Eight years ago…
It was seven in the morning in the outskirts of New York. Inside of a research facility that was assigned for applying to go on the Settlement program. It had been two years prior since the Portal first opened and the World of Equestria was exposed to all.
Sitting in the far right back row of this classroom for those who have just applied in the U.S. (not including those from all other countries of the world), sitting next to the exit, Rachel Lockhart waited with four hundred applicants which she knew would dwindle down once they began to advance towards migration day. Countries from all over the world were doing the same thing, weeding out applicants.
She still couldn't believe she had made it this far without her father coming after her. Three days after she had run away for what she believed was the final time, her hands shook on the desk and her legs jittering underneath.
Rachel wore a two tone, black and red tank top, bracelets and bangles on her wrists that covered the deep bruising from being grabbed, black beanie to cover her ears. Though at fifteen, she wasn't really skilled and had all the know-how with makeup but she thought she did a good job making herself appear older and covered the red mark on her cheek and busted lip.
She would casually look over her shoulder to look at the exit. Her mind playing tricks, believing her father was going to burst through those doors and drag her out of the building by force.
All the teen knew that going to this Equestria was her last chance. Her last chance of freedom. She didn't think she could survive another night with him… She came close to offing herself up if she hadn't seen the article that they needed people to travel worlds with.
Scientists, college kids, adventurists, those with a curious mind, everyone had more experience than the teen was in this large college-like classroom.
Rachel just had to pray to whatever God that was listening - even to her it didn't do a bit of good in the past - that her pale disguise and her being a tall 6'5 was passable for an adult who knows her shit.
She didn't know her shit.
Fifteen minutes later, doors from another entry below the classroom opened and a single woman doctor came in.
"Sorry for the late start everyone," The brown haired woman with glasses wore a purple blouse, black skirt with a white lab coat and black heels came waltzing in. "Traffic for our new guests was brutal, but we're all here now."
There was clamoring going around with the other applicants before things quiet down.
"Now, for those who don't know, my name is Doctor Helena Jurgen, I specialized in Quantum Physics and was on the research team that had discovered the portal to Equestria. For the next six weeks, my team and I will comb through each and one of you. Not only for your physical strengths and mental capacity to cross over to a new world." The Doctor explained, gazing at every one of them in the room.
"For the first two weeks, all of you will be educated about this new world. What better way of educating you than some of the natives of this land. Bring them in."
Everyone sat up in their seats as they watched these creatures walking into the room. No sound was made, only the sounds of their hooves going against the tile wood floors. It was the first time besides a handful would see these three different ponies show up.
A normal looking pony, a pegasus and a unicorn, all tall, all walking on two hind legs, normal looking torsos and arms but with horse-like heads and tails. All pastel and colorful unlike anything they have seen.
No fucking way, are these guys wearing furry costumes? Rachel though and probably a lot of people thought when they saw the Equestrians for the first time.
There was no way, right?
The earth pony, the red stallion with the slick back short silver mane and tail, had an eyepatch covering one eye while the other eye, as black as coal, stepped forward and spoke. "Good morning everyone, My name is Professor Brimstone." He talked.
Unless the costume was brilliantly done well to actually mimic real features - which was unlikely - this anthro pony just talk english!
When he spoke however, though he did sound a lot more posh and lighter, something about it made Rachel's heart stop. She whipped her head around the room to make sure she wasn't hearing who she thought it was. Something about his voice was so familiar that it was making her sweat bullets.
As the other two gave their names, Professor Brimstone was looking around the room, seeing a collection of awed faces, and a lot of confusion and disbelief. When his eyes landed on the teen however, she had none of those faces.
She was scared and nervous and couldn't kept her eyes off of him. The girl wasn't looking at the more fancier ponies, the unicorn and pegasus, she was looking at him specifically.
And something about her seemed….familiar to him too.
"Now, the three of us will be separating you into three groups. One group will be learning one thing while the others work on another. Each day, we will rotate you in our care to ensure each of you will learn about the Ponies in Equestria. Learning about our culture and ways so there will not be any ignorants running their smart mouths and angering our residents." Professor Brimstone said.
"Each and every one of you will learn whatever you've been taught, you will be quizzed and tested on. Those with failing scores will automatically be out of the program." The pegasus said.
"Brimstone, care to pick first?" The female unicorn asked her.
The corner of his lips lifted a little. "Dr. Velvet Skies, thank you very much." The Professor nodded to her.
Then the stallion turned his single gaze over up at the teen. "You there. Far right near the exit."
Rachel stiffened when he pointed her out.
"What's your name?" he asked her.
Rachel gulps, coughing into her hands before standing up. "Darline… Darline Burk." Rachel spoke, using her mother's maiden name, trying to make her voice sound older and try to proceed to be an adult. Her ears burned red from her lying, but it was her beanie that was hiding them from view.
"You are with me, Miss. Burk." Professor Brimstone said in a serious tone.
Oh fuck….
Now…
"Sheesh, how many times do I have to apologize?" Rainbow Dash asked, having to hold a towel full of snow up to her face, icing her wounds as everyone was continuing their trek the following day.
"Until we get to Temple, I don't want you to say a mother fucking word, how about that?" Rachel grunted. Still visibly pissed off that she was shoved over a cliff by this bitch.
"I think that's for the best, sugarcube." Applejack said to her girlfriend. She kept looking at the damage the single punch did to RD's face. "Sheesh, that's a nasty shiner."
"It's not as nasty as my nose. Think she broke it." Rainbow Dash grunted, looking at her. Removing the snow towel to reveal the swollen red nose.
"Serves you right." Elizabeth humphed.
"And I thought I had to worry about her causing trouble." Sunset muttered, talking about Rachel and how she was to Elizabeth. Not Rainbow Dash.
Lucy was skipping around, taking many photos of the scenery as they ventured. Taking photos of the girls, Spike, taking many selfies. "Can't wait to post these. We've never been out of the US before." Lucy giggled.
"I had many times. France and England." Elizabeth reminded her.
"And I've been to Japan, Greece and Hawaii with my family and Crystal Prep." Cassandra mentioned as well.
"It is very pretty here." Serenity said as she also took in the forest scenery.
Cassandra looked down at the marked map Shaun provided them. They were taking a lesser known pathway, staying off the highways and roads so they wouldn't get caught by military convoy.
"Okay. We should be coming up to this bridge here soon. It looks like there's a large river we need to cross." She said, "Also say we'll turn this fork and go on for another five miles."
Rachel looked over her shoulders as she popped the cork of her canister and began drinking a lot of water.
"You need to rest for a bit?" Spike asked, staying by her side. He had decided to stick with her and see if he could protect her with whatever is about to come. More protection for the baby the better.
"I'm good. I can keep going." Rachel assured. She was a bit tired from all the walking but she was going to get as much as she could.
"Don't exert yourself." Sunset Shimmer said. "We don't have to do this all in one day, take as many breaks as you need." She then offered her some trail mix.
Rachel graciously took the bag and began eating it. It wasn't much, she could tell that she needed meat, more protein as she was craving it.
Maybe if they get lucky, she could ask Serenity to talk to some of the animals and before anyone knows, a knife and a sharp twist of the neck and the animals become lunch.
As they came to the bridge, something else caught Rachel's eye. Something shiny reflected from the sun caught her attention.
She began to stray off the path and walked towards it.
"Hey, where are you going?" Spike asked as he followed her.
"Just give me a second, I want to see something." Rachel replied as she kept going.
The girls looked at each other, all of them confused so Lucy, Elizabeth, Applejack, and Serenity followed her out, leaving Cassandra, Sunset and Rainbow Dash back on the trail so they could find their way back.
Rachel came up to this great tree. Widest and tallest tree she had ever seen. She came up to one of its mighty big roots, placing a hand on the wood.
This tree looked like it's been around for a long, long time. Figuring that this tree must have seen some things, is probably smarter than the whole group put together. When looking up, she could see there were various ribbons, shiny stones and various pieces of colorful glass tied to many branches above, forming a sort of a canopy around them.
When she looked at the trunk, up roughly ten feet up, she had noticed there were these notches, carvings in the wood. Carvings of various sigils and text she only saw from walls of the Temple, and on the walls at Dragon's Lair in Equestria.
Now she wasn't very fluent with the dragon dialect, only personally knowing a few phrases, but what she was seeing wasn't something she knew herself. However, the longer she gazed at the tree, she began to see something that was right at her eye level. Though time has done well to conceal everything in this green moss, her attention to detail from doing art and drawing for years, she noticed a slight indentation and a gap, forming an arch around the area.
Rachel moved her hand to feel the indention. Pressing along the arch before she slid her fingers in the tiny gap, using her sharp nails to cut the moss.
"Rachel, hold on." Spike called out as he patted up to her. "What are you doing?"
"I think there's something here." Rachel replied as she continued to cut through the moss. Carving over the curve of the arch. Once cut, she grabbed it and pulled.
When pulled, it turned out that what she grabbed was a door.
Spike sighed, looking up at her. "I'll go check it out." He volunteered before walking inside the space.
"Wow! This tree is massive!" Lucy exclaimed as the others came up behind Rachel. Snapping pictures of the large, decorative tree.
"And pretty." Serenity awed.
"This tree is bigger than some of the oldest trees back on the farm." AJ said, tipping her hat back as she gazed up.
"Hey guys, you might wanna come in," Spike stepped out of the tree to inform the girls. "It's safe."
The girls came inside of the tree, passing through a veil of roots. Inside of the tree was huge, carved inside to create a large space.
Flashlights and lights from their phones flickered on, they were in the middle of what looked to be a home of sorts. Many centuries have passed since the tree bark grew over what looked to be windows, an old long overturned table, a fireplace that acted as the kitchen. Old decorations hung neatly on the "walls" of various handmade weapons and worn fabric.
There was a stone bench, and when they ventured more in the back of the home, there were two beds. Or what beds looked like back in the old days. A larger bed on one side, and a much smaller bed on the other.
And on the wall between the two beds was an altar. Rachel shined the flashlight on it, a glimmer of gold and red rubies stared back at her. The center of the altar, though covered in cobwebs and dust, was a small statue of a dragon. Many candle holders surround it.
"Okay, this is… ancient, and yet time seems to have stopped here." Elizabeth muttered as the girls looked around.
Rachel glanced at the two beds, the dragon altar before going over to the smaller bed. She picked an object up off the ground. She dusted it off to reveal a wooden carved toy. Carved to look like the dragons in Equestria with a sword.
"This was a family home… " Rachel muttered.
"What do you guys think happened?" Serenity asked.
"I don't know. " Rachel said, setting the toy back on the bed. Her head started to feel dizzy, she grabbed it and was about to go backwards.
Applejack quickly grabbed her. "Okay, you're taking a break, missy." AJ said.
Not fighting this time, Rachel was escorted to the bench in front of the fireplace, Spike jumped up next to her as the girls scrambled to get a fire going.
"You sure it'll light up? It's been like an eternity since it was last lit." Elizabeth asked as Applejack went over to the old table, using her strength to splinter the legs off.
"It'll have to. No one ain't using it." She replied as she broke the table up into bits before carting them over to the fireplace.
A few moments later a fire was starting." Okay sugarcube, you need anything else? " She turned to ask Rachel.
Rachel nodded. "Meat, I need meat, some sort of protein." Rachel responded, going ahead and giving into the cravings. She's pregnant with a dragon's baby, dragons need meat, she needs meat.
"O-oh?" Serenity frowns. "I'm sure we can find some herbs and plants that has protein in it."
"Fluttershy, I'm sorry but we need to go hunting." AJ said as she stood from the fire. "Sorry for your vegan state of mind, but meat is on the menu. Pinkie, go back to the others and bring them here. Rarity, stay here with Rachel and Spike."
"Will do love." Elizabeth nodded before looking at Rachel with a smile.
Rachel heavily rolled her eyes at that as she petted the dog.
Serenity whimpered before the others left the tree home.
It was just the three of them now. Rachel turned her gaze at the fire, trying not to look at Elizabeth.
"So Rachel, what do you think you're having? A boy or a girl?" Elizabeth asked.
Rachel shrugged. "I have no clue." She murmured.
"You come up with any names for either or?" Elizabeth asked as she looked around more of the home. Looking at the decorations and worn tapestry. "Such lovely works of art."
Rachel let out a huff, recalling a conversation she and Spike had. "A name or two had been thrown around."
"Like what?" Dog Spike asked.
Rachel sighed. "If it's a boy, it's Igneous, if a girl, Onyx. But I don't really want that as a girl name."
"What name do you prefer?" Elizabeth asked, listening closely.
Rachel shrugged. "Flare. I like the name Flare… " a name which she never told her mate.
"Hmm, Igneous and Flare. Sounds like a couple of beautiful names." Elizabeth giggled.
She then starts talking about ideas Rachel could use to decorate the castle nursery back in Equestria. Rachel began tuning her out as she watched the fire in the fireplace.
Watching the flames flickering, dancing idly, waving like an entity all of its own.
Her eyes started to grow heavy the longer she stared. The sound of fire crackling right close in her ears and the distant sounds of a roaring thunder echoed, falling into a deep trance.