Longest chapter by far. Doesn't feel like I got a lot accomplished though.
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And thank you for reading.
Untitled Document
Part 5
Celestia!
The mare's eyes opened groggily, her ears flicking lazily around to find the sound. She snorted and rolled onto her back, dreading the rising sun, and with it, the ever-growing pile of responsibilities.
Celestia! The voice whined, get up!
She felt a tug on her tail. Her head lifted and looked down her body, but nopony was there.
Mom wants us to go with her to visit Grandpa!
Celestia froze, her body going cold. Her eyes tore open and she rushed up, her muscles shaking and she stared around the room desperately. "Wh-What?"
We can't stay here Cel! We need to go! We need to be in the second quadrant.
Celestia wandered about her well-known room, studying the shadows the books made on the wall, listening to every creak her hooves made on the hard floor. "Blackie?"
Who else, Cel? She felt a familiar brush along her flank, but she knew no one was there. You know what you have to do.
"Discord stop it." She said harshly, her heart beating quickly.
Discord? Whose that, Cel?
"He's you." She closed her eyes. "He's all that's left of you."
He can't be. I don't know him.
She felt him walk forward and into a certain bookcase.
You know what you have to do. His voice was very serious.
"I can't." She took a blind step forward and felt around with her horn before lightly hitting a shelf, causing the books to rattle.
Whoever this Discord is, he isn't me. Perhaps he used to.
"He could never be you." She lifted her head and opened her eyes, spying the small bottle behind the books.
The contents danced and glowed, more excited than usual. The release of Discord probably sparked it. Dark gas filled the glass, and seemed to stare back at Celestia. She pulled it over with her magic.
See, Cel? This is me.
"This is all that's left. Everything else was given to Discord."
Such a shame.
"Blackie, I can't lose you." She paused, "Again."
We had a good run, Cel. For millions of years.
"You were only alive for a few thousand though. She bit her lip, attempting to keep tears back.
Do you remember—
"Everything." Such as the days the two spent alone, staring at the most glorious of stars. How the two would land on a desert planet, build castles of pure, unaltered matter, build monuments to their parents, and finish the day staring over an ocean they were never allowed to swim in, scratching pictures in the diamond sands.
I can't be here anymore, Cel.
She nodded. "Yes, of course." She felt his presence begin to leave.
"Princess Celestia!" A guard shouted, causing her coat to go on end.
"Yes, what is it?" She shouted back.
"A long list of ponies are here to see you."
Celestia dropped her head before sucking in a huge breath, turning, and nearly stomping her way out the door. She nearly knocked over the guards outside. "Any interesting ones?"
The earth pony nodded, "a small group from Ponyville, your Majesty. The friends of your student."
"Twilight Sparkle is here?" Her ears flew up.
"No, ma'am." He continued, "her friends, but not her."
Celestia's mind raged. She was still frozen. And Celestia couldn't do anything to help her. "Show them in. And only them. Nopony else." She walked slowly forward before calling behind her, "and get Luna!" Celestia's wings were tight around her body; holding the glass container secure beneath the safe, feathery touch.
Rainbow Dash's wings fluttered nervously, as flying was not allowed indoors. There were so many ponies here, the small group was squished together, and Radiation X had adapted to sitting on Fluttershy's head as a tiny bird. Applejack's ears were listening around, hearing the horror stories of Discord and two "mysterious" ponies.
"It's been hours!" Dash exclaimed, swishing her tail.
"I assume the Princesses are very busy in such a…situation." Rarity was keeping a close eye on a muddy pony, who was beginning to get a little too close.
"We need to talk to her, pronto." Radiation X muttered, angrily staring at the strangers surrounding them. He eyed the numerous guards, both Lunar and Solar, lining the edge to keep an eye on the crazies. More than one pony had to be escorted out due to riots.
Two more Solar guards entered the large ballroom, and nopony turned towards them. They made their way towards the group.
The Earth pony froze, glancing at each face, "uh, Twilight Sparkles…group. The Princess will see you now."
"Finally." Radiation X muttered, hunkering down in Fluttershy's mane. She didn't speak out against his harsher tone, though her mouth flattened.
The six ponies, bird, and dragon moved easily through the crowd thanks to Radiation's mind control. Rarity looked around in wonder as ponies subconsciously stepped into their neighbors, many even continued talking.
"I say, Radiation X, one of these days you must tell me how to do this. It would be great for making an entrance at parties." She looked at the birds glowering eyes and shrank back a little, "or not."
"A spell this powerful should only be bestowed upon the Element of Magic. And even then, they'd have to be good."He faced forward again, "You are the Element of Generosity; you should understand why I'd hesitate to teach you something that would take away something as powerful as the pony will."
"ah, yes, of course." She lowered her head a little and followed sheepishly.
"Excuse me, ah, Mr. Radiation X?" Fluttershy looked up at her forehead. He peered over.
"What is it, Fluttershy?"
"Um, I don't really appreciate you talking to Rarity like that, so…if you could please…stop." Her ears dropped back nervously. Radiation sat straight again, shaking out his feathers.
"Fluttershy, my dear, what you don't understand was that was me being kind back there."
"What? But you were so…harsh."
"Of course. Imagine if I had given in and taught little miss Rarity over there how to control pony's minds; wouldn't that upset the balance of Generosity and Magic?"
"Well, of course, but—"
"Kindness is doing the right thing that helps as many people as possible. Kindness is not being nice. The difference is that being nice is passive. It is impossible for kindness to be passive." Fluttershy saw Radiations face in her mind, all rainbow and anger. "Do you understand?"
"Perfectly." She squeaked, lightly tossing her head to lose the image.
The group continued up the stairs, following the two nervous guards. It wasn't long before the group stood before the large doors that led to the throne room of the alicorns. The doors were magically opened with barely a grind, and the guards motioned for the ponies to continue in. Before them, Celestia and Luna stood on the dais, a grim look set on both their faces.
"Princess's," Rarity began as the herd trotted forward, coming to a stop before the flowing mares.
"Is there any word from Matter or Energy?" Applejack asked, her face wrought with worry.
Luna shook her head as Celestia spoke, "none, but from the reports we've been getting from all over Equestria, they are still chasing Discord relentlessly."
Luna looked at the group, "we worry about them. They cannot take him alone. Not with the power he now harnesses." Celestia looked sadly at her sister.
A moment of silence before the bird on Fluttershy's head took off, swirling in a lazy spiral above the group, and spoke in their minds.
We have spoken with Space, granddaughters. The Princess's ears perked and they looked at the bird expectantly. He flew up, closed his wings, and fell. She has confirmed our many of our worst fears, insulted the family line, and promotes interspecies congregation.
When he landed, Radiation X was his rainbowy self again, through his body, Fluttershy could see the Princesses distorted body, but could also see the waves that made up Radiations body.
"She gave me a mental list of the races to contact." He took a step forward.
Celestia dropped her head, "I didn't wish this for my little ponies. I wanted them to exist with little interstellar contact as possible." She looked at the ponies behind her grandfather, "except us of course."
"I know. I was able to keep the other races from this portion of the universe, but…we have no choice now."
"What will she and Time do if we do not comply?" Luna stared at Radiation.
He stared back for a moment, "she and he may destroy this universe if he cannot be stopped."
"Why can't she just, uh, get rid of the part he's in now?" Applejack looked between the three Cosmponies.
"Black Hole's power," Radiation turned to look at her, "is a little bit of every level of Cosmpony, it's whatever our power misses is what he was made of. Space and Time cannot just take that part because they don't know where he is. He is untraceable as long as Discord is harnessing that power. Also, they may think that he can come back. Destroying the entire universe is the only sure way of demolishing Discord and Black Hole together." He looked at the Princesses, "Even if we are in it."
Celestia nodded, "sadly." She sighed, "who are we contacting."
Radiation fidgeted a bit, "when I said list, I meant list. She thinks this race has barely any power."
Celestia glared at Radiation, "they are the natural evolution of ponies. If any ponies have the sensibility and ability to read the land, as well as other ponies, I'd like to meet them."
Radiation's head fell to one side, "fair enough. She mentioned the Eldirondack's, the Eleatrons, of course, the Shoobi, Reltiks, and the unnamed cave ponies." He rubbed a hoof to his chin, "there's a few more."
Celestia closed her eyes slowly, then opened them; "we have no idea who any of those races are. We don't know their customs, what they look like, their language, who their leaders are, nothing."
Radiation shook his head, "I don't have time to brief you. The Reltiks and Shoobi are kind, they will understand."
Luna spoke up, "will we be able to understand them, though?"
Radiation blew air out of his mouth before answering, "yes. You should. The Reltiks know the Eleatron language, which is very similar to yours. The Shoobi…" He thought for a moment, turned to the ponies, and stared hard at each one. He grabbed Applejack's face, and came in close. She stared, horrified into his see-through eyes, and felt her mind break open. She gasped as information flowed into her brain. She heard words that she couldn't understand until they became a song, slow and melodic. Her head bobbed to the beat as she took in the words, and the meaning became obvious. The words made sentences, and the sentences told stories. Her eyes closed, and Applejack could see the language on her eyelids. Radiation backed off, and her eyes opened slowly.
Radiation sat back on his haunches, rubbing his two front hooves together. He gave her a critical look, "I may have come on a bit strong."
It was then Applejack became aware of a slight burning sensation under her ears. "What?" She spoke, but the word was not in Equestrian.
"You have slight radiation burns under your ears. Beta. You should be fine. How do you feel?" Radiation kept looking at Applejack.
Celestia leapt off the dais at her ancestor, "what have you done?" She stood beside him, her wings quivering nervously. Luna walked down, standing by her sister, eyeing the orange pony.
Applejack looked at her pony friends before turning back to the Cosmpony, "What language am I speaking?" She heard the words and could translate them in her brain, but Rarity shook her mane.
Fluttershy asked, "what is she saying?"
Radiation's eyes never left Applejack, "you are speaking Shoobi."
One of Applejack's hooves went to her throat, "why can't I speak Equestrian?"
Radiation smiled, "don't worry. It's just like being bilingual, you'll learn to switch between the two."
Applejack nodded. "Good."
Celestia looked frantically between her grandfather and her pony, "why did you do that?"
Radiation's mouth twitched, a quick smile, "Honesty makes the best translator." He stood and trotted over to one of the walls of the castle. He stood before it and ran his hoof in a large semicircle, starting at the ground and running it high above his head before crossing himself to end at the floor again. He then stood for a second, and the other ponies in the room could feel him gathering energy from them, and everything. The air whipped towards him, rushed around him, and entered his body. Radiation then stomped thr ground harshly, and all the energy was focused towards the semicircle on the wall. The line he made became a dark, burnt purple, and the interior of the circle became a swirling, pink and white vortex. Light was emitted, lighting up Radiations translucent surface. He turned to the ponies and smiled, "this will take you to the Reltiks.
Radiation then took ten steps to his right and repeated the ritual. An identical vortex appeared. He turned to them again, "And this will take you to Shoobi. I would advise you bring oxygen, though, as they live underwater. But this," he motioned to the portal, "will take you to the nearby island they frequent."
Celestia and Luna shared a glance. "What about the other races?"
He looked at the ground, "I will round them up." He sighed, "it will be difficult, as they don't know me at all. Hopefully, they will accept me when I tell them I know Matter." He looked off into the distance, "I don't know when I'll find time to chase down Discord with your parents, though."
Luna spoke, "what about grandmother? Can she help you?"
"Quantum Dust is…busy, right now. To say the least. But believe me when I say she has been brought up to date with the Discord situation."
Applejack spoke in Shoobi, "but what about Twilight?"
Radiation's smile slipped, "I don't have time to help one pony. Magic will have to be frozen until I have time to resurrect Time." He turned to the group of ponies, "As she is frozen in both space and time, he is the only one who can do anything about it. If we can release her from the time hold, she can at least be conscious of the world around her, even if she can't move. But…" he trailed off. "if we free her from space but not time, it would break her mind and she would no doubt die."
The ponies' faces fell farther. Rainbow Dash stated quietly, "and Time doesn't like to be disturbed."
"She's saved Equestria before, she's defeated Discord before, we need her." Celestia took and angered step forward.
Radiation flared a little, the heat reaching the ponies, "don't raise your voice with me, princess. I have enough to do right now. If I can, I will find a safe remote place to summon Time. But right now, I am a little busy." With a flash of light, he was gone.
Everypony stared at where he had been. Applejack took in a deep breath and took a step towards the Shoobi portal. She turned to her friends and motioned towards the vortex.
Rainbow Dash flew forward, "I'm with you, Applejack."
"As am I," Rarity trotted forward confidently.
Fluttershy's ears laid back against her head and she took a few soft steps after her friends, "he did say they were nice."
The four turned back towards Spike and Big Mac. Celestia spoke for them, "they will stay here with us, and help keep Equestria together. Believe me, we need all the help here we can get."
The four young ponies nodded. They approached the portal, and one after another entered, placing their lives, and therefore the lives of every being in the universe, on how well these portals were crafted.
Applejack was the first through. The portal was wet and slick, the lack of oxygen in the wormhole caused her to gasp and choke. But it was over in less than ten seconds. She was through. The harsh, blinding sun, seemingly larger than their own, glared down at the orange pony. Her beta burns stung from the added radiation. Her eyes opened gingerly, as feeling in her body returned, she felt pressure on her stomach. Itchy pressure.
She moved her legs, now recognizing the hot sand under her, and looked around, seeing only more sand to her left, and an endless ocean to her right. Less than fifty feet from the shore. She turned and looked at the portal, which was suspended about a foot off the ground. Applejack walked around it, admiring how impossibly thin it was. She heard a ponies "oof!" as somepony else feel through the wormhole.
Rainbow Dash lied, still, in the hot sand. Applejack was already sweating as she walked over to the pegasus. "Are you alright, Rainbow Dash?"
Rainbow shook her head and slowly opened her eyes, "I still can't understand you, AJ." She rubber her hooves over her eyes, "that sun is very bright."
Rarity fell next to Rainbow and Fluttershy out the other side. Rarity leapt up quickly, brushing the sand out of her mane, and flicking her tail. Fluttershy came around the side slowly, wings holding her slightly above the hot sand.
Fluttershy floated next to Applejack, "what do we do now?"
Applejack looked around, "Radiation said they were an underwater race, right?"
The three looked at each other. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "AJ, you better remember how to speak Equestrian before we go visit the Shoobedoo or whatever. It doesn't work if the translator can only speak one language.
Applejack looked hurt, "I'm trying everypony. I think Radiation may have overdone it a bit."
What none of the ponies saw was fifty meters out in the sea, an equine head was popped above the surface, its fins flapping slowly to hold it above the water. The head crest was pressed back, flat against its slick head. Its angular eyes watched curiously, and it's sharp, pointy ears listened to words it couldn't understand. It perked up at Applejack's speech, though the accent was rough. She smiled, and dipped back under the water, her powerful tail pushing her closer to shore, and closer towards the strangers.
Applejack closed her eyes tightly, attempting to mentally switch languages. Her burn marks buzzed. Her brain felt wide open, like she was losing control of it slowly. She felt the two languages in her mind, over in one part. In another, she felt the Element of Honesty. She poked that for a bit, feeling its universal power. This was created at the same time as Total Matter, but it resides in me. The feeling of pride could not be hidden. Applejack turned back to the languages, visualizing herself picking up Equestrian.
"There, how does this sound?" Applejack grinned.
"We can hear you loud and clear, dear!" Rarity beamed at her friends.
The four moved to the waterfront. They stared down into the endless void of flat water.
Fluttershy moved in close and saw her own reflection, but no bottom. "Should it be this clean and still?"
Rainbow Dash flew out a few meters and ruffled the water with the air. "Is it just like a drop off? I don't think the island is attached to anything."
Rarity was admiring her reflection when the water twitched. She jumped back, staring at the ripples. "There's something down there." She kept her head back but stepped closer. Rarity stared, unblinking, as the water got darker.
A long snout like Discord's popped above the waterline. The ponies froze. Rainbow Dashs' wings froze, causing her to fall into the water. The stranger turned and dove, picking up the wet pony on her back and depositing her onto land. The creatures fins pushed her onto land , and her fins flattened completely.
The creature spoke, but only Applejack understood. "Are you okay?" She kept asking as Dash spit up water and began to shake her wings out.
"She's fine, just a little wet." Applejack said, staring at the creature incredulously. Fluttershy stared.
"You were the one speaking our tongue, yes?" She turned to Applejack.
"Yes. I was."
"But you are not from our nation. Where are you from?" She cocked her head. "Oh! Pardon my manners; my name is Nyra of Shoobi." Nyra grinned.
"I'm Applejack…of Ponyville. This here is Fluttershy, Rarity, and you've already met Rainbow Dash. We're from Equestria."
"Equestria?" She purred, "strange name. I don't think I've ever seen anything like you before."
Rarity stared into the creatures large eyes, "likewise."
One of Nyra's ears twitched to Rarity. "What did she say?"
Applejack looked nervously at Rarity, "she said, 'likewise.'"
"Likewise…" Nyra turned to Rarity and waddled over. Nyra studied Rarity's figure and mane, comparing it to Applejack. "She is…beautiful in your culture, no?"
"uh, yeah. She is. How could you tell?" Applejack stepped closer. Rainbow Dash shook the wet sand from her wings.
"This sun is hot enough to dry me in a few minutes. AJ, we need to find shelter before we roast." She watched as her farm friend and the sea creature studied Rarity.
Nyra continued, as though she didn't hear, "as is the same in our world, being shiny in some places counts as beauty. Look at her eyes. They shine brilliantly. Her hardened legs, too. Her coat is well-groomed."
Applejack stared Rarity in the confused eyes, "yes. I see it."
"What is she saying, Applejack?" Rarity took a nervous step back.
"She's callin' you beautiful, Rarity."
"Well, thank you. But please. Ask her how we can get out of the sun."
"Nyra." The Shoobi turned, "is there any way we can get out of this sun?"
Her dorsal fins expanded for a second, then flattened. "Yes, but it is underwater. How well can you all swim?"
Applejack's mouth pursed. She looked at her friends, then back at Nyra. "How well can y'all swim?"
"Swim?" Rarity asked, dumbfounded.
"Uh, well, I guess I'm an okay swimmer…"
"The best!"
Applejack hummed for a moment, before returning to the Shoobi, "we aren't too great. I can't say we were made for swimming."
Nyra nodded deeply. "I'm sorry but, it's the only way to go. You may dive in the ocean to see if it is to your capabilities. It may not be outside of your abilities." Nyra waddled to the ocean, looked at the ponies over her shoulder, then slid seamlessly into the liquid, her dark form lost among the clear.
Applejack swallowed, "Nyra says the only way to go is underwater. We have to try."
Rainbow Dash walked over and bumped her hip into the orange pony, "Equestrian, AJ."
Applejack repeated in Equestrian.
"Underwater!" Rarity came close to the water and dipped a hoof in. "It isn't cold or warm, but still. How far did she say it was?"
"She didn't." The other three joined her. "But we have to, or we go back with no army."
"What can we do with an army of fish-ponies?" Rainbow Dash asked, giving a raspberry to the water, "Flipper Discord into submission?"
"I don't think Space would have recommended them if they weren't useful." Fluttershy entered the water, floating easily on the surface, her wings extended above her, legs kicking lazily, tail flowing out behind her.
Rainbow Dash followed, her more powerful strokes putting her ahead of Fluttershy quickly. A few meters out, she turned, "Come on in, guys!"
Rarity looked at Applejack. "For Twilight." She muttered.
Applejack nodded, "for Twilight." They entered at the same time, feeling the water spread out before them, almost moving out of their way.
"It's so slick," Fluttershy dipped a wing in and raised it, "it just rolls right off."
Rarity turned to look at her tail, "my beautiful curl is still there!" She laughed, disrupting the water."
Applejack returned to land, stepped toward the portal and removed her hat, placing it right in the path of anyone coming through. She kicked some sand on it to hold it down, then returned to her friends. They looked at each other.
"We need to dive." Dash said plainly.
"This marks a great passage from our world into a whole other." Rarity sighed.
"Too bad Twilight and Pinkie aren't here." Fluttershy said sadly.
Applejack took a deep breath and dove. She felt the thin, slick liquid around her smooth her coat and mane. She opened her eyes, not feeling any sting water would have made. She kicked a few meters down, then twisted over, staring up.
The blinding sun made the whole ocean glow. Applejack spied her friends' faces as they looked down at her. She twisted onto her stomach again and kept kicking down. She felt the sea vibrate as her friends broke the surface. It wasn't long before she spied Rainbow Dash ten feet to her right, using her wings to give her more powerful strokes. Applejack could feel each of the feathers as they forced the liquid away and behind.
Nyra returned, swimming circles around Applejack. She twisted, following the creature with her body and eyes. Nyra spoke, and Applejack could hear her perfectly. "I brought friends." Three larger, presumably male, sea-ponies appeared. Nyra came in close to Applejack and rubbed her tail against the Earth pony's chest. "Grab on."
Applejack complied, wrapping her forelegs securely around the slippery tail. The three other Shoobi did the same, and the Earth Pony's followed Applejacks example. Soon the eight ponies were making their way slowly, deeper and deeper underwater, until they crossed over a ledge, and a few bubbles of air escaped Applejack's mouth pematurely.
The city that stretched on below them was a crystal blue, with tall spires and very few short buildings. Everything was tall and pointy, with bright windows and many sea-ponies traveling. Nyra spoke over her shoulder, "Welcome to Dyla."
They swam in close, to one of the spires. Nyra lead through a window at the top that was larger then three Princess Celestia's, at least. Nyra swam up, towards the top of the small room, and flicked her tail up. Applejack broke the surface, sputtering and releasing Nyra's tail instantly. Soon three more regular ponies entered too, Rarity breathing especially hard.
"What is this place? It's huge!" Rainbow Dash gushed.
"And did you see the color?" Rarity gasped, "an entire city…"
"Radiation was right when he said these ponies were nice." Fluttershy smiled. "The sea-pony who pulled me took it nice and slow."
Applejack sputtered, "Nyra said it's called Dyla."
"Nyra is…your pony?" Rarity asked.
Applejack's ears went back, "the pony we met on shore, yes."
Rarity nodded. Nyra's head made no splash as it breached the surface. "How are you all doing?"
"We're doing fine Nyra. We were admiring Dyla."
"It is a beauty, is it not?" Nyra grinned as she turned from Applejack to Rarity. "How do your friends like it?"
"They think it's wonderful." Three more heads entered. Rarity squinted in the darkness.
"Oh, it's so drearily dark in here, Applejack." Her horn emitted a faint glow, lighting up all the faces.
"And she does magic! How wonderful!" Nyra swam around Rarity continuously.
"What…what is she doing, Applejack?"
"She's admirin' yer magic, Rarity."
"Do they not have, er, unicorn…sea ponies?"
Applejack cleared her throat, "Nyra," the pony stopped and turned. "Do your people have…magic?"
Nyra swam in close, "oh, only a few. It's more likely for us to have extra swimming appendages then a horn."
"Extra…swimming appendages?"
"Nork," She turned to one of the males, "show her your wings."
The male turned on his side, dipping his head under the water. The group saw his usual flippers, and a special, bat-wing like appendage that grew closer to his middle and spine.
Applejack looked at her friends, "they have very few unicorns. It's more likely for them to be pegasi, though. Like Nork, over there." He rolled back over and grinned at Fluttershy, who raised a wing to show him. Rainbow Dash struggled above the surface, flapping her wings.
"I can't sit still like this, Applejack." She got airborne, hovering afoot above the water.
Nyra looked at Applejack, "what is she doing?"
"She can't kept still." Applejack dragged her eyes from her pegasus friend.
"What?" Nyra cocked her head, twitching an ear.
Applejack shook her head, "Sorry," she said in Shoobi, "Rainbow Dash can't sit still for very long. She's very active."
"If your party is ready to move, then we can make our way to the palace."
One of the males spoke up, "taking them to see the king and queen already?"
Nyra looked harshly at the male, "of course, they deserve to meet the new visitors. Strangers from another planet don't show up everyday. They could be in peril."
"It's not just us who are in peril, Nyra." Applejack fidgeted.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the threat that we came here to talk to the leaders about threatens the entire universe. It's very important."
Nyra nodded, "of course. Then let's move on." She dunked under the water and Applejack grabbed her tail again, feeling as her friends did the same, an extra splash for Rainbow Dash as she landed in the liquid.
Nyra pulled the group out of the tower and down the spire, where sea ponies of all ages stopped and stared at the strange brigade. Applejack looked at them worriedly, and they stared back. A few waved, and even fewer glared. Some of the sea pups grew close, but a sharp bark from the parents pulled them away.
No wonder we stick out, Applejack thought, comparing her bright orange coat to Nyra's dark scales.
The sea ponies took a side route down a small canyon of short buildings, as the largest, roundest crystal bubble of a building grew above them. Finally, Nyra came upon a door that lead to a long hall that entered the bubble tower. Applejack stared at the short, empty stores that sat, hunched over, around the hall. She couldn't read the words on the signs, nor could she see any faces peering out at her from behind the sea glass windows.
Nyra knocked on the door, and spoke a word Applejack couldn't translate. The heavy metal door was swung slowly open, and the liquid rushed forward, pulling the group into the air-filled hallway. The Earth ponies sputtered and laid on the sandy ground, legs extended in all directions. The male Shoobi's closed the door behind them, stopping the flow of water. The hall was lit by lights hidden under the soft, thin sand.
"That is…amazing." Rarity said, kicking some of the sand as she stood, revealing a ground light.
Nyra turned to Applejack, "continue down this hallway, and follow all the signs for the staff kitchen. We'll meet you there."
"Nyra, I can't read." Applejack put a hoof on the pony's back.
Nyra waddled to some dry sand and stuck a fin in it. She harshly scratched out a symbol. "Follow that." She then turned and waddled to the door with the three males. The Equestrian ponies continued forward, Applejack focusing on the symbol in her mind. They heard the heavy door open behind them, and they turned to watch the four struggle against the flow, but manage to close it behind them. Through the crystal walls, they could see the four swimming high above them.
"Come on guys, we have to get to the staff kitchen." Applejack trotted forward, and heard the others following.
"What are we going to say? We don't even know all of the details." Rainbow Dash flew above the group lazily.
"We tell them the truth." Applejack's eyes narrowed.
"But what if we scare them into hiding?" Dash swooped in low.
"Yes, or perhaps they think we're the ones threatening them?" Rarity worried. "Then the universe will fall for sure."
"We'll be careful with our words." Applejack stepped up the pace.
As they reached the end of the hall, they came upon a staircase, one way leading down, the other up.
"Which way?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking up the steep spiral stairs, "and how do they get up these?"
Applejack looked at the small signs posted. "Up." She said, and began to ascend. The group followed.
They climbed for what seemed like minutes, before they heard flippers above them. "Perhaps they beat us and are coming to catch up?" Fluttershy peeked passed Rarity to Applejack.
Applejack carefully looked around the turn, and was astounded to see legs. They were a light blue-white color, and had fur. The back of their legs though, from the hock up, were the same dark scales. She took another step up, and saw the same, Discord-like sleek head of the Shoobi. She also noticed the head crests, and dorsal fin. Applejack's slid from the long, muscular tail up to the horn in the middle of the forehead. The unicorn Shoobi had the same, long ears as well. One turned, and Applejack gasped. Its eyes were crystal blue. The whole eyeball.
The unicorn leapt to the staircase, using its magic to pull Applejack up the last few stairs. The others joined it and pulled the rest of the group.
Applejacks capture stared angrily at the group, "what experiment is this?"
Applejack was terrified, she couldn't speak Shoobi. "Experiment? What? No! We're here with Nyra!"
The captain snorted, "it speaks. But I don't understand."
A slighter, female was holding Fluttershy in her magical grip, "what should we do with them?"
The captain pulled Applejack closer, inspecting her. "We'll put them in the dungeon's for now. We'll speak with the Princess on this matter. The king and queen can't be bothered."
Applejack sputtered, "what? No!" She cleared her throat, "please! No! Nyra! Nyra! We need to speak to Nyra!"
The captain chuckled, "they think they can get away with calling for Nyra. I don't even think they realize what that means. Knock 'em out and bag them, group. We can't have them knowing more then they already do."
Applejack cried out in frustration just as she felt a heavy sleep envelope her senses. She was out.
Applejack's dreams consisted of her falling. Around her, pony's flew. First she saw Nyra grinning at her from afar. Then the captain as his horn glowed blue. Those two were the most prominent as she kept falling. Finally, Applejack was able to flip over, and she saw a lighted platform.
Hitting the platform was not so bad. The brightness stung her eyes though. She looked up, and she saw Princess Celestia, Luna, Total Matter, Complete Energy, Radiation X and Space standing around her.
Space spoke, her voice echoing off unseen walls, "the psychic link got weaker the farther down the royal line it got; it is apparent in all the levels, though."
Total Matter was next; "I am the Elements. I created them. I can feel them."
Celestia bowed down, low, to Applejack. "you are so close, Honesty. You can almost feel her now." Applejack listened closely to their words and found a deep heartbeat that caused the platform to shake. She scrunched her eyes up tight, focusing on the heart. She opened her eyes and almost screamed. Celestia was melting, a demonic smile frozen on her face. The skin dripped off of her face, her eye sockets empty. She saw it in all the Cosmponies, and tears ran down her face.
Applejack. The faint voice played in her mind. Applejack. It got louder. But she couldn't tear her eyes from the wax Princess.
"Applejack! Come on!" The tangible voice made her turn, and she spied her five friends in a field. Rainbow Dash sat in a tree, smiling down at her, glowing red. Fluttershy was lying in the grass below her, smiling, glowing pink. Pinkie Pie was there too, hopping and grinning, glowing a light blue. Rarity was laying out the picnic blanket magically, surrounded by a purple aura. And Twilight was standing the closest to Applejack, glowing an absolute, deep, pink. She was poised to run, legs spread, looking back over her shoulder. Applejack kept crying. She couldn't move. Surrounded by confusion and horror, she forced herself to stand, but she knew if she started to move, the melting process would start on her, as well.
"It's alright, Applejack, nothing will happen." Applejack took a tentative step forward, nervously testing the ground. Where she stepped, grass popped up. She felt herself grow stronger as she watched the grass spread and cover the lighted platform. She watched vines and moss cover the half-melted statues. She took another step, and a grass pathway led to her friends, with Twi still waiting for her. Tears of joy ran down Applejacks face as she sprinted over to her best friends. She noticed herself glowing a faint orange that strengthened as she ran. She met up with Twilight and had the best picnic with her friends she could ever ask for.
And then she woke up in the dingiest, moistest, most disgusting room she'd ever been in, with a soundtrack of screams.