//------------------------------// // 6- Jungle Rock // Story: The Star's Fall To Equestria // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// “A HIKING WE WILL GO, A HIKING WE WILL GO, HI HO THE MERR-“ Joseph clamped a hoof on Pinkie’s mouth, “Stop singing. Right now.” Pinkie nodded as Joseph sighed in relief. They had been hiking through the underground caves they had found for quite some time, four hours to be precise, Pinkie had been singing for three. Daring Do was at the head of the group and was currently leading them up a sloped hill of rock and sand. Still they trekked, the mere thought of seeing the sun their only drive. Twilight was glancing around nervously which Jotaro picked up on. “Hey, you.” Twilight glanced at Jotaro, “It’s Twilight.” Jotaro stared evenly at her, “Twilight, why are you being so damn jumpy?” “Well you see. A year back me and my foal sitter ended up in these caverns beneath the castle our ruler lives in,” The others listened in, “In truth…I’ve always had a slight fear of dark…small places.” Jotaro nodded knowingly, “Claustrophobia, makes sense, you strike me as the type that doesn’t get out much.” Joseph snorted in laughter behind them which Twilight glared at. Daring then piped up, “Hey gang, I see light!” All the ponies surged forward and Daring Do was at the full brunt of it. Soon they arrived within the back of a ground level cave with an opening in front of them. Joseph rushed outside and fell on his back laughing in the sunlight. The other ponies were all relieved that they finally found a way out and wouldn’t be trapped below in the damp dark. Jotaro glanced around and noticed that the cave was in fact below a plateau with the temple above it, “Hm…well we’re still nearby.” Daring smiled, “Well at least we all know that there is a trap door in front of the entrance, c’mon we’re going back inside.” All the ponies groaned as they started hiking up the mountain, Rainbow Dash was sticking close to Daring who chuckled. Rainbow Dash tapped her chin, “Hey Miss Do why-“ Daring cut her off, “Please, call me Daring, all my friends do.” Rainbow squeed as she continued, “Daring why haven’t, you know, ever shown up in the papers before?” Daring smiled at Dash as Twilight listened closely, “Well truthfully I don’t really like the spotlight all that much. I mostly work as a college professor on the side and operate under my pen name.” Twilight raised an eyebrow, “So you’re saying the books, the books featuring you, were written by you?” Daring nodded, “Gotta put the bits on the table somehow, fun fact, the books are non-fiction.” Rainbow Dash dropped her jaw, “Your saying that all of the stuff in your novels?!” “Happened,” Daring nodded with a smirk, “Yes, I’ve saved the world a couple of times like you all have.” Jonathan nodded, “Fascinating.” Soon they arrived on ground level and walked to the temple’s entrance taking care of avoiding the hole via some magic from Twilight and soon they were heading down the main hallway. As they walked, the ponies began to notice that there were engravings, symbols that seemed to flow along the walls like trails. Daring examined them with intrigue and continued along her way with the group in tow. Soon they came to a large dome shaped room, but what surprised them all was what lay within. In the center of the dome room was a massive tablet that was the size of a large house in height and about as wide as a large TV. Pinkie Pie knocked on it, “Oh my Celestia a GIANT ROCK!” Daring flew up the tablet and tapped her chin, “That’s strange. There are glyphs here, but they’re more or less just like I said, strange.” As the group got closer, they noticed that the tablet contained more engravings of pictures than actual glyphs. What surprised them the most was that it showed seven star symbols descending from the heavens, touching the Earth, and then it showed the depiction of seven ponies facing down…three enemies? Jonathan tapped his chin in puzzlement, “Well it is quite obvious that these are depicting us,” he tapped the inscription containing the three enemies, “But these…I am not sure what these are…” Joseph got close and looked; the pictures did not depict ponies, but symbols. The first symbol seemed to depict a map; the other was a bird of prey, the last was another star symbol but it seemed to have three dots in its center. Joseph shrugged, “Maybe the ponies that made this got drunk or some shit.” Twilight glanced around, “I doubt it Jojo. This might be a star gazer temple.” Daring nodded, “Correct! One of few that are still left in Equestria,” she then landed beside Twilight, “but you said that these engravings depict these ponies, that means there’s seven of them here? Hm.” Jotaro looked at the tablet and narrowed his eyes with focused intent at the three enemy symbols, “So I assume THIS is the evil force we’re supposed to defeat?” Jonathan nodded beside Jotaro, “It seems so. We had best gather our forces post haste before something else occurs.” Joseph’s ear twitched as he quickly glanced around. Pinkie noticed his sudden action, “What is it Jojo?” Joseph raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think we’re alone.” Jotaro became on guard, “Whatever the hell just came in here sounds big.” Twilight then remembered something, “Jotaro can I ask you something quickly?” Jotaro was still looking around and gestured quickly for her to ask. Twilight nodded, “Back in the corpse room, you summoned something from yourself, what was it?” Jotaro glanced at her in surprised shock as Jonathan and Joseph were confused at the statement. Before he could answer a massive jet of whit material slammed into him with sickening speed which hurled him into the tablet. The tablet cracked and dangerously shook as the ponies gazed at what attacked them. A massive blood red and black arachnid descended from the ceiling, venom dripping onto the stone floor which it alighted down upon. Jotaro grit his teeth in annoyed anger as thrashed in the silk that held him, it was like steel. He gazed down as the Arachnid closed in on the ponies who prepared for battle. “That fucking bug just made the biggest mistake of its life,” Jotaro narrowed his eyes, “It just pissed me off!” The Arachnid prepared to pounce only for the sound of crashing stone to divert its attention. Jotaro stood on the ground as the tablet crashed in pieces behind him. Twilight looked on in surprise, “How did you-” To most, it would be a blink. To Jotaro, time itself slowed to an absolute halt. Jotaro rushed the Arachnid as Star Platinum appeared. Time resumed instantaneously as Twilight finished her sentence, “-do that? What in the?!” Star Platinum then brought its hooves back and rained down a flurry of blows faster than the eye could perceive, “ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA!” The Arachnid’s body contorted under each blow, the final one sending it crashing through the adjacent wall and onto the grass outside. Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie looked at Jotaro who smiled in satisfaction. Rarity hugged Jotaro, much to his surprise, “THANK YOU SO MUCH! When we get back, I am making you any outfit you desire!” The ponies stepped outside…and were greeted by Cadance who was looking with shock at the destroyed spider. “Twilight! Just the pony I was looking for!” Twilight approached and did their signature greeting. Jonathan noticed the crown atop of Cadance’s head and kneeled before her kissing her hoof, “M’lady.” Cadance giggled slightly, “Twilight, are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Twilight nodded, “Cadance, this is Jonathan Joestar. Over there is Joseph Joestar, and that is Jotaro Kujo.” Jotaro tilted his head in response. Cadance nodded as Twilight asked the question that entered her mind, “Why are you all the way out here?” Cadance sighed, “There’s an issue at the Crystal Empire. I went to Auntie Celestia first, but when she saw the stallion, she told me to come get you.” Twilight raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Stallion?” * (Crystal Empire- One Day Earlier.) The Crystal Wreath, one of the many high class restaurants in the crystal empire was currently catering to one of its customers. The stallion had a plum purple coat and blue eyes. His body was lean and had the average build of a stallion, but if a pony were to check, his muscles were toned with youth. His tail was short, black and straight. His entire mane on the other hoof had been styled into a black pompadour which sat atop his head as he ate some of buttered scones in front of him with a content smile on his face. The waiter deposited his bill, “Your bill sir, did you enjoy your meal?” The stallion looked at the stacked plates beside him on the table, “Yes I did, please give my compliments to the chef.” The Waiter nodded, “As you wish, please pay before you leave.” The stallion nodded, “Yes sir.” The Waiter trotted off as the stallion pulled out a red bit bag and deposited the money on the table. As he got up to leave two stallions burst in and pointed at him. The stallion raised an eyebrow as he walked past them. “HEY! YOU CHEATED US OUT OF OUR BITS!” The stallion looked over his shoulder with a smirk, “It’s not my fault you suck at cards.” The other stallion stepped forward, “Listen Juicekay.” The stallion huffed, “Josuke.” The Angry Stallion sneered, “Whatever, you owe us bits and we want them back!” Josuke shrugged off the comment as he continued trotting away, “Sorry can’t help you. I just used them all to pay for my tab.” The Angry Stallion stepped forward, “Why you!” His buddy stopped him, “He’s not worth it, he’s just some punk with a ridiculous mane cut.” The Angry Stallion didn’t notice Josuke freeze in mid-stride, “Yeah, I mean what is that on his head anyway? A hairy log?” Josuke turned around as his expression bore absolute rage upon it which was directed at the two stallions who backed up in fear, “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY HAIR!?”