//------------------------------// // The Adventurer // Story: Power Ponies 2: The Eternal Bond // by Epicdiscord214 //------------------------------// "We've got to head to Maretropolis," Hum Drum said. "The Masked Matterhorn's in danger." "Agreed," the Shadow Blot said. "How do we get there fastest?" Mistress Marevelous pulled out a map. There were several paths around a forests. "We could move down this path and we should get to..." "Wait," Zapp said. "Why not just cut through this forest here?" "Because that's the Everfree Forest," Mistress Marevelous explained. "Legend says that any pony who enters is never found again." "But still, we've got to save my sister," Shining Armor said. "I say we take the risk." "Besides, we don't have to enter the forest," Dusk said. "We can just fly our blimp over." "All right," the Shadow Blot said. "I'll make course." Twenty minutes later, the team saw a large forest completely shrouded by black, barren trees. They hovered right above the trees. "You see," Hum Drum asked. "If we just go above the trees, nothing can happen to us." "Devastate," Devastator said. Timberwolf widened his eyes in fear. "Did you just say this is easy? You never say it's easy... ever!" "Devastate," Devastator asked. Suddenly, there was a sudden shift that tripped the heroes over. They looked out the window and a lot of black vines from the Everfree Forest below and wrapped around the blimp. "That's why," Timberwolf said. The heroes shouted as their ship was dragged down into the forest. When they came to, the Power Ponies, the Mighty Machines, and Shining Armor awoke from bring knocked out. They looked around and saw the ebony-black trees surrounding them. There was barely any light left. "We're in the Everfree Forest," Filli-Second said. "I've heard rumors say that it eats your brain and rots your mind... Kind of like cartoons." "Wait," Zapp said. "Did you hear that?" The heroes overheard shouting from a short distance. They followed the sound and saw a mare in a hat angry at a zebra in front of a tree hut. The zebra had a few golden rings on her body and there was a bronze box behind her. The mare had a bright-orange body and a brown mane. She was dressed as an adventurer. "No way," Zapp gasped. "Do you know who that is," Radiance asked. "Sort of," Zapp said. "That mare is the spitting image of my favorite fictional adventurer: the Lone Mare. Although, I don't recognize the zebra." "I do," Mistress Marevelous said. "Four months ago, the night Anar D split us up, he disguised himself into that very zebra and called himself Madame Stryfe. That must be the real one." "Come on, lady," the Lone Mare said. "What do I have to do to get the artifact you're guarding?" "Listen here, I've already told you," the zebra said, "The only, simple thing you must do is solve my riddle, and that is all. There's no need for you to bawl" "But your riddle didn't make any sense," the Lone Mare said. "How exactly is it simple?" "I said that it was simple, not easy," the zebra said. "I apologize, but that's how it should be." "Need any help," Zapp called out flying from the bushes. The Lone Mare and the zebra saw the heroes beside in the bushes. "No, thank you," the Lone Mare said. "I work alone. It's in my name." "Speaking of," Zapp said with giddy excitement in her voice. "I have so many questions! I thought you were just a storybook character." "That is not a question, kid," the Lone Mare said. "But... I suppose you deserve to hear the truth. You see..." "OOH," Filli-Second shouted. "You're really A.K. Yearling, the author of the Lone Mare stories. You took a trip to Maretropolis last week and there, you entered a club, but you couldn't remember what happened. The next day, you woke up with the same abilities as your book character and now, you're using them to make the Lone Mare real and you've come here in the Everfree Forest for a mysterious artifact that is said to be the source of the curse of the Everfree Forest, but before you can get to it, you've got to solve the riddle of this zebra guardian so she can give you the box behind her which holds said artifact! *SQUEE*" The Lone Mare dropped her jaw and widened her eyes. She couldn't believe what the hero had said because it was exactly true. She turned to the other Power Ponies. "Yeah," Hum Drum said. "She amazes us to." "Wait," Zapp said. "So you're A.K. Yearling... and you're a New Hero who can turn into the Lone Mare?! THAT'S SO AWESOME!" "Glad you think so, kid," the Lone Mare said rolling her eyes. "Now then..." She turned to the zebra. "Madame Arocez, give me the riddle again." "If that's what you wish, it will be so," Madame Arocez said. "Let's hope that this time, you will know. 'I always stick, but I'm not glue. You don't choose me, I choose you. No matter what, I'm here in the end. Just accept and see me as a friend'." "You see what I mean," the Lone Mare asked. "Nothing about this riddle makes sense. All right. 'Always stick, but not glue'. Is it sap?" "No," Madame Arocez said. The Lone Mare groaned loudly and sulked to the ground. "What am I going to do? I can't solve this riddle." "Maybe not alone," the Shadow Blot said. "But what about with us?" "Listen to me," the Lone Mare said. "Clearly, you didn't hear me before, so I'll enunciate. I... work... alone." "Look," Zapp said, "Just because the Lone Mare in your books work alone, it doesn't mean you should. So what if going solo works in your stories. This is real life. If you allow us to help, it'll be easier." "Just give me one good reason why I should accept your help," the Lone Mare said. "Well, loyalty is always tricky," Zapp explained, "But the main idea is, you'll always know where to find a friend." Interested in Zapp's words, the Lone Mare looked at the box that the artifact was in. She saw it have a rainbow glow and she felt the same feeling in her own eyes. She smiled and looked back at Zapp. "Thank you, kid," the Lone Mare said. She turned to the zebra. "Madame Arocez, ask me again." The zebra smiled with confidence. "'I always stick, but I'm not glue. You don't choose me, I choose you. No matter what, I'm here in the end. Just accept and see me as a friend'." The Lone Mare breathed in confidence and declared. "The answer is... Loyalty!" "That is..." Madame Arocez said, "...Correct." She reached to the box behind her and presented it to the Lone Mare. "All your worries are now put to rest. With this, you all can leave the forest." "Good," Shining Armor said, "Because I've got a sister in trouble." "If that's so, I want to help," the Lone Mare said. "Not yet," Zapp said. "You see, the New Heroes are probably in danger. They're all rounding up in Canterlot until we can be sure it's alright. You should go there too." "All right," the adventurer said. "But first, I'd like to give you this." The Lone Mare reached into her pocket and pulled out a little pin with a lightning bolt. "I got this collectible from my superhero idols, the Wonderbolts." "You're a Wonderbolts fan too," Zapp gasped. "Yes," the Lone Mare said. "I'm giving it to you because I trust you enough to stay loyal." "Thanks," Zapp said taking the pin. Suddenly, the pin glowed in a rainbow of colors and Zapp was surprised. "This must be that Pin of Loyalty." "What's the treasure in that box anyway," Mistress Marevelous asked. "Let's look together," the Lone Mare said. She opened the lid and the box was open. She pulled out something that made everyone confused. "That's it," Timberwolf asked. "That's it?! That's what this Everfree Forest gets its creepiness from?! That little, hollow cylinder?!" "I'm going to have to do research on this," the Lone Mare said. "But in the meantime, I'll be off to Canterlot." The heroes approached the end of the forest. Since the blimp had been destroyed, the Power Ponies, the Mighty Machines, and Shining Armor had to make the rest of the trip on hoof. The Lone Mare then left in another direction. Madame Arocez watched them all leave with a face full of worry. "They leave now, but don't understand. Let's hope the piece doesn't fall in the wrong hands. What that artifacts brings is much more dangerous than the Siren Sisters and their master, Arcanus." The Masked Matterhorn woke up and she was trapped in a large tube. She was bound in electric shackles. She had a metal container covering her horn. "Don't bother trying to teleport out of there," Darkmatter said from outside of the tube. He was standing with the Siren Sisters and Anar D. "That metal around your horn is made to contain your magic. It's similar to what I was forced with during my days in prison." "Darkmatter," the Masked Matterhorn growled. "Good," Anar D said. "You're awake." "Good," the Masked Matterhorn repeated mockingly. "You're an evil traitor." "Yes, I'm a traitor," Anar D said, "But you're the one shackled and bound for death." "He has a point," Carol said. "At long last," Darkmatter said, "After all these years, I finally got back my little monkey." "Okay, stop calling me that," the Masked Matterhorn said. "That's the craziest pet name ever, especially for a diabolical supervillain like you. Why in the wide, wide world of Equestria would you call me a monkey?" Darkmatter chuckled. "You really don't know? Shining Armor never even told you?" "Tell me what," the Masked Matterhorn asked. "The truth about us," Darkmatter said. "You see, I call you a monkey, because that makes me..." The Masked Matterhorn was not prepared for what he said next. "...A monkey's uncle." The princess hero widened her eyes and tried to believe that he didn't just say what she thought he said. But she knew what she heard. "Whoa," Anar D chuckled in shock. He had a pair of 3-D glasses and held up a bag of popcorn. "I'm going to need more popcorn."