//------------------------------// // Paradise Gone Wrong // Story: Jurassic Pony III // by mistercokehold8 //------------------------------// The tropical islands of the Five Deaths have hardly changed over the course of four years. They are widely avoided by locals, and after the incident in Manehatten with InGen many within the scientific community are hesitant to send any expeditions to these islands even though only two hold the prehistoric monstrosities. Hardly anypony would dare take the risk of getting close. There were stories of those who would get to close, never to be seen again. However there are a few brave ponies that would dare get close to these islands. Thrill-seekers are so eager to see these beasts they'll risk getting close to the islands. At least that is the impression given by the speed boat off the coast of Isla Pegasus. The captain of this illegal adventure peered up into the sky through a pair of binoculars, making sure they weren't being followed. Being caught anywhere near this island was worth about five to ten in prison, and a hefty amount of fines. Everything at the moment seemed calm. On deck an earth pony stallion was strapping himself and a young colt into safety harnesses. "Make sure you get us close," the earth pony calls over the motor. "I'll give you something extra if you make it a good trip!" "Don't worry. I'll take you close. But not too close." The captain said, smoking a cigar. "But not too close, don't wanna be eaten!" The earth pony put a small camcorder around his neck as he finished the last strap on the colt. "Holding up?" He asked over the motor. The young pegasus look up at him with a wide smile. "Yeah!" The captain clipped the line that ran from a large reel attached to the back of the boat to their harness. "We're set!" The stallion with the colt hanging from him stepped to the edge of the boat. The driver steers the boat a bit closer to the island......a little too close for the comfort of some... "On three!" The earth pony called out. One........Two.......Three!" Grabbing the ring found on the harness with his jaw, he yanked out the metal ring, unfolding the para glider behind them and yanking the pair of ponies into the air. The long parachute arcs over them while the rope strapped to them quickly unwinds from a winch in the floor of the speedboat. Both ponies glide gracefully hundreds of feet above the water as they let out a scream of excitement at the top of their lungs while the captain laughed at their mirth. After letting the line on the winch out far enough, the captain locked it into place before returning to the wheel. The stallion on the end of the line rubbed the colts head. "Scared?" He called over the wind. "Nuh-uh! This is great!" The stallion laughs as he raises his camera to survey the island. Both ponies in the air and the ponies down below in the boat look out at the island in anticipation. "Do you see anything yet?" The colt asked. "Nnnnoooope not yet," The stallion replied as he observed the island trees critically from the screen of the camcorder. Despite the view from high above nothing was appearing in the treeline. Meanwhile down at sea level the boat is headed right for a fog bank. The captain has a brief discussion with his partner on the boat, both failing to hear large splashing come from the water to the right. Coming to an agreement the captain turns the boat a bit to the left as the fog bank completely obscures the seafaring craft from the temporary fliers it's hauling. As the two looked down upon the island they felt a hard sudden tug on the line. "What was that?" The colt asked as the line began tugging over and over, shaking the two violently. "What's happening?" "I don't know." The Stallion said as he takes the hoof controls hanging to either side of him in case he needs to take evasive action. The colt groaned uncomfortably as the line shook violently. The two looked down the line to see what gag the captain was trying to pull. After several moments the shaking stopped and the fog finally lifted, but to their horror the cover to the boat was shredded and covered in blood, with the captain and his partner nowhere to be seen. “What happened to them?” The colt asked, now scared. “I have no idea.” The stallion answered. Both ponies slowly looked up ahead. Since there was no longer a captain to operate the boat it was speeding ahead, directly in the path of a land bar. The bar was too far from shore to swim if they crashed, if the ocean didnt sweep them away when they fall from the sky. "We're gonna crash!" The colt panics as he fumbles with the clip holding the rope. "We're gonna crash!!!" "No we're not!" The stallion said as he struggled to take the clip from the panicking colt. "Let go of the rope!" Down below the boat crashed into the first set of rocks, taking into the air. "We're gonna crash!!!" Fear was beginning to sink in as the stallion finally got the clip undone. "Here we go!" A strong gust of wind carried the two higher into the air as the boat finally plowed into the larger rocks, before stopping in its tracks. Now freed the two airborne ponies glide to the only place they have a hope of survival......to the island of Isla Pegasus, and the horrors that waited with in. “It’s gonna be alright bud.” The stallion said to the colt as they drifted through the wind towards the island.