An Earthbound Journey

by ShadeJak


The Seventh Sanctuary

“I can’t hold it in anymore! IMISSEDYOUGIRLSSO SO SOSOSOSOSOSO SOOOO MUCH!” Pinkie Pie squealed as she hugged her friends one by one as they all sat together in the Ponyville spa. Rarity had been enjoying a bath and full treatment from the two sisters while Rainbow lay on her belly enjoying a back massage. She’d been reluctant at first, but at Rarity’s insistence, she’d finally complied and found that it did actually feel pretty good.

“Oh my, I hope Twilight finds that book you need…” Fluttershy said softly. “Who needed it? She didn’t say when she rushed off.”

“A buncha flutterponies of all things!” Applejack said. “Din’t even think they—”

“Flutterponies?!” Fluttershy squeaked and a big smile came on the pegasus’ face. “Oh, weren’t they just the most precious things you’ve ever seen? They’ve always been so good to me, even if they’re… well shy with strangers.”

“What EVER would you know about them, Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.

“Oh…” The pegasus blushed. “Well… I may have… lived with them for a little while.” She said softly.

“Okay, this I gotta hear.” Rainbow said.

“W-well…” Fluttershy muttered, uncomfortable with all the stares. “See… when I was a filly, my mom and dad took me with them to the Hayseed Swamp, we were helping some animals there, and a storm came through… w-we got separated…”

~

“M-mom? Dad? Anypony?” A small, timid yellow pegasus filly cried out meekly, shrinking from the rain as she hid under a tree, tears lining her face. The place was filled with strange things and she’d insisted on coming, things weren’t supposed to go this way! Now she was more frightened then she had ever imagined she could be.

She heard the flapping of wings around her, and saw shadows moving about in the decayed trees. The filly had never felt so scared and helpless in her life, and all she could do now was curl up and cry, hoping whatever was out there wouldn’t hurt her. She wanted to see her mom and dad again, she wanted to feel safe again. Not cold and lonely…

“A-are you… all alone?” A soft voice asked. The filly opened her eyes and squeaked from what she saw.

It was ponylike, about her size. It was yellow, though a much lighter shade, and its wings more resembled that of a butterfly.

“Who… who are you?” The filly asked, shaking as she saw a few more emerge from the bushes, looking at her with curiosity before suddenly cowering again.

“Us?” The strange pony asked. “We’re… flutterponies. Sorry, we’re just… shy.”

“You are?” The filly asked timidly. “S-so am I… I would n-never hurt anypony.” She said, looking downcast. “I’m scared… I don’t want to be alone.” She said, her eyes tearing up again. “I don’t know where my mom and dad are…”

“Well… it’s scary out here.” The lead flutterpony said, looking around. “I-if you want… m-maybe you can stay with us… you know… we’ll do our best to take care of you till your parents show up.”

The filly nodded slowly, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“W-what’s your name?” The lead flutterpony asked. “If… if you don’t mind telling us.”

The filly wimpered a little, hiding her face behind her mane. “F-f… F… Fluttershy…” She said softly.

~

“They let me stay with them in their village for the night. It was nice and warm, and they were so sweet to me… the ones that would talk to me, anyway. The others just kind of hid.” Fluttershy explained. “Mom and dad showed up that morning and found the cave. They were so happy I was alright and I was happy to meet ponies as shy as me, but could still be so kind to me. My parents and I went back to Ponyville the next day. I visit sometimes… when I can, I mean.”

“Wow! That’s such a sweet story, Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie said, staring agape and giggling. “I bet they’d be really super-nice if somepony can get ‘em to open up a little!”

“I got the book, girls!” Twilight said, trotting in with Iron Will’s self-help book Shy Away, In A Day! “So what were you all talking about?”

“Oh! Fluttershy was telling us that she met the flutterponies when she was a little filly! She’s friends with some of them, and I was just thinking how they’re probably really, really sweet if they’d be a little more social!” Pinkie Pie explained while Fluttershy blushed.

“I see…” Twilight said. “Well, with any luck this book might at least get them to talk a little more. And you know, that all gives me an idea.” The unicorn said with a smirk. “I’ll need the two of you to come along, though if it’s gonna work.”

“Uh… w-what do you have in mind?” Fluttershy asked.

“I don’t think this book’s gonna do all the work. Fluttershy, we’ll need you to help approach them. As for making them lighten up a little… that’s where you come in, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight explained.

The pink pony grinned widely. “Just leave it to me!”

~

“Y-your back?” The flutterpony at the entrance asked nervously.

“Yeah, we’re back.” Rainbow said. “And we brought along somepony who’d like to say hi.” She explained, stepping aside and revealing Fluttershy.

“Um… hi…” The pegasus said softly.

“Fluttershy!” The flutterpony said, smiling, flying over. “They’re… friends?” She asked, cocking her head and the pegasus nodded.

“Go and tell Rose Dust and get the others all at the village square, okay?” Fluttershy asked in her sweetest tone.

“Oh… uh… sure… okay!” The flutterpony replied, flying down into the cave, the six following her.

Within moments, the other flutterponies, including the village leader and the hulking one, had gathered at the center of the subterranean town.

“First, we come with a gift, we hope it’ll help.” Twilight said, opening her saddlebag. The flutterponies flinched for a moment, then stared in curiosity as Twilight floated out the book she’d brought, the title Shy Away, In A Day! showing prominently on the cover above a picture of a grinning, winking picture of its author giving a thumbs-up.

“This is Iron Will… I know he looks like a monster but he’s not.” Fluttershy explained. “He’s a minotaur, actually. He helps shy ponies become assertive… well, at first his advice wasn’t the best, but he changed a lot. His book’s actually pretty helpful, if you want to read it, I mean…”

The village leader who'd been referred to as Rose Dust took the book with her front hooves and opened it, reading a few things, her eyes wide with wonder. A few others flew over to look at it as well, intrigued by what the self-help guru had written.

“Don’t be shy, look ‘em in the eye…” The flutterpony mumbled; then tried looking at the six ponies. “Hm!” She smiled a little and read some more “Don’t let questions pass, always ask! Don’t be lame, ask their name!” She said. “So… uh… what are your names?

“Well, I’m Twilight Sparkle. This is Applejack…” Twilight explained, gesturing to the farm pony.

“Howdy.” Applejack said, tipping her hat.

“And Rarity.” Twilight continued.

“Or Miss Rarity if you prefer.” The other unicorn said, tossing back her mane demurely.

“I guess you already know Fluttershy, and that’s—” Twilight was suddenly cut off.

“THE ONE AND ONLY RAINBOW DASH! PLEASED TO MEET YA!” Rainbow shouted proudly, flying swiftly up above them and offering a hoof bump to Rose Dust, who just shrunk back a little and stared at the pegasus’ hoof before shyly returning the gesture.

“Really, Rainbow?” Twilight asked with an eyeroll. “Baby steps. Anyway, and last but not least is the one who’s gonna help you all become a little more social. Meet Pinkie Pie.”

Immediately the pink pony bounced up in front of her friends. “That’s right, and nothing helps a pony learn a little…” Pinkie began, before switching to a whispering voice. “…social interaction…” She whispered loudly, then resumed her normal, peppy tone when she spoke again. “Like a great big party!” She declared, opening the wagon she’d brought and suddenly confetti burst everywhere, and a selection of treats from sugarcube corner popped out on display. “Plenty for everypony and all you gotta do is be brave enough to come up, tell me your name and ask for one!”

The flutterponies looked at one-another, unsure of what to make of this, then at the various cupcakes, which admittedly did look rather delicious.

“Still a little shy? Well let ol’ Pinkie Pie give you this little number!” She said, putting on a record on a player that popped out of the wagon and a tune began to play that she sang to as she engaged each flutterpony…

By the time the song ended, the flutterponies had all joined in for the final chorus and let out a cheer.

“Great job, everypony! Now who wants cupcakes first?” Pinkie asked at long last.

~

“We can’t thank you enough!” Rose Dust said. “If there’s anything we can do, just name it.”

“Well, the thing is, we gotta get to the passage that leads to the Badlands.” Rainbow explained.

“I see…” Rose Dust replied. “Well, ask Flutterhulk over there. The passage is covered by a large boulder only she can lift.”

“Alright then!” Rainbow said, flying over to the towering beast of a flutterpony. “Hey, think you can move that boulder for us?”

“ME FLUTTERHULK! FLUTTERHULK STRONGEST FLUTTERPONY!” The massive flutterpony declared. “CAN MOVE!” Flying over to a large boulder nearby, the flutterpony spun around in the air and gave it a mighty kick. The boulder rolled away and bumped into the wall, revealing a hole underneath that lead into caverns down below.

“Thanks!” Rainbow said with a grin. “Hoof bump?” She asked. The giant flutterpony grinned and swung her massive hoof out, sending Rainbow rocketing across the cave and into the nearest wall behind her. “Ooookay… not doing that again…” She muttered.

“Um… Twilight?” Fluttershy asked softly. “It may be best if I stay up here. It’s… been a while since I’ve seen my friends here.” Her ears drooped a little. “If that’s alright, I mean. I feel like I’d just get in the way, otherwise.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep her company!” Pinkie Pie said with a grin, suddenly appearing next to Fluttershy and putting a hoof around her. “Besides, I gotta keep this party going and make sure everypony’s happy and ready to face the world!”

“Well… if you say so.” Twilight said. “When we’re done, we’ll come back up and meet with you.”

“Hey!” Rose Dust called out, flying over with a small bag in her hooves. “Um… look… as thanks for helping us… we got a few things for you.” She explained. “When you get to the Badlands, just know… well, there are dragons down there and they can be bullies.” She held up the bag. “This is something their king gave us but we figure you might want it. It’s called Dragonite.”

“Dragonite?” Twilight asked, staring at the small bag.

“It’s like a dragon’s magic essence or something. Use it and it can briefly turn a pony into one. Evens out the odds against a mean dragon, I guess…” the flutterpony leader explained. “If you run into a bad one, I mean. It might help.”

“Well, thanks, I’m sure it will.” Twilight said with a smile, floating the small bag into her saddlebag.

“Oh, also… they say there’s a special place down there in the tunnels. It’s sacred, we know that much, they call it the Ancient Horde’s Hall. They say in the oldest times of these mountains, an ancient dragon king, knowing his time was nearly upon him, covered the walls with every gem he ever got in his hoard. He didn’t know it but many of them were magical gems, and they’d light up whenever he was thinking to himself, making it like his thoughts appear on the walls!” the flutterpony explained.

Rainbow smirked and looked at Twilight. “Thinking what I’m thinking?”

“A sanctuary?” Twilight asked. “You think it might be?”

“It’s gotta be!” Rainbow said, her smirk becoming a grin. “We gotta go check this out!”

“He left inscriptions of things he’s learned on rocks down there, as we understand it.” The flutterpony explained. “Look for them and you might learn more.”

“Will do.” Applejack replied. “So, we ready to go on down, girls?” She asked.

“I for one am as ready as I can be.” Rarity said, running her hoof through her mane one last time before approaching the pit.

“Thanks for all your help.” Twilight said, giving a nod to Rose Dust. “We’ll be back as soon as we can, girls!” She said, looking over at Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.

“Good luck!” Pinkie Pie said, giving an ecstatic wave while Fluttershy smiled and waved as well.

~

The caves below were massive, certainly large enough to fit a dragon in most of them. Every so often Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity would come across a large stone tablet with etchings carved into them.

So you’ve made it… welcome to the tunnels leading to the Badlands south of Equestria, little pony. I, Flamebrow, the first great dragon king, welcome you. Seek my tale to learn of the land of which you are about to enter…

“Most interesting…” Twilight said, reading the inscription. Looking around, she saw that there were more tunnels ahead, and some of them had smaller passages that seemed to link them. Passing through the first one they came across, they found themselves in a small chamber where another large tablet awaited them.

Dead end. Not all my musings are helpful. It’s funny. Laugh.

“Well, I can see this ‘King Flamebrow’ wasn’t without a sense of humor.” Rarity muttered, rolling her eyes at the useless information they’d been provided and prompting the four friends to turn around back out the way they came.

Dragons have existed long before ponykind. We have a long history of being drawn to the beautiful things in the world, for it represents our power and renown. The bigger a hoard a dragon can accumulate, the greater the respect he receives. Uncivil for the most part, but the dragon way regardless. It was when other races grew and found their way in the world, that I knew it must change, as much as could be allowed…

“I’m suddenly wondering if I should have brought Spike along.” Twilight mused. “I’ll bet he’d have loved to see all of these.” She said, recalling how Spike had always been curious about his heritage and his species’ history. Perhaps one day, when he was older, he’d have the chance to find out; another reason for her and her friends to stop Sombra at any cost.

I could be fast, I could be strong, I could be cunning. All dragons were at least one. I intended to be all three. And with such skill, I rose above the others… my hoard became legendary amongst even the most feared dragons. None would dare challenge me for it!

“Gotta admit, I like the way he thinks!” Rainbow said with a grin as she read the message, then flew off ahead to find the next one.

“Has anypony noticed how desolate this here cave is?” Applejack wondered aloud as she and the others followed their friend.

With my new influence, I named myself king, and with that, I could bend others to my will. The dragons remained mostly in the scorched realm, and soon ponykind ventured from their old kingdoms and settled in the valley that later deemed Equestria. An intriguing race that did not function through conflict and might, yet they thrived. The chances of one travelling to our lands through this passage was no doubt inevitable, so I left this to find.

“Quite a philosophical fellow for a dragon, wouldn’t you say, Twilight?” Rarity asked, cocking her head at the lengthy message.

“I guess when you live as long as a dragon can, you end up with a lot to think about as your life gets closer to its end.” Twilight replied as they continued on, taking several more passages and turns and coming across yet another stone.

I grow old and tired, I lack the power I once did and I dare not show it and allow upstarts to assume they can usurp me, or take from me! I will keep it here, make it one with the caves themselves! Future generations will look but be unable to take. I shall be remembered!

“He’s GOTTA be talking about the sanctuary! It totally makes sense!” Rainbow said as she read the latest message. “It’s just like the flutterpony said!”

“Well, if that’s the case, Dash, it probably ain’t that far ahead!” Applejack replied as they approached a larger tunnel that seemed to span a distance. As they approached, they noticed the walls began to shimmer. As Twilight and Rarity lit their horns brighter, they saw that the walls were completely covered in gold and other precious mineral.

“Oh my! It’s absolutely lovely!” Rarity said, marveling at the sight.

“What a way to make sure all he’s gotten is never lost.” Twilight said as she looked around at the shining cavern walls.

“Hey, look!” Rainbow shouted, pointing her hoof up ahead where a faint glow could be seen at the mouth of another cave entrance. “That’s gotta be it!” She said, taking the Harmony Stone from her saddlebag and flying forward, holding it out.

Immediately all four ponies recoiled when a horrible screeching was heard.

“It’s been corrupted!” Twilight cried out.

“But by what?” Applejack asked.

A growling voice chucked and a shape emerged from the light. “Well well, what have we here? A couple’a namby-pamby little ponies!” A vaguely familiar red adolescent dragon sneered as he approached. “Come to steal my new favorite spot?” He asked; flashing a grin that was filled with sharp teeth as he towered over them, his scales no longer had the plain red shade they did before, but now shined in the light.

“This isn’t your place, buddy!” Rainbow said, flying in the dragon’s face.

“It’s Garble, not buddy, runt!” The dragon answered with a cackle, swatting at the pegasus who quickly weaved out of the way. “And it is my place now! The voices told me so!” He explained, his eyes briefly turning green as purple smoke trailed from them. “Take it from me, if you dare!” He said, taking a fighting stance, and a distorted melody the four ponies had become familiar with began to echo all around them in the golden chamber.

“Ya want a fight, ya got one pal!” Applejack said, drawing out her lasso.

“I remember you all! You’re friends of that scrawny little dragon I put up with at the migration, aren’t you?” Garble asked with a laugh. “I’ll be sure to send him your ashes when I’m done with ya!” He said, drawing in breath and unleashing a blast of fire far stronger then most dragons his age could make.

Immediately, Twilight summoned a magic barrier to keep the flames back while her friends stood behind her.

“So that’s how you wanna play, huh?” Garble asked, approaching and punching the barrier repeatedly with his fists, then swatting it with his tail. The corrupted sanctuary seemed to greatly enhance his strength as the barrier slowly began to crack. “Soon as that barrier breaks down, I’m gonna love findin’ out what barbecued pony tastes like!” The dragon sneered, licking his lips in anticipation.

“Girls, hold on tight!” Twilight shouted, her friends obeying and the four of them vanished, their sudden disappearance making the barrier vanish at the same time, causing Garble to tumble forward and land flat on his face. Turning around and seeing the four standing behind him now, the young dragon snorted angrily, smoke puffing from his nostrils.

“Big mistake!” He shouted, drawing in another deep breath and exhaling another blast of flame, causing the four to scatter immediately. “This old king sounds like a real loser if you ask me! If any dragon deserves all this loot, I do, even if I gotta tear it all out with my bare claws!”

Taking advantage of the dragon’s rants, Twilight hurriedly cast her Starstorm spell. Garble stared up at the ceiling for a moment as numerous magical bolts appeared and began to rain down on him. The dragon yelped and recoiled as they struck him, creating star-shaped explosions. Growling, the dragon thrust his arms out and suddenly his body glowed a bright red, and then the raining magical blasts began bouncing off him, firing in random directions.

“WHOA! LOOK OUT!” Rainbow shouted, pushing Twilight aside and narrowly avoiding a stray magic bolt that burst violently against the wall behind them.

“He’s summoned some kind of barrier! The sanctuary’s giving him new abilities!” Twilight said. “I can’t use magic on him now!”

“An’ we’re too small ta make much’ve a dent in ‘im!” Applejack protested.

“So now what?” Rarity asked as the dragon turned his attention back on them and grinned.

Suddenly a smirk formed on Rainbow’s face. “I got an idea!” The pegasus said, nudging open Twilight’s saddlebag, looking for something.

“What are you doing, Rainbow?” Twilight asked as Rainbow dug out the small bag the flutterpony had given them.

“I’m gonna introduce this loser to the most awesome dragon that’s ever gonna exist!” The pegasus said, opening the bag and pouring the glittering dust onto herself. Immediately, Rainbow was engulfed in a cloud of smoke that grew larger and larger, stopping Garble on his tracks as the cloud grew to his own size. When the smoke cleared, a large, cyan-blue adolescent dragon stood there, its long tail whipping back and forth with a long fin that was the colors of the rainbow, a flowing mane on its head matching it. Its wings spread wide and it grinned a fanged sneer at the other dragon.

“How about you pick on someone your own size?” ‘Dragon Dash’ asked.

“What in the?!” Garble mouthed, stepping back then drawing in breath, unleasing another blast of fire.

The newly-made dragon recoiled instinctively, but felt nothing as the flames engulfed her. Smirking again, she approached, raising her claw back and smacking Garble hard enough to knock him off his feet. “Ha! Under all that big talk, you’re really just a blowhard, arent’cha?” Dragon Dash asked with a laugh, grabbing the other dragon by his tail and spinning in the air, swinging him in circles.

“Stop—iiiiiiiiiit! Sto-o-o-op!!! Y-you’re ma-a-a-a-king meeeee dizzyyyyyy!” The dragon pleaded.

“Whatever you say, pal!” Dragon Dash said, letting go and sending Garble flying across the cave and crashing headfirst into the gold-covered wall, leaving an imprint of his pained expression in it. Snarling, and shaking his head frantically to fight off the dizziness and pain, the dragon turned and charged at his opponent, swinging his claws in a frenzy then whipping his tail, but the dragon Dash leaped over him and landed behind him, smacking him in the back with her own tail.

“OW! You stupid pony!” Garble shouted, tackling the other dragon. “I got power here! I can’t lose now!” He protested.

“Yeah, you got power. Just enough so you’re not a total pushover!” Dragon Dash replied with a grin, flinging him off her. Garble’s body glowed brighter as he let loose another gout of flame, this one, however, caused the transformed pony pain.

“Rainbow!” Twilight cried out.

“Ha! See, you’re not even a real dragon, what makes you think you can win?” Garble asked smugly. “Now why don’t I let you watch while I finish off your friends?”

“Not gonna happen!” the dragon Dash shouted, rushing foreward and slamming Garble against the wall, taking in a very deep breath and unleashing a full blast of multi-colored flame breath on the teen dragon. Garble cried out in pain as he took the full force of it, and felt himself get held high in the air and swung around again, sending him tumbling across the cavern floor and into a large stalagmite. The glow faded from the dragon’s body as he collapsed to the floor, becoming slightly smaller and back to the size he was remembered as.

“That’ll teach you to mess with—” Dragon Dash began, before she was suddenly engulfed in smoke again and reverted to her familiar pegasus self. “Awww, and I was just starting to have fun!” She muttered with a snort.

“Okay! Okay! Take it! Just leave me alone!” The horribly beaten and slightly scorched Garble pleaded, getting up and running clumsily down the tunnels ahead in a frightened panic as fast as he could.

“Nice job, Rainbow!” Twilight said as she came out of her hiding spot.

“I will admit, that was a rather clever idea for you to have come up with.” Rarity said, looking over at the tunnel the dragon had fled down.

“Well, it’s me who pulled it off, so was there ever any doubt?” Rainbow asked, flying a loop-the-loop in the air and flexing her forelegs proudly. “Let it be known, Rainbow Dash IS best dragon!” She said proudly.

“Just don’t let it go to yer head, Dash.” Applejack said.

“Well we better head down the hall, the sanctuary’s probably just up ahead.” Twilight said.

“Way ahead of you!” Rainbow said, flying off down the tunnel before the others, who followed quickly behind.

As they entered the next passage, the four ponies found themselves in a massive hallway, lined with gold and countless gems embedded into the wall. As they stopped and looked at them, the gems glowed brightly, taking on different colors, and words began to form...

WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT… WILL WE BE… WILL… WE... Several gems on the wall spelled out as several lit up to form each letter.

The pegasus’ eyes widened; the message that formed on the numerous glowing gems had been exactly what she was thinking.

WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS! I KNOW I CAN! It spelled next.

“Check it out, this thing is totally reading my thoughts!” Rainbow said, gesturing to the wall.

“Ah’m not sure ah ever wanna know what you’re thinkin’ Dash.” Applejack said with a slight eyeroll.

RAINBOW DASH DEFINES AWESOME!!!

The pegasus chuckled. “Hey, it knows what it’s talking about, too!” She said. “Wonder if I can make that one stay."

I WONDER IF I CAN MAKE THAT ONE STAY.

“Awww…” Rainbow muttered, earning laughs from her friends. Rubbing her chin for a second, a new idea formed.

TWILIGHT’S GOT A NIIIIICE FLANK!

“W-WHAT?!” Twilight yelped, blushing heavily at the message on the wall, and Rainbow burst out laughing.

“Aw geez, Twi! You shoulda seen your face!” The pegasus said, laughing hysterically at her prank as the message faded. “Well, better get this over with.” She said, taking out the Harmony Stone and holding it out, and a soft melody began to play.

Rainbow’s father was holding her up, she was a small filly at the time…

“It’s okay, Dashie… I promise one day you’ll get to see the Equestria games…”

“But when, daddy?”

“Don’t know, but maybe when they happen again you’ll get to compete!”

“Then I’m gonna do it!”

Rainbow smiled faintly… it was a happy memory, but it was also one that happened after… She shook her head, not wanting to dwell on it, now. There were more important matters at hoof.

“Well, we better get a move-on, huh?” She asked, managing a grin. “Just one sanctuary left and we gotta find it!”

With that, she lead her friends down the rest of the tunnel, reaching an exit that would lead out into the dragon territory, where they intended to find the final piece of the puzzle to defeating the shadow king once and for all…