//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 : Exploring 
// Story: Changeling Quest Book 2 : Journey 
// by LoveEspeon 
//------------------------------//

Twilight could no longer hold it. She had been trying to stay awake ever since Flash dropped her off at the tent. She instantly collapsed onto her sleeping bag. Trying to fight the urge to sleep, she closed her eyes. 

Morning. Something prodded Twilight in the side. She groaned. Opening her eyes a little, she was blinded by a white light. Then her vision suddenly became clear. Flash was looming over her. "YYAAAAAAAHH!!!!" she screamed. Flash was startled too. He screamed as well. Then Twilight slapped herself. Ouch. Even moving her hoof made her whole body ache. Apparently last night's battle made her sore. Flash stopped screaming as well. Then he gave her one of the fruits on the trees surrounding the lagoon. She ate it quickly. Instantly she was healed, her aching going away. That fruit was very helpful. 

"Well, now that the ordeal is over, let's go scout ahead; if you're up for it. We have to leave sooner or later." Flash stepped forward. Twilight felt her face grow hot. She wasn't that pathetic!! She nodded. 

"I'm not that helpless you know!" she couldn't help but snap at him.  Flash grinned.

"Whatever. Now stop talking and lets go." Twilight got up on her hooves. Giving herself a quick brush, she followed Flash out of the tent. Twilight still gaped in awe at the beauty of Haven Lagoon. She trotted over to the lake. Grabbing her canteen she quickly filled up the bottle with water. Slinging the canteen around her neck, she galloped away to find Flash. She found him waiting at the far end of the waterfall. 

"Flash? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked as she slowed beside the waterfall. Flash gestured for her to follow him. As she carefully made her way around the flowing water, she found Flash trotting into a cave. A cave behind the waterfall? Too convenient. She leaped over the rocks that were in her way. Then she was blinded by a white light. At the far end of the cave, a new valley was spread out in front of her and Flash. "Woah.." Flash looked blankly at the scenery before them. It was blank, with grey trees and grass. There was a black castle in the distance. "That must be the castle," she whispered to Flash. Then Flash pulled her into a crevice under the ground. "Wha?!"

"Get down!!!" she fell beside him. She was about to say something when Flash put a hoof to her muzzle. Up there, they could hear voices. 

"They aren't here!" grumbled a scratchy voice. It sounded....animatronic-like. Changelings! 

"I could've swore I saw two ponies here; one orange pegasus stallion and a lavender alicorn!!!" protested another changeling, this one sounding younger. 

"Hah, I don't think so, Acrisius," laughed the first voice. 

"Hmph! Just because I'm the new guard doesn't give you the right to pick on me!!! I swear I saw them here!!" protested Acrisius.

"Ya right. Let's keep going," said the first voice. Then, grumbling, they flew off. Twilight was dumbfounded. These changelings were a lot like Sunset Shimmer when Twilight first met her. 

"Is it safe?" she whispered to Flash, who had poked his head to check for enemies. He nodded. Shaking, Twilight pawed her way out of the hole that had hid them. 

"We need to tell the others. They are coming closer and closer to this place. We need to leave. Soon," said Flash. They both galloped out of the cave as fast as possible. 
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"Me and Twilight will go find another place. The rest of you, grab as much supplies as you can, and prepare for teleportation," instructed Flash after he explained what happened. Umbra trotted up. 

"We need to move fast. I'm coming with you." Flash nodded. Twilight felt her heart racing. Another dangerously crazy adventure. Flash saw her ruffled wing feathers and came over to comfort her. 

"It's going to be fine. I'm here for you." Twilight nodded. She folded back her wings, which she had opened a little to smooth out the ruffled feathers. Pacing around, she started to think of the trail ahead. 

"Don't focus on the future, focus on the now," she muttered to herself. Jerking her head up, she used her magic to levitate her saddle bag. Slinging it over her back, she put in two fruits and a bottle of water. 

"Ready to go?" asked Flash, spreading out his wings. Twilight spread out her wings and nodded. "Good." Flash flapped his wings, slowly lifting off the ground. Umbra began flapping his wings. They were flapping so fast, now they looked like two blue blurs, a humming sound slowly flowing from them. Twilight flapped her own wings. Then all three of them flew off.