Chapter 10
Bestest Best
“Ah, your timing is impeccable.” Alamos complimented as Rarity and Eli walked inside from the rain. They could see that Fido and Spot were at one end of the barn while the CMC were at where at the entrance. “While you were gone, there was an unfortunate outburst and a fight begun. We had to separate them, as you can see.”
“Spot called us donkeys.” Scootaloo glared at Spot, who glared back.
“Well, you all better get over that.” Rarity told them. “Because they’re stuck with us until we fix this crisis.”
“What??” Sweetiebelle asked surprised. “So you’re going to do it, Eli? You’re going to be a knight!” Eli only sighed.
“Yes, Sweetiebelle,” Rarity replied for him, “He’s going to do it.”
Sweetie squealed excited. “We’re going on an adventure!”
“Alright!” Scootaloo jumped excited.
“Let’s do it!” Applebloom shouted.
“Cutie Mark Crusaders Adventure to defeat Kronos!” They all shouted with a huge amount of volume that almost made the barn tilt. Eli and Rarity smiled as Spot and Fido came over to them.
“So what’s the plan?” Spot asked Rarity curious.
“First, I must train Eli in the ways of the sword.” Alamos told them. “Then and only then will we have the strength to find the Scabbard and Sword to complete me.” Eli sighed as he sat down in front of the fire.
“When do we begin?” Eli asked the shield.
“Today, in fact.” Alamos replied. “You must find a sword.”
“A sword?” Sweetiebelle asked him curious.
“Indeed, little one. Eli must find a proper sword in order for him to begin training.”
“And we know where to find one.” Spot rubbed his paws together, thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, in the pouring Everfree Forest, Roadburn and Surprise continued trudging through the mud, unsure of where they were going. “So…” Surprise finally spoke, “Do you know where we’re going?”
Roadburn sighed and kept looking ahead. “I told you before there is no ‘we’, and I’m going to save my grandmother.”
“So who’s your grandmother?” Surprise asked him, curious.
“She’s the only family I got left…” Roadburn told her, his voice became softer.
“Silly Billy! Everypony’s got a family!” Surprise told him.
“Oh, yeah?” Roadburn looked at Surprise with a curious look. “Then do you have a family?”
“No duh!” Surprise giggled at him, and then she pointed up. “They’re up there.” Roadburn looked up, but the rain made it too difficult for him to see what she meant.
“Where?” Roadburn asked her as he rubbed his eyes from the rain. “What do you mean?”
“Oh! Um…” Surprise thought for a second and she took her gaze off of Roadburn for a moment.
“I know it’s not uncommon for Pegasi to be in the clouds all the time, but not usually large amounts of thunderclouds.” Roadburn told her. “What are you ta--?” She shushed him.
“Do you hear that?” She asked him. Roadburn perked his ears back and forth, but couldn’t pick up anything.
“No… What is it?” The unicorn asked her.
Surprise then walked forward, her ears perking in different directions. “I think I hear something…” She told the unicorn as he followed her. “It’s coming from…this direction!” She then bolted off and Roadburn then began to creep away, slowly, trying to ditch the mare. It almost felt safe when he turned around to find her again. “Surprise!” She shouted, scaring Burn. She then grabbed his hoof and dragged him with her. “C’mon, Burn! I think there’s others over here!” The two ponies then came to a small clearing, and there they found that a hot air balloon had crashed into the trees, but nopony was around. There was only a small fire on the hot air balloon’s basket, but it wasn’t catching onto the trees, yet. This seemed to be very recent. Surprise clopped her hooves together, happily. “Yes! I thought there might be others here!” She giggled. Roadburn stood up to find that there nopony around.
“There’s nothing here, Surprise.” Roadburn told her. The Pegasus then hopped over to the blazing basket. “I know, Silly Billy, but look here!” She pointed to the ground below her, and Roadburn looked down to notice tracks were on the ground.
“Whoa…” He said to himself. “I guess there’s somepony near here.” He trotted closer to see that more than one set of tracks were littered on the ground. He could estimate at least four, maybe five ponies that were here. Burn’s gaze followed the tracks upward into the brush. “Maybe we should follow them.” He finally spoke.
“That’s the spirit, Roadburn!” Surprise chimed and they quickly followed the tracks deeper into the forest brush.
Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire, Merciful was busy packing his saddlebags when he heard a knock from his door. The alicorn stopped what he was doing and came to answer it. He opened the door and found that Fluttershy had been waiting for him. What an odd surprise. “Well, hello, Fluttershy,” Merciful greeted her warmly, “Are you all ready for the journey ahead?” She then nodded.
“Y-Yes…” She answered him, plainly, “M…May I speak with you, M-Merciful?” The alicorn then nodded and took a few steps back to give her room to enter. The shy mare entered the room and turned to Merciful after he shut the door, gently with his magic. He warmly smiled toward her. Something seemed to be on her mind, and it was bothering her. He would enter her mind and understand, but that would be rude of him and unnecessary. “What is the matter, Fluttershy?” The alicorn asked her, “Are you troubled still?”
“No…” She sniffed. Mercy could see her eyes watering with tears, “I…I-I…I just…” Her stuttering ceased and she started to cry, and she hugged onto Merciful, who was surprised by her hug, “Thank you…Merciful…” She finally told him, and she hugged onto him tight as she cried. Mercy had never been thanked like this before, even in his days of being the Royal Judge, he has never been thanked so sincerely. It almost reminded him of Applejack’s hugs; it was so meaningful. He then took a wing and wrapped it around Fluttershy, hugging her back. “You’re welcome, Fluttershy,” Merciful told her. However, their moment was short-lived. A huge explosion could be heard from outside and it surprised them both. “What was that?” Fluttershy yelped as she hung onto Mercy off the floor for comfort. The alicorn then hurried to the balcony of his room, and they could see dust and shards flying from the castle’s peak. Mercy’s eyes widened as the dust settled and a blue mist seeped downward toward the panicking ponies. “Fluttershy. Remain here,” Merciful told her, “I will defend our citizens.” Fluttershy did as he said without any argument. She dashed straight into his saddlebags, which was large enough for her to fit inside. The alicorn then took off into the air and landed gently on the debris littered street, under the threatening blue mist. The mist then fell behind him and formed the body of an alicorn mare. She was black and her mane was the blue mist from before. She must take the form of one herself. She also wore light blue armor, but it was very few, resembling much of a princess’ attire. She laughed at Merciful. “Ah, brother,” The alicorn mare said, “It has been too long, has it not?”
“Silence, fiend!” Mercy snarled, angrily, “You are not related to me in any way.”
“Oh, I think we’ll both see that we’re more related than you think.” The mare sneered at the prince. Not understanding what she meant, he then made eye contact. Everything was revealed to him. He then stepped back in shock. “No…” He said with fear, “It cannot be! My own sister!” He lowered his head in disgrace, briefly, and then lifted it back up with an infuriated expression, “You are Nightmare Moon; Luna’s discorded self.”
“Well, give the royal sourpuss a cigar!” Discord’s voice shouted from above, and a cigar appeared in Mercy’s mouth. He disgustingly spat it out as the Draconequus landed beside Nightmare Moon. He leaned against the mare. “How do you like my new friend, Merc?” Discord asked him as pinched his eagle talons together, like he had class. Before Merciful could answer a yellow beam of magic shot down from above and exploded from beneath Discord and Nightmare, driving them backward. Mercy looked upward to see Celestia, Cadance and Twilight standing at the balcony. They each flew into the air and Twilight fired another beam of magic, followed by another cyan beam of magic from Cadance, driving Discord and Nightmare Moon even further back. They each landed beside Merciful. “You aren’t in this alone, uncle,” Candance told him as they readied themselves for an attack. “Well, if it isn’t the royal family all together again,” Nightmare laughed, but then a spear struck near her hooves, driving into the street. They all looked upward to see Shining Armor, carried by Rainbow Dash, drop beside his beloved. “Sorry I’m late,” Armor apologized, “Luna’s body is safe, Aunt Celestia.”
“Very good,” Celestia thanked him.
“Now everypony’s here!” Discord cheered as he clapped his claws together, “Now, watch as Nightmare Moon and I destroy the Crystal Empire!” He maniacally laughed as he raised a claw which glowed a bright yellow, but Cadance blasted a sealant spell and it sealed Discord’s claw into solid diamond. He looked at it, puzzled. “We’re out numbered, Discord,” Nightmare Moon told him as she turned into a mist, “Retreat!” She then flew off from the scene. Discord watched in confusion as everything was not going as planned. He became so mad that he tensed up and held his breath while wincing until his face turned red and steam came out his ears. “Fine!” He finally shouted and snapped his eagle claw, disappearing from sight. They were gone now, and everypony was coming out from their homes and hiding places. The family then sighed of relief as they loosened up and relaxed. They were safe for now. Merciful then turned to Celestia. “Shining Armor said that Luna’s body is safe,” He told her, “Sister, what happened? Is Luna alright?” Celestia exchanged a look of uneasiness with Twilight and then she sighed.
“Come inside, brother,” Celestia told him, “There are too many here watching.” Once everypony was inside the room where Luna’s sleeping body resided with Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Snowy and Sunny, Celestia explained to Merciful. “While Luna and I stood at the top of the Crystal Empire, Discord had been disguised as one of our Royal Guards and he pulled Luna into a deep slumber, while she was asleep, he separated Nightmare Moon from within her subconscious, giving her a physical body to permanently live without Luna’s. I tried to stop him, but I didn’t act in time, and I was too late.” She sadly admitted and leaned her head downward in shame, believing that it was her fault.
“It’s not your fault, Celestia,” Twilight comforted her, and patted her back. Celestia sniffed and raised her head again with a more composed attitude.
“I cannot let you leave now,” Celestia told them.
“What!?” Rainbow Dash shouted, misunderstanding her, “And why not!?”
“Why, Celestia?” Twilight asked, kindly.
“Because if Discord possesses the power to do this then it’s just much too dangerous for you all to rescue Joyful,” Celestia explained, “You’re all too precious to give up and the game has just changed once Nightmare Moon was set.”
“And if he can get to me then Envious will be freed again, murdering all of you,” Merciful told them, “Celestia is right.”
“B-But, Merciful…” Fluttershy tried to reason with him, but he raised a hoof for silence.
“I will only become a nuisance, but I one of the two ponies that can protect you on this journey an--.” His sentence was shockingly interrupted by Fluttershy’s outburst.
“You can’t just leave Helpful all by himself in the Underworld!” She angrily shouted at them all, “He’s your brother! He’s your family! He’s the life link between the Elements of Harmony! And he’s my loving stallion! Isn’t his life worth rescuing even though our lives wouldn’t make it!? He would’ve done the same!” Her eyes began to fill up with tears again, “Please! Please…just bring him back…” She lowered her head and began to whimper and cry. Everypony was a little shocked by this outburst and nopony could comply, however, Sunny stepped up.
“Well? I for one think Flutters has a point, like we said before, Helpful would risk his life to save all of ours, and he’s proved that! Celestia. Merciful. You both should be ashamed of yourselves!” She scolded them, “Helpful is your brother. It doesn’t matter to him if he would die a painful, excruciating death to save both your hinds. He would not give up, and he’s proved that too! Now, please, let us go and save our friend. He means everything to us, please.” She then clenched both her claws together, “We need Helpful in order to fight back Kronos, you know that.” Celestia closed her eyes and sighed in thought.
“Very well, Sunny,” Celestia then agreed.
“Yes!” Everypony else, except Merciful and Shining Armor, cheered.
“Y…You really mean it?” Fluttershy asked as she wiped off the tears from her face.
“Please, be safe,” Celestia told them all.
“We will, Your Highness.” Twilight told her as they then left the room, leaving her alone with Merciful. Sunny then sighed and bended over in relief. Snowy noticed this.
“Something wrong, Sunny?” He asked her, curious.
“I’m just relieved that worked,” Sunny said as she stood up straight again, “I mean, those would be terrible last words.” Snowy laughed as they followed the others.
Meanwhile, Eli and company had come to an empty dirt clearing through the rain. Sweetiebelle, Applebloom, Scootaloo and Rarity were given umbrellas to keep dry while the boys were left in the freezing rain. “Remind me why we can’t have umbrellas like the girls, Alamos,” Eli asked the shield rather harshly, who was on his back, “I’m f-freezing.” He shuddered, cold.
“Because a knight must take care of the mares and foals, disregarding his own welfare at times,” Alamos told him, “That is what Chivalry is.”
“F-Fine!” Eli growled as Spot and Fido sniffed around on the ground. The fillies watched, curiously. Soon Spot waved to Fido.
“It’s over here, Fido!” He shouted to the mutt and once he stomped over to him, they began digging. Eli and Rarity walked over to them, curious as they watched. What sword do they have? Soon enough, Spot pulled out a dirty long sword and stabbed it into the ground before Eli. “Here it is!” He told the stallion, “One genuine sword!” Eli took the blade with his hoof and lifted it upright. It was a little heavy for his taste, making it almost impossible to lift as he strained to keep it up. Unfortunately, his strength wasn’t enough and he dropped his arm, the sword making a clang. “Wow, that’s heavy!” He remarked, taking a rest.
“Quit complaining, knave,” Alamos told him, harshly, “In order for you to fight, you must be able to lift a sword. Now lift it again.” Eli rolled his eyes and tried again, lifting the sword upright once more. He winced as he kept it up, giving his muscles some strain.
“Ow, ow, ow, ow,” Eli groaned as his arm began to shake and give.
“Eli, come now,” Rarity told him, “You need to build your strength. Don’t give up.” Eli awkwardly smiled at Rare and almost dropped his arm, but he caught it with his other arm in mid-drop and groaned loudly as he lifted it back up again; this time over his head.
“That’s enough,” Alamos finally spoke, and Eli gratefully lowered the sword onto the ground.
“Okay, how’d I do?” Eli asked the shield, almost out of breath.
“Poor,” Alamos told him, “You’re too weak! You must gain even more strength in order to use the sword. You must endure training immediately!” At that very moment, there was a scream in the distance and everyone turned their attention toward it, deeper into the forest of Everfree.
“Somepony’s in trouble!” Scootaloo told them, “C’mon, Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They all hurried off into the woods without a second thought.
“W-wait!” Fido chased after them.
“Fido, no!” Spot shouted as he chased after the bigger mutt. “Come back here!”
“Well, let us see what the matter is,” Alamos told them, “Hurry, Eli. There may be more than just one pony’s life at stake.” Eli nodded and Rarity and he hurried into the forest.
Earlier, Roadburn and Surprise had followed the tracks through the rain until they had found a cavern. There they spotted a total of six mares, each had collapsed onto the ground. They both immediately hurried over to see if they were still alive, and as they checked, they saw that one mare was a gray Pegasus with a blond mane, her Cutie Mark was some bubbles. Another mare had a mint green coat with a mint green mane with white highlights. This unicorn’s Cutie Mark was a gold bard. The third mare they found was an earth pony with a black mane and a light brown coat. She had a note for a Cutie Mark. The next was another earth pony with a black and pink mane and cream coat. Her Cutie Mark was three pieces of candy. The fifth was a yellow coated Pegasus with a red and yellow mullet. Her Cutie Mark was a couple of wings. The final pony they found was a white unicorn. Roadburn was surprised to see this unicorn. She looked just like…like Vinyl Scratch! Could it be? He carefully shoved the mare with his hooves. “Vin,” He said, “Vin, is that you? Vinyl? Wake up!” The mare’s lower legs only twitched a little as he pushed her. Roadburn stopped and sighed. She always was a heavy sleeper. He then reached in the mare’s saddlebag and Surprise watched with curiosity. “What’re you doin’, Burny?” She asked him as she walked over beside him. Roadburn then pulled out an air horn.
“I knew it!” Roadburn laughed as he held it up high, “She didn’t waste it!” He then winced as he prepared to set it off. Surprise covered both her ears and then the air horn blasted, waking up everypony, which they all jumped and screamed in terror. An odd moment of silence passed as they all noticed the new company. Surprise couldn’t help, but laugh now. She fell onto her back and rolled as she hooted and laughed her rump off. Roadburn sighed as she did this, but then Vinyl pitched in a little too and laughed, and so did the gray mare, which he noticed her lazy, yellow eyes. “That wasn’t funny,” The light brown Earth Pony complained with a prim and proper look, “It was very alarming.” She told them all. Oh great. A rich pony. Just what we all needed! “C’mon, Tavi’.” Vinyl chuckled, “Burn’s just playin’ around. Right, Roadburn?” She nudged him, playfully. Roadburn chuckled as she nudged him.
“Kinda…” He replied, “I found you all collapsed on the ground, and I couldn’t wake you up. So I went with the only option I had,” He said as he lifted up the air horn, “I’m kinda glad you still kept up with this, Vin,” He then gave it back to her, “It means a lot.” Vinyl took the air horn and stuffed it back into her saddlebags.
“How can I forget you, bud?” She then put him into a headlock and noggied him, “Huh? How can I forget my bestest best friend in the whole world?” Roadburn laughed as she noggied him, like they were little foals again.
“Vinyl, you know this guy?” The cream coated mare asked her.
“Yeah, I do, dude!” She then let Burn go, “He’s most awesome unicorn I met! Roadburn, meet my friends,” Vinyl gestured toward the light brown earth pony, “That’s Octavia, I call her ‘Tavi’ for short,” She then gestured toward the gray Pegasus, “That’s Derpy Hooves, she can be a bit of a hoof-full though.”
“Do what?” Derpy asked, half-awake.
“Anyways,” Vinyl continued as she gestured toward the minty green unicorn, “That’s Lyra Heartstrings, she’s pretty cool,” She then gestured toward the cream coated earth pony, “That’s Bonbon, she’s Lyra’s best friend,” She then gestured toward the bright orange Pegasus, “And that’s Spitfire, she’s a Wonderbolt. She was on vacation for a bit, but then all this crazy stuff happened!” She laughed a bit, “We tried to get away from the storm by using a hot air balloon, but the lightning and harsh winds made us hit ground again.”
“I thought I saw something,” Bonbon told them with a thoughtful gesture, “It looked rather odd, like it was somepony wrapped in cloth, or something.”
“You probably saw somepony’s blanket flying by,” Octavia told her, “What we should really worry about is what happened to Ponyville.” Just at that moment, the CMC enter the tunnel.
“Hello?” Sweetiebelle shouted as they entered the area, “Is somepony there?”
“Oh, dear,” Lyra said with a hoof to her lips, surprised, “Are you lost, little ponies?” Surprise jumped right next to them.
“Oh, my gosh,” She shouted excited, “More company!” She then jumped up and down excitedly. The fillies looked at her oddly.
“You sure act like Pinkie Pie, but you’re not Pinkie,” Applebloom remarked, “Who are you, miss?”
“My name’s Surprise!” She answered them, “Nice ta’meet’cha!” The white Pegasus then shook the hoof of each filly, happily. Vinyl looked over to Roadburn with an odd look.
“Where’d you find her?” Vin asked Burn, who sighed.
“I’d like to think that she found me…” The blue unicorn shrugged, “She won’t leave me alone, and she keeps calling me--.”
“Oh, Burny!” Surprise called out, interrupting him, “We have more company!” Roadburn and Vinyl both looked after hearing Bonbon scream out loud. They both saw the Diamond Dogs that just appeared. Surprise was just between them as she chimed, “Aren’t they just cute!?” She giggled, hugging them both.
“Surprise!” Octavia sternly shouted, “Get away from those ruffians!”
“No! No!” Scootaloo told them, waving her arms to grab their attention, “They’re not ruffians!”
“Yeah! They’re actually our friends!” Applebloom agreed with her friend.
“They’re really just a couple of sweethearts,” Sweetiebelle added with their explanation, “See?” She gestured toward Surprise petting Fido, who really enjoyed the feeling. Spot just crossed his arms and mumbled a few words to himself as he sat down. The minor six then exchanged nods and words of agreement. At this moment, Eli and Rarity entered the cavern, “Is everypony okay?” Eli grabbed their attention.
“We’re fine, Eli,” Scootaloo told him, “We just found more ponies around here.” Rarity and Eli took a gander at the ponies and introductions were made.
“And this’s Roadburn,” Vinyl Scratch finished her end of the introductions, giving the stallion a hug, “He’s my best friend.” Roadburn at first was a little surprised, but he embraced the hug anyways, hugging her tight. They eventually break their hug and return their attention to Eli, “That’s about it, dude,” She told him.
“So your shield can talk?” Lyra asked him, amazed by this, “That’s incredible!”
“Yes, I can speak,” Alamos said with pride.
“Yeah…” Eli replied with a thoughtful look toward the ground, “He chose me…”
“’Chose you’?” Octavia repeated, curious.
“Indeed,” Alamos replied, “Eli is of the proper heart and spirit. He is worthy of the Sword of Justice, and I am to teach him all the ways of the scared blade itself. The journey he is to take will be long and arduous. The pony that you see right now, may look like a filthy excuse for an apprentice, but with the correct chipping and polishing, he will become this world’s savior.”
“Heh,” Eli chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, “He can also be a big talker, too.”
“It’s actually pretty neat,” Spitfire commented, generously.
“Many thanks to you, madam,” Alamos thanked her.
“Beautiful, and a gentlecolt,” Octavia said, looking at Al, dreamily, “Why aren’t you a pony?” The shield remained silent once she said that, and the cavern remained silent with the loud noise of rain outside echoing about, until Roadburn broke the uneasy silence. “Alright, now that we’ve seen each other again,” Burn said as he stood up and began his departure, “I need to go and save my grandmother.” Vinyl gasped as she went after him and Surprise, who naturally followed.
“Wait!” Vin stopped him, and she came around in front of him, “Is Granny Cookie okay? What happened?”
“You don’t need to worry,” The unicorn told her and tried to walk around her, but she grabbed his hoof and stopped him.
“I’m coming with you,” Vinyl told him, “It doesn’t matter what you’ll say, I’m comin’ with, dude.” Roadburn gave her a little look of annoyance. It was only natural for Vinyl to follow him, she always has, ever since they were foals, and no matter how much they’ll argue, she’d be the most stubborn. He sighed and shook his head with a faint smile. “Fine,” Burn said as he rolled his eyes, “Let’s go then.”Vin nodded, and Spitfire stood up.
“Hold on!” Spit caught their attention, “I’m coming too,” She said as she trotted over to them both, “You’ll need some eye-in-the-sky to make sure you don’t run into anything weird and I’m pretty fast, too. You’ll need me.”
“Oh, yeah?” Vinyl Scratch said with a confident look, “Roadburn’s plenty of speed. In fact, I think he’d fly circles around you, if he could fly!” Roadburn then cleared his throat, singling to Vin that she’s saying too much than he wanted.
“C’mon, Burn!” Surprise giggled as she jumped, “The more the merrier, right?”
Roadburn the sighed, “I guess so… Just don’t get in my way, okay?” He then turned around started heading toward the rain.
“We’re coming, too,” Bonbon said as the rest of the minor six followed them, “Strength in numbers right?” Roadburn didn’t answer as he stopped at the opening of the cavern that stopped at the pouring rain.
“Eli,” Alamos grabbed Eli’s attention, “Perhaps we should accompany the unicorn’s mission. He will need our help.”
“But I thought we’re going to defeat Kronos,” Eli told him.
“Sometimes a knight must accept a mission beside his primary in order to continue his careful practice in chivalry.”
“But wouldn’t that lead to him being sidetracked?” Eli asked him with a smart look.
“That’s why a knight never travels alone,” Al replied, and Eli sighed.
“Maybe we should help them, Eli,” Rarity told him, “I mean, we do have no idea where to find the other Gear of Alamos, and if we help we could find a clue to find them, and maybe they could help.”
Eli then nodded, “Well, I guess that’s a good idea,” He said as he stood up, “Let’s give ‘em a hoof then. Hey, guys!” He shouted to grab their attention, but once the last of the minor six exited the cavern, it froze over, encasing Eli and company inside. “NO!” Eli shouted as it froze over. In the heat of the moment, he had charged bi-pedal, pulled out his dirty longsword during his blitz and stabbed it straight into the ice, burying it in deep and creating many cracks within the frost. He then pulled it back out, pulled out Alamos, readying him, and then started charging and bashing into the ice. For a moment, it seemed like he was making progress, but it would just refreeze over. “Dang it!” He shouted, outraged. Rarity had been using a light spell and watched Eli’s performance with awe. Who knew that he had such vigor? Could he really be the Knight of Justice? Eli’s heavy breathing from the exercise slew down to a calmer pace as he sat down. “Great…” He said as he lowered his head, laying his sword down, “Now we’re stuck here…”
“If we still breathe, hope is alive,” Alamos told him, “Perhaps we may find another exit if we follow this cavern.”
“That’s right!” Rarity said as she and the fillies hopped up onto their hooves, “Every cavern in Everfree forest should have an exit somewhere!” Eli looked up to her. Perhaps there was hope still.
“I don’t know…” Spot said as he examined the floor of the cavern, “Some of the body of the channel wasn’t made by water.”
“Well, I’m sure it was those ponies before, not paying attention to what they were doing,” Rare said as she trotted deeper into the cave, “Come along, everypony!” The CMC quickly followed her and Eli stood up as Spot still examined the cavern walls with Fido as they slowly followed, mumbling and whispering toward one another.
“You two alright?” Eli asked them both, and they turned to him, “You’re lagging behind a bit.”
“We’re fine, Eli,” Spot told him, “It’s just this cavern that bothers us.”
“Is it because you haven’t explored this area before?” Alamos asked them as they moved again.
“Well…maybe…” Fido replied, thoughtfully, “Something just seems wrong…”