With midterms out of the way, the next big thing to happen is one whole week of no school. For many, it’s the perfect time for students to kick back and relax at the cost of some of their remembered teachings. Some still have a job to work in, much to their dismay. For a select amount of Seniors, this was the opportunity to go on a camping trip. Like the Camp Friendship retreat in July, this was an offer for Canterlot students, but unlike it, only Seniors, and with very few spots available for the class, can participate. Most of them have packed up and entered the bus. As the bus left each pickup point, the class could hardly contain their excitement. Trixie, not so much; Snips and Snails couldn’t get out of the bus in time and so the magician was assigned to watch them.
The only person remaining is Twilight, who is also bringing Spike along. With the last of her things packed to the last diode, she slept like a rock as the night began to shine. As the dawn lit up the Centennial State, Twilight began to stir.
“No, no.” Twilight groaned, not even waking her companion on the chest in front of her bed. “It can’t be, it isn’t true.”
“Uhm, Twilight?” Fluttershy whispered behind the door.
Spike awoke to a series of knocks and trotted up the door. Twilight slowly awoke, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“Twilight!” - Rainbow roared - “The bus for Camp Everfree leaves in ten minutes!!”
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!” Twilight grabbed her glasses and rushed to her closet. Spike opened the door, letting in the other Rainbooms. “I can’t believe I overslept!”
“Me neither. That’s not like you.” Sunset added, watching the Techie grab her suitcase.
“Don’t you have super annoying alarm clock that goes ‘Agh! Agh! Agh! Agh!’” Pinkie Pie lifted the pillow, finding the alarm clock buzzing for four minutes straight.
“Let me just get changed.” Twilight went to her closet.
Rarity spotted a copy of Princess Twilight’s Fall Formal dress, recalling the nostalgia as she felt the custom sinews.
“We’re gonna be out in the woods.” Applejack huffed. “When is she gonna need that?”
“If we are going to the moon, I insist she packed an evening gown.” Rarity started waving her finger at the farmer. “One never knows, darling.”
As Twilight tried to make a fitting between shirts, she began to notice massive, violet wings sprouting behind her. She tensed as the owner of the wings ascended up the reflection. It was a familiar sight, one encountered just one October ago. Codenamed simply as…
“Midnight Sparkle!?” The group shouted in surprise. Two Twilight Sparkles of the same person, here?
“How is this possible?!” Twilight leered back, dropping her shirts. “Sunset defeated you at the Friendship Games!”
“You and your friends can never truly defeat me!” Midnight cackled as the true Twilight’s room pixelated and deleted like a virus. Even her friends weren’t spared before they got the chance to react. Twilight was left to float helplessly in space.
“You… You monster!” Twilight yelled into the digital world.
“Monster?” Midnight soared over to her kinder counterpart, easily towering her by a few inches alongside her large wingspan. “I am a part of you! I’ll always be there in the darkest shadows of your mind. I’ll be back, Twilight! And this time, I won’t stop until I have all the magic!”
Midnight transformed into a raven and phased herself into her counterpart. Twilight gasped in horror as the gauntlets returned to her arms and legs, wings jutting out the back, and the blue visor and horn lit again. As her skin became darker, Twilight curled into a ball.
“No! STOP!!!!”
“Twilight! Twilight!” Spike nudged his panicking friend as she stretched and contracted wildly like having a tummy ache. Dodging Twilight rolling onto her back, Spike hopped on her body and pawed her nose. “Twilight, wake up!”
Twilight shot awake, sending the puppy flying to her dirty clothes pile. Spike erupted out of the clothes, shook his body a little, then hopped towards his owner. He drew his ears back as he watched Twilight pant like made as she looked around.
Her little companion noticed a small amount of uncertainty within his mistress.
“You alright, Twilight?” Spike raised his left paw. “Aren’t you excited to go camping?”
Taking a nod from Cadance, Twilight placed her hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and exhaled with her folded arm outstretched before lying back on the headboard.
“It’s just that, so much has happened in this one year. We found that magic exists, the benefits it has…” - Twilight looked at her right hand, imagining the violet gauntlet of Midnight. - “and the atrocities it makes.”
Spike jumped on the bed and plopped on her lap. “Hey, be glad it’s all over. No more weird portals, Predacons, and relics to hunt. Just you, me and a truck full of our closest friends.”
With those comforting words reaching her ears, Twilight gave her pet a good scratching on his tummy. They look up to find Shining Armor at her door, leaning on the molding.
“The bus is here, Twily.” He said. Without a moment too soon, Shining watched his sister and dog jump up and rush out, the former turning back to give him a hug. Her parents waved to her as she exited the door and rushed to the bus. With the last person inside, the entire group of students cheered as Celestia and Luna sat down.
“Woo-hoo! Now it’s a party!” Shouted Rainbow Dash as the bus gears churned and hissed, picking up speed.
It soon reached the town, where a majority of remaining Canterlot High students waved goodbye as it zoomed by. In one corner, the Shadowbolts watched the bus of their rival school rush by. The bus gained speed upon reaching the interstate. Buildings gave way to grasslands, and grasslands gave way to forests. There are a few log cabins here and there, but other than that, it is just untapped wilderness. With the roads becoming more bumpy and curved, the bus slowed down, but otherwise maintained its course.
Inside the bus, the excitement quieted down. Lyra and Bon Bon talked to each other. Sandalwood took the time to meditate, soothing himself with sitar music. Flash, unable to use his guitar, let alone make himself uncomfortable, listened to his media player. Bulk Biceps lifted a sixty-pound dumbbell with one arm and held a lemon muffin with the other. Behind him, Snips and Snails squirmed around Trixie: what would take a few hours seemed like months to them.
“Are we there yet, Great and Powerful Trixie?” Said Snails as his belly rumbled.
“If you two don’t stop squishing Trixie, she will lose her patience.” Trixie’s warning got the two sitting upright again.
On the row of seats to the right, Twilight had a laptop open, displaying a live video feed. Her faithful companion barked and the others awed as a flying reptile soared across the blue screen. The previous weekend, Twilight, Applejack and Sunset constructed a recording device small enough to be strapped onto Dapplewood's back like a saddle when he, his brother and friends both Maximal and Crusader visited the Dinosaur World. Today marks as day one, and so far it has not disappointed the former Crystal Prep student. The camera turned towards the lush, dinosaur inhabited valley. There are patches of snow, but the digital thermometer did read sixty-six degrees. As the camera shook with each step of its carrier a small head atop a long neck craned into the camera’s view.
“Littlefoot mentioned that his father is bringing his whole herd into the valley.” With his head well behind his front line of sight, the teenaged sauropod stumbled at a small rock.
“A whole herd,” - Rainbow lifted herself up - “of dinosaurs coming to the valley?! Why did I choose to come here!?”
“Ya snooze, ya lose, Rainbow.” Applejack chuckled.
Sunset noticed Twilight, despite seeing living breathing dinosaurs as a community, still being silent as she had throughout much of the trip.
“Hey, are you okay?” She asked
Not wanting to tell of her recent nightmare, Twilight gave a small chuckle, “Heh, I’m fine.”
“We are gonna have so much fun!” Pinkie Pie chortled before Sunset could ask any more questions. “We’re going to roast marshmallows, and eat marshmallows, and sleep on marshmallow pillows!”
Rainbow Dash, knowing Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie, turned around. “Yeah, probably not gonna do that.”
“Maybe you’re not...” Pinkie Pie beheld before them a large bag of marshmallows then snuggled it like a teddy bear.
As much as she enjoyed the conversations in the back, Principal Celestia tried her best to drown out her boredom. She turned her eyes to window finding a rugged signpost that got her hopes up.
"Attention, students!" - Celestia called out to the back of the bus - "We’re almost there, but before we arrive, we’d just want to say how proud we are of you raising enough money to go on the class field trip!”
“When we were your age, we made some of our favorite memories in these woods,” Luna added, waving her arms at the landscape around them. “and we’re sure you will too.”
“Now who’s excited for Camp Everfree?" Cheered Celestia, rallying the entire company to cheer, making the driver cringe as the noise echoed in the bus. Twilight had this at first but returned to her current thoughts. Sure they needed a well-deserved break after fighting off the Predacons, but what if there was still another threat? Twilight closed the laptop and turned to her friends.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" Shouted Pinkie Pie to Twilight before pulling out a checklist “I thought of so many things we can do it’ll make my head explode!”
Taking a left turn to a dirt road, the bus slowed to a crawl as tree branches scraped against the yellow hull. Inside, passengers held on tight for the bus drove over some loose rocks.
“Hey!” - Pinkie Pie spoke with a rather distorted voice - “This makes my voice sound silly!”
After a good ten minutes, the bus entered a break in the forest. The students cooed and awed at the sight. Aside from the manager’s lodge, there are also a series of tents with a small flag jutting out displaying things related to nature such as a fish, a squirrel, an eagle, and a rock. Near a large lake was a patio and a climbing course. When the bus stopped and the doors opened, Celestia and Luna, still shaken by the rough road, stumbled out and took out a checklist. Their accompanying students stumbled out and stretched their legs. Because of two more students, Sophomores one would add, arriving at the last minute, the Principal had Snips and Snail’ name scribbled on the back of the list, checking them as the two boys fell off the steps. Trixie, still in her high and mighty manner, stepped over them like the bus stairs before them.
“Alright, everyone,” - Luna called out to the wandering students - “stay close.”
After each pair of campers placed their luggage in their designated tent, they began to explore. As is usual for a scenic campsite, most of them hung out by the lake. There were a few canoes each big enough to carry six, but as rules go, supervision is supervision.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Cooed Rarity as she sat on the patio.
"The fresh air, the cool breeze," - Fluttershy turned to a sparrow landing on her finger - "the birds that land on your finger."
"I think that only happens to you." Smirked Rainbow Dash as Fluttershy walked away with her winged friend.
Fluttershy squeaked, “I just can’t wait until we have our first nature walk.”
“I definitely want to go on one of those.” Added Spike, getting Fluttershy's attention as she bent down.
“You want to see all the adorable woodland creatures too?”
“Yeah!” Spike hopped up before looking around. “Specifically squirrels, more specifically so I can chase them.” The thought of him chasing arboreal rodents had him bark.
Applejack pulled out her traveling back from the compartment, wiping the sweat from her brow. “I’m just lookin’ forward to roughin’ it. I’ll make my own shelter, forage for food.”
“Uh, you know they provide us with food and tents, right.” Rainbow Dash corrected AJ as she walked around.
“Yup. Still gotta forage, though.”
Rarity, ever a person with hardly a knowledge of bare essentials, had the most luggage. “I’m just up for some R and R, the past few months were all too much for my tastes.”
“I’ll say,” Pinkie Pie imagined a fuzzy pin-puppet memory from all their encounters. “We fought three she-demons in the Fall Formal, fought three Sirens who wanted to hypnotize people with their singing, got captured by spiders, ventured into a dinosaur world, went against a ridiculous rival school, Sunset fighting another” - Pinkie noticed Twilight to her left before letting out an nervous chuckle - “No offense?”
“None taken.” Twilight tied up her sneakers before giving a whistle. Spike barked before joining trotting around to Twilight.
“Got several more of us to transform by either slime or accident, then fought several more mutates.” Pinkie finished as she took a deep breath.
“Yup, Estes Park has been a regular magic magnet.” Added Applejack “Gonna be nice for all of us to come to a place where we won’t have to worry about all that stuff.”
“Hey, Twilight.” The Rainbooms turned to find Flash holding Twilights bag as he approached the owner of said item. “You forgot this.”
“Thanks, Flash.” Twilight grabbed the bag and slung over her shoulders.
“Hey, you still not upset after the whole Anon-a-Miss thing?” Flash asked, adding a little more uncertainty to the already questioning scientist.
“I’ll just…” - Flash turned around - “Be over there now.”
“No, not anymore.” Twilight's answer got the Rocker to stop a moment before he continued. Though still not knowing that he accepted her forgiveness, Twilight whistled to Spike again as she began a jog down the dirt trail.
Sunset took a deep breath as she sat on the cool, green grass, taking off her shoes to dip her feet into the water. While they are at a relaxing camping site, she couldn't help but feel a bit tense. Applejack noticed this as well and approached her.
“What's the matter, sugar cube?” Applejack sat next to her, taking off her thick boots and socks before dipping her feet.
“Oh, it still feels like we are celebrating too soon.” - Sunset looks up at the sky, watching the condensed ice crystals gradually take the form of a bird - “Every time there is just one moment to relax, something bad happens.”
“So what, if anything gets close, we’ll be there.” Rainbow Dash stretched her legs before starting to jog around the lake.
Twilight and Spike also began a jog, here at the small hike trail in the woods. As a little kid, the Techie would use camping trips to explore the fields of science such as how wolves keep the deer population down or bees pollinating flowers in their nectar harvests. With her courses complete for the year well before the Friendship Games, she decided to take it easy this time. No schoolwork, no book reports, no faulty gadgets, just her and her friends in the woods.
Beneath the glasses, Twilight found a strange, red glow behind the bushes. Expecting the worst to come yet again, Spike bridged himself between his caretaker and the danger before them. When the bushes glowed again, the dog rushed forth, barking like mad.
“Spike!” Twilight shouted out as her dog jumped into the bushes. It took two seconds of bush rustling, then silence except for the wind in the trees and the honking of Canada geese. Not one for up close combat, she took out a stick and slowly approached the woody plant. When she is near enough to see the other side of the plant, a purple and green blur jumped out. Twilight staggered back before falling on the dirt road. When she placed her glasses back on her nose, she found Spike holding a black object like a tennis ball as he shook his head wildly. While the dog can talk, a dog is still a dog.
“Spike, drop it!” Hearing the command, the pup stopped shaking and released his prize. She picked up the stone, shook the saliva off, and inspected it. It was a black rock with red gems inside. It didn’t glow as they saw a distance away; perhaps the sun streaking through the canopy? Either way, this isn’t a rock she could recognize easily without her equipment. Perhaps it’s a piece of volcanic rock from an extinct volcano nearby. Placing the rock in her pocket, Twilight and Spike continued on their hike. Nearby was a mountain cave partially blocked with boulders that also glowed red.
The woods echoed with the screech of the announcer phone, scaring away birds and having the campers shut their ears with their hands.
“Hi, everyone! If you start heading to the courtyard, that would be rad! It’s time to start the best week of camp ever!”
A few hours pass as the sun once again reached the Rockies. Everyone gathered by the manager cabin as they waited for introductions. Pinkie Pie, not one for waiting, bided her time by chasing a squirrel with Spike. The other Rainbooms shuffled their feet, mixing the grass with the soil supporting the grass. Twilight still fondled with the stone in her pocket, unsure if she could just perform a simple, and by simple meaning complicated, act of science this one time.
“Okay, everyone, let’s do one last roll call.” Celestia took out her checklist, scanning the first name on the list. “Applejack?”
“Here.” The Element of Honesty answered.
“Bon Bon?”
“Here.”
“Bulk Biceps?”
“Yeah!!” Bulk's roar scared away a few cardinals.
“Derpy?”
“Here!” She answered as while chewing on a muffin.
“Flash Sentry?”
“Here.” The Rocker answered as he tuned his guitar.
“Fluttershy?”
“Y-yes.” Fluttershy whispered.
“Lyra Heartstrings?”
“Here.”
"Micro Chips?"
"Here."
“Octavia?”
“Here.”
“Pinkie Pie?”
Pinkie Pie turned from her hunt before singing, “Preeesseeeent!”
“Rarity?”
“Present.”
“Sandalwood?”
“Here.”
“Snips and Snails?”
“Present.” Said Snips
“And, uh, accounted.” Said Snails.
“Sunset Shimmer?”
“Present.”
“Trixie?”
“The Great and Powerful, if you do mind?” Trixie said in a haughty voice.
“Twilight Sparkle?”
“Here.”
“Vinyl-” Celestia turned to find the DJ just jiving with her wireless headset so loud, one wonders how she is not deaf.
“Watermelody?”
“Here.”
Right on cue, the doors open. Before them were the camp managers. To their right was a woman about a few years younger than Celestia and
Luna. She had a rose skin with a deeper violet red hair with lighter streaks. To their left was a male, just about as tall as Flash but skinnier. He had the same colored skin as the woman, but his hair was blue-green akin to Cosgrove's CRV.
“Hi, everyone!” Greeted the female manager. “Welcome to Camp Everfree. I’m Gloriosa Daisy, your camp director! Think of me as your camp and nature guide.” - She turned to the male. “And this is my brother, Timber Spruce!”
“Think of me as that awesome guy.” Timber juggled the microphone. “Who should always be invited to fun things.”
Giving back the microphone, Gloriosa continued. “We aim to please, so before we hand out our tent assignments, we would like to hear more from all of you. You’re free to do whatever you like here.”
Timber raised a finger. “ Except hiking near the rock quarry, that’s off limits.”
“YYyyess.” Gloriosa added uneasily. “But otherwise, your options are wide open. So what activities will make this the best week of your lives ever!”
“Rock climbing!” Shouted Rainbow Dash.
“Done!”
“Archery!” Rainbow continued.
“Of course!”
“Tetherball!” Rainbow asked the third time.
“Naturally.”
“Rainbow.” Sunset turned Rainbow away from the spokesperson. “We know you’re excited, but give someone else a chance to make a suggestion.”
“Arts and crafts!” From the most unlikely person, the gargantuan Bulk Biceps. “My mom needs new potholders.”
“Awesome!” Gloriosa accepted.
“Cookie decorating!” Asked Pinkie Pie with a slurp of her tongue, getting Gloriosa to rub her belly.
“I do make a mean sugar cookie.” Gloriosa aimed the microphone at Fluttershy.
“Early morning nature walks.” The caretaker asked.
“With walking sticks for everyone!”
“Oo, oo! I got one!” Rarity had Gloriosas attention. “A fashion show! Where I design the most fabulous camp looks inspired by today’s hottest trends and modeled by my classmates in a gorgeous outdoor setting!”
Not exactly a camp thing, but Gloriosa nonetheless… “Camp Tradition!”
Timber tilted to his sister's ear. “We literally never done that.”
“Work with me...” Gloriosa replied to her brother before turning back to the crowd. Timber looked down, seeing Sci-Twi looking at him. Pinkie and Sunset noticed this before giggling. “I’ll be taking requests the rest of the time you’re here. If there’s anything you like, anything you need, just ask.”
“What about the Camp Gift?” Celestia asked while sitting on a wooden table like a schoolgirl. “That was my favorite Camp Everfree Tradition.”
Gloriosa had an uneasy smile, and answered in an equally uneasy tone, “The Camp Gift of course!”
“Really?” Timber whispered in frustration, having his sister wrap her fingers over the microphone.
“Yes, really!”
“Well, I just thought-”
“You thought wrong!” Gloriosa finished the argument before returning to her guests with a big smile.
But the small bit of animosity hasn’t fallen on deaf ears, as Sunset leaned towards Twilight.
“Anyone noticing the tension between Gloriosa and her brother?” She asked, getting an unsure sound for an answer.
“Every year, campers work together to create something useful. A gift for future campers! Working together help forms the strong bonds that last well beyond your time at camp!” She again looks aside to her brother holding a stiff upper lip. “Which is why it’ so important!” Gloriosa looked up at the gazebo. “This gazebo was a gift from last year's group, oh and this totem pole and that sundial! Made by campers!”
“The sundial was our year's gift when we were your age.” Celestia added.
“Yes,” Luna butted in as she coughed. “But I thought it was impractical since the sundial can’t be used at night.”
Gloriosa had a momentary lapse before continuing her speech. “You seem like a very inspiring group, and I hope you leave something very inspiring behind!” Hearing the students cheer, Gloriosa and Timber walked down the gazebo holding a paper bag.
“Speaking of leaving things behind, now it’s time to assign tent assignments.” Timber gave a wink to his sister as she playfully shook her head.
“The girls will be getting their assignments from Timber. Guys, you’re with me!”
Timber went to the lady closest to him, none other than Pinkie Pie.
“Oh boy!” The Pink Wonder held her tongue close to her upper lip as she reached into the bag, pulling out a white card with a green gemstone. “Yay! I’m in the emerald tent!”
Rarity walked up and picked up another emerald. “Me too!”
Applejack grabbed her card, happy to see the color she was assigned to. “Aquamarine.”
“Me too!” Rainbow Dash showed AJ her copy of the card.
“I got amethyst.” Fluttershy turned to find Vinyl Scratch giving her a thumbs up, for the DJ also had amethyst.
Sunset walked over to the totem pole before flipping her card. “Sapphire!”
“Me too!” Twilight looked at her card, though even skeptical than her Equestrian counterpart, she looked at the gem. “Assuming I am; technically sapphires aren’t just blue, they can be pink, purple, yellow-”
“Yeah but they’re mostly blue.” Twilight turned to see Timber right next to her. “That’s why they’re named after the Latin word 'sapphirus'.” Timber watched Twilight look at him with a smug look before whispering. “That means blue.”
“I know.” Twilight showed Timber the picture. “Did you also know that sapphires are just rubies without chromium?”
“No.” Timber reached out for the card, unintentionally brushing Twilight’s fingers. Before things got a little too close for comfort, he pulled the card away. “But did you know that sapphire tent is the best one?”
“No, why’s that?” Twilight asked.
“Because you’re in it.” Timbers answer wasn’t met with any laughter, but neither did it insult her intelligence.
“Okay.” Twilight snatched her card away. “I bet you say that to all the pretty campers.”
“Not true,” Timber stood straight, looking at Bulk Biceps holding a card with a ruby. “You’re in the ruby tent? Ha, that’s the worst one.”
In anguish, Bulk crushed the card in his fist. “Aw man!!”
“I’m just jokin’, buddy. Ruby tent is great. It’s like a sapphire, but with chromium.” The hulk just stared at the manager, though it is clear he is happy with his assignment. “But the ruby and coral tents look alike to the undiscerning eye. I’d better show you where it is.” Timber turned to Twilight. “See you around.”
Flattered at the comment, Twilight turned around, almost colliding with the other Rainbooms as they looked at her all smug. “What?”
“Oh, nothing.” Applejack made a her “fibby face,” though it’s much more justifiable.
Rarity cooed, “That was just adorable.”
Flash, having placed his bags in the coral tent, watched Twilight continue to ask questions. He began to recall his past; Flash failed Sunset, who asked him to not fail Twilight, well at least the Princess. The Battle and the Bands and the Anon-a-Miss fiasco made it worst on that promise. It’s a long road to healing, and with competition being Timber Spruce, that will be tough.
Inside each tent, each electric lamp glowed inside a different colored glass based on the assigned gemstone. For Sunset and Twilight, their tent glowed purple. Placing their bags inside, they immediately ran back out, wondering what else is there for today. As the Seniors, and two Sophomores, murmured to each other, Celestia looked up to find the sun touching the tallest mountain peak.
"It's going to get dark soon." She said
"Okay everyone,” - Gloriosa clapped her hands - “gather by the fire to share smores and scary stories!"
"SMORES!!!" Pinkie Pie bounded up, holding a large bag of marshmallows.
As everyone gathered around the fire area, Fluttershy found Twilight walking towards her tent.
“Are you coming, Twilight?” She asks.
“Oh” Twilight turned around with an embarrassed smile. “I just need to drop something off at my tent.” She entered her tent and placed the weird rock under her pillow before going back to the sparsely inhabited wilderness. As the sun crept over the mountains, the bedroom was illuminated like an old night light as the red glow seeped under the feather stuff object.
At the campfire, most of everyone gathered around, the exceptions being Celestia, Gloriosa, and Timber. Luna, a person with a respected nightlife, had no trouble fitting in with her younger students. While she didn’t bring her bass guitar, Applejack made up for that by playing “Edelweiss” on the harmonica. Pinkie Pie and Derpy had a smorgasbord of marshmallows attached to a branch with multiple smaller branches as they prepared the traditional treat. Rainbow Dash continued with her fun telling a long, scary story.
“And so, the Whomping Willow Werwolf can only be communicated through interpretive dance.” Rainbow waved her arms back and forth. “But not just any dance, just the one it likes. And if it isn’t satisfied, pray to God that you are as fast as me!”
“I could outrun you, Rainbow.” Said Sunset as she placed her hands into her jacket pockets.
“Nuh uh! I could totally outrun you!” Rainbow lashed out. If she could outmatch Zipper, Soarin, and Spitfire, she would have no trouble with Sunset.
“Ooo! Our first camping challenge!” Pinkie Pie swung the branch to hard, releasing the gooey treats in balls of flame. They flew right at Trixie, making her yelp as she ducked below them. As the magician growled at her, Pinkie giggled before blowing out the branch, taking out one of the marshmallows and mashing them between pieces of a chocolate bar and graham crackers. “Smore?”
“Good evening, everyone!” The campers turned to Timber Spruce joining them. “Enjoying this so far?”
“Oh most certainly, sir.” Rarity answered among others.
“Good, because it’s time to tell” - An under light shines below him - “scary stories!”
Timber looks down to find Pinkie Pie holding a flashlight under him. The party planner giggled before turning off the light and crab walked back to her spot.
“Well, I was telling one when Sun Butt interrupted me.” Rainbow attracted a sharp glare from the fire haired teen.
“Oo, ooo!” Pinkie Pie piped in, raising her hands as she prepared to tell her story. “We were captured by a gang of demons and cyborgs, then we were rescued, and we fought a biiiiig battle on a moving truck, then we got flipped over into a Gr-!”
Applejack tossed a rock at her pink friend to silence her from going any further. The Rainbooms looked at the camp supervisor, who had a bewildered look. Children fighting monsters on a truck? Now that’s a story to tell. Collecting himself, Timber looked to at each one of them.
"You know, as a show of trust, I am going to tell you my story.” He leaned forward. “It's time I told you the legend of Gaia Everfree." Everyone looked at each other, feeling hesitant as Timber began as our vision is shown in a traditional MLP storybook style. "Long, long time ago, there was benevolent spirit called Gaia Everfree. Everywhere she walked, the grass grew. With her fingers, she made the furrows where the rivers would run. With a raise of her arms, she would make forests so thick that they would blot out the sun. With her path came the fish, the beasts, and the birds in the trees. She made all this possible… Except for one: man. At first, this wasn’t an issue, then the settlers arrived, our ancestors. And with us came our need for land, for homes, and our livestock. With our guns, rockets, and torches, we burned everything. While we basked on our success, Gaia became ever angrier. With her powers, she destroyed homes, even entire forts, and she sent beasts of wood to pick off the stragglers. Anywhere she went, strange things started to happen. Why else was the Oregon Trail there? So be wise, and beware, for the next time you sleep, keep thinking of Gaia, for the next morning may not be there."
The campers were scared stiff at the story told as a, quote-unquote, “show of trust.” At the sound of a coyote howl, Snips and Snails huddled around Trixie, much to her discomfort. Even Bulk Biceps curled up into a large ball. His red eyes picked caught a moth hovering towards his face. Landing on his hat, the bug crawled to his nose and turned around. It didn’t take long for the small creature to make the muscular man scream in fright and run towards the tents. Only the Rainbooms, Timber Spruce, and Luna stayed behind.
“Wow. I never imagined my story being that scary.” Said Timber as he stood up.
Luna looked up at the night sky before turning to the remaining seven students. “Don’t think too much about it, it will ruin a good sleep.” She says before walking towards her tent.
With Timber waving goodbye before leaving, the remaining seven tried to collect themselves.
“Well, we really shouldn’t believe these folk tales now, don’t we?” Rarity broke the silence.
“Legends are based on real events,” - Sunset added as she hugged herself - “maybe the legend was made when the Natives retaliated against the settlers.”
“At least it’s a story.” Said Spike as he wagged his tail.
“I wouldn’t think of that…” Applejack muttered, and when she has an uncertain look on her face, something's up.
“So you’re saying…” - Rarity clasped her head - “Gaia Everfree is real!?”
The seven began murmuring to each other. It isn’t that farfetched; they did encounter magical beings before, and individuals created via alchemy. All legends would thus be real, but would they be true to tale, is only a matter of field work.
“Maybe Gaia Everfree is a loose Predacon?” Fluttershy asked.
“No, I remember there being just five pods in that chamber.” Pinkie Pie answered, having been there for that fight.
“Oh man.” - Rainbow turned to Applejack - “That means Gaia Everfree could be some creature that got booted from Equestria and knows nothing of this world.”
It hasn’t been out of the norm for them to fight magical creatures. The Rainbooms and Maximals did fight a cursed Roma Candle, Lorraine, and Sierra. Then they alone beat the Dazzlings at their own game shortly before wandering into a dinosaur-filled world, the Friendship Games onwards proved that this won’t stop for a long while. And now with a spirit of nature, it may even take a few personnel from Equestria itself to handle Gaia Everfree. They continued to murmur and debate among each other before Applejack stood up.
“All right, listen up” - Applejack got their attention - “there’s no need to fret about something we don’t know much yet. Why don’t we just go to bed, and see how this plays out?”
“Here, here.” Rarity agreed as she and Fluttershy entered their tent. Applejack and Rainbow Dash into their own tent. Pinkie Pie joined with Sandalwood. With Spike curled up in a small dog bed, and Twilight covered up for the long evening without her glasses, Sunset remained awake as she took off her jacket.
"So much for first impressions." Using a clothespin, Sunset hangs her jacket on the support string. Noticing Twilight ready to snuggle up, she thought of a good wake up question. "Still, Timber Spruce looked pretty cute, didn't he?"
Twilight straightens herself, trying to hide her blush as she puts on the glasses. "Well. He is..." - Twilight stops herself from twirling her hair - "attractive."
Seeing this with the Princess, Sunset cooed as she leans down, placing her head on her wrists. "Someone's got a crush."
"I do not!" Twilight's shout ruined the mood. Ashamed, she sat in her bed, pulling the covers to her waist.
"Hey," Sunset stops Twilight for the moment "is something wrong?"
"Probably from one of her nightmares..." Spike answers with one eye open.
"Nightmares?"
The cat out of the bag, Twilight groaned a little. "You see, since the Crusaders pulled that Anon-a-Miss stunt, I have been having nightmares. Midnight Sparkle was just taunting me, I can hear her laugh. I'm... I'm..."
Twilight couldn't say anymore as she covered her face. Sunset sat on the bed, wrapping her arm around her.
"Hey, Principal Cinch is the one who stressed you enough." Sunset glares in the general direction of their home, cursing the one day the schoolmaster would get her just deserts. "You weren't ready for that magic. But hey, now that you can Pony Up, maybe we can teach you how to use magic."
Twilight looked the other way. "I don't know..."
"Take your time," - Sunset pats Twilights shoulder - "graduation won't come until later."
Twilight places her glasses on the lamp desk, wrapping herself in covers as the sand man takes her away. Sunset yawned as she reached into her backpack, taking out the journal, their one means of interdimensional communication between worlds.
“Dear Princess Twilight,
I know it’s only been a few days since your last visit, and I have to say things are starting to look up now. We’re at a camping ground known as Everfree, and the Crusaders and Maximals are at the Great Valley. I don’t know how Cogsworth is doing at the moment, but I hope for the better. In the meantime, we did hear a scary story regarding a Gaia Everfree rampant in this forest. We have our guard up for now, but we don’t want to bring you in… for the moment. I hope you have a pleasant time teaching this Starlight Glimmer you keep mentioning.
Your pen pal,
Sunset Shimmer.”
With the book sending the message with a soft hum, Sunset turned off the electric lamp, curled up, and went to sleep. Midnight came sooner than later, and everyone is still fast asleep. All except for Trixie. Because the number of tents only accounted for a select few, Snips and Snail shared the tent floor with her and Octavia, snoring in rhythm. Octavia remedied this by having her music player play soft music. The boys didn’t stir as the magician stepped out of their tent in a huff. She looks at the tent of her superior.
“Trixie would be doing so much better if she has more powerful magic.” She huffed. Her ears picked up a twig cracking and so Trixie found a silhouette of a bipedal creature entering the trail alone. Whoever this is made Trixie forsake her safety as she followed the stranger. Far away from any source of light, Trixie was more blind than a mole as the bushes scratched her legs and her toes stubbed against the rocks. She would have just turned around and walked back to the tent in defeat, but her curiosity got the better of her as she found a red glow piercing the thickets. The closer she approached the glowing cave, the more her environment and skin tone became embellished with red light. With no climbing equipment, Trixie dug her fragile nails into the hard surface and began to climb.
“How is it that Trixie goes through the most ridiculous of things just to get an answer.” With one last heave, the magician was at the mouth of the cave, and already it did not disappoint her. The walls of the cave lined with pockets of red stones that got richer as she ventured deeper underground.
“I understand...” - An ominous voice got the magician on her guard, hugging the wall as heart raced. Getting chased by a cybernetic Ursagryph was enough proof that life isn’t a video game. Trixie shimmied deeper into the cave, exposing one red tinted eye at the next room. What was inside was a dark cave, still partially illuminated with the red gems, but also with that of orange, pink, blue, cream, and white gems stones among other colors among a few fossils of animals partially exposed. At the stone floor surrounded by water kneeled a robed figure.
“Yes, I know, Master.” - Gloriosa kept quiet as her voice echoed away - “They don’t pose a threat now, but Timber Spruce and I will continue to monitor them. Yes, I know, we won’t fail you.”
Trixie cocked her head in confusion as the camp leader went another way out of the mountain cave. Who was she talking to? What was the threat she mentioned? And what is the purpose of the gemstones? Trixie turned back to the red tunnel and walked towards the mouth. In a matter of bad luck striking again, a loose rock fell from the ceiling. With death accuracy, Trixie was knocked out cold, not a finger was twitching. The rock on the floor glowed even brighter, drawing forth streams of red energy that seeped through her ears, tear ducts, and nostrils.
Like a fingerprint, Sunset’s dreamscape was unique to her and her alone from everyone else. As a person of science like Sci-Twi, her world consisted of planetoids and stars. Sometimes a phoenix bird would fly by, entertain her with a series of tricks before flying away. Trudging in the far background was Schnookums, the difference being that the monitor lizard was thirty meters long, standing at fourteen meters on a semi-erect gait. With the threats back home all but gone, her spirit self, resembling her Daydream form but with red and yellow bird wings instead of rays of light, floated gently around.
Her eyes did spy a little boy playing on a sandy beach by an ethereal sea. Clasping her wings against her body, Sunset nosedived at the stretch of land. When she was fifty feet away, she spun forward, aiming her feet before landing with a soft thud. The boy turned to the master of the house as she approached him, appearing taller to him with each step. She stretched out her hand, inviting the boy to do the same as they wrapped their fingers around each other. As they bonded, a third, taller being approached them. Though Night Dancer was killed in her late twenties, Sunset took a lot of creative thinking before seeing her with Celestia’s proportions. But like everything, she is only as Sunset sees her; she can remember Night Dancer’s voice and speech pattern, but the ability to feel her touch was no longer possible. The apparition turned to the deep horizon.
“We happen to have a visitor.” Sunset, Night Dancer, and the boy turned to find a deep violet-blue dot in the realm of space. With a flap of her wings, Sunset ascended and flew closer to the speck. The supposed speck became human, almost familiar.
“Vice Principal Luna?” - Sunset spun around the floating human, keeping her wings horizontal like she was floating in water - “Never thought I dream of you.”
“Sunset, thank God I found you.” - Luna spun around helplessly in the pressureless area - “Where am I?”
Sunset laughed, “That’s cute, the thing I dream wanting a way out. Okay, I’ll get you back to-” Luna was not joking; Sunset actually felt her touch. She hovered away, amazed at her discovery when a white vortex brightened up her world. When the planetoids and apparitions stretched and compressed as they went into the void.
Hearing Luna scream, Sunset woke back into the real world with a heavy blow to her head. She rubbed her head, opening one eye to find a table leg floating in the air. Confused, it took her seeing the violet aura to find that Twilight Ponied Up in her sleep. She turned to Twilight sleeping on a floating bed. Even Spike wasn’t spared of the phenomenon
"Ugh, Twilight?" Sunset’s call stirred Twilight a bit, opening a violet eye slightly to see her work before her. She sat up with a loud yelp, finding everything floating. Sunset did find one particular detail - “How are you doing that without ponying up?”
Baffled more at the magic spell, Twilight asked nervously, "A more logical question is: how can I get down from here?!"