So it's been a while. Honestly I was pretty much screwed in life until now so I figure its about time to finish this story. The original plot I had for the story is still intact, but I will be cutting a lot of fluff from it in an effort to get the story where it needs to go. To any of you who are reading, thank you, and if any of you out there have been with me since the beginning, you are more dedicated to this story than I am and I hope I won't disappoint. Have a great day, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 5: Betrayal
August 20th, Year 1002 of Celestia's Reign
(Present Day)
"This place is ginormous!"
"I have to agree Applejack; I've never seen a natural formation such as this."
"Right. Natural."
Applejack and Rarity turned away from the spectacle they were currently beholding to look at Daria, who for some reason looked as though she was concealing information. They turned back to look at the cave they were in, unable to wrap their heads around it.
They peered at a small path no wider than about four ponies, suspended above what looked to be a bottomless pit. The darkness below them swallowed just about every drop of light that came its way.
The walls of the cave were formed into what looked like a sphere; an almost perfect, rounded sphere. The sheer scope of the room made the mares feel as though they were trapped inside a very large, very ominous bubble of pain and misery. At least that's how Daria put it.
Rarity thought back to Applejack's criticism of her vanity. She noted the muddy light streaming into the cave from its ceiling made her outfit clash with her hair.
Applejack, more grounded in reality, made an astute observation.
"So we're supposed to git to the other side of this here round room…"
"Yes, that seems to be correct." Rarity replied, not bothering to ask where her companion was going with her statement.
"And y'all expect me to walk across this here feeble lookin' bridge, without wings, or magic."
"That's the gist of it!" Daria replied happily
"Don't worry dear, I brought a grappling hook remember?" Rarity supplied with a smile. "If you fall I'll just swing down and catch you."
"What a relief…" Applejack deadpanned, nervously watching as the pegasus and unicorn moved forward, their hooves tapping audibly on the frail stone bridge.
What did Ah go and get myself into? She thought, not for the first time in the last few hours.
They had already come across a few traps, not all of which had been disarmed, leading to a few close-calls, and more than a few moments Applejack was glad her little sister wasn't around to hear her swear.
And to make matters worse, with every step forward they took, a greater sense of foreboding began to well up inside the Stetson clad earth pony. It was as if all the fear in her heart was freezing over, filling her body with a crippling ice.
Not even the warm looks of her lover up in front could put Applejacks heart at ease, though she did appreciate them. Seconds dragged on and turned into minutes, all of which seemed like hours to the mare. Her heart beating was the only sound she could focus on as the darkness around them threatened to swallow her up forever. A pressure built up inside her, threatening to burst and make her crazy. Applejack's shallow breathing quickly turned heavy, and her vision began to swim.
"Ah- Ah can't…" She choked out, just loudly enough to perk up Daria's ears.
"Uh… Rarity?" Daria asked, looking from Applejack to the stark white unicorn beside her.
An expression of deep concern found its way onto Rarity's face. "Applejack, dear, are you feeling well?"
"Ah can't go no further…" Applejack breathed out desperately, "Ah won't!"
"Applejack?" Rarity stuttered, not knowing how to respond. The once tenacious, lively eyes of her marefriend had taken on a new shape. One of fear, doubt, and something more… Something Rarity couldn't quite place. Understanding…? It looked as though Applejack knew something the rest of them didn't. And Rarity didn't like it.
"Applejack, what is going on? What has you acting so… so afraid!"
"This ain't right! Ah ain't supposed to be here!" Applejack exclaimed, ignoring Rarity's desperate plea.
"Calm down farm girl, there isn't anything to be afraid of!" Daria yelled, growing tired of the situation. "Let's keep going! You're probably just afraid of heights or something."
"Go on without me Rarity, Ah'll be waitin' back at the start of the bridge." Applejack said hastily, turning and running back the way they came. Rarity tried to call her back but it was too late, and the earth pony was soon swallowed up by the darkness.
"What was that all about?" Daria asked brazenly, showing very little concern.
"I don't have the foggiest idea." Rarity said sadly, turning to look at her companion, "I suppose we should continue though."
"You don't want to go after her?"
"I don't think it would do much good, once she's set her mind on something it isn't easy changing it." Rarity paused to let out a sigh. "You saw her, she ran away with her tail between her legs."
"I guess you're right." Daria said, unsure of what to say
"Besides," Rarity sent her gaze further down the dark path that lay before them, "Anything that could inspire such fear in Applejack is something I need to see."
"Oh?" Daria asked curiously, "And why exactly is that?"
"Because anything with that much evil surrounding it can't be anything we want unguarded." Rarity supplied before looking to the ground with deep focus, "I can't quite explain it, but I sensed a wicked presence the second we stepped into this cave."
"I thought it was merely nerves, but with each step we took the feeling grew worse and worse…"
"What are you getting at girl? Spit it out!" The monochromatic pegasus seethed impatiently.
"But at that same time, I began to feel…excitement."
"Geez Rarity save the naughty talk for your marefriend," The pegasus rolled her eyes, "I don't see how any of this matters."
"It matters because this cave has slowly been bleeding magic, which for some reason is passing through me!" The unicorn blurted out. Her horn began to glow brighter, much more so than usual, "I realized a few moments ago that the limit I normally reach with my magic has been extended. It feels…amazing."
"You're starting to creep me out Rarity… Let's just keep going, maybe we'll find some answers."
"Maybe…" Rarity said to herself, following Daria deeper into the cave, relishing the chance to discover what it was that made her skin crawl and her heart beat so fast.
I have to know what lies beyond this path… I simply have to…
The evening air was warm, a gentle cross breeze filling the surrounding sky with a touch as soft as a cloud. The sun was almost setting, marking the end of the long day's journey, and the beginning of a long night's objective.
"So then you're positive you know what you're after?"
"As positive as I'm gonna get with you still breathing."
"Aurora, you know I don't like it when you threaten Nova's life like that…"
The pink earth pony cast her bright green eyes at Trixie, looking at her with obvious indifference. Trixie merely sighed and sat down, looking out at the small town laid out before the trio.
"Why did we have to come here of all places?" Trixie said, Ponyville's serene atmosphere choking her with kindness, "Trixie was shamed from this town if you'll recall."
"Well Trixie wasn't half the mage YOU are," Nova said, pausing so that Trixie would be aware of her issues with the third-person, "So I wouldn't let that little experience get to you. We all have bad days."
"At least no one's life gets destroyed when I'm having a bad day." Aurora muttered under her breath, making sure that Nova could hear. Spending the past three months with him did not soften her opinion of the unicorn. She was fairly sure Nova would be a consistent source of anguish for her as long as they both lived.
"Just go get the stupid book and come back quickly. The last thing we need is for any of your friends to see you and ruin our chances." Nova spit out quickly.
"Right." Aurora nodded curtly, turning once more to take in the sight of… home? Is that what she wanted to call it? Sweet Apple Acres seemed like nothing but a dream now that she was back. That simple life she once tried to hide her sorrow in now shrouded Aurora with mixed feelings.
She shook it off, her new combat vest settling comfortably on her body. She turned back to look at Nova and Trixie once more, and then wordlessly darted down the hill they stood upon towards the soft lights of the town.
The small pink pony ran at a brisk pace, keeping close to the trees in case she needed to hide. If anypony she knew happened upon her tonight, it could spell disaster. Aurora thought of her objective, and took a deep breath to calm down.
I only need to get in, grab the book, and get out. Simple.
Aurora mentally kicked herself for jinxing it.
It isn't like Twilight's Library has any security in it. Spike is probably with Twilight in Canterlot, at least according to Nova.
The mare shook herself from her thoughts and moved forward. It did not take her long to reach the edge of the town, and once there, moving quickly and quietly through the streets was no problem at all. In a peaceful town with no crime, Aurora could practically slap everyone in the head as she passed without being noticed. She reached the library within minutes and perched herself on a nearby rooftop to get a better look.
From her location she could see into the library clearly. It was well lit as always, being a public building and all. She imagined someone had closed up already, and looking at the near empty streets below her only confirmed that feeling. Without much more thought, Aurora bounded from the roof, landing and rolling to where she stopped mere feet from the front entrance.
Let's get this done.
Aurora leapt from the ground, wrapping her hoof around the nearest branch she could find. With a few simple kicks of her legs, the petite pink pony found herself bounding up the tree with ease, reaching the second story balcony she had come to know.
She quickly slipped inside the unlocked doors, and made her way down to the main floor of the library. Aurora spied Spike's empty bed and felt a wave of relief that he was in fact gone. The mare quickly got to work, scanning the shelves for the secret opening she knew was there. A minute later, her small pink hoof pressed the wall, opening up a small, box-like compartment.
Aurora reached into the hidden shelf and grabbed a book with her teeth; more specifically, Twilight's copy of the Legends of Equestria.
I hope Nova knows what he's talking about.
The lock on the front door of the library clicked loudly, eliciting a shocked gasp from Aurora. The heavy book she was holding in her mouth fell to the floor with a loud smack.
"Did you hear that, Fluttershy? Someone's in Twilight's house!" Aurora knew the muffled voice on the other side of the door and ice shot through her veins.
In a second, Legends of Equestria was secure in the pink pony's vest, and she was halfway up the stairs to the balcony. Unfortunately, Rainbow Dash was inside the house and going airborne at about the same time.
Throwing stealth out the window, Aurora burst through the doors to the tree house balcony and, using all of her momentum, leapt over the railing and onto the ground below.
"A-Aurora?"
The pink pony froze, her heart dropping into her stomach. She turned her head and saw Fluttershy, mouth agape, standing at the front door of the library. Tears were streaming down her disbelieving face, and Aurora could see her eyes were filled with questions.
The petite mare willed herself to turn and run, but a heavy object collided with her body and forced her into a roll. She planted her rear hoof into the ground, using it to flip herself back onto her hooves. She slid to a stop, coming to rest in front of a very very angry looking pegasus.
"So you are alive!" Rainbow Dash spit out, "Where have you been!?"
"Hello to you too, Rainbow Dash." Aurora retorted, ignoring her question. "You never saw me here. Let me go, and say nothing to our friends!"
"Our friends? That's rich coming from somepony who didn't bother to tell us she was still alive!"
Rainbow Dash's insult cut Aurora deeply. She knew she was right, but it didn't matter. She had a mission and she wasn't about to let anyone get in her way. Especially not somepony as cocky as Rainbow Dash.
"Don't try and stop me, you don't understand what's going on here." Aurora stated calmly, trying to avoid baiting the foolhardy pegasus.
"Is that a challenge!?" The mare spit back, filling Aurora with the desire to face-hoof.
Aurora wordlessly turned and ran as fast as she could towards the nearest set of buildings, using the cyan mare's confusion for a few free seconds head start. In a moment, Aurora reached the wall of the first house, running up the side in one skillful bound.
As soon as she reached the rooftop, a gleaming rainbow shot past her and forced her to the ground with its shockwave.
I never realized how strong her wings are… They're even more powerful than his.
Aurora shook the thought from her mind and focused on where Rainbow Dash's trail went. It dissipated and took a sudden turn upwards and out of sight. A sharp feeling shot through the petite pink pony and she dove forward, narrowly missing Rainbow Dash as she once again shot out of nowhere, leaving behind a gorgeous display of power.
"I don't want to hurt you Rainbow Dash! Stop this and let me go!" Aurora yelled out, hopelessly trying to communicate her intentions before she resorted to violence. She closed her eyes.
"Fat chance!"
Aurora's ears perked up towards the sound of her voice, and she instinctively twisted her body, reaching out with her hooves and grabbing her target.
The cyan blur was brought to the ground, her wing tangled in the pink pony's clutches. "Let go of me!" The mare yelled, and threw her leg towards Aurora.
She opened her eyes just in time to brush past Rainbow Dash's attack, throwing all of her weight into one punch. With a sickening thud, Aurora's hoof connected with the cyan mares stomach, knocking the wind from the athletes chest.
Without waiting to see her recover, Aurora bolted, closing the distance between herself and Nova in half the time it took previously. As she ran, the thought of her punching Rainbow Dash played in her head over and over again. She added it to the list of things she'd never forgive herself for and pushed her feelings down into her stomach. She came to a rest as she caught sight of him, with Trixie standing at his side.
"You did an excellent job of being noticed." Nova said, his features turning softer, "I'm sorry you had to do that."
"Don't worry about it, let's just go."
Trixie and Nova looked at each other before turning and following the petite pink pony away from the town. They had other things to attend to, but both of them were surprised at how eager Aurora was to move on.
As the trio walked away, not one of them noticed a lone cloud up in the sky, or its bashful inhabitant. Fluttershy's heart was broken. She had found out that Aurora was alive, and now she was with Nova, the unicorn who tried to kill them all. And for some reason Trixie…
She choked back tears that would inevitably come and flew as fast as she could to her friend. Rainbow Dash was beginning to pick herself up off the ground when Fluttershy landed beside her and helped her to her hooves.
"I-I couldn't stop her, Flutters…" The cyan mare said sadly.
"Neither of us could. And it gets worse…"
Yes Fluttershy... It does. Thanks for reading! Look forward to next chapter, where pretty much everything explodes into a nightmare of misery for everypony involved!
