//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 (OId TImeline): Ready to Come Home // Story: Dawn of the Dinosaur // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// I have yet to see a rhino, but looking at the Raths as they charge down at each other is the closest I can find. They are somewhat panicky; we kept to a tree for some time as a bull tried to run us down. While in the tree, a Lumber came by to feast. I teased a little by playing tug of war with a branch. Despite being way larger than a pony, it had a jaw of glass. 24 hours until School Cosgrove was shaken awake by Dapplewood. The Hipsi pointed to Applejack and Michelle laying a blanket over the stallion. The colt walked up to them. The farm pony had her eyes closed in a stern expression. "Any news from Luna?" Muttered the farm pony Cosgrove looked to the ancient city, "We must go to the city." "We have one problem: we haven't been in good terms with the herd." Said Michelle Cosgrove glared at the opposite direction before widening his eyes. "Not that we have a choice." Said Cosgrove as he and Dapplewood raced towards the city. The two older mares looked back. The bandersnatch has caught up to them. Applejack ran a few yards before looking back. Michelle tried to carry the camera before being yanked by the farm pony's lasso. The bandersnatch stepped on the camera as it entered a full stride. Dapplewood ran in a zig zag motion, much to their confusion. Figuring the idea, Cosgrove began to do the same. "Trust the native!" He shouted. Though it felt silly, Applejack and Michelle began moving in a zig zag motion. The bandersnatch started to become confused. It couldn't turn easily, so it would be pointless to mimic them. It had one trick up its sleeve, but a particularly risky one. Exerting more of its strength, the bandersnatch was able to reach up to a few feet from the ponies before leaping at them. It missed, slamming its chest on the ground and stopping it dead. It moaned in pain as tried to get back on its toes. Upon reaching the stone settlement, Dapplewood stopped into a slow walk. The three surviving ponies raced ahead of him a few meters before skidding to a halt and turning around. "Dapplewood, why have you stopped?" Questioned Cosgrove "That bander-whats it will be here and-" Applejack found the bandersnatch merely walking towards the stone settlement. But rather than attacking, it stopped just at the divide line between the grass and the stone pavement. It looked down with a growl before turning to its left and walking to the distant wilds. The three ponies had their mouths agape as Dapplewood continued walking past them. The city, an amazing sight as is, is just an old senior in the field of time. Vines now wrap up to the peak of the highest temple. Trees encroach the street, though they have been cut down to not be a problem. The former civilians appear to be enjoying the Gathering. Foals gallop through the legs of their older peers, and herd leaders reassure their bond with an arm shake. Cosgrove approached a pair of Hipparion making basic trade. They merely growled because of the additional sight of their distant, one-toed cousins. Cosgrove drooped his ears. Applejack rubbed his head. "Why is it that they do not like me?" - Cosgrove placed his hooves to his chest -"I am of them, but they view me as if I was dead." Dapplewood lowered his head before motioning the young Hipparion to follow him. Cosgrove, Applejack, and Michelle followed Dapplewood to a deep cave. Illuminated by various spot fires, this was a memorial hall. Cave paintings were lined up around the cave; every hunt, birth of a foal, rite of passage is recorded on an alcove dedicated to a certain family. After consistently looking at his kind painting new experiences, Cosgrove stopped at a particularly unpainted alcove. Dapplewood pointed at the more weathered ones. While Michelle held an ecstatic face while looking at the mural, Applejack looked concerned at Cosgrove. "Of all the alcoves here, why is this one bare?" "Sugar-" "Flash flood" "Sugar-" "War-" "Mam!" - The explorer stopped talking - "Shut up." Michelle was about to ask why before looking at Cosgrove. The colt stared around the old paintings. The first painting showed the union of a stallion and mare, followed by a blessing between their families, then what appears to be news of a child, a foal being born, gaining a partner, both being blessed. Then there was a tragedy; the mare, stallion, colt and hatchling were coming back from a food gathering. They stopped to drink by a river when a pack of Borogoves attacked them. The stallion and mare fought to the tooth, but the battle was too great; through mock lunges, the Borogoves were always able to grab the basket the foal was in before being bucked. The hatchling watched from under a sheltered rock as one such occurrence caused the basket to fall in the river. The parents tried to get to the riverbank before being pounced. They became overwhelmed... All of that… recorded by Dapplewood. All recent events to now show the Hipsi growing up, alone, a mere shell of his purpose. Wide eyed, Cosgrove placed his hoof on the painting of the two adult ponies. He lowered his head before Applejack wrapped her arm around his body. Dapplewood approached the colt before the Hipsi is embraced like a plush toy… albeit a scaly one with fuzz. Given the rather unpainted stone and the availability of the paints, he turned to Applejack... “Take all the time you need, it’s still night back home.” Said Applejack as she lead Michelle away towards the entrance of the cave. Cosgrove dipped his hoof into the paint, aimed it at an unpainted part of the wall and began spitting on it. “All my life, I have wondered just what I am. I thought to myself if Schnookums, Discord, and I were the only ones of our respective kind. Schnookums and I have now found we aren’t alone, although we have went through hay and back… And I feel sorry that Schnookums…. His sacrifice will never be forgotten. But now, I have been too far gone from my ancestral home. I belong to another world… and I miss it. There is one last favor I must do.” 18 hours until School Cosgrove placed the now empty paint bowl on the ground. After wiping the sweat from his brow, the Hipparion turned around to a very large crowd of his own people. They looked in awe. To their credit, Cosgrove’s cave drawings show more detail, but what is more amazing that they show events from beyond the wall. The feud regarding Schnookums, outwitting Screwball, reuniting with his friends, the encounter with Monster Zero, the overthrow of Grogar, and returning to the world he was born in. Cosgrove took a good look at his kin before making his way out of the cave with Dapplewood. One of the foals looked at one particular detail; it showed the foal in the river being held in another mare’s arms. The two met with Michelle, Applejack, and Princess Luna, the latter actually being quite a sight to the natives. Cosgrove and Dapplewood looked to the Princess of the Night. “I am ready to come home…” - He looked to a sad Dapplewood, drooping his head before an arm wrapped around him - “We are all ready to come home.” With a smile, Princess Luna shined her horn and in an instant, the Alicorn, two Earth Ponies, Hipparion and Hipsi disappeared. 16 hours until School Home… Sweet Home… The sun has already risen; Princess Luna had gone away, and Michelle Mareven wasn’t with them. Applejack rubbed Cosgrove’s head as both gave a little chuckle. Cosgrove’s face turned from joy to panic as he raced towards his house with Dapplewood following behind. Applejack tilted her hat before walking towards Sweet Apple Acres. Back at said house, Mr. and Mrs. Night Dancer slowly walked from his house with sad faces. The middle aged stallion rubbed the door as he is nudged by his wife. Suddenly, their ears flicked towards the sound of hooves on the dirt racing towards them. They assumed it was Pinky about to give a farewell party. Looking again, they dropped their luggage and began galloping. Cosgrove began to tear up just before he leapt onto his “grandparents” and the two earth ponies embraced him. Tears rolled down their faces after long assuming he was dead. Dapplewood initially shied away before Cosgrove walked up to him. “Welcome back to the family.” Dapplewood tried to curl his cheeks, giving a somewhat weak smile at most. The ponies laughed as they welcomed their newest family member. 6 Hours until School Throughout the rest of the day, Dapplewood was shown the town. Indigo, Rumble, Dinky and the Crusaders were astonished by their new arrival. Spike was a bit disgruntled at Dapplewood not being able to speak; it would be nice to have another scaly friend that wasn’t a killer. The family entered Sweet Apple Acres again, just as Applejack and Big Mac loaded the last of the barrels. “Thank you so much for returning our grandson.” “Much obliged." - Applejack tipped her hat -"You wouldn’t mind staying over for dinner, now?” The two earth ponies looked down at the children before looking back at the farmers. “We’d be honored.” The two children walked inside the house with their older peers coming in. It was nighttime when they returned to the house. Cosgrove showed Dapplewood his room before tucking in. Dapplewood merely curled up on top of the blanket. “You will have quite a life in Equestria." - Cosgrove yawned - "I... promise…” Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop gave a warm smile before turning off the light.