JOURNEY OF THE
~~BREEZE

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BY: JUSTIN DANIELS

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And so, we were on our way towards "Fluttershy's Cottage". As we walked up to where the bridge was, we saw a creature that, to be honest, looked... different, to say the least. I couldn't really figure out HOW to describe him other than having the head of a pony and the body of all sorts of other things, but... Twilight told me that he was, according to the figure himself, a "draconequus".

More specifically, he was the "Spirit of Chaos", himself... Discord. Just the mere MENTIONING of his name nearly gave Summer a heart attack; something tells me he didn't have a good reputation with the breezies... or anyone ELSE, for that matter. With that in mind, I knew I had to proceed cautiously.

As we got closer to where he was, however, I noticed that something was wrong. He... didn't look happy at all, despite his supposed reputation of always LAUGHING when things were chaotic. In fact, he appeared to have... TEARS in his eyes. In one of his hooves... claws... whatever things... he had a letter in it. I knew, right then and there, that he was reading a letter that had troubling news in it.

As soon as Bolt walked past the bridge over the thin river of water, he looked around and noticed countless woodland critters roaming around the fields freely. Then, when they saw him, they froze in place, before slowly walking closer towards him... which gave him an uneasy feeling to say the least.

"Are you a friend of Fluttershy's?" Bolt heard a high-pitched male voice ask.

He turned his head towards the right (where he heard the voice coming from), but only found the distant animals staring at him. "I'm sorry, but... who said that?"

"Down here!" the voice replied. Then Bolt suddenly felt something firm but soft bumping onto his right foreleg. As he turned around to see what the source of the voice was, Twilight decided to fly up to Discord and explain the terrible news to him.

As soon as I saw who it was that was talking to me, I figured out ANOTHER new ability that my strange powers gave me... I could communicate with animals!

There, standing next to Bolt's right foreleg, was a tiny little bunny about the size of his paw. The bunny had fur as white as snow, and his arms appeared to be crossed over his chest while he sat there calmly; tapping his right foot on the dirt. Despite being so small, however, he didn't seem to show any fear in his facial expression. If anything, it was more annoyance.

"Well?" the bunny asked once again, before tilting his head to the right.

Bolt, in turn, tilted his head in confusion before nodding his head. "Um... yes?"

The bunny's annoyed expression, for some odd reason, instantly turned to one of relief as he wiped a hint of sweat from his forehead that must've gathered beneath his fur to hide his inner nervousness. "Thank goodness! Sorry for the 'tough guy' act... I heard that timberwolves usually tend to respond more positively towards tougher creatures. Couldn't make the kind of risk to just assume the best, y'know?" Bolt nodded his head in agreement with the bunny's statement. Then the bunny smiled before waving his right paw in a greeting manner. "My name's Angel! I'm Fluttershy's pet... though she tends to consider me as more of a 'friend', than a pet. Nice to meet you!"

Bolt chuckled before bowing his head properly in response. "It's quite alright. I'm not really a... that kind of timberwolf, if you know what I mean. Oh, and my name's Bolt! The honor is all mine, Angel!"

Angel chuckled before nodding his head. "Yeah, I figured you were a lot more friendlier than the average timberwolf... the flower on your forehead kinda hinted that, but I know better than to assume anything... and with the 'Everfree Invasion' just now being resolved, it didn't end without a price. Now, about half of the Everfree Forest is on the lookout!" Then a smile formed on his face. "Good thing Fluttershy should be coming home soon, right? I mean, if Twilight is back, then the others should be close by!"

That was when things started going downhill... fast. Bolt had an uneasy expression on his face; he turned his gaze away from the bunny before letting out a sigh. "Um... about that..."

At once, Angel's eyes widened in shock while his ears drooped down. "Oh, no... d-don't tell me something happened to her... please!"

Before Bolt could even reply, the sound of a heavy object colliding with the earth at a fast speed was heard from the direction of the house. When Bolt looked to his left, he saw that Discord was on the ground... crying. His right arm (the stronger one that looked like it came from a lion) was on the ground, balled up in a fist that was rested in the center of a small crater. Twilight was flying behind him, gently patting the back of his shoulders before motioning for Bolt to go up to her. As he walked up to her, Angel followed him with a new look of terror and sadness on his face.

"Discord... this is Bolt. He's the..."

Discord looked at Bolt and sighed before standing back up. "I know what he is, Twilight... I had a feeling a new human would rise up to face Tirek once again."

Bolt tilted his head and barked a few times... which Discord surprised him by replying with a nod.

"Indeed I do know who Tirek is. After all... I used to work with him... but that was before I saw him hurting people."

Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "Wait... but isn't hurting people something that you did?!"

Discord glared at her before spitting, "Of course not! What do you take me for, a bucking psychopath like HIM?!"

Twilight flinched at his sudden use of "profanity" and flew back a couple feet. Discord, on the other hand, sighed before shaking his head. "S-sorry... I didn't mean to snap like that. It's just... I've been mistaken for a psychopath for so long, now, that I... started growing tired of it." Then he sat on the ground before adding, "Yes, I am the Spirit of Chaos, but... never once have I harmed anypony in the process! In reality, I've always been more of a... 'prankster that caused things to get out of hoof', rather than a tyrannical king like Tirek."

With an understanding nod and an apologetic frown, Twilight gently brushed the back of his mane comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Discord... I didn't mean to pick on old wounds like that."

Discord let out a weak chuckle before replying, "It's alright, Twilight... I forgive you." Then he turned to Bolt and added, "Now, onward to more important matters! Bolt... I've received a letter from Princess Celestia telling me that she felt a disturbing force in their old castle, located deep inside the Everfree Forest. I would've gone to investigate it myself when Fluttershy came back, but... according to Twilight, she's been foal-napped; leaving me to tend to her animal friends up here. The situation, however, is urgent, and needs to be tended to as quickly as possible!" Then he turned towards Ponyville and hummed to himself. "I will tell the others about the Bearers' abductions... but I'll keep you and Tirek a secret, so that any possible smarties won't cause any more panic than there already will be."

Twilight hummed to herself for a moment before nodding her head. "I... I might have to ask Princess Celestia, first!"

Discord nodded his head in understanding before replying, "Very well, then! Allow me!" Then, as if he were pulling a cap off of a bottle, Discord removed the one fang from his upper lip and held it in his lion's paw with his fingers spread out. When he did so, the fang started to glow a light blue color, and in the matter of seconds, the voice of Princess Celestia started coming out of it.

"Discord! Have you made it to the castle, yet?"

Discord shook his head and replied, "Actually, Celly, I have a proposition to make."

With an audible groan, Celestia replied, "Discord! We don't have time for that! This situation is urgent, and requires-"

"Yeah, yeah! Listen, Celly! I-"

"Stop calling me 'Celly', and I'll listen!"

Discord gave an annoyed sigh before rolling his eyes and saying, "Alright, then... 'Celestia'... Twilight and her human friend, Bolt here, have arrived at Fluttershy's Cottage... and they told me that she and the others were abducted. Is that correct?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the "call". "I don't like dramatic pauses, Celestia."

"Yes... it's true..."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was worried about how you would react, Discord."

"And you thought I wouldn't worry if she were gone for more than a day in the bucking Everfree Forest, huh?"

"... I haven't thought about that, to be honest..."

"Of course you didn't. Why do you think you co-rule this place with your sister Lulu, after all?"

"I'm also right here, Discord." Luna's voice echoed.

"Volume, Lulu." Discord chuckled.

"S... sorry."

"Anyways, we're getting off topic here! Celestia; you planned on sending Twilight, Bolt, and their little breezie friend Summer out into the world to help save our friends, right?"

"That is correct."

"So, here's what I had in mind! Instead of sending me to investigate that magic force in your old castle... why not send them up there, so that I can tend to Fluttershy's animals, and ensure order remains in Ponyville while they're out?"

"And just why should we trust you to keep order, exactly? You and order don't really mix well, as far as I know."

"You'd be surprised, Celly. I wasn't always the Spirit of Chaos, y'know! I'm sure you remember those days, don't you?"

There was a moment of silence, until Luna's voice stated, "Sister, art thou... blushing?!"

"N-no!"

After a long moment of silence, Celestia sighed. "Alright, then... if Twilight is willing, then I will allow it. First, though, I want to hear her approval!"

Discord nodded his head before inching the fang closer to Twilight. This, of course, was Twilight's cue to speak. "Princess Celestia... I accept!"

Bolt barked a couple times in acceptance, also.

Summer flew closer to the fang and threw in her couple of bits. "I'm with Bolt and Twilight, so... I'm okay with it!"

Celestia's voice replied, "Alright then, you three. Discord, I want you to-"

"Keep Tirek and Bolt secret from Ponyville, but let them know about our friends' recent abduction? Already know what to do, Celestia."

"Good. Oh, but Discord! One more thing, please."

"But of course, Celly! What is it that you ask of me?"

There was a moment of silence, before Discord sighed. "Celestia." This made her continue speaking.

"I would feel much easier if Twilight and Bolt could borrow your fang as a means of communication. Since it's a part of you, I'm aware that you can communicate with them without it... so please?"

Discord nodded his head before replying, "Alright... done! Anyways, keep me posted on the progress... alright?"

"Alright... good luck to all of you. Remember; the world is at stake, here!"

With a nod, Discord snapped his eagle-like left claw, and in a puff of smoke, his fang disappeared. "It's in your pouch now, Bolt. When you're in the Everfree Forest, I'd suggest staying human as often as you can. That way, you can easily reach it when you want."

Bolt barked a couple times and nodded his head. Then Discord turned to Twilight.

"Twilight... while he's in human form, however, you're going to need to find a way to keep yourself from being easily spotted! Just the sight of an alicorn will practically give your position away for the enemies to attack you. And trust me when I say this... if a pony were to see you with a human, then they might suspect that the princesses are hiding something from the public... something bad. That... will be the kind of chaos that even I wouldn't want to happen."

With a nod, Twilight hummed for a moment. "Well... I could use an invisibility spell, but... that wouldn't do anything about my hooves... and I'm still getting used to my wings, so I know flying isn't an option!" Then, she looked down and started to rub her chin... until her eyes focused on Summer, who sat on Bolt's forehead in thought as well. That gave her an idea. "Of course! I could transform myself into a breezie!"

Bolt and Summer tilted their heads in confusion while Discord shrugged his shoulders. "Sounds like a winner to me! Now, then; off you lot go! And don't worry, Twilight... I'll be sure to let them know that you're on the case!"

With a nod, Twilight replied, "Alright... and don't you worry, Discord... I promise, we'll find Fluttershy, and bring her back!" Then she looked down at Bolt and motioned for him to turn back. "Let's go, Bolt... I can still remember where the Castle of the Two Sisters is!"

Bolt barked a couple times and turned to leave. As he did, however, he turned back to Discord and barked a couple times. "Don't worry, Discord... I'll be sure to let you know when we find her the SECOND we do." Then the trio headed into the edge of the Everfree Forest again, while Discord smiled warmly at them.

"Thank you..." Then he turned around and headed towards Ponyville; completely unaware of the hole in the ground where Angel once stood.

When they were a safe enough distance, Twilight flew off of Bolt's shoulders while he lowered to the ground and removed the flower from his forehead. Then, when he was human again, he turned to Twilight and hummed. "So... you can turn yourself into a breezie?!"

Twilight nodded her head before lowering herself to the ground. "Yes. I learned it a few days before I even became an alicorn... never thought I'd have to actually use it, though. Anyways, please stand back for a second."

Bolt nodded his head and did as she asked. Then, after closing her eyes for a long moment, her horn started to glow pink. After a few more seconds, she was completely wrapped in a pink aura of light. Then, when the light died down, she was no longer visible.

Bolt lowered to one knee and noticed a small glow coming from the center of where Twilight once stood. Looking closer towards the source of light, he smiled when he saw that her spell worked. "Well done, Twilight! Now, then... I guess you can stay on my scalp with Summer... perhaps the two of you can talk to each other up there!"

Summer chuckled before nodding her head and lowering to the ground. "Sounds good! Oh, and don't worry... the smell is easy to adapt to! Just... try to avoid the very back of his head, if anything!"

Twilight nodded her head before replying in a much higher-pitched tone similar to Summer's, "Alright... thanks for the warning!" Then, in the matter of seconds, the two of them flew on top of Bolt's scalp and held onto a pair of hair strands. "Alright, Bolt! Just follow the path, and I'll tell you where to go as you progress!"

Bolt nodded his head and replied, "Alright, then!"

And just like that, our NEW task was set before us. Whatever lies ahead... I can only hope for the best, but anticipate the worst.

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~TO BE CONTINUED~

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Author's Notes:

Okay, then! Expect the next chapter to take a good bit of time to complete! (In other words, INCOMING DUNGEON CHAPTER!)

In the mean time, I'll be working some more on a friend's story before I even start with that chapter, though! Please, though, I encourage you all to continue with the comments, and I'll be notified via the "Magic Bell in the top-left corner of the website"!

Any thoughts? Any ideas you'd like to share? Any suggestions? Any compliments - comments you'd like to make? Feel free to let me know, and I'll guarantee to read through them when I can!

As always, stay sharp, My Little Bronies! And remember! "When a friend is counting on you for something, if you exceed that person's expectations, you may even be able to count on that person in your next (or next two) time(s) of need! And with that in mind, never give up on that person, and give 'em a good praising for trying... even if they fail! If you do, then perhaps they will be forgiving of your mistakes much more easier!"