Spiders and Magic: The Harmony Avengers

by andrew7

Mysterious quakes

Within the walls of Canterlot Castle, in the Throne Room, the next day, after their rather rough night, which was originally supposed to be a mere trip to Manehattan to relax and have some fun, which unfortunately rather turned into a nightmare, with Spider-Mane along with Twilight and Spike fighting a griffon mercenary known as Apheliotes as that was his name, as the griffon warrior managed to subdue both Twilight and Spike while also in his adult dragon form before going toe to toe with Spider-Mane, giving a Knight of Equestria quite a match, proving himself to be formidable opponent, yet also as an another candidate for Spider-Manes rogue gallery in Equestrian style, Peter having his torso professionally bandaged by his scratch wounds injury he sustained from Apheliotes claws, Twilight, Spike, Sunset, Felicia along with Logan as well as Pinkie Pie this time were discussing the matters at hooves that had just transpired with Princess Celestia, with though Cadance being present as well for an official visit.

“I cant believe this has happened.” Cadance stammered in a combination of awe and aghast by hearing both Peter and Twilights testimony what transpired yesterday, yet also deeply sympathizing with Peters concerned and by the looks of his bandaged torso. “Thanks stars you are all alright.”

“Speak to yourself….” Spike muttered on a verge of a whisper cringing over his head aching a bit, yet baby dragons voice sounded rather strained, evident by the effects of stunt gas being still present a little yet Twilight gently rubbed her little scaly friends fins head.

“Oh, thanks a lot, Parker. A brawl like that and ya leave me behind.” Logan grumbled both quite disappointed yet also in somewhat tiresome like way, yawning a bit, evident by the X-Mens rather wary expression along with some bags under his eyes, like he had trouble sleeping last night.

“You okay, Logan?” Sunset asked innocently, with a concern being vocally present within cat burglars voice, whenever she knew it or not. “You rather look as there you would have been dream trotting all night.”

“Ya have ta sleep ta dream?” Logan replied sarcastically grumbling. “Yet, this has been pretty weird though. Like someone actually tried ta git right inta my head while sleepin'….” Logan stated kept wondering about his so-called strange sleep disturbance the last knight, although Peter inwardly might have an idea. “When I ain't git my beauty sleep, I am cranky all day.”

“Are you?” Pinkie Pie asked in her trademark innocent yet also rather clueless manner.

“Guess you just wouldn’t get any crankier then that…..” Peter quipped innocently.

“Watch it, punk!” Logan shot back in quite an irritable mood yet not unleashing his adamantium claws.

“Cut it out you guys. We got matters at hooves right now.” Twilight scolded Peter, Logan along with Felicia to put their squabbles aside to focus.

“So….The Apheliotes…..” Princess Celestia murmured by recalling the griffons mercenary name again with a hint of suspicious vocally present.

“Yup, that is his name.” Peter replied affirmatively by Princess Celestia getting the griffons name right.

“You know about him, Princess Celestia?” Sunset asked.

“From what I heard though merely from rumours, Apheliotes is a renegade griffon, that once though it is only speculated served in the army of the Griffonstone before its broke down, yet unfortunately being known for his rebellious tendencies, before turning bad by betraying his people and committing such crimes that were even beyond griffons standards, as he became and started working as a mercenary and bounty hunter for hire and his personal profits.” Princess Celestia explained in record of Apheliotes “Ever since that time, Apheliotes has been on the run for years, with no one managing to capture him.”

“I have also heard about that guy during my routines.” Felicia surprisingly confessed, which though wouldn’t be that much surprise, as being Princess Celestias special agent really had its benefits, like having a good resources and info for an example. “He has lots of dirt on his record, being both as a mercenary, bounty hunter as well as a troublemaker of a nearly legendary proportions. Having a smuggling, blackmailing, kidnapping, including numerous contract kills of other creatures throughout the Equestria on list. A real bastard.” Felicia went on, yet there was a faint yet undenied hint of disgust within silver maned mares voice, causing everypony around her feel rather wary.

“He sounds pretty bad.” Twilight murmured, her voice sounded fragile and strained by hearing Felicias testimony about Apheliotes supposed crimes.

“Yet….” Now Cadance went on by taking over her aunt testimony. “As the Griffonstone had been steadily rebuild from the core over the years, Queen Greta, a new and current ruler of Griffonstone also posted a reward for Apheliotes capture and for being bring to justice.”

“Looks like some guy alright….” Logan declared yet unlike his friend, the X-Mens gruff voice sounded like actually being filled with a slight admiration as well as sort of a grudging respect to Apheliotes, seeing the griffon mercenary as a worthy foe by himself as well as recalling all the bad guys and villains he as a Wolverine faced back on Earth as an X-Men, like Sabertooth, Omega Red or Lady Deathstrike. “Too bad I wasn’t with ya yesterday that night, guys. I could give that guy a dose of pownage.” Logan smirked, rising up his hoof and unleashed his adamantium claws out with its SNIKT sound yet making otherpony around him feel somewhat uneasy.

“Um, Guys.” Spike spoke out about everyponys attention, although sounding somewhat solemn if not even rather guilty. “I am truly sorry for my actions yesterday. I mean setting that building buildings in fire while recklessly pursuing Apheliotes. Guess I have let myself to carry away a bit.”

“It is okay, Spike. We know that you haven’t meant any harm.” Twilight tried to comfort Spike.

“Yeah, don’t beat yourself up, little buddy. The important thing is that nopony got hurt and that you helped out to put down the fire.” Peter commented on Spikes effort putting out the fire of the building that he though unwillingly set on fire.

“Guess ya maybe just need some more time ta adjust yer qiant adult self, kid. Ain't ya worry, ya will git in there eventually.” Logan also commented on Spikes condition, which although was quite right. Despite due to Logans training paying out by Spike managing to take a grip on the power of Crimson Gem of Cyttorak as well as being able to transform at will, yet obviously Spike wasn’t that much used to his new self, showing himself to be rather clumsy in his adult form due to his colossal size.

“I guess so. Thanks Logan.” Spike replied both simultaneously sheepishly and embarrassed, knowing that Logan was right as baby dragon indeed needed some more time to adjust more to his new adult-self form.

“Um, Princess Celestia…..” Peter though trailed out as he looked around the throne room quite confused. “Have you seen Luna?”

“Peter. Princess Luna is just sleeping right now after her night duties.” Twilight explained, not evidently being that much concerned.

“Yes. And come to think of due to all those threats from the likes of Grogar and the Elementals, those emergencies and hanging out with you guys most of the time, guess auntie Luna just might use some rest.” Cadance commented further, by which actually for Luna being a member of the Avengers and therefore as well as due to all those Elementals emergencies lately, the Princess of the Night barely had any time left to do her night shift duties lately that by the way she was exercising so diligently, being evidently in her quarters just like Twilight put it, having a good deserved rest sleeping.

“Luna is a Princess of Night, right silly?” Pinkie Pie added, once again the pink cheery pony couldn’t deny one of her know-it-all and rather at times obnoxious smart aleck comments.

“Well, when you mention it Peter….” Princess Celestia though, her usually deliberated and even voice strangely bore an undercurrent of genuine concern, also wondering that her younger sibling wasn’t present. “It is a little strange. Despite Lunas routine late-night duties, she usually comes and shares a breakfast with me just before going to sleep. And that is quite not like her….”

Yet out of the sudden, a hard knocks echoed from behind the main entrance door, attracting everyponys mutual attention, yet in the instance the doors shot open, as one of the Royal Guards pegasus calved in a golden armour burst in, galloping his way right to everypony at the throne room.

“News from the Southern Equestria! Eghm…Your Highness” The guard was panting yet not forgetting to address Princess Celestia with an utmost respect by bowing to her honour, yet judging from his tome, the stallion looked seemingly very disturbed about something.

“Yes?” Princess Celestia calmly asked, quite wondering what the guard was about to say, as the others around the Ruler of Equestria were also listening cautiously.

“Whuts all th' hubbub, bub?” Logan though on the other hoof and unlike otherpony huffed in quite an indifferent like manner, seemingly not that much thrilled about the guards sudden entrance.

“We have just received news about a series of earthquakes and fissures occurring regularly throughout the land in the last few weeks.” The guard reported in a calm and deliberated tone despite the stallions obvious disturbance.

“The earthquakes? Fissures?” Peter, Twilight, Cadance and the rest of the Avengers blurted out in unison by hearing quite a disturbing news, with though the exception of Logan as the X-Men remained stoic and rather indifferent as usual.

“Where exactly did those earthquakes and fissures occurred?” Princess Celestia asked with her calm and collected demeanour remaining intact and unhindered.

“According the records….” The guard went on. “The quakes appeared strongest at the locations such Neighlagra Hills, Macintosh Hills, Badlands, Smokey Mountains as well as throughout the San Palomino Desert.”

“Mmmm…..” “Those are the areas with a rough and rocky terrains as well as mountains. Quite a possible place for an earthquake to occur, but not likely.” Peter deducted yet his tone was quite coated in scepticism.

“Indeed, Peter….” Now Twilight added by agreeing with her husbands scientific opinion. “Those areas are not supposed to be near aby fault lines either….”

“Wait a minute….” Felicia though spoke off. “How come there weren’t news about those quakes earlier.”

“Its complicated…..” The guard replied going on with explanation. “According the experts and records, the quakes were echoing in regular stages, of a low shifting to a high frequencies as well as steadily rising and fading off afterwards. It is like….The earthquake seems to be regularly happening from one place to another, like actually getting closer.”

“A moving earthquake?” Cadance stammered about the phenomenon placing her hoof over her mouth in awe.

“But that doesn’t seem possible….” Sunset also added by finding the phenomenon about moving and closing in earthquake scientifically impossible.

“Yeah. Earthquake just cant move and travel by itself…Can it?” Spike agreed about Twilights and Sunsets mutual disagreements about this whole thing.

“Unless….” Peter though spoke off, his voice though sounding casual massaging his chin with his hoof thoughtfully. “Something….Or someone would cause those quakes…..”

“Your judgement sounds plausible, Peter….” Princess Celestia spoke off in agreement with Peters rather unorthodox yet though sensible opinion as everypony shifted their mutual attention to the Knight of Equestria, inwardly wondering what or who could possibly cause those earthquakes and fissures.

“Somethin' stinks about this…..” Logan grunted by started having his suspicions about this.

“Miss Pie….” The guard though interjected into the groups conversation yet centring his attention right to Pinkie Pie, edging closer to pink mare as he reached into his armour chest plate and pulled out some letter, handing it right to Pinkie. “You have just received this letter from Rock Farm.”

“A letter, for me? Thank you.” Pinkie Pie squeaked and eagerly took the letter, unwrapped the envelop and started reading before the Elements of Laughter blue eyes widened like a pair of saucers in awe and joy. “Uuuu! It is from Maud Pie!”

“Maud Pie?” Both Peter and Twilight exclaimed simultaneously in awe.

“A Maud whut now?!” Logan though grumbled quite confused, by failing to pronounce the name right.

“Maud Pie, Logan. Pinkies older sister.” Spike chuckled by trying to fill Logan in about Pinkies Pies sister Maud Pie from Rock Farm where Pinkie were born and growing up.

“Ya….have a sis, Pink one?” Logan muttered even more astounded by actually learning that an energetic, hyperactive, joyous and in Logans case rather over-eccentric and somewhat annoying pony like Pinkie, with a motor mouth being on pair with Parker actually had a sister.

“Yeah! Isn't that great?” Pinkie Pie replied happily and excited being obviously more than glad that her sister Maud Pie send her a letter.

“What does Maud Pie write, Pinkie?” Twilight asked yet her tone sounded quite eager too, wondering what kind of letter Pinkie had just received from her older sister.

“Okay let me see….” Pinkie stated as she started reading, scanning the letter with her eyes. “Oh yeah…..Um….Uh….um…..O my….” Pinkie Pie though after a while of reading squeaked quite in a odd mixture of awe and slight horror.

“What is it, Pinkie?” Peter asked seeing and being quite concerned by her party pony friends sudden change in demeanour, which was quite unlike for somepony like Pinkie Pie.

“Maud Pie says that a series of earthquakes and fissures had just occurred near the Rock Farm yesterday.” Pinkie Pies replied, her tone though remaining as even in indifferent as usual.

“Oh dear….” Both Twilight and Cadance though stammered simultaneously, their tones being coated in concern.

“The earthquakes on Rock Farm? There?” Spike stammered both in shock and awe.

“Maybe….There just might be some connections between those quakes on that Rock Farm and other earthquakes happening across the land.” Peter deduced with a very unpleasant hint of suspicion present in young stallions voice.

“Maybe, Peter…..?” Sunset Shimmer replied thoughtfully, considering the possibilities and frankly agreeing with Peters judgement.

“Or….” Logan though spoke off growling, his gruff voice sounding somewhat darker. “It just likely might be Grogars, or some of those Elemental bozos dirty work afoot…” Logan proceed coldly, causing everypony to shift their collective attention to the X-Men, by which the gruff stallion actually wouldn’t be that much mistaken.

“Twilight….Peter….” Princess Celestia then spoke off, as her voice sounded serious yet remaining on its gentle and even tone, evident that Logans words got some effect of Ruler of Equestria, evident by her royal violet eyes gleaming with concern. “I suggest you better get to Rock Farm and investigate, make sure nopony is in danger.”

“Agree Princess Celestia.” Twilight replied affirmatively by believing in her former mentors judgement and concern, her violet amethyst eyes were gleaming with determination, glancing upon Peter, as the knight merely nod his head eagerly in determination as well as shifting her look to the otherpony and dragon around who like out of empathy sharing the young princess thoughts all nod their heads in union.

“Oh yeah. A sweat smell of trouble right after th' mornin'.” Logan smirked quite amused by once again some action as he reached into his saddle back, pulling out his X-Men costume and started getting it on as the otherpony did the same, before the Avengers were all suit up and ready to go.

“Twilight….” Sunset Shimmer though stated. “I shall better teleport right into Golden Oak Library into Peters lab to check the seismograph and surveilling the magnitude to inform you for any changes, if its okay with you and Peter?”

“Very well then, good idea Sunset.” Twilight agreed without a second though, considering Sunsets opinion logical.

“Sunset.” Peter though replied as he reached out into his utility belt over his flank and pulled out a sort of small device of a cylinder like shape handing it right over Sunset. “This my code cylinder key designed for an urgent access. Just place it right into the code hole of the security lock and you shall get into the lab without a problem.”

“Got it. Thanks Peter.” Sunset took the cylindric code device form Peters hoof via her telekinesis giving young stallion a smile. “Alright then, I am out of here. Good luck you guys.” Sunset shared a mutual glance with everypony around blessing them all before the fiery maned unicorn instantly disappeared in flash of light.

“But what about Princess Luna?” Felicia though spoke off in a realization as she shifted her cape over her back, indicating on Luna with the Avengers being one member short this time.

“There is not time, Sunset.” Twilight though spoke out decisively yet politely dismissing cat burglars urge by having Princess Luna missing.

“Guess we just might do without her.” Peter simply replied waving his hoof off as young stallion pulled his mask over his face, before also settling Twilight Arms on his hooves and turned to Princess Celestia. “Princess Celestia.” “Would you please check on Luna while we are gone? Just in case.”

“Of course, Peter.” Princess Celestia promised nodding her head and denying the knight her trademark warm smile.

“Hold on you guys.” Cadance though surprisingly spoke out, attracting everyponys around collective attention. “I will come with you, on aunties Luna place. You just might need as many of help you could get.”

“Are you sure about this Cadance? I don’t know…..” Peter murmured hesitantly, not being quite too sure to let Cadance, who also apparently was his sister-in-law following his marriage with Twilight, yet though a young stallion felt a gentle bump into his gut, revealing to be Twilight as young princess gave her husband an affirmative and well known reassuring look, indicating that it would just be alright, prompting Peter to mentally gave in to the request.

“Very well than, Cadance, you are in. For a newcomer though and lacking a costume and cape of your own, but not too shabby, not shabby at all….” Peter eventually agreed for Cadance to come along playfully making some of his trademark quips, although the knights voice still bore a slight hindering hint of concern.

“I am also coming with you guys. Maud is my sister. She needs me.” Pinkie Pike though surprisingly stated, willing to go with the Avengers.

“Okay, Pinkie. But just stay close, will you?” Twilight agreed without much hesitation, knowing that Maud Pie was Pinkies sister and that Pinkie was just more than willing and eager to ensure her sister was alright.

“Okay….” Peter muttered quipping quite sarcastically. “Since when he officially started sending recruitment letters?”

“Alright you guys, ready?” Twilight declared ready as she pulled the hood of her cape over her head, exchanging looks with Spike, Pinkie, Felicia who was also already calved in her cat burglars suit who merely nod their heads determined than to Peter, who merely slammed his hooves with Twilight Arms together in response igniting an electrical spark in the process.

“Lets roll.” Wolverine grinned, being even more determined than the rest of his teammates, unleashing his adamantium claws from his hoof with its snikt sound.

“Then lets go!” Peter proclaimed as he and the Avengers all edged closer to Twilight, as the Princess of Friendship loaded her horn with her violet colour sparkling magic aura, concentrating her thoughts as instantly and just like as many times, the Avengers instantly disappeared in a flash of light.

“Great Protector be with them….” Celestia murmured begged to stars, hoping for Twilight, Peter and the others to be fine despite her composure remaining calm and intact, yet the mares royal violet eyes gleamed with concern.

---

The Avengers reappeared in a flash of light, yet the team found themselves in the middle of what more likely resembled a broken wasteland, with a very rough and rocky terrain posed by rocks, though there were a few trees, forest and greenery growing around along with mountains rising to the top.

“Where are we?” Logan grunted as he looked around the rocky and rather broken terrain, as strangely the X-Men even with his superhuman acute senses couldn’t sense or pick up any sigh of life at all, like it would be after some sort of catalyst or what.

“Logan, welcome to Rockville.” Peter announced by proclaiming the name of the land being the Avengers were finding themselves, being located somewhere in the western Equestria.

“A Rock…Ville…?” Logan grumbled incoherently in utter awe about a rather bizarre name, which though on the other hoof, the land actually lived up to its name. “A fittin' name…” Logan replied though in a rather dull manner.

“Actually, Logan…..this is also Pinkie Pies hometown, along with her whole family living here.” Twilight explained the Rockville actually being the place where Pinkie Pie actually was from, being her hometown.

“Pink one is from here?” Logan grumbled even more astonished, finding it quite hard to believe that the energetic, hyperactive and rather comic relief like Pinkie Pike would actually be from such place like this one. “Really?”

“Yup. Isn't that a wonderful place?” Pinkie Pie asked joyously, apparently and actually admiring the beauty of the land where she was actually growing up as a filly along with her sister Maud Pie along with Pie Family on the Rock Farm, completely oblivious by any negative and rather gloomy atmosphere around the rocky wasteland.

“Hurm….” Logan grunted quite embarrassed, not being sure how to put it, yet the gruff stallion tried to be careful not to say anything outrageous. “Its very…..Roomy…I guess…” The X-Men dully stated, shrugging his shoulders, quite for his teammates dismay yet Pinkie Pie on the other hoof seemed to be flattered by Logans choice of words at all. “Good old Madripoor….” Logan grumbled inwardly to himself.

“Guys, look.” Spike called out from a nearby hill as the Avengers joined Spikes side on the hill, wondering what got their little scaly friends attention, yet they all looked down as they saw a small farm settlement with a rock orchard in the middle of rocky rough wasteland with a few trees and forest surrounding it. There was rather old small two-story cottage, a windmill and a very tall agricultural silo like barn, being surrounded by wooden fence.

“Uuuu! A Rock Farm.” Pinkie Pie squeaked excited by the looks at Rock Farm where she was growing up.

“That’s yer home, Pink one?” Logan grunted by staring at Rock Farm, which though quite for the X-Mens opinion looked like rather broken in the middle of nowhere, generating quite a cold atmosphere around it.

“Yup. There is nothing like home sweet home.” Pinkie Pie stated with her cheerful and ever-optimistic attitude intact as ever, being obviously more than happy to be once again at home after quite some time, also looking forward to be reunited with her sister and family.

“At least somepony can feel himself like home….” Logan sarcastically scoffed to himself in whisper, yet though earning quite a dismayed look from Peter yet though a rather scolding glare from Twilight, yet quite oblivious the X-Men merely grunted in response.

“Hey guys, look. Over there.” Felicia though out of the sudden spoke out and pointing her hoof down, prompting everypony to look by the direction Felicia was pointing on, as they saw somepony down there quite in distance, which made it hard to judge who it was, yet though by taking a proper look, Pinkie eyes instantly shot open like a pair of saucers gleaming with joy and happiness like actually recognizing the pony down there.

“Maud!” Pinkie exclaimed aloud in joy and excitement as she swiftly trotted her way down sliding a rather fragile and steep incline like side of the hill.

“Pinkie!” Twilight jerked out, her voice sounded yet slightly coated in concern for Pinkie not hurting herself by rather recklessly slider her way downhill.

“Wait up!” Peter called out as he instantly leaped up and started sliding the hill in a way more nimble like way as Twilight sprung her wings flying up along with Spike, Logan, Cadance and Black Cat followed in pursuit downhill after Pinkie Pie, as within a minute, the Avengers got safely down from the hill as Pinkie Pie though galloped a way ahead of her friends.

“Maud!” Pinkie Pie squeaked and joyously lunged herself and wrapped her hooves around the mares neck tightly. An earth pony mare, being calved in quite a tall a greyish blue frock, having belt tight around her flank along with a saddle bag, yet the mare had a fur of a bluish grey colour, a very withered tail and mane along with its short fringe over her forehead of a greyish violet colour. Yet, however, the mare bore a very blank and neutral facial expression, with her eyes with a single eyelash being half closed and like she wouldn’t even know how to smile.

“Pinkie.” Maud Pie replied by greeting her sister, though the mare spoke in a very monotonous and dry tone, not giving a smile with her neutral or rather apathetic expression intact as meanwhile Peter, Twilight and the rest of the Avengers caught up.

“Maud.” Twilight called out upon Maud Pie as she gracefully landed back on solid ground.

“Maud. It has been a while….” Peter greeted cheerfully as he swiftly joined Twilights side and taking his mask off, greeting himself with Pinkies older sister.

“Peter. Twilight….” Maud Pie dully greeted herself with both Peter and Twilight with her stoic and blank look unfaltering before exchanging glance upon and nodding upon Spike, Cadance, Felicia yet though right her attention centred on a strange yet rather peculiar stallion calved in a heroic like costume like Peter, Twilight, Sunset and Felicia were yet though having a strange yet unique manestyle and bearing an steely eyed expression.

“I don’t think we have met….” Maud Pie dully noted, indicating on Logan by apparently not having the honour to met the ponyfied X-Men mutant superhero yet.

“Maud Pie, this is Logan, our friend.” Twilight intervened introducing Logan to Maud Pie by herself.

“Yet, also known as….The Wolverine.” Peter added.

“I see….” Maud Pie replied dully shifting her attention back to Logan, eying the gruff stallion with her blank and negative expression, while Logan though denied the mare a blunt and stone-faced look of his own, both ponies kept staring at each other for a several seconds like daring each other who would say a word first like a two gunslingers staring each other at the old-fashioned Wild West western duel, which though for somepony could seem taking like an eternity and quite for everypony around dismay and rather embarrassment.

“You just can't stand around here all day….” Spike chuckled as he swiftly intervened stepping between the pair breaking the ice.

“Hey, Casanova.” Peter then though nudged Logan into his gut whispering. “Don’t just stay there like a stump, just say hello.”

“Hurm…” Logan grunted, rather sheepishly scratching the back of his temple before eventually trailing off. “How's…Tricks, darlin'?” The gruff stallion addressed Maud Pie though in a way more offhanded and embarrassed like manner.

“Mmm….Can't complain.” Maud Pie replied dully, without showing any much excitement or emotions.

“Right….” Logan dully noted shrugging his shoulders.

Yet deciding it would be the best to break the ice and better change the subject. “Maud….” “We have got your letter.”

“That there was a series of earthquakes and fissures occurring in this area yesterday.” Peter carried on asking further, young stallions tone being coated with both concern and interest alike.

“So that happened.” Maud Pie responded simply and dully.

“Has anypony been hurt, Maud?” Cadance asked, concern being vocally present in the alicorns voice.

“Nopony that I remember.” Maud stated with a faint hint of reassuring being vocally present.

“Hey Maud.” Pinkie though intervened eagerly “How about our family? What about mom and dad? Limestone and Marble, how are they all doing?”

“Limestone and….Marble?” Logan though grunted questioningly by Pinkie Pie mentioning rather odd names.

“Pinkies twin sisters.” Spike make things clear indicating yet other of Pinkies twin sisters, much for Logans awe.

“The things are as same old, same old…More or less.” Maud Pie dully replied. “Mom and dad are doing their chores by harvesting rocks as they normally do, with Limestone being her usual grumpy self and Marble not talking that much as ever….Everything is just normal as always.”

“Some family tree alright….” Logan sarcastically whispered to himself, only though and unfortunately for Twilight who overheard the mares mutter shot a cat burglar a scolding glare, though for Felicia merely lightly scoffing in response.

“Right…” Peter chuckled rather offhandedly, deciding it would a time to change a subject, intervening. “Maud, how about you show us the place where those quakes happened, will you?”

“Very well, then…..Follow me.” Maud simply replied, obviously not that much about what exactly was going, the mare nodded her head by pointing on the direction from behind, as she went on walking in the lead by the way with the Avengers went on also, following Maud in pursuit.

“Dense as a rock, ain't she?” Logan sarcastically yet though also rather unfortunately muttered above the verge of whisper, yet though of course earning yet glare from Twilight and offhanded if rather exasperated sight from both Peter and Spike.

“That’s my sis, alright.” Pinkie Pie though squeaked joyously, not obviously taking Logans rather offhanded remark at heart as well as not having any hard feeling at all, yet thinking nothing but positive and great about her older sister, who she evidently adored so much.

“Never mind….” Logan grunted once again in a way more offhanded like manner walking behind the group, brooding and still being rather confused a bit about Maud Pie, who apparently didn’t seem anything like and rather having nothing incoming with Pinkie Pie at all, as Pinkie Pie indeed had some family tree alright like anypony else.

---

“This is the place.” Maud announced as she and the Avengers a after nearly fifteen minutes of travel arrived at the destination, all finding themselves on a small rocky hill yet the heroes gasped simultaneously with their eyes widening by the peculiar look.

Right in front of them lied a large clearing, which though more likely resembled a wasteland by the looks of it, evidently by its rough terrain being all broken and ravaged through, literally, like some great force or more likely something went through steamrolling the area. At normal circumstances, this would arguably be a result of the tremors and quakes echoing early just like Maud mentioned it, yet though by the looks how the area looked like…..

“Oh my….” Both Twilight and Cadance simultaneously murmured, the mares voices were wavering with both awe and slight horror alike.

“What a mess….” Peter though muttered rather offhandedly to himself by the looks of the waste lying in front of them.

“This really looks like the place alright…..” Spike dully noted muttering, baby dragons voice also bearing an undercurrent of uncertainty.

Yet however, there was rather something even more peculiar that attracted the Avengers attention, as there was quite a large pile or mud and soil nearby, the terrain around ravaged yet there was some that seemingly looked like plowed or dug of sort, some broken and hollowed out trees spread around, yet there was also a rather huge hole right in the ground. Peter though step to the edge of the hill and proceed to slide over its rather fragile side down, as Twilight, Pinkie, Spike and otherpony mimicked the knights actions, as they all slide the hill down like on toboggan to take a closer look.

“Something doesn’t fit right about this guys…” Felicia murmured, the cat burglars tone being rather sceptic and coated with suspicion, having her masked eyes fixed right on the pile of mud and soil. “I mean seriously….The quakes actually causing the ground to hurl the pile of mud and soil out?”

“Agree…..” Twilight murmured acknowledging that Felicia might be on to something, young alicorn scanned the damaged surroundings with both interest and suspicion on her own alike, having a strange feeling that something wasn’t quite right. “Over a really high level of magnitude, the earthquake usually causes seizures, fissures and landslides in the process, but this? And actually, moreover creating a holes? That’s new…..”

“More like….Someone or something actually burst its way on the surface…..” Cadance thoughtfully trailed out considering the possibilities yet though his voice sounded rather cautiously, yet quite actually the Ruler of Crystal Empire wasn’t that much far from truth.

“The Diamond Dogs again?” Spike trailed out guessing any ideas of Diamond Dogs being behind this as well as with the connection with Grogar himself being up to something.

“No…..” Peter though replied, her voice sounding sceptical yet cautious by considering this thing with quakes and fissure even further, trying to get to the point. “I don’t believe that even a Diamond Dogs themselves could cause a ravage like this by digging. That must have been something…..Something big…..” Young stallion stated with his tone though sounding somewhat strained, not being quite sure about this.

“Big? How big….?” Pinkie Pie squeaked, her deep blue eyes widening and gleaming with a rather unnerving curiosity.

“Hurm….” Logan however who was so far paying no mind to his teammates, yet instead staring at so called crime scene intensively and with a rather suspicious glare grunted before the X-Men slowly yet cautiously made his way closer.

“Logan…?” Twilight murmured by catching a glimpse of her gruff friends move, as well as everypony centred their mutual looks on Wolverine, watching the X-Mens doing casually.

“Whut do we git here….?” Logan murmured as he stepped closer right to the ground terrain that apparently looked like to be freshly plowed or dug of sort yet curiously forming a circle like shape. Wolverine extended his hoof and touched it, feeling the ground being indeed freshly dug and plowed yet his hoof dove deeper into soil.

“What is Logan doing?” Pinkie asked above the whisper curiously wondering whatever Logan was doing yet while the otherpony just stood away, also carefully watching their gruff mutant teammate doing.

Logan pulled his hoof out yet though strangely licking some of the soil from his hoof, quite for someponys collective awe and disgust alike, yet oblivious to his teammates reactions, the X-Men tasted the soil in his mouth before instantly spitting it out again.

“Yup….” Logan murmured to himself nodding slightly his head confirmed. “There was a large hole here alright, as someone or….Somethin' burst its way on surface and instantly buryin' th' hole, apparently…..Something over five hours ago.”

“Wow! Have you just figured that out by actually tasting the mud and soil?” Spike muttered in amazement his slitted green eyes gleaming with awe, yet though Peter gently bumped baby dragon into his side, rather prompting Spike not to disturb Logan investigation.

Grunting and apparently paying no attention to Spikes awe, Logan turned around cautiously making his way to bunch of the broken trees, staring at the broken wood carefully, as two tree trunks and wood were cracked and broken, judging to by apparently smashed by a great force with wooden splinter scattered around, yet though the third tree however and quite attracting Logan attention on the other hoof and apparently rather looked like to be chopped in half, evident by the wood of trunk remaining slightly clean.

“Felled trees…..Wind didn’t fell these trees….As if somethin' steamrolled over them….Yet also apparently chompin' this one. A great biteforce.” Logan murmured thoughtfully by analysing the situation further, as right then though he noticed some sort of strange holes nearby. The X-Men approached to take a look, kneeling as he right then soon realized that there actually weren’t any holes at all, but deep and large tracks.

“Deep, large tracks…..” Logan grunted by taking a proper look on the track and placing his hoof over it as the track was over three times bigger than a hoof of any pony. “Big. Really big.” Logan murmured, his voice bearing a hint of suspicion, yet though the X-Men also noticed other tracks that looked like the same, yet though strangely being significantly much smaller. “Two pairs of tracks….” Wolverine murmured. “Curious……Front legs bein' bigger than hinder ones. Hurm….” Logan grunted thoughtfully as he made a couple of careful steps around the tracks like actually trying to measure them.

Curious though and out of the instincts, Logan cleared out his nostrils by catching a local air around, yet though unfortunately as the X-Men was sniffing around as best as he could, smelling though nothing peculiar, instead though and strangely the smell of dirt and rock.

“Your friend is pretty good, isn’t he?” Maud Pie dully commented on Logans investigation, with a rather faint hint of amazement if the mare noticed or not.

“He sure is, alright….” Cadance replied above the hint of the whisper, although the Princess of Love voice was rather wavering, filled with a mixture of awe and respect.

Right then, Logan approached the giant hole in the ground, cautiously stepping at the edge of the hole as he also noticed some strange grooves over the tunnels sides, something like markings of claws from some sort of animals, the X-Men carefully places his hoof and run it across the markings I hope to find out more. “Hurm….Claws….No….Teeth marks. Straight, dull….Hurm…..Perfects fer diggin'. Curious….”

Logan glared his white eyes, staring deeper into the holes depth, being as dark as the darkest void of oblivion, the X-Men yet once again cleared out his nostrils, catching the smell of the insides air, yet though instead of dirt and pale smelling absolutely nothing else.

“Logan?” Twilight murmured asking carefully as she slowly yet steadily along with Peter, Cadance, Spike and otherpony approached edging closer to Logan.

“What do you got, old chum?” Peter asked with a rather arousing unnerving curiosity.

“Here is whut I think that happened.” Logan grunted as he once again cautiously looked around to thee crime scene, trying to reanimate the crime, piece by piece. “Somethin' big burst its way out of the ground over there….Sometime over five ours ago…..Yet also buryin' th' hole afterwards, like actually tryin' ta mask its trail or whut….As right then it make its way through those trees over there yet also chompin' th' one…..Before once again diggin' th' hole its way back underground.”

“That is incredible….” Cadance murmured, unable to conceal her amazement over Logan incredible deductive and reasoning skills.

“How just big it was anyway?” Felicia murmured kneeling and staring right on the deep tracks apparently left by that thing, the cat burglar was wondering who or rather more likely what could possibly left them.

“Hurm….” Logan growled by once again taking a proper look at the tracks by trying to judge. “Estimatin'….Height over thirteen feet at withers…. Length over twenty four feet…..Weight over four to five tones. Certainly some big boy alright…..”

“Have you just figured that all out just by looking at those tracks?” Pinkie Pie squeaked both excited and slightly like freaked out alike, having her deep blue eyes wide as a pair of saucers, staring right into Logans white lenses intensively, pressing her muzzle tight on Logans own.

“Well…Hurm…Yup.” Logan replied though in a very dull or also rather awkward like fashion as Peter and Twilight both pulled Pinkie away from Logan, with Twilight throwing her hyperactive friend a light scolding glare yet Peter though on the other hoof couldn’t do anything but chuckle cheerfully instead.

“Better question is….Who or what has exactly left those tracks at the first place?” Twilight murmured by making quite a pretty good point about the entire matter, the young princess voice though sounded slightly wavering.

“Guys….” Maud Pie though spoke off, attracting everypons attention. “If you ask me, I know only one creature in all of Equestria, who could dig the hole like that….” Maud paused for a while unwillingly broiling a tension among the otherpony around in the process for an upcoming answer. “Maulwurf.”

“Gesundheit.” Felicia dully noted over stoic mares opinion, which by that way was quite reasonable.

“Whut in th' blue blaze is that?” Logan grumbled incoherently being totally taken aback by a weird name for a creature.

“A Maulwurf, Logan.” Twilight replied trying to fill her gruff friend in as apparently Wolverine had no idea what kind of creature the Maulwurf was. “It is a large creature, resembling sort of a giant mole, with a powerful arms, razor sharp claws for digging and an incredibly thick hide. Yet though being a herbivore eating on plants, Maulwurfs are rather highly territorial yet though they inhabit rather areas with a rough and mountain like terrain, like the Backlands for instance.

“More like….Half-bear, half-mole, half-raging-pile-of-claws and bad attitude would be more like it.” Peter commented on Twilight explanation about Maulfurf though in a rather offhanded and more twisted like manner like so.

“That’s a Maulwurf alright.” Spike blankly agreed to both Twilight and Peters testimony.

“Guess that would really narrow that pet down alright.” Wolverine grumbled sarcastically over Parkers nonchalant point of view. “Yet, I ain't think that whatever caused this mess, wasn’t either that Maulwurf somethin' as ya put it nor even those Diamond Mutts.”

“What makes you say that?” Cadance asked with quite an unnerving curiosity being vocally present in Rulers of Crystal Empires voice.

“Cause otherwise I could smell them.” Logan simply and rather blankly replied, quite for Cadances awe. “Th' stench of musk or other aroma kin usually endure fer several days or even weeks by certain conditions. But here….I smell nothin'. No stench nor any odor trail or anythin'. Just a smell of dirt and rock.”

“You better believe it Cadance.” Peter chuckled and playfully bumped Cadance into her side. “In Logans case and that nose of his, although as much freaky as it sounds, yet it better be truth.”

“But then….what was that?” Felicia murmured, still not being quite sure about this.

“I dunno….” Logan grumbled dully shrugging his shoulders. “Like anythin' I am familiar with. Yet….” The X-Men though growled and once again taking a proper look at those strange tracks. “I am estimatin'…..Hurm….Some sort of a…..Mutt….Composed of…..The rock…I guess?”

“A dog made out of rock?” Pinkie Pie squeaked both in a total awe and dumbfounded alike, curiously titling her head on the side, while Maud on the other hoof didn’t seem that much thrilled, remaining stoic and rather indifferent as usual.

“Oh come on, Logan. Just right now you are pulling us of our hooves, aren’t you really?” Peter scoffed offhandedly, apparently not buying Wolverines judgement that much, earning an irritated grunt from the gruff stallion.

“Yeah. Who has ever heard about the thing like that?” Spike sarcastically agreed.

“Actually guys…..” Twilight however murmured, yet unlike Peter and the otherpony the young princess considered Logans judgement thoughtfully with quite a thorough curiosity, yet also Twilight started having strange feelings of sudden recall of something, trying to remember. “Logan actually might be on something…..”

“What do you mean by that, princess?” Felicia asked still quite with sort of disbelief.

“Well….” Twilight went on, diving deep into her thoughts by actually trying to remember and recall something whatever. “I may do remember that I have once studied and read something about elemental magic of sorts, as well as unique magic creatures, being composed of the various elements, just like a rock for instance….”

“You know, Twilight…...” Now Cadance spoke up somewhat confirming about her sisers-in-law opinion. “I do also remember hearing about something familiar….”

“Uh-Oh….” Peter muttered under his breath as he felt and clutching on his Spider Sense ringing profusely within his cranium, signalizing and warning from an unknown potent threat to come, as like out of laws of the accountability, the earth under ponies hooves started trembling terribly in a very high magnitude, as the tremors echoed throughout the area, much for everyponys combined fright. Twilight and Candace, being totally caught off guard, both mares losing their balance stumbled forward, yet reacting out of instinct, Peter moved fast and caught both Twilight and Cadance in time before stumbling over.

“G-g-g-golly!” Pinkie stammered in a combination of surprise and shock alike, shaking herself even more then while having some of her Pinkie Sense feelings in the past, almost losing a solid ground under her hooves due to the tremors, yet though reacting just in time, Maud Pie grabbed and supporting her younger sisters side while otherpony and Spike around did their own best to keep their balance not to fall over, yet though luckily, just fast as the quakes and tremors started, just like that they instantly ceased again.

“Whut th' hell was that all about?” Logan grumbled while trying to recuperate and trying to figure out what had just transpired, with his suspicion now reaching out critical point.

“That has been some earthquake….” Cadance murmured unnervingly with her voice wavering while still supporting herself over Peters frame.

“Just like the same way it occurred yesterday.” Maud Pie explained while still holding Pinkie with a way more serious and matter of fact tone, although her stoic and dull facial expression remaining intact as ever.

“Curious…..” Peter murmured by Mauds opinion, the knight reached into his utility underneath his costume and pulled out a small scanner like device, that apparently and frankly looked quite somewhat familiar.

“What is that doohickey, Peter?” Pinkie asked while staring into small device Peter was holding with an awed and curious look.

“That is my scanner device Pinkie.” Peter replied, as it indeed and actually was the same scanning device he along with Twilight and the Avengers used during their investigation of an supposed dark magic signature in Crystal Mountains, yet though being accidently destroyed in the process, Peter yet instantly repaired the device and just like for his standards even better by looking so. “Yet this time, I have also modified this thingie to pick up a soundwave activity….” Peter explained further his voice sounding very promising as he pressed several buttons as well as the screen of the scanner showed a series of wavering line readings, picking up the signal disturbance. “Whatever it is, its sure making lot noise, as I am picking up a heavy soundwave activity. That away.” Young stallion stated and pointed his free hoof right over the huge hole as the reading of his canning device were beeping the strongest, indicating that whatever caused the tremors, must have been right there underground.

“Looks like then whatever causes the quakes, must be down there, underground….” Twilight deducted and centring her stare right into the large hole, the young princess eyes were also gleaming assertively.

“You mean really that….Rock….Hound…Thingie?” Spike muttered daring to guess that strange and rather enigmatic thing that Wolverine deducted to be some sort of a large hound composed of rock being the case.

“I suppose we will find out when we get underground.” Felicia replied though in quite a dull fashion, yet actually the silver maned mare calved in a black suit got the point about that.

“Agree.” Twilight replied nodding affirmatively about Cat burglars suggestion yet the Princess of Friendship shared a collective glance with oterhpony around as the Avengers all nod their heads to get down underground to investigate the cause of the tremors.

“I am coming too. It might be dangerous down there due to those magnitudes.” Cadance spoke up by volunteering herself for the expedition.

“A dangerous for a princess….” Peter although replied in a light protest feeling rather reluctant by letting Candace to come with the Avengers yet his voice bore an undercurrent of genuine concern for Princess of Loves safety, who apparently also was Peters sister-in-law.

“Oh really, Peter? And then what I am I supposed to be?” Twilight though coughed a bit intervening by provocatively, though more sarcastic like indicating Peter that she actually was a princess also in a case he had forgotten.

“Well….I….Uh….” Peter stuttered, being quite caught by Twilight mention. “This is a way different about you…..” Peter mumbled by rather awkwardly trying to find any excuse yet evidently quite failing by doing so.

“Look, Peter.” Cadance though intervened, her usually sweat and lighthearted voice though tuning into a little more urgent and her royal violet eyes were gleaming with determination as the Princess of Love showed her a way more assertive side of her very own. “You may be the Knight of Equestria as well as the prince and husband of Twilight, but you are not definitely my lord by telling me what to do. Being a ruler of Crystal Empire, in the absence of auntie Celestia, I have the highest royal authority.” Cadance stated in a very decisive like manner yet though the mares expression eventually lightened up. “We shall all go underground together.” And with those final words, Cadance gracefully turned around and made her way towards the huge hole in the ground.

“Maud….Are you coming?” Pinkie Pie asked prompting Maud to come along.

“Sure, why not?” Maud simply and dully agreed, although seemingly disinterested and indifferent, yet the stoic mare just came along following her younger sister as Pinkie was cheerfully hopping her way towards the hole following Cadance.

“But…But…” Peter stammered by desperately trying to talk Cadance out of it and sharing a glance with Twilight, yet however, knowing that the decision of her sisters-in-law was firm and unfaltering, Twilight merely denied her knight a rather dull like expression, shrugging her hooves before proceed galloping along, as well as the other Avengers eventually followed up Cadnaces lead without question to the hole.

“Just leave it bub.” Logan smirked and placing his hoover over Parkers shoulder. “Th' woman are just clear about th' stuff. End of story.” Logan smirked again yet inwardly the gruff stallion couldn’t help but somewhat liking Cadances attitude of a very decisive, purposeful and smart woman with also a sense for an adventure, which quite once again remained him other women like Jean, Storm, or Rogue for instance, as the X-Men shifted his costume mask over his face and also proceed trotting in pursuit of otherpony.

“You got that right, bub.” Peter replied sighing in a dull and rather defeated like manner, knowing that there was no going back now, the knight eventually pulled himself together also putting his Spider-Mane mask on his face before also proceed trotting in pursuit of his friends into the hole underground.

To be continued…..