Twilight Sparkle trudged through the undergrowth of the Everfree Forest. "Zecora mentioned that they would be around here..." Spike was shivering nervously at her side. "I don't know Twilight. Maybe Zecora was wrong about this whole thing?"
Twilight sighed. "If it's worth mentioning, then it's got to be true. At the very least, it's worth finding out about."
Twilight stopped, and Spike bumped into her. "Shh. Did you hear that?" Spike looked around. "I didn't hear anything." Twilight twitched her ears. "There it is again!" Spike scratched his head. "What is it?" Twilight scooped Spike onto her back. "A small popping noise."
Twilight raced towards the noise until she ran into a clearing. "A clearing? Out here?" Twilight stopped just before the brush stopped. "Spike, take out the papers." Spike rushed to her orders as Twilight scanned the area as she pulled out her binoculars. "Is that what Zecora was talking about?"
"Spike take this down." Spike was ready with a quill in his claw. "Correct height: roughly five feet. Appears to be a bipedal creature wearing armor. Has limbs with hands, like that of a monkey. Carrys a shiny stick. No scratch shiny stick." Twilight lowered her binoculars. "A sword." Twilight stared at the small distant figure. It was looking around the area. It approached a strange green and white box. "Spike! Pay attention! The creature swings its sword at a box and it pops open to reveal," Twilight put down her binoculars and rubbed her eyes. "are those scrap metals and embers?"
Suddenly a purple striped yellow creature approaches the bipedal from behind. "SPIKE! Creature is approached by a chameleon like creature. It responds to a strike with a lift of a. Shield? Strikes back quickly." Twilight looked on as the chameleon creature disappears into a purple gas. "I've never seen anything like that before." Twilight watched as the creature stooped to pick up more of the scraps and embers.
"Quick Spike! Follow me!" Twilight rushed to follow the agile thing as he ran towards a large mineral deposit. "Huh. Those minerals would look good on a necklace. Maybe I should tell Rarity about this place." Twilight watched as the creature swung its' 'sword' and reduced the minerals to a few fragments. She watched as it picked up the largest one and set it onto its' back. "Spike, record significant strength. Ability to lift objects its' own size." Twilight watched on as the strange creature wandered past a few more bushes.
"What's that thing?" Twilight stared as the creature walked up to a machine the likes of which Twilight had never seen before. It had a display with all sorts of figures on it. The creature pushed the lower of the two buttons, and suddenly, he disappeared quickly into the ground as if he was never there.
Twilight stepped out of the brush. "What was that thing?" Spike stepped out of the bush. "From your observations, it looks like a monkey wearing fireproof armor that has an affection for shiny things." Spike looked up. "Twilight, what are you doing?" The unicorn had trotted up to the strange machine. "Interesting. It looks like it only has enough power for the display to work." Spike looked strangely at her. "How can you tell?" Twilight pointed to a small bottle attached to the machine. "A strange blue fluid filling a marked bottle." Twilight rubbed her chin. "How do I add more?"
"Maybe here?" Spike pointed to a small little hole in the side of the machine. "It's made for a liquid. Hm...." Twilight closed her eyes. Her horn lit up in a purple aura. She put her horn close to the clearing. Spike watched as brilliant lightning flashed from her horn. Spike turned to the small bottle with the fluid. It flashed with purple lightning as it began to fill up.
"Twilight! It worked!" Twilight looked over to see the bottle had filled to the brim, sparking with purple energy. "Interesting." The two buttons on the counsle started to light up. "I'm not sure what this thing does, but I know it will take me somewhere. Spike, take a letter, to the Princess."
Dear Princess Celestia,
Recent rumors floating around Ponyville had led to discover a new creature, and possibly new areas of exploration. I currently have no idea what I'm doing, but rest assured, I am safe. Alert Ponyville of my travels. I do not know if I will return from this expedition. I will attempt to send letters to alert you of my status and possible findings, but please excuse if it takes a while to reach you. If I need anypony, I'll send for her through you.
The location of said entrance to the new area appears to be south west of your old castle. If my calculations are correct, it should be roughly half a mile from that location. In order to operate the machine, a unicorn is required to create a magical spark similar to the power of a spark on a lighted cannon.
Wish me luck!
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
"Wait, you're really going?" Twilight nodded. "Of course! Who knows what we'll find down there?" Spike rolled up the parchment. "Are you really sure about this?" Twilight smiled. "I know what I'm doing. Send the letter." Spike sighed and blew the parchment away on his green dragon flame, and Twilight pushed the down button. The machine whirred, and they descended into darkness.