Everything was black, but I could feel the world around me… it was cold and wet. As light slowly started to filter in through the sky above I began to open my eyes in response. I saw above me there was a hole torn through the canopy of trees letting the suns light shines in through. Lying on top of me was twilight sparkle, slightly cut up and bruised, but alive and well. She was sleeping; her soft breath rolled through my fur and warmed my body. We were both soaking wet and covered in mud. The ground I was laying on was soft and wet, it was mud. The mud covered my back and my fur. It covered over my open wounds which were plentiful. My side was aching, and as I looked I saw it was blue and black, a disgusting bruise that covered a good portion of my side. The rest of my body was covered in cuts and bruises as well. The ground was littered with broken sticks and fallen branches. Left over rain water dripped down from the soggy leaves on the trees and showered down on the two of us softly.
Recalling yesterday's events I know realize that me and twilight are in a lot of trouble, seeing as we both fell off the ship; I at least hope the ship made it through the storm and hasn't crashed. I tried moving but as soon as I tried a sharp pain raced through the side of my body and caused me to wince. I tried not crying out in pain but it was hard and I let out a moan of pain. I had used up too much magical energy to soften the fall to the ground so now I can't heal myself. Even with my own rapid regenerative abilities it still will take a while to recover unless I gather up some more energy to heal myself. I just let out a sigh and let my head rest back in the mud. I noticed that I had made quite the crater from the impact, but it wasn't much of a hole. I let out another sigh and felt something crawl across my chest.
I looked and saw it was twilight's hoof which she dragged across my chest and brought up to her forehead. She let out a moan and shook her head as she winced in pain. She slowly opened her eyes and began to look around. She looked at me and gasped and I just looked at her.
"Oh god… crimson are you alright, what happened…?" she asked.
"I'm fine… twilight." I said trying to choke out words; I found it difficult to concentrate with all this pain rushing through my body. I still felt exhausted too.
"Are you sure?" she asked worryingly.
"Well, not really." I said.
"Oh I knew it… this is my entire fault… I'm sorry crimson… I'm sorry." She said now crying. I didn't think she would cry, so it was rather surprising. She's seen me worse off before, I don't know why she's crying, maybe she's finally lost it.
"Hey hey… don't cry its fine… I'll be alright, okay… were going to be fine twilight." I said.
"But it's my fault that your hurt… it's all my fault." She wept out with tears in her eyes.
"It's not your fault twilight." I said.
"It is… If I didn't go up on the deck to check on you, you wouldn't have fallen off and you would be fine… and we'd…we'd still be on the ship… I'm…*sniff*, I'm always holding you back… if it *sniff* if it weren't for me you would have no problem with anything… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."
Seeing twilight cry like that was starting to hurt me. It didn't hurt physically but it was beginning to stab away at my own peace of mind. I didn't really know what to say; better yet I didn't really have anything to say. I just woke up after falling to the ground from several thousand feet in the air and I'm badly injured. I thought that when twilight woke up she would just be relieved that we both survived and maybe be worried about my serious injury. I had no idea she would break down and start crying. I know that she's going through a lot now, and it must be hard for her… but the only thing I can do now is hold her tight… so I will.
"Don't worry twilight…" I said holding her tightly. "It's not your fault… it's not, I promise. You can't be so hard on yourself."
"But…but…" she stammered trying to speak through her tears.
"If you didn't come along or if thunder wasn't here I would be all alone. And feeling lonely is worse than any kind of trouble or pain." I said. She just looked at me with her tear filled eyes and then buried her face into my chest as she continued to cry and sob. I know that she'll be fine, twilight is stronger than she lets on… she might even be stronger than she think. The immediate problem was how are we going to continue now? We both fell overboard… way overboard, and now the ship isn't even in sight. They probably presume were dead… that kinda sucks.
After a while of pondering and thinking I felt that something had now become missing. When I began to focus I noticed that it was twilight, she had stopped crying. I tried waking her but… she had cried herself to sleep, which isn't of any help to the current predicament. All I know is that we can't stay here in this muddy crater, so I gently rolled twilight off of me and tried getting up. My side was killing me and it was still a disgusting blue and black color… it was really bad. The fact that the ground was nothing but mud didn't help either, I had to go extra slowly and carefully just so that I don't fall back down and exhaust myself. I didn't have enough energy to do much, so in order to get twilight and myself out of this pit I had to grab her by the tail and pull us both out. I tugged once and we were off. I slowly made my way to the top and finally came over it. I pulled twilight up and we were out of the hole. Just doing that was a lot more exhausting than it should have been. I looked back at twilight and she was still asleep.
At this point I was sure that she didn't just cry herself to sleep but the emotional trauma might have been a bit too much all at once and now she's knocked herself out. Most ponies don't just sleep through being dragged out of a hole by their tail. I put my head down to twilight and used all of my energy to bury my head under her and pick her up that way. She rolled across my head and was now lying over my back. She was heavy… but I had to move. I looked around for the most reasonable way to go… but I couldn't decide, I'm disoriented form the fall so I don't have my sense of direction to help me out here. I decided to pick a direction and pray. I started the trek onward and started making my way through this dense and wild forest. The ground was still soft and muddy and leftover raindrops fell from the trees onto us one drop at a time.
It was a cool day, no heat strokes or sun flashes. It was kind of chilling just being outside. It sent a shiver down my spine. It also didn't help that me and twilight were soaking wet and covered in mud from head to hoof. Not only do I need to get out of this forest, I need to find some way to keep us warm, but I don't have the energy to do anything, I've only got the energy to move on through sheer will power. I took one step and my hoof started to sink a little in a patch of thick mud. I almost fell over and dropped twilight. I tugged on my hoof but it didn't come completely loose. I tugged again and my hoof came free. I carried on and made sure to be careful where I stepped because the ground was very, very muddy. The pain in my side only started to intensify. I trudged on despite the pain though.
I looked ahead and through the trees I could see that the ground was beginning to seep with steam. I walked forward and suddenly the soft ground became hard and solid. I looked down to see that it wasn't dirt any,ore but rock. It was a beige colored rock, lined with ridges and surprisingly warm. There was a thick wall of vines just in front of me which was leaking with steam. I pushes my way through and the vines gently brushed out of the way. Steam rolled by my face and became thick. Once it was cleared out I looked around and was surprised at what I saw.
The hanging vines made walls around a floor of warm rock and steam filled the air. In the center was a hole with water in it which let off steam into the air. I lazily walked over and placed one hoof in the water. I couldn't believe it when the water was warm to the touch. I think I may have stumbled upon a natural hot spring... This is perfect. I lowered myself and laid twilight down on the rock. I can't put her in the water unconscious, she might slip under and drown, and I can't keep checking up on her in this state. I placed her down need the edge and then started to slowly lower myself into the water. It stung a little, from the warmth but I slowly started to get use dot it.
Once my side started to meet the water I cringed and moaned a bit since the hot water was really starting to hurt my side. I tried my best to suck up the pain but I couldn't help but cringe and moan. Once I was fully in the pain started to fade and the warm water began soothing my body... It felt incredible. After all of the shit that I've been through recently just being able to sit in this water and relax is beyond amazing. The water reached up to my neck sitting down. I stayed by the edge near twilight and just soaked in the water. I started rubbing my fur and started to get all of the mud and grime out of my hair. I hope that twilight wakes up soon; she deserves to relax just as much as I do.
Looking around once more I realized that this paradise gets even better. All around the trees and the bushes were bearing fruits of vibrant color and texture. There was a small bush growing out of the rocks near where I was. I looked at it and it was growing berries. I reached over; I had to lean, and picked one of the berries. It was decent size, about the size of a cherry, and it was purple and soft. I wasn't sure it was poisonous, but if it was it wouldn't be able to affect me, so it should be fine. I put the whole berry in my mouth and started to chew. It was a strange fruit. It felt like a cherry, but tasted like a combination between grape and apple. There was no pit to spit out and no skin to peel... It was delicious, and I didn't sense any kind of poison in it.
"Ugh..." Moaned a voice next to me. I looked over casually to see twilight slowly picking her head up and looking at her surroundings. "W-where am I?" She asked groggily.
"Hey twilight... Are you alright?" I asked.
"Oh crimson... Uh, where are we?" She asked.
"Some kind of hot spring... It's great; you should hop on in... The water is really warm." I said with a smile.
"Did... Did you carry me here?" Se asked worryingly.
"It wasn't far..." I said reassuringly. "C'mon twilight, hop in... You and I both could use some time to relax."
"I suppose your right..." She said sticking a hoof into the water and testing it. "Besides... With no ship, map or even a sense of direction we can't really go anywhere else... We couldn't even get far with that injury of yours." She said.
"Well... That's, uh... One way of thinking about it." Is said. Twilight slowly a climbed into the water and sat down with the water only up to her neck. She was on a high rise and wasn't as deep as I was. She let out a soothing sigh and started to loosen up. She began scrubbing her coat and her mane working out all of the dirt and mud. Once she was done she rested back and closed her eyes. I did the same and started to relax when twilight started to say something.
" um...crimson." She said sheepishly.
" yeah twilight?" I continued.
" I'm sorry about the way I've been recently... You know, about how I kissed you the other day, and just this morning I broke down and started crying on top of you... I'm just... Really sorry, I'm a wreck." She said putting herself down and looking into the water and away from me. I was afraid of when I'd have to talk to her about this, but I think I'm ready.
" twilight... Don't worry, it's fine... I promise." I said.
" I know... But...but..." She said taking a brief pause. " I just... Sometimes I feel like I disappoint you, or I always hold you back. I know you try your hardest... And dash means the world to you... And you have to save her. I just feel like I'm holding you back, I just wish that I could be stronger, so then you wouldn't have to worry about me so much and you could focus more on what's important."
" twilight...you are what's important." I said. " I protect all of my friends... If I end up saving dash but lose you in the process then what do I really gain? I care for all of my friends and I couldn't continue my life without either of you." I said. " twilight don't put yourself down so much... I know that you must be feeling a lot of things right now, and I understand that it's hard, I really do. I've been there to twilight. But the best thing to have during that kind of time is a best friend... And I'm your best friend twilight, and your mine." I said.
Se picked her head up and smiled at me with a heartwarming smile. I was glad to see that I finally managed to lift her spirits and help her out with whatever she was troubling herself with. Even making her feel better was making me feel better as well. I felt like her troubles were weighing me down too, and now that she feels all better it really helps.
" thanks crimson... You're a good friend." She said. " and you always know just what to say, thanks." She said
" no problem twilight... I've said it before... But if you ever need somepony to lean on you can always lean on me." I said. She smiled again and looked off to her surroundings. I looked back and got an idea to help with the situation. I picked one of those strange fruits on the bush and held it out for twilight. " here, it's been a while, you must be hungry." I said. She reached her hoof out and grabbed the strange fruit.
" what... What is it?" She asked.
" I'm not sure... But it's safe to eat, and it tastes good too." I said. " this whole place is blooming with strange fruits."
" hmm..." She said. She put the fruit in her mouth and started eating. She finished and swallowed and smiled. " wow... That's pretty good, it tastes like a mix of grape..."
" and apple?"
" yeah..." She said smiling. " can I have another?" She asked.
" of course." I said picking a few more for us to eat. We sat there soaking in the water and eating fruit. It was relaxing, very relaxing. It was a great stroke of luck that we stumbled upon this place. The water was very warm and very relaxing. Me and twilight soaked and forgot our wounds as we made casual conversation and told jokes. It's good to know we can put the past behind us and become normal friends , the fun was abruptly ruined when an unexpected visitor approached us.
" wait..." I said.
" what?" Asked twilight.
" do you hear that?" I asked. We listened closely and a soft hissing sound came from in front of us through the vines. Next I could hear the sound of something slithering along the ground.
" what is it?" Asked twilight.
" I don't know." I said. The sounds grew louder and the vines in front of us trembled softly. Soon they began to part and a large creature emerged out of the forest. It was some kind of strange snake woman. She had a tail with a rattler and a human body, but instead of skin she was covered in scales. They covered her body excluding her belly and she had two rows of webbed spines running down her back and fading into her tail. She had yellow eyes with black slits for pupils. She hissed at us and and flaps of tissue flung form the sides of her head like a cobra when it's tail rattled and she hissed at the two of us. Me and twilight just looked in shock.
"What'sss thisss...?" She hissed at us. " two poniesss... Ruining our hot ssspringsss with their filth..." She said.
" um... We're sorry..." Said twilight, which was the only thing she managed to say. Instead of saying anything I stood up out of the water like I was prepared to fight... But I knew that if she came after me I would be screwed.
"What are the two of you doing in our ssspring?" She asked.
"Please..." Said twilight jumping out in front of me. "We didn't mean to intrude... My friend is injured... And we, we needed somewhere to rest and relax. If you want us to we'll leave now." Said twilight. I was surprised how she took initiative in the situation and tried to diffuse the hostility knowing we wouldn't survive an attack by this creature in our current state.
" let us leave in peace." I said stepping in front of twilight now and taking my turn. " we don't want trouble... We just needed a place to relax... And I'm sorry that we soiled your spring." I said. The snake woman softly writhed in the air and put a hand to her chin and peered towards me. She then smiled and slithered into the water with elegance. She emerged out of the water and spiraled around the two of us entrapping us in her coiled up body. She rose up and hovered over us with a smile on her face.
" my my my... It's been sssuch a while sssince we've met sssuch brave creaturessssss..." She said. " we have not ssseen poniesss before, most creaturesss that enter thisss place are small... You, are not... We have not ssseen your kind here... We are... Interested." She said uncoiling herself and releasing the barrier around us.
"So... Your not going to eat us?" Asked twilight.
"No... I sssuppose we won't." She said. " poniesss are too big... They would be hard to ssswallow... And killing you and taking sssmall bites isss boring... We like it when our food writhesss in our ssstomach." She slithered away to the farther side of the spring and started to relax as well. There was a large flat rock in the middle of the spring which she rested her upper body on and started to relax. She let out a sigh as she closed her eyes, smiled, and started to rattle her tail. She kept her eyes closed and faced the two of us. We both stood there not sure what to do. Suddenly her eyes shot open and met up with mine. "Please... Ssstay...relax... Thisss is a place of healing... We welcome you here. We have no one to talk to, so the company isss... Nice." She said hissing and smiling as her tail rattled.
Me and twilight just looked at each other and sat back down in the water. The snake woman closed her eyes again and let out another sigh. The water was still very relaxing and I was feeling better by the seconds, but it was somewhat strange now with this snake woman here just facing us, even if her eyes are closed. Honestly I've never seen anything like her... The closest thing I can relate her with are the mermaids... And I've had enough of those.
"Ssso..." She hissed. " what ssseries of events so brings you to our ssspring?" She asked opening her eyes again.
" we uh... Got lost." I said.
"Those are some ssserious woundsss... For just getting lost."she added.
" we were attacked by a wild manticore... He chased me and my friend into the woods and attacked us. We managed to get away... But we became lost in the process." Added twilight.
" my my... Very unfortunate... Very unfortunate indeed." She peered over at me and her eyes started to drift off to a different part of my body. " you were injured... No?" She asked me.
" uhm... Yes." I answered.
" would you like us to... Tend to your wounds?" She asked as she slithered over here in a second and coiled herself around me.
" no, it's fine..." I said. She grabbed my hoof and pulled me in the air giving her a clear view of my injury. " hey, what the..."
" you must be in great pain." She said. " a ruptured ssspleen, several broken ribsss, punctured lungsss... Massssive internal bleeding... That'sss a very nasssty bruise you have there." She said holding me up. She held up one of her hands and pressed it against my bruise. I cringed from the pain and started to writhe around.
" let him go..." Demanded twilight. But the snake woman just ignored her completely and kept her haze on me.
" mossst, creatures... No mater how big, or how strong... They all have a weaknesss, inside... Like a dragon... With razor sssharp teeth, and scalesss as ssstrong asss sssteel, they're ssstill soft and sssquishy on the inside... Completely vulnerable." She said flicking her tongue with ever word that began with a 's'.
" what are you talking about?" I said trying to get free but my sides were killing me.
" you are not normal... Thisss is obviousss... So we offer you a proposal." Said the snake woman. "We can heal you... Make you feel twenty yearsss younger." She said. " in return... You mussst help usss with a task... A very important one." She said putting me down back in the water and then slithering down around me. She sent shivers down my spine every time she hissed in my ear.
"What kind of help are you looking for?" I asked.
" sssomething that requiresss tact and delicacy... Sssomething we are sure you're familiar with."
" so you will heal me... And I'll do this task for you... Is that the deal?" I asked.
" yesss... That isss the deal... Do you accept our conditions?" She asked crossing her arms and giving us a determined smile. I looked over to twilight and she looked back at me.
" at this point it's the only thing we can do... Who knows how long it'll take for you to heal naturally..." Said twilight. " whatever it is I'm sure we can handle it."
"No... It can be only him... We are making a deal with him only... You will stay here with us." She said. " and for good reasonsss too." She said hissing at twilight.
"Well, I suppose..." Said twilight giving me a concerned look.
" don't worry twilight... I can handle myself, you know that." I said. I gave her a reassuring smile and she gave me a smile back. I took a deep breath and looked over to the snake woman. " alright... I accept the terms of the deal... Restore me to full health and I'll do this task of yours."
"Wonderful." Said the snake woman smiling and slithering towards me. " now hold still..." She said holding up both hands as they started to radiate with green energy. Bright green mist started falling from her hands as she brought them closer to me. She placed one hand on my head and the other on my injured side and the green mist started covering my body. Her eyes started to glow green and I could feel the energy slowly covering my body. Suddenly the pain started to fade and energy began returning to my fractured body as her magic started coursing through my veins and through my body. It felt amazing, like nothing I've ever felt before, it was unlike any normal healing magic, and the fact it could heal my otherwise fatal wounds was proof that it was a whole new kind of healing magic. Once the glowing went away and I was healed she dropped me and I landed back down on my hooves in the water.
" she was right..." I said trotting around and splashing in the water. " I do feel twenty years younger."
"Ssso... Now that we have graciously rejuvenate you... Will you now hold up you end of the bargain?" She asked slithering around me.
" yes... I will." I said. " what is it that you want?" I asked.
"Wonderful..." She said smiling and slithering away from me. " east of here, there is a cave." She said. " inside of this cave is a tribe of harpies... They have taken something of grave importance from this place."
" is that why you didn't want me to go... Because of the harpies?" Asked twilight.
" yes... Now you understand." Said the snake woman.
" wait wait... I'm confused, what are harpies?" I asked.
"Harpies are creature just like her." Said twilight pointing to the snake woman." But instead of a cross between snakes they are birds..."
" harpiesss, are female huntresssesss... Male harpiesss don't exist, ssso they lure in males of all kinds of alpha species and keep the, captive, in order to breed. They are extremely hostile to the females of these species... They would have torn your friend into ribbons before you even entered the cave." She said gesturing to twilight. " but you... A male, could easily wander in there. I warn you though, they will try and ssseduce you... Do not fall for thisss... It could mean death, or eternal enssslavement."
" I'm not sure i like this idea." Said twilight nervously.
" well, I made a promise..." I said. " so what did these harpies take from you that is so important."
" they have taken our hearthstone..." She said. " without it, thessse watersss cannot heal woundsss like they used to." She said. " it'sss what made thisss place a place of healing. It used to be a dwelling place for the demons of this forest. My kind, the Minotaur's and the mermaids... Even the animals, would flock here seeking the great healer of this forest... They came ssseeking us... But no longer. All that isss hear is a puddle of hot water... It has angered me for sssome time, which is why we had met with sssome... Hossstility."
"Wow... That sounds horrible." I said.
" yesss... Now you sssee why this is an important task... Ssso, will you ssstill hold up your end of the bargain?" Asked the snake woman.
"Of course I will..." I said. " it's my task as a peacekeeper to aid all of those who are in dire need of help."
"We will ssstay here with your friend. I would go myssself... But with the hearthstone gone, my mana hasss been drained... And I've grown weak in my ongoing age... I would not sssurvive."
" so you said east of here." I said double checking.
" yes... Beyond those vines." She said pointing to the left of her to a wall of vines. I climbed out of the water and started making my way over to the vines and stopped to look back. I turned back and the snake woman stared at me waiting for me to depart, her eyes beckoned me to leave,vs he was eager to have her stone back. I looked at twilight and she just gave me a smile.
"Don't worry..." She said. "Everything will be fine, I'm sure of it... Just don't do anything overly stupid like you always do." She said smiling. I chuckled slightly and smiled back at her.
" I promise..." I said. I turned back and made my way through the vines and out into the forest. Once I passed the vines everything seemed to get colder now than in the spring. There was no more steam and everything was more visible. The ground was still reasonably wet and muddy, but solid enough to walk along carelessly. I started to make my way through the forest climbing over and under trees and plants, having to swat bugs and flies out of my face all the time. The sounds of birds chirping and other animals calling out filled the air and gave the forest a natural atmosphere.
I got to one point of the forest where the floor was thick with a tangled mess of poison ivy and horned vines. I looked around for an alternate rout and I saw a small cut in the trees to my right. I made my way over to the cut in the trees and popped out onto an opening. It looked like a small hoof beaten road which was slowly starting to grow back over with grass and plants. It wasn't very noticeable, but it was definitely a path cut into the forest. I decided to follow it east to the cave and it seemed to be carrying me in the right direction, so I stayed on it to avoid the terrain of the jungle. It's a whole hell of a lot better than trudging through barbs and poison ivy. Also the bugs seem to be keeping out of my face a little more.
As I started walking around I kept looking forward and up ahead there was a sharp turn in the path. I walked over to the turn but stopped before going on. I noticed something on the ground hidden by some of the tall grass. I used my magic to focus on it and pick it up. As I levitated the object into the air I saw that it was a feather, a decently large one too. It was about the length of my feathers, and it was a vibrant mix of bright orange and red. I placed the feather down and took the turn on the road. There was a large bolder blocking the road in front of me now, it had crushed a few trees and was completely blocking the road. I looked around to see where it might have come from and I noticed that to my right there was a large ridge which had a chunk taken out of it.
I looked around at the boulder and saw that there was a small space between the large rock and a tree where I could squeeze through. I waved over and slowly started working my way through. It would have been easier to fly over but I noticed this gap before I thought about flying. It wasn't hard for me to squeeze through the gap and I popped out on the other side. I looked around and I was frankly shocked to see what was littering the ground.
The ground was littered with nothing but feathers, of varying colors and sizes. Even though they were all different sizes they stayed mainly around twice the length of my feathers... Some were even as long as my legs. They were all vivid and vibrant colors. And sure enough, right in front of this pile of feathers was a dark and looming cave entrance. The whole scenario seemed a little strange to me now that I've stopped to think about things. If harpies a supposed to be bird ladies... Then why do they live in a cave, where there's no flying space? It all seemed a bit too suspicious... But I've been wrong about these things before. I'm sure that when I get in there I'll be surprised at what I find. I took a deep breath and swallowed down my stress and started walking towards the cave... Making sure to keep my senses up so I can tell if anything starts heading my way.
By the time I had gotten to the entrance I was already feeling strange,bit was like there were eyes all over me. It felt like others were whispering behind my back... I definitely didn't feel alone. The cave wasn't dark either, veins of glowing minerals scattered the walls and gave off a pleasant sea green glow which illuminated the cave. Everywhere I stepped there were feathers on the ground. As I started to really make my way into the cave pillars of rock and stone started to appear and holes in the sides of the walls became more and more frequent. The holes were like other cave systems and were big enough to fit five ponies in there, it was like an unorganized beehive. I took one step and stopped once I felt a presence nearby. It was moving fast but it was close by. Then there was another and another. I could see shadows jumping from behind the pillars and whirling around me, but staying silent.
Then I felt something soft hit my head. I shook my head to get it off and watched as a feather slowly drifted off of my head onto the cave floor. I looked up only to see a few more feathers gently floating down to the ground. It was obvious that I was now surrounded. I could feel the presence of multiple beings of varying powers all around me. The moment was getting tense and I kept my guard up as I suspected they could pounce on me at any time, but they weren't. They had me greatly outnumbered... But they kept to the shadows for some reason. I kept walking down the cave watching the walls and seeing the shadows dance back and forth from the giant rock pillars.
"Hello..." I called out as my voice echoed through the cave. " I know your in here...band I know you've got me surrounded... Show yourselves." I said my voice bouncing off the walls still. I waited but still none of them came out, they kept hidden. " I'm not an idiot... I know there are harpies in here... I just wanna talk." I said... Still nothing. I let out a deep sigh and started focusing my magic. My runes and body started to glow instantly in a flash of light which brightened up the cave. Past the pillars and in the holes of the cave I saw the harpies shielding there eyes. They hissed and screamed at the light. I looked over and got a chance to see one of them.
They looked like women, but with claws instead of hands and talons instead
of feet. They had long hair and brightly colored wings which were attached to their arms. They were covering their eyes from the bright light and started dodging behind the pillars. They shrieked and hissed and tried to get away. It didn't take long for my to notice that the light was hurting them. I quickly cut off all power to my body and the light faded leaving nothing but a few twinkling lights which fell to the ground like snow. It think now that I've got their attention they'll start paying more attention to me instead of hiding.
"Now then..." I said walking over to one of the pillars. "Are one of you going to show your faces. I walked over and one of them was laying on the ground rubbing her eyes, it seemed like she was crying a bit too. I looked at the and noticed that they were a bit smaller than I had originally thought they would be. " hey... Are you going to answer me or not?" I asked raising my voice. Once she was done rubbing her eyes she looked up at me with a face filled with shock and and a few tears in her eyes and she was trembling. I took one step forward and my hoof fell in something wet. I looked down and saw a puddle which she was sitting in. It wasn't hard for me to deduce that she had pissed herself... And that I had stepped in it.
I glared at her and just turned away walking away from her. She scurried away and dodged behind one of the pillars where a few others tried to comfort her. I looked around and all of them were fop trembling in fear, peaking over the edges of the pillars and looking at me with fear lined eyes. I don't really get it. The snake woman said harpies were vicious seductresses of men... These are pissing themselves at the sight of me. I don't get it... Something's wrong. Suddenly a terrifying shriek filled the cavern and echoed through the cave. It was coming from further down the cavern. I peered over to see what it was and the shriek sounded off once more. It was an ear shattering scream which made my ears ring.
Suddenly a harpy flew from the shadows and slashed me with one of her sharp talons and quickly faded back into the darkness. I drifted a bit to the side form the blow but shook it off otherwise. There was another shriek and she returned from the shadows, but this time I was ready. I focused my energy in an instant and my eyes began to glow brightly. She went for the strike but I fired a beam of energy from in front of me right at her. It cut through her and she cried out losing her balance and falling to the ground. She rolled over and tried to crawl away but I walked over. I placed my hoof on her and held her down. I saw that I had only hit her shoulder... She should be fine, as long as she doesn't try another attack. This harpy was much larger than the other ones. The other smaller harpies still stared at me in fright. Seeing this larger one I can conclude that I probably just blinded and assaulted a group of kids... Great. That would explain things, and this must be one of the mothers... I can't rule out the possibility that she isn't alone, so I kept my guard up.
"What are you doing in these caves?" She asked trying to crawl away.
"I'm looking for something... My apologies for the rude interruption... But it's important." I said.
"Do you even know what doom lies for you in this cave?" She asked fiercely.
"I've got a decent idea..." I said. " but don't worry... I'll be fine."
"What is it you could possibly seek here?" She asked.
"The hearthstone." I said.
"That witch of the woods sent you here didn't she... That vile snake." She said cursing the snake woman.
"Vile or not... I've made a deal with her, and I intend to keep my deals." I said pressing down harder on her making it more uncomfortable for her.
" you fool... You'll be ours before you ever see the hearthstone." She said.
"What makes you sure that you'll capture me?" I asked glaring at her.
"Because we already have." She said giving me a grim smile. Suddenly something shot from the shadows and latched around me neck. Then another one came from the side and clasped my body holding my wings down. When I got a look I saw that there were now metal restraints covering my body and some kind of metal collar around my neck with a chain being held by something in the shadows. Soon I saw several more harpies walk out from the shadows all vibrantly colored and smiling at me.
" are you alright Vinci?" Asked one of the harpies helping up the one that attacked me.
" I'm fine... He got me good, son of a bitch." She said.
" well you can get the first turn with him." She said reassuring her friend. Another one walked over to me smiling and started running her claws against my body softly. She smiled as she started to check me out. The harpies weren't much bigger than I am now, a good foot or so.
"Mmm..." Said the harpy licking her lips. "He isn't as big as a Minotaur... That's for sure, but I hear stallions have a lot of... Endurance." She said whispering the last word in my ear.
"He's pretty good looking too... A few scars here and there, that's pretty hot." Said another one also walking over to look me over.
"So... What's this collar made out of?" I asked calmly.
"Steel... And it stops the flow of magic by counter conducting it." Said the harpy holding the chain.
"So it's made of steel... And it stops magic... Your sure thats a good idea?" I asked her.
"What's re you talking about?" She asked.
" well... A conductive metal collar might not be too smart... What if somepony where to do... Of I don't know... THIS!" I shouted channeling my magic into raw electricity and sending it through the collar to the chain and then into the harpy. She started screaming and foaming at the mouth as the electricity started coursing through her body destroying her nerve endings, interrupting the brains communication with the body, and ultimately shutting down all vital organs. I stopped the flow of electricity and she stopped moving. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, she dropped the chain, and proceeded to fall to the ground.
"Oh my god... You killed her." Said one of the harpies close me to who muttered in shock.
"Yes it would seem so..." I said. " well... Now that we've established that the collar isn't very effective I guess I don't really need it anymore. I said bringing my hoof up and grabbing the collar. I tugged on it and the metal snapped and shattered like glass as it fell to the ground. I flexed the muscles in my wings and they also tore through the restraints on my body as the steel shattered and fell to the ground filling the air with the sound of clanging metal. "Now... I don't really want any trouble... I'm hear for the hearthstone... Nothing more... Nothing less." I said stretching out my wings and preening my feathers a little. " I don't intend on doing anything funny with you harpies... Although I do appreciate the kind words and compliments... Sorry about you friend too." I said.
" you son of a bitch..." Screamed one of them pouncing towards me. I looked over and for a second time seemed to slow down. I focused my energy again and my eyes began to glow. I used my magic to increase the air pleasure around the head of the harpy attacking me. Before she even struck me the pressure around her head became to great and it imploded covering my face and the ground in blood and grey matter. Her body lost its momentum and fell to the ground before me, just a limp body with no head on its shoulder, slowly leaking out blood.
" oh god..." Said one of the harpies quivering at the sight of her friends head exploding in front of her.
"Anyone else want run at me?" I asked. " like I said...I'm here for the hearthstone... Nothing else, attack me... And I will kill you... I don't want to kill... But I will if I must." I said.
"What is going on here?" Asked a voice from the shadows. I looked over to see a rather tall harpy walk out of the darkness. Her feathers were white as snow and her skin was flawless. She had beautiful white hair which fell below her waist and golden talons. She wore golden armor and a tiara encrusted with diamonds. The other harpies fell to their knees at the sight of her. I just stood there and stared at her and she looked at me. She looked down at the two corpses lying at the ground and then her eyes net mine. " why have you come here, why have you done this to my daughters... Is it blood that you want... Why?" She asked me.
"I'm hear for the hearthstone... The snake woman sent me." I said
"Why have you killed my daughters though?" She asked not particularly concerned about them.
"One tried capturing me... The other tried killing me... I did what I did to ensure my survival... And that nothing stops me from my goal. I've made a promise to the snake woman to return her hearthstone. She's already given me something... And now she has asked me for this task. Give up the hearthstone... And I will leave peacefully." I said.
"You speak of peace... Yet blood litters your face." She said.
" there can be no peace until evil and imbalance dies." I said. She stared at me with her bright blue eyes and I stared back at her. She looked over to the other harpies which looked up at her with mixed feelings. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and let out a heavy sigh. She opened her eyes and looked down at me.
"If the hearthstone is to what you want... Then you may have it." She said. " please...wait here... I will retrieve it." She said. " but... If I give this to you... Do you promise never to return to this place...?" She asked.
" I promise..." I said. She glared at me and then turned around she started making her way back as two other harpies passed her by and walked over to me. They both wore golden armor with crown like helmets. They both held in their hands staves laminated in gold and ruby in the middle.
" these guards will stay here... To ensure that nothing more goes wrong." Said the queen harpy before she finally faded into the darkness. Now it was just me and seven other harpies. Two were guards, one was injured, the other four probably wanted to kill me right now.
" we are here to ensure no other accidents occur." Said one of the guards.
"What makes you two so special?" I asked.
" they can use magic..." Answered one of the harpies behind me. I looked back to see that the injured harpy is who answered me. "If I was one then you would be mine." She said.
" and what makes you so sure about that?" I asked haughtily.
"We specialize in a powerful type of subduction magic... No mortal male can resist it." She said.
" no mortal male huh?" I said smiling slightly. " alright then... I'll be a good boy and wait." I said sitting down. " though... My question is why don't you just use this magic on me now and be done with this whole dilemma. You would have another male for your collection, you wouldn't loose the hearthstone... And these five could exact their revenge... So... Why not?" I asked looking up at them.
"We have orders not to." Said the second guard.
"Bullshit, is what I say." Said one of the harpies.
"You should just use your magic... That way everything would work in our advantage. I don't understand why her lady ordered you not to."
" that's classified... We cannot say." Said the second guard.
"Ugh... This isn't fair... He deserves what's coming to him." Said another harpy. To be honest it was kind of fun listening to these harpies argue over my fate... Not that it would make a difference what they decide to do. If that spell only works on mortal men then they've got another thing coming. I looked around and saw the one harpy that I had injured kneel to the ground and two others go down and try and help her. She held her bleeding wound and cringed. I looked over at her and the others stared back at me.
"What do you want... I bet you enjoy seeing her in pain." Said one of the harpies helping her.
"Not particularly... But that must hurt." I said. "If it keeps bleeding like that you might not make it." I focused on her wound and started gathering up a bit of energy. My eyes started to glow and the area around her wound started to glow with white light. She jumped a bit thinking I was going to attack again, even the guards drew their staves into the ready position. Soon the light faded and she removed her claw from her shoulder. They were all surprised to see that the wound was now fully healed, as if it was never there. " there... All better." I said.
"But... Why?" She asked.
"Well I didn't want anyone else to die... And you were probably going to kick the bucket in a few minutes. It wouldn't have been good if your queen or whatever came back to another fresh corpse." I said. She looked at me with some resentment but the mood in the room had lifted a bit, at least enough to make things a bit more comfortable. I let out a deep sigh and turned back away from her. Just as I looked back another harpy walked out from the shadows. It was the queen again. She walked back out and in her claw she held a small grey stone.
"Here is the hearthstone... As promised you will leave now." She said holding the stone out for me to take. I used my magic and levitated the stone to my side.
"Yes I will leave... But before I do I want to ask one question." I said.
"What is this question?" She asked.
"Why would you steal this from the snake woman... What have you to gain?" I asked. The harpy queen just looked at me and stared into my eyes.
"It wasn't about gaining something... More than it was, trying to stay alive." She said. " you see, with her mystical healing springs and her own little paradise, all of the males of the forest fled to her for their pleasures... Deriving us of our means to breed. It wouldn't have been long until we soon became a dying breed."
"Alright... But why not go to the spring yourself and take from there?" I asked.
"The snake woman believes that place to be sacred... She would kill may scout that ventured there in search of a male. She is a very powerful being." She said.
"Hmm... I think I'll have a talk with her when I get back... Thank you, I'll leave now, as promised, and I'll never return." I said turning around and making the venture out of the caves. I started walking and the bright light at the end started becoming more and more bright. Soon I was blinded by light and my eyes soon adjusted to the outside world. I cracked my neck a little and spread my wings keeping the hearthstone right by my side. I flew up into the air and started looking around for where the spring might be. I looked down at the forest to see a spot a bit away that was seeping with steam. I started flying over there and descended right outside of the oasis. I looked over at the vines and started making my way in.
I pushed through the vines and walked into the oasis. I was quickly met with a relaxing wave of heat and steam. My hooves became soothed by the warm rocks under me and I started to look around. I saw twilight sitting out of the water eating a fruit. In the water was the snake woman still relaxing on the same rock as before. Also there was someone else, which was strange. It was a Minotaur. He sat there soaking in the water. He wasn't wearing any clothes and what I'm assuming is his axe, is leaning against a tree close by. It didn't take long for them all to notice me. Nothing much has changed except for the Minotaur... Which was really starting to peak my interests.
"Good, you have returned... Did you retrieve the hearthssstone?" Asked the snake woman slithering over to me from out of the water.
"Yeah..." I said worryingly. "Uhm... One question though... Who's the Minotaur?" I asked.
"Oh... Thisss I Thrask...ca dear friend of mine... He visitsss often." Said the snake woman. I looked over to twilight with a confused look as she started to somber her way over.
"He dropped by not long after you left... He's a pretty nice guy actually."
"Pleassse, give usss the hearthstone." Said the snake lady holding out one of her hands. I used my magic to levitate the stone over and she grabbed it. She held it up to look at it and smiled. She slithered over to the water and over to the large rock she lays on. On the rock was an indentation which looked like a perfect fit for the rock. She placed the stone in the slot and it started to glow. The water began to glow a bright green and then it faded away and filled the air with a thick layer of steam. She smiled and coiled herself around the rock and rested again. "Ah... It finally feelsss like home again."said the snake woman. " thank you stranger... You and your friend are welcome to these springs whenever you are in need of it."
"Thank you..." I said walking over to the waters.
"Please... Enter the water." Said the Minotaur over to me. He had a really deep but strangely generous voice. "With the hearthstone these waters are magic... I see your wound and can tell you that it will fade if you simply step in." He said gesturing me to come in. I looked down at the water and my own reflection. I took one step into the soothingly warm water and then started walking in. I sat down and submerged myself in the water. I felt a refreshing feeling in the side of my back where the harpy slashed me. I looked back to see it rapidly healing. It closed up and faded in seconds. It was surprising.
"Wow... That's amazing." Said twilight looking over as she too entered the water. I could even see the small cuts and bruises scattered on her body start to close and fade.
"Yes, quite the miracle isss it not?" Said the snake woman. "I realize now that healing you was simply not enough repayment for returning my hearthssstone... So we are forever in your dept. should you require sssomething... Sssimply ask and we will fulfill it to the bessst of our ability." She said.
"As well as I..." Said the Minotaur raising a fist in the air. "Eazma is my closest friend, and a truest gifted healer... I can't tell her how many times she's saves my ass..." He said starting to laugh a bit. "Nevertheless... If she is in your dept than I am too... Should you ever need my axe... You can have it."
"Thank you Thrask... And uh... Eazma." I said. "But... Me and my friend haven't been fully truthful with you Eazma..." I said. She looked at me with curiosity. "The truth is... We didn't get attacked by a manticore... And we aren't lost... Well we are but not in the way you think we are." I said.
"You see the truth is..." Said twilight taking over. "We fell... Out of an airship."she said making Thrask raise an eyebrow... But not Eazma.
"It was during the storm yesterday... It knocked us off and we fell." I said. " so... I apologize to you for lying." I said. I tilted my head down in shame and waited for her to do something... But all she did was laugh. I looked over in surprise.
"Sssilly poniesss... We knew you were lying from the beginning." Said Eazma laughing with her arms crossed. "We know everything that happens in thisss forest." She said. "Besidesss... You can't crash through the canopy without othersss knowing." She said. "Ssso, our question isss... Where wasss thisss air ship taking the both of you?" She asked.
"It was taking us to neverspring..." I said.
"Neverspring?" Questioned Thrask. "It's a vile and desolate place, filled with only snow, ice, and death. The only thing there is that city."
"You've been there?" Asked twilight.
"No but I've heard tales from friends who have made the journey. There used to be a Minotaur settlement 's such a dangerous place, now even our ships cannot reach it by water." He said.
" why is that?" Ia asked.
"The sea seraphs..." He said. "Monster out creatures from what I heard, unlike anything you could ever see. I was in disbelieve when a comrade of mine told me that one sea seraph sunk three mighty Minotaur vessels... Just the thought of it is unimaginable." He said.
"Good thing were traveling by air..." Said twilight looking over at me.
"Yes... You ponies are the lucky ones." He said. "Unlike a few of my companions stuck now in neverspring." He said. " they've made a village there from what I've heard... Past the frozen river." He said. "Here ponies..." Said Thrask. He reached over to his axe and grabbed a small circular pendant strapped to it. He pulled it off and tossed it over to me. I used my magic to catch it and fixate it so I could get a good look at it. "If you are lost in your travels... Beyond the frozen lake, look for the great stone walls of mordestand... The centaur village. Show them this and say it was given to you from Thrask... They will accept you as their allies." He said.
I looked over the pendant and studied the details and the ridges. It was intricately designed and made of solid gold. In the center was a strange symbol, it looked kind of like a backwards seven... But more rustic than that. Behind the symbol were two crossed battle axes. Past that was a moon symbol with the sun tucked into the crescent of the moon. There was nothing on the back side, just plain gold. The edges of the pendant were encrusted with onyx and carved with an intricate design. This thing was easily as big as my head.
"Thank you Thrask..." I said.
"Yes, that is sure to be of great help once we get to neverspring... We'll be sure to visit the village." Said twilight.
"Of course... But the only question now is... How do we get to neverspring?" I asked out loud.
"I could be of help with thisss." Said the snake woman slithering off her perch and over to us. "These watersss, are capable of much more than sssimple healing tricksss..." She said smiling. "If neverssspring is where you desssire to be... Then I can get you there." She said waving her hands over the water. She slowly started to bring her hands up using the same waving motion and to my surprise the water slowly started to rise along with her hands. She pulled the water up high and circled her hands around It until it opened up into some kind of wall of water. She stopped moving her hands and the wall of water stayed.
"What is this?" Asked twilight.
"A way out..." Eazma answered. "Now... Young pony..." She said talking to me as she slithered behind the wall of water. She reached out and pushed her arm through the wall of water and placed her hand on my head.
"Hey, what are you..."
"Think..." She said cutting me off. "Think of the place you wish to be right now and I will sssend you there... Think." She said.
"But I've never been to neverspring," I said. " I don't know what it's like there, I don't know the place." I said.
"It mattersss not... Think of the cold, the frossst, the ice... Think of the sssnow and the harsh windsss... Reflect on the general direction. Isss it north, sssouth? Think... And all will be fine." She said. I let out a deep sigh and started thinking about neverspring. I thought about the cold, the ice and the snow. I even started thinking about the map the prince showed us, it was north of Equestria. A couple miles into the sea. A place of harsh cold and rigid mountainous terrain. Soon enough a picture started to form in my head. A barren wasteland of snow with mountains to the right and... A city... To the right.
"It's... Like I can see it." I said softly.
"Perfect... Now, hold onto that thought." She said. She started pulling her hand off my head and the image in my mind started to fade, out of my control. I opened my eyes to see that she was literally pulling the thought from my mind. She was now pulling back a small glowing orb which were my thoughts. She pulled her hand back through the water but the water stopped the orb from going past it. The water seemed to absorb the light and soon the water itself began to glow and a large picture appeared on the water. It was what I was thinking of, it was like a gateway. That was a pretty cool trick. "There it isss... Neverssspring." She said slithering form behind the wall of water.
"That was amazing..." I said.
"Well young poniesss... Here isss the way." She said gesturing to the portal. "Sssteel through... But prepare yourssselvesss for what there isss to find on the other ssside."
"Are you ready twilight?" I asked.
"Yes..." She said.
"Farewell brave poniesss... Sssome day we will meet again in another world." She said ... Another world.
"What?" It asked but she quickly threw the portal over us and the water soaked us both. The water covered us and seemed to expand into an endless sea of darkness. The water rushed all around me and twilight and soon a white light formed above us. We both started swimming towards it growing closer and closer to the light. Soon enough we were both engulfed in the light.
And suddenly everything became cold...
-Authors Note: Hey guys, here's the newest chapter for you guys, this one ended up being pretty big and i went towards an old kind of scenario that i used to use back in dream machine. the sort of secret forest/dungeon kind of feel, instead of the city to city scenario. i thought it was a nice change of pace from what has been going on lately, also expect the groups time in neverspring to feel the same way. there's going to be a lot of monsters, landmarks, dungeons/caves, and other things like that. if you guys have anything in particular that you want to see happen let me know and ill see what i can do. until then, take care guys and thanks for reading.
stay shady...