Chapter Five: Another Path
Fluttershy moved towards the monsters blocking her way, never losing eye contact with them. Behind her yellow flowers grew with each step. The monstrous raven screeched before launching feathers towards her. The feathers slammed into the ground a few biting deep into Fluttershy. She let out a yelp of pain taking a step back, the sound causing the Gryphon to pause as the giant raven squacked angrily.
“I don’t want to hurt either of you. I just want to check on Aqua Star,” Fluttershy said gently as she looked at the creatures in the eyes before taking another step forward. “We don’t have to fight. We can be friends. Just, please, calm down.”
The raven let out another cry, its giant beach slamming towards Fluttershy. Teal eyes slid shut as Fluttershy prepared for her doom hiding her face in her mane.
Pinkie bounced in place as she looked at the two creatures in front of her. The stone creature looked at the thin creature sitting on its shoulder. A pale face glanced at the stone creature before looking at Pinkie. The area was changing into a port town, though there were no people.
“Why are you not running?” the creature asked his voice faint as if it hadn’t spoken for a long time. Pinkie tilted her head to the side saying. “Well because at first Fluttershy was in danger. Now the shaking has stopped, not in a ‘Your friend has died’ sort of way but in a ‘She’s going to be alright’ and figured ‘Wow they probably had some really cool adventures and a sad story on why they are stuck here.’ So what do you say? Would you like me to help cheer you up?”
The stone creature looked at Pinkie Pie, an eyebrow ridge raised as it opened its mouth to speak. “Look Bubbly, all this happened to us a long time ago. It’s our problem.”
Applejack charged forward as did the creatures of the strange world. Spinning around Applejack nailed the lion-like creature in the face. She heard it growl as it was forced back. Grass growing under her hooves as dirt was kicked up.
“Applejack!” her mother, Apple Butter, yelled out in warning. Applejack’s head turned just in time to see her father, Bright Mac, slam into the charging Minotaur. The hit sent the Minotaur off course and both tumbled to the side.
“Dad!” shouted Applejack and the lion struck out at her with sharp claws. Barely dodging out of the way, Applejack stepped back for another strike. She was interrupted, however, when a hand wrapped around her ankle heaving her up in the air. Gritting her teeth Applejack faced the Minotaur, her eyes locking with his. That was when it struck hyer, both of these creatures were intelligent. The lion kept her distracted so the Minotaur struck. Taking a deep breath, Applejack swung her body trying to get out. Yet the grip did not waver or loosen. “Let me go!”
Rarity walked through the mountain, keeping her magic making quick work of the rubble. Her eyes glancing around at the statues that covered the area. All seemed to be either looking for someone or getting ready to go to battle. Voices echoed around the hall, some sending shivers down her spine.
“We need to wait for Lavellan, she can stop him!”
“The Inquisitor has not been seen for days since she went looking for him.”
“You must run, no one can help him now.”
Rarity’s eyes were drawn to a group of statues looking like they were shouting orders. A tall creature that reminded her of a minotaur was running towards a door, hand outstretched. Rarity glanced in the direction before following the hand. She entered a circular room with a mural devoid of statues. Frowning Rarity explored the room finding stairs leading up. Climbing them Rarity found herself in a library of sorts. More statues were there, all with their arms outstretched.
“What happened here?” Rarity whispered, examining the statues carefully when a voice spoke behind her. “I do believe that it was a fight, what do you think happened?”
Spinning around Rarity saw the black panther standing at the top of the stairs. Glancing at the statues Rarity replied. “Why I do believe it was a lost war. Yet all these… beings fought to the end. Yet some could not be with the ones that they wanted to be with in the end.”
Rainbow Dash flew forward slamming into the parrot creature knocking them outside of the cave. They spun out of control, Rainbow correcting herself easily as she glanced at the bear. The bear’s eyes narrowed before latching its paw around a boulder. It launched the massive stone towards Rainbow Dash and she dodged to the side. She readied her grip around the sword as she flew towards the beast. The bear paused before slamming a paw down onto Rainbow’s back, sending her into the ground. Letting out a groan, Rainbow Dash looked at the bear looming over her. The stone turned a reddish color as was the sky, a large moon and a smaller moon hovering in the distance.
Twilight stared at the dragon before glancing behind her seeing that the wolf had stopped as well.
“Is something the matter?” the dragon asked with amusement in her voice. “If you do not come, the Dread Wolf will get you.”
Twilight looked at the dragon again asking. “Then why did it stop? It could have easily caught up with me and have eaten me. Yet it doesn’t move any further… towards you.”
“You are a clever pony. The Dread Wolf and I have history, but I am merely one of the reasons why he does not come here,” The dragon said, spreading her wings. “I am Mythal, come young pony, I shall tell you a riddle and Fen’Harel if she can figure it out you will come here. If you can’t figure it out or if you get it wrong I will leave your fate up to Fen’Harel.”
Twilight looked between them before saying. “I’m listening.”
“A Seeker, a commander, a champion, a chief, a bard, a thief, a spirit, an author, a diplomat, a mage, and a court sorceress. What do the people have in common with Fen’Harel?”
Fluttershy opened one of her eyes hearing a shriek. The gryphon was swiping at the ghastly raven letting out a roar. The raven snapped back, flapping its wings ready to launch its feathers. Fluttershy took a deep breath before spreading her wings using the Stare.
“A friend,” Twilight answered, releasing her breath.
“It doesn’t have to be just your problem. I want to help!” Pinkie said, approaching the two beings, the thin figure looking intrigued. “I want to see everyone smile! Help them work through that sadness and doubt! That includes you and I know you’ve been hurt…. badly. I also don’t have my party cannon with me, I checked, but I want to listen.”
The Dread Wolf growled eyes glowing as Mythal tilted her head to the side. Fen’Harel dove towards Twilight, phasing into her body. She almost dropped to her knees as her eyes began to glow as well.
“What are ye?” Applejack questioned knowing she couldn't get out of the grip on her own. Her father and mother were being blocked by the lion. The Minotaur growled and Applejack forced herself not to look away. That was when images began to flood her mind.
“No matter what happened or what you did you are still their friend!” Tears filled Twilight’s eyes as Mythal watched in interest.
Rainbow Dash struggled to her hooves watching the bear shatter the claymore the shards floating in the air. She let out a frustrated groan. “Oh come on! I needed that!”
“If you want to kill me you will need a weapon you can actually use,” The bear replied, causing Rainbow’s eyes to widen. The shards merged together forming a sword and a shield. Rainbow Dash moved up to the bear saying. “Hold up, I am not going to kill you, I just need that to go help my friends. I just wanted to keep you from attacking me, well you and your giant parrot friend. What are you anyways?”
Twilight’s body lifted into the air as she seemed to struggle with the Spirit of Fen’Harel.
Rarity paused to think as she looked at the statues. “Which of these people was the one in the Great Hall trying to get to?”
“Oh… that one.” the panther said, waving a paw towards one of the statues. Rarity hummed under her breath as she walked down the stairs to get to the Great Hall once more. The panther glanced at the other creature with it.
“Why did you have to be so far back?” Rarity’s voice echoed, causing the two creatures to hold back laughter.
“You think what you did can never be undone. That the relationships that you forged are gone for good! But that is only if you leave them like that! You feel guilty for what you did, for the pain you caused! At least it is there!” Twilight gritted her teeth as the tears flowed down her cheek.
The gryphon batted away the raven who was momentarily stunned. It screeched before it flew away, the gryphon then approached Fluttershy. She smiled at it as she reached out a hoof saying. “I’m sorry you had to fight your friend. I hope we can find her later when she has calmed down. I am still willing to try. After all, everyone deserves the chance to be listened to.”
“...And that is what happened,” The thin creatures finished his story. Pinkie nodded her head confirming what she had just heard. “So you were hurt by a friend who was stuck in the past and you both felt like you could have done more to stop him?”
The thin creature nodded his head as she pondered the problem before saying. “Well maybe he felt like he couldn’t open up without everyone fearing or judging him and it was his assumption of the reaction that allowed himself to justify his actions. Then after knowing all of you ended up causing him to feel conflicted and his actions got harder to justify. Meaning he was hoping in the end either he wouldn’t make it or you would stop him.”
“And you got all of that from just listening to our story?” The stone creature asked and Pinkie Pie grinned reaching into her mane pulling out some cupcakes. “Impressive Sunshine… neat trick too.”
When Applejack came to she was on the ground, the Minotaur in front of her grasping his head. Climbing to her hooves she looked around seeing the lion creature was gone.
“Are you alright?” asked Applejack walking over the Minotaur who looked at her with clear eyes replying. “Nothing a few hi… er exercises won’t fix. Now what about you? Are you alright?”
“Well my head feels like it’s about to explode. That and I haven’t been completely honest… I wanted to avoid choosin’ a path. It means having to answer a question about mahself that I’d rather not think about,” Applejack admitted looking between the image of her friends and family. “Because when Ah’m honestly think’ about it, my friends are mah family. That’s who they are tah me. But this here makes me choose and Ah… Ah can’t do it. Ah don’t want to do that.”
“I know what you mean,” the Minotaur said sitting next to her. “I had to make a similar decision… and it is easier when someone else calls the shots. But when it comes to answering a question like this, perhaps you go with your instinct and trust me, I won’t judge. I don’t actually know your family and friends or even how they act. This is all up to you.”
“Thanks.”
“Look, we all have rough patches in our lives and right now things seem like they can only get worse. But you can’t expect me to take your life.” Rainbow Dash said, looking the bear in the eyes. “I barely even know you. Look, why don’t you just relax while I go check on my friends?”
“They will be at the end of the maze, you can not even go back until you reach the end. You and only you.” the bear explained before looking away. “I have to go and check on my teammate.”
Rainbow frowned for a moment before deciding to follow the bear. Though she didn’t move far before calling off the cliff. “Are you alright?”
“Alright!” a voice echoed and a look of confusion flashed over Rainbow’s face as the bear explained. “Does it look like I can fly? She probably got bored and took off somewhere. I would have never left her behind, no matter how annoying she is.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Rainbow Dash?”
“Listen to me, Fen’Harel, they are your friends. Even if it is you who believes it. It doesn’t help with what you did and it makes those feelings worse but I speak the truth. And even if you are alone and think that you don’t deserve another chance. I am willing to become your friend!” the glow faded from Twilight’s eyes as she looked at Mythal. “Both of yours.”
A light burst forth from Twilight as it engulfed the area quickly as it spread through the halls.