//------------------------------// // VI - The Mountain With the Very Unique Name // Story: Pony Fantasy V: Exodus of the Void // by GMBlackjack //------------------------------// Days of walking and flying later, the four mares arrived in the fringe town of Carwail - beaten, exhausted, dehydrated, and extremely hungry. Rainbow Dash literally charged into the tavern and tossed some gold coins on the counter. “FOOD. WATER. NOW.” She said, breathing heavily. The barkeep nodded, bringing out some food which the pirate ate ravenously. Applejack carried Rarity into the tavern, dumping her on a stool and shoving the princess’ face into the plate. “You need to eat Rarity.” “Far… Too… Weak… To… Move… Mouth…” Applejack slapped her, wishing for the umpteenth time that they had remembered to bring food from the ship. “You’re talking. You can eat.” Rarity gave Applejack an indignant look and slowly began to eat, but she groaned as if the act pained her greatly. By the time Applejack had started to eat her meal (stale bread, of course) Pinkie had already ordered and eaten three full servings. “My goodness we were dying out there! Wasn’t that an adventure? Huh? Huh?” Applejack sighed. “Pinkie, if Ah can help it, Ah’m never doing that again.” Pinkie shrugged. The barkeep looked at the four mares, a curious look on his face. “So… what brings you all to Carwail?” “Heading to the Spire Hive, going to visit the Water Crystal.” Applejack responded. “Well…” The barkeep shook his head. “You’re going to have a problem with that.” “Oh?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Yeah - the earthquakes have blocked the mountain pass. So unless you can all grow wings or have your own personal dragon, you’re out of luck since all the boats are grounded.” “Grow wings? How on earth would we grow wings?” Applejack asked. Rarity nudged her. “Roughly half of Morphisis’ population are changelings dear. They could easily change form into a pegasus.” The barkeep raised an eyebrow. “From out of kingdom? Interesting. Trotton or Solamane?” “Trotton.” Rarity responded. “How’d you get here?” “Adrift ship.” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Had to fight our way out of the ship graveyard. Sirens suck.” She downed her drink. The barkeep nodded. “Well… we can’t help you get to Spire Hive. Sorry you journeyed all this way for nothing.” “Perhaps not nothing…” Applejack said, rubbing her chin. “You said a did say a dragon could do it…” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Applejack, only the royalty of Morphisis have personal dragons - and I doubt there are any around.” Applejack sighed, glancing around the tavern. It was mostly empty - though there was a table of four ponies talking amongst themselves. Applejack squinted, trying to see if she could discern if they were changelings or not. She thought not, until one of them copied Applejack’s appearance and started chuckling. Applejack huffed, ready to walk out of the tavern. But something made her stop - she saw a piano. Her mind told her one thing - don’t even try it. You’re not good at the piano. You heard the racket you made last time. Her body didn’t listen to a thing her mind said. She sauntered up to the piano, cracked her hooves together, and began to play. What came out sounded like someone was trying to play an acutal song, but every single note failed. She grinned sheepishly. “Boo.” Her clone said. Applejack growled, marching out of the tavern. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash began to giggle. Rarity just sighed as she adjusted her crown. Applejack walked around, simply trying to enjoy the town. Unfortunately she found herself unable to do this since she knew half the population were changelings - and she simply didn’t trust things that deceived with their very appearance. She saw some of them rapidly changing form in front of their friends, but she never saw a single changeling in its default form. Then again, she supposed she’d only heard about changelings - maybe their default form wasn’t really some weird bug thing. She tried to stare at the countryside, to become enveloped in the nature, but the discussions she heard behind her kept drawing her focus. “You know what man? I saw a freakin’ dragon fly overhead towards North Mountain yesterday!” “No way man, dragons don’t come this far! We’re doomed!” “No man - it had armor, it was one of the Queen’s.” “What do you think it was doing?” “I don’t know, it looked like it was flyin’ kinda lopsided though. It’s wing may have been hurt or something.” “Should we do anything?” “Nah, just thought it was cool.” An idea was forming in Applejack’s head. She charged into the tavern. “Ah have a stupid idea.” She said. Rarity shook her head. “Applejack, it can’t be that crazy.” ~~~ “I take it back Applejack, this is a poorly thought out course of action. You want us to climb that?” Rarity raised a hoof, gesturing at the tall mountain before them that was blocking the sun. It had a winding path leading up it, snaking away towards the sky. Cliffs, rocks, and wild plants grew all along the spire of earth. It was quite an impressive mountain to say the least. “What’s wrong princess?” Rainbow Dash snarked. “Can’t climb a mountain? Come on, it’ll be good to get the legs pumping.” “Dashie…” Pinkie called. “You aren’t using your legs.” “Legs. Wings. Same thing.” “Did you even understand anatomy Rainbow Dash?” Rarity retorted. “I dunno. There was this one time I-“ Pinkie stuffed a hoof in Rainbow Dash’s mouth. “I don’t think anyone wants to hear about that. Moving on.” Applejack nodded. “Now - we need to find that dragon, help him, and get him to fly us back Spire Hive. Simple. All we have to do is scour this mountain for the reptile.” “…that may not even be alive anymore.” Rarity muttered. “Or even on this mountain for all we know!” “Well, it’s the only idea we have aside from having Rainbow Dash drag a raft across the ocean, which we all know is going to end badly.” Rarity sighed. “Fine… How I wish I could teleport…” Rainbow Dash grinned. “You can’t. But I can fly around. See you groundwalkers later - I’ve got a dragon to look for!” She took off, leaving a trail of rainbows in her wake. Pinkie and Applejack began to climb up the mountain path, Rarity trotting behind them.   ~~~ “How can you not feel like dancing?” Pinkie asked, bouncing around like mad. “Can’t you hear the music?” “What music?” Applejack asked. “Oh.” Pinkie deflated. “Guess it’s just my internal music track… I thought all of you could hear that.” “No problem dear.” Rarity said. “You make it look easy to climb up this impossible towering rock. I wish I had an ‘internal music track…’ Applejack do you have one?” “No.” Was all the orange pony said. “Maybe it’s an al-“ Pinkie shut up when she saw Applejack shoot her a look. “Ookaythen! I’ll just dance in silence!” And she did. In perfect silence. She didn’t even make any noise when she landed on the ground - somehow. The three mares continued on up the mountain, facing off against some mountain birds occasionally, but for the most part trekking up the rocky face unhindered. The mares were getting a little bored - Rarity included. And when the princess got bored she also got cranky. “Are we theeeere yet?” “No.” Applejack responded. “Wheeeeen are we going to beeeee there?” “No idea.” “Oh heavens, I am going to die from exhaustion!” “You walked to Carwail. You were worse off then.” “But I am simply dyin- oh that is the most astounding flower I’ve ever seen!” Rarity stopped in her tracks to trot up to a tall blue-purple flower. She stuffed her muzzle into the petals and sniffed deeply. “My word, the smell is simply angelic! I mus-“ She coughed. “Must extract the smell and smell like the pri-“ She coughed again. “Princess… That I am… Wow…. I feel a little dizzy…” Applejack rolled her eyes. “Maybe the flower’s poisonous.” “Yeah…” Rarity said, barely paying Applejack any attention. “Maybe it is…” Pinkie looked closely at Rarity. “Rarity? You okay? You seem out of it…” “I do feel… a little… l-lightheaded…” She slumped to her knees. Applejack rushed to her. Crap - it really had been poisonous. “Rarity! Listen to me. Cure yourself! Use your magic!” She tried, her horn glowing faintly, but no magic took shape. She coughed. “Sorry… Can’t do it…” “Rarity, your upside down crown is overrated and behind the times.” Rarity’s eyes flew open. She stood up strong. “Why Applejack, finally you show your true colors! You have no appreciation for fashion-“ Applejack slapped her. “CAST THE ANTI-POISON SPELL!” “What? Oh right… Right…” She lit her horn up, enveloping herself in a green glow. Her face contorted in mild disgust, and she shook her head. “My heavens! That was… Unpleasant. My mind felt like it was being turned to pudding!” “Yer welcome.” Applejack said. “One question… you are supposed to be the Spirit of Honesty right?” “Yep.” “Was that remark about my crown only intended to wake me up, or was it truthful?” Applejack began to sweat, glancing to Pinkie, as if looking for a way out. Pinkie just shrugged. “Uh… yes.” Rarity opened her mouth to respond, shut it, and then considered the unhelpful nature of that response. Applejack trotted on ahead before the conversation could continue. Minutes later, Rarity gasped, rushing ahead. She picked up a necklace with a crescent pendant on it. “Mother’s necklace!” She exclaimed. “She was here!” Before Applejack and Pinkie Pie could catch up or ask about the Queen, a dart came flying out of nowhere and hit Rarity in the neck. Her eyes went into her skull and she passed out. “Oh what do we have here?” A tall yellow stallion said as he came out from behind a rock. “Princess of Trotton? Wasn’t expecting that but I’ll take it!” “You leave her alone!” Applejack yelled, ready to drive a sword into the stallion’s skull. But she didn’t get the chance - at that moment the North Mountain decided it was time to have an earthquake. A shelf of rock slid away, leaving a gap between Rarity and her friends. The stallion chuckled. “Well just your luck - you can’t get to me! Oh this is just the best thing.” Suddenly Pinkie was behind him. “Peekaboo!” She said, bowing him into a rock with wind magic. “And you just got served!” The stallion stood up, looking down on Pinkie. “Earth pony mage? I’m honored, we’re so rare.” “We?” Pinkie said, confused for a moment. “Yes, we.” The stallion raised a hoof, and Pinkie suddenly couldn’t see. “Name’s Mr. Cake - pleasure to make your acquaintance pink one.” “I. CAN’T. SEE!!!” Pinkie yelled, looking as if she was going to panic. Then she grinned. “Oh well, guess I’ll just have to make do. Nice trick. But I can still blow you off this mountain!” “You might blow off your friend.” Mr. Cake observed. “But by all means, go ahead.” Pinkie twitched, flinging out with her hooves, unable to make contact with anything. “Oh come on! You were right there! I heard you!” “I moved.” Mr. Cake said, triggering Pinkie to attack once more. He dodged effortlessly. Pinkie began to get a little mad. “Admit it - you can’t beat me. I haven’t even started actually attacking you.” He was shut up as a blast of rainbow crashed into him at high speed. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, sending bullets of fire at Mr. Cake, lighting his coat on fire. The stallion put out the fire quickly, though he was obviously injured from the tackle. He held his chest and gaped. “Did not see you coming…” “Yeah? There’s more where that came from.” Rainbow Dash said, lighting her wings up a yellowish color. “Honey!” Mr. Cake called. “Need some help!” A stout blue earth pony mare came from seemingly nowhere, breaking a boulder over Pinkie Pie’s head. “Hey! That tickles!” Mrs. Cake stared in disbelief. “She didn’t feel that?” “She’s a mage.” Mr. Cake responded. “But she’s blind right now so she’s out of the picture for-“ Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, sending electricity through the bodies of both Cakes. Then she tackled Mrs Cake to the ground - only to find that the mare was really really strong. “Dontcha know it’s not nice to tackle your elders?” “Nope.” Rainbow Dash grunted. “I’m a pirate - screw elders.” She flapped her wings, scorching Mrs. Cake with fire. She seemed not to care, and was content with smashing Rainbow Dash’s head into the ground. Rainbow Dash twisted so her wings were out, and began to flap, lifting the two of them into the air. Mr. Cake was about to help his wife when Pinkie finally connected her hoof with his face. “Gotcha!” She said, landing several more blows on him. “C-C-C-COMBO!!!!” He grunted, ready to fight back. But he realized with fear that Rainbow Dash and his wife were now floating over the side of the mountain. “Honey!” He yelled. “I got this!” Mrs. Cake said. Rainbow Dash huffed, lighting her wings up with a strange white light. “Sleep.” She said. And Mrs. Cake did just that - she went limp and fell off the mountain. “Honey!” Mr. Cake yelled, rushing to the edge of the mountain. In his emotional state, he didn’t realize that Pinkie had recovered from the blindness spell. She kicked him in the rear, knocking him off the mountain as well. Unlike his wife, he screamed as he went down - until he hit the ground with a thump. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie looked down the mountain. They frowned. “Hey!” Applejack yelled. “Did y’all forget about me?” “Yep.” Rainbow Dash said, turning to look at her. “Now, the dragon’s just up ahead- he needs Rarity’s healing. I found him almost half an hour ago - been spending all this time looking for you. Ponies are little.” Pinkie snickered at this. Rarity decided to use this opportunity to wake up. “Uh… dears? What happened?” “Bounty hunters.” Was all Applejack said. “Oh.” ~~~ Rainbow Dash led the mares to a grove filled with the poisonous flowers. In the center of it was a red dragon covered in a deep green armor. His wing was obviously broken, and he seemed a little out of it - presumably due to the poison flowers. “Rarity, do your thing.” Applejack said. Rarity complied, healing the dragon with bursts of magical energy. The dragon grumbled, flexing his now-healed (but still sore) wing. He yawned, turning to look at the four ponies before him. Rarity smiled. “So, mister dragon, we need your help-“ “Why in Chrysalis’ name would I help you?” Rarity blinked. “We just saved your life…?” “And that was a pretty namby-pamby thing for you to do now wasn’t it?” Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped. “GARBLE?” Garble lifted his head, glaring at the pegasus. “Oh. You. Rainbow Crash. Long time no see. How’s Spike?” “None of your flipping business scalehead!” Garble grunted. “Well I hope I never see you losers again. Bye.” He flapped his great wings, taking off into the air. Rainbow Dash was not having any of that. She flew into the air above him and blasted him with dozens of ice shards, caking his limbs in frost. “How are you-“ Garble began, but he didn’t get the chance to finish. Pinkie had appeared on his back and socked him in the head, making him lose concentration. He crashed back down into the mountain. Applejack walked up to him. “Well, we tried the easy way. Now the hard way - help us or we don’t let you leave.” Garble grunted. “…What do you want help with?” “We need transport to Morphisis, and you can carry three ponies.” Applejack stated. Garble looked back at Rainbow Dash and Pinkie, both of whom were aggressively glaring at him. He sighed. “Fine. Get on. But after you get there I’m done with you, got it?” “Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Rainbow Dash muttered. Pinkie and Rarity climbed onto Garble’s back, and he began to take off. Applejack was about to ask why they were taking off without her when she was grabbed by Garble’s claws. Her eyes widened as the ground fell out from beneath her. She had forgotten that she was afraid of heights… And they left behind the North Mountain, that mountain with the very unique name.