//------------------------------// // Let's go to the ruins {Sunsetverse} // Story: Shimmering Sunsets // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// “Does anyone else feel how ‘wrong’ this forest is?” Quickfix said. The group were nearly their to the castle now, with just a little ways to go. “Ah mean, our forest wants to kill ye. This one feels like it just likes bein’ wrong.” Lightning snorted. “It doesn’t even have any good game. I mean, have you seen that much prey or awesome animals to fight?” “How about those tree apes?” Fiddlesticks smirked, causing Lightning to flinch. “I could so take those thing,” Lightning huffed. “I survived a dingonek and that thing could have ripped them all to shreds.” "That's a pretty good description, 'likes being wrong'. The Everfree is full of wild magic." Sunset noted. "It's resistant to any magic that tries to tame it." "Yeah, like totally wild weather." Mask said, flying along. "Pegasi have trouble even touching clouds while in the Everfree, let alone trying to shape the weather." "Not ta mention the weird stuff that pops up from time ta time." AJ added. "This place sometimes feel like Discord's backyard." “Sad to think Fluttershy ain’t here to tame it,” Fiddlesticks sighed. “This place needs a spirit’s help.” "Abo'aku." a somber voice notes, before a small tounge of black fire flares into existence in the air, hovering there. "You just had to ask for a spirit, didn't you?" Masquerade said, taking a flap back. Quickfix twirled her wrench about herself. “Spirit or not, if it wants a fight, it’s gettin’ one.” The other two nodded, poised for a confrontation. "Relax girls, I don't think we're in danger." Sunset said, peering closer at the thing. "I'm not a shaman, but I'm pretty sure that's just a fire sprite. Even if it did try anything, it's not much hotter than a candle, and it knows it. There isn't much it could do to us, even if it wanted to." “Well, that’s dissapointin’.” Quickfix huffed and the other relaxed. “Hello there,” Fiddlesticks talked to the fire sprite cheerfully. “Name’s Fiddlesticks.” She tipped her hat down in greeting. "Hello." the fire sprite echoed, flickering, it's voice like that of one in mourning. “Why ya out here all alone?” Fiddlesticks asked, looking around for more sprites. “Ya lost? If’n ya are, we’ll find yer friends quicker than a squirrel after a honey coated chestnut.” "We are not alone." the sprite replied. "Abo'aku." another one intoned, flickering into existence. A third and fourth appeared with simultanious cries of "Abo'aku!" "Abo'aku!" another five appeared. "Abo'aku!" more shouted as they appeared. "Abo'aku!" another dozen called. "Abo'aku!" even more called out. "Abo'aku!" the area rang with the chorus of cries from the host. “They aren’t going to try and attack us now, are they?” Lightning idly asked. Her wings flared, but her posture was still relaxed. “None of us are druids, so….” “Nonsense,” Fiddlesticks waved her off. “These cute thin’s? They wouldn’t hurt a fly.” She cooed. "I'm more concerned about how many there are in one place." Sunset said. "Sprites usually don't congregate like this. They're generally too dumb to work together." Fiddlesticks gasped and swatted Sunset’s head with her hat. “Sunset,” she glared at the unicorn as she put her hat back on. “That was a mean thin’ to say. Just ‘cause they’re sprites, don’t make ‘em dumb. Apologize.” "For what?" the first sprite asked. "We are dumb." "Nice thing about spirits, they don't get insulted by facts." Sunset added. "So, since there are a bunch of you all together, I imagine something is going on?" "We have been pressed into service." the sprite admitted. "We are forced to be here." “And just like that ‘BOOM’, we’ve got ourselves villain on our hooves.” Lightning grinned. “So what was it? Ancient god? Cultists? Magically inclined mortals out for vengeance? Evil monster?” "...wait, what was the, um, one after the first one, what's that called again? Uh, could you go slower?" the sprite asked. Masquerade sighed. "Who pressed you into service?" "Our master, the great spirit Abo'aku!" "Abo'aku!" the host echoed. "Has pressed us into unwilling service to take him, a sacrifice!" The three foreigners stared at the sprites. “So the usual stuff,” Quickfix said as though sacrifices were a daily thing. Which it kind of was back home. “Nice knowin’ ye. Well, that’d be a lie. Any last words, before ah put ye all out?” She twirled her wrench in her hoof. "...oh, you're a shaman then?" the sprite moaned. "Well darn, guess we'll have to try the next group. Bye." And with that they all flickered out. “Well look what you did, Quickfix.” Lightning sent her an annoyed glance. “You just dissed our shot at some action. How’re supposed to beat this aboku guy now?” “...Did that thin’ just call me a shaman?” Quickfix glowered at where the sprite used to be. "Yeah, it did." Sunset said. "Anyway, let's hurry to the castle. Hopefully we won't run into anymore trouble." “Jinx!” Fiddlesticks pointed a hoof dramatically at Sunset. “Ya just jinxed us!” "I keep telling you not to do that!" Mask complained. "Seriously, have you learned nothing from our adventures?" Sunset face hoofed. "Seems the answer is 'no'." She sighed. "Come on, let's get this over with." she added as she started trotting towards the castle. “Seems kind of lame that your Elements didn’t fix this place,” Lightning said as they entered the ancient ruin. “I mean, they can defeat gods, but they can’t fix a castle? Lame, I say.” "Yeah we'll, we weren't exactly trying to use them to fix the...your Elements rebuilt your castle?" Sunset asked in shock. “Shocked us too,” Fiddlesticks said. “Ah mean, we just wanted ta beat Nightmare Moon. Seems the Elements had other plans.” “The castle was probably tainted, or somethin’.” Quickfix shrugged. “Never cared to wonder why, really. Makes it easier to get about than walkin’ through some decrepit ruins.” "Ah, and your Elements restored it from its corrupted state." Sunset concluded. "Ours was just abandoned for a thousand years. So it never got any sort of taint to cleanse. Anyway, since we're looking for a book, I suggest we start in the library." The library of the ancient castle was huge, and remarkably well preserved. It looked as though even dust had failed to accumulate in this place. Even though a section of the ceiling had collapsed over the centuries, the shelves and the books within looked practically brand new. Quickfix was instantly at the books, pulling one out to read. Her eyes peered over every page, reading it in seconds and quickly turning it. In less than a moment, she was done and at the next one. Within a couple of minutes, she had read several volumes. “Nerd,” Lightning rolled her eyes. "Um, Quickfix, are you checking what you're flipping through?" Sunset asked. "Those are mostly science books on those shelves...from a thousand years ago. The stuff within is practically worthless." Quickfix’s ears perked at the last word. Stopping her info search, she turned a hard look towards Sunset. “Information is never useless, regardless of era or source.” She seethed and went back to her readings, grumbling darkly under her breath. "Or accuracy? We're talking about the era where ponies thought gravity worked because there was a universal "down" direction, and that the planet was flat. Oh, and that mare's had fewer teeth than stallions." Quickfix looked up at her slowly. The look on her face was of disbelief. “A thousand years ago. Yer kin thought that?...A thousand years ago? That’s barely anythin’.” She closed the book she was looking in. "Barely anything? That's a tenth of pony history!" Sunset shouted. "Plus, what did you expect? The scientific method wouldn't be invented for another five hundred years. Back then if you weren't a genius like Starswirl or Clover you rarely discovered anything. Heck, most of the 'natural philosophy' of the time was just that, philosophy. Theory itself debated by intellectually using purely metal constructs and scenarios to explain the natural world. The idea you needed solid proof came much later." Quickfix was trying hard to work her mind around that. “But...unicorns need solid proof. We need to know the truth. How’re ye supposed to do anythin’ without all the fact? Where’s that innate curiosity? We’re hard wired to want to know more. Hay, ah just read three thick books straight and ah remember every single word on that page, the meanin’s behind it, and ah’m already workin’ on how to work it alongside current methods of science. All at the same time.” "Well that's...massively impressive." Sunset said, blinking a few times. "But, uh, we aren't hard wired like that. Unicorns...are actually not that different from other ponies when it comes to learning. Our reputation as being wise and well studied is...mostly a stereotype. Most unicorns don't even really get how magic works for goodness sake." Quickfix looked at her in horror. “Ah...ah need a moment.” She went over and leaned against a wall, losing herself in her thoughts. “Give her a moment,” Lightning said. “She’s probably trying to wrap her mind around a world where the unicorns aren’t nerds...well, most of them aren’t.” "Yeah, most of them are fine running on the instinct level of magic." Sunset admitted. "It's what makes the more scholarly of us stand out all the more. Plus, when you're a magic talent you really don't have much of an option beyond study." “Cutie marks are like that,” Lightning said and then walked over to Quickfix. “You okay? Do I need to shock you or anything?” Quickfix didn’t move an inch. Fiddlesticks pulled out a small bottle out of her hat. Putting her hat back on, she unscrewed it and popped out a couple of pills. She quickly put it underneath Quickfix’s muzzle. “This’ll help.” Quickfix said nothing. She did however grab the pills with her mouth and swallow. A couple of seconds later, she seemed to relax. “Thanks.” “No problem,” Fiddlesticks said, reaching up into her hat once more for a small bottle of water, which she handed it to her friend. “This’ll help wash it down.” Quickfix nodded and took a swig. "Okay cuz, what was that?" AJ asked. "She need medicine or somthin'?" “Nothin’ serious, cuz.” Fiddlesticks chuckled. “That there was some Thinkin’ Pills. Sometimes, unicorns get so lost in thought, they pretty much shut down their bodies in order to focus on thinkin’. Them pills help relax ‘em.” "So it's just a tranquilizer?" Mask asked, seemingly disappointed. "Anyway, we should be looking for that journal, not picking up books at random." "Also," Sunset added, browsing the shelf and reading sleeves, "see if you can find that Abo'aku thing listed in any spirit guides or almanacs. It would be nice to know if we could find out about him before we have to fight him." “Well he can control spirits,” Lightning offered. “Maybe he’s just some corrupted druid.” "Unlikely. The sprite called him a 'great spirit'." Sunset pointed out. "Meaning he's one powerful enough to press dozens of lesser spirits into its service. Although with class zero spirits, that isn't saying much." “So we’ll need magical weapons,” Lightning said. “Got any enchanted swords around?” "Oh sorry, we're fresh out of +1 swords of plot convenience." Sunset said sarcastically. "We should have more in stock next Tuesday." "Was that an oubliettes and ogres reference?" Mask asked, stunned. “You have that here too?” Lightning said, before looking away. “Pfft, that’s nerd game. Nopony plays that, especially not me...Nerd.” Sunset rolled her eyes. "Right. Anyway, kind of why I want to find out about Abo'aku, see if he has any weaknesses or taboos we can exploit." “Well,” Quickfix walked about, scanning the book titles. “Ah could try and work up somethin’ that disrupts his druidic magic and tear him apart, but ah don’t know if yer druidic stuff works the same here.” "It doesn't. Druidic magic and spirit magic are unrelated here." Sunset noted. "Let's see, oh, hold on. Everypony take one of these." she said, floating out little salt packets, the kind found in restaurants. "If you run into a hostile spirit, throw it in their face. Salt is highly disruptive to manifested spirits. Even if that packet isn't enough to disrupt it, it should still hurt and stun it for a bit...just remember to open the packet first." “Is it holy salt, or regular salt?” Lightning asked. “Because it might be a daemon of sorts and a little extra power would come in hoofy.” "They're salt packets from a fast food restaurant." Sunset deadpanned. "Look, even sea spirits can't stand salt...pure salt saltwater is fine. But still, that's sea spirits, the kind that are most resistant. I highly doubt this guy is a sea spirit in the middle of a forest." “I was just asking if you blessed it or not,” Lightning rolled her eyes. “Ordinary salt works fine too.” “Yeah, it’d be a little help if we had a Priestess here.” Quickfix nodded. “A prayer or two would keep the lesser spirits away. Well, unless the head honcho appears.” "A shaman is also acceptable." Mask added, browsing the higher shelves. "Really, anything used to dealing with spirits would be appreciated." "Heck, ah'd even take Zecora at this point." AJ added. “Ain’t she a diplomat or somethin’, cuz?” Fiddlesticks rubbed her head in confusion. “Ah know she’s mystical and all, but ain’t she far away right now?” "She's not a diplomat here." Mask said. "Here, she's a hermit that lives somewhere in the Everfree. She's a really powerful shaman and alchemist." “Ah oughta throw her a shindig,” Fiddlesticks said to herself. “Anypony who can live out here deserves one.” "Zebra, not a pony." Sunset responded. "And good luck finding her. She managed to hide from Celestia when the Princess went looking for her." “Ah didn’t mean….” Fiddlesticks had a hurt look on her face. “Ah need to apologize.” She sped out of the castle in a flash. “Well, I hope Zecora likes surprises.” Lightning chuckled as she looked through the books. “Say, do you think this world’s library has any war books or something? You know, anything cool?” Sunset snorted. "I would hope so. I mean, look at this one. A Guide as to Why Roks are Gray in Nature, it's even misspelled did they just put every book written at the time on these shelves? Considering the state of literacy back then actually, they probably did." “Found somethin’,” Quickfix said from out of a large pile of books. "Really? What'cha find?" Applejack asked, trotting over. “Ah think ah found out what our new foe might be,” Quickfix held up a book on spirits. She opened it up and held it to Sunset. “Page one hundred and thirty four. It was talkin’ about the nature of sprites and ah think this little tidbit might be a little on the nose.” "Let me see." Sunset said, taking a closer look. " 'Sprites can also be bullied into service by more powerful spirits, usually as bulk slaves given simple tasks, especially those the greater spirit cannot perform themselves due to taboos and the like. Abo'aku in particular is feared mainly for this, as without the aid of sprites he is far more harmless.' Well that's good to know. Doesn't tell us much, but it does mean he's got a big exploitable weakness. Good catch." “Ah try,” Quickfix brushed her chest in pride. “So we just need to get him away from his minions,” Lightning smirked. “That’s easy. I’ll have them beat in ten seconds flat.” "...are you like, actually related to Rainbow Dash or something? Because now its just getting uncanny." Sunset asked. "Uncanny though the resemblance may be, what are you doing in the Everfree?" a rhyming voice asked. Turning around, the locals looked only moderately surprised. "Zecora, what brings you here?" Masquerade asked. "I was picking herbs and roots to brew. Then I was disturbed, does she belong to you?" the zebra asked, nodding over her shoulder at Fiddlesticks. “Unfortunately,” Quickfix chuckled. She trotted over and leant out her hoof. “Name’s Quickfix, she’s Fiddlesticks. Nice to meet ye.” "Indeed it is a pleasure how do you do?" Zecora said, shaking her hoof. "And who is this most interesting pegasus with you?" “Lightning Dust,” Lightning grinned, flexing her wings. “Future Wonderbolt and Element of Loyalty.” Zecora raised an eyebrow at that. "Should that Element not rest with Twilight? What has occurred, what is your plight?" “Parallel world,” Lightning said. “Switched bearers,” Fiddlesticks said. “Fiddlesticks messed everythin’ up,” Quickfix glowered at her smiling friend. “Ye couldn’t help yerself, could ye?” “Enope,” Fiddlesticks chuckled. "Three champions from another world, upon the currents of magic were hurled. In the ancient castle they did look for a most secret book." Zecora said, smiling. "Oh buck me with the moon, there's a prophecy isn't there?" Sunset moaned, face buried in her hooves. "Why is there always a prophecy with you?" “Because she speaks in rhymes,” Lightning commented. “I’ve read enough adventure stories to know that creatures who speak in rhyme usually have a prophecy or imminent danger that’s about to unfold. Watch, she’s going to be as cryptic as possible, which we won’t figure out the answer till the climax.” Quickfix rolled her eyes. “Ye read too many of those books.” “Says the nerd,” Lightning shot back at her. "The sad part is Lightning is right." Mask said deadpan. "That's exactly how it's worked out every time so far." “Fiddlesticks?” Quickfix glanced at the Apple mare. “On it,” Fiddlesticks pulled her hat off and pulled out a book. Putting her hat back on, she held up the book titled ‘How to Decipher Prophecies and Rhymes; 12th edition’. "If you are through, I have the rest of the prophecy to tell you." Zecora noted. "Before their quest for home is through, they shall face dread Abo'aku. To land far they shall then roam, and breaking iron find the way home." "Aaand written down." Sunset said, finishing off the small note she'd been writing. "And that is why you carry stationary in your adventuring kit." “So….” Fiddlesticks looked down at the book in her hooves. “Are we gonna need this, or are we gonna wing it?” “Don’t we usually wing it?” Lightning said more as a statement. “Can’t hurt nothin’,” Quickfix shrugged. She looked to Zecora. “‘Course, she’s as cryptic as Anrain. It might take a while.” "I am sorry that no more help could I be. I did not write the prophecy." Zecora apologized. "Not your fault Z, at least we know we are on track...can you tell us about Abo'aku?" Mask asked. Zecora nodded, frowning. "A spirit most foul not fair, inflicting death without a care. A spirit of fire, pain, and death, it seeks to slay all who draw breath. It has powerful taboos three, which I will share with thee. It cannot kill what it is not given, and against snow and ice it is most shriven. It is repulsed by the sound of a fog, a good reason for it to never venture into swamp or bog." “So it doesn’t like ice?” Quickfix tapped her chin. “Anypony got any snow and ice spells? Lightning?” “Sorry,” Lightning shrugged. “I haven’t learned how to create ice cycles or anything like that. Lightning’s my specialty.” Said lightning sparked around her wings. "I've got Cone of Cold, it's basically a mini-blizard spell." Sunset said, smiling. "And it can't kill what it's not given? That's why it needs the sprites! To offer things as sacrifices so that it can kill them!" “So we just don’t get caught,” Lightning said. “Easy.” “Spirits are a cunnin’ bunch,” Quickfix piped up. “Ye can’t trust ‘em. Even the stupid ones can trip ye up.” "It is not as if most spirits are truly malicious." Zecora argued. "Just that the dark ones are quite vicious. It is their nature to be that way. They did not chose to be such at the start of each day." “Then hasn’t the god of death, Grim, taken ‘em yet?” Quickfix asked. “He usually gets ‘em...with the odd crafty one out.” The locals looked confused for a second. "Um, the god of death? We uh, we don't have that." Sunset noted. "Plus, it's spirits. They're just...kind of there. There's no real higher authority to appeal to." “...Oh, yeah.” Quickfix scratched her head in thought. “Fergot we were just dealin’ with Elementals fer a sec.” "Well, only some are elemental. You've also got emotional, material, craft, knowledge, conceptual, um, animal, uh, plant, geographical, uh, jeeze I know there are a lot more, but you get the idea." Sunset sighed. "Like I said, spirit's aren't my area of expertise." “Don’t worry a bit, Sunset.” Fiddlesticks ruffled her mane. “We’ll find this feller quicker than a salmon on the run.” "....salmon are fish, they swim." Sunset looked at Fiddlesticks like she was crazy...er. “Run, swim, fly,” Fiddlesticks shrugged. “Gets ya goin’ places. Speakin’ of places, Zecora. Do ya want yer shindig in Ponyville, or do ya want it ta be a surprise?” "Ponyville will do. I was going to be visiting tomorrow anyhoo." Zecora replied with a casual shrug. “Alright,” Fiddlesticks hoof-pumped. Her hat stirred and Pat plopped out, trilling before starting to waddle off. “Better follow him. He’s a smart platypus.” Fiddlesticks trotted after him. Pat waddled over to one of the bookshelves and, with its beak, yanked one book back. Doing so caused a magically preserved cookie to slip out from between the books where it had been wedged. Pat promptly ate the cookie. It also happened that the book Pat moved was false, a switch that caused a secret spiral staircase set into the library floor to be revealed. Having finished its cookie, Pat wandered back over to Fiddlesticks. Fiddlesticks picked him up and cuddled him. “Who’s a good platypus? Ya are. Ya are.” “Fiddlesticks,” Quickfix piped up, looking at the staircase. “Ah want to say this. Thank Mother Nature for the platypus.” Sunset looked stunned. Her horn glowing, she levitated a small bottle labels In Case of Pinkie Logic, pulled the cork, and took a swig. "There we go.  Now I'm a bit more open to the idea of that just happening." AJ took a sniff, wincing. "Is that triple strength zap apple cider?" "It's for dealing with Pinkie at her worst." Sunset argued. "You think I'd use something weaker?" “Ah just take a swing o’ some fine Northern Whiskey,” Quickfix patted her stomach. “Does the job just fine. Fiddlesticks?” Fiddlesticks gently put Pat onto her back and then reached into her hat to pull out a bottle, to which she threw it. “Thank ye.” Quickfix took a long, hard swig of it. “Don’t try it,” Lightning warned. “It’ll knock you out with a drop.” "Don't worry, I'm not planning on it." Sunset assured her. "I drink this mostly because the flavor hides the alcohol. I prefer flavor in my drinks." “Whiskey has a good, wholesome flavor.” Quickfix said after a swig. She held it out to Sunset. “Come on. Give it a taste.” Lightning pushed her hoof away. “We need her awake and she doesn’t need a splitting headache.” "Yeah, being sober is important when adventuring." Mask argued. "Right Zecora...and she's mysteriously vanished while we were all distracted. I love slash hate it when she does that." “Ya want me to find her?” Fiddlesticks asked. “Ah’m good at findin’ others and Pat’s almost as good as Winona when it comes to trackin’.” Pat trilled. “Yeah, yeah. Ah know.” She leaned over to Applejack, whisperin’ in her ear. “Ah think he likes Winona. He’s a bit shy.” "Uh huh." AJ said. "Yer platypus is fancy on a dog...does it want ta add more parts ta the mix or somethin'?" “Now cuz,” Fiddlesticks chided. “Let’s not be chidin’ him on his crush. He’s a good platypus. He just has to grow the nerve to ask. Don’t ya?” She leaned back over and nuzzled him, causing the platypus to trill. She chuckled. “Yep, shy.” "Alright before anything else crazy happens, let's get going." Sunset urged, igniting her horn to light the way as she casually trotted down the ancient spiral staircase. “Right behind you,” Lightning trotted after her. “Somepony has to watch your back who knows a thing or two about fighting.” And so the heroes began their quest, tracking into darkness.