//------------------------------// // Meeting the Spirit // Story: The Desert Spirit // by Cmdr Brohoof //------------------------------// “I don’t think this is a good idea” Apple Bloom stated over the whistle of the train. “Don’t worry about it” Scootaloo said in a comforting voice “Nothing can go wrong we told our families that we are having a sleepover at each other’s house right?” “Right” Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom said in unison. “So they won’t even realize we’re be gone. We’ll be back from the southern deserts, found the Spirit and gotten our totally awesome adventurer cutie marks before any pony notices.” “I don’t think it’s that easy Scootaloo remember Artie Fact he was a skilled adventurer and he got lost in the deserts.” “Right but that’s when it WAS dangerous” Scootaloo reassured “Remember why he was there they made it safer for ponies to travel there.” “I guess” Apple Bloom said reluctantly “Besides it will be nice to get a cool Cutie Mark” “All aboard last call for the southern deserts” A conductor pony yelled from the platform. The three Cutie Mark Crusaders quickly dashed aboard the train and set off on the long journey to the southern deserts. The further the train took the crusaders the drier and drier it got. Eventually the scenery turned from the deep forests and rolling grassy fields they were used to. Trees were replaced with sparse palm trees the grassy hills now vast stretches of scorching sand. The train came a stop in a small village on the edge of the vastness that was called the southern deserts. “End of the line” the conductor said as he watched the trains’ passengers depart. “I didn’t think it would be so hot here” Apple Bloom said as she was panting from the sun’s rays. “Well what did you expect?” Scootaloo questioned. “I always thought desserts were cool and sweet” Sweetie Bell added “We’re in a desert not dessert. One is a sandy hot place the other is a tasty treat. Did you think we were going to a place filled with food?” Scootaloo said while bringing her hoof to her forehead. “I was hoping we were” Sweetie Bell muttered “Enough of this” Scootaloo demanded “We don’t have any time to lose if we’re going to find the Spirit we have to get started right away.” “Yeah but we don’t have any leads, where do we even start?” Apple Bloom asked. “Looking for the Spirit are you?” An unknown voice said from behind the ponies The three little ponies immediately jumped around to see where the voice had come from. “Over here” the voice said again. The ponies this time saw where the voice had come from. A dark figure was standing in the shadows just barley visible to the three fillies. “It just so happens I know where it is.” “Really” Scootaloo beamed “Can you tell us where?” “I don’t know if we can trust this guy Scootaloo.” Applebloom muttered into Scootaloo’s ear But before any more protest arised from the ponies the voice started again. “Of course my sweet little ponies you just go east out town to the oasis on the outskirts.” “Thanks mister” Scootaloo said as she dashed off in the direction of the oasis. “Wait for us” Sweetie Bell yelled chasing after Scootaloo Apple Bloom started running after her friends, before she left she took a quick glance back to the ally where the voice had been coming from. She could have sworn she saw the slight glimmer of a jewel of some kind. Scootaloo had reached the oasis before either of her friends and was already searching the area around the oasis. Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom were not far behind both out of breath stopped just behind Scootaloo. “So what are we looking for exactly?” Sweetie Bell asked “I don’t know Spirit stuff” Scootaloo said as she looked under a fallen palm leaf. The young fillies looked over the tiny oasis for hours not finding anything leading them to the Spirit. “Let’s just go home Scootaloo” Sweetie Bell whined “There’s nothing here I think that creepy voice was just messing with us. “Yeah” Apple Bloom began to say as she did she felt the ground beneath her hoofs began to shake. “What the?” Within the blink of an eye Apple Bloom had disappeared from view of the two other crusaders. “APPLE BLOOM” Sweetie and Scootaloo yelled. They both ran over to the hole where Apple Bloom had been standing. They peered down into the darkness yelling for Apple Bloom getting no response. “Only one?” a voice said in the darkness “I thought you said there was three.” Apple Bloom stirred slightly still feeling woozy from the fall. “It was boss I’m sure of it” a familiar voice responded. “The voice from the alley” Apple Bloom thought. “What is he doing here?” “Well one is better than none load her into the cart and take here to the mine” the first voice said “Sure thing boss” the alley voice responded Apple Bloom could feel a net being placed over her and it was becoming more and more difficult to move. “Oh No I’m being filly napped!” she thought. Still powerless from the fall she sustained earlier she was unable to fight or even call for help. She was then lifted off the ground and placed onto another hard surface after a while she was jostled again this time she could tell that she was moving. By this time she was regaining her senses the darkness was beginning to fade. She could make out shapes of barrels and crates, she was in a cart. Toward the front she could see two figures bobbing up and down in the darkness. After more light began to fill the cave she could see the sparkle she saw in the ally earlier. Suddenly she was outside she looked back where they came from and made out a small cave. She looked to see who the two voices from earlier belonged to. “Diamond Dogs!” she said aloud. At this the Dogs stopped and looked back. “Oh awake are we?” the alley voice said “You’re quicker than most the fall usually keeps them out till we get to the mine.” “Hehe you not one of those magic ponies but you’ll do fine pulling our minecarts.” The boss dog said poking Apple Bloom in the flank. “Please let me go” Apple Bloom pleaded “I want to go home” “Awww poor pony wants to go home well in that case…NO” the boss dog said continuing to poke Apple Bloom. Both dogs began to laugh as tears welled up in Apple Blooms eyes. The laughing was broken by a crack of thunder. The boss dog fell to the ground. “Boss you ok?” the other dog said looking down at his friend Another crack of thunder the other dog fell. Apple Bloom could hear the thunder echoing in the emptiness of the desert. Then all she could hear was the wind. After a few minutes she noticed a blur in the distance a two legged creature was coming toward her. As it got closer she could see its features better. It was wearing odd clothing she had never seen before. Its color blended in with the sand. Its one black eyed looked like a large pair of goggles with a sand colored cloth protecting its face. It was carrying a black object that she couldn’t make out. Its head was rounded and had the same pattern of its clothes. As it got closer it stopped knelt down and looked at the two dogs. Apple Bloom stared at the creature not even taking a breath. It reached up and clicked something on its head and took off what Apple Bloom thought was its head it was a helmet. With its helmet removed a light brown patch of fur was revealed. It placed a hand on its goggle looking eye and took it off in its place was a pair of eyes much like a pony but smaller. It pulled down the cloth on its face and brought a bottle to its exposed mouth and took a deep drink from it. It placed the bottle into a pouch on its back. It walked over to Apple Bloom who was still starring in awe at the creature. It placed the black object against the cart. It leaned down bringing its face close to Apple Bloom. It opened its mouth and said, “You alright kid?”