The dark sky echoed with the sound of approaching thunder and the trees above quaked against the powerful swirling wind. The air was hot and wet and saturated with the smell of ozone from the lighting that arced in the distance. Alone, a single Pegasus walked wearily against the wind, panic growing in her eyes.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called out, screaming at the top of her lungs to no avail. Her desperate calls died, drowned out by the howling winds. She leaned against the fierce gales, her rainbow mane whipped violently, strands blown against her face, obscuring her vision. In the distance, behind the shrieking wind, she could just make out the sound of torrential rain pounding down on the forest. It wouldn't be long, the brunt of the storm would soon be right on top of her. She looked up to the ominous dull gray clouds which she could only glimpse through the dense canopy. Her mane and tail flowing behind her, tugging almost painfully at their roots. I don't have much longer! I have to find her soon! Gritting her teeth, anger burned in her eyes. She pressed forwards, angling her head against the intense wind, trying to protect her eyes from the flying debris. Leaves and unanchored branches rolled across the ground and blasted off trees. She clenched her teeth and picked up her pace, heading directly into the furious typhoon. How could I have let this happen!? I swore I would get her safely back to Equestria! I told the girls I would keep her safe! What's wrong with me!? I can't even protect Twilight! Every time, it's been her who saves me! I'm so useless! Maybe... maybe somepony else should have come instead. Applejack, heck, even Fluttershy would have been more useful than me! Neither of them would have lost her like I did...
“No! I can't get all bummed out right now! I have to find Twi before this storm really hits. That river was flowing this way, and it has to come out somewhere.” She pressed on, through the trees and ferns. The usual sounds of the jungle she had come to be come accustom to were replaced by only the sound of the storm. I know she's still alive, she has to be. I can't give up on finding her. I can't let her be alone out here. Equestria needs to know she's innocent.
A small raindrop landed right on her nose, splashing apart before soaking into her fur. The first of many she knew. No! I don't have much time! The way this storm looks, and the way this little valley is shaped, this looks like flood grounds. If I don't move soon I'll have to swim to find Twi. I hope wherever she is, it's somewhere safe and dry. The small drops began pelting down, dripping from the trees leaves onto her. The powerful winds blasted the rain, plastering her mane, fur and feathers. She could feel her body becoming encumbered with the excess water sticking to her. The sky was very dark now from the thick overcast, every second the search was becoming more difficult and more perilous. Suddenly, her ear swiveled. A familiar and terrifying sound pierced the screaming winds. Her heart skipped a beat as a blood chilling howl erupted from behind her.
“No..” Slowly she turned, her panicked heart beat pounding in her ears, almost as loud as the wind. It was just as she feared. There, standing behind her, were four pairs of glowing green eyes, all trained on her. She could hear them snarling hungrily as they crept closer. Timber Wolves! She began backing slowly away. Much to her disadvantage wind whipped her wet, sticky mane into her face, obscuring her vision.
“Here for round two!?” She shouted, her bravado the only thing keeping her calm. They're still after me, that at least means they didn't find Twilight. What can I do? I barely got away last time. Gah! These stupid mutts seem determined to keep me from finding Twi! I can't look for her with these things on my tail. Flying away is out of the question. This storm is intense, even if I could stay up there, there's no way I could see Twi through the trees. And as soon as I land these things would be all over me again. I have to deal with them now!
“Come and get me!” She screamed at the hungry predators. Spreading her wings, she readied for a fight. I have to survive this! I can't leave Twilight alone out here! She bolted towards them, lightning cracking overhead, illuminating her environment. The wolves sprung at her, snarling and barking. In a blur of color she darted in between the two forward most wolves. Her sudden acceleration made the drops of rain slamming against her pelt feel like solid ice. She came to a dead stop just behind the wolves who, taken by surprise by her speed, were still looking forward at the empty space she had occupied only a moment ago. Her momentum was so great that the water that clung to her fur was flung off into the face of the timber wolf in front her.
She bucked at the beasts hind legs with all her strength, knocking the loosely link branches that made up it's hind legs apart. The sticks and twigs flew out from under it as it's lower body feel limply to the ground. Without skipping a beat, Rainbow Dash thrust her wings back before her hind legs even returned to the ground. She flew forward, her head smashing through the other wolves back legs. With her speed and body weight she flew straight through it, exploding it's hind end and scattering it's branches over the forest floor. All her motions happened seamlessly. Stopping on a bit she spun around to face the two remaining wolves. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Faster! I need to take care of them all before they can recover! The wolves front legs began to pull them into a pounce, their thorny mouths opening wide. As the wolves she had disabled hit the ground she spread her wings readying for the next lunge. Their claws and teeth are still sharp, if I attack them head on I'm risking taking a bad hit. As her tail caught up to her body, flowing like a whip she gave a powerful flap of her wings, propelling her like a rocket at the wolf who was still in mid pounce. Move with the wind! Dash clenched her teeth, the intensity of the wind and rain grew by magnitudes as she tore through the air. She was only inches away from the wolf's gaping maw, a collision at these speeds with those fangs could be fatal. Now! At full speed she side stepped only a moment before the collision, moving with the wind she felt weightless. The sudden loss of mass in front of the predator let a vacuum in Dash's place. The wind rushed in to fill the gap with a boom rivaling the thunder. The timber wolf was blasted backwards, the sheer force of the air and sound sheering off the scraps of wood that made up the tip of it's snout.Move it Dash! Faster! Harder! Adrenaline surged through her veins, her heart was beating so fast it drowned out the sound of the storm. Keeping her momentum up she moved before the air or the shock wave had caught up with her body. Side stepping, she slammed the entire side of her body into the disorientated wolf. Her speed and force blowing apart it's entire body, she came to a stop standing in the center of where it stood, it's wooden bones laying in a pile beneath her hooves. 'That's it! You've got them!' Narrowing her eyes on the last one standing she stretched out her wings. Unyielding, the timber wolf charged. 'I can't waste time getting behind it!' Dash crouched low like a predator, bringing her forelegs in front of her head. Like a spring her hind and front legs worked in unison to launch her forward and a quick flap of her powerful wings kept her only inches off the ground. Speeding towards each other head to head there was no way to evade. Pulling her wings in tight against her side she slid right under the snarling beast, blowing out all four of it's legs like bowling pins. Got ya! She grinned confidently. Her shot from her side, sweeping the legless wolf off the ground and on to her back.
A quick glace to her side revealed that the first wolf was beginning to reform it's hind legs, though some of it's branches had been further scattered by the gale force winds beyond it's reach. Flapping her wings, she and the timber wolf took to the air high into the trees, the force of her take off further scattering the assorted wolfs body parts. Then, she let her body drop, carried by the wind she fell out from under the wolf and to it's side. Gravity took it's course as it feel beside her. Like a bird of prey she snatched it out of mid air with her hooves, its stunned face pointing right at her. With a flap of one of her wings she fell into a rapid spin. Imparting the extra speed from the spin on her captive she released it, flinging it's limp body at the still healing wolf she first immobilized. The impact shattered them both in an explosion of sticks.
One more! Falling out of her controlled dive and flew at the last one whose hind legs she had taken out. This time, the wind and rain were against her, slowing her down and throwing off her accuracy. Come on! Move it! Gritting her teeth and squinting her eyes against the wind she put all her strength into her wings as she tried to relax the rest of her sore and shaky body. She angled herself slightly to the side of the helpless wolf, hoping the wind would push her right into it. At top speed she cut through the air like a bullet.
I only have one shot. Have to land this right! She quickly closed the gap between her and the wolf, speeding down upon it. No! No! Don't move! She panicked at her target began to roll on it's back, facing it's teeth and fangs towards her. It's too late, I can't pull- Before she could finish her thought she slammed hooves first into the wolf's belly, it's chest collapsing under her. However, the shift in it's position destabilized her landing as she stumbled forward, falling through it's skull. She felt it's thorny teeth slash into her hide, tearing at her chest and abdomen. Tumbling forward, pulled by her excess momentum, she skidded across the slick ground. The air was violently knocked out of her lungs and she felt her fur and feathers being ripped out as she scraped against the ground. She came to a painful stop as she slammed loudly against the trunk of a large tree, the force of her impact shaking what rain still clung to the tree from the rain down on her. She opened her mouth wide as a yelp of pain died before leaving her lips as the air was still escaping her chest. Her eye's were dull with shock. She heard a dull crack as she hit the tree and felt and intense pain on her side. Her body lay limp and battered at the base of the tree.
She struggled painfully to regain her breath, even her shallow inhales aggravating her cracked rib. Her chest and stomach burned as the rain soaked her wounds. Straining her neck she looked down at the grass beneath her, it was growing red as her blood mixed with the rain water that pooled around her. The storm raged on and the increasingly torrential rain pounded over her, matting her fur along with the mud and bleeding and plastering her mane over her neck and face. Dash's entire body lay in a shallow but growing pool of rain water. Her face was partially submerged and she struggled to keep the earthy and metallic tasting water out of her wheezing and weak breath. Ouch... Buck this... Ugh... hurts. I- I can't stay here. Get up. Get up. Slowly and agonizingly she rolled her body, wincing in pain with every movement. She squeezed her eyes tight and clenched her jaw before bringing her hoof to the soaked ground.
“Gah!” She cried out in pain as she twisted her lower body, trying frantically to get back to her hooves. Through squinted eyes she saw her fears confirmed, the timber wolves were regenerating. No! No! I should have more time! How can they get back together so fast!? One of the wolves' bodies had already nearly completely reformed and was now crawling towards her with it's mangled snout, pulling it's self forward on it's front legs alone as it's hind leg, piece by piece, regrew behind it. It snared and growled as it drew closer. Only one of it's eyes glowed in the low light, the other half of it's face was still missing. A loud baying sound broke out as the skull of another wolf reformed. The wind screamed as it suddenly changed direction, blowing at the wolves backs, towards Rainbow Dash. She staggered back on all her hooves, the sharp pain in her side throbbing excruciatingly. She glared at the approaching predators, bearing her teeth but inside she was filled with fear.
I was reckless! Why couldn't I just run away! Why did I have to show off like that, this isn't a game Rainbow Dash! You could be torn to pieces and eaten alive right here right now! I- I can't die! I'm not dying out here as a meal for these things! I'm finding Twilight and we're getting out of here! Shakily, she put her hoof forward. Everything was sore and weak, but right now, no amount of pain mattered to her. Her body moved on determination and base survival instinct. Right now, she was prey, and she had to run. She limped around the tree, her hooves splashing in the water and her blood trailing behind her. She staggered behind the tree and slowly fled deeper into the forest. I can't hide, with all this blood they'll find me, and I can't fly away. I can barely stretch my wing out. I can't out run them like this! Damn it! Is this really it? Am I really going to die out here? Twilight, girls... I'm so sorry. Tears flowed down her eyes, mixing with the cold rain. She could hear the wolves snarling not far behind. She picked up her pace, moving as fast as she could will her body to take her. Then, a familiar sight caught her attention up ahead of her, briefly illuminated by a flash of lighting. She slowed as she approached it... A white flower. Looking to her left she found more and more of them, in full bloom despite the deluge. They were submerged all the way up to their pedals but they held fast to the ground. She eyed the flowers, her eyes filled with a renewed fire of determination.
I'm not dying without a fight! With nothing but an idea, and the growing sound of baying timber wolves approaching, she galloped as fast as she could into the flowers. The pain from her rib burned into her side like a hot poker, but she clenched her teeth and ran faster, weaving between trees. Please, please, please please! Please be there! She pleaded to nopony, desperate to find what she expected and hoped at the end of the flower patch. A moment later, a smile spread across her face as she sighted a clearing, completely devoid of flowers just ahead. She ground to a halt at the thresh hold of the clearing. Dash was panting heavily, her body felt on the verge of giving out. Despite her panic and fear, she relaxed her body, conserving all her remaining strength for what came next. Now all I have to do is wait. It wont be long. Turning her head she closed her eyes pricked her ears, listening intently for the sounds of her pursuers. The wind swirled and the rain loudly splashed down on the trees. She couldn't tell if it was the adrenaline or the wild environment she had been surviving in, but her senses felt sharper and her mind felt clearer. Amidst the chaos of the storm, she could hear the rapidly approaching paw steps splashing through the water and, though she wasn't sure she felt like she could determine their individual positions. They would be upon her soon. Opening her eyes she spun around, getting into position facing the clearing. 'I'll need everything I got for this. One wrong step and that's it. Come on body, don't quit on me now!' She tentatively extended her wings, wincing in pain as her muscles pulled on her ribs. Her body became hot, her vision blurred, she felt a wave of nausea from the intense pain. She steeled herself against the pain as she crouched into position. Suddenly with a howl, the timber wolves burst through the ferns and bushes. She was surrounded, backed against the predators and the clearing. She turned her neck just enough to get a look at them. Sure enough all four were ready to pounced.
“Come and get me.” She said softly before wiping her head back in front of her, and sprinting into the clearing. Just as she hoped the wolves gave chase bounding after her. They were fast, in her condition the easily out paced her and quickly gained ground. She could feel one's steps through the ground beneath her, and the air moving away from it's body as it closed it. It had to be only centimeters way. Please be here! Come on, come on! As if on cue, she felt the drenched ground below her begin to quake.
“Gotcha!” Taking from pools of strength she never knew she had she thrust her wings down and jumped, bounding into the air just as a high pitched yelp broke out behind her. The moment her hooves again touched the ground she ran for her life, as fast as she could for the other end of the clearing, not once daring to look back. The ground rumbled in front of her, narrowing her eyes she continued in a straight line, playing chicken with the monster under the ground. In a blur of movement a large vine shot up from the ground, sending mud and water spraying out, splattering over Dash's already dirty and tattered coat. Mud coated her face and mane and a splash in her left eye half her vision useless. With only one eyes on the tendril she charged at it. Sensing her it lashed it's self at her, falling straight do at her like a collapsing tree. Mentally she counted each moment until she could feel the moving air at it's shaft rustle her fur. At the very last moment, only an inch away from being crushed, she side stepped. The vine crashed down sending water flying out. Her heavy breathing and sudden movements worsened her injury, making every second feel like a large and heavy hammer was pounding a railroad spike into her side. Just a little further! Knowing she had just used up her last maneuver she closed her eyes, praying as she blindly ran forward. Please let me make it! Please! Her hearing became dull, every sound blurring together into an incomprehensible and incoherent white noise. The crack of thunder the only thing harsh enough to pierce the haze of howls, barks, rain and wind. She opened her only usable eye as she felt a tree fast approaching. Her vision too was blurry, she didn't know if it was from the rain, her tears or from a loss of blood. She slowed down to a trot, every muscle burned with exhaustion. She panted, heavily and painfully. She couldn't go on much longer. Looking down, her body felt light with relief. A white flower. She took a couple tentative steps forward, until she was surrounded by the flowers, before turning to see if she was still pursued. I was right... I was right! She smiled weakly as she watched the wolves get torn apart and dragged under ground by dozens of writhing vines while totally forgetting about her.
“Heh.. heh heh... I guess... I made it.” She laughed dully. Assured that she was safe, she trudged onward, doing her best to ignore the pain. I'm coming Twi, I'm coming for you.
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“Twilight! Twi!” She called out, her voice was raspy and tired. Her legs felt like cement and every motion intensified the already nearly incapacitating pain. Blood was still oozing from her wounds, though most of it had clotted off. Her greater concern was her rib. Fears of internal bleeding plagued her thoughts. Still, she willed her body with every step. Worry and doubt began to take over as she realized she had lost her sense of direction, she looked around frantically but everything looked the same. Over head the typhoon surged on, the deluge of rain had only grown stronger and she found herself having to lean against the wind, adding to the stress on her body. Amidst all this the ever present fear remained that any predator may make an easy kill of her in her current state, the storm was likely the only thing keeping them at bay.
“I- I can't keep going..” She with shallow, rapid breaths she stopped and fell against a tree beside her. All her pain was blended together as she stopped moving, only breathing made the pain in her side intense enough to stand out. Rainbow Dash slumped down, it was all she could do to stay on her hooves. I'm so tired... I just want to lay down. I want to sleep... I can't. I have to find Twilight... But how? Is it hopeless? She felt her eye lids growing heavy along with the rest of her body. Suddenly, a shadowy figure moved out from the trees before her, far enough away that it's features were mostly obscured by the down pour. Her Heart raced and her mind snapped to alertness, Panic set in moments later. Her she felt a cold chill run down her body. No... Why now?! This forest is just toying with me! I- I'm gonna die out here! I'm going to be torn to pieces and eaten! She stared at the creature, it's back was turned to her. Anger flared up inside her, rage at the unfairness of it all. I'm getting out of this place alive and with Twilight! I'm not going to let these stupid trees get the best of me. I'll live damn it! Quietly and slowly, she began to back up, squinting at the figure, trying to define it's detail, to lean just she was up against. Then, she noticed something about the creature... Hooves? It looks like a pony! But it's tall and, out of it's head.. Antlers? It doesn't look like a predator. Maybe it knows where Twilight is! But... should I risk it? I don't have a choice, I need to find her and I'll die for sure if I wander around in this storm much longer. Okay, it's settled, I'll face what ever it is head on!
“Hey!” She called out at the top of her lungs, the accompanying rush of pain made her wince. Slowly, the creature turned it's head, keeping the rest of it's body perfectly still. Like an owl, it's head turned all the way facing her. It's snout was slightly longer than a pony and, in between it's antlers appeared to be a unicorn horn, she couldn't see it's eyes. As Dash watched it look to her, everything felt so unreal and dream like. So much so she seriously thought it may have been a hallucination. That is, until it opening it's eyes. Just as slowly as it turned it's head it opened it's large eye lids revealing solid glowing blue orbs that took up a large portion of it's face. It was look right at her, she could just tell it wasn't some beast of the forest. For a moment she was mesmerized by it's eyes, her pain and even her body ceased to feel real or relevant. Then, her mind flashed with images, the one thing that mattered most to her now. She steeled herself, she couldn't move a muscle in her body, she wasn't even sure she could speak, but she had to try.
“Have you seen my friend!? Have you seen Twilight!” She screamed. The trance was broken as she yelled, all her pain returned, but even that didn't matter to her. Just as soon as the echo of her cry died into the sounds of the storm the creature turned away from Dash and walked into the forest. She couldn't explain why, but she felt an impetus, a drive to follow it. It was like a compulsion, before she knew it, her hooves began moving her towards the trees it had vanished in. Massive bolts of lighting arced in the sky above, the storm was right on top of her and the rain water that accumulated on the ground now rose a quarter the way up her hooves and it was still rising. I can't stay here, and that thing might know where Twilight is. It may be dangerous, but it's all I have. Reluctantly, she trudged after it, hoping that what awaited her was her her friend, and not death.
She walked through the woods, though she couldn't see the creature she followed she knew it was near. Her body seemed to move independently of her will, leading her in the direction of what ever she had seen. Her mind was numbed and so was her pain, as though she were half asleep. What thoughts she could conceive were of her curiosity as to what would happen when she caught up to it, and whether Twilight was alright. Left and right she made her way through the trees, guided by the compelling force. Suddenly, the fog in her mind lifted as she neared a massive tree. She could see it's canopy above all the trees around her, it's high status out competing the surrounding trees, leaving this area sparsely populated. She emerged though the last of the smaller trees to see the massive trunk of the largest tree she had ever seen. It easily made Golden Oaks Library look like a sapling.
Her body came back to her, as did all the pain, though her curiosity and awe left it duller than before. She felt a familiar sensation, uneasy but irresistible. Looking to the side of the tree, at the base of it's trunk, was her guide. It stared at her with it's hypnotic glowing blue eyes. She had a much better look at it now, it did indeed have both antlers and a unicorn like horn. It was covered in light green fur but it's hind half of it's body almost seemed to be covered in scales with a nearly reptilian tail, at the tip of which was a thick tuft of fur. She had never seen or felt anything like it. It stared at her for a long moment, she didn't move a muscle the entire time it stared at her, she felt like she was under a microscope. In a blur it spun around and ran behind the tree, Rainbow Dash couldn't help but notice that it's hooves didn't splash or even leave ripples in the water. I've come this far, I need to see what it wants. She continued following it around the gargantuan tree, she then felt something strange under her hooves. Stone? The grass and mud had been replaced by flat, smooth stone. Coming around the tree, she didn't see the creature as she expected, instead what she saw surprised her more.
“No way...” She stood baffled, staring up the tree as the rain drenched her. It was a castle, or rather the spire of a castle made out of cut stone. A tree had wrapped around the tower, growing into it and over it twisting like a serpent around it. The cobble stone steps were still mostly intact. She scanned quickly around for any sign of the creature, but it was nowhere in sight. Taking one last dubious look at the tree bound tower she climbed it's steps and entered.
“Twilight! You in here!?” She called out, her voice echoing in the dark against the dusty walls. The echo faded and no response came. She sighed in defeat, a feeling of hopelessness again working it's way through her mind. Suddenly a ball of light ignited at the ceiling. Causing Dash to jump in surprise.
“Is any pony here!?” There was a noticeable trace of fear in her voice, made no better when no answer came. She proceeded further in, nervously looking around her.
The tower was as tall almost as tall as the tree. To her surprise a spiral staircase lead all the way to the top. Roots, branches and vines covered nearly every surface. The tower it's self was devoid of furnishings or decoration. Not surprising. This place must be way old. It's amazing it's still standing. I guess the tree is supporting it. Something about that seemed poetic to her. She strained her sore neck, looking all the way to the top. Up at the top of this thing is probably the highest place I can go without flying. Maybe I can see where Twilight might be hiding from up there. It was small, but she could feel a flicker of hope, and that was all she needed. Slowly but steadily she began ascending the stony steps, wearily avoiding any cracks in the eroded structure. She was surprised that there wasn't any leaks as far as she could see. This place must have been really well made. But why is there a castle in the middle of the jungle and how did it light up like that? She mused over the possibilities until she reached the top, stopped at the very last step, by a decaying wooden door. She looked it over, hoping it wasn't locked, doubting she had the strength left to break down a door. Please be open. Slowly she reached her hoof to the door, to wishing to aggravate any more pain. With a light push the door creaked open. It was pitch black, just as the tower had been. On a hunch, she walked into the inky darkness and, just as she thought, it light up. It was a small, circular room. On the floor, engraved in the stone seemed to be thin, ornate circles of gold. The gold spun off in intricate swirls and symbols. At it's center was a perfectly clear gem the size of a hoof. Looking up from the floor, she saw in front of her, mounted on the wall, a polished metal mirror. Just like the floor, the mirror was outlined with gold, and it too at it's centre had a small purple gem. Cautiously she stepped into the room towards the mirror. Looking at herself she look like a wild animal. Mud and branches stuck to her, she was sopping wet and patches of her fur were missing along with some of her feathers. Her belly and chest were stained with blood.
“Wow, I'm a mess.” She laughed softly to minimize her pain. Stepping closer to get a better look her hoof stepped in the centre of the room, right on the gem. Suddenly the crystal in the mirror begun to glow and the silver turned pitch black. Rainbow Dash leaned in, looking deeply into the mirror as an image slowly became more clear. Though dark and cloudy at first, soon she could see something moving withing the mirror. It was in a dark place and a small purple light came from it's head. After another moment, the picture was clear enough. She stepped closer, nearly pressing her nose against it. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she whispered.
“Twilight.”