Emergency pegasi were dispatched to extinguish the forest fire to gather rainclouds to pour rain water over the flames. The sun started to rise illuminating the morning dew and the intense downpour used to fight the fire.
Deep in the forest, Crimson jolted awake and quickly sat up. His eyes were dark and his skin was wrinkled. He started to pant as he felt dizzy and weak. He lied down feeble and fatigued.
Fluttershy walked up to Crimson. “Try not to move.”
Crimson looked around to find himself bandaged up. He let out a large but painful exhale. With his voice pathetic and cracking, he tried to talk. “I have been…” He felt his mouth dry and sticky and he smacked his lips a few times to try to get some moisture in his throat. “I have been waking up a lot like this lately.”
“Poor thing. I bet you’re thirsty.” Fluttershy grabbed a manipulated leaf for a water collector. “Here.” She tipped the leaf letting the rain water from the fire gently pour down his throat.
Twilight walked up to greet the dehydrated and injured warrior. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
Crimson lifted his head and saw Twilight walk up, then laid his head back down. “I have been better.”
“Now I’m worried.” Twilight sat next to Crimson.
“What happened to my sister?”
“Well…” Twilight looked at Fluttershy thinking about how to explain what happened.
Crimson saw Twilight’s expression. “Nevermind my request. I know what happened.” He turned his head toward Fluttershy. “Did you get them to safety?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I have accomplished my mission.” His eyes went heavy.
“C-Crimson?” Twilight stood and leaned in as his eyes closed, then he went limp.
Fluttershy lifted her hoof to her lips. “Hush. He’s dehydrated and needs to rest.”
“Oh.” She stood up and walked off feeling, a little naive and embarrassed.
* * *
In a room in the Ponyville Hospital, the mood lightened up as Rainbow Dash finally opened her eyes, awakening from her coma. Foggy and fuzzy, she started to make out the shape of Applejack. With a blink, a pop was heard and a fuzzy form of color shot across her line of vision as Pinkie Pie fired a streamer in celebration to Rainbow Dash’s awakening. After another blink, her eyes started to focus and she realized where she was at. “Who-at’a..?” She gagged when she felt the tube lodged down her throat. Rainbow Dash reached up and grabbed the tube, then removed it from her throat. She gagged and coughed. “What am I doing here?”
Applejack refrained from gagging and stood in excitement. “Rainbow Dash, you’re okay!”
“What?” Rainbow Dash looked confused at Applejack. “Of course I’m okay.”
Pinkie Pie popped up from behind Applejack. “See? I told you the streamers would work!”
Applejack looked at the crippled pagasus. “Rainbow, what happened? Did Crimson do this to ya?”
“Crimson? No.” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head with her hoof, trying to console a splitting headache. “In fact, I don’t think he had anything to do with any of this.”
“What’chya mean, hun?”
“I mean he didn’t do anything.”
“Then tell us what happened.”
Princess Celestia entered the room. “Yes, please tell us what happened.”
“Your highness.” Applejack and Pinkie Pie turned around and greeted Princess Celestia with a bow.
Rainbow Dash started to struggle to get up before Princess Celestia lifted a hoof. “Please, don’t get up.” Rainbow Dash relaxed and collapsed back in her bed. “I am very eager to hear what happened.”
Rainbow Dash struggled to remember as the details were foggy. “I was in Cloudsdale. Crimson came to talk to me. He said to find Twilight. When I went looking for her, I got ambushed by some pony. Next thing I know, I’m here.”
“And this mysterious pony that ambushed you, you’re sure it wasn’t Crimson?”
“I’m positive, Princess.”
“I see. Thank you. Get well.” Princess Celestia turned around and headed out of the door.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie turned their attention to their recovering friend. Rainbow Dash looked around and realized that some of her friends were missing. “Where’s Twilight? Where’s Rarity? Where’s Fluttershy?”
“That’s the thing, hun. We don’t know.”
“What?” Rainbow Dash started to sit up before Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder.
“Calm down, hun. They’re not missing.” Rainbow Dash lied back down.
“Yeah. A couple of days ago, Twilight just came in with a bunch of bags, asked Rarity and Fluttershy to follow her, and for us to stay here.”
“Oh.” Rainbow Dash tensed up as she thought about what she just heard. “A couple of days? How… How long have I been here?”
“You’ve been here for four days, hun.”
“Four d-“ Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and lied down in surprise. “And you all stayed here with me?”
Pinkie Pie again popped her head from behind Applejack. “Yep! And we were sitting and sitting and sitting… Of course we had to get a drink and some food but we were just sitting and sitting… Then Applejack fell asleep. Or was it me that fell asleep?”
Applejack looked behind her. “That’s enough, Pinkie.” She looked back at Rainbow Dash. “Of course we stayed with ya. I’m sure Twilight and the others would have too if they could.”
Rainbow Dash turned her head and smiled. “Thanks you guys.”
“Don’t mention it. And I’m glad color is coming back to your face hun.”
* * *
Deep in a cave somewhere in Equestria, Scorch, out of breath and exhausted, walked passed a table with a glimmering and elegant tiara and five golden gemmed necklaces on it. After a few breaths, Scorch lifted his head and bowed to an oversized robbed pony almost double his size covered in furs. “My King.” He lifted his head to address the pony. “We couldn’t locate the seer. We were ambushed… … By the traitor Crimson Thull.”
A loud, deep groan echoed throughout the cavern halls. His deep, grumbling voice boomed. “The Ebon Commander survives.”
Scorch bowed deeply. “Yes, my King.”
The very large robbed pony turned to face Scorch with clanking metal with each step. The sound of dangling steel chimmed and filled the cavern with each movement of the gigantic pony. “What of Demina?”
“My King, she… I believe she is lost.”
The king groaned in anger. Suddenly, Scorch was lifted into the air. Scorch lifted his hoof to try to grab whatever had his neck and lifted him higher and higher from the ground. He choked and gasped, unable to get a single breath of air. The king stepped forward to the helpless Scorch and looked deep into his eyes. Scorch’s struggle lessened and lessened. Eventually, his hooves dropped limp as his gasps fell silent. Then, he fell to the ground, his armor clanking at the impact. Scorch choked and coughed trying to breath again as the king turned around. “Find the child. Bring her to me alive.”
“Y-“ Scorch coughed. “Yes, my King.” He stood up. “My King, I-“ Scorch coughed again.
“What?”
“My King, there was a cloaked figure. My magic – it has no effect.”
The king turned around to listen to Scorch’s report.
“It was like she… nullified it.”
The king groaned, then turned to the table. “Be gone.”
Scorch bowed. “Yes, my King.” While facing the king, he started stepping backward while bowing until he left the chamber.
The jewelry started to lightly glow as the king looked at the tiara. They started to shake as a black glow surrounded the elements. Deep under the cloaked king, his eyes started to light up. Then the dark glow diminished, as does the glow under the hood. The king gave a light, grumbling chuckle, turned around, then went about his business.
* * *
Crimson’s eyes slowly opened. The bright blue sky blinded him as he squinted, and he tried to shield his eyes from the light with exaggerated blinks. He took a few breaths, then moaned as he started to roll over to see the girls talking around a campfire.
Crimson lifted his hoof toward the girls. “Ms. Fluttershy.”
The girls looked at Crimson. “He’s awake again!” They rushed over to assist Crimson.
Crimson looked at Fluttershy. “Ms. Fluttershy, I need to talk to the seer.”
“The filly?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight looked at Fluttershy, then back at Crimson. “But why? They’re safe now.”
“Maybe.” Crimson rolled over and tried to stand. The girls extended their hooves to lend their support. “However, we still do not know of my brother’s intent.” Finally, he was on his hooves again. The girls took a step back and Crimson stood tall and proud once more.
“Well, if you say so.” Fluttershy turned her head toward the forest.
Crimson looked at the yellow pagasus. “Can you take me to her?”
Twilight looked at Crimson. “Can you make it?”
Crimson nodded.
“Okay, let’s go.”
* * *
As the four ponies walked through the woods, Crimson looked over to Rarity. “Ms. Rarity.”
Rarity looked up to Crimson with battered eyes. “Yes?”
“Even after everything you have been through and after all of this time away from civilization, you still look radiant.”
Rarity blushed and looked away.
Twilight turned her head to Crimson. “Again with the Ms. thing.”
“I- … My apologies.”
Rarity looked at Crimson. “It’s alright, darling.”
* * *
The trek was slow as they continued to make their way through the woods. The night started to sneak up as they finally looked upon the boundaries of a city.
Twilight looked at the city. “Fluttershy, you took them to Vanhoover?”
Fluttershy nodded her head. “Mm-hm.”
Twilight turned her head to Fluttershy. “Who do you know in Vanhoover?”
“Well, there was this elderly mare who traveled to Ponyville and she got lost. Then, when I helped her find her way, she adopted a puppy and said if I was ever in Vanhoover to say hello… So I said hello.”
Twilight smiled at the conclusion of the story. “Wow Fluttershy. That’s amazing. Who is the old mare?”
“Well, she said her name was Vanderhoof.”
Rarity shook her head in disbelief. “Wai-wait. Vanderhoof? You mean DUCHESS Vanderhoof?
Fluttershy lowered her head. “I… I guess…”
Rarity smiled with excitement. “Come, darlings. I can’t wait to see the house… I mean the bath… I mean the filly.”
“Me too, Rarity. Come on. Let’s go say hello.”
The group started to make their way into the city.
* * *
The moon was weak as the clouds formed in the distance. Princess Luna met Princess Celestia atop the tower. Celestia looked behind her and saw her sister. “Good evening my sister.”
Luna walked up beside Celestia. “’Tis good to see you again.”
“I’m glad to see you’re back.”
“As am I. I could use a good day’s rest.”
Celestia smiled. “I’m sure you do.”
“But first, the pirates called upon a parley with the ruler of Equestria for a cease in hostilities.”
Celestia looked at her sister. “Really?”
“Tis true.”
“When is this meeting supposed to take place?
Luna turned around and a large, scaled pony walked up the stairs. His crown was a silver looking material that shimmered in the dim moonlight as it sat firmly atop his white fin mane. Large tentacles extruded out of the face and tied at the bottom in a large braid. Tied around his neck was a large shell. His muzzle was pierced with rings made of a silver material. His pony body was made up of brilliant blue and green scales with webbed hooves and a long fin for a tail. He carries a seaweed looking saddlebag around his back. On the side of his neck were large, deep slits that pulsate with each breath the pony takes.
“My sister, may I present Sea King Triton.”
In a crude, gurgling voice, the Sea King slowly speaks. “I belieeeveeed… somewhere… greeeat creeeatures… like my… were in this world.”
Celestia lightly recoiled at the sudden strange accent. “Equestria is filled with great and powerful creatures.”
The Sea King observed the princess’s odd reaction. “Aaare my words… not right?”
Celestia shook her head. “Your words are right.” She smiled and greeted her guest. “Sea King Triton, I welcome you to Canterlot.”
“Thaaank.”
After a brief and awkward silence, Celestia started to get down to business. “So tell me, why are your pirates attacking our ships and killing our crew?”
“Weee no staaart. You staaart.”
Princess Celestia looked shocked at the accusation. “That’s preposterous! We would never start a war.”
“You taaake… preeecious.. stone… from hooome.” Celestia and Luna looked confused for a moment as the Sea King continued. “Weee get baaack.”
“What precious stone?”
The Sea King reached into his seaweed bag and pulled out illustrious pearls from the depths of the sea.
Celestia and Luna stared at the pearls in the Sea King’s webbed hoof. “Oh. I guess we did start it.”
Luna took a step forward. “We may hath stolen from thou, but that does not giveth thine right to slay our citizens.”
“No slaaay. No kiiill.” The Sea King put the pearl back in the bag.
Celestia looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“Weee… No kiiill you. Weee… steal you. Learrrn... you taaalk.”
“So… Everypony is alive?”
“No kiiill.”
“I hath heard reports of thou dragging thine citizens to the bottom of the sea.”
“Yeees. Maaagic... make breaaath.”
Celestia and Luna looked at each other. “That may be true.”
Luna nodded, then looked at their guest. “What must we do to get our citizens back?”
“No huuunt… stooone.”
Celestia thought for a moment. “Pearl diving is a major part of the western economy. Sea King, perhaps we can open a trade between our two kingdoms.”
The Sea King groaned. “Whaaat… you haaave.. traaade?”
The three started to haggle and discuss their economies and what they have to offer one another. For hours, they talked at the top of the ceremonial tower.