//------------------------------// // Surprise Visits // Story: In A Time Unfamilar // by Sumiye //------------------------------// Rainbow groaned as her ears picked up the sound of the nearby clock, the seconds seemingly going like hours. "How long does this train ride last?" She yelled, blushing when she caught the glares she was being delivered. "Hey Dashie?" "What now Pinkie?" Rainbow's muffled voice came from below her wings as she tucked them over her body. A hoof tapped her head and she looked up, only to find Pinkie swinging giddily above her, chuckling. "Are we there yet?" "No." Rainbow deapanned. "How about now?" "No." "Now?" "No." A few moments passed with complete silence. Rainbow sighed, drooping her head down. "What about now?" Rainbow bashed her hooves against the seat. "Horseapples, Pinkie! That saying is so old it should've died by now! Just sit down and wait for us to get there!" She cried. Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Yes, just as you're waiting so patiently as well?" She muttered under her breath. The ticking continued as Pinkie's ears sagged. "I just wanted to know if we were there." She whispered, ashamed. Rainbow seethed, pushing most of her anger back. "Does it look like we're there?" She asked, gesturing to the seemingly endless mountains. Smart Cookie shrugged, joining in. "I can't really tell anymore. You said Canterlot is on one of these mountains, right?" Rainbow placed her head back down on the cushions. "One of those." She answered quietly. "But can you even tell the difference between them? Nope." "Ooh!" Rarity grabbed Cookie and pulled her over. "Look! You can see the outline of the city now!" "Finally!" Rainbow gasped as she flung up, staring just as excitedly as the other two. Pinkie hummed as she swung over the passengers. "I don't see why they're so happy." She pointed out to a young mare across. "We've been to Canerlot so many times before, it feels like home!" The mare nodded, casting her eyes away from the crazy pony she had been listening to. "Should've taken the Three O'Clock train..." She told herself. Rarity shook Cookie as she squealed. "Almost there and you get to meet Princess Celestia!" Cookie shuffled her hooves. "Yay..." She said. "Someing wrong, dearest?" Cookie shook her head. "No. I'm just nervous. If Princess Celestia is really all you say she is, then she must be very important. What if I don't make a good impression?" Beads of sweat began to form along her forehead. "What if she doesn't like me?" Rainbow snickered as she trotted over to where they both now sat. "She'll totally think you're like an ancient relic. I mean, she said that if she found you, you'd be worshiped." "She would?" Cookie asked skeptically. Rarity's eyes narrowed as she shook her head, but Rainbow ignored her actions as she stared the earth pony directly. "Definitely." She confirmed. Her ear flicked and she flew up, laughing as they train came to an abrupt halt, sending all the ponies in the cart sinking into their seats. "Next time take notice!" The ponies who heard grumbled as they squeezed out, reaching for their bags. "Well I did, Dashie!" Rainbow helped and flapped back, Pinkie giggling as she watched the pegasus smash into Rarity, sending both mares sprawling onto the ground. Cookie shrunk back as they scrambled their way up. Rartiy's muzzle unlocked for a witty remark, but she stopped as she spotted Smart Cookie, who looked as distressed as anypony could ever be. She swiftly composed herself and gracefully trotted off, to the confusion of Rainbow Dash. She shrugged and followed, Pinkie and Cooke stayed close as they pushed through the rousing crowd. "Rush Hour." Rainbow glowered as she took flight once again, rushing past the other passengers. They soon all caught up with Rarity, who's eyes searched the area. "Rarity Belle?" Her head swerved at the sound of her name, and two pegasi guards tipped their helmets as the brought forth a shining chariot. "The Princess has requested you and your companions to be immediately brought to the castle." Rarity nodded, gesturing for the rest to pile in before she. The mare closed the gate with her magic, the lock just put on before they all took to the skies. Princess Celestia's expression was far from welcoming as she opened the castle doors. "My little ponies," her tone wavered. "Please, do come in." Nopony questioned as they came inside, waiting patiently for the Princess to follow. "Keep the doors locked. Make sure no one gets inside these walls." She strictly told the guards, them saluting as they pushed closed the creaking walls. "Princess?" Said pony turned calmly to whom she had called for. Rarity stared, confusion swimming in her crystal blue eyes. "Why would you call us here on such short notice?" "Yeah, and with little information on why?" Rainbow agreed. Princess Celestia sighed, coming to the mare's sides. "The guard's magic..." She began, catching the attention of them all. "Has been picking p strange signals of warmth inside the mountain this great city stands upon." Pinkie's eyebrows rose in surprise. Princess Celestia stared them all in the eyes. "I believe we may have found one of the Lost." Cookie's gasp was caught in her throat as Rarity nearly screamed. "Really!" She asked, trying not to look back at her friend. Princess Celestia nodded. "Yes, but we are not entirely sure. I request your help in finding then first of the three we are searching for." Pinkie coughed as Rarity's scream subdued. She scratched the back of her neck. "Actually, Princess...we have someone you may want to meet." She carefully moved away, and Cookie let out an eep when she realized she was revealed. "This is Smart Cookie." Rainbow introduced. Cookie shut her eyes as no response came, instantly fearing the worst. What she didn't expect was the familiar feeling of a hug as the alicorn wrapping her hooves around the earth pony. She shivered at the strong touch. "You do not know how long I have waited to see one of you alive and well." The Princess murmured as she released her hold, stepping back. Rainbow huffed. "All we got was a 'Greetings' the first time we came." She grumbled. "Um...well, nice to meet you, Princess Celestia." Cookie blushed, staring downward as she bowed. Celestia chuckled at her, causing her blush to darken considerably. "No need to bow, Smart Cookie. You have never been my subject, and I will not have you treat me as such." Cookie nodded and lifted her head up. "Did you say you had an idea on where my friend may be? Do you know who it is?" Princess Celestia grimaced. "I am deeply sorry, I do not." The earth pony's emotions fell. "Oh...but we can still find one, and that is great!" Princess Celestia laughed. "Then we must be on our way." She said, ushering them to the door in a hurry. The chariot came to a slow stop, it's riders piling off as they took notice of the scenery. "Here we are, the enterance." Princess Celestia said. Rainbow squinted. "All I see are rocks, rocks, and...stones." She dropped her gaze. "There's nothing here!" Rarity nodded. "I will have to agree with Rainbow Dash here, Princess. I do not spot any caves of any sort." Princess Celestia winked. "That's because you're traveling with an Alicorn." Her horn flashed as her sings spread apart, and Pinkie Pie clutched Cookie's hoof tighter as the rocks began the shine with energy. She then gaped as a dark cave formed into excistence, the rocks slipping off their podiums and onto the ground. "Way to go, Cele!" She cheered, Princess Celestia chuckling as they started their journey. Rarity's horn again came to life as a tiny light source. "How far did you find the signal?" The unicorn questioned. "Deep inside, where no natural light can ever be found." Celestia answered. The kept silent, the clipping of hooves filling their ears; Until a deep growl broke their resolve. Princess Celestia whipped, glancing to find the culprit. They came quickly, falling directly into the light. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes. "Are those...Timberwolves?" One lashed out, but Rarity caught the claw before it could catch her in its hold. "I believe so," she said as she pushed the wolf back. "But they appear to be wearing armor of a sort." Cookie snapped to a revealation. "It's ice!" The pointed to the small amount of water dripping to the floor. "They must be guardians!" She jumped back as another attempted to clamp it's teeth down onto her. "Not friendly!" Pinkie shouted. "What do we do?" Rarity stuttered as they came closers seemingly having their only task berk to keep them from moving on. But the group was startled as flash of red light burst from beside them, in the form of a spinning fireball. The wolves howled as the glowing fire lashed at their bodies, melting away their armor as they burned. They helped as the fire died out, but the flames had only lightly scorched their physical forms, and they acid eyes flashed as they fell. "Run!" Celestia yelled to the group, charging her horn for a second blow. The Timberwolves crawled to a defensive stance, growling as they began to advance. Rainbow sped off to the left, the others following in a distressed hurry as half the group gave chase. "Rarity, duck!" Pinkie shouted desperately. The unicorn listened to the order and rolled, a lone Timberwolf flying over her head. It crashed against the rocks, splintered wood flying in all directions. Smart Cookie winced as a chuck plunged into her side. "Don't worry about me!" She said as the group paused to help their comrade. "We've got to move!" "They're coming!" Rainbow dived, connecting her hoof with the side of a Timberwolf's muzzle. It barked in pain, backing as the others closed in. Rarity grabbed Cookie in her telekinetic hold, and the group moved once more. Their breaths echoed in the silent cave, the wolves barks becoming further away with each passing second. Pinkie surprised them made a sharp turn, slamming into the side of a small room. Rainbow Dash and Rarity followed, grasping for air as they tried to stay silent. The distinct sound of scraping claws became closer, and Rarity screamed as Princess Celestia rushed in, horn flashing as a virtually indestructible barrier shimmered into existence around the enterance. The Timberwolves came after, clawing against the magic as they tried to get in to catch their prey. "Hurry," Princess Celestia told the group as she faced the monsters. "Even I cannot hold my magic forever. You must find where the mare is hidden." "But we don't even know where to look!" Rainbow shouted. "Ah," Pinkie held up a hoof. "You don't think I made that turn for nothing, did ya!" She grabbed Rarity's horn despite her protests, and held it close to the other side of the small cave. A unicorn mare, held safely in a block of frozen ice, stared at them all. "Pinkie Pie..." Rarity muttered as Smart Cookie cheered at their success. "How did you know she was here?" Pinkie grinned. "It's me! Don't question it." She answered simply. "Okay." Rainbow spoke. Smart Cookie's eyes glimmered as she slid a hoof down the solid ice. "Clover..." She murmured, eyeing the distressed mare. Her gaze turned serious as she turned back around. "How do we break it?" Her question was met with silence. Princess Celestia grunted as a single wolf claw broke through the shield. "Go!" She yelled again. Rainbow Dash shrugged. "I don't' know." She told her truthfully. "Last time this weird magic thing happened and you were out." Cookie's gaze turned pleading. "Then all of you get up close to it!" She ordered. They complied, all walking up to the prison that held Clover. Rarity gasped as the pure energy formed along her again. Rainbow smirked. "Totally got this." The magic flew from their bodies, each phasing through the ice like it had done before. This time, Rarity's went to the horn, wrapping around the rings before fading like it had never been. Pinkie's shook as it found its way into her chest, folding in as Rainbow's followed. The cyan magic seemed hesitant, but finally locked onto her forelegs, bursting into a blast of rainbow colors. Princess Celestia grinned as she felt the slightest tinge of water pass by her forelegs. "You did it." She spoke calmly. Rarity jumped as she watched the ice begin to melt by: By froze as a blast of frost collided with the structure, making it whole again. The Timberwolf howled with joy as its success, but yelped as a shot of fire brought it to ashes. Princess Celestia's horn glowed brighter, and the barrier's broken parts refixed, sending the wolves into a fit of rage. Rainbow wiped the sweat off her forehead as the ice began the process over. "Is it just me or is this place getting a bit toasty?" She questioned. "We are currently with Princess Celestia, goddess of the sun. Rarity deapanned, horn sparking as she water missing her entirely. "I believe it would be the slightest warm if she were to use her fire in a small cave such as this." She squeaked as a Timberwolf launched itself at the barrier, teeth sinking into the golden magic. "Is it done melting yet?" She timidly inquired. Smart Cookie caught her friend as she fell, Clover The Clever shaking as she grasped for any sort of air she could find. "It's alright, I got you..." Cookie soothed, turning to Princess Celestia as she released the shield and fired another shot. "We're ready to go, Princess!" The Princess nodded, but even her eyes shone with fear as the Timberwolves advanced for a final time. "Quickly, come!" Her horn glowed with power, and with a final blast of blinding light the ponies vanished, the teleportation spell working as perfectly as planned.