Chapter 13: The Alliances

Even while the Royal Treasure Seekers stood stunned by Spike’s findings, a shadowy figure darted swiftly through the afternoon sky. The being made sure that it was not seen by flying directly toward the sun. The creature had already flown out of Canterlot Castle and now made its way to a large open plain a good distance outside the city borders. Not a soul was visible on the ground below the figure. If fact, the only living thing in sight was an old oak tree which was standing in the grassy field. The creature swept silently into the branches of the oak and crouched down into the leaves with the maps it had pilfered.

“Finally you’re back,” a harsh feminine voice whispered from another branch. “Well, did you find it?”

The speaker moved from the shadows, it was a female griffin with a golden head.

“Not exactly, J,” spoke the figure with his whiny voice.

“And what do you mean, ‘not exactly’?” asked J harshly.

As J spoke, another griffin stepped from behind her. This one was a head taller than the female. He was a male griffin and he was very bulky and muscular. He wore a solemn expression on his face and his brown eyes gazed at the one clutching the stolen papers. The one clutching onto the maps looked up at the muscular one’s face and gulped before slowly fixing his gaze back on J.

“W-W-What I mean is that I don’t have the answer…”

J’s clear blue eyes narrowed and bore into the skittish burglar. She began to swish her tail around sharply.

“…b-but I have the next best thing,” stuttered the thief.

“Continue,” J cooed with a cold interest.

“M-Maps. Maps from long ago. We can find nearly anything that Sun Cloak could point us toward.”

At these words, the stammering one held out his prize shakily.

“Nice work, Slick,” stated J with a small smile on her beak as she took the pages from her griffin friend.

Slick, the griffin thief, smiled with relief. Even so, his light grey eyes shifted around with nervous energy and he never quite stopped twitching.

“Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here,” murmured J as she scanned over the worn pages. “So, do you know what we’re looking for?”

“From what those ponies said, I’d say we’re looking for a University called Small,” Slick replied as he fluttered over to J’s branch.

“Small University, eh?” J mused as she poured over the pages clenched between her talons.

A dull thump hit the ground outside the oak tree in which the griffins were perched. The tree itself rumbled slightly at the disturbance.

“What was that?” asked Slick while his head and eyes darted from side to side.

“Chill, Slick,” commanded J calmly. “Sly, go and check on it for us,” she said to the hulking griffin behind her with a wave of her talon.

The large brown griffin fanned out his wings and glided to the ground. He landed by the oak’s base. In an instant he had discerned the source of the shaking. Two massive black and scaly legs were the first glimpse of the dragon that Sly got. Undeterred, however, the muscular griffin flew up to meet this new arrival face to face. The black beast noticed movement and tilted his head so as to watch whichever creature had been brave enough to approach.

“Dragon,” opened Sly in a deep and confident voice, “I suggest that you leave the shade of this tree.”

The brown griffin flew up in front of the dragon’s face.

“Griffinsss” snarled the dragon and a small stream of smoke lurched into the air.

“Leave now,” Sly demanded, “Unless you came for a fight. I’d be happy to send you away with a new scar.”

Sly pointed a talon toward the dragon’s right eye, more specifically, at the scar running across it.

“You are brash for a griffin,” breathed the dragon, whose green eyes bore into Sly. “But I come only to give a warning…this time. I suggest that you and those cowering in this tree abandon the hunt. The unicorn’s magics will be mine and mine alone. If you get in my way, then we’ll see about that fight you seem to so eagerly desire.”

“Who’s cowering?” J shot out from the cover of the tree.

She glared straight into the dark dragon’s eyes without even a hint of fear, only of determination.

“Ah,” the dragon smiled and showed off his sharp teeth. “You must be the leader of this small band then. I will say what I said to your companion here;” the beast waved a grizzled claw at Sly, “leave the hunt…before I end it for you.”

“And just what hunt are you blabbin’ on about?” J asked angrily.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” the dragon raised his voice and smoke poured from his nostrils. “I can practically smell the unicorn’s magics on you. You have one of his crystals.”

“Very intuitive,” J said, “I’m impressed.”

The dragon chuckled softly to himself and smirked.

“In fact,” J continued, “I’m so impressed that I’ll even offer you a proposition.”

The black beast raised an eyebrow and tilted his head ever so slightly at this turn of events.

“J! What are you thinking?!” shrieked Slick as the black griffin exploded out from the oak’s protection.

“Shut it, Slick,” J snapped at her twitchy companion.

Slick froze mid-air while J turned her attention back to the dragon.

“Now, as I was saying, it seems that we might actually be able to work together. You want Sun Cloak’s magic? Sure, knock yourself out! I have no use for magic. All I want is the money: cold, hard cash.”

The dragon sized up the female griffin with his eyes and he furrowed his brows in thought.

“We already have something of value to contribute,” J continued without giving the dragon a chance to reply. “We have the answer to the next puzzle. But, if you want it, you’re going to have to prove yourself useful. We got a deal?”

The dragon remained silent for a few more moments. The muscular Sly flew close to J and allowed his body to hover slightly in front of hers, so as to use himself as a shield should the time come. Slick simply shivered behind his leader while his shifty eyes darted back and forth.

“Agreed,” spoke the dragon slowly, “on one condition.”

He lifted one claw to emphasize his point. It was now J’s turn to raise an eyebrow as the beast continued.

“I am allowed to pursue the treasure as I see fit. We will share information and split the treasure when the hunt is over. I will take anything pertaining to the unicorn’s magics and you may have anything else.”

“Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast big guy,” J wagged a talon in front of the dragon’s face. “Before we give you anything, you have to prove that you’ll be of use to us. Sly here’s our muscle,” she pointed toward her bulky friend, “and Slick over there is the best pickpocket I’ve ever met.” She moved her talon to point over at her twitchy companion. “And I’m the brains of this whole operation. So what can you give to the team that we don’t already have?”

The dragon stared J down with his piercing gaze, but she didn’t flinch. He opened his mouth to speak when instead he began to inhale sharply.

“Ahh…Ahh…Chooooo!”

A small burst of green flame poured from the black dragon’s nostrils as the creature sneezed violently. The griffins scattered to avoid the unexpected fire. A parchment materialized from the green blaze and fell to the ground. The dragon snatched up the paper and opened it. His eyes scanned over the words but the more he read, the angrier he became. His eyes glowered with hatred and his claws began to shake with fury. Without warning, he tore the parchment to shreds and then spewed out an orange fire which quickly engulfed the paper and burned it to ashes.

“Now that’s interesting,” mused J as she watched the events unfold. “Where did that letter come from?”

“It’s known as the Sending Flame,” growled the beast, still shaking with rage.

“So, you can send messages as well as receive them?” she pressed.

“Yes.”

“Well, well, well then,” she chuckled, “seems like you’ve got something to offer after all. Welcome to the team. I’m Jay, but my friends here call me J. Choose which ever you like.”

“Jay…” hissed the dragon softly. “Very well, I accept your offer. Now, let me introduce myself, I am Grallix of the Frostbluff Peak and you may find that I can do more than simply send and receive messages.”

“Excellent.” Jay wrung her talons together greedily. “Alright then, how about that answer I promised?”

* * * * * * * * *

That very same afternoon, the Royal Treasure Seekers were in Canterlot Castle, gazing intently at the picture of Professor Sun Cloak.

“It says: Professor of Music Theory,” read Twilight Sparkle. “That’s funny; I’d think he would be teaching magic or something.”

“This is all well and good and very interesting, but let’s not get side tracked,” stated Rarity as she pulled her eyes away from the book. “After all, we are going to Hooverdale and the sooner we get there, the better.”

“Of course,” agreed Applejack. “Come on y’all, let’s get packed. And you, Sugar Cube,” the orange equine pointed a hoof at Twilight, “are goin’ to talk to the Princess ‘bout gettin’ us in to Hooverdale.”

“I’m on it,” the purple mare nodded and trotted off quickly.

The group split up to do their own tasks. Most would pack, but Twilight would get the group into the protected community of Hooverdale if it was the last thing she did.

* * * * * * * * *

“Of course I can get you into Hooverdale,” said Princess Celestia to her faithful student. “I’ve been invited there many times myself. I’ll get you a document proving that I’ve sent you and they’ll let you in.”

“Thank you so much, Princess!” Twilight bubbled with glee.

“Now, on the matter of transportation, I can’t lend you any of my charioteers due to the pressing need for keeping peace in Equestria.”

Twilight’s smile lessened somewhat at the news.

“But I can do something for you,” Celestia continued.

The scholar looked questioningly, but hopefully, at her mentor.

“I can still give you one of my extra chariots. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash will need to pull it, but this will also give you a ride to your next destination as well.”

“That sounds wonderful Princess!” declared Twilight.

Celestia laughed merrily at her student’s happiness.

“I’m glad to be able to help. Oh, but Twilight?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“I wouldn’t advise leaving instantly. It’s a full day’s journey when one travels by air and an even longer one if one walks. Why don’t you all rest here one more night and then take off bright and early tomorrow morning?”

“I don’t think Rarity will be too happy about that, but taking in to account that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are pulling for us…we’ll stay one more night.”

“A wise choice, my faithful student.”

No sooner had the two parted company than one of the Royal Guard came up to Celestia asking for more support or some such matter. Twilight went back to tell her friends that they should make themselves comfortable for one more evening in the illustrious Castle.

* * * * * * * * *

The afternoon sun beat down upon a group of travelers that day. Four unicorns had made their way out of Canterlot and found themselves marching across a wide open field, which teemed with all manner of tall grass.

“Come on, Cumulus!” called a brown colored stallion to another stallion behind him. “You’re slowing us down! If we’re going to make it to Hooverdale before the other teams then you’re going to have to pick up the pace!”

“I’m comin’ Sun Chaser! No need to get your mane in a twist!” the other stallion, Cumulus, called back in his gruff voice.

Cumulus was a unicorn in the Society of Sun, just as the other three unicorns were in the Society. He had pale green eyes and a dark blue mane which rippled over his grey coat like a shower of rain. He was short and stubby for a fully grown stallion and he had the mark of a storm cloud wrapped in lightning upon his flank.

“Sight Seer, would you mind helping him out?” asked Sun Chaser as he turned to yet another stallion to his right.

The one named Sight Seer nodded his head. Seer’s horn began to glow violet, the same enchanting color as his eyes, and a very similar colored magic encased Cumulus. Suddenly, the stubby stallion found himself standing at Sun Chaser’s hooves.

“Ooo, Sight Seer!” rumbled Cumulus angrily as he stamped a hoof on the ground, “I don’t care if Teleportation Magic IS your specialty. I don’t need any help to keep up with the group!”

“I was only doing as Sun Chaser asked,” Sight Seer responded calmly in his deep, silky voice.

As a matter of fact, no one would suspect such a deep voice to come from such a lanky stallion for Sight Seer was tall and skinny. His perfectly straightened yellow mane fell over a light blue coat while his cutie mark displayed his talent for Teleportation Magic. It was a seven pointed star with sparks flashing around it.

“Well, from now on, and I don’t really care if Sun Chaser asks you to, don’t teleport me without my permission. Got it?” grumped Cumulus.

“Oh, Cumulus, settle down. It’s not that big of a deal,” a female unicorn’s soft-spoken voice broke through the grumpy one’s moodiness.

Although these words were soft, they also seemed to hold a subtle, but powerful, force behind them. Cumulus bobbed his head around in frustration before conceding defeat.

“You’re right, Rose Shine…as usual.”

Rose Shine was a unicorn mare, the only female in the Society of Sun. Her coat was red and she had a short, green mane which had one single streak of dark green running through it. Her eyes were, oddly enough, grey and her cutie mark was that of a rose, but the rose was half stone and half living.

“Come, come,” stated Sun Chaser cheerily.

He waltzed up to the grumpy stallion and bumped him encouragingly on the shoulder.

“There was no harm done and now you’ve finally caught up with us. Let’s get back on the move.”

The group followed their leader through the tall grasses and further from the safety of Canterlot.

* * * * * * * * *

In an oak tree, ironically in the very same field as the Society of Sun, sat three griffins. A black dragon stood next to the tree. They were all pouring over some pilfered maps from the Royal Archives.

“Alright, where are you Small University?” asked a frustrated Jay.

Her gold tipped wings flicked in aggravation.

“Slick! You sure they said ‘Small University’?”

The dark griffin, Slick, bobbed his head up and down timidly.

“Come on then! Where are you, Small?!” Jay pounded her talons against the trunk of the oak.

Grallix, the black dragon, stood breathing over her shoulder. Suddenly, the dragon’s pupils grew wide and he turned his head.

“I sense the unicorn’s magics,” the beast stated.

“Yes, we know. We have the crystal that you sense,” responded Sly, the muscular griffin.

“No, this is different,” hissed Grallix. “There is another team nearby.”

“Another team?! Where?” asked Jay urgently.

“Over there.” Grallix pointed a claw away from the lone oak.

Jay squinted her eyes and focused her vision toward the point Grallix had pointed. In the far distance she could barely make out a small group of ponies.

“It’s a group of about three, maybe four ponies,” she said. “Slick, I want you to do a quick fly by. Don’t get too close; I don’t want them to know that we’re here. If they’re headed off toward the next clue, then maybe we can follow them to this Small University without ever even finding it on these accursed maps.”

Slick shot off at once, a ball of nervous energy. He was good at his job, however, and remained just out of eye sight. He came back quickly with his report.

“Four of them, J. All unicorns. It looks like they’re leaving Canterlot on some kind of trip.”

“A rival team on a journey away from Canterlot?” mused the female griffin. “It looks like someone is about to solve another puzzle for us.”

She chuckled to herself before continuing.

“All right, here’s the plan: we fly up so high that the unicorns can’t see us. Our eye sight is much better than theirs so we’ll still be able to track them. As long as none of us does anything stupid, we’ll be at the answer in no time. Let’s fly!”

The griffin trio shot straight into the clear sky and made haste to a high altitude. Grallix also lurched into the heavens and kept pace and height with the three griffins. If all went according to plan, the unicorns would remain clueless and the newly formed alliance would be one step closer to Sun Cloak’s treasure.

* * * * * * * * *

“Can’t you just whisk us off to Hooverdale from here, Sight Seer?” Cumulus grumbled to his lanky companion. “My legs are aching.”

“I can only teleport to where I can see. It will be a full day’s walk before Hooverdale is in sight,” replied Sight Seer calmly.

“Of course it will,” harrumphed the squat Cumulus with a scowl.

“What’s wrong Cumulus?” asked the mare, Rose Shine, softly.

“Bah! It’s my job. Those ponies at the Weather Factory don’t seem to understand that we need more rain in Canterlot next month. We’re hosting a prestigious gardening event in the city and those plants need water!”

He stomped his foot on the ground to emphasize his point.

“I’m sorry to hear about that, but isn’t there anything you can do?” asked Rose. “You’re talent IS Weather Magic after all.”

“Well…there is one thing, but I’d rather not do it if possible.”

“And what’s that?”

“We could get a few pegasus to dip into a small reservoir we hold in case of emergencies and then I could use my magic to create some temporary rain clouds. But it would empty the reservoir in the process.”

“Ah! The troubles of scheduling weather for an entire city,” laughed Sun Chaser as he strolled over to Cumulus’ side.

“You be quiet!” huffed Cumulus as he turned his head toward his leader. “Getting a position helping schedule the weather in Canterlot is a very prestigious and important role. It’s much better than giving tours at that old museum of yours!”

“Cumulus!” Rose’s soft, but powerful voice rippled through the air. “You know that Sun Chaser only gives tours at that museum because he wants to. He’s been offered many higher positions in Canterlot, but he’s turned them all down.”

“Sorry, Rose,” apologized the stubby stallion. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just stressed is all.”

Cumulus took some deep breaths and closed his eyes. Slowly, he opened them again and his constant scowl became less noticeable.

“Feeling better?” asked Sun Chaser.

Cumulus gave a curt nod and the group continued for a few moments without speaking.

“Chaser,” said Sight Seer suddenly and quietly, his face showed alarm. “We are being followed.”

Sun Chaser’s eyes grew hard and calculating. He furrowed his brows and turned his attention toward Sight Seer.

“Where and how many?”

“I can sense four of them. They’re up very high, where even eye sight cannot reach. Three are about our size, but one is much larger,” reported Seer.

“Right,” responded Chaser with a quick nod. “Well, let’s see who’s following us then. Shall we?”

The light brown unicorn set his horn ablaze with yellow magic and suddenly a bullhorn magically appeared floating in front of his mouth.

“You up there!” shouted Sun Chaser into the bullhorn. “Yes you! Get down here! I’ve got something to say to you!”

Once the message was given, the bullhorn disappeared in a puff of yellow tinted smoke and the unicorn’s horn quit glowing. The Society of Sun gazed up into the blue sky and waited for a response. In time, three dark specks appeared high in the heavens. As the objects grew closer, the shapes of three griffins became perceivable. Finally, the griffins landed at the feet of the unicorns.

“Well?” asked a female griffin sharply.

“Well, what?” replied Sun Chaser with a shrug.

“What did you have to say to us?” the female cocked an eyebrow up angrily.

“Oh right!” Chaser said much too happily. “…Stop following us and solve the puzzle for yourself!” he snapped.

“What are you talking about? Puzzle? What puzzle?” the gold headed griffin acted shocked.

Sun Chaser smirked and chuckled softly. He looked confidently at the griffin and then said, “Riddle.”

Suddenly, Sun Cloak’s form appeared twice with dual flashes of light. One Sun Cloak was in the midst of the Society and the other image appeared near a black, scrawny griffin standing behind the female.

“Riddles? I love riddles! A good puzzle always seems to brighten up my day,” spoke the dual images before fading away.

Sun Chaser looked pleased, but the female griffin was staring daggers into him and clawing at the ground angrily.

“How’d you know?” hissed the gold headed female as he clear blue eyes bore into Sun Chaser.

“Because, Jay, I do my research and I have powerful friends.”

Jay’s expression changed instantly to one mixed with both genuine shock and rage.

“And I know you have another friend whom you’re trying to hide from us as well,” Chaser stated bluntly. “Why don’t you call him down here? Or should I do it for you?”

Jay scowled at Sun Chaser, but then turned her attention toward a muscular griffin by her side.

“Sly,” she said with a forced calmness, “they want to meet our companion…why don’t you get him for us?”

The muscular Sly flew into the sky until he was outside the range of sight. The two groups peered at each other with suspicion as a few tense moments passed by in silence. Soon enough, however, two shapes came into view. There was a small one, which was obviously Sly, and one that was easily three times the muscular griffin’s size. The two beings shook the earth as they landed. Now, standing among the unicorn group were three griffins and a black dragon. The dragon smiled deviously, showing off his razor sharp incisors to the four equines.

“Grallix of Frostbluff,” said Sun Chaser calmly.

The dragon lost his smile.

“You’re rather small for a fully matured dragon, aren’t you?” questioned Sun Chaser.

Grallix roared in Chaser’s face which whipped the unicorn’s mane around.

“I know my own weaknesses!” screamed the black beast. “And I don’t need a stinking pony telling me about them!”

“Huffy, aren’t we?” asked Sun Chaser calmly while brushing his mane back into place. “I must say, for all of my careful research, I know the least about you Grallix of Frostbluff.”

The dragon chose to glare at the bold unicorn.

“I think I’ve heard enough of this,” Jay broke up the staring contest. “Look, we already heard you talking about Hooverdale. So we’ll just be on our way. See ya’ at the next puzzle!”

She waved flippantly at the unicorns and then took to the sky. The two other griffins followed suit and shot into the sky.

“I’m afraid that I can’t let you do that,” stated Sun Chaser abruptly.

Jay and the other griffins froze midair and turned around. The female flew right into Chaser’s face and pressed, “Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

“Because,” whispered Sun Chaser with a hard set voice, “I know who you are, Jay Pennsworth, and I WILL stop you.”

The griffin backed off and snarled at the unicorn.

“So, you know who I am, eh?” she retorted. “Fine. But there’s still nothing you can do to stop me. Sun Cloak’s shield protects me and my team just as well as it protects yours. You can’t do a thing.”

“I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you,” replied Chaser.

Jay looked quizzically at the yellow eyed stallion.

“It’s true that Sun Cloak’s shield will protect from deadly threats,” Chaser began to pace back and forth until he reached Rose Shine.

He leaned over and whispered something into the mare’s ears before continuing.

“But, there are ways around it.”

At this he turned toward Rose Shine and shouted, “Rose, now!”

She nodded her head and put one hoof forward. Her horn sparked to life and a brilliant green distortion rippled from her horn and flew into the sky. The magical distortion was shaped like a crescent moon; it was horizontal and parallel to the ground. The distortion zipped through the air until it collided with the three griffins. The magic went straight through the three creatures and fizzled grey after it had passed through all three of them.

The stunned griffins inhaled sharply as the magical surge passed into their bodies and then they became as still as death. Their wings froze in place and they plummeted to the ground. Sun Chaser lit his own horn and a large mattress appeared beneath the falling griffins. The frozen creatures hit the cushioning, but they remained motionless. Chaser then dispersed the mattress.

Rose turned her attention on the black dragon and fired the same magical crescent at the beast. But Grallix shot out a gust of purple flame, which engulfed the green distortion until Rose’s spell had fizzled into nothingness.

“I will not be taken that easily!” roared the beast as smoke poured from his mouth and nostrils. “Tell me what you did to them!”

“Your companions are fine,” stated Sun Chaser confidently. “Rose here is a master of Animation Magic and your friends have simply been rendered motionless for twenty-four hours. When the time has elapsed, they will be able to move again.”

Grallix snarled in annoyance while glancing at the frozen griffins. He then leveled his cold gaze back onto the yellow eyed unicorn.

“Now, if you would be so kind as to stand there for a few more moments, you can join your friends,” quipped Chaser.

“Arrogant pony!” fumed Grallix. “Who are you to mock a dragon?!”

Sun Chaser suddenly stood tall and proud as he stared unswervingly into the dragon’s fierce green eyes.

“I am the closest living relative to Sun Cloak the Gifted,” he said resolutely, “and I will make sure that only those worthy of his treasure will ever see it.”

Grallix was taken aback for a moment at the revelation and his eyes glimmered with fear for the briefest of seconds. Then, the dragon began to laugh a hearty and wicked laugh which roared into the heavens.

“Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha! You had me going for a second!” he pointed a grizzled claw at Chaser and wiped a small tear from his eye before becoming deathly serious again. “But the one you call Sun Cloak was a single child and never had any children. And, for telling me such a blatant lie, I will punish you most severely. That will teach you about the consequences of lying to a dragon.”

Grallix snarled and charged at the yellow eyed stallion, but he was yanked to the ground by some unknown force. The tinkling of metal against metal reached the dragon’s ears as he crashed upon the ground. A set of large, magic chains were now connected to both his leg and the ground. He glanced at Sun Chaser and found the unicorn’s horn to be glowing with a bright yellow hue. In anger, the dragon began to belch purple fire onto the golden chains. The chains began to erode and lose their strength as the purple flame enveloped them.

“Cumulus, I need lightning!” commanded Sun Chaser.

Cumulus’ eyes lit up with delight even as his horn began to glow a pale green. A small thunderhead appeared around the golden chains and the grey cloud spewed forth lightning onto the metal. Grallix howled in pain as electricity flowed into his scaly leg. His purple fire was swiftly doing its work, however, and soon the chain would be no more. Grallix began to yank and tug on the ever weakening chain.

“Rose!” called Sun Chaser.

The red mare ignited her horn and the powerful de-animating distortion flew at the dragon. Unprepared and caught unaware, Grallix was blasted clean-through by the magical crescent. He gasped sharply when the magic passed through his body and he fell limp to the ground, a scowl of pain and determination still etched across his grizzled face. Sun Chaser released the remnants of his golden chains from existence and Cumulus allowed the storm clouds to rain upon the tall grasses of the plains.

“This is unfortunate,” Sun Chaser said to his group, he was sweating and panting slightly. “I was hoping that the griffins were not so far into the hunt. We’ll have to pick up our pace. I want to be in sight of Hooverdale by tomorrow afternoon. Twenty-four hours doesn’t give us nearly as much time as I’d like.”

The equines took a very short breather after all their magical exertion, but they were soon on the road again. This time they had a quickness to their steps that was driven by necessity. The griffins could certainly not be allowed to find Sun Cloak’s treasure and having a dragon on their side would only make things that much more difficult.

* * * * * * * * *

Evening was only just beginning in the sleepy town of Bridleby. The small community was located close to the base of the mountain on which Canterlot resided. The land outside was beautiful, full of luscious trees which grew thanks to the roaring waterfalls coming from the cliff. A group of four weary travelers entered the town and soon found themselves at the Sleep Inn. They purchased rooms for the evening and, after unloading their packs, went out for a bite to eat. The four sat down in a crowded diner and began to talk as their food was being prepared.

“So, explain to me again why we’re going to Canterlot?” asked a young stallion.

His coat was a pale green color and he had a light brown mane with streaks of black running through it. His brown eyes gleamed through a pair of circular glass at a middle-aged stallion who sat across the table from him.

“I’ve told ye already lad,” stated the middle-aged stallion in an Irish accent.

This one’s coat was a speckled grey and his mane was a deep black.

“We be goin’ to Canterlot so’s to do some research. I’m hopin’ that the Princess’ll be kind enough to give us access to the Royal Archives when she hears of our participation in Sun Cloak’s hunt.”

“Yee haw!” a mare at the table shouted with a grin as wide as a mile plastered across her face. “Tomorrow we meet royalty!”

She had a deep blue mane with small bands of light blue running through it. Her coat was a pale yellow and she had grey eyes. She was sitting next to the middle-aged stallion.

Across the table from the mare sat the only unicorn in the group. He had a deep blue mane with violet stripes. His coat was a luminous white and his eyes were a pale blue. His cutie mark was a trio of red gemstones and he was currently toying with a small emerald which he had set spinning on the tabletop.

“Gemwalker, will you cut that out?” asked the pale green stallion in frustration, his voice was slightly grating to listen to. “You won’t leave that stone alone for even a second. It’s driving me crazy!”

“I’d think you’d be more excited about an ancient stone, Diggs,” spoke the unicorn in a smooth, high society voice. “After all, your talent IS archeology.”

Diggs, the pale green earth pony, had the mark of an archeologist. His was a digging tool crossed over a brush.

“Students, settle down now,” spoke the grey speckled earth pony with his Irish accent.

“Yes, Professor McKracken,” the two replied in flat unison.

Professor McKracken had his own cutie mark. It showed off his talent for teaching the earth sciences. His mark was one of a closed book with a large gemstone on the cover. The gemstone was cut in a hexagon shape and its color was a bright green.

The door to the diner opened as a pegasi duo entered the eatery. The students turned their heads to look at the newcomers. One was a stallion and the other a mare.

The stallion had an orange coat and a short cropped yellow mane. His cutie mark was a golden horseshoe. The mare had a red coat and a flowing blue mane with streaks of purple. Her mark was a four-leaf clover.

The pegasi were soon seated at a table. The students soon turned their heads away from the pegasi and resumed their own conversation.

“Those two,” Gemwalker spoke and nudged his head in the direction of the pegasi, “I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”

“Do ya’ know where?” asked the mare in a Southern accent.

“If I knew where I saw them, Rocky, I would have told you,” quipped Gemwalker.

The mare, Rocky Road, gave Gemwalker an accusing look, but soon put her mind to work on other things.

“Well, if ya’ know em’. Then why not go speak with em’?” Rocky asked Gemwalker.

“Because I can’t remember where it is I would know them from,” the unicorn replied, slightly bothered by the suggestion.

The four turned their attention back to the pegasi. The two winged ponies were placing their orders and laughing with their waiter. The pegasus mare seemed to think of something and began to rummage through her saddlebag. She pulled out some sort of paper and pointed her hoof to it.

“I know where I’ve seen them!” whispered Gemwalker with enthusiasm.

The other three turned their attention back to the unicorn.

“I read about those two in the paper not too long back. They found some sort of treasure.”

“So they’re treasure hunters!” whispered Rocky excitedly.

“Of course you’d remember something about shiny gems and money,” huffed Diggs as he rolled his eyes.

“If those two be accomplished treasure hunters,” stated the middle-aged Professor, “then maybe they can help us. Mr. Walker, would ye mind goin’ over and talkin’ with them?”

Gemwalker nabbed the emerald from the table and started to saunter over to the pegasi but not before he looked his teacher in the eyes and said, “My name is GEMwalker.”

He then continued over to the pegasi couple without even waiting for a reply from his professor.

“Excuse me,” said Gemwalker as he neared the pegasi.

The couple turned toward the white unicorn.

“Are you the ones who found that treasure a while back?” Gemwalker asked.

“Honey!” the mare placed a hoof on her husband’s shoulder. “It looks like we have a fan.”

“Why goodness me!” replied her husband.

The pegasus stallion fumbled and bumbled his way around the table until he came over to shake hooves with the unicorn.

“Yes. It’s true,” assured the orange stallion. “We are the famous treasure hunting couple who found Gillian Griffon’s sunken treasure and we’ve been on many other treasure hunts as well. I’m Boomer and this is my wife, Juliet.”

Boomer motioned with his hoof toward his wife and she came to stand by her husband’s side.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Juliet said in a cheery voice.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Gemwalker spoke courteously and bowed his head.

“Ooo! Ooo! I know just what you’re after,” Juliet claimed excitedly. “Let me just…get it…for you.”

The red mare searched through her saddlebag until her head popped back out, clenching a paper between her teeth. She flopped the paper onto the table. Gemwalker noticed that it was an old newspaper. On the front cover was a picture of Juliet and Boomer standing beside a waterlogged ship with a pile of treasure gleaming behind them.

“Ah yes! And here are some pens,” Juliet almost sang. “Let me just sign this for you. Um…what was your name again, Sweetie?”

“Oh, it’s Gemwalker.”

“Righty-o, Mr. Walker,” said Boomer as he snagged a pen from his own bag.

“No. No. My name is GEMwalker.”

“Of course it is,” mumbled the stallion as he used his mouth to flourish his signature onto the newspaper picture.

“There you go, Sweetheart.” Juliet handed the freshly signed paper to Gemwalker, who took it with a smile.

“I…I have to ask,” Gemwalker said, a little nervously. “Did you really find seven fire rubies on Griffon’s ship?”

“As sure as the day is long,” chuckled Boomer. “And that’s not all we found, plenty of gold and other rare gems too.”

Gemwalker was really becoming energetic at the talk of treasure. The unicorn began to inhale a little faster and his eyes grew slightly larger amongst his excitement.

“S-So what does a fire ruby feel like? Does it really produce heat on touch?”

“Well, I don’t know much about those fire rubies, Deary,” began Juliet. “But I can see that you share a love for treasure and jewels and I have something here that just might interest you.”

The pegasus mare stuck her head into her bag and pulled out another object. This one was much smaller, but also much more shiny. She clunked it onto the table for Gemwalker to see. Sitting before him was a green gemstone, which looked almost exactly like his own group’s small emerald.

“I-Is that what I think it is?” gasped the unicorn with the greatest of desire.

He slowly reached out a hoof to touch another of Sun Cloak’s riddle crystals.

“I’m not sure I would…” Boomer warned, but it was too late.

Gemwalker gently touched the pegasi’ emerald, which instantly sent a tiny jolt into the unicorn’s hoof. The white unicorn began to shake and his dark blue mane frizzed up as magical energy flowed through him.

“…touch that,” finished Boomer.

Gemwalker quickly released his hold on both the pegasi’s emerald and also on his own team’s emerald. Instantly, the jarring magic ceased and his mane fell back down to its usual straightened appearance, with the exception of a few now unkempt strands.

“Oh dear! Are you alright?” Juliet gasped with concern.

“Mr. Walker!” shouted Professor McKracken as he rushed up to his student’s side.

The grey speckled stallion placed a caring hoof on his student’s back.

The unicorn looked back at his teacher and spoke quite calmly, “My name is GEMwalker.”

Two small emeralds now lay upon the floor of the diner. Boomer reached down to retrieve one.

“I’ll get it, Honey,” said the pegasus stallion.

But when he touched the stone, he found a surprise of his own. Magic surged through the orange pegasus and he began to shudder and shake. His own short yellow mane started to poof up until he released his touch on the green gem.

“Oops, that would be mine,” Gemwalker apologized as he quickly snatched up and tried to hide his team’s emerald.

“Quite,” was all Boomer could wheeze.

“Honey!” squealed Juliet as she placed a hoof around her husband. “Are you ok?”

“Fine. I’m fine,” rasped Boomer.

By this point the other patrons in the eatery were looking over at the strange happenings. Some hushed murmurs were rustling through the air and some ponies were even pointing.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that you have a crystal of your own,” Boomer mentioned to Gemwalker. “Where did you say you were from again?”

The Professor and not Gemwalker responded, “We be a group from the University of Hoofington. Me and me students have found ourselves on a treasure hunt and we were wonderin’ if, perhaps, ye could help us out?”

“A group of college students you say?” asked Juliet. “Oh my! What fun you must be having. And if you’re not having fun, then what good is a treasure hunt? We’d be more than happy to help you out, right Dear?”

Her husband gave a nod in agreement and smiled broadly at the two before him. Another equine walked over to those who were talking.

“Sorry to interrupt,” stated Diggs who had only just walked in on the conversation, “but we seem to be drawing some unwanted attention.”

He motioned with his eyes to the other patrons who had stopped eating and were instead staring at the odd group.

“I see ye be right lad,” answered McKracken. The Professor then turned his attention back to the pegasus, “We be stayin’ at the Sleep Inn here in town. Could we maybe meet up after supper and talk things over?”

“The Sleep Inn you say?” asked Boomer.

“Why, that’s where we’re staying too!” Juliet answered happily.

“Terrific!” replied the Professor. “Enjoy your supper.”

The three from U of H went back to their table. Gemwalker stuffed the newspaper in his bag. Shortly thereafter, food came for the foursome and the patrons at the diner eventually went back to enjoying their own meals. The dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by all before they went back that evening to the Sleep Inn.

* * * * * * * * *

The students and their professor found themselves in a quaint room at the Sleep Inn. The room was not elaborate. The walls were painted white and one wall held a small window which allowed a look at the town outside. The Inn was not very tall and the group was located on the uppermost floor, floor three. A few beds lined the walls and a small nightstand rested between every set of beds. A painting of flowers hung over each nightstand and each nightstand held one dim lamp. There was also a closet in the room, which wasn’t being used. There was one door that led to a restroom, complete with a tiny shower, and one door which led to the hallway. The team’s saddlebags lay haphazardly on the floor, except for Gemwalker’s which was tucked neatly under his bed.

This room was to be the place where the U of H students would spend the night, but there were currently two pegasi in this room as well. The pegasi had come in only recently. Not counting the pegasi couple, only two equines were standing. Diggs and Rocky Road were each lying on their beds. Almost as soon as the pegasi arrived conversation started up.

“A fine welcome to ye!” greeted the Professor. “Come in and make yeselves at home.”

“Oh! Just look at all of you,” Juliet smiled cheerfully. “Ready to take on the world and set out on an adventure! I remember when my Boomer and I set off on our first treasure hunt. Those were good days.”

She sighed happily.

“Excuse me,” said Diggs from his comfortable position on his bed, “but shouldn’t we get to know each other if we’re going to be working together?”

“Introductions! Of course!” Juliet replied blissfully. “My name is Juliet and this is my husband, Boomer.”

“It’s a pleasure.” Boomer nodded his head toward the students.

“And I’m Professor Granite McKracken from the University of Hoofington and these are me students, Rocky Road, Diggs, and you’ve already met Mr. Walker.”

Each of the students responded as their name was given. Rocky Road, the only female in the U of H team, smiled and waved her hoof vigorously. Diggs snorted and nodded his head. Gemwalker bowed courteously but he mumbled, “It’s GEMwalker,” under his breath.

“And now that we all know each other, I’d say it’s time to get to work,” finished McKracken.

“Well then, let’s get right to it,” opened Boomer with enthusiasm. “Which puzzle are you on?”

Rocky Road sat up on her bed and began to recite the riddle from memory, “The last clue was:

‘Where the ol’ ring-a-round scores a coup de grace

  And where Pegasus fall with a bumblin’ ace,

  Here y’all will find the next challenge awaits;

  At Small: fer one…fer all’.”

“Then we’re on the same one,” cooed Juliet gleefully.

“Excellent!” replied the Professor. He paused for the briefest of moments before continuing. “Any idea what it means?”

“Professor! I know something,” stated Diggs and he raised his hoof as a force of habit.

“Yes lad?”

“It’s that line about ‘the ol’ ring-a-round’. I’ve done some looking into ancient unicorn lore and happened upon a game that used to be played called Mer…Mare…Mmm…well it was something starting with an ‘M’. Anyway, one of the plays in this game was called the ol’ ring-a-round.”

“Alright,” Boomer swung his hoof in front of himself happily, “now that’s a good lead. But what else can we get from it?”

“Class, where would ye go to play a sport?” McKracken asked.

“I’d go to the school sport fields, I’d reckon,” replied Rocky as she scratched her noggin.

“Ah! The school. Now that makes me think o’ somethin’,” the Professor responded. “I just can’t quite put me hoof on it, but it’s somethin’ to do with that last line, ‘for one, for all’.”

“Reminds me of my old college’s motto: Stand together, Learn together, Live together,” Boomer reminisced.

“And that’s it!” McKracken practically shouted. “I was readin’ about some old universities, I was, and I came across one from long ago named Small University. It had the motto ‘For one, For all’ next to it.”

“That fits perfectly with the clue!” Gemwalker stated excitedly. “ ‘At Small’. We need to get to Small University.”

“Uh…that’s going to be a problem,” Diggs said.

“And why’s that, Deary?” asked Juliet.

“Because Small University no longer exists,” the light green stallion replied. “I’ve done all sorts of research on the old places in Equestria, schools included. Small University was torn down and a small neighborhood sprung up in its place. Well, in time, the neighborhood was torn down and then some businesses came up, but the businesses…” He droned on in lecture mode until noticing that nopony was really interested. “So, long story short, one of the richest communities in all of Equestria is currently sitting where Small U used to be. And they don’t let just anypony waltz in.”

“What did you say the community’s name was?” asked Boomer.

“I didn’t,” replied Diggs. “It’s called Hooverdale.”

“Hooverdale?” responded Juliet in her typical cheery voice, “What a coincidence! We were invited not too long ago for tea with one of our friends who just so happens to live in Hooverdale. Stick with us Dearies and we’ll get you to the next puzzle.”

She winked at the group and then looked out the window.

“Oh Honey! Look at how dark it is outside! We should get to sleep; I know how cranky you get without a good night’s rest.”

“Whoops! Well, time does fly and all that,” chuckled Booomer. “Night everypony! Tomorrow we make for Hooverdale.”

Boomer took his wife’s hoof in his and walked with her out the door. After the pegasi had left, Professor McKracken stood with a broad smile across his face.

“Well, looks like we won’t be needin’ to go to Canterlot after all,” said the teacher, “What good luck!”

* * * * * * * * *

Equestria was lit by a host of bright stars, but one unicorn could not see the glory of the stars for she was stuck deep in the heart of the earth, lost in darkness and confusion. Sounds bounced all around the blue unicorn known as Trixie. They were harsh sounds of hammers pounding against stone and of axes cracking wood. A bright red orb bounced teasingly in front of her face. She batted a hoof at the small nuisance, but her hoof only went through it.

“Go away!” she screamed at the orb angrily.

Trixie looked to her left and saw a yellow orb and then to her right and found a green one. She screamed at the top of her lungs and her own angry voice echoed back into her ears.

“Where is the blue one Trixie started with?!” she demanded of the other colored orbs.

The other balls of light only seemed to laugh at her. The beautiful blue ball which had been her guide at first had never been seen after she began to follow a yellow orb, but then a red one had appeared and then a green one. She chased after each one and quickly found herself walking around in confusing loops or stuck at dead ends. Her stomach growled at her.

“Be quiet,” she whimpered, almost to the point of tears.

She had come to yet another dead end after spending hours, maybe even days, traversing the dark passages of the tunnel below Saddleback. She was starting to give up hope of ever getting out. Slowly, she slumped to the ground in defeat and softly began to sob.

“Here,” she heard a soft voice call out to her. It sounded comforting, like that of an old friend.

Trixie glanced around through blurry eyes, but saw nothing.

“Here,” the voice said again.

The unicorn mare shot her eyesight to the place from which the voice was coming and wiped her eyes. Standing before the very hungry and confused mare was the transparent image of Sun Cloak. The ancient unicorn was pointing his hoof to a point on the wall and then, before her very eyes, he disappeared.

Trixie went over to investigate the slab of stone and found a notch, the perfect size for her small diamond to fit in. She shakily stuffed the gem into the hole and watched as a hidden stone doorway opened to reveal a small blue orb. The orb bobbled in the air, almost seeming to chide the unicorn for not following it.

Trixie snatched up her diamond as quickly as she could and leaped toward the soft blue light. She followed the blue ball until it led her into a large, hollowed out room. Her diamond hummed and glowed to life. Sun Cloak the Gifted appeared before the mare and the blue orb dissipated. Then the old unicorn spoke.

“My crystal registers that you have been stuck in these tunnels for over two days,” he stated. “If you would have stopped and thought on my riddle before blindly chasing after any old light, you would have found your way here much sooner.”

He paused momentarily before continuing.

“Allow me to explain. I said ‘follow the guiding light’ and not ‘follow the guiding lightS’, emphasis on the ‘S’. Now let this be a valuable lesson for you, not all lights which claim to guide are good and true. But don’t think that I’m only talking to you; I’m chiding myself as well. You see, when I was young and foolish, I would have made the exact same mistake.”

Sun Cloak took a deep breath and looked upward for a moment, as if recalling an old memory, but he soon looked back down and continued.

“When I was young I knew that I was more magically gifted than most of my peers. I believed that I could become great and powerful through study and practice. I was bold and arrogant, I believed that I had control and could do whatever I wanted to do. I was wrong.”

The old unicorn again stopped talking and suddenly appeared very sad, but he composed himself and continued.

“I now beg you, learn from my mistakes. Use my crystal and learn from me, before life teaches you its lessons the hard way. Enough of that kind of talk however, I offer your team my congratulations.

You may hear my next riddle anytime you wish, simply ask the crystal. On the table before you, you will find a set of three rings, each of a different size. You will need these to complete my next challenge. When you are ready to leave, place your crystal in the wall at the far end of this chamber. I wish you the best.”

Trixie listened to the information and did as she was told. She picked up the rings, took off her cape, and wrapped the rings snuggly in her cape. She then placed the wrapped rings in her battered saddlebag. She pressed her diamond into the far wall and watched as one final passage, leading out of the tunnel, greeted her with a soft green glow. She grabbed her crystal and trotted up and out of Sun Cloak’s dark maze. The beautiful night stars and a shimmering moon met Trixie’s gaze as the blue mare stepped from the darkness.

Finally free of the maze, Trixie breathed a determined vow to the stars above her, “Sun Cloak, Trixie will not only solve your puzzles and find your treasure, but she will also figure YOU out. Then Trixie will truly be Great and Powerful and there will be no room for doubt.”

Then she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Next Chapter: Chapter 14: The Journey Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 41 Minutes