//------------------------------// // The Housetree // Story: The Legend of the Everfree // by Shadowmane PX-41 //------------------------------// Gloriosa, the Rainbooms, and the Shadowbolts all arrived at a massive tree with a massive entrance hollowed out at the base of it. The edge around it was decorated with flowers, ivy, and many more natural things. The rest of the tree had a large nimiety of branches and leaves sprouting out just above the entrance. "Well, here we are, everyone. My humble home." Gloriosa leapt down from the branch she had been standing on and walked inside, leading her guests inside. "Thought you were expecting me to live in a teeny-tiny treehouse like most kids do these days, huh?" "An entire house fashioned out of a tree?" Rarity asked as she looked inside and saw the many different stairs, furnishings, chairs, and books. "How fascinating..." "Yeah! There's five floors in here, and each one caters to each and every one of my needs." Gloriosa ran towards the stairs and pointed upwards to each balcony. "We've got a kitchen floor, a reading floor, a living room—where you all are now— a playtime floor, and my bedroom's right at the top. Pretty cool, huh?" "Yeah! Not many people can make a tree like this a home, especially not if that tree's super-humongous!" Pinkie Pie walked forward slowly and looked around. "How did you do this, Gloriosa?" Sunny Flare was the first to ask. "Oh, I didn't do this. Daddy Ecoloris did it all for me!" Gloriosa said. "You've all heard the story how this place is super-duper old, right?" "Yes. How could we forget, since you blathered it out half an hour ago?" Sugarcoat deadpanned. "Anyways, this is the oldest tree in the Everfree Forest, at twenty-five-thousand years old as of today. Happy birthday, Housetree!" Gloriosa threw her arms into the air for her quick celebration. "But anyway, onto more serious matters. From what Daddy Ecoloris told me, this tree was personally grown by his magical powers, as well as growing naturally. "But it was his power that allowed this tree to grow big and healthy, and much bigger than a regular tree," she went on. "And this tree cannot be destroyed by any firebomb, logging machine, or even a massive explosion that could potentially destroy the rest of the forest and leave this tree with nowhere to go, but I'm sure that this big old beauty will still be standing for years and years on end." She leaned in close to Pinkie. "Believe me, the Treekillers have been trying to make a machine to cut this bad boy, but they're going nowhere fast with me around." "Umm, Gloriosa. Can I ask you something?" said Fluttershy. "Sure. What is it, Fluttershy?" Gloriosa asked. "If you were separated from your parents after that forest fire, then why did you decide to stay in the Everfree Forest with this Ecoloris? And if he's merely a spirit, how could've he protected you if you were just a baby back then?" "I believe that I can answer that question..." All of a sudden, the lights inside the Housetree dimmed and turned green, before they were disjointed from their posts and flew towards each other. They all formed a ring which spun for a few seconds, before every orb crashed together, causing a massive green burst of light to envelop the tree. When the light died down, a bearded human with a plain red robe around him appeared and floated down towards the ground. He had long white hair, a luscious beard, and a well-groomed moustache. He was wearing sandals, a laurel crown, and a scabbard with a sword that had archaic markings on the blade. "Rainbooms. I have awaited your arrival," the human said in a deep and gravelly voice. "My name is Ecoloris, and I am the guardian, spirit, and overseer of the Everfree Forest. This is my adopted daughter, Gloriosa. But of course, you already knew that." "Everyone, this is daddy." Gloriosa gave him a hug. Ecoloris merely chuckled. "Now, now, Glori. There's no need to hug me every time I make an appearance. I'll always be here to protect you, even when dark forces threaten our home." "Alright. What the hell is going on here?!" Sour Sweet blurted out once she had adjusted to the situation. "I have been watching Sunset Shimmer and her friends for the longest time now, Sour Sweet." Ecoloris turned to face her. "Of all of the humans I have encountered on this planet, never before have I seen six teenagers wield the Magic of Friendship in a world that isn't Equestria. I believe that this could very well be the beginning of a new golden age for our beloved forest, provided that we act quickly." "Again, you're giving us more questions than answers." Sugarcoat turned around and walked towards the door. "I've tried to be patient with you all, but I'm afraid that it's not working out. I'm leaving." "I would advise that for your safety, you don't." Ecoloris waved his hand upwards, causing a wall of vines to close the door. "The Treekillers have identified the Rainbooms as a threat, and you were with Gloriosa during the escape you all pulled. If they find you, they will kill you. That is the level of darkness I have identified from them all..." "Hey! Let me out!" Sugarcoat punched the vines and tried to pull them apart, but to no avail. "That is another reason why you will fall to the Treekillers if you leave, Sugarcoat. You lack knowledge, despite your high IQ. It is because this is only the second time you have witnessed magic that you fail to comprehend the forces at work here. A common thing among the other Shadowbolts, I'm quite sure." "So tell us!" Indigo Zap threw her arms forward. "Just give us a straightforward answer to all our questions! What magic makes this forest so special? Why do the Treekillers want it torn down?" "And more importantly, what's the Gatekey? And how can it open a portal to Equestria?" Sunset interrupted. "The magic in the Everfree Forest is actually an ancient magic, that closely ties into the Everfree Forest that resides deep in Equestria," Ecoloris explained. "Apart from the portal at Twilight's castle connecting to Canterlot High School, the Everfree Forest is the only other link to Equestria, as deep underneath it, resides the Gate, which when connected with the Gatekey, can open up portals to many different worlds. Your world is merely one of them, Sunset Shimmer." "And if this portal can take us to Equestria, then where's that world's portal in their forest?" Lemon Zest asked. "I'm not sure. But I do know that it is much deeper into the forest than anyone's ever ventured. Even deeper than the former Castle of the Two Sisters that Twilight and her friends have visited multiple times before." "Alright. Next question." Sugarcoat had calmed down and now rejoined the group. "Why do the Treekillers want the Everfree Forest torn down so badly?" "Miasma is part of a secretive cult known as New World," Ecoloris shuddered upon saying the name, and all of a sudden, the air around everyone grew colder. "I do not know much about them, apart from the fact that everyone there has a massive hold on each of the principalities of life. Education, security, food, sports—you name it. But they are all consumed by darkness; they care about nothing more than their own gains, and discard anyone who gets in their way, or fails them." "So what's this New World planning?" Applejack was the next to speak. "Again, I do not know. However, I do know that Miasma is under strict orders from New Order's council that if she fails, she will be punished severely by the Grand Master. No-one know who they are, what they are, or even where they are. It's like they are talking to a ghost whenever they meet them." "So we just gotta stop the Treekillers," said Rainbow Dash. "That way, Miasma'll get a big punishment, and we can go back to our vacation?" "Yes. But to do this, you need the power of the Everfree." Gloriosa stepped forward and put her hand on the ground, causing a magical spiral to spread out across the ground. "There is a way to get to this power, but you must first complete the Trial of Hope." "You must raise enough money to have the Everfree Forest overturn the bankruptcy papers that allow her to cut the forest down," Ecoloris said as a portal began to open where Gloriosa had put her hand down. "This will take you back to the camp. You must work fast and weaken Miasma. Get the people to support the forest, and get the Treekillers out." "Go now, girls! I'll be waiting for you when you get back!" Gloriosa stepped backwards, allowing the portal she was opening to take form. A single hole that led right back to the tents where the Rainbooms and Shadowbolts were sleeping. "Let's go!" Sunset jumped straight into the portal, and the other girls followed closely behind. "Ingrates! Because of you the Rainbooms got away with that girl!" Miasma scolded two employees who had been leading the Rainbooms to her office before. "Why didn't you try to fight back or warn me about these intrusions?" "We were unaware that those meddlesome brats had more friends," the first guy shot back, showing more confidence than the other one. "I don't care what kind of punishment you have for me, I'm not going to sit idly by and let my work be squandered by—" but before he could finish, Miasma pointed the MP443 Grach at his head and opened fire, punching a massive hole in his skull, and causing him to tumble to the ground. Miasma shot the other man in the head and pushed a button, causing a trapdoor to appear underneath both of the men, who silently plummeted into it and were immediately crushed to death by the trash compactor. Once she saw the bodies get squashed, she closed the trapdoor and went back to her work. "Miasma!" The room went dark again, and New World's Grand Master appeared on the TV screen once again. "I heard that the Rainbooms had escaped your clutches. Is this true?" "My apologies, Grand Master. It is true." She hung her head before she shook it and tried to explain. "But only because they had—" "I don't want excuses from you, Miasma! I need results!" The Grand Master boomed, and projections of snakes appeared that began to strangle Miasma. They were just fake, but she truly did feel like her neck was being constricted. "Abacus Cinch disgraced our council with the Friendship Games, and should you fail, it will paint a bad image for New World! I. Will. Not. Tolerate. Failure! DO YOU HEAR ME?!" "Y-yes! Grand... Master!" Miasma struggled to speak through her choking noises. "Those... Rainbooms will... Be corpses... By the end of the week!" "Good." The snakes vanished. "But fail me again, and those pythons will not let go so easily next time..." "I promise that I will not fail you, Grand Master." Miasma bowed down as the screen vanished, and the room lit up again. Miasma had time to catch her breath before she pushed down on an intercom button and yelled, "SVENGALLOP?! What's the progress on the Cerberus?!" "It should be done before the deadline, Ms Miasma," he said through the speaker. "The workers we hired are working exceptionally quickly today, as they've got some kind of party to go to tonight." "Good. I need it ready soon," she calmed down and took some deep breaths. "I'm advancing the plan to phase three: Full Frontal Assault. The Cerberus will be a great asset in cutting these meddlesome trees down for New World to do their work. But do not fail me, Sven. Because I've already been threatened with termination, and I'd hate for that very same threat to be posed onto you." "Don't worry, Miasma. You're in good hands with me," Svengallop said before the speaker hung up.