//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: A Fear Worse Than Most Feared // by Josh Crapo //------------------------------// Further down Air Wiff and Wrench's flight, Air Wiff plays the name, Yakyakistan, in her head all over. It's something about it that sticks. "Yakyakistan. Hmm... Y’know Wrench, the more I think about it, the more it sounds familiar, like I heard the name a long long time ago, in a land far far away." "Who knows?" Wrench elbows Air Wiff in response. "I don’t know if I’ll know my way over at Yakyakistan though." "Well don’t worry about finding your way over there. You’ll have the yaks to guide you." "So how recent was Rok’s election as prince of Yakyakistan?" Air Wiff asks. "Five weeks ago. He’s addressed the disappearance of Ponyville once. And that was the day Ponyville turned to ruins." "Life in Equestria used to shimmer and shine before Ponyville was wiped off the map. Everything would’ve been fine if not for that disaster." Air Wiff looks at what faintly looks like the Crystal Empire while Wrench starts up his rant. "That he knew from what I heard. But did he ever address the dust that’s risen across Equestria? Only once. And that’s what he said would happen when he addressed the disappearance of Ponyville. He’s been all speech and no action about this matter." "He’s been on 930 a few times this past week. It was just a couple interviews, but that’s it. If the lack of address of a serious issue is considered illegal in Yakyakistan, what I can interpret from you is that he should be impeached," Air Wiff assumes. "I have no idea if that exists or is even constitutional in Yakyakistan, but if it was passed, yeah, he’d be impeached for doing such ignorant things." Air Wiff nods. "Well, I agree. We can’t pay attention to absolutely everything. But at least Rok tries. Same applies for Shell. She may not’ve paid attention to what Yakyakistan is going through, but she knew to send you and the other eight to investigate why all of this is happening." "That’s the thing. Us changelings are actively doing something to find a cause to all this madness instead of having our heads up our asses like the yaks! They know about their effects of eternal day up there and so do the changelings of Changico. But we have to move up north into the dust in order to cool off from the heat of eternal day when they can stay damn put and not break a solitary sweat from their thick coats!" "Well, the yaks would shed their fur if it got warm up there," Air Wiff points out. "That’s a bodily function, not a forced decision. Bodily functions don’t take any effort to do, let alone take any purpose. All we have for warmth during the colder months is our wings, and that’s it. Plus, I don’t ever dare to change into a pony when it gets excessively hot like it is in Changico now." Air Wiff suddenly sees a gate past the mountain. "Oh! Is that it? Past those snowy looking mountains?" Wrench nods. "Yeah. I see it. That entrance has been left open for about a hundred and thirty two years as the story passes down from generation to generation. From what I heard, Equestria was about to go to war back just before the borders opened." "So what’s the air quality now?" Wrench uses the E.A.Q. spell again. "Right now, the AQI is 31." "That’s the best I’ve come across in a week." "Come on. Let’s get down there and find you a place to stay." Wrench offers a hoof bump which Air Wiff accepts. The two swoop down into the border seeing the many yaks over there. "What the-" "What is this?" Wrench puts the larger of two shocked expressions on she and Air Wiff lets out. Air Wiff bumps into one of the yaks. "Oof! Excuse me." "No problem... Air Wiff?!?" The yak instantly recognizes her. "Who are you?" Air Wiff asks. "Air Wiff! It’s me! Endless Riches!" "What? Endy?" "Don’t you remember me?" Endy asks. Air Wiff thinks back to her fillyhood, when she was at the same snowy mountain. In the flashback, Air Wiff and Endless Riches hug for the last time before the pegasus departs on the snowy slope. "I know it’ll be a while before we meet again. But I’ll always remember you when I remember the lessons you taught me." "Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine in Equestria. I bet you could take on Mill Spin if you wanted to." "I hope we can meet again sometime soon." Coming back to reality, Air Wiff shakes her head. "Holy slip! I forgot the entire reason why I loved one of Dry Stone’s songs!" "What song is that?" "Found," Air Wiff responds. "How does it go?" Air Wiff starts to sing the song he mentioned. "It’s been awhile since you were here, trotting with me, now nowhere near." That's when it clicks with Endy. "Hey I heard a song with those lyrics on 92.5 yesterday. I think that was the song." "Good news, I guess." "What is it?" Endy asks. "I’m gonna stay in Yakyakistan for a while." Air Wiff lifts her front right hoof to help convey the news. "Perfect! You could stay with me!" Endy hugs Air Wiff tightly. "I guess." A gasp exits the yak's mouth. "Oh my gosh! Is that a changeling?" "Why yes I am. I’m Wrench. Nice to meet you Endless Riches." "Please, call me Endy. Care to stay with the two of us?" Wrench shakes his head. "Actually, no. I have some friends to check up on down in former Ponyville." Endy's eyes spark up upon hearing the city name. "Ponyville? I heard about it during Prince Rok’s address back a week ago. Hadn’t heard anything else from him after that. Mostly from surfing radio stations. There’ve been less and less around this past week." "Like I said before, I can’t stay here because I have to check up on Hut and the others." "I guess this is goodbye for now," Air Wiff salutes. "Yes. Farewell." And with that, Wrench teleports out leaving Endy and Air Wiff to their matters, who move out of the crowd of yaks further into the springlike Yakyakistan.