"Guys, I see the town!" Shouted Trevor from above, "it's over the next hill."
"Great!" I replied, "you and Dash wanna go ahead and check it out?"
"Sure," Trevor replied as he turned to Dash, "wanna race?"
"You're on!" With that two blurs, one rainbow and one gold, flew toward the direction of Sacramareto.
"We better catch up to them," I said.
We quickened our pace up the hill. When we reached the top, we saw the town. Most of the buildings were some double story, yet there was a single floor one here and there. It was a little larger than Ponyville, yet more cramped. I could tell it was a developing town, maybe to become a small city one day. We ran down the hill, mainly for the reason to see some sort of civilization again. A few days of walking in nothing but forests and open plains can be tiring after a while. As we reached the bottom of the hill dash and Trevor met up with us.
"Any news partner?" Asked Applejack.
"Yea, the whole town seems deserted," said Trevor, "it's kinda weird."
"That's strange," said Rarity, "I've been here once before, and the town was always bustling with excitement. It seems out of nature that the town would be empty."
"Well, there's no use staying here," said Will, "lets go check it out."
During the conversation, something was nudging on the back of my mind. I dismissed it and the twelve of us began walking toward the edge of town. The closer we got, the more my mind was say get away, and the more I knew we needed to go forward. We we reached the edge of town, the nagging feeling stopped, which bothered me more than when it was happening.
"Guys," I finally said, "something been nagging at me that this place is bad news. We should be on guard."
I received a silent nod in agreement as ever body equipped weapons or prepared spells. I drew the twin blades at my side as we carefully made our way toward the center of town.
"Rarity, are you sure this is the right way?"
"It's been a while, but the layout is the same, so I'm pretty sure this is the way."
"Ok." I turned my attention to Trevor and Dash and said, "guys, mind if you two become our eyes in the sky?"
"Sure thing," Dash replied. A second later the two of them were back in the air keeping an eye in front of and behind our little ground troop.
After a few moments of walking like this, we arrived in what rarity remembered to be the central plaza. The sight before us only made us more worried. All around the plaza there were shops and stands set up, as if they were preparing for a day of sales. They looked as if they had been set up not even an hour before our arrival, yet there wasn't a soul around. That wasn't all I noticed. There wasn't a sign of struggle or even a fight, it was if everypony had just vanished.
"Dash, Trevor, see anything?"
"No," replied Trevor, "nothing so far up... wait, Dash did you see that?"
"Where?"
"Three streets north, then two east. It looked like a giant shadow of some sort. Look there it is again!"
"Yea, I saw it. It was closer that time." Dash, not even looking down at us, said, "guys, be ready. It looks like you're going t have company pretty soon."
"What is it?" Asked Twilight.
"I don't know," responded Dash, "it looked like a large shadow of some sort of fish."
"Dylan," came a voice in my head that I could tell was Poseidon, "get out of the city now! You need to fight that thing in the open!"
"What is it!" I said with a worried tone in my voice. Everyone's head looked at me.
"It's a Leviathan."
"Shit," I yelled, "we have to get out of the city now. That shadow thing is a Levia..."
As I was finishing my sentence a loud wail,roar thing erupted from what seemed to be the town hall. Suddenly a shadow appeared on the side of the building, growing in size rather quickly. Not even a second after shadow appeared, a giant fish looking creature burst from the shadow, mouth open showing rows of razor sharp teeth.
"Get down!" I yelled in the nick of time. Everyone hit the floor as the beast sailed above us into the shadow of another building. I quickly got back up, sheathed my blades, and said into my communicator, "Everyone, we have to get out of the city now! That thing is a Leviathan, it can jump into and out of shadows at a whim. We don't have a chance in the city, we got to get out into the fields. Twilight teleport everyone out, I'll lure him into the fields. Dash! Trevor! Keep an eye on that shadow and tell me when it's about to strike. You two are my only chance at survival, so keep you're eyes peeled."
The rest of the team scrambled to get up as I started running the way we came. Twilight was able to cast a mass teleportation spell, and everyone behind me vanished. I prepped an ice spell in one hand an a barrier in the other as I ran.
"Watch your six," said Trevor through the communicator, "it's right behind you."
I turned around, running backwards now, as I saw a giant fin appear from the ground in front of me. It was slowing rising, and soon I got a look at the whole body. All I could think was,"shit, that thing is way to big, and way to ugly." Since it would be too hard to fully describe this thing, here's a mental image for you all to go off of.
Yea, something like that, but swimming through land. It opened it's mouth preparing to devour me, but instead got a mouthful of an ice wall. It sank back down into shadows, waiting for another attack. I turned back around, now fully sprinting to get to the edge of town. I knew that my little spell didn't do much, maybe just gave it a chipped tooth at the most.
"Yo, Poseidon. I thought Leviathans were sea monsters, not land," I said to him telepathically.
"There are many kinds. Yes, most are found in oceans, but there are some that swim through the land as if it were water."
"Great, anything I should know?"
"Yes, two things. Listen to you radio and avoid it's mouth."
"Wait what?"
"Dylan," screamed Dash through my headset, "get down, it's almost on top of you."
"Shit," I said power sliding as the beast flew over my head between the two buildings, barely missing getting my head ripped off. As I slid I launched another ice spell into a loose scale, doing nothing more than getting it pissed of at me. I regained my footing, returning to my mad sprint. "How much further do I have to go?" I asked frantically.
"One block," said Trevor, "and you better hurry, I can't see the shadow anymore."
"Clever girl," I said smirking, "she's not going to make this easy."
As I neared the end of the block, my shadow seemed to increase in size. I realized that it was going to attack from below. I jumped as an open mouth appeared beneath me. The mouth slowly engulfed around me as it rose out of the ground.
"Trevor," I screamed now truly panicked, "I could us an airlift."
'On it," replied Dash.
The beast was closing it's mouth as Dash zipped in an caught me, pulling me to the slightly safer field.
"Thanks," I said, "but here is comes."
The beast burst through the ground standing strait up, just looking at it's new prey with hunger in it's eyes.
*End Music*
After a few moments of intense stare down, Applejack spoke up, "ah, how come it ain't attacked or moved at all yet?"
"I'm no sure," replied Andy, "any clues Dylan?"
"None, I'm as confused as you are," I said, "anyone else have an idea why?"
"I think I do," said Trevor above us, "just a long shot here, but it might be a guardian of some sort, and can't leave the town."
"That's probable," said Twilight, "in the old time some creatures would settle down in pony villages and act as guardians. In fact, some dragons still do it today."
"And a leviathan is just like a dragon of the sea," I added in, "you don't think?"
The group looked back at the leviathan in front of us, still looking with malice in it's eyes. Our theory, though out of the park, seemed to make sense at the moment. I knew that we shouldn't take any chances, but I had to try something.
"Pinkie, can I ask you to do something crazy?"
"Sure, I like crazy things, especially crazy parties, those are the best, oh, oh, and crazy candles on cakes that never go out, those are the best, and..."
"Pinkie, focus," I yelled snapping her attention back to her matter at hand, "I need you to put down your weapons, and walking towards the town." Everybody looked at me like I just asked Pinkie to commit suicide. Even Pinkie looked at my dumbstruck. "Hey, I said it was crazy."
"But not suicidal!" Said Luke.
"You just asked our friend to go kill herself!" Added in Rarity.
"Now partner, I know you're not crazy, but what you just asked just ain't right," said Applejack.
"Dylan, I've know you my whole life, and you would never toy with someone's life," said Andy, "so there has to be a catch to this, right?"
At least someone wasn't against me. "Yea, there is," I said calmly, "I was just thinking, if this thing is a guardian of this town, then it must be use to ponies. I just thought that if Pinkie went in without her weapons, that she wouldn't be attacked."
"But that's just a theory that we..." Twilight said.
"I'm good for it!" Said Pinkie energetically. She put down her weapons and walked towards the town before anyone could stop her. The leviathan looked at Pinkie as she approached, yet didn't attack her when she passed it. "See, nothing wrong here!" Then her front legs shook and her tail bounced. "Uh, oh."
Suddenly the leviathan shook as if it was in pain and let out a roar. It turned to Pinkie, who was able to jump back over the invisible borderline in time to dodge a giant bite where she was just standing. A second later, the Leviathan was back in the position, glaring at us with evil eyes. No, not evil, but pain struck after I took a second look at them.
"Guys, I think this thing doesn't want to hurt us," I said.
"Now why would you think that sugercube?" Asked Applejack.
"Yea, it just tried to make me into a pony cupcake!"
Trevor, Will, Alex and I shuddered with fear at the mention of the cupcakes. It received a questionable look from the ponies around us.
"Well," I began, "take a quick look into it's eyes, you can see not just anger, but pain. Also that roar just a second ago sounded more out of pain than of malice. Fluttershy, have you noticed it as well?"
"Well, um, yes I can tell he his in some sort of pain," said Fluttershy trying to gain some courage, "but I can't tell were it is coming from."
"I noticed that when it roared, there seemed to be a reflex from the upper back," added in Luke.
Good thing we have two animal experts. "Ok, this is how it's going to go," I began ordering, "Trevor and Dash, you two need to circle around that thing and find any irregularities. Twilight, Luke and Rarity, keep up a ranged barrage on that thing. Alex and Pinkie, your with me to distract that thing long enough to find the problem. Andy, Will, Fluttershy and AJ, keep the others safe and watch the shadows for us. Everyone got it. Ok. Break."
Dash and Trevor started to circle the leviathan as Alex, Pinkie and I rushed forward breaking off into individual distractions. The beast yelled in what I think was pain as it decided to come or me. As it sunk into the ground, I thought I caught a glimpse of something black reflected off it's back.
"Trevor, Dash," I said, "when it surfaces again, look about a quarter way down it's back, I think I saw something."
"Gotcha."
"Dylan, watch your left," came Twilight's voice through the communicator. I jumped to the up and with a little flame magic boosted myself about twenty feet in the air. Lucky I did, for the beast sailed right below me. I caught another glimpse of a small, black metallic object lodged into it's back.
"Did you see that?"
"Yea," replied Trevor, "that black thing. I think that's what causing this thing to go berserk."
"Pinkie, Alex, I think we found the object," I said, "lets regroup and try to dislodge it. We're running attack plan T."
"Roger that."
"Ookie-dokie-lokie!"
"Fluttershy," I said.
"Y-y-yes," came a weak reply.
"I'm sorry that I have to ask this of you, but I need you to stare that thing down."
"Um, I d-don't t-think I c-can."
"Fluttershy," I said encouraging her on, "we need your help. Without you, we can't help tis creature. It's in a lot of pain, don't you want to help it?"
"Oh, I'll be right there!"
I knew that would work. Pinkie and Alex caught up to me. We had to make a quick dodge left to avoid being eaten. The creature resurfaced just as Fluttershy arrived. Within a second she had the leviathan in her stare of death. We didn't know how long she could keep it up so we acted quickly. We dashed towards the beast's back until we got into position. Alex, with his now ingodly strength from training, threw me and Pinkie Pie into the air with one arm each. As we reached the tip of out speed Pinkie grabbed my arm, did a 360 spin, and threw me onto target.
"Go get him!" Yelled Pinkie as she mad he decent downwards. Halfway down Dash caught her so she would break anything.
"Trevor, I need one final boost."
"Gotcha," he replied. I felt a strong wind come from behind me, pushing me onward ignoring gravity. The wind stopped, letting me descend onto the back of the leviathan. I quickly ran up the spine looking the black metallic rod. I spotted it about ten feet ahead of me when the beast shook, setting me off balance.
"What's going on!" I said regaining my footing.
"Fluttershy passed out," replied Alex, "don't worry though, we got her. I say you have maybe less than a minute to pull that thing out."
"It's right in front of me," I said as I prepared a fire spell, "I'm gonna blow it out."
I shot the spell forward, aiming at the base of the rod. Next thing I knew, there was an explosion that threw me off to the side. Trevor caught me, but it only resulted in the both of us having a crash landing. The leviathan sank back into the ground as we got up. The twelve of us regrouped as the beast resurfaced, yet it didn't have the hate filled eyes anymore. They had been replaced with calm, thankful eyes. What happened next surprised all of us.
"Thank you heroes for freeing me," said the leviathan barely moving it's lips,"my name is Unda Pacem. It means Wave of Peace in your tongue. You may call me Unda. I don't know what came over me to attack the ones that will protect my little ponies."
"It was our pleasure," I said stepping forward. I introduced each of us before continuing, "do you have any memory of what happened?"
"Last thing I remember is defending my village from harpies. Wait, my village!" I turned around and let out a breath of relief when he saw that the village was still intact. "I'm happy that it isn't damaged, also that you all were smart enough to drive me out of it to protect it."
"Actually," spoke up Applejack, "we did it because we thought that we would have a better chance at defeating yah out here."
"Well," Unda said chuckling, "that's a good reason as well."
"Well," I said kindly, "may we enter Sacramareto in peace now?"
--------------------------
The group of us reached the middle of town to experience a different sight than before. The plaza was bustling with ponies buying and selling goods. We received a warm welcome. Apparently, before Unda switched sides, he casted spell to make it seem like the town was deserted as a final protection plan. After a little bit the group decided to split up. Andy, Twilight and I went to go get a boat to travel down the river with. We headed to the docks to see what we could get.
"So, what are we looking for?" Asked Andy.
"Well, a galley would be best," replied Twilight, "but we have enough for anything."
"A galley?" I asked with a questioned look on my face, "It seems a little small. I was thinking of at least a caravel."
"But a caravel is too big for only twelve of us."
"I think we could hire a crew with the extra bits the princesses gave us. Heck, we could buy a small fleet of Man-O-Wars with that money."
"Ok, ok, stop," said Andy stopping in his tracks, hands up, "Can you two speak a little slower? The only word I got was caravel."
Twilight and I looked at each other before laughing. "Come on Andy," I said, "we'll talk on your level."
After a few more minutes of discussing what ship we need to get, we decided to try to get at least caravel. We reached the docks and started asking around. We found out that there were no caravels for sale, but the shipwrights could build one within four days. I was surprised at the speed, since builders take at least two weeks back on earth to build a that size of a ship. We decided to have one built, we could use the time to prepare for the journey anyways. We paid the shipwright, and made our way back to the plaza. Halfway back we ran into Rarity.
"Oh Twilight," said Rarity, "we found a ravishing hotel to stay at. How long are we staying by the way?"
"A few days," replied Twilight, "the ship needs to be built."
"That's wonderful. There's so much shopping to be done here. Oh, where are my manners, let me show you to the hotel."
We walked to the hotel named the Stomping Stallion. Rarity had rented out six rooms for the party, and I made my way to mine. I was bunking with Andy, and we both just walked in only to fall on our beds. Within seconds we were out.
-------------------------
Five days later, on the deck of the newly built E.S. Radiant Dawn
"Raise anchor! Drop sails! Prepare for departure men!" I yelled to the rest group along with the extra ten ponies we hire to help. I had been appointed captain since I was the only one, other than the hired hooves, who had any experience sailing ships before.
"Is that really necessary?" Asked Will.
"Mate, I've wanted to be captain on a ship like this me whole life," I said slipping to my pirate accent, "and no land legged man will tell me otherwise. We're also loosing sunlight, and first sail at night is never a good sign to any seaman."
Will just shrugged his whatever shrug and went to check on the sails. I resumed my post on the helm at the wheel pedestal. Once more I slipped into my pirate tongue as I set the custom made captain's hat on my head.
"Men, colts, and mares," I said gaining the attention of my crew, "say your prayers and steel your guts, for today we set off into draconic lands! We set off now." I casted a spell the dropped the sails and Trevor added in the little wind magic he learned to set the ship forward. I smiled a devil's smile as we set off, getting more in the mood. I wasn't going to make this any less fun than it should be.
"Good bye heroes, and safe travels," came a voice from shore. I looked to see Unda Pacem waving, along with what seemed to be the town of Sacramareto.
The crew ran to the side of the deck to wave their final goodbyes. I waved my hat in the air chipping into the goodbye. Suddenly there was a loud explosion over the boat. Pinkie had fired off a firework in order to signal here 'Setting Sail Party' had officially started, and did we party the night away.
-------------------------
"Do what you want cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!" I sang as I stirred the Dawn.
"What is that you're singing?" Interrupted Twilight, our navigator.
"Just a funny song from back home lassie," I replied pirate like. It had been two days since we left port, and I must say that this accent down to the key. "Twilight, dearie, how wide do you think this river is?"
"About four hundred meters."
"And depth?"
"Well, the hands say the deepest recorded was around six hundred meters."
"That's good, yet bad at the same time."
"How so?"
"We could easily be attacked from underneath by something massive, and not know it was upon us until it attacks," I said with a serious tone.
"That's a rather morbid statement."
"A pirate always prepares for the worst."
"I see your poi..."
"Captain, something's in the water!" Shouted Eagle Eye, a hired stallion, from the crow's nest.
"Blast my mouth," I whispered under my breath before yelling out, "Everyone, battle stations. Arm yourselves and prepare for battle."
Not even a second after finishing the deck exploded into pieces, sending man and pony overboard. I shielded my eyes from the splinters, but when I opened them before me was a hoard of... harpies? Harpies can swim? That was my last thought before the dived into the helm sending Twilight and I over the edge. Within minutes the harpies had demolished our ship. I grabbed onto Twilight and threw us on a loose piece of driftwood before I passed out from the instantaneous G's.
-------------------------
I woke up to find that it was now Luna's night. Twilight was sitting at a fire made out of drift wood. I noticed that Eagle Eye and Pinkie were there too. I slowly got up, getting the attention of the three ponies at the fire.
"Are we the only one's here?" I asked weakly.
"No," replied Twilight, "Alex and Will are out getting firewood and anypony else who they can find."
As she finished there was a rustling behind her as Alex and Will appeared from the bushes
"Any luck?" asked Eagle Eye.
"If you mean finding more wood, then yea," replied Alex as he dumped an armful of wood next to the fire. That's when I noticed that most of our personal weapons were there too. At least we could defend ourselves if need be.
"But the others," added in Will regaining my attention, "not so much."
The news deflated all of us, especially Pinkie. Her hair deflated fully and she wore the saddest face I've ever seen.
"I guess we're all shipwrecked then," I said grimly.