The native pony stared back at the two of them. For a few seconds, Blake was unsure if she was really seeing them—had Janet somehow spoken forbidden words? But no, a few seconds and she went back to her fridge, removing plastic trays of fresh produce from inside.
Blake hadn't ever been a big fan of simple salads. But the stuff Rose was pulling out of her fridge was so fresh he could smell it. Maybe he'd give it a chance, even if the mare proceeded to remove ingredients for some kind of sandwich. A sandwich with tomatoes and mushrooms instead of meat, apparently.
So maybe the hippogriffs knew how to make a sandwich better than ponies do. Can't expect them to get everything right. He swallowed his annoyance, and focused on the task at hand. "I'm from the same place your... boyfriend is. I have an entire airship of my friends that have been trying to find their way back for over two months now. We're searching for Worldgates, have you heard of them?"
Roseluck nodded, glancing sidelong down a door just behind him. "Used to be one right there that led to somewhere called... San Jose? But Discord took it away as soon as he was finished. Nothing there now."
"Really?" Blake followed her gaze to the back door, resting one hoof against it. "Do you mind if I..."
He didn't actually wait for her confirmation, pushing it open.
There was a coat closet beyond, with a few boots and other gardening tools leaned up against the wall. A heavy steel door was behind it, with an unusually high handle. Blake touched against it with one hoof, confirming the steel plates that made its basic frame, and feeling the metal anti-prybar parallel with the locks. "You guys afraid of a break-in?"
Their front door had felt like balsa wood by comparison.
"Long story," Rose called. From the sound of her voice, she was still in the kitchen, and had made no effort to follow him. "You can go ahead and open it! There's nothing back there anymore. Turns out there was poison joke, but we cleared it. Nice and safe."
He pushed the door, and found it wasn't even locked. What he swore was an Earth brand's logo was stamped into the side of the frame, along with more security features. The other side had just one lock for the deadbolt, but it was another exotic lock, with complex anti-picking mechanisms and a hardened steel shackle.
There was no Worldgate outside, or anything like one. Instead, he found a series of strange holes dug into the ground of a grassy field just behind the building. A few were filled with cement, with steel beams emerging from within. Most were just empty. "And you're sure there's nothing left of it?"
"Nothing," Rose said, her voice faint. "Spark Gap made sure. We didn't want anyone crossing from the other side accidentally. Or... following him intentionally. Either way."
Blake shut the door, then returned. "Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude. It's just that my friends and I are eager to find a way home. Any clue that would help us get back is worth investigating, even if it ultimately doesn't lead anywhere."
She worked fast. Somehow Roseluck had already constructed an entire sandwich tray, and had moved on to slicing fruit. "I understand better than most. I've been with Spark for over a year now. He wasn't very social for most of that time, but I still picked up all kinds of things. I saw movies from your world. Met visitors... like Janet! I assume this airship captain is your latest attempt to find your way back?"
"My last." Janet settled into her seat. She faced the huge glass window to Ponyville, expression distant. "I'm running out of time, Roseluck. If I stay for much longer, or I'm exposed to much more magic... that will be it for me. Stuck."
"And that bothers you," Roseluck supplied. "I remember. I feel fortunate that Spark did not have to make such a choice. He lost his Earth family. It made sense that he decided to spend time around me, to take Everwake...
"Did you have other questions, Blake? I don't want to get into old memories."
He made his way over to the table. "Just one. So Roseluck, we have a map of every Worldgate. We think it's very old. It sends us to places that aren't safe anymore, or that aren't useful on the other side. Worldgates that go to dead ends, or rooms full of poison gas. We're lucky that we have survived each trip so far."
She carried both trays over to the table. She used her mouth, and could only bring one at a time. That didn't seem to bother her, and she managed to keep level despite what would've been an awkward grip. Even fresh grapes didn't tumble off the sides.
"Sounds risky," she said. "More than Spark or I could handle. We like living somewhere stable, somewhere that's not going to catch fire or explode."
The door banged open, and another creature entered. It was a bat—taller and more rugged-looking than Vesper. He wore no more than the other creatures of Ponyville, which for him meant a satchel that jangled and clanked together with bits of metal.
His eyes jumped between them, and settled on Janet within a second. "Janet. I didn't think I'd see you again. I hope this doesn't mean—" His voice was higher than many other ponies, at least the stallions. Like Vesper on that front too.
"Not yet," Janet interrupted. "I must have more time. But that moment is fast approaching. I'm desperate."
He finally seemed to see Blake standing beside her. "You've made an exception to your policy about friends in Equestria? That seems strange to do when you're almost out of time."
"No." Janet reached across with one leg, touching Blake's shoulder. "This is Blake, he... he's the captain of an airship called the Bright Hawk."
"Blake," the bat repeated. "I've never met a pony like you, but I'm going to take a wild guess. You're not from Equestria either?"
"Nope." Blake smiled ruefully. "I came with four others from Earth. We found a Worldgate by mistake. It’s quite the story, actually."
He told it over lunch. He was right that the local fare would be fantastic, even something as simple as pony sandwiches and fresh fruit. They should really stop for resupply more often, if only to get some fresh produce into the hold. Saving their limited gold wouldn't even matter so much if they used some of their weight for trading...
He explained everything, in as much detail as he could without actually telling them about what they kept aboard the Bright Hawk or where they stashed their copies of the original map. There was no reason to keep secrets from the person they hoped would help them find their way to the other side.
"I need to know if you've heard anything else," Janet said. "Any other Worldgate. I don't need it to stay open for long, and I don't care where it goes. Anywhere in the Americas, I'll find my way back. Hell, I'm desperate enough that I'd try for Europe at this point too. Any way back you can find."
The bat pushed his plate aside with one wing. In almost every way, Blake took him for one of the natives. He used his wings interchangeably with his hooves, or even his mouth. He didn't seem particularly shy or embarrassed about wearing so little.
"There is a student here, in the friendship school. He does not have a Worldgate, though... I'm not sure what he's using. I think Starlight Glimmer made him some kind of magical... ward. So far as I know, he's staying until his semester ends in four months. Probably too late for you."
Janet slumped forward, resting her face in her claws. "I've talked to Caleb already. That ward is one-of-a-kind, some magic-draining artifact that she can't make more of. The kind they won't let me borrow."
"Oh." He sighed. "Then I don't have more news for you. I'm sorry."
Blake could feel the hope seeping out of her. It was practically pooling on the floor beneath them. But he wasn't going to give up just because something he didn’t even know existed wasn't going to take the problem away.
"I mentioned this earlier, but we have a map of Worldgates," he said. "Hundreds of them. We probably won't be able to search every single one before we run out of time. But there's one that's close, maybe you can give us some advice. The really hard part hasn't been finding them in this world, but dealing with local conditions once we do."
"Oh, sure." Spark Gap sat up, suddenly more alert. "If we know anything. But we don't travel much. Rose and I both work from Ponyville, and don't go anywhere else that often. I'd like to explore Equestria one day, see the sights... but I haven't got around to it."
"There's a Worldgate in the same place as Canterlot, or almost the same place... but it's labeled something else. "What is Crystal Caverns? Is there anything we need to know before going inside?"
Roseluck and Spark shared a look of instant recognition. It was Rose who finally answered. "Used to be a mine under Canterlot," she explained. "Helped supply the wealth that built the city, until they ran out of gemstones, and all that was left was rock crystal and glass. It's a maze down there."
"And it connects with some sacred sites for the bat-ponies of Equestria," Spark added. "That part is called Echo Caverns, for whatever reason. Used to be totally sealed off, since they didn't want anyone who wasn't a bat to find it. But it's open now. There are festivals down there every year."
"But only bats are allowed to go!" Rose exclaimed. "Even when festivals aren't happening. It's a sacred place, with lots of old traditions. You have to respect their customs."
Blake wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that. He looked between them, then to Janet for help. What did they expect him to say? Of course we'll stay trapped in another universe forever. We couldn't possibly disrespect the religion of some bat-shaped horses!
"We'll do everything we can," Janet said. "Is there anything you can tell us about the local conditions. Maybe... places to avoid? Dangers we could find there. Even just how to make the trip. We're running on limited time, so the less research we have to do, the better."
Roseluck folded her hooves on the table in front of her. "Crystal Caverns has tours that leave from Canterlot once a day, using the old rail-carts. I've done them before, they're... okay. A little touristy. There's no official way to go down there. It's just too dangerous, too easy for ponies to get themselves lost. A lost pony might stumble somewhere they don't belong. Maybe you should just find another Worldgate."
"Janet doesn't have a lot of time," Spark said. "I think I saw a book upstairs about the caves, Rose. Is it okay if we give it to them?"
She twitched, eyebrows going up. From the look on her face, the question had probably earned Spark a night out on the couch. "Of course, how could I forget. We have a book about the cave. I'll... just go get it."
She turned, hurrying away up the stairs.
Only when she was gone did Spark speak again. "She means well. You have to understand, thestrals are kinda her thing. She's forgotten more about their culture and customs than I'll ever know."
Janet leaned across the table, gripping his hoof with one claw. "We're not going to be dicks about local custom, Tracy. I just need a door. Once I use it, I'm gone. The locals can forget they ever met me."
"I hope you can find it," he answered. "Believe me. I'm sorry there wasn't a better way. It still feels wrong, after all these months. Like... Princess Celestia should've done more to help you."
Janet straightened, just as Rose came pounding back down the stairs. She had a book on her back, which she somehow managed to keep balanced as she walked.
"I got this after my last experience with the caves," Roseluck said, her voice stiff. "It wasn’t a... particularly pleasant experience. Maybe it's about the right time for me to move on. Just make sure you two don't get lost. Stay where you belong."
Janet took the book in one outstretched claw. "That's what we'll do," she said. "The sooner I can get back to where I belong, the better."
Okay, well, so much for trying to convince them to stay. Actually, good on Tracy for not trying to since it seems Janet's really been dead set on getting home, and doesn't want to stay unless she absolutely has to. Trying before that time comes probably would've just made her peeved.
Interesting that there's another Earthican at the school— how'd he end up there? Is that another story I'm not reading?
Why was Rose not wanting to give them the book? Just her being batty for Thestrals?
Heh. Unexpected but amusing callback.
"Though neither of us wanted to move away from my family, so we stayed in Ponyville."
I have questions about Caleb, and I suspect they're answered in a different story.
Hmm. Going off the tour-approved path in caverns beneath an old city was how the group got into this mess. At least they're playing to their strengths. And if the gate happens to be in Echo Caverns, then it's a good thing they have a bat in the party... though getting the rest of them there will be tricky in the extreme. Well, they'll cross that bridge when they come to it.
10898899
im calling it now the gate is in echo caverns!
I wonder why Rose didn't want to give them that book about the Crystal Caverns. It was cetainly nice to see Spark Gap and Rose again.
Time is precious, but it might not be a good idea to antagonize the Thestrals. No telling if this gate is a no go as well. Hopefully, they'll find a way around all the sacred sites.
As for Caleb, that's quite a story having a human there that didn't arrive by Worldgate, but that's another tale for another day.
Ponies being primarily herbivores, I'm quite surprised you'd have that thought.
Gotta admire Starlight's skills. She managed to find a limited bypass around Worldgates.
Desperation can turn things worse. But if it is the only way, you'll need Vesper to scout it out first. No point cornering yourself in a cave full of angry bats if the gate turns out to be no good.
If there isn't a bet, then it's quite strange Celestia hasn't done more. She did payoff the fines for Tracy's friends. No doubt she has resources that could've greatly help Janet on her way.
I still have many questions, and this chapter only raises more. Tracy seems to concur with Janet’s “clock is ticking” assessment, but wasn’t it established in Fine Print that he only changed because he was constantly saturating his non-magical human body with magical potions?
10898896
Guessing it is she felt like she was being trusted with information they normally don't give out and it feels like a betrayal on her part.
Why not just swing by the Throne Room to ask the long-lived mutant horses who live there? Bring the map, while you're at it.
Or, barring that, and given San Jose's proximity to Canterlot, simply blundering about the Chrystal Caverns (assuming you somehow manage to not tick off the Thestrals while doing so--or even if you did--), you might be coming up somewhere...rather sensitive to somebody on the other side....
Alameda Naval Shipyard--oh, I hear the Nuclear Carrier USS Enterprise is open for tours there. They had a couple visitors just the other day.
Of course, given Discord's chaotic nature, there's no guarantee that the world gate he made for Tracy was anywhere near the one linked for Canterlot--you might be real lucky and come out of a broom closet--or real unlucky and come up in the middle of a lake.
It would be freaking awesome if there at least were some omakes of those scenarios.
10899023
I think she might be worried about Spark Gap accidentally crossing over, and the consequences for him if he pops up where others see him. You can be sure the Letter Agencies have not forgotten what happened there. Rose doesn't want to lose the good thing that she's now got with Spark Gap...
it sounds like Tracy and Janet have come full circle from there story Fine Print.
10899099
The crew of the Bright Hawk are doing the same with their magical gifts. Vesper is incredibly gifted and is summoning things from dream stuff. Kaelynn is constantly using her fish magic clearly to her detriment, Ryan needs the stuff constantly just to survive, Blake just did a massive burnout and even admitted that he could feel the magical burn and knew what it was. Janet is the only one who is limiting herself deliberately.
10899410
But there's a key difference, as I believe was explained near the end of Fine Print: Tracy's human body is unable to dissipate or adapt to excess magic loads, whereas his pony body could just process and dump the excess. His catastrophic transformation was the direct result of using Everwake, and being under its magical influence, in a form that was not equipped to deal with it.
In other words, the cast of this story have nothing to worry about. Yes, they are using magic and being exposed to more of it, but their bodies can deal with it. This is a BIG distinction that Tracy really should have been aware of and passed on to the Bright Hawk crew.
10899099
It was more that the everwake accelerated the process that was already happening. Even before he went on it, when he had first encountered his friends at the restaurant, he felt his tail. While in human form.
Sounds like a job for a group of urban explorers!
Who wants to bet that Rose's book is more about how to woo the locals than a regular tour book should be?
10899410
Do you mean her worsening fatigue? Though not confirmed, as others said it seems to be the result of Ryan's continuous feeding on her.
10899418
As LunarRai said, the Everfree is an accelerant. Just staying in Equestria results in excessive magic. There is no dissipation happening at all unless people can leave for extended periods. No human has any resistance to magic and are absorbing more and more it every moment they stay. The Everwake added that extra magic that made Tracy exceed his limit sooner. He ran out of time.
10899482
I completely forgot they're urbexers. The caves should be similar enough to tunnels. This is literally the perfect environment for them. I wonder whether it's dealing with the gate Earthside or the Thestrals that'll be the hard part.
10898886
i personally prefer 'Terran' to refer to those of earth, rolls off the tongue much better than 'earthican' eh?
and yes, i too would like to know where this other Terran comes from.
10899723
‘Earthican’ is the term they use in Futurama. I used it here ‘cuz it’s silly.
I'm surprised that there was no mention of Rose either being pregnant or having recently had a foal.
10899418
Went back to the chapter in question, 64, and found this. Emphasis mine.
"And so he was unchanged," Celestia agreed. "Until he decided to be part of life here. Making friends, learning to fly, and using potions—these decisions all changed you. Until one day you had so much Equestrian magic bottled up inside that your human shape couldn't hold it anymore.
So the potions were one of many factors. Eventually, the others would have done the job. Just, you know, not until after the contract concluded.
10900185
Ah, gotcha. Serves me right for not looking it up. Thanks for clarifying.
10899743
Oh, I remember..But "exmas" was where I lost it
Things feel like they're pulling to a head, here. Canterlot might just be where we get some answers... or some permanent decisions.
10899147
I knew what the link was regarding the aircraft carrier before I even opened it.
So close and yet so far.
I'm confused by the holes, cement, and steel beams.
That rather sounds like a third story is happening, and just hasn't been written and/or published yet.
Good thing they have a bat in the crew, then.
Sounds sounds right up the alley of a group of catacomb explorers.
If you did you will find yourself deaf or worse..
Given what Pale said about the batponies and what happened with the Buffalo & Ahuizotl there's a 100% chance that it's in the echo caverns.
Pretty sure that's supposed to have another quote and description of who said it..
Or maybe just no quotation marks and extra dots..
This is a sequel for Fine Print isn't it??