//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Magic, Beasts, and Ponies // Story: A Hidden Blade // by Hidden_Blade_Attack //------------------------------// It was the morning of the next day. Me and Fluttershy were outside real early to get a head start to finding the pieces I need. My horn felt weird from being so exposed, I'v had it covered it up for over a week. It was a nice summer day, very fresh with a nice breeze. My mind was working non-stop to figure out how to create a machine to transport me home. But my mind has also been distracted by other things, blue things. "Perfect day for searching huh shy?" I said letting the wind soar through my mane. I wanted to enjoy the little things, in other words last night I faced reality. I wasn't getting any where soon. So I better get comfy and enjoy my time here. I had the perfect way of going about that. "Yes. We must be very careful in Everfree forest. There are many dangers." She replied. I nodded. I wasn't exactly worried about any threat other than Kram. We were just about to get under way when we were stopped by a certain purple dragon. "Hey! Mind if I help you out. Twilight still thinks your untrustworthy but I trust you and I wanna help." Spike told me. "Sure come along." I replied. He smiled in glee and then we were off. It wasn't much to look at but tree after tree after tree. There was only a little path to follow and I found it hard to tell where it was but Fluttershy and Spike seemed familiar. "You should try out some of that dragon magic!" Spike said pointing to my forehead. "My horn is still healing." I was cut short by Fluttershy. "Actually it looks fine." She said. I looked up at my horn, I could only manage to see the tip, but before there wasn't one so it must have healed. It looks different but I didn't know how. "We'll start easy." Spike said as the three of us stopped on the path. "Try and lift that log." Spike said pointing to a rather big log, but it was badly decomposed so it was probably light. "Challenge accepted." I replied as I aimed my horn at it and concentrated hard like I have before. "Twilight said your magic must be really strong, you teleported rather effortlessly." Spike reminded me of when I teleported across the room in the library. "I don't know, his horn might be more sensitive now." Fluttershy said. "I got this!" I reassured. After almost a minute the log was finally wrapped in a dark orange glow and slowly lifted. "Haha! I did it." I cheered. "Way to go." Spike said. I tried levitating it higher but it burst into flames. "Ah crap." I said as I held it from the ground so the forest wouldn't catch. "Twilight also said your magic seems fire based." Spike added. "I noticed." Holding the log up put little strain on my mind so I was easily holding it up from the ground. But all of a sudden it disappeared in a burst of light and a small orange flicker went through the air and the log reappeared into a stream near by. "I did think of water." I said. "Hey, that was like how I teleport the letters to Princess Celestia." I was about to question who that was but since she was a princess I thought other wise. "Let's continue on then." Fluttershy said. Me and Spike followed and we continued our journey through the forest. The forest seemed restless as many noises could be heard within. And every single one made Fluttershy jump. "What exactly are we looking for?" Spike asked. "Um, yeah what are we looking for?" Fluttershy repeated. "Metal, copper, ores of sorts. Strong wood may even do but some metal is required." I replied. "Oh, I saw a lot of metal on top of that hill." Fluttershy gestured to a big hill in the distance, from here it seemed to shine, almost like it was made of iron. "Perfect." We continued down the path until we had to get off of it to get to the hill. Fluttershy really didn't want to but didn't want us to go on and her to be left alone. The hill still seemed quite a distance, but we were making quite good time. The forest was dense so it seemed to be night, the path seemed so much lighter. After fighting through bushes for a while we finally hit a small clearing. We were crossing it when I heard Fluttershy make a slight 'eep' noise. "What's up Flutter-" I saw pretty fast, an eye was laying in the ground, a giant one. It slowly opened and spotted Fluttershy. Another eye surfaced near Spike who jumped back to me. "What is that?" Spike asked. Fluttershy was just shaking and I didn't know. Then the eyes disappeared under the ground. All of a sudden a bunch of sharp rocks began poking out of the ground in a circle around us. "What's with the rocks?" I asked. "They aren't rocks..." Fluttershy barely said above a whisper. "Wha?" "They aren't rocks, they're teeth." She said. Right at that realisation the ground beneath us crumbled and revealed a giant mouth beneath us. "Whoa!" I said but with barely any thinking I teleported me and Spike beside the hole. "Fluttershy, fly out of there!" Spike yelled she got up and started flying to us, the mouth had fully eaten the ground we were on. Fluttershy's wings seemed to seize up and she fell. Luckily Spike managed to catch her by the hoof which left her dangling. "Help!" Spike said struggling to lift her weight. I aimed my horn at her. "Wait, what about your fire!" Spike warned but I didn't have time to think about that. Right before I could help them I was grabbed by behind and lifted into the air. The creature seemed to own tentacles as they began coming out of the ground. The one the had me was tightly wrapped around my back legs. It swung around and I couldn't focus enough to use my horn. I did manage to see one grab Spike and Fluttershy and rip them from each other. I finally got my magic going, the first thing I did was shoot a bolt of fire but missed. I shot another and hit the limb. I realised my mistake as I fell to the creatures mouth. I grabbed onto one of its teeth and managed to hold my weight. "Hold on guys!" I yelled to them as I shot some more fire trying to hit their tentacles. Finally I hit the one holding Spike, he fell but grabbed onto my tail, it hurt but I pushed through. Now I needed to free Fluttershy. She looked terrified from the angle I could see her in. I shot a couple more bolts but missed. Finally one his the tentacle and she fell but Spike managed to catch her, which added more weight to my aching tail. "Hold on! I'm getting us out of here!" I yelled. The tentacles were desperately searching for us. I tried pulling us up but my hooves couldn't get a strong enough grip. I could hear Flutter sobbing and the creature wouldn't stop roaring. Then it's eyes popped up and spotted us. Before I could react the tentacle wrapped around my front hooves pulling me from the sides. We were now dangling over the centre of its mouth. "Don't let go!" Spike begged. I tried not to, but it's not like I have fingers. "Hidden! I'm coming!" I heard a familiar voice yell. I looked in the direction and saw Rainbow Dash flying to us. "Rainbow!" I yelled but just then the limb dropped us and we fell onto the beasts tongue. "Hang on here Spike." I told him pointing to a part of the tongue. "Fine, wait where's Fluttershy!?" Spike yelled. I then saw her sliding down into the throat. "No!" I yelled. I couldn't let one die because of me, it was my oath I made all those days ago. I jumped for it. I had no idea what I was expecting. But I did. I was reaching for her but could just not reach. It was real dark, I couldn't see, only hear. I heard Spike and Rainbow yelling and Flutter begging for help. I was just falling down the throat. I was caught. I didn't care how but I was saved. I quickly bit Fluttershy's tail holding her up. "I got you, don't worry!" Rainbow said as she flew with all her might and pulled me and Fluttershy out. We were set down in the middle of the forest. "rainbow, you have to go back for Spike!" I ordered. 'Wait. Are you alright?" She asked. "Just go!" I said again. She hesitated then left. I sat down panting. I was beat. I saw Flutter finally stop crying and look at me. "Thanks." Is all she said. "No prob." I answered. We were sitting there for a while. I started hearing Rainbow and Spike yelling for us. I didn't want them to find me. I couldn't have Rainbow with me today, it was one of the voices conditions. "Now what?" Flutter asked. I thought for a moment. "We keep moving." I said getting up and then I helped 'shy to her hooves. "We didn't come this far not to get what I need." "What about Rainbow?" "Just us. Let's go." "but shouldn't we thank her-*" "Come on!" I yelled. It surprised myself a bit, and Fluttershy who quickly shut up. "We're wasting daylight." I added more calmly. And with that we continued on our way.