hall, and down the passageway. Making the bend, they saw light spilling out into the tunnel leading outside. Unable to resist the urge, Pinkie ran towards the light until she was outside. She felt the snow blanketing the ground under her, the cool touch against her hooves. The wind was so still and the world so quiet, she could hear the amusing crunching of snow under her feet. Giggling, she started hopping up and down, feeling the snow underhoof. It didn't matter that she was cold; the sound plus the sunlight warmed her enough.

She felt a sudden gust push her from behind as a rainbow colored blur zoomed into the sky outside. Looking up, Pinkie saw the cyan pony flying around, doing various loops and spins, all the while having saddlebags strapped to her. Pinkie Pie could only watch in awe as not only did the pegasus do a few tricks, but also managed to not have the saddlebags, let alone the various items inside, fall back to earth. A minute later, she heard more ponies behind her approaching, the soft crunching of the snow making their presence known. Heavier steps soon followed, stopping behind her.

Rainbow eventually flew back down to the cliff edge, “Wow! I knew I was cramped up in that place, but I didn't realize how uncool that cave was until I was out here.” Rainbow flapped her wings a few times for emphasis, before tucking them close to her body.

“Now remember my ponies,” Sarlaka spoke, “each of you will have to be careful. The world you are in now is not a place of love and tolerance. There are many ponies out there that would love to harm each of you, take your stuff, or worse. All of you, especially you two pegasi, need to keep your wits with you. And please, don't do anything stupid,” he finished as he looked at Rainbow. The six friends looked at each other, and smiled.

“Well... ah guess this is goodbye for a while. Ah don' know how long we'll be, but ah hope we'll all be alright.”

“Oh please, dear, don't be so melodramatic. I am quite certain that any issues we will face will be minor.”

“Ah hope yall right. Take care of ya'self Rarity.”

“You too Applejack. And watch over Fluttershy, Rainbow.”

“Yeah yeah. Just worry about yourself.”

“Umm... please be careful Twilight. Please don't overuse your magic again...”

“Don't worry, I'll be careful Fluttershy.”

“Pinks, be careful you crazy, random pony.”

“Oh silly filly, when have I ever been in trouble?”

“How about every few minutes?”

“Hmm... true. But look out for Parasprites, Dashie!”

“Why should I... you know what, nevermind. I will.”

“Be careful Applejack! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!”

“Uhh... ya know tha' ya coming with me Pinkie, right?”

“Oh right! Hehehe.”

“Pinkie Pie, be careful out there, and remember what I said, ok?”

“Of course, Twilight! And you remember what I said about the cupcakes!”

“But Pinkie, I don't-”

“Hey! I have an idea! Last ones to get their element has to do something of the other's choice! Like a dare!”

“Really, Rainbow? Your making a bet out of-”

“Ya on!”

“I could use a good laugh after this. As long as it is not something too degrading, I accept.”

“Okie dokie lokie!”

“Umm... as long as its a friendly contest, and not anything mean...”

“But... ugh! Fine. Deal.”

The group of friend gave each other a long hug, which Pinkie almost wished would never end. Eventually though, the released each other, and she smiled as the ponies all said their last goodbyes. Fluttershy and Rainbow gave a final wave, then jumped off the cliff face, flying towards their destination. Rarity and Twilight smiled, gave a farewell, and started heading down the mountain in the opposite direction from which they originally came. As for Applejack and herself, they started down the mountain heading in the same direction that they originally came from a few days before. Applejack had a steady trot while she herself was moving along in her typical bounce.

“Hey Applejack.”

“Yeah Pinkie?”

“Have you ever had a Cherrychanga?”


_______________________________________________________________________


Sarlaka laid across his hoard, his wings stretching as far as they could to try and lay on every single inch of gems. He was largely unsuccessful, the hoard being many times his size, but the feeling of the gems on his scales was enough to make him sigh in satisfaction. While the visitors that he had recently hosted were... entertaining, he was glad that he finally had the place to himself again, and the silence that came with it. Of course, that silence brought back thoughts and memories of the past, but he long became close friends with the worst of them, so it was nothing new.

He swore he heard something. Lifting his head, he heard the soft pitter-patter of hooves against rock. With a sigh, he rolled back onto his stomach, and got up on all fours. It had only been a few hours, so unless one of the pairs had given up this quickly, which was unlikely, this was an... unwelcome guest that was after either his hoard, his territory, that damned myth, or a combination of all three. No matter which, he was likely to add a few marks to that accursed wall.

He prayed that it was somepony who deserved it.

Two ponies came into view. Both stallions, and were at peak physical condition. They were wearing some of the best armor that money could buy, and it showed, the steel their armor was built from gleamed in the soft light of his lair. While unarmed, Sarlaka knew that these two did not need weapons to bring harm to their adversaries. He sighed.

“Do you two always have to come unannounced like this?”

They stopped at the edge of the pile of gems, and gave a bow, “Why of course, Lord Sarlaka the Butcher,” the one on the right spoke. He had a jet black coat with a gray and white striped mane and tail. These colors contrasted with the golden trimmed armor in a curious way: the armor did not quite go with his coat and mane, nor did it clash with them. The two visitors rose back onto their hooves, “If there was a better way to contact you, I assure you that you would have received a message warning of our arrival.”

“Please Captain Jonathan, it is not a serious issue. You are not disturbing anything this time,” Sarlaka yawned, laying back down on his pile of gemstones, though he was completely attentive of the two ponies before him.

The second pony, a light brown stallion with a fiery red mane, a color scarce in today's world, stepped forward. He wore a very similar suit of armor as the previous, except that it did not have the gold trim. He spoke, “So is it true? Were those six actually the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?”

The dragon sighed, “Indeed they were, Lieutenant Wilks. I guess we are lucky that they landed where they did, and not in some other domain. Would have been... unfortunate for us.”

“Indeed it would be Lord. However, I must ask, why have you not sent out the order already?”

“Because I had to make sure that it was them, Captain. I don't want to send out yet another false alarm.”

Silence befell the two parties. Eventually, Lieutenant Wilks spoke, “So... are you going to give the order, Lord Sarlaka?”

Sarlaka paused for a moment. After ten seconds, he sighed, “Yes. Send the order: Operation Harmony has been initiated. The Bearer's are currently retrieving their targets as I suspected they would. Send word to all the necessary generals of their tasks and objectives. We will need to be ready for them when they return.”

“And of... him?”

The dragon let out another sigh, “I will inform Discord personally that the Elements of Harmony have returned. I'm sure he will be very pleased.”

Captain Jonathan smiled, “We shall carry out your orders accordingly. May the grace of our god Discord be with us.”

Sarlaka and Lieutenant Wilks replied in unison, “Discord be with us all.”




End of Part 1







A/N: Hey everybody! I know I never put Author's Notes at the end of these things, but it was either that, post it as a comment, or leave you all guessing. I picked this, so sue me. Anyways, onto the reason I'm typing this...

There are a few things I want to say. First, with Part 1 complete, I'm going to take a week off of posting, so expect the next chapter around Wednesday or Thursday (depending on when I get time to post it). I also in that time want to maybe post a one-shot, but we'll see. Second, over 60 trackers, and only 18 upvotes? What, are you waiting for the cloppin', cause it ain't happenin'! Fuel my oversized ego, and upvote this story. It makes Pinkie happy (yes I'm begging. Sue me again).

Third, and most importantly, while I'm not going to reveal anything about it, Part 2 is going to have some much darker elements to it. While I will never EVER make this story a mature rating for any reason, I just wanted to give a heads up so nobody is blindsided.

Now if you excuse me, I have over 40 chapters of tracked stories I need to read... *gulp*