Lightning crashed and thunder roared like some half forgotten god as the rain sheeted down upon the town. In the flashes of lighting a shape could be seen coming down the road. Soaked and cold, the pony battled her way through the town towards the inn...
~~~~~~~~~
Today was not a good day for Tight Penny. With the lightning storm that was thundering through town her business was hurting for customers. Sure, it wasn't really the weather team’s fault; after all, when a storm from the Everfree drifts into town, there really isn’t anything you can do about it. Still, as the rain ran down the glass of the window, she couldn't help but glance at her half empty common room and despair about how little money she was going to make tonight.
Which brings her back her position on the bar, listening to ponies complain about the rainstorm.
"-and then, to top it off, the vendor started moaning on and on about his cabbages! Like really!? My house just had a tree fall-" 'hmm nothing interesting there', Tight thought to herself as the mare continued to drone on about her house.
"Did you hear about the rodeo that almost got canceled in Appleloo-" 'Next.'
"-I hear they brought Rainbow Dash into the hospital with another broken wing today-" 'Aha! Now this one is interesting', she thought, before focusing all her attention on the mare talking.
'"Yeah, I saw what happened to put her in the hospital myself." Instantly, the entire bar, who Tight just realized had also been eavesdropping, focused on the mare and the stallion she was talking to.
"Really? What was it this time?"
"Derpy clipped Rainbows wing with a lightning bolt and she crashed into a tree." The gathered patrons all groaned and winced at this revelation; Derpy, while well meaning, was a bit accident-prone, and these kinda things tended to happen around the mare.
"Derpy again? That's what, the third time this month?"
"Eyup, she tries, though, and it's the thought that counts."
"What was she doing out there in the storm anyway? Doesn't she know that lightning storms are too dangerous to work with-" whatever the stallion was about to say however was cut off by the door slamming open, revealing a pony outlined by a nearby lighting strike.
~~~~~~~
'Today was so boring.', Heart Song thought to herself as she laid her head on the table, a small puddle of drool forming under her from sheer lack of caring.
With the Timberwolf attack yesterday, Heart Song had been sure that today would be interesting, if only because of the guards sure to be swarming over the small town to 'secure it' after such an event. Much to her utter disappointment, nothing of the sort had happened. For all extents and purposes, Ponyville might not have even been here for all the attention that the guard and Canterlot gave them. Odd, considering that the small town had a knack for drawing attacks from everything from Timberwolves to Hydras. Not even the fact that tomorrow was the summer sun celebration seemed to garner a response.
Just as she was considering heading up to her rented room for the night, the door flew open with a *THUD*
And just like that, Heart Song had something new to look at, or at least, in this case, "somepony" new to look at. And what a sight this pony was! A tattered cloak, waterlogged bandages and glint of metal around her head; she was the most interesting thing Heart had seen in town all week!
Eyes glued to the newcomer, Heart found herself leaning toward the mare under the cloak, straining to hear what she was saying to the barkeep on the other side of the room.
"Do you have any rooms still available for the night? Too tired to head home in this weather-" suddenly, the mysterious mare stopped and looked over her shoulder as if sensing Heart was watching. Their eyes locked.
White. The mare had white eyes.
"Give me a minute.", she muttered to the bar keep before heading over to Heart Song's corner.
"Can I help you?"
"How can you see with your eyes that way?"
It was, looking back on it, the wrong thing to say. With a steely glint in her eyes, the mare moved closer until she was just a foot away.
"I see just fine. And you would do well to keep your nose out of my business.", she said irritably, before turning around and heading back to the waiting barkeep.
'Well, it seems that I've found something fun to do!" She thought, already her brain filling with all the things she could talk about with the strange pony. ~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as the waterlogged mare had climbed the stairs and out of sight, the common room again came to life with conversation. most of which was focused on the strange mare that had just left.
"Who was that?", one stallion asked, seemingly putting the words to the thoughts on everyone's minds.
General murmuring of the restarted conversation quickly drowned out most of the conversations; that is, until one pony heard an older mare comment "Azures back huh? Been what, a year and a half?" Instantly, like magic, the mare had the attention of the whole common room, judging from the perked and turned ears in her direction. If she or the other mare she was talking to noticed or cared, however, then they didn't show any outward signs.
"I believe so? She rarely ever comes home anymore. In fact, most ponies have forgotten that she still owns a house here."
"Aye, also, I couldn't help but notice another new addition to her 'collection' of souvenirs this time."
"The plate around her eye?"
"Eyup, she certainly didn't have that one when she left now, did she? Might be mistaken with that cloak mostly covering her head, though I'm sure it's there"
"Wonder what sort of adventure she went one this time to be away from home for so long?"
"Something off in the Badlands I think. I remember asking her when she was leaving."
"Badlands? nothing down there but dra....", the mare trailed off as the implications of what she was about to say sunk in.
Silence.
"How is she still alive if she fought a dragon?!", she whispered in stunned disbelief upon regaining her voice.
"Well, what else is down there? Nothing but rocks and sand."
"*Hmmp* Well, I don't believe it. You can't fight a dragon when you’re blind!" And just like that, the silence was back. Blind.
Slowly, Azure walked up the stairs, her ears homing in on every little sound, striving to paint a picture in her mind. Everything, from the heavy rain pounding against the walls, to the ponies talking on the floor below and, slowly, the picture came into focus.
‘Ok, door on the left, wall 8 feet in front of me, and the room I’m assigned to should be on the right, and... aha!’, she thought as she finally stumbled into the room and onto the welcoming bed, not caring in the slightest that she was getting the bed soaking wet.
‘Nice to be able to rest in a bed for once and not some forsaken cave or ruin in some inhospitable landscape.’
As she lay there enjoying the bed, a set of hooves passed close by her room for a moment; they stopped by her room, as if they wanted to come in, before moving on. For some reason, she thought of the mare that she had confronted in the common room. ‘Probably not my best move coming in and picking a fight as soon as I get back home’, she thought with a frown.
‘Too tired to worry about these kinda things any more, time for me to hit the hay.’
And with that, she laid back and surrendered to the dreams always waiting in the back of her mind.
The leaves brushed up against Azures side as she pushed her way through the jungle in her adventurer outfit. A red mare was trailing behind her, similarly garbed.
“Hey hurry up slowpoke! Or am I going to be the one to get the treasure first?” she teased her companion.
“Azure!! I wouldn't be behind you if you hadn't upset that wasp nest!” Sunny called out.
“Sure sure! Excuses excuses! You're just upset you're not as awesome at adventuring as me.”
“Hey you tak-”
“Sun? Uh hello? Sun? This isn’t funny Sun!!”
“Boo!” *eek!*”
“Some adventurer you are Azure, scared of little old me.” Sun claimed as she stuck her tongue out at Azure.
The playful banter continued to pass between the mares as they hacked their way through the undergrowth, slowly making their way towards their destination.
“So what's the deal with this temple Azure?”
“The temple of Azeroth, Ancient God of Balance. It’s said to hold a treasure able to grant any wish.”
“Any wish you say? So.. whatcha going to wish for then?
“Me? I don’t really have a wish. i guess my wish is just to be the first to get it, you know fame and fortune, stuff like that, Sun.”
“Geez you're so boring!” Sunny claimed as she gave Azure a push with her flank. “You need to think bigger you silly filly! How about… a castle made of ice cream!”
“Wouldn't that melt?” Azure asks.
Sunny licked her lips before responding. “Not if I eat it first!” she says for a giggle.
“Well that's all fine for you I guess. But I want something lasting after all this traveling. I mean look at these pathetic blades! Dull after only a few days! Last time I’m buying from that smith.” She said, waving the dulled machetes around.
“Last adventure Azure. Remember?” Sun punctuated her sentence with a kiss. “After this we agreed we have to retire. We have plenty of money after all the ‘adventures’ afterall”
“Awww! But I love our adventures! They add.. excitement to things! What would we do with ourselves? We would go crazy in under a year and you know it.”
“Please. you’re already crazy! But you’re my crazy.” Sun said lovingly as she nuzzed her partner. “Anyway, if we wanna retire we need to keep movin. Can't keep that treasure waiting can you?” And once again they were hacking their way through the jungle.
Soon the Temple of Azeroth loomed upon the horizon.
Weathered and green from the jungles busy reclaiming the ancient center of worship, the temple certainly wasn't lacking in size or mystery, Azure reflected. The sheer amount of volcanic stone and glass making it look more like a fragile heart of the jungle than the fortress of a lost faith that it was.
As she gazed upon the massive construct, she felt Sun come up beside her.
“Huh, how is the glass still in place I wonder?” “Must be enchanted.”
“But for what purpose do you need that much glass?” Azure added seemingly to herself.
“Say something Azy?”
“Huh? Oh no nothing.’
“What are we waiting for then? Let's go!”
And with that, Sunny was off running down the hill with Azure chasing after her.
“Hahaha! Who’s the slowpoke now Azure!” She teased as she ran through the broken entryway.”
“Wait! Don't run int-*zip!* Twange!*”
“LOOK OUT!
“Whoa!” Sun cried out as she dived under a crescent axe that slid out of the way with nary a sound, chopping off the edge of her helmet.
“Azure rushed up to Sunny with a worried look on her face. “SUN! YOU ALRIGHT?!” she cried as she looked over the hyperventilating sun.
“Y-yeh. I-I-I’m ok. Also horse apples! That was my favorite helmet!”
Azure rolled her eyes at her mare friend. “Oh come on we can always get you another one. Better half a helmet then half a you after all!”
“Two of me. Now that’s a funny idea doncha think?”
”Oh can it you. I swear you're going to be the death of me one of these days. Now what have you learned again?”
“Don't run into an open door in a spooky ruin?” She replies sheepishly as she rolls the slice of her helmet along the floor.
“Close enough I guess, just don’t run off without looking ahead ok?”
“Bu-But Treasure! I wanna see it!’ she whined as she stomped her hoof into the stonework again.
*SNICK!*
“EEP!”
“How about you step AWAY from the trap before you get cut in half Sun? Sound like a good idea?”
“Spoilsport”
“What was that?
“Nothing!”
I thought so, now let's get going before you set off anymore traps.”
Slowly With Azure taking the lead, they climbed higher and higher into the odd temple.”Hey Azy, why does this temple go up instead of down like all the others we’ve been in?”
The followers of Azeroth believed in balance in all aspects supposedly. I’m guessing that it has something to do with the fact that most temple descend, so they most likely thought that their temple had to lead up to balance things out. Just be on the lookout for traps ok? Don't wanna get caught unaware ok?
Azure screamed with her eyes screwed tightly closed as she clung to Sun.
“I-i’ve got too much to live for!” She gibbered fearfully
“So uh, Azure.”
“Yeah?” She asked.
“You do realize we aren't falling anymore? Not that i'm complaining really,” Sun asked from her spot crushed into azure’s barrel
Azure blinked before looking around, slowly scanning the room until her eyes fell upon Sun crushed into her chest.
Sundrop looked up at her “HI!” She chirped with an impish look on her face.
“OH!’ She gasped as she darted away from her mare-friend,a blush prominent on her cheeks “sorry i uh.., didn't know what came over me”
Sun swayed over to Azure “well I said I didn't mind” she stated with a suggestive look on her face “But, maybe the middle of a ruined temple in the midst of a jungle, isn't the best place for this don't you think?’
“Uh hehe yeah….”
“So uh where are we?” Azure asked as she looked around the crumbling room deliberately avoiding Suns growing smirk.
‘Let's see. Creepy room hidden in the bottom of a trapdoor and slide. Looks like we are in a trap!”
“Well besides that. I believe I got that, when the floor dropped out from under us and carried up underground.. Wait… underground! We must be getting near the treasure!
“Really? Shouldn't a trap carry us away from the goal? You know to keep it safe?”
“Well Azeroth was god of ‘balance’ it's entirely possible that his followers believed that to counteract the hidden trap they had to give something in exchange?
“That's insane, look around the walls for inscriptions there has to be a clue somewhere.” She stated as she went over to the walls and started studying the pictograms
“Hmm let see. Promises of death, suffering, and other misfortune. Nothing unusual there. Hey Sun! You found anything?
“Well aside from the promises of wealth, happiness, and other good things no”
“Well kee-WHAT?!”
“Yup! This is a very happy wall. Still can't find a way out though. You find any thing?
“No. Just the unhappy wall. Just start pressing anything raised of the wall, there's got to be a way out"
The next few minutes passed as Azure and Sun pressed every picture, and every loose stone in wall.
“This is po-*click* Sun started to say before the wall ground to the side revealing a door where the two sides met.
Huh right… where.. The balance was… met
“Azure face hoofed when she noticed where the door was located.
Really? Where the two sides met, why didn't I see that one coming!?
“You coming?” Sundrop called over her shoulder as she peered into the shadowy doorway. “And bring bring your torch. It’s pretty dark here.
Grumbling azure lit the torch and walking into the darkness. “Come on sun we need to get going.”
“Why? What's the rush? Got somewhere to be?”she snarked
“Well yes. I've got to get my wish. And you know, not die.“ Azure deadpanned back at her snarky friend.
The minutes passed in silence as the duo headed deeper into the temple.
“Azure you ok? You been a little… uptight..” Sun cautiously asked
Azure sighed. “Yeah i'm fine.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“No”
“You sure? You know it will help you feel better.”
“Ok fine. I keep thinking about that pitfall”
“What about it”
“Well what if it hadn't lead on but.. Well normally things like that are deadly in places like this”
“Well it wasn't. so i don't see what the issue is.
I should have been looking for rap though! That what i'm here for. And i.. I almost failed.” Azure trailed off as she hung her head
“What if it had been filled with spikes like a normal trap! or .. or or snakes!” She shuddered
For a minute sun just stood there watching her dejected mare-friend. “While that's sweet azy, i am a grown mare and am capable of taking care of myself”
I know! But you know this is what i'm good at! You get the treasure avoid the trap. And I keep an eye out and spot the worse ones as well as get you out safely.”
“Azy…”
“Please i just need some time to think about this ok?”
“Fine”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So you think we found it?”
“Well I hope so.” Sun commented as she stared up at the roof of the glass cathedral they found themselves in.
“Well I guess we know why they needed all that glass”
“It's so silly though. Put the magical treasure of the temple at the heart on a giant room of glass? I mean we could have just smashed in a window to get here instead of tracking through that awful tunnel system.”
“Somehow I don't think that it would have been that ea-WAIT! Where are you going Azy!”
“To get the treasure? That is why we are here right, get the treasure make a wish?”
“Well yeah but you know better than anyone that there's ‘always’ a trap on these things!”
“Everything is made of glass though? What's it going to do break and let us out? This whole place has been a joke!”
Reaching out Azure grabbed the artifact of the pedestal and waited…
And waited…
An-”See? Nothing to worry ab-AHG!”
“Azy!” Sundrop cried as Azure was enveloped in a ball of light.
Slowly the light faded away leaving Azure on the laying one ground, the artifact gone.
“Azy” sun called as she race toward her mare-friend. “Azy!”
“Sun? Where are you? Sun!”
“I'm here right in front of you? Are you ok?”
“You are? Wha-why can't i see you? Are my eyes open?”
Sundrop held azure as they slowly came to the same realization.