What May Come [rated R] [8/24/09]

[Peace]

And now for something NEW!

Sort of 'middle of the road' in my fanfic timeline, features Megan and her siblings in a saga that's been in the works for quite a while. I think I started this 10 years ago and have yet to finish it. Heck, I ain't even close. I know what I want, I just have to type it.

Rated R for violence and maybe some language later on. Danny's gone goth punk, after all.

And so, onto...

What May Come

Chapter 1

The summer sun had set several hours ago, blanketing the vast farmlands of the United States Midwest in a blanket of shadows. A dry breeze absently rustled the leaves of oak and maple. Just yards away a young woman took her high school year book and slid the hard bound tome into a blue denim backpack, emptied of the textbooks and notes of a school year gone by. Two packs of newly developed photographs soon followed along with a small white box. The zipper was pulled closed and a slender hand snatched up the shoulder straps.

“You’re going to Ponyland, aren’t you?” a familiar accusation sounded from the doorway to the small bedroom where a blonde haired girl slipped the backpack onto it’s proper place.

Megan whirled around and adjusted the load on her back. “Of course I am,” she replied.

Molly, her younger sister, frowned. It was an expression she had become proficient in over the years as she placed her hand on her hips. “Danny and I aren’t going to cover you forever. Besides, If you don’t fill out those college application forms soon Dad’s going to flip.”

Megan quickly recalled where she stuffed the pieces of paper. They sat untouched in the top drawer of her dresser. She then tightened her ponytail and sighed. “First of all, Dad doesn’t live with us anymore. He’s the one who got a girlfriend and walked out on Mom. I don’t see how I owe him anything. Secondly, I am not going to walk in his shoes and go to med. school like him. I hate hospitals and he knows it. ‘You’ll get over it.’ he says. Well, he can kiss my-”

“Megan!” Molly gasped.

“We’re lucky if we see him twice a month; have to be penciled into his schedule. Mom is working all the time, hoping to drown out her problems... when does she even notice when I leave? Or you?”

“Quite a bit when she’s here.”

“Which is never.”

“I’m serious Megan.”

Megan threw up her arms in frustration. “Fine. Then you tell her that we hop onto the backs of large, brightly colored sentient pegasi, magically fly over a rainbow and enter an entirely different universe of talking ponies, dragons, elves and humanoid rats. She’ll have you locked up faster than Danny can choke down a cigarette.”

Molly dropped her eyes to the carpet. She honestly didn’t know how to respond. It was all true. Their lives over the past five years had taken a serious plunge. Their mother worked hard to make mortgage payments every month and to put food on the table. Unfortunately, it also meant alienating herself from her children. Soon after becoming a high school student Danny turned inward and became a completely different person. He began wearing black clothing, dying and spiking his short cropped hair and smoking. Molly didn’t know what to do.

Megan did. She snatched a sweater from a bed post and brushed her younger sibling aside. “Both of us need some shred of true happiness and I find it with my friends across the rainbow. Argue it all you want Molly, but Ponyland has felt more like a home to me for years now. I have half a mind to stay there.”

Her sister’s jaw dropped as Megan grabbed the doorknob and slammed it shut. She took off down the hallway and out of sight and Molly kicked the doorframe that led to her older sister‘s room..

Dashing through the house and bursting out the kitchen door she ran past the barn where T.J. once knickered to her expectant approach. Now the stall remained empty and no bay colored head leaned over the half door of the stall. Megan rounded the corner and slowed as a large form stepped from the massive shadow cast by the wooden structure. A long emerald tail flicked away a pesky mosquito as she happily approached her old friend. Her eyes sparkled and she stretched a pair of graceful feathered wings in hearty joy. Then her expression faded as Megan became visible in the half moon light. The four-legged creature gazed upon the girl’s tears and instinctively gave her arm a comforting nuzzle. Megan wrapped her arms around the pony’s dusky jade green head and buried her face into the equine’s thick mane. She breathed deeply of scents of fresh clover and faint animal musk.

She had missed Medley and spent no more time, hopping onto her back. She settled her long legs around the pony’s barrel, just behind the wing muscles and clung tightly to her mane. The pony asked no questions, nor made a comment as she darted across a field of grass and launched into the air. They silently sailed along the currents of air as the magics of banded color guided them home.

* * *

Dream Valley lay in a shroud of darkness and twinkling stars glinting like diamonds in the night sky. The lamps of Paradise Estate glowed brightly of illuminating magic and seemed to act as a landing guide as pegasus and rider descended in a wide spiral. Hooves padded along soft grasses and fireflies scattered like fairy glitter tossed in the wind. Megan slid off Medley’s back as soon as they landed and the two silently walked to the rose plastered palace.

Megan reached up with a hand and scratched the green pony behind the ear. Her own pony loved this act and Medley seemed to enjoy it well enough but the human girl missed her old friend terribly. It was however, comforting to be surrounded by equines as several members of Ponyland poured from the turquoise gates of the sprawling palace they reside within.

The white coat and flaming orange hair of Paradise, the all around golden color of the butterfly decorated Dancing Butterflies, the flashy pink and blue of feisty Firefly, and the deep lavender and green of Seashell.

Each one greeted their bipedal friend and Megan excitedly hugged and patted each one. Soon all had entered the manor and conversed in the comfortable den area. The ponies quietly listened to Megan’s tales of deteriorating family life and the death of her dearest friend and fellow pony T.J. Afterwards she felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her chest. Many couldn’t believe that in a few short years Danny had become so withdrawn, The spunky crimson haired boy could be irritating at times with his silly practical jokes, but it all seemed very odd. Ribbon, the spiritual blue unicorn, wondered if he had been possessed by a malicious spirit.

“No,” Megan reassured her, putting on a brave face, “It’s just a phase that some teenagers go through.” She hoped she was right.

Ribbon was curious as to what she meant, but let the subject drop.

Then came her high school year book and photographs. It had been some time since she had been openly able to converse with her four-legged companions and Megan covered everything from an exploding volcano in earth science class to her graduation party where someone had spiked the punch bowl with vodka and had gone unnoticed until someone really began to get tipsy. Hours passed. Before she knew it the sun had begun to filter through the darkness of nighttime and highlights of orange light caught hold of the window before Paradise exclaimed “Dear, look at the hour. Medley, you should fly Megan before she is missed.”

Raising a hand Megan stopped the pegasus. “No, I am tired of home for a while. If you don’t mind I think I’ll go to my old room here.”

No pony argued and drearily Megan walked the halls of the massive bedroom area. She found the room she always occupied whenever she visited, bid goodbye to the equine residents and collapsed onto the single bed. For the first time in months Megan easily drifted off to sleep as pleasant dreams beckoned her to rest.

* * *

The ground shuddered and lurched. Thunderous beats knocked several bushwoolies around in their underground dens.

“Whoa, whoa. The earth moves.” A pink long haired bushwoolie shrieked.

“Earthquake!” Another shouted.

“Yea, yea! No, no!” A handful of others agreed and began to panic.

“Not earthquake.” A male bushwoolie covered with short pale blue fur spoke. “Something else.” His purple eyes looked to the opening of their home.

“Yea, not earthquake.” The rest of the fluffy creatures cheered.

The sensible blue bushwoolie of the colony rolled himself into a tight ball and whirled from the chamber and into a tunnel and toward the surface. He reformed into his normal shape of a squat roundish mound covered with thick fur, two short arms with a pair of large round eyes. He crawled upwards and peered out of the entrance to their underground lair.

The next sight he beheld was enough to stir fear into his heart. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of fully equipped and armored slender elves marched in straight rows on the forest road near his home. Bright silvery chainmail glinted in the speckles of sunlight that filtered through the thick treetop canopy high above. Tall pole-arms reflected sunlight off perfectly sharpened edges of fine elven steel. It was an army on the move.

Pulling himself completely from his burrow, the bushwoolie stared at the unusual sight unfolding before his eyes. A muscular horse dressed in metal barding and colorful blankets strode away from the formation and stepped up to the blue little creature. The horse bore an elven rider, dressed in matching plate mail and talbard. An embroidered symbol of a unicorn dressed the front of the decorative covering and the painted face of a shield the elf held matched it perfectly. The rider’s features seemed thin and pale but he carried a demanding and powerful aura. His green eyes glanced down at the seemingly insignificant bushwoolie oogling both him and his mount. His slight lips curled into a smile. “How fare you native burrower?”

The bushwoolie blinked and choked. “Uh... fine I guess. But you rattle our den.”

He nodded. “My apologies for the disturbance. We will be moving along quickly. May I ask your name?”

The bushwoolie smiled. “I’m Friendly.”

The elf chuckled. “You misunderstand.”

“No,” Friendly insisted. “That is my name. Friendly.” He emphasized with a short hop.

The horse smiled.

The elf chortled again. “Very well, Friendly. It was a pleasure. Peace and sweet berries.” His mount turned back to the troupe and trotted away.

“Yea!” Friendly waved as the horse melded into the thong of warriors. He ducked back into his den entrance and rolled into the living area.

“What’s going on?” The pink one asked.

“Yea!” The others pressed.

“Lots of elves, walking through Bushwoolie Grotto. They leave soon.” He answered.

“Yea!” All the other resident bushwoolies absorbed his explanation and returned to their tasks before they were interrupted again by the ceiling of dirt dropping dust and pebbles.

* * *

“High men moving in great flocks, covered in glittering spangles,” Windy spoke aloud. Perched upon her lavender shoulder sat a robin nervously twittering at an alarming rate. The bird hopped about the earthling’s back as the magically gifted pony translated her speech.

The unlikely pair stood before the dais and golden throne of Majesty, Queen of Dream Valley. The monarch unicorn sat with interest as her subject stood before her. The little robin had complained that her nest was disturbed high in the branches of a pine by the noise and distraction of the ‘high men’ she described. The wizened queen pondered over what the feathered avian had said. “Her high men are probably elves,” she thought aloud. Her circle of advisors, who stood off to her left agreed with silent nods. “Glittering spangles, I can presume would be armor of some type.” Twilight, Moondancer, Butterscotch, Moonstone, Minty, Windwhistler and Gypsy watched the proceedings with as much fascination as their royal liege.

Elves were generally called High Ones by other humanoid races because of their slender, tall builds. They were also a scholared race, keen on arts and craftsmanship, considered to be extraordinary in many ways to many other cultures. They also didn’t march into battle unless it was absolutely necessary. Elves didn’t tale lived lightly.

“Why would a great flock of high men move through a swath of forest on Ponyland’s northern border?” Minty asked aloud, quoting the translation. “We have received no word on anything unusual, no skirmishes have taken place in that area in decades. Who would the elves be following?”

“Perhaps they aren’t following anything at all,” Butterscotch reasoned. She flicked her golden tail. “Military maneuvers?”

“So close to our borders?” Moondancer questioned.

The golden colored earthling shrugged. “Maybe they didn’t know they were treading so close to our kingdom.”

“They are elves,” Gypsy emphasized. “They don’t get lost. They know exactly where they are at all times.”

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Minty offered.

“This is leading to more speculation than answers,” Moondancer continued. “Perhaps someone should investigate.”

“An excellent notion,” Majesty agreed. “Moondancer, send a small group to the forests of the north. There must be a reason why these generally good natured beings, perhaps unknowingly, trespass onto our land.”

“It shall be done at once.” Moondancer gave a curt bow and stepped toward the entrance to the hall. Majesty have a flick of her hoof to indicate dismissal for all, and the equines began to trickle out of the polished marble room. Windy assured her twittering friend that the situation was being delt with and the orange unicorn pony known as Gypsy watched the elder Moondancer step out the doorway. “I have a bad feeling about this,” she mummered indiscreetly. Her full orange tail swished from side to side. She had never been a true member of Majesty’s trusted council, per se, but fleeting glimpses of future events tended to cross the mystical unicorn’s mind without warning. At times, these moments averted a minor disaster such as the pegasus Bouncy having a difficult birth or a swarm of locusts devouring the gardens of the pony palaces. Both circumstances may have had disastrous results if not for the warning. There had also been moments however when she would have preferred not to have to heard, such as Cupcake complaining twice about her cake not rising. These whimsical glimpses were what held Majesty’s interest to the otherwise ordinary pony and she had insisted on keeping Gypsy at her side, just in case. Suddenly, at this moment, Gypsy knew that something was drastically wrong about this situation. She remained silent about her fears for she hadn’t seen anything. Yet.

In the open air courtyard of Dream Castle, Moondancer set about to choose the right ponies for her task. First being Skydancer, though the trickster pegasus stallion could be a pain in the tail at times, he was agile and could quickly spot something that another might miss. He stood off to one side making conversation with his new team mate, the pink unicorn Bangles, who donned a brightly colored necklace of beads around her neck. Merriweather, the purple earthling with bright yellow hair, stood nearby to the pair with a lumpy satchel draped over her shoulders. Pleased with her choices, Moondancer led the team out herself and set a course for the area where the elves were last spotted. The group had not moved two lengths from the lowered drawbridge when Megan dashed toward them, gasping to catch her breath.

“Moondancer,” she heaved. “Please, let me come with you.”

The snowy white unicorn flicked her wine red tail as she pressed thought the matter over in her mind for a brief moment. Then she smiled pleasantly and agreed.

It was nearly midmorning before the band of ponies and one single human girl reached the outermost edges of the Dream Valley grasslands and ducked under the thick canopy of an old growth forest.

Clouds begun to block the light of the sun over an hour ago and droplets of rain began to fall. Merriweather had nuzzled in her bag and pulled out a wide brimmed rain hat. Skydancer had inquired, rather impolitely, as to why the knowledged earthling did not inform everyone else of the afternoon showers. She quickly made an excuse of not being completely certain of meteorological events for that day. Megan guessed, by the amused look on her face, that she rather enjoyed seeing Skydancer wet and miserable. Megan, however, loved the rain. This was a slow and warm spout of participation, so she didn’t mind being damp. At least the temperature wasn’t dropping.

The air had grown musky and full of the scent of pine. Settled on a soft pallet of fallen needles, for the night, the four equines curled up under the branches of an evergreen. The rain stopped and Merriweather pulled a ceramic jug of chilled tea, several large apples, a loaf of gingerbread and five deep ceramic cups from her duffel.

Megan asked to see the odd satchel and Merriweather cheerfully complied with the request, lifting the straps between her teeth and lowered it into awaiting arms. Curiosity tugged at the human as she peered inside. It was a physical impossibility for all those things to emerge from a bag far too small. She was surprise to find nothing but utter darkness inside. “What is this?” Megan asked and slipped her hand into the void.

The purple pony swallowed a mouthful of tart apple and grinned. “I received it as a gift from a gnome. Bright Eyes and I pulled him from a stream swelled from a heavy rainstorm one morning. To show his gratitude he gave me this magical bag. Windwhistler said that is has some sort of magical property that warps reality into an extrademensional space.” The rainbow design covered pony paused. “Or something like that. All I know is that it can hold a lot of stuff.”

“Gnomes love to manipulate magic,” Moondancer added. “They can create many different things from everyday items. Why I knew a gnome once that had an apron that repelled stains from her clothing.”

“Absolutely fascinating.” Skydancer mumbled with his cheeks stuffed with bread.

“Indeed,” the unicorn beamed. “She was quite a bright woman. She also invented a broom that swept her floors upon command, rugs that beat themselves and a pair of boots that-”

Skydancer rolled his magenta eyes. “I was being sarcastic.”

Megan continued to look over her arm and into the satchels depths. “I wonder if I could get a backpack like this.”

Soon they settled down for the evening and spent the night together in a protective circle. Megan curled up, resting her body next to Moondancer, the warm unicorn kept the girl cozy as the stars peeked through the parting clouds high overhead.

The next morning all packed and left the shelter of the pines and journeyed deeper into the forest. A heavy fog covered much of the land and leaf litter clung to the hooves of the ponies. Soon they stumbled upon a well worn trail through the trees. Moondancer recognized the narrow boot soles of hundreds of elven feet and she became troubled. “Why in the world would an army be on the move?” she asked no one in particular. None of her companions could answer her and she didn’t really expect one. “There has been peace for years...” she nibbled on her lower lip.

All dove into their own sorrowful thoughts. As they continued to follow the trail the prints that Moondancer discovered revealed that the trail was fresh, not more than a day old and they stepped up their pace. The hazy mist began to slowly dissipate as the sun streamed between the leaves.

That’s when Bangles tripped over a hole, nearly twisted a rear ankle and gave a shout of surprise.

“Are you all right?” Skydancer asked as he flitted over to her.

The unicorn stumbled to her hooves. “I think so. I stepped in a rabbit hole.”

Merriweather studied the tunnel entrance. “That’s awfully large for a rabbit hole,” she observed and as if on cue a furry blue head poked up from it’s depths and grinned.

“It’s a bushwoolie!” Megan squealed.

“It’s Friendly!” Moondancer said.

The fur covered creature hopped onto the forest floor and posed. “Yep, that’s me.” He said proudly. Then he peered down the hole. “Come up, it’s the Little Ponies.”

He was soon joined by dozens of his kind, all giggling and smiling at the pastel horses.

“I’m truly sorry about stumbling in your home,” Bangles apologized.

“No problem,” Friendly said, waving it off. “Elves nearly did same thing.”

“Yea. yea.” The other bushwoolies heartily agreed.

Moondancer stepped forward. “I’m sorry we can’t stay to chat Friendly, but it’s the elves we have come to investigate. Could you tell me anything about them?”

“Sure, sure.” Friendly told her. “They marched right along this path.”

“Anything else?”

“They were covered with shining armor and carried big weapons.”

“Doesn’t sound like they were just doing maneuvers to me,” Skydancer quipped.

Friendly continued, “One wearing shiny plate on chest came to me riding a big pony who also wore shiny plates. Said he sorry for making racket and noise.”

“Yea, yea,” the bushwoolies chimed in.

“Then they go that way,” Friendly pointed down the path.

Moondancer nodded. “Did they ever come back?”

The bushwoolie blinked at her. “No. Not think so.”

Megan patted Friendly on the head and his smile grew wider. “Thank you for your help,” she said.

“Shucks,” he replied, kicking a stone. “It was nothing.”

The adventuring group of ponies turned to leave, said farewells and continued to follow the trail.

“They didn’t come back this way,” Merriweather muttered.

Moondancer nodded. “No, they didn’t.” She paused as she walked around a small bog of mud. “Something is very wrong here.”

* * *

Gypsy let out a piecing cry of alarm. She was lounging by the bank of the waterfall as it struck her suddenly. Images began to fill her mind’s eye and it terrified the mystic unicorn.

Pillow Talk, a gray toned earth pony with hair of yellow, blue and white, galloped from the water’s edge and over to the panicking pony. “What’s wrong?” she demanded.

Gypsy’s eyes remained unfocused as the vision filled her psyche. “The river has run red. Cries for help are fading in the breeze. Something horrible has happened!” Gypsy squealed again and rolled to her feet. She violently shook her head clear of the visions that came to her so suddenly and bolted toward the pink stone fortress of Dream Castle. “I must tell Majesty!”

[battlefield]

Oh, boy. This one's got me on the edge of my seat.

[Bright Glow]

This sounds very intresting, i can't wait to see what will happen?

[Peace]

Chapter 2

Flames flared. Their bright yellow heat flickered and danced upon white hot coals in a deep broze brazier. They breathed deeply. Large emaciated fingers covered with dark green skin reached out to touch them. They felt no pain. “It is finished. Great Lord of suffering and flame, it is finished. A thousand strong against only two hundred. All were slaughtered.” It was a deep scratchy voice that broke the silence of the crackling fire.

The flames erupted as a response came. “No. He still lives.” It was resonate and cold.

The creature whose fingers had touched the fire, cowered. “It cannot be.”

“Fool. His servant carried him off in the mists. Your warriors failed.”

“I will then send more.”

“With this one elf he may turn the tide. His people are scattered. If he lives he will unite them all under one rule. This must not happen.”

The sniveling coward bowed before the flames. “No, oh great dread Lord.”

“See to it that he does NOT!” The inflamed coals cooled and the flickering light nearly disappeared. As the figure became shrouded in darkness once again he stood and hobbled closer to the warmth.

“Yes, my Lord.”

* * *

“Moondancer!” Bangles shrieked. The young pink unicorn was panicking. She couldn’t see her elder anywhere. Scanning the treelines she leaped and stepped over the bodies littering the grassy floor. Terror swept through her being, terror that she may be the next victim.

Merriweather, much more laxed than she, stood in the center of the massacre and simply bowed her head in respect for those who had perished.

Skydancer had wandered to Megan’s side. The human girl wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed uncontrollably. She had never truly experienced the evil that lies in the breast of beast or man until this moment. It all came crashing down at a single moment. The male pegasus whispered reassurances to her, unsure weither she heard any of it.

Like a ghost appearing from the dust of a haunted grove, Moondancer appeared at the edge of the dell. Bangles cried with joy as she saw the unicorn emerge from the woods. “I need help,” Moondancer said. “Come with me.”

Her urgent plea snapped Megan out of her melancholy for a brief moment and allowed herself to clumsily climb on Skydancer, wiping her face with the sleeve of her shirt. He took to the air quickly passing over the other ponies. Megan clutched tightly to his rainbow colored mane with pale hands. Then he landed on the leaf littered soil and followed Moondancer at a canter.

Twisting and maneuvering through the forest had suddenly become a bit more difficult as the undergrowth became more dense. Merriweather was having a difficult time finding an easy path through the briars. Moondancer hadn’t explained herself. Did she find survivors? Her eyes focused on a slain goblin resting below a fallen log. She swallowed hard and continued forward until she caught sight of a flicker of silver. Footfalls of a hooved creature filled her ears. They were deep and muffled but she eagerly stepped up her pace as the tip of Moondancer’s tail departed through a thick clump of brush.

Hidden behind a pair of poplar trees and a thick bush stood a horse. He didn’t appear to be much different than a Little Pony, accept larger, with a long flow of white hair now coated with patched of bramble seeds and splotches of blood. He sported a coat of butterscotch marred with cuts and bruises but much of the damage that would have been inflicted on him had been absorbed by plated barding. His blue eyes darted between each pony as he nervously pawed the ground with a large hoof covered with long hairs.

“I am Moondancer,” the white unicorn introduced herself. “There are my friends. You need not fear any of them.”

Any ambivalence that the stallion wore seemed to melt away after Moondancer spoke. He sniffed the air, flicked his ears and slowly stepped aside. Masked by his thick waterfall of a tail was an elven warrior, clad in beaten bloodied steel armor.

The group gasped and Megan cautiously slid from Skydancer’s back.

Moondancer moved to investigate. “A sword found a chink between his chest plate and shoulder guards,” she announced. “He has lost a lot of blood, but can be treated.” She lowered her head, her horn glowing golden.

The horse watched her movements as Moondancer placed a spell over his fallen master.

“It will not cure his wounds but he is in a form of hibernation and will remain in stasis until we can get a healer.” She looked at Megan. “Help me sit him up.”

Unmoving from the pegasus for a brief moment Megan swallowed and found her courage to move past the intimidating stallion and come to the elf’s aid. She knelt beside him and pulled his body into an upright position. His helmet dangled loosely on his head so she removed that as well. A long braid of silvery hair tumbled from the steel cap.

The elf knight was a handsome fellow. His soft locks accented his fair young features nicely. The human girl couldn’t help but notice it.

“Can you stand him up?” The white unicorn asked.

“I don’t know,” Megan said truthfully. “He’s rather heavy.”

“Merely the armor,” Moondancer said. “Elves are a slight people. But do not discount it as fraility, for they are much more resilient than they appear to be.”

“You’re beginning to sound like Windwhistler,” Skydancer humorlessly jabbed and moved to help tug the limp elf to his feet.

The butterscotch horse kneeled as the two somehow managed to work his rider onto his back and straddle his saddle. Megan carefully leaned his body forward and as soon as he was stabilized the horse stood, with the droopy form leaning on his neck and the travelers began to carefully and quickly trek back to Dream Valley.

* * *

A naked foot touched the loose soil on the forest floor, without a sound. The sole was stained black from the natural dyes of the land. Then a large flattened nose leaned close to the leaf litter as two round nostrils drew in the unmistakable scent of horse flesh, nearly masked with blood.

With the flick of a wrist and a grunt, barely audible, the swift being sprinted around the flora of the wood. Close behind others in dark camouflaged cloaks followed along. They were headed south, straight toward Dream Valley.

* * *

“He should wake soon.”

“How soon?”

“Is now a good time?”

A pause. “Why?”

“Because I think he’s conscious.”

Green eyes flecked with bits of gold stared up at what could only be described, at that time, as a hallucination. A short dark pink unicorn with a bright red mane smiled down at Philamel. Then the unicorn was joined by another equine head flocked with white fur and a mane tinted with a shade of orange so bright it took him a moment to realize that it was a real color and not something that his vision blurred into existence. “Where am I?” he asked, attempted to lean forward but quickly found that his body wasn’t cooperating. Suddenly he felt the urge to strangle one of those roundish, cute pony-like faces.

“Not to worry Highness,” the pink one said in an all too cheerful voice, “You are safe and will soon have motor control returned to your body.”

“How-? Where am I?” he sternly repeated, though his voice was shakey.

The white one gave a weak smile. “You are in Dream Valley, specifically Dream Castle.”

Philamel sighed. Suddenly it was all starting to make sense, as he noticed that the white pony had a pair of wings, and he was in the middle of a pink-filled nightmare. He stared at the textured salmon colored ceiling tiles. "I am Philamel, crowned prince of the Elven Northlands. Is this some sort of spell you have over me? Release me at once!”

“Yes. And, I am afraid, no,” the white winged pony answered. “You are still injured and we simply cannot have you move right now. You are also quite lucky. If we had not sent an investigative party to search the area and found your army-”

“Army?!” Philamel shouted out, stared at her. “Where are my men? How did we fare? Did we win the battle?”

The pony sighed and shook her head. “You have been through much, Highness, perhaps I should let our Royal Highness Queen Majesty answer your questions under more comfortable circumstances.”

“What are you blathering about? Answer my questions immediately or-” At that moment Philamel bolted upright, breaking the spell and lost his balance. He rolled off the bed he had been placed on since his arrival and crashed onto the purple tiled floor.

The dark pink unicorn shook her head. “Until the magic wears off completely you must be cautious,” she scolded. “You body underwent extreme stress and is still recovering. In order for you to survive the journey here a unicorn named Moondancer placed you in a type of hibernation. Your muscles haven’t adjusted yet.”

“I see,” he grumbled and with a bit of effort pushed himself off the floor and back onto the bed. “Then let’s begin with something simple. What may I call you?”

The pink unicorn beamed. “I am Tabby.”

“And I am Paradise,” the white pegasus said, smiling at the exhausted elf leaning on the mattress.

“As you seem to know by now,” the elfin warrior straightened as much as he could, though his knees wabbled under protest. “My men and I were attacked by a large company of goblins."

Paradise sagely nodded, listening.

“Then tell me Paradise, how did we fare?” the elf insisted. "The truth."

Paradise said nothing at first.

The elf watched the white pony. Then pieced it all together, realizing what everything meant. "If I am in Dream Valley and not at home, then it didn't go well. Did it?"

The pegasus's bright green eyes looked away. "You were the only one we found alive."

Philiamel slumped, his eyes cast downward. "I see," he muttered.

“Well, Highness,” Tabby looked at him. “I am a healer unicorn and you still need to recuperate. By this afternoon you should be near one hundred percent and Queen Majesty will be expecting you after lunch. In the meantime you are my patient and you will lay down and rest.” Before he could protest Tabby pointed a hoof at his chest. “And I will not take 'no' for an answer.”

“Where is my horse? What happened to him?”

The female ponies smiled. “He’s currently in the courtyard under the attentions of a human girl named Megan,” Paradise answered.

“A human?” Philamel exclaimed, rolling back onto the bed. Suddenly the fluffy softness of the mattress was very comfortable. “I thought humans were extinct.”

Then the ponies giggled. “Rest, your Highness,” said Tabby. “We will talk later.”

“Yes,” Philamel muttered as dreamless sleep found him.

* * *

“Two month ago, a letter was received by my father from one of our outposts,” Philamel began. He stood before the blue marble throne of Majesty and her counsel. He was dressed in a tunic and leggings of forest green and his long hair had been combed and neatly tied between his shoulders. “It stated that bands of Goblins were making trouble at our borders. They were raiding farms, slaughtering livestock and burning crops.”

“Why were they doing such things?” Minty asked.

The elf turned to the pale green mare. “Goblins and elfin people have been at odds with each other since recorded history. We have evolved into an enlightened people, where the goblins have nearly remained the same stupid barbarians they have for centuries.”

“Please continue,” said Majesty.

“My father reacted at once, ordering a small unit of guards to investigate and neutralize the threat. But it seemed to have been a trap. Goblins were at the core of the problems and a handful of them lead our mounted warriors from the open plains into the forests. There, behind the ancient oaks, stood an army of goblins.” Philamel paused. “Of the nearly fifteen elven warriors that origionally set out, only two returned, and one of them now has only one eye.”

Moonstone flinched.

“Goblins have never organized before. They have always remained in small chaotic family groups. My father was furious.” Philamel continued, his hands curled into fists. “He ordered an entire legion of troupes to exterminate this threat. There were two hundred elves. I was to accompany them, to learn battle tactics from our best generals as learned experience before I am crowned king in the future. We led them on a march for a week, tracking goblin movements. Then suddenly we were attacked in a clearing. Arrows rained down from the tree canopy. Then, from all sides a wave of armed and armored goblins rushed in. We were completely unprepared.” His memory focused on the moment. “I was knocked from my horse’s back and that’s all I remember. Appearently my horse companion dragged me from the battle and deep into some brush. After that, your fellow ponies discovered me and brought me here.” He paused. “What do you know?”

Majesty shifted uncomfortably. “We received word from a rather irritated bird that a large group of elves were moving along our border. I sent a small group of ponies to investigate, a human girl named Megan occomanied them. They followed your trail until they came upon the forest clearing you describe. I am afraid I bear you bad news, highness. We found no survivors.”

He breathed deeply. "I know, your Paradise told me." Grielf stricken, Philamel closed his eyes and fought down the urge to cry out in anger. “Some of those men were well known to me.”

A moment of silence flooded the throne room.

“I see,” Majesty said.

Philamel’s gaze snapped back at the queen. “You see?!”

“Yes.” The unicorn said abruptly. “I feel the sorrow of your loss, Highness, I truly do. But I am not sure what to do about this. We have never experienced the same trouble with goblins as you have. I shall have a document drawn up which will give you permission to pass into Ponyland borders to seek out these obviously murderous creatures but I am afraid we cannot offer you any other assistance.”

“I see.” The prince silently seethed. “That is your decision then?”

“Yes.” The unicorn nodded. “I will send a message to your kingdom to alert them of your condition and situation. I am sure that you wish to return as soon as possible. Tabby as informed me that you are suitable for travel.”

The elf nodded.

“And I will also provide escort for you.” The queen smiled. “Several Little Ponies will travel in your company until you reach your own palace walls.”

Philamel frowned. “I would travel faster if-”

“Highness,” Majesty interjected. “As we know it, you are the only one to survive from highly trained soldiers. I will not send you out alone.”

Philamel straightened. “If it is Your Majesty’s decision.”

The unicorn nodded once.

The elf bowed stiffly, turned and walked from the room without another word.

Windwhistler sighed. “He’s right. Goblins are a rather brutish people. I have never heard of a mutual gathering of them before, either. It is most unusual.”

“Yes.” Majesty solemnly agreed. “Begin setting up patrols. I want all gates and doors in Dream Valley closed and locked at sundown. No one travels alone right now. Until this menace is delt with I want all ponies on alert. If anyone sees something suspicious I want to know about it.”

“Dark forces are aloft,” Gypsy muttered.

Suddenly every pony in the hall wore a look of near panic.

Majesty stood from her throne and began to step down from her dais. “Try to keep the panic under control, Little Ponies. I don’t need a riot on my hooves. Send word to the Crystal Palace as well, let the Princess Ponies know what going on. Begin drafting letters to Flutter Valley as well. I want all options open.”

“Yes Majesty.”

“Rainbow help us all,” the royal unicorn mumbled to herself as she flung open the doors. “Elves are not ones for telling tall tales, this could be very serious.”

Philamel’s soft leather boots silently struck the violet flagstones of Dream Castle, many worn polished and smooth with countless ages of use. He didn’t know the layout of the palace, but many other constructed fortresses of stone and mortar all generally had the same layout, no matter the shape. All halls eventually leaded to staircases, which in turn lead downwards and ultimately exit the castle. After becoming frustrated with discovering more than one dead end, the slight prince found the grand arched doorway which opened to the landscaped courtyard. A small herd of colorful ponies were mingling. They leaned their heads close together, whispering and giggling. The object of their attention was grazing on a patch of low cropped emerald grasses. Philamel’s horse completely ignored the young mares doteing, content on eating the sweet green. A human girl was dragging a soft brush through his mane, picking out the last of the thistles from the silvery hairs. She was a pretty thing, slim in build with a head of thick pale yellow hair tied at the back of her head with a red ribbon. Philamel nearly mistook her for an elfen maiden, if not for her rounded ears and level eyes.

Someone noticed the prince and everyone quickly hushed as he walked up to the woman and horse. “Tabby, the healer, tells me that I have you to thank for my rescue.” Philamel laid a hand on his horse’s shoulder and gave the creature a loving pat.

Megan smiled awkwardly. “Oh, no, I just helped. Silvermoon is the one who you should thank.”

The elf stared at her. “He told you his name?”

The golden horse finished nipping at the grass and raised his head toward Megan. A pair of pegasi in the background twittered again.

“Mares,” huffed a sand colored stallion as he walked by.

Megan scratched Silvermoon under his chin. The horse smiled happily. “No,” she chuckled. “But the Little Ponies can speak Equis, they asked him.”

“Ah,” Philamel glanced over his shoulder as a lavender pegasus with rose hair batted her long eyelashes at his horse. “I see.” He sighed. “Where is his barding?”

“Taken by a unicorn that can repair it,” Megan answered.

“Very well,” Philamel stiffened. “When finished, suit him up and have him ready in an hour, I’ll be ready to leave by then.” The elf tuned on his heels and marched back into the castle to get back into his own armor.

Firefly, a spunky pink pegasus with bright blue hair wrinkled her nose. “Who does he thing he is, ordering you around like that?” she said to Megan.

“A prince,” Megan said matter-of-factly and slipped the brush from her hand and into a pail filled with the discarded plant particles pulled off Silvermoon. She patted the horse on his back and then wandered away from the courtyard, across the blue painted drawbridge and toward a large white washed building with a lavendar tiled roof. She opened the doors of the Show Stable and deposited the pail and brush in a nearby corner. In the center of the open space a dark purple unicorn with lavendar hair was weaving a magical transparent hammer around a large back anvil and striking a rounded golden piece of metal.

“Hello, Gimmick," she greeted the young male unicorn.

His golden eyes looked up at her and then he smiled. "It's been so long since I have had to craft or repair armor, it's a treat to fix Silvermoon's barding. I didn't need to do anything to the elf armor, it's not damaged in any way. Whoever injured the prince found a small kink in his otherwise perfect suit."

"Are you going to be done soon?" the human girl asked, watching the magically created hammer swirl through the air.

Gimmick nodded. "Oh yes, nearly finished."

"Good, because I have a feeling his Highness wants to leave now."

"Now is a problem, but some finishing strokes a good heap of metal polish and it will be as good as new."

Megan moved over to the folded horse blanket in the corner of the sable and slung the bulky item over her shoulder. "Great."

[Bright Glow]

Wow this was a very big chapter but it was exciting one too.

[Peace]

the end of chapter 2...

-----------------------------------------------

It didn’t take long for the elfish prince to gather some offered supplies and to don his finely crafted chain hauberk suit, the interlinked rings of mail draped like a long shirt down to his knees, with solid chest and back plates. He wrapped his sword belt around his lithe waist and situated his rapier within easy reach, should he need it again. Philamel paused for a scant few seconds, remembering that he hadn’t time to draw his weapon before the goblins attacked. It all happened so fast…

The elf blinked his almond shaped eyes and attempted to focus on the here and now.

The human girl had, quite expertly, draped Silvermoon with his thickly quilted blanket. The torn fabric had been repaired by the little ponies and the brightly woven tapestry appeared, to his eye, as through it had never been damaged. She hefted his large saddle, a cavalry model, with high pommel and cantle designed to keep the rider in the saddle during battle. As Philamel tied his long silver tresses in a pony tail at the back of his head he chuckled about that piece of information. It didn’t exactly keep him in the saddle, did it?

There was no halter to place on Silvermoon, since he was an intelligent creature, so Megan fussed with his mane and tail. She pulled any loose strands free that had been trapped under the horse’s accoutrements and have him an apple for being so still and patient during the process.

Philamel sniffed at the indignity. The human knew full well that Silvermoon was sentient, but still treated him like any ordinary dim-witted animal.

What was more insulting was that his horse happily munched on the offered fruit and licked her hand as a ‘thank you‘. Philamel glared at the pair.

Then the elf felt a pair of eyes watching him.

He knew he was not alone.

He looked down to his left side and gazed eye to eye at a small, brightly colored baby pegasus. Her ridiculously tiny purple wings were spread out as she simply chose to stare up at him, her pale blue eyes looked unusually large in the sunlight of mid-morning.

“What?” the elf asked.

The baby pony remained silent.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence Philamel again asked the young equine “What?”

She continued her silent resolve.

Several heartbeats later and the prince, deciding that he was going to get no where with the idle minded creature, moved off to his horse and swung onto Silvermoon’s back.

He was quickly joined by several ponies. Chief, the larger Clydesdale pony, led the procession and was followed by North Star. She was the only pony with an uncanny sense of direction and could quickly and efficiently get them to the elven kingdom, a border which laid to the north east. Silvermoon walked behind the pink pegasus and was in turn followed by Merriweather. She paused briefly to let Megan climb on her back, and then the group was off.

With the small purple baby pony watching them ride away from the lawns of Dream Castle.