//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Black Stone // Story: Carasys // by AppleZapJam //------------------------------// Chapter 1: The Black Stone "I dunno Twilight," said AppleJack in a worried tone, "I think I might of planted these seeds too late, harvest is tomorrow, and they don't look a week old!" Twilight Sparkle was helping AppleJack get ready for her corn harvest. She set down the book that she was reading, "I think I can solve your problem AppleJack! "You can?" "Sure, I just read in this book that there is a adulthood spell. Although it does look risky, the side effects include: rage, nausea, the flu, hydrophobia, sea sickness, and internal combustion." "For you or the thing your casting your spell on?" AppleJack asked with a concerned look on her face. "It doesn't say, so I'm going to guess maybe both. Always have to be prepared," She threw her biggest smile towards Applejack. "You sure you want to try this spell Twilight? I mean it being risky and all, I don't want you to get hurt." "Nonsense AppleJack, besides where's your spirit of adventure?" "Right where your mushroom cloud is going to be when you internally combust," muttered AppleJack while turning away from Twilight. "Okay here goes nothing!" Twilight's horn let out a large purple flash that enveloped the corn field. There was a slight boom that was sent throughout the entire Apple farm. The two ponies stood up and rubbed their eyes. In front of them stood fully grown corn stalks. "Land sakes! You were right twilight, that spell worked perfectly. No side effects right?" "Can I get back to you on that? I think I better get off the boat now." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "This is going to be the best picnic ever!" Exclaimed the pink pony that was bouncing up and down on all four hooves. "Pinkie, it's just our regular weekend picnic," said Rarity towards the hyperactive pony, "It's not like the gala or something like that." "Yea I guess your right Rarity," Pinkie deflated a little bit, but she perked right back up, "But this is the only picnic that we will have on this very day!" "I do suppose that you have a point there Pinkie." "I always have a point," said Pinkie with a smile that was wide as a dinner plate. "But I have to say, sometimes my points are kinda dull," Pinkie then pulled a pencil sharpener from somewhere and then shoved it in Rarity's face, "So that's why I carry this!" Rarity giggled, "Pinkie you are the life of the party aren't you?" Pinkie nodded in agreement "Where are Applejack and twilight? The question came from a rather impatient Rainbow dash who was sitting on a cloud right next to Pinkie and Rarity, "The Picnic was supposed to start five minutes ago!" She paused for a second, "Six minutes!" "I believe that's them coming down the path," said Rarity squinting, "Why is twilight carrying a bucket I wonder?" "Sorry we're late girls." "Hey! It was wort' it all though! Twilight her' got my corn fields sprouting like crazy! Shoot, I think they ar' ready to be harvested tomorrow!" Spike emerged from under the shade of a tree. "Then why does she look green?" "Well, you see Spike, the spell I used had a lot of side effects. Luckily I only got one side effect. It is a bad one though," Twilight then turned as green as a leaf and then quickly ran behind a tree holding her bucket. Spike turned towards everyone else. "Hey, anyone seen Fluttershy?" "I'm... Umm... Over here" The group turned their heads, what they saw made them gasp. Fluttershy was covered with splotches of mud. She was also walking with only three of her legs, her left front leg was crmblack and wasn't moving. "What in Equestria happened to you Fluttershy," Rarity quickly ran over to her friend and let Fluttershy lean on her, "It looks as if your leg is covered in soot!" "I don't know what happened," Fluttershy was replying quietly, "I was walking on the way over here. I saw a mud puddle ahead of me, so I went around it. I didn't notice the black rock that I stepped on. As soon as I did my leg went limp, and I feel in the mud," she looked away as if she was ashamed. Twilight walked next to Fluttershy to get a closer look at her leg, "I knew it," Twilight had some confidence in her voice, "I've only seen this once before, it's Chaos magic." "What in tarnation is Chaos Magic?" Applejack didn't know much about magic, but the word "Chaos" make her flinch a bit. "Is it some kind of virus or' somethin'?" "Sorta, this is a specific spell though," Twilight was now pacing rather rapidly, "I've only studied Chaos Magic a little bit." "Well we better find out whats going on and fast," Ranbow Dash exclaimed as she was looking at Fluttershy's leg, "Its slowly creeping up the rest of her body!" Sure enough, the blackness was slowly creeping over Fluttershy. Fluttershy squeaked as she saw this happening. Twilight quickly moved into the middle of the group, her horn glowing brightly. "We have to get to my house! That's the only place where we can find out about this Chaos Magic!" Her horn began to pulse with a purple light, "I'm going to attempt to make a teleportation spell." "But Twilight," Spike came running up next to Twilight, "You've never tried this many ponies before! What will happen if you can't do it?" Rainbow Dash quickly soared down and picked up spike, "There Twilight, that's two more you don't have to worry about. Let's go spike, we'll meet you there," Rainbow Dash then soared off in the direction of the library." Twilight then turned towards to her friends that were left, "Everypony ready?" They all nodded in agreement, "Alright let's go." Sparks began to dance around the five ponies. Fluttershy and Rarity huged each other, Pinkie and Applejack held tightly as well, and then the ponies were gone." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A bright flash erupted from the Ponyville library. Five ponies were thrown across the library. Pinkie Pie was the only one to go out though a window. Twilight was the first to stand up. "Well I won't be trying that anytime soon," Twilgiht rubbed her forehead. She turned to look at here friends, "Is every pony alright?" The only sound that came was a groan. Rarity stood up, "I'd rather not teleport anytime soon Twilgiht, no offense." A sudden thump hit the side of the library. Rainbow Dash came in from the window, with no Spike. "Where is Spike?" Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash, who responded with a sudden glance towards the outside of the tree house. "He umm... needed some... Fiber! Yea fiber! He was complaining about how he was having some trouble," she landed gently by the window, "So I helped him out like any amazing friend would." Twilight placed her hoof on her forehead, "He hit the side of the house didn't he?" "No he didn't! Well yea he did," Rainbow Dash went back outside, "I'll go get him." Twilight turned around to the rest of them, "Alright we need to find the book that contains information about Chaos Magic." She glanced over at Fluttershy, "It looks like we might not have enough time." The Yellow and pink maned Pegasus was almost completely half black now. She was lying on the floor as her body was almost completly limp. "You gotta hurry Twi! Applejack was running her hoof through Fluttershy's mane, "I don't think that she has much longer." Twilight was frantically rushing through the bookshelves. She didn't even notice Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spike walk inside. Spike immediately ran over to Twilight, "Which book you looking for Twilight?" Twilight paused for a moment before replying, "The magical dictionary and hurry!" Spike ran up into the loft and quickly came back down with a large book, "It was on your nightstand as always," Spike rolled his eyes while handing it over to Twilight. "Thank you so much Spike! She grabbed the book and then set it upon the table, she quickly began skimming through the pages with her magic. "Aha! Right here," She began to walk over towards the others. "Chaos Magic... There's not much, all it says is that it's not native to Equestria. But there is a cure!" Pinkie Pie took the book from Twilgiht, "The cure is a Black rose from the Everfree Forest." All the ponies gasped in horror, "The Everfree Forest..." The one thing that struck fear in Celstia herself. Twilight looked over towards Fluttershy, the only part of Fluttershy that wasn't black was her neck and her head. Fluttershy lay there helplessly, looking around the room. Applejack and Rainbow Dash trotted over to Fluttershy to help carry her to the Everfree Forest. Twilight turned to head out of the house, "Let's head off then." They all started off to the Everfree Forest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The six ponies and Spike were already deep in the Everfree Forest. "There it is finally!" Twilight quickly made her way over to Zeora's hut. Everypony burst into Zecora's hut, startling Zecora greatly. "Why are you in such a hurry? You all made me worry, Zecora smililed, but it quickly faded away as soon as she saw Fluttershy. Who was completely black except for her face. Her mane was now a crimson red, like that of a rose. "Zecora we need your help," Twilight was right up to Zecora's nose, "We need a black rose. Please tell us that you have one!" Zecora went over towards her cupboard and opened it up. She pulled out a black rose as dark as the night. Fluttershy squeaked, she was completely consumed in the blackness, her eyes turned fiery red, she began to glow a soft purplish color. Zecora rushed over and gave Fluttershy the rose to eat. Fluttershy chewed the rose ever so slowly, even when she was fighting for her life, Fluttershy was still keeping to her normal pace. The purple aura began to lift and Fluttershy's color began to restore. She tried to stand up, but she collapsed once again. Rainbow Dash and Applejack quickly aided Fluttershy to help her get back up. Twilight turned towards Zecora, "Thank you so much Zecora, we wouldn't of made it if it weren't for you." "No need to thank me dear Twilight," Zecora then walked out of the hut, "Now let me clear your path so you won't have to fight." Twilight smiled back, and urged the others to follow behind Zecora. They made it quickly outside of the forest. They said their goodbyes and thank you's to Zecora before heading back to Ponyville. They were about halfway back when Fluttershy let out a blood curtling scream. "Fluttershy," Rarity was slightly annoyed, for Rarity was standing right next to her. "Why in Equestria did you scream like that?" Fluttershy stayed silent for awhile, she then mustered her voice up so that the others could hear her. "There's that black rock..." Everypony turned and looked. There were multiple black stones littering over the ground. "Fluttershy are you sure these are the stones that you stepped on? Twilight was inspecting the stones. Fluttershy nodded in agreement, "I'm sure of it, these are the stones that made me turn black." Rainbow Dash went over the hill where more of the stones were located. "Umm... You might want to check this thing out." Everypony rushed over the hill. They all stood motionless at what they saw. A giant egg made of the black stone lay imbeded in the dirt. It was about six feet long and four feet wide. It's tail end ended in a sharp point. They all rushed up next to the "egg" and started to inspect it, they were careful enough not to touch it. Spike turned to Twilight, "Is it a dragon egg?" Twilight shook her head, "I doubt it," she then paused for a moment "but I do know one thing." Rarity looked at Twilight oddly, "What do you know then?" "It's open."