Chapter 13
The Flyder King
Things have gotten from bad to worse at Canterlot. Everyday, more and more ponies got petrified, causing a panic throughout the school. Various school activities have been cancelled as more ponies feared for their lives. After everything that had happened, Twilight was still in shock that it was Big Mac of all ponies who opened the chamber in the first place.
She wanted to believe that she was wrong and wanted to speak with Mosbar again, but Mosbar's diary went missing. With no way to speak with Mosbar, Twilight spoke with Applejack in the courtyard as she told her everything she learned.
"Twilight, are you sure that Big Mac is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets?" Applejack asked. "No offense, but I find it hard to believe!"
"I honestly find it hard to believe too, Applejack. I don't want to believe it myself, but we'll have to talk to Big Mac about it soon." Twilight explained.
Before Twilight could say another word, she and Applejack were approached by Professor Cadance, who looked concerned about something.
"Twilight. Applejack. May I have a word with you?"
"Um, sure. What is it, Professor?" Twilight asked.
"It is hard for me to say, but it might be easier if I just showed you. Please follow me to the hospital."
Curious, Twilight and Applejack followed Cadance through the castle until they reached the hospital. Cadance soon stopped before turning to face the two ponies.
"I should warn you two that this might be a bit of a shock."
As Cadance stepped out of the way, Twilight and Applejack stepped towards the hospital beds and they were both shocked to find Rarity laying on one of the beds, petrified. They both gasped in shock before rushing over to their friend. As they stared at Rarity, they saw that her eyes were widened in horror.
"Rarity! What happened to her?" Applejack yelled as she couldn't believe her eyes.
"We found Rarity petrified in the library earlier today. It would seem that something petrified her. We'll do everything we can to turn her back to normal. I am really sorry." Cadance sympathized before she left the hospital.
Twilight and Applejack were soon left alone in the hospital as they began to worry for Rarity.
"What are we going to do, Twilight?" Applejack asked.
Twilight already knew that answer as she replied, "We are going to head over to Big Mac's cottage tonight!"
The sun began to set as nighttime fell on Canterlot. The moment everyone was asleep, Twilight used her invisibility spell on herself and Applejack as they sneaked their way passed the school prefects. As they reached Big Mac's cottage, Twilight raised her hoof and knocked on the front door. As Big Mac opened the door, he stared at the darkness of the night, but couldn't see anyone.
"Who's there?" Big Mac called out before Twilight stopped casting her invisibility spell, revealing herself and Applejack. "Oh, it's only you two!"
"Well, of course it's us." Applejack spoke up. "Who else would it be?"
"I just thought you were-" Big Mac paused for a moment before he said, "Never mind. Please come in!"
The two ponies entered, Big Mac's cottage, where he offered them a couple of cups of tea. While Big Mac was pouring the tea, Twilight and Applejack noticed that he was looking nervous about something. That was when Applejack decided to break the awkward silence.
"So, have you heard about what happened to Rarity?"
"Eeyup!" Big Mac nodded. "You don't have to worry though. Professor Gloriosa has been coming up with a cure for the petrification. Rarity and the others should be cured soon!"
Twilight and Applejack were both relieved to hear that. As glad as she was that Rarity was going to be okay, she still needed to ask Big Mac what he knew about the Chamber of Secrets.
"Big Mac, we've come her to ask you about the Chamber of Secrets. We know that you know about it."
With a sigh, Big Mac replied, "Listen, what you need to understand about that is-"
Before Big Mac could say another word, everyone heard a knock on the door.
"Oh no! You two can't be seen out of bed this late! Twilight, cast your invisibility spell again!" Big Mac told Twilight.
Without a second thought, Twilight used her invisibility spell, turning her and Applejack invisible once again. Once they were invisible, Big Mac opened the front door, where he was greeted by Celestia, along with another pony who Twilight didn't recognize.
"Good evening, Big Macintosh. May we come in?" Celestia asked in her usual calm voice.
Big Mac nodded. "Yes, Professor Celestia. Please come in!"
Upon taking a closer look at the mysterious pony with Celestia, Applejack let out a soft gasp.
"Twilight, that pony is my dad's boss, Chancellor Neighsay!" Applejack whispered.
Twilight and Applejack tried to stay as hidden as possible as Celestia and Neighsay stepped further into the cottage.
"Things are not looking so good for this school, Big Mac." Neighsay spoke up. "There have been multiple attacks at Canterlot and action must be taken! While we can't be sure that you are the one responsible for the attacks, we need to take you in as a precaution."
"Take me where? You can't possibly mean the prison, Tartarus!" Big Mac gasped.
Big Mac was about to plead his innocence when another pony entered the cottage. This time, it was Trixie's father, Crescent. The stallion was not happy with the presence of his unexpected visitor.
"What are you doing in my house! Get out!"
"Now, there's no need to be so hostile, Big Mac!" Crescent calmly replied with a smug grin. "I am simply here to inform you that the Equestrian Education Association and I have come to an agreement. We have all signed a petition that would allow the suspension of Professor Celestia as headmistress."
"What?" Big Mac couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You can't do that!"
"Calm yourself, Big Mac!" Celestia said as she didn't seem fazed by this in the least. "If the majority had spoken, then I will gladly step down. However, I will never truly be gone. As long as somepony in Canterlot needs help, it shall be provided for those who ask for it."
Seeing that there was no other choice, Big Mac decided not to argue anymore. The stallion decided to go quietly with Neighsay to Tartarus.
"Are you ready to leave now, Big Mac?" Neighsay asked.
Big Mac nodded. "Of course. I just needed to make sure that everything in my cottage is in order and nothing is lost. After all, there is an old saying. If anypony needs to find something, all they need to do is follow the flyders." Big Mac said, looking in Twilight and Applejack's direction.
It wasn't long before everyone left the cottage, leaving Twilight and Applejack alone. Once she was sure that the coast was clear, Twilight stopped casting the spell, turning her and Applejack visible once again.
"Follow the flyders?" Twilight thought back to Big Mac's vague hint. "I wonder what he meant by that."
"Twilight? You might want to take a look at this." Applejack explained as she pointed out the window.
As Twilight looked out the window, she was surprised to find a trail of flyders flying into the Everfree Forest. Whatever it was that Big Mac wanted her to find, Twilight was certain that the answers were in the Everfree Forest.
"Let's go, Applejack!" Twilight said as she left the cottage.
Despite her willingness to find answers too, Applejack didn't like the idea of following flyders. She had always been creeped out by flyders, but knew that she had to be brave if she didn't want Canterlot to close down.
"Why did it have to be flyders of all things?" Applejack complained as she followed Twilight deep into the forest.
The Everfree Forest was just as dark and creepy was it was last year. The forest was silent, apart from the constant buzzing of the flyders. As Twilight and Applejack traveled deeper into the forest, more flyders began to fly above them, much to Applejack's dismay
After a few more moments of traversing through the forest, Twilight and Applejack stopped in their tracks when they heard buzzing that was much louder than the tiny buzzing sounds they heard earlier. Twilight looked up and was shocked to find the flyder from Mosbar's diary. Unlike last time, the flyder was much bigger as it stared down at Twilight. Twilight could only stare in shock as the fly-spider hybrid flew down closer to her.
"Who's there? Is that you, Big Mac?" the flyder spoke.
"Um, no, but we are friends of Big Mac. Are you the Flyder Prince?" Twilight asked.
"Nopony had called me that in years. You may call me, The Flyder King."
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Your Majesty!" Twilight replied with a friendly smile, despite how scared she was. "We came to ask you something. There have been rumors going on at Canterlot and everypony believes that Big Mac is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets."
"That's impossible!" The Flyder King yelled. "I have known Big Mac for years, and he would never do anything like that. Only the heir of Slytherin can call the monster of the chamber."
"And do you know what the monster is?" Twilight asked.
"We do not speak its name! All flyders fear it! What I do know is that the monster's master is able to command any creature, no matter how rare." The Flyder King explained.
Suddenly, Applejack looked up and her eyes widened in horror. She poked Twilight with her hoof, desperately trying to get her attention.
"T-Twilight?"
"What?"
Twilight looked up and was horrified to see a bunch of flyders flying above them, each of them looking like they were getting ready to attack.
"Um, thank you for your time!" Twilight thanked with a nervous smile. "If you don't mind, Applejack and I should really go now."
"Go?" The Flyder King repeated. "I think not! The flyders would never harm Big Mac on command, but I cannot deny my children fresh meat! Goodbye, friends of Big Mac!"
Suddenly, the flyders dropped to the ground as they surrounded the two ponies. Twilight and Applejack soon took out their wands before realizing that there were too many flyders for them to defend themselves against.
Just when they were about to give up hope, they heard the sound of wheels rolling against the ground. That was when Twilight and Applejack took notice of Bright Mac's chariot. The chariot rode through the flyders, pushing them all out of the way.
Seeing her chance, Twilight yelled, "Quick, get in!"
Wasting not time, Twilight and Applejack, got in the chariot. Applejack soon rode the chariot away, with the flyders giving chase. The chariot drove further away as Applejack desperately tried to get the chariot in the air.
"Applejack? Why isn't the chariot flying?" Twilight began to panic.
"I don't know! Looks like we need to drive this thing on the ground"
The two ponies were soon surprised when a flyder flew in front of the chariot, blocking their field of vision and causing the chariot to crash into a tree. Twilight and Applejack recovered a few moments later before checking to see if they were okay.
"Are you alright, Twilight?" Applejack asked once she recovered.
Twilight nodded. "I'm fine, Applejack. What about you?"
"Don't worry, Twilight! I'm fine!"
Right as Applejack said that, a flyder flew behind Applejack and grabbed her with its legs and pincers.
"T-Twilight help!" Applejack choked as the flyder tightened its grip on her.
At that moment, Twilight grabbed her wand and hit the flyder with one of her spells, forcing it to let go of Applejack and fly away.
"Whew! Thanks, Twilight!" Applejack breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't mention it!" Twilight panted.
Unfortunately, the two friends didn't have much time to rest as more flyders than ever started to chase after them. Applejack rode the chariot once again only to find out that she was riding towards a dead end, where even more flyders blocked their path. That was when Applejack tried harder than ever to get the chariot to fly. It wasn't long before the chariot slowly lifted its wheels off the ground and took off into the sky.
Once they were in the sky, Twilight and Applejack looked back and both sighed in relief, knowing that they finally lost the flyders. The chariot soon drove down to the Canterlot grounds before Twilight and Applejack got out. Right as they got out, the chariot drove itself back into the Everfree Forest, much to Applejack's frustration.
"Follow the flyders! Follow the flyders! If Big Mac ever gets out of Tartarus, I'm going to kill him!" Applejack yelled, frustrated that she went through all of this for nothing. "What have we learned from going into the Everfree Forest, anyway?"
Twilight thought about it for a moment before she replied. "Well, we've learned that Big Mac wasn't the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets."
Despite all of the information she gather, Twilight still ended up with more questions than answers. What was the monster that was attacking the school, and who actually opened the Chamber of Secrets?
