An Undertale of Equestria

by David Silver

First published 7th of November, 2015

They fell from the sky, only to have their landing broken by flowers carefully tended to by a crystal pony. The pony was scared away. They were scared stiff, but there was no running. The pony world they found themselves in was very real.

They fell from the sky, only to have their landing broken by flowers carefully tended to by a crystal pony. The pony was scared away. They were scared stiff, but there was no running. The pony world they found themselves in was very real. Their choices would count against them...

I will try to keep it interesting and amusing. Think I did a good or bad job? Let me know! I love comments, loving or scathing, just speak.

1 - The Tale Begins

This is how my own Undertale began.

It was hardly that simple, but the similarities were hard to argue. I was falling. Something screamed piercingly, and with a jolt of fear, I realized it was me. Since when had my voice been so high? I flailed short arms before my fall was abruptly broken. I crashed with a ripple of pain that ran through my spine. I could still feel it, so I figured I wasn't entirely broken. I could feel some flowers pressing into my face. Had I fallen into flowers? I heard a squeal of surprise near me, but I wasn't quite ready to look in that direction yet, or any other.

"What is it?" asked some voice, shrill with what I assumed was surprise. They ran away, I thought? Was that them? Why did they sound like they were clip-clopping like some kind of horse?

I cracked open an eye, but it felt like my eyes didn't want to do much more than a squint. The sky was high above, bright and blue and very uncavelike to the extreme. Wasn't I inside a moment ago?

I sat up and almost fell over as I scrambled backwards in surprise. There were buildings around me, but they didn't look right, not at all! They had jutting bits of crystal where they weren't made of huge sheets of the stuff. While a few sparkled red and green, various hues of purple and blue overwhelmed all the other colors.

Through the crystal, I could see murky shapes move about. The houses weren't abandoned. The shapes… they looked like horses? No... They were monsters. They had to be. Some part of me insisted they had to be monsters, to be defeated or befriended or avoided, but monsters all the same. They lived in the houses, walked around. One was even running away from me in a wild gallop. This was a whole city of horse monsters.

Wait... That's not right... I'm not... I put a hand to my head and noticed it looked different. I held it out and tried to imagine the hand I had that morning. It was... Darn it... My roommate was going to be so angry! Why did I remember him more clearly than what I was doing just a few minutes ago?

I struggled to make sense of the situation, and a hazy memory came to me:

I nudged through the crowd. Making my wig so long might have been a mistake, as I could barely see. I took a moment to brush it out of the way and the vendor hall of the convention became clear to me. I was standing in front of a booth with a variety of kitschy buttons and things. The man seated behind the table was... Asian or something? I waved at him. "Hi."

"Nice outfit, but you're missing something." He reached under his table and pulled out this big mercy button. It had a black background, a brown border, and brown text that read 'Mercy' with an x to the left. He put it where I could reach it. "Eh?"

It looked perfect! Right out of the game. I reached out and gave it a poke, and it made the sound of scrolling text I'd heard so many times before. "Awesome, how much?"

He gave me this calculating look. "Five bucks."

Five bucks? I could afford that for something that size, and it made sounds too! Totally worth it. I fished out a five dollar bill as my hair fell back in the way, but that didn't stop me from slapping it into his ready hand. With the button paid for, I picked up the button, and I was gone.

I heard the flapping of wings. A horse in golden armor landed in front of me, a spear in its mouth, though it didn't seem to stop it from speaking. "Stop right there." Was my heart going to be exposed? No... I guess that was just videogame logic. I still felt like I was entering a conflict.

Looking over the horse, I could see a few words dimly floating beside him. 'Acquiesce' 'Challenge' 'Compliment' 'Fight' 'Check' 'Mercy' What, where was the item option? Oh yeah. I didn't have any, and if I did, I could just reach out and use them like a normal person.

I reached for the word 'check' floating there, but that seemed to worry the horse. "Please stand still. Identify yourself."

Okay, reaching was bad. Things didn't pause while I picked things. Maybe they were just suggestions? I tried looking over the horse closely, and I felt I knew it better. It was a guard of the kingdom, and took pride in protecting other horses from troublemakers. I didn't have anything to compare its offense or defense to, so I didn't pay much attention to those. Besides, I didn't want to fight the local police if I didn't have to!

"Can you understand me?" He tilted his head a little.

I put up my hands slowly. "I give up. I don't want to fight you." I saw the 'Mercy' option glow softly a moment. My voice sounded different, but from what... I couldn't quite remember.

The guard smiled gently and tucked his spear under one of his legs, propped up. "If you're not here to cause trouble, you have nothing to fear from me. You scared the gardener, and you're still standing in the flowers. Could you please step off of them?"

I looked down to see broken stems and crushed petals. Shoot. I carefully stepped out of the flowers without causing more damage and the guard directed me to the nearest sidewalk. He nodded towards me. "I mean no offense, but what are you?"

I looked down at myself. I was some kind of pudgy, maybe teenaged thing? I wasn't sure. I wasn't quite human either. I was... Frisk, I guess. "I'm a child. I didn't mean to drop in." 'Acquiesce' glimmered briefly. He began to glow a soft yellow like a gentle nimbus around his body. He didn't seem to notice.

"That's quite alright. Are you lost, child?" He sounded concerned. "We should find your parents."

Feeling the need to test where basic conversation ended and the mechanics began, I waved a hand lightly. "I can find my own way. Thank you!"

The yellow aura faded to grey and he nodded at me. "Good day then, but if you need anything, simply call. We're here to help." He spread his wings wide and flapped as the 'Mercy' label flashed, then they all faded away. I wasn't in a conflict anymore.

I felt something jingle in my pocket and checked to find a handful of coins. Well! That worked out well. Wait... Were these his? Was he going to get upset when he noticed them missing? That could wait. First question, what was this city of horses?

Another horse came softly clip-clopping down the same sidewalk. She was bright blue, and had a cocky smile on her snout. She looked distinct enough to maybe be someone important? I couldn't quite put a finger on it, but she stood out from a sea of what I could easily label as NPCs. She wasn't watching where she was going and bumped right into me rather than go around. I felt conflict rise, and words 'Praise' and 'Criticize' appeared as new options besides the basics.

"Who is it that bumps into the Great and Powerful Trixie?" She looked down and saw me. Why were all the horses bigger than me anyway? She quirked her ears at me and her eyes narrowed a little as she seemed to consider me. "The wise and learned Trixie has never seen your kind before."

I took a quick guess. Anyone that spoke third person like that, and had those options? She had to have a big ego. Maybe stroking it a little bit would ease things. "Great and Powerful Trixie, I'm so glad to run into you."

I saw the 'Praise' option flash and Trixie smiled. "You are wise to seek the counsel of Trixie! But she does not work for anypony, and you don't even seem to be a pony?"

I fished out a few coins and offered them to her and a yellow aura flashed around her as she took them quickly. "Well, Trixie may have a few minutes to spare for you. What would you ask of her?"

I looked her over, her triangular hat, her cape, and her silver mane and tail. She was kinda cute! "I'm lost, Trixie. Could you help me? I fell from the sky."

Trixie tilted her head one way before slowly canting it the other, looking thoughtful. "Poor creature. Trixie is not without any compassion, and you have paid her well. You don't seem to be a crystal pony, like the natives... No, Trixie feels there is a powerful magic in you." She raised a hoof to tap at her chin. "In fact, Trixie wishes to know more. Will you accompany Trixie? She will take care of you."

This was a yes or no question. I felt it would influence my future. Did I trust her? I took a little breath and smiled at her. "Thank you, Trixie." She smiled brightly. I suddenly shuffled in place. "Can I call you... mom? For now."

Trixie went a vibrant red in her cheeks, showing right through her fur as if it weren't there at all. "M-mom?! Trixie... has never been called this before..." She glanced away a moment. "This... This pleases Trixie. You may."

Her aura faded to a cool grey with the conflict ending. "Come along now. I have an appointment with some very important ponies, and you shall come along."

She spoke first person? Was she trusting me? I nodded at her quickly, and she began leading the way to this huge castle in the middle of the city. Even with buildings in the way, it jutted up far past them, like a pointer to the sky.

She looked over her shoulder as she walked. "Have you been to many pony cities before?" I shook my head back and forth quickly. She got a little smirk. "We thought not. Trixie has been all across Equestria." Is that where I was? "This is the Crystal Empire, land of Crystal Ponies, snow, and, best of all, arcane mysteries." She turned to face forwards as she trotted along, her tail bobbing with every step. "Do you know any magic?"

Sort of? I stared at Trixie and felt the knowledge of her come to me. She was a show pony, and enjoyed tricks of illusions and wild tales to amuse ponies. She also liked researching magic, and proving she was as good as she claimed to be. I nodded to the knowledge before answering her, "Of a sort."

That caught her interest. One of her big ears swiveled towards me. "What sort might that be? Tell mother."

I giggled a little at that. Well, I had asked her... "I can look at people and learn about them, for one."

Trixie gave a soft mmm. "What does your magic say about Trixie?"

I counted on my pudgy fingers. "You're a magician, and do illusions and you're a storyteller."

Trixie stopped in her tracks and slowly turned towards me. "How can you tell this so easily?"

I continued counting. "You research magic, and you have something to prove."

She colored brightly. "Trixie has nothing to prove! You take that back!"

Uh oh. I went too far there. I nodded quickly. "I didn't mean anything by it. I meant, uh, you like proving theories. You know, like any good scientist."

She blinked and relaxed. "Oh. Oh yes, of course. Trixie understands." She turned away. "That is a dangerous magic. Trixie suggests not to tell other ponies you are reading them like books. You will scare them. Not everypony has the vast mind of Trixie, to understand and accept."

"Of course, mom." That got a little smile out of her as I scrambled to keep up with her. Darn these ponies for all being bigger than me.

Trixie pointed to the tall building as we came closer to it. "That is where we are going. Before we enter, are you hungry, or thirsty? We should take care of such trifles before seeing royalty."

Royalty? I swallowed softly. My tale was getting started in a hurry.

Author's Notes:

So, how'd I do? Was it awful?

Was it good?

Do you want to see more? Maybe less?

Tell me either way! I love feedback of all flavors.

Found a typo? That's worth 1 GP! We can kill it for 1 EXP! We'll raise our LOVE rating in no time!

2 - To See a Princess

We walked past two more ponies dressed up like guards, though one of them was as bright and sparkly as most of the ponies wandering around. The other had the feel of being special. Maybe he wasn't an NPC? Or at least he had a line of dialogue or two, so I veered away from Trixie a moment to say hello. I didn't know the difference between boy and girl horses very well. Trixie was a girl, I was pretty sure.

The horse nodded down at me. He had brown-orange fur, blue hair, and blue eyes. He wore the golden armor of a guard. "Hello there. Are you Trixie's friend?"

I nodded at him. I was pretty sure it was a him, if their voices were a hint. "Mom said she has business here."

Trixie suddenly hurried over to us and slapped a hoof over my mouth. "Ah ha ha ha! Trixie's familiar says the most interesting of things."

The horse tilted his head confusedly. "Familiar? Trixie, are you up to something?"

Trixie flashed a bright smile over the top of my head. "Trixie is always up to something. It's one of her better qualities. Now, excuse us, we have an appointment to keep." She pulled me away from the guard. I'd never even gotten to see what words appeared next to him, darn. She suddenly grabbed me at the nape of my striped shirt and tossed me right onto her back. "There, now Trixie can be sure you stay out of trouble."

Familiar didn't sound nearly as nice as son, or daughter. I still wasn't sure which applied. I was... certain I was a guy before. I was taller. I had a job! I wasn't surrounded by or being given rides by friendly horse monsters...

Trixie woke me from my thoughts. "What are you thinking about up there? Are you bedazzled at this rare opportunity? You should be! To be Trixie's familiar is a rare and prestigious position."

I blinked down at her. "Oh, what does that mean, exactly? I thought you were my mom."

She raised a hoof. "A child made from magic is a familiar. You are clearly not my true child. You're not even a pony! Nothing to be done for that. I am a magician of great renown. Of course, I'd attract a familiar. Where did you come from?"

That was a great question... "I was at a convention..." She nodded uncertainly as I fished for more. "Then I was falling through the sky, but some flowers broke my fall..."

"See?" Trixie got the cutest, and self-satisfied, grin. "Trixie's stupendous magic must have pulled you here just to serve her."

Wait wait wait! "I'm not a slave!" I moved to hop off of her, and was suddenly surrounded in a pink and glowing field that kept me still. It tingled a little where it touched, which was everywhere.

"You misunderstand." Trixie nodded softly. "A familiar cannot be forced. If you truly wish to part ways from the fantastic Trixie, then you simply need say so, but why would you want that?" She lifted me in the magic and set me down in front of her. "Destiny, and Trixie's magic, has brought us together. We may become even more awe inspiring together. A familiar is a boon companion, and your presence may enhance Trixie's magic! Slave? Hardly. Trixie is delighted to have you."

That sounded far less intimidating, and I smiled a little up at her. That was apparently sign enough, because she reached out a hoof and hugged me softly. "Alright? We have an appointment to make. I wasn't joking about that. Keeping royalty waiting is a terrible habit to get into." She rose to her hooves and began walking. "By the way, calling Trixie 'mother'? Please keep that to private times. Otherwise 'Trixie' will do." She glanced over her shoulder. "'Great and Powerful' or 'Mistress' would be nice to add."

With the argument settled, I took a moment to absorb the hall we were walking through. The walls were made of the same crystal sheets that made up most of the city. Adorning them were paintings of very important looking ponies. Soft music played from somewhere, and the air smelled fresh and almost... minty. There were ponies wandering up and down the halls, ducking into rooms or vanishing around corners on their way to things. Most of them were guards. There were unicorn guards, pegasus guards, and just horse guards. A minority of them looked like 'normal' horses, dressed in nothing at all half the time. Clothing was very optional, and nobody raised a brow about it.

Indeterminately sexed or not, I was happy to be dressed. Stripes weren't the first fashion choice I would have gone for. They made me look a bit dumpy, but it serviced, along with the pants.

We stopped before double doors big enough for a giant to walk through without kneeling. The guards there turned their eyes on Trixie, than on me, and back to Trixie. "Business?"

Trixie rose to her full height, head held up high and haughty in pose. "The Princess has requested the presence of the Great and Powerful Trixie. Kindly let us in at once."

One nodded as the other slipped inside a moment. He returned a moment later. "She's still holding an audience, but will be with you in a moment."

Trixie made a soft noise and moved to wait a little to the side of the door, where I joined her. She looked to me and began sweeping her eyes over me. "What were you, again?"

I put a hand on my chest. "I am a human, Great and Powerful Mistress."

My answer pleased her. I could see it in her smile and the way her tail swayed with joy. "Trixie could get used to your presence, loyal familiar. A human? Curious. It only makes sense that her staggeringly powerful magic should summon a creature never seen before."

The doors leading inwards swung open towards the hallway beyond, and a very important looking horse with dreadlocks stepped out, garbed in brightly colored robes. "A pleasure, as always, Princess." He nodded towards the princess, which I couldn't see from that angle, then quickly moved down the hallway.

One of the guards gestured to Trixie. "You're next."

Trixie nodded and suddenly picked me up with magic, setting me back astride her. "Shall we make an impression?" Without waiting for reply, she trotted easily into the room. It was a throne room? I could see a pink horse perched on a tall chair of crystal. She was bigger than all the other horses, and she had wings and a horn, not to mention a crown right on her head. That she could be the 'princess' was much of a doubt. There were a few guards around, to protect her, or so I'd guess.

Beside her was another horse. He had white fur, and a horn. No wings. He sat beside her, equal in importance despite not having her stature or extra parts.

I felt the tension of an upcoming conflict coming on us as Trixie strode up to them without delay. She bowed to the royal couple. "Trixie has arrived as requested, and she has brought something to help." She gestured over her shoulder with her horn. "Behold!"

The words suddenly appeared. The white horse had 'Talk about Family', 'Insult', and 'Say Hello'. The pink horse had 'Hug', 'Explain', and 'Plead' beside the usual options. I felt especially threatened. They weren't just random monsters. They were, or at least one of them was, a boss.

The pink one tilted her head lightly at me. "What..." She spread her wings and suddenly I wasn't in me anymore. I was being pulled right out of my chest with a powerful suction. Oh god! Being a heart wasn't just videogame logic! I hovered before her, a mere red heart that drifted in the air as she gawked at me. "This creature... It... I can see its very nature."

The white horse pinned an ear back. "Is this normal?"

Trixie squirmed uncomfortably. "This hasn't happened before..."

Okay! I had to stay calm. Stay calm... That's a lot easier to say than to do. I was a fricken naked heart! How did I even pick a command?!

Suddenly, the panic melted away. The pink horse reached out with her hooves as her horn glowed. "You're safe here..." Somehow, I believed her. She was a creature... of love? It washed through me and left me weak.

I found myself back in my body with a start.

The white horse looked to Trixie. "Where did you come across this?"

Trixie gestured with a hoof back outside. "Trixie found them on her way here. They fell from the sky, drawn by Trixie's magic."

The pink horse smiled gently. "Is this true, little one?"

I gave a hesitant nod. "I don't know how I came here, but that's as good a reason as anything else. I'm sorry if I scared you."

She tilted her head lightly. "You were far more scared than either of us were. I've never seen somepony just expose themselves so thoroughly. I could feel your nature." She smiled a little. "It was a good nature. You mean well, do you not?" When I nodded, she reached out a hoof. "I don't know what you are, little one, but you're welcome here."

The white one gave a less certain nod. "Sure thing, uh, so Trixie, about why we called you here."

His... wife? She nodded. "Ah, yes. I became distracted. Trixie, are you aware of the purpose of the Crystal Fair, and the Crystal Heart it empowers?"

Trixie held her head up. "Trixie has thoroughly reviewed the history."

The pink one smiled. "Good. We're afraid it isn't as effective as it should be. There are leaks, and it worries us. Our own scholars have determined there is a shadow nest that is growing in power, and could threaten our kingdom. For a crystal pony, even approaching would be a horror they couldn't stand. You, however, are not a crystal pony, and are a talented magician besides."

Trixie seemed surprised. "Trixie is, of course, Great and Powerful, but she admits... Why not inquire of your sister-in-law in such a grave affair?"

The white one sagged a little. "Twilie's busy saving the day somewhere else."

Trixie went tense beneath me. "Of course... Trixie is second call to the likes of Princess Twilight Sparkle..." She sucked in some air through her teeth in a quiet hiss. "If Trixie is to be second to anypony, at least it is royalty. Princess Mi a--"

"Cadance will do," spoke the Pink Horse, Cadance?

Trixie revised her statement quickly. "Princess Cadance, you've called the right pony. Trixie will see all your problems solved."

I slipped off of Trixie's back and moved up towards the two. Even if I had felt they were powerful, it was a good powerful. They were on the good guy team. Their eyes turned towards me curiously, but they didn't stop me. I looked towards the white horse. "Hi."

The 'Say Hello' option flashed and he smiled, looking more at ease. "Hey there, little one. Do you have a name?"

"I'm Frisk. What's your name?"

He gained a soft yellow nimbus, telling me he was willing to stop the conflict. "I'm Shining Armor, but Shining, or even Shiny's alright with me."

Cadance nodded towards me. "And I am Cadance, but you heard that. A pleasure to meet you, Frisk."

I looked at her options and hesitated a moment. Ah hell. You only lived once, right? I stepped up towards her and she looked more and more curious. The guards began to stare at me as I got closer and closer to her. I reached out... She didn't stop me, so I went for it. I hugged her. She was just as warm and soft as she looked. She even hugged back, a hoof wrapped around me, set at my back. "Aw... You'd better take good care of them, Trixie."

When I drew back from her, I could see she was glowing a soft yellow as well. I could end the conflict whenever I wanted to. That tension, right in my chest, I didn't want that anymore, so I nodded to the both of them. "Glad to meet you both." As I returned to Trixie's side, their auras faded off to a soft grey, and the tension relieved itself. I had 'won'. I heard a faint tinkling and paused. I wasn't going to steal from the princess!

I fished out my collection of coins and showed it to Cadance. "Are any of these yours?"

She looked confused. "I don't keep my bits on me..."

Shining Armor shook his head. "I don't either, unless I'm leaving the castle. Why do you ask?"

Trixie tilted her head. "Trixie would like to know this as well. Familiar, explain yourself."

Shoot. Maybe honesty wasn't the best policy...

Author's Notes:

The story continues!

Am I doing it right?
Am I doing it wrong?

Let me know! I read every single comment.

Extra bounty on typos!

3 - The Power of Frisk

Cadance smiled at me. It was the smile of an experienced babysitter. "I think everypony should calm down. You wouldn't have asked if you weren't concerned. Tell me, Frisk was it? What made you worried about the coins?"

She didn't sound accusing, or angry. She kept her voice harmless. I felt admiration for her building. She was trying to play me like the child I was, with kindness and caring. I still couldn't remember much, but I wasn't a child, not under it. She wanted to know my secrets. Should it be a secret? What was I hiding from? I held up a coin in clear view of the room. "I get coins when I 'defeat' any monster of threat."

Cadance recoiled. "You see me as a monster? And a threat?" She blinked softly. "You defeated me?"

Trixie went pale. "Familiar, watch your tongue. One does not 'defeat' nobility and brag about it."

I shook my head. "Defeat in a different way. When I first came in here, I was a stranger, ugly by horse standards, and a potential threat myself. We were enemies." I smiled at her. "Now friends, I hope? I defeated you, and turned you into one."

Cadance burst into soft giggles. "Oh, yes. If that's what defeated means, then we've both been thoroughly defeated."

Shining Armor nodded in agreement. "I've never been so happy to be defeated before."

Trixie gently nudged me in the side with an extended hoof. "What was that about monsters? We are ponies, not monsters."

"Pony Monsters." On that, I didn't budge. Something... It insisted, they had to be monsters.

Cadance gestured at herself with a hoof. "Are 'monsters' a bad thing?"

I shook my head. "They don't have to be. All the pony monsters I've met so far have been nice. The monsters you want us to defeat may not be as nice."

Shining suddenly sat up. "Wait! Are you going to try to make friends, uh, defeat, the shadows? They're dangerous! Please. We've tried to reason with them in the past, and it's never turned out well. The history books are full of warning stories from failed expeditions."

His fear, and his worry for me. It made me... It filled me with... determination. I would succeed where their stories had failed. I felt suddenly replenished and ready to face fate. "Everyone deserves a chance. They want to be friends, they just don't know how to be."

Trixie plucked me up with her magic and set me on her back. "We've taken enough of your time. Trixie must review the maps and brush up on the shadows before we enter their domain and banish them from your fair land." She turned away from them, only to look over her shoulder at Cadance. "We'll discuss proper payment after Trixie returns with tales of her triumph."

They both nodded towards us, and we were allowed to go. As Trixie began to trot out, I looked at Cadance carefully. An alicorn, one of four known in the world. The second youngest and considered the kindest of them. Special talent: Love. Married to Shining Armor.

Trixie trotted out of the royal hallway and the doors were closed behind us by guards. With a little sigh, she turned left and began moving again. "You are quite the curious familiar. Trixie can feel magic ebb and flow in you. She wonders if even you understand how you work?"

I shook my head. "I'm figuring out some of it."

She gave a soft noise as she nudged into a library and set me down. "Can you read?" Once she got a nod from me, she smiled. "Excellent. Assist Trixie in her research then. We need to know more about the shadows. Their weaknesses especially."

With her half-buried in tomes that she flipped through with her magic, I was left to my own devices. I picked up a random book and blinked at it. This was not English. Despite that, the meaning of the book seemed clear to me, leaping into my mind without further prompting than flipping through. Each book provided a summary, and no more. I grunted softly in annoyance. The best I'd be able to do is find a book that looked interesting and bring it to Trixie to actually read it.

So that's what I got to doing. A lot of them were about things I didn't know much about. 'How to Sharpen your Horn.', 'Proper Polish of Crystal Ponies', and 'A thousand Recipes for Crystal Berries' were just the start of the 'wisdom' to be found there. Some seemed more applicable, and I brought one to Trixie. "How about this one?"

Trixie wrapped it in her magic and drew it over. "King Sombra's Fell Army. A study of oppression by Brightshine Amethyst." She smiled brightly. "A detailed look, from the view of one of the slaves of the time. It may have some useful information. Very good, familiar. You're already proving your worth." Her head tilted a little. "Speaking of which, let Trixie see some of your coins."

I fished out a handful from a pocket and set them in a jumble at her table. She set down her book and turned her magic to a few of the coins, spinning them about in the air. "Standard bits. No magic, at least, left. That isn't to say there was no magic in their making. Trixie felt that. You realize, making bits with magic is very illegal."

Fear suddenly spiked through me, but she just laughed. "Trixie is playing with you. We mean, yes, it is illegal, but you have no control over it. Princess Cadance wouldn't send you to jail for it." She snorted and rolled a hoof. "Did you see her? She looked ready to adopt you right under Trixie's nose. Too bad for her! I saw you first. You're Trixie's familiar."

A shrewd expression suddenly went over Trixie's face. "Wait... Did you 'defeat' Trixie?" When I nodded, she leaned in closer. "Were you paid for this marvelous feat?"

Considering back on it, there was no memory of the jingling sound after defeating her. Trixie took the news poorly. "What?! But you said, defeating any monster that could be a threat caused you to receive bits. Trixie is a powerful and awe inspiring magician! How does she not qualify?!"

Cadance wasn't the first. I could remember the guard producing bits when defeated. Just not Trixie. "I don't know?" Then it came to me. "Maybe it was because you didn't want to fight. You were meant to be a friend from the start."

Trixie seemed floored at the idea. "Meant to be..." Her face lit up with a huge smile. "Of course! You truly were drawn in by my powerful magic. I'm no threatening monster to you. I am your master, and you are my familiar." Everything seemed to be right in Trixie's world. "Er, not as a slave, before you think that." She made a little dismissive gesture. "In fact, in an act of generosity, Trixie frees you from further obligation today. You should explore the city and meet more ponies. How many bits do you have?"

Without counting, the number came to me, and I spouted it out effortlessly. Trixie nodded. "More than enough to buy a few snacks and maybe a trinket or two. Enjoy yourself, and come back when you are ready, or when it becomes dark."

She waved for the door, and out I went, free and independant again. It'd been a while since I had the power of self-determination again. I walked out of the castle and turned around to look up at its huge crystal... mass. It was huge! It filled me with... determination. I would protect it from those shadow creatures and set things to right.

Spinning in place, a little shopping plaza came into view. That seemed as good a place as any! I walked there with a little smile, noting the horses around me seemed mostly alright with my presence. Maybe my coming from the castle had something to do with it? Or maybe a little person smaller than them in a harmless looking shirt and pants just didn't set them off.

Something flickered up above. I glanced up and saw the sky twitch like a bad glitch a moment before it went back to normal. What did that mean?

Putting it aside, I wandered up to the first booth. Crystal corn, or so the sign seemed to say despite being written in horse words. That sounded like something you'd chip a tooth on. The crystal pony behind the booth smiled down at me. "Hey there kid. Want to try one?" He picked up a napkin in his mouth and used that to grab a crystal corn on the cob, then offered it out to me.

Who was I to refuse free food? I reached up with both tiny hands and accepted what felt like a huge corn. "Thanks!" As monsters went, horses were definitely one of the nicer kinds. I sniffed at it. It was like, well, corn, but sweet? I gave it a careful nibble and taste exploded into my mouth. It was delicious! It was also sweet and juicy despite looking like crystals. I started taking big mouthfuls of the delectable kernels as I wandered past. "Fanks," was all that came out around the crystal corn I was eating. Oh man, it was really good!

The stand to the left of me suddenly exploded as a swarm of jet black beetles scuttled out of the ground. I felt the tension of conflict rush in, and the sensation of my body faded. I was in heart mode, but it was no gentle circumstance. These beetles would not be impressed passively and turn away.

Their claws closed on at me, snapping and biting. I could barely dodge the first when the second grabbed me in a painful pinch, bruising my heart, er, my soul. I devoured the last of the crystal corn, or more specifically I imagined I did, and it vanished away. I was healed, just in time for the beetles to close in. I tried to jig out of the way, but they were too fast, and I was too inexperienced. They caught me between three mandibles.

Everything went black. Was that it? No! I couldn't lose that way! I promised I'd save that castle, and the horse monsters in it! I was determined! I couldn't lose. Not like that!

I looked up at the castle before turning away. With a spin, a shopping plaza came into view, and I began wandering that way. Wait. This all happened before. I could remember the missing, repeated, time. The beetles were coming. I quickly tossed a coin on the counter. "I'll take one please." I ran off with the crystal corn without eating it, barely getting out a thanks.

I saw a merchant selling armor shaped for horse knights and rushed to her. "I'll take one of these, too!"

She hiked a hoof up at the price listed on the sign. It'd take most of my money, but winning was worth it! I slapped several handfuls of bits on the counter and she nodded before gesturing at the rack of armor. Apparently I got to pick one. No time! I rushed in and dug around through the rack and came out with one that was shaped perfectly for me. Why would they even have that?! This wasn't the time to ask that. I quickly squirmed into it, and the booth beside me exploded with the black beetles.

Out they came, the deadly trio. This time, I'd face them properly.

Author's Notes:

This chapter's typos. They fill me with DETERMINATION!

4 - Friend or Foe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRU6GnETSN4

I kept my cool. I think that's what made the difference. I didn't drift out for them. I kept myself rooted in my body as words appeared beside them. 'Food', 'Click', and 'Scuttle' beside the usual options. "We don't have to fight..." I saw 'Mercy' flash, but the beetles weren't impressed and rushed for me with jaws wide.

I rolled out of the way of the first and scrambled to my feet in time to jump aside of the second. The third's mandibles scraped along my arm, but my new armor was tough enough to turn it into a bruise instead of worse. Okay, that didn't work. Let's try... I pulled out my corn and ripped off a bit of it and tossed it out towards them. "Everyone likes crystal corn on the cob. It's tasty."

One of the beetles paused in its approach and veered off to the corn, starting to nibble away at it with happy-sounded click noises as 'Food' flashed beside it. The horses began to scream and run around in a blind panic, trying to get away from other beetles that threatened them, but I already had three to deal with at the moment. They'd have to wait! Why couldn't things pause mid-fight like they used to? At least the eating one gained an aura of golden yellow, hinting that it was ready to cease the conflict.

The two battle-ready beetles locked mandibles suddenly. Dark energy crackled between them with an ominous buzzing that had me taking a slow step back. The energy burst forth in a beam towards me and I screamed as I dived out of the way, skidding along the ground. The beam struck some poor horse's house and exploded violently. Think fast, think fast... Instead of standing up, I hopped to all fours and made a little scuttly dance. "See, I understand your ways..."

One of them tilted its head at me and made a few clicks in return. A yellow aura danced across its carapace. Despite two of them being ready to call it off, a loud clicking cry from the remaining one got the other two back in and they hopped onto one another before coming at me with all three mandles clicking dangerously.

I scuttled away from them in a bit of a panic as I tried my own clicks, Huffing between each set of clicks. How do you say 'let's be friends' in beetle?! I looked over my shoulder as they were catching up to me, and saw they were all glowing yellow. I did it? I musta! I hopped to my feet and thrust up a hand at them and they pulled up to a sudden halt. "Let's call it all off, alright? You don't need to hurt me, or these horses."

Their auras faded to a dull grey and they slid off of one another. A jingle came from my pocket, announcing the arrival of fresh funds. One of the beetles scuttled up to me. "What can we do? The darkness will get angry at us if we don't do what we're told."

Another beetle nodded quickly. "I don't want to be punished, again. It hurts!"

The third raised a leg into the air. "I just got my antenna straight! What can we do, human?"

It took a moment to realize they were clicking as they talked. I wondered if I was understanding the clicking or they were talking now. I supposed it didn't matter too much. "The horses here want to be your friends. They're super nice. I'm friends with their princess." They looked confused at the word 'princess'. "Their boss." That they understood. "She'll give you a place to live and be happy, just no more fighting."

One of them reared up and faced the other beetles running around wildly. "Hey, guys! The boss of the horses will give us a place to stay and no more punishments ever!"

A loud cheering click resounded through the crowd and the beetles began swarming towards the castle, abandoning their efforts to damage property or chase horses. Did I win? Was it over?

I felt the tension of conflict leaving a moment, only to quickly return. The ground beneath me rumbled just moments before the biggest beetle I ever saw erupted from in front of me. "Who dares to distract my horde?!" He turned his mandibles towards me. "You, child. You did this, didn't you?! I'll crush you!"

Despite being a beetle, he had big muscular arms, and he used one to make a swing at me, knocking me across the road to crash into a pie stand and make a huge mess. Blueberries everywhere. I scrambled out of the stand, a bit sore. I gobbled up the last of the corn as I went and the soreness faded as the huge beetle stomped towards me.

Beside him were two words. 'Flex' and 'Shout'. I dimly recalled a monster being flexed out. So I clasped my two little hands and made the most ridiculous flex I think I've ever had the opportunity to make.

The beetle drew up short. "What? You think you're even close to my league! Do you even lift, child?!" He clapped his hands together, all four of them, and his muscles began to bulge dangerously as he strained to show them off.

I turned to show him a profile as I knelt and struck a new pose, showing off my lack of muscles as if they were the biggest things ever. Each time I took a pose, I could see 'Flex' flash.

The beetle roared with laughter. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Look at these pectorals." He swung his arms over his chest and began to heave before his chest danced on its own, muscles rippling in a mighty display. Oh god, if he wanted to crush me, there'd be little I could do about it.

Maybe flexing wasn't enough on its own? I put my hands up over my head and clasped them in a new pose as I made a flexing pose and began to shout as if in effort. "Rrrrrawwwwwwgh!"

The beetle tilted his head. "What? Oh now it's on!" He began to shout with me as he curled his fists and spread his arms wide, screaming with a force to send chills down my spine. Oh please oh please. I hoped I was doing it right.

As my voice began to get sore, I let the shout die out. A new idea came to me. "You're truly mighty."

"You bet I am!" He stomped the ground in a display of his mightiness.

I clapped my hands together. "Cadance would really like to have someone like you around."

"What, who?"

I pointed to the castle. "The horse boss. She loves big strong people."

"S-she?" He went red right through his carapace. "Do... do you really think so?"

I nodded quickly. "Lots of horses are impressed by that kind of thing." Maybe a bit of a fib. Does running in a wild panic count as impressed? "You should flex for her, like we just did. I bet she'd offer you a job."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "What does she pay?"

Uh... "She doesn't punish beetles for being lazy."

"Sold!" His aura suddenly went yellow, then grey all at once. Even as I heard the jingle, he was stomping off, ready to give a flex audition for Cadance. I hoped she would take it in good sport. I let out a slow breath and slumped against the booth I was beside. I panted for breath as the tension left a bit by bit with every exhale.

I pushed up to my feet to come face-to-face with a horse. "Um, hi. Thanks for helping. Uh... I saw you talking with those beetles. How did you do that?"

Shoot, was I really clicking at them the whole time? "I just tried to see what they wanted. They only attacked because they had to."

The horse tilted his head to the left a little. "Oh, um, thank you again. I have to clean up my stall." He waved a little and trotted off to the pie stand. I winced as I realized that was the stand I had crashed through earlier.

At least I was alive. I turned to look at the castle, taking another slow breath. I would put this shadow thing to rest, and let the horses live peacefully, beetles included or not. I was filled with determination.

"Familiar!" Trixie came around the corner, trotting hurriedly. "There you are. Trixie has been looking for you. She would be very upset if her prized familiar were..." As she came closer, she seemed to notice the mess I was in. "Trixie is too late perhaps? Are you alright?" Her horn glowed brightly beneath her cap and the mess slid right off of me. "Ah, you look fine. You are as clever as Trixie thought. What did you do during that vicious attack?"

I pointed towards the castle. "I sent them there."

Her eyes widened. "What? Why would you send a bunch of murderous beetles to Cadance's throne?"

I shook my head quickly. "They aren't so bad. They're being bossed around."

Trixie tilted her head at me, peering suspiciously. "How do you know this for certain? Familiar, are you being secretive with Trixie? We are partners, I will remind."

"Great and Wonderful Trixie, I know that. I could understand them once we made peace."

Trixie splayed her ears out. "Perhaps my familiar is not as crazy as they seemed when they suggested to end this their way." She paused a moment. "This reminds Trixie. Are you a male human or a female human, or do humans not come in these varieties?" She flashed a grin. "Ha! Put that in your pipe, Twilight Sparkle. She may have made a dragon, but I conjured a creature unknown and unknowable, free of all standard gender qualifications."

She sure sounded proud of that fact, despite the fact that I hadn't even answered her. Which was I, anyway? Only one way to be sure! "Where's the bathroom?"

Trixie looked quite surprised. "Hmm? Oh! Well, Trixie supposes even humans have need of such things. Come, follow her and she will show you." She spun around and guided me away from the wrecked shopping plaza to an outhouse not too far away. She gestured towards the small building. "Trixie will ensure you have your privacy."

I scooted past her and stepped inside. It was quite spacious. That wasn't too surprising. It was made for four legged horses, not little children! I pulled out my waistband and took a quick peek. ... My shriek alerted Trixie, who flung the door open despite any promises of privacy. "What is it? Are you alright?!"

I released the band and it snapped back into place. "I... I don't have either..." I was sure I was a guy. I wasn't that anymore.

Trixie seemed baffled. "While Trixie is as amazed as you are that a species as advanced as you seem to be could be truly without gender, shouldn't you be aware of this?"

I took a little breath, and realized I was still standing in a horse restroom. Yuck. I stepped out slowly and stiffly. "I... A lot changed when I came here, to your world."

Trixie tapped at her chin. "Were you not a human?"

She wasn't going to be a great deal of help with this specific issue. "It's okay, Trixie, really... We may want to check on Cadance and all the beetles."

Trixie perked her ears. "Well, Trixie does not hear screaming coming from there, but a second glance couldn't hurt. Come, familiar." She wrapped her magic around me and gently hefted me up to her back. "Trixie understands you are upset right now. Relax. You've earned this." She trotted off with me.

As rewards went, a little odd, but darn it if riding Trixie wasn't actually kind of fun in a way.

Author's Notes:

So, my first big combat. How'd I do? The protagonist is clearly going for that pacifist ending. So far, so good. But the typos are hard to reason with.

5 - Beetle Enclave

It wasn't hard to find all of my new friends. When Trixie trotted into the castle, we could hear a cacaphony of clicks and clacks coming from the throne room and made our way there quickly. The door wasn't even closed. There were too many beetles to fit as it was, and they overflowed into the hallway.

There was Cadance, sitting with a patient little smile. It seemed their foreman had shoved his way to the front, as he was giving quite the flexing audition as the other beetles clicked with admiration and clapped with appreciation with every power-filled gesture he made.

"Ahem, yes." Cadance nodded to the great beetle. "You certainly are... well muscled. What did you do before now, if I may ask?"

He paused his flexing long enough to accept a towel from a loyal beetle and begin wiping himself down. "I oversee the others here."

She nodded. "It's clear they respect you, but tell me, what are you all good at doing... productively."

He looked confused at the question. "Well, we dig? We dig and we bite!"

She smiled, a different kind of smile as she glanced up at me, then back to him. "Tell me, good sir, how would you feel making digging your people's jobs? Minerals are one of our larger exports. If you can help our ponies find veins of valuable metals and crystals and extract them from the rock around them, your people would be welcomed with open hooves."

A lot of querying clicks began to rise among the crowd, but the largest beetle put out his beefy hands, demanding silence. "Relax. I'm as good at negotiating as flexing." He returned his full attention on Cadance. "We demand at least twelve hour breaks!"

Cadance started a little. I got the feeling quickly that ponies usually worked shorter than twelve hour shifts. "V-very well, but I must make a counter offer."

The beetle scowled at her. "Which would be?"

She smiled gently as she gestured to a clock. "Your people must have only eight hour breaks, but also an eight hour time for sleep and recovery. The remaining eight hours will be when they are expected to work."

The clicking resumed, at first querying as they started to work out math, and growing quickly in excitement. The big guy had the poise to not immediately look excited by it. He purposefully tried to keep his cool, looking off to the side. "You drive a hard bargain, pink pony. Are you sure you don't flex a little into the mirror in the mornings?"

Cadance's mouth twitched, resisting a laugh or a grin. "You caught me."

"Ha! I knew it!" He clapped two meaty hands together. "Come on! Let's get to it!"

"Wait! One little matter." She held up a hoof. "Your first assignment. Dig yourself out a barrack from the mountains closest to the city. Something comfortable for you live, sleep, and be happy. When you're done, the forepony will be by to discuss plans for mining. You two will work hoof in... claw together to see the mining done right. You will also be paid daily, in bits. Use them to buy food, clothes, or whatever else you like in the city." She spread her hooves wide. "Welcome to the Crystal Empire."

A loud chorus of clicks rippled through the crowd as Trixie turned away and trotted down the hallway. "That worked out well, familiar. We should demand a bonus later for securing Princess Cadance this opportunity. While you were enjoying your afternoon off, Trixie was not idle. She has located a darkness detecting spell, and she knows where we need to go. There are six sources of darkness that are letting them get close to the city, and we're going to get them all."

I nodded at her. That sounded... just video gamish enough to make perfect sense. Maybe defeating 'the game' would send me home? I mean, I would miss the horses a bit. Cadance and Trixie were both very nice, for aliens, but I wanted to be a guy again! Not... whatever I was. I held out a little hand and flexed my fingers. It was mostly human? Besides, my roomie had to be losing his marbles. He came up clearly enough in my memories.

He looked at me with a big cocky grin. "I did it, man. Scored the Shift Manager position!" He held up a hand and I met it in a loud high-five. "Dinner's on me, tonight. Let's go hit up that place by the theatre. I've been trying to get that spot forever, you know that."

He led the way, rambling about what he'd do with the extra money and where he'd try to go next. "This isn't the last step, just the first! Hey, you still playing that game?"

I had said something about some game I was playing on my computer and he laughed. "Don't ever change. What do you see in that one, though? The graphics are terrible."

He liked to rib me at times, but he was a good guy.

Who was going to cover my half of the rent while I was off playing with horses? I frowned, and Trixie noticed. "What's wrong? Are you not ready to tackle the first of the disturbances?"

"Just the opposite. I'm thinking about something." And it filled me with determination. I wouldn't let my friends, or family, down. My family was still lost in the fog, but I knew I had some. Everyone had some, right? "Oh, Trixie, do you have any relations?"

Trixie suddenly stopped walking and looked over her shoulder at me with a penetrating stare. "What brings this up, Familiar?"

I waved my hands at her. "I didn't mean anything bad. I was just trying to get to know you better."

She nodded slowly. "Trixie sees. Very well, she does have a mother and a father. Does that satisfy you?"

With a smile, I reached to stroke over her neck, but that made her more fidgety. "Enough, familiar. We should go." She turned back ahead and began trotting more firmly. "I've labeled them by how close they are. We'll start with the closest." She drew out a map that showed the crystal empire as a city right in the center. "See, the first is still in the city limits." She pointed to a little dot well within the city sprawl. "Where did you get that suit of armor? It's adorable on you, familiar."

I felt a blush sweeping over my face. I hadn't expected her, or anyone, to really notice it. "I, uh, got it in case the beetles didn't work out."

She tilted her head. "How... Nevermind, we should go."

She left the castle and strode through the city, leaving the main thoroughfare quickly as she picked her way through the crowd that thinned as we got further and further from the center of things. She suddenly lit me up with magic and set me down. "Time to walk."

Riding Trixie had been more fun, but I didn't make a fuss and was soon walking alongside her in a hurry. Horses were faster than I am!

The streets went from thinly populated to entirely abandoned as she folded up her map and tucked it away with her magic. "We're getting close, keep your eyes open, familiar."

I glanced around. "Of course, mom."

She smiled gently and paused before she reached and hugged me a moment. "Be careful." She trotted away before I could recover from her sudden affection.

I watched her go a moment, flexing my fingers. I would do well by her. I was determined. Turning away, I saw an alleyway that wasn't lit. It wasn't just not having light, it was like light fled from the place. It was way too dark to just be a shadow in the day. I wandered over towards it slowly, trying to peer into that darkness, until it was all around me. My steps got quieter, and I got more nervous. I turned back towards the light, but it wasn't there. It was dark everywhere. Shoot, I'd messed up...

Forming from the very darkness itself, a flickering cloud of purple and smoke came before me before a green line split into it, forming a disturbing smile. "Hello, little one. You look lost. Maybe I can help?"

I saw no labels beside him, not even the standard ones, but the tension of being in conflict was coming. "Maybe a little."

"Aw, don't be shy. I'll help you." The cloud's face changed to stick out a tongue of green smoke before it withdrew back into its purple mass. "I would be lost too, skipping through time like that."

W-what? How'd it know about that? It seemed amused at my shock. "You're not the only one with that power. In fact, you're disturbing a friend of mine. He can't use his because yours is stronger. You shouldn't get in the way of your elders, young man."

"What are you going to do about it?" I raised my little fists into fighting position, even if I wasn't sure what I could do about it.

The cloud laughed uproariously. "You are too adorable! I like you. I'll help. All you have to do is let the power gas in, and you'll become as strong as he is." The purple fog began to seep up all around me. "Breathe deeply and we'll have that nasty problem fixed in no time at all!"

I clamped my mouth shut and fanned at the clouds, slowing them down, but not really stopping them.

"Aw, don't be that way. Don't you want to be strong? Strong and powerful? You won't have to worry about taking orders from a pony ever again." The cloud drifted in closer, its green mouth split in a huge grin that was turning into a mask of a skull. "You won't have to worry about anything. Just obey the shadow!"

Despite my wild fanning, the fog was pressing in harder and harder. It was gaining inch after inch up over my short body. I could feel it tickling at my chin. It was going to get me!

"Stop fighting the inevitable. Just lay back and let it all come in!" He sounded more maniacal than friendly. The closer it got, the more excited he became. "You'll help plunge this miserable little world into darkness and enjoy every moment!"

Light suddenly cut through the darkness. "Familiar! Trixie is here to save you!" She came galloping in, her horn a blazing pillar of pink light that send the shadows fleeing away from her. Whatever little clouds of stuff remained were crushed under her galloping hooves as she came to me and grabbed me up onto her back.

The cloud that had taunted me faded along with the rest, leaving behind its face to wink at me before it vanished. It wasn't defeated, just sent away for the moment. I was sure of it.

"Don't leave Trixie's side again!" Trixie was looking over her shoulder at me with a big scowl. "You were in grave danger! Don't you even realize how bad it could have become if she hadn't arrived just when she had?"

She said it in fury at me, but I had a feeling she was more upset and worried. "I'm sorry, mother. I didn't mean to worry you like that."

Trixie brought down a hoof in a loud clop. "See that you don't..." She glanced away, then back at me. "Are you alright?" Her voice had become gentle and soft.

I reached for her neck and she didn't stop me that time. I gently pet her as I nodded. "Thanks to you, great and powerful mother. Thank you."

She smiled silently a moment before she nodded with a little cough. "Of course. Trixie will not allow her new familiar to be harmed so easily. Think of the scandal... Now then, you have found the source. Good job." She turned back towards the end of the alley, where an inky blot of darkness defied her light-bearing horn. "All we have to do is banish it, and we've made real progress."

Author's Notes:

The Beetles find a new home, yay!

Oh, there's this world's Flowey. He had to be here somewhere.

Trixie to the rescue! She'll teach the shadow a lesson or two...

We've reached a tenuous peace treaty with the typos, but word hasn't spread yet, so their outlying forces may continue to battle despite it.

6 - One Down

Trixie directed her horn at it, her hat lifted out of the way. "Just one little spell and we'll be on our way." A bright beam of purple light fired from her at the black blot and it began to shudder and wither a moment before it rebounded with a solid think. The pink beam turned black by it and rapidly ran up its length in a monochrome wave before colliding with a surprised-looking Trixie.

The impact knocked her back onto her haunches with a little 'oof'. "The very nerve! Nopony dares to defy the Great and Powerful Trixie, especially not some inanimate shadow stuff." She sprang back to her hooves and glared at the black blob as if it had personally slighted her. "Familiar!"

I jumped in surprise before turning to her. "What?"

She extended a hoof. "We will try a combined attack, using your esoteric aura and my magical mastery, we'll defeat this thing before it even knows what hit it."

I reached out an uncertain hand and took ahold of her forehoof and she nodded. "Excellent! Trixie can feel your otherworldly magic." She directed her horn at it and I could see words starting to form beside the blob just before she blasted. Her pink swirled with blue and green speckles, and the blob squealed before popping away. I felt... dirty.

We messed up.

Not that Trixie knew any better. She was looking quite proud of herself. "Ha! Trixie knew having a familiar of such fine quality to match her own would see the task done. Perhaps a treat to celebrate. Do you like oat... Familiar? Why do you look upset?"

There was another way, and I wasn't going to let it slip by. I was de... no! Saving was exactly what I didn't want to do! There had to be a way to load besides losing a fight.

"Familiar?"

I looked around the alleyway. The sunlight was streaming in with the shadow no longer sucking up all the light in the area.

"Familiar? Trixie demands your attention.... Familiar? You're making mother worried..."

I snapped out of my funk as she said the word mother and I saw Trixie staring at me with a concerned expression. "Are you alright?"

How did I explain? The truth seemed like a good place to start. "Everything we can deal with without violence, we should. I saw the way just before we destroyed it."

Trixie tilted her head. "It was nothing but a gathering of shadow magic. Even if you did see it, familiar, it's already gone. How can we do anything about it now?"

I wrung my hands together. "Well, uh. I can sort of go back in time." Trixie raised a brow, but was quiet. "But so far it only works when I die."

Trixie's other brow joined it, looking more surprised than skeptical. "Is this why you're wearing that armor?" I nodded. She put a hoof on her chest. "Trixie has outdone herself in her familiar selection, but if you do travel in time, Trixie will forget. You must promise to tell Trixie when you arrive."

Huh? "Well, sure, but how? I don't know how to get myself back there without dying."

She raised a hoof suddenly. "Trixie can fix that." Oh god, was she really suggesting? "Trixie has complete faith in you. Do you?"

I swallowed thickly as that hoof moved over me, ready to come down. "Alright, I trust you."

She brought it down and I squeezed my eyes shut, only to be lightly bonked on the head. "Trixie appreciates your faith, now let's do this sensibly." She rose up and took a sudden step towards me. "Trixie challenges you!"

I felt the tension of conflict suddenly begin. "Is it working?"

Was it working? We were in a battle situation. I could see words floating beside her. It was a legitimate conflict. "Yes. Why are we fighting?"

"Because you are losing this time." Her horn glowed and rained sparks down at me. Every single one that touched me made me felt sleepy. Should I try to dodge? Or just... I fell asleep.

I saw an alleyway that caught my attention and wandered towards the darkness, only to meet a black orb that split into a big green grin. "We meet again, and so soon. Did you forget something? Or is there really something you want to change so quickly? Oh, I see it, a little touch of darkness. You've tasted it, and now you're in such a rush to get rid of it? What a coward!" He burst into laughter as the fog began to rise quickly all around me.

I was fanning at the cloud desperately and suddenly light burst through the darkness. Trixie arrived, banishing the cloud away with light and stomping hooves even as she grabbed me up onto her back. It was all replaying again. It had worked! With the smoke orb gone, Trixie went to challenge the darkness and gave it a good zap, only to be knocked onto her rump with some unkind words that she spat out at it as she clambered up to her hooves.

"Trixie, wait." She turned and looked at me. I smiled and held up a hand. "We went through this once before."

She tilted her head. "Explain, familiar."

I waved at the black void she was trying to banish. "We can destroy it, together, but there's a better way. It was with your help, mother, that I came back in time to do it right. You made me promise to tell you that."

She flashed a bright smile. "Did I? Then it must have been the right thing to do. Very well, how do we defeat this 'properly'?"

I reached out a hand towards her. "Take my hand, but no blasting."

Trixie looked uncertain a moment before she offered a hoof. When we were touching, the words appeared beside it. 'Vision', 'Mercy', and all the ones I came to expect. Vision? What did that even mean? I tried peering into the darkness. It was, well, dark. Dark and empty.

"Is it working?" Trixie glanced aside at me. "Trixie sees nothing happening."

I ignored her for a moment beside squeezing her hoof. A lot of n... No, there it was.

I was standing in a big dark place, a cavern I thought. There were ponies down there, living a life in the dark. A mother was bouncing a ball away from her foal and challenging him to catch it and they were both having a grand time, then a great flash of light came, and they were sent screaming.

The vision ended, and the darkness was gone.

Trixie gently nudged me with the same hoof. "Are you alright? It's gone and you've been staring for an uncomfortable amount of time."

I did it! What did I do? "I saw some kind of vision. It was a dark place. There were dark ponies."

"Umbrum," stated Trixie with pride. "They were in the books we were looking through. Shadow creatures. It is they that create these disturbances, and the Great and Powerful Trixie that will stop them."

I nodded. "Alright, Umbrum, but they weren't acting very evil. They were living their lives. A mother was playing with her kid. They weren't doing anything bad at all."

Trixie frowned a little. "Everything Trixie read said Umbrum were evil by nature. She will need more than one vision to see them as much more than that. Their greatest, King Sombra, enslaved this entire city and all the crystal ponies!" She turned away. "Still, you were right. This calls for a reward. Do you like oat shakes? They are one of Trixie's favorite treats." Her magic wrapped around me and pulled me right up onto her. "Let's go."

As we rode through the city, I took solace in the fact that I had done things the right way. I was filled with determination, and a few wondering thoughts. "Say, Trixie?" She perked an ear back at me. "All the books you read were written by ponies, right?"

"This is correct," she said with a nod as she trotted along.

I raised a finger, pointing upwards. "Then no one has their side of things."

Trixie slowed to a stop and looked over her shoulder. "... Perhaps so." She smiled gently. "You make Trixie nervous at times, familiar. You have a great destiny. Trixie can tell." She started trotting again as she continued talking, almost to herself. "Trixie wonders, are you Trixie's familiar, or is she your pony, here to help you reach that destiny? A part of Trixie bristles with jealousy..." She looked around a moment to see that no other ponies were close by. "But Trixie is glad. This once, Trixie will be part of something big, and important, and good." She looked back at me. "Do you understand?"

I felt that took a lot, for such a proud pony to admit that she might not be the 'star' of the show, so to speak. "Trixie."

"Yes?"

"You're the most important pony I know. Even Cadance isn't as important as you are, Trixie."

She smiled brightly before continuing on her way. "And you are the most powerful and loving familiar Trixie has ever heard of. She is glad to have called you. Now, what flavor do you prefer?" She stopped before an oat shake stand. They had a whole stand, dedicated to oat shakes! I'm not even kidding.

The crystal stallion that manned the stall was happy to get us two big cups of shakes. Trixie held hers in her magic, and I had hands for mine. "Enjoy! Thank you for your patronage, oh, and thank you for helping my friend." He was looking at me. "He runs a pie stand. He said you fought off a whole army of beetles."

Oh man, the beetle army. I blushed at remembering crashing into that poor pony's pie stand. Good thing he never knew who it was that did that.

"Aw, don't blush. You did a good thing. Princess Cadance says they'll really help the city." He ducked behind his stall and pulled out a card. "Here, show this at the next stall you shop at. It's good for one thing free, within reason. All the merchants in the city accept it. Only once, so pick carefully!"

Trixie took the card in her magic and passed it back to me. "Trixie's familiar is indeed great and powerful. We are thankful for your gift." She gained a crafty look as she looked over the stallion. "Trixie wonders, exactly how did her familiar defeat these beetles?"

He looked a little confused, tilting his head. "Oh, uh, my friend said he literally learned their ways while they were trying to bite him clean in half! Then he out muscled their leader and shouted him into submission, sending him running to the crystal castle. It was a sight to see, for sure. I wish I was there to see it..."

I giggled a little more childishly than I intended. "That's mostly accurate."

Trixie smirked a little, but nodded to the stallion and wished him well before trotting down the street. She sipped from her oat shake with a soft mmm. "We did well today. Tomorrow, we go for #2. Once all six sources are taken care of, the problem should be gone, Trixie gets paid, and the empire is safe."

I leaned over her head and tapped my cup against hers. "To peace!"

She tapped her cup back at mine. "To peace, and fame. Don't forget the fame part."

Author's Notes:

1/6 defeated! Some important things come up. Can you spot them all?

Besides the typos.

7 - Clean Water

Trixie unfurled her map of the Crystal Kingdom and set a hoof up against it as it hovered in front of us. "The second one is just outside the city, but is quite important to the ponies here. This is where their fresh water comes from, deep underground. Without it, life would become very difficult for them to say the least. We will save them from this and dispatch the darkness."

I looked at the map a moment. "If it's outside the city, how do they get the water?"

Trixie canted her head. "This is where the darkness is manifesting. The water flows along an underground river into the city, where ponies can get to it from wells and things like that. Do you understand, familiar?"

It made enough sense. "Sure. Are we going to go along the river?"

Trixie paused a moment. "Trixie supposes that isn't a bad idea. Getting to it from above may be quite bothersome." She lifted me in her magic and set me down. "Trixie will get us a raft. Why don't you inspect the main well and ensure nothing has gone awry already." She pointed to the east, I think. "You can't miss it. It's the largest well."

She trotted off with purpose, leaving me alone. I wouldn't let her down, I was determined! I lowered my balled fist and got to half-skipping/half-walking down the road.

"Hey!"

I spun around towards the high-pitched voice, but there was nobody there besides some crystal ponies walking by.

"Helllooo!"

It came from behind me! I turned slowly that time, but nope, nothing.

"Aw come on, you're being rude now."

A hoof tapped me on the back and I spun to see a pink pony with a fluffy mane and tail. "Hiya!" She offered a hoof at me. "Nice to meet you! Princess Cadance said a super cool not-pony had joined the kingdom and I was all 'I have to see this!' and then I saw you there and came up to say hi and you wouldn't face me, so I was all 'gosh, what's wrong with this guy?'"

I took her hoof hesitantly, and a ripe noise of flatulence ripped from the place we touched. She giggled loudly and turned her hoof over to reveal a whoopie cushion attached to its bottom. "Gets 'em every time! You're alright with pranks, right?"

A smile came to me despite myself. I didn't think she was trying to be mean, just a little crazy. "Nah, it's alright. What was your name again?"

"Gosh, I didn't say?" She leaned towards me with a little poot as the last of the air in her cushion was squeezed out. "I'm Pinkie Pie. And you're... familiar!"

Was that a joke? "My name's Frisk. I'm Trixie's familiar."

She clopped her forehooves. "Right! I got the two mixed up. How's Trixie treating you?" She leaned in close. "She isn't being a big braggy sourpuss, is she?"

Indignation welled up in me as I gave Pinkie a little push. "She's been great. She's a good person, and a lot more humble than people give her credit for."

Pinkie brought up her hooves at me. "Woah there, sorry. I didn't mean anything by it, really." She flashed her teeth in a grin. "Kinda funny to brag about being humble though. Anyway, whatcha doin'?"

"Something important."

Pinkie bounced in place. "Which is?" The feeling of tension suddenly rose. She wasn't taking no for an answer. Beside her 'Joke' 'Distract' and 'Prank' floated beside the usual suspects. "Come on! I can keep a secret if it's that important."

I put my arms together and looked at her critically. "Why the long face, Pinkie?"

'Joke' glimmered as she tilted her head, then gave a giggle ending in a snort. "I guess I do have kinda a long face compared to yours, silly billy. Come on, tell me!" She waggled her tail to and fro like a cat getting ready to pounce on me.

I pointed behind her with a surprised look. "Oh wow, Trixie's already back!"

"What, where?" She turned to face away and I dashed off even as I heard the jingle of money. I wondered what sort of threat Pinkie could really be that I had gotten money from it? Maybe she would have really squished me if I gave her a chance. She hadn't seemed like a bad pony, per se, but I had a mission to get to, and I wasn't going to get as easily distracted as she was.

Trixie wasn't kidding about the well being large. It was more of a big covered lake that dominated the center of the square there than anything else. It ran off into the darkness, where I could dimly see a grate, probably to stop any ponies that fell or jumped in from trying to swim along the river.

As I circled the water, some of the crystal ponies loitering around took a notice of me. "Isn't that Trixie's companion?" asked one stallion, pointing at me.

The mare beside him nodded softly. "He banished the darkness in the west end of town." She looked me over. "Do you think he's here to do it again?"

"But I don't see any darkness here?" The stallion looked around slowly.

The water surged suddenly, allowing a horse, a real horse, bigger than all the ponies, made of water to hop out in front of the stallion. "You're not looking hard enough." Its voice was like a running faucet. Little black specks ran through its otherwise blue form. "Crystal Ponies! Kneel and obey your dark overlord, for he returns!"

The mare squealed and threw herself to the ground. "Don't let him punish me! I didn't do anything wrong!"

The water horse turned to look at me. "There you are. Do you hate us? Good, we loathe you. Tremble, little biped, your time has come." It charged at me as tension blossomed. I couldn't get a good read of its words as I dove out of the way of watery hooves and caught one of them over my shoulder in a painful clip.

I rolled up quickly to my feet as it spun around. No time for reading. I'd have to figure it out myself. "Why do you hate the crystal ponies so much?"

He struck the ground, water splashing on impact. "You will know me as Aquator! You would dare ask such a question? They are the offenders. They wield our doom behind their vacant smiles. Die, defender of our enemies." He lowered his head as a huge horn sprouted up mid-charge.

I waited for the last possible moment to try leaping out of the way, but he flowed with my dodge and sent me flying with the crash of our bodies. I came down heavily across the entire pool, landing on the other side.

He stepped towards me slowly as I struggled to stand against the pain. "Pathetic tool of the cursed light. It will be a great pleasure to snuff you, and remind everyone of the darkness coming to them."

With a sudden roll, I got out of the way of a crushing hoof. "This isn't the right way!"

"Not the right way." He tilted his head lightly. "It's the only way, child of light. You won't banish us so easily this time. Your sacrifice will be as a symbol for a new future." He suddenly exploded in specks of darkness that washed out over the area. The crystal ponies caught in it went sill and empty-eyed, while the ones that splattered on me felt like they burned!

I managed to get up to all fours in time for him to slam me back into the ground. "Your way has no hope, child of light."

The water surged suddenly, allowing a horse, a real horse, bigger than all the ponies, made of water to hop out in front of the stallion. "You're not looking hard enough." Its voice was like a running faucet. Little black specks ran through its otherwise blue form. "Crystal Ponies! Kneel and obey your dark overlord, for he returns!"

I started a moment before realizing I had skipped back in time. I had another chance to get it right. Before he could give his speech, I looked at him intently.

Aquator, High Captain of the Dark Waters. Loyal to the King of Darkness. Fears becoming dry. There were some numbers there. They looked higher than the other ones I'd seen. He was more of a threat than the beetles, for sure.

"Child of light! I feel we've met somewhere once before... Is it fate that we should encounter one another here, to settle our differences?" He pawed at the ground as he looked down at me. "Have you come to surrender?"

With him not charging right at me, I could see the words 'Pray for Light', 'Console', and 'Praise'. Did I want to pray for light? I didn't think so. What would I be consoling him about? "Mighty warrior of darkness, you look as intimidating as ever."

'Praise' flashed softly as Aquator rose to his full height. "I have prepared well for this day. It is good that you recognize the terrible strength of your enemy. Your oppression ends here, child of light." He suddenly sprang forward and jumped over me, just to slap me across the face with his tail on the way past in a painful whip. "Pathetic."

One of the crystal ponies shrank away, shaking like a leaf. "Don't let them take us away!"

Aquator stomped a hoof on the ground. "You've done far worse! You will serve for eternity and still not pay it back."

I raised a hand towards the big wet horse. "They didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."

Aquator paused and turned slowly back to me. "Speak clearly, child of light. Are you defending these pathetic mewling excuses of ponies?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, the dark ponies. The mothers and children."

He took a slow step back, 'Console' flashing. "You weren't there! You didn't hear their cries. They were the true innocents! Curse you. Curse you and your light!" His form exploded outward, becoming a rolling tornado of blue and black. "I'll wash you away, child of light. You can say sorry to them personally in the afterlife!"

He washed over me in an instant, but I didn't skip through time, and I didn't feel ripped apart either. Cracking open an eye, I could see a pink dome over me. Trixie approached in a rapid clip-clop. "Trixie is here! Excellent work, familiar."

Aquator shot across the ground at Trixie with the roar of a hundred waves crashing against the shore. The bubble around me popped and reformed around herself, but he engulfed her, bubble and all. I could barely make out Trixie, being battered around in her bubble as he swirled her around violently.

I turned to the crystal mare. "Say sorry!"

"S-sorry for what?" Her eyes were wide and she was shaking badly. It was a little surprising she could even remain upright.

I waved my arms around frantically. "For what his people went through, and mean it."

She looked lost at the idea. Could I get through to any of them before Trixie was battered to a pulp?

Author's Notes:

Oh, hello soldier of darkness. We come in peace?

Why doesn't that ever work?!

8 - Drowning in Determination

The great water horse jumped free of the water with a mighty roar. I was back in time? I had failed, again. But that also meant I had another chance to make it right.

"Aquator, we need to talk."

Aquator frowned at me. "Child of Light. You seem familiar, and you know of me, good. Tremble and fear! What pathetic mewlings do you wish to share?"

I held up a hand towards him. "I saw them. The innocents in the dark. I'm still trying to learn it all. Isn't there a way we could avoid repeating it?"

He bared his flat teeth at me, dark motes swirling dangerously. "Repeating it? A thousand lashes on the back of every crystal whelp here wouldn't come close to it!" He took a slow step forward. "Are your ponies so much more precious than mine, that they should be spared living the nightmare? I should think not, Child of Light."

'Console' dimmed. Was that all I could do with that? Alright, one step down, and he hadn't kicked me or knocked me over yet. Small victories! "You... could crush these ponies at any time."

Aquator rose to his full height, towering over me and everyone else there. "At any time," he agreed. "Such as now."

A bright pink sphere appeared around Aquator. It was Trixie's shield, but turned against him instead of defensively. "Such as never! To think you would harm a hair on Trixie's magnificent mane."

I wheeled to see Trixie standing just at the entrance of the plaza, approaching quickly. How did she know about that? "Trixie! How?"

Aquator suddenly slammed a hoof against the shield, shattering it. "So you do have some fight in you, pathetic creatures of light. Ah, I seem to remember you, blue sorceress. Your magic is feeble, as you are."

"You take that back, you waterlogged shadow!" She took an angry step forward as her horn began to glow brilliantly. For just a moment, I feared she was about to escalate things to battle, but she threw her head to the side, pointing to me with her horn. "My familiar had words for you. You would do well to listen to them. He has far more patience than I."

I gestured around at the cowering crystal ponies. "It won't hurt you to wait. They'll still be here, cowering, after I inevitably fail."

Aquator canted his head to the side. "You have a point there. Should I crush you after you have endeavored your best, you will cry all the more, lament your fate all the harder... Mmm, yes. I look forward to hearing your blubbering cries to an uncaring world as we crush your hopes and dreams."

Trixie rolled her eyes. "A little melodramatic, aren't we?"

Aquator snorted out a gust of dark mist. "I will especially look forward to breaking you, little witch. Go then. Try your best, knowing I will be waiting just one step behind, to leap on your fallen forms." The water horse laughed as he melted into a puddle and seemed to flow in all directions, vanishing away with only the dimming noise of his gurgling laughter left behind to slowly fade.

Trixie hurried up to me and threw a leg around me. "Familiar! You're safe. Trixie is glad for this."

I hugged her tightly. "I saw him hurting you before and there wasn't anything I could do to stop it."

Trixie waved a hoof dismissively. "Trixie hates to admit it, but that was Trixie's mistake, but one she fixed, thanks to your power."

I stepped out of her hug and frowned at her with confusion. "How did you do that? I mean, how did you know what happened."

She tapped her head. "There is a reason Trixie told you to be truthful to her. Once she knew what was going on, she shielded herself from your Great and Powerful effect, at least her mind. She remembers what happened thanks to a little spell in the library. There is a reason she came after the first time you fell in battle. She was suddenly back in time. It could only mean one thing, so Trixie came to your aid, to find you locked in battle with that big wet fiend."

I sighed a little. "Just to watch you get beat up..."

She lifted her shoulders. "A temporary inconvenience, thanks to Trixie's amazing familiar. Now, she cannot control the coming and going, but remembering means she can learn from her mistakes."

I felt a grin forcing its way out of me as I clapped my small hands together. "I can't think of anyone filled with more determination than you!"

Trixie blinked softly. "Trixie is not sure what you mean by the way you said that, but she accepts it as a compliment. It is true, we are both determined to win, and win we shall." She raised a hoof at me, and I looked at her with some confusion before her magic wrapped around my right hand and brought it up to do a sort of high-five against her hoof. "To victory."

She looked towards the pond Aquator had originally emerged from. "His words lend validity to your own, familiar. Trixie wants to know more of these 'shadow ponies'. Are they the Umbrum, or perhaps an older form of them? Come, we need to get that raft. I didn't get a chance to fetch one with this... mess."

We walked away from the plaza, leaving the shaking crystal ponies behind. They were still paralyzed with fear, but at least they weren't being attacked, so that was a step up, right? I nodded towards Trixie as we walked. "What do we know of the Umbrum?"

Trixie tapped at her chin. "They are said to be terrible creatures of pain and misery. The Crystal Fair ceremony banishes them from the Crystal Kingdom."

"How often is that?"

Suddenly my vision was filled with pink. "Once a year!" She hopped down off my shoulders to land in front of me. "I found him!"

Trixie shook her head lightly. "Yes, very good, Pinkie Pie. We were having a discussion, you know."

Pinkie leaned in closer to Trixie, tail wagging. "Can I join?"

"You may certainly not."

Pinkie pouted. "But I never saw so much breaking and cutting happen all together before."

I frowned at her a little. "Breaking and cutting?"

Pinkie bobbed her head. "Uh huh. First everything was like this." She held out a hoof. "Then it was like that." She moved her hoof a little. "Then it was like this!" She adjusted the hoof again. "Trixie was right. She has the most stupenderiffic familiar ever!"

Trixie cleared her throat. "Yes, of course. As befits the Great and Powerful Trixie. Pinkie, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be in Ponyville, or maybe chasing after Twilight Sparkle?"

I felt a hunch and pointed at Pinkie. "You're here because of me."

Pinkie clopped her forehooves excitedly. "Right on the first try! You keep making things skip skip skip around all funny-like and I wanted to see what it was all about."

Trixie put a hoof over her face. "Yes, of course. At least there's a reason."

Pinkie tilted her head at Trixie. "There's always a reason, silly. What do you think this is, someone's story? Even stories have to have reasons, Trixie. Like duh!"

I looked over the brightly colored pink pony. "So, do you know Trixie from somewhere?"

Pinkie bobbed her head at me. "Sure do! I mean, sure, she kinda took my mouth away for a while, but I can let bygones be bygones."

Trixie colored darkly in her cheeks. "Trixie was not herself at the time..."

"Uh, but you did that? Took her mouth off? How?"

Trixie shook her head fiercely as she walked. "Trixie would rather not speak of it. It was a mistake."

Pinkie closed with Trixie and bumped against her. "Aw, don't worry about it. We're all made up now, right? Which is why you're gonna let me come along and help!"

I only had one big question in mind. "Pinkie." She looked at me with a perked ear and I smiled at her. "Do you believe in peace, or victory?"

Pinkie tapped at her chin. "Oh gosh, that's a toughie. I guess making friends is more important than being right. Winning because you made someone sad is hardly a win, after all."

Trixie took a slow breath. "My familiar is quite determined to discover the past instead of focusing on stopping the Umbrum's current plans.

"Umbrum?"

I pointed back where we had walked from. "The shadow ponies, I think. Something happened with them. If we can figure out what it was, and make it right--"

"Then we can be friends!" Pinkie smiled brightly. "Trixie, I like the way your familiar thinks! He..." She trailed off as she tilted her head at me slowly. "She..." She leaned in and sniffed at me firmly. "He! He has the right idea."

Trixie raised a brow. "Even they could not determine their own gender. How are you so certain?"

Pinkie pointed at me. "I can smell it. They're a colt, uh, whatever you are?"

"Human." I wriggled my fingers at her and she burst into fresh giggles.

"Human. Colt human. Anyway, I'm Pinkie Pie. Nice to meet you properly. We'll make great quest buddies!"

Trixie snorted softly. "Trixie supposes there is no way to convince you to go home, is there?"

"Nope!"

Trixie gave a little smile. "She supposed not. Very well, if you are to accompany us, a few rules. First, Trixie is taking the payment for this task. She has already accepted its responsibility."

"Okay!"

Trixie nodded firmly. "Good. Second, you seem to be aware of the time loops my familiar causes?" Pinkie nodded, and Trixie continued, "We can't control them. They happen whenever they lose in battle. However, since everyone here seems to remember what occurred, we should be able to learn from our mistakes, and make any failure the last. Ponies not aware of this have no idea that time has looped, and will only remember it vaguely, if at all."

I moved between Pinkie and Trixie. "We seem to hit a reset when someone else falls in battle. Someone I care about a lot."

Trixie flattened her ears. "Familiar... Ahem, yes... Should Trixie fall in battle, that will send us back as well." She put a hoof on my shoulder and drew me closer. "Because they care about Trixie too much to allow harm to befall her."

Pinkie giggled. "Aw, you two are too cute together!" That was enough to get Trixie to let me go. "Don't be like that. I meant it as a compliment."

I put a hand on Trixie's back and pet once. "Mother doesn't like showing that side of herself."

"Familiar!" Trixie bristled fiercely. "She said not to call her that in company."

Pinkie put a hoof to her mouth, looking like she was struggling not to say anything.

Trixie sagged. "Go ahead. Get it out."

Pinkie flopped over towards Trixie. "You two are super adorable! I wish I had one of those."

"Familiar."

"Yeah, one of those. You two are so close and care about each other so much." She let out a dreamy sigh as she stood back up. "Alright, let's get going!"

Author's Notes:

Our party has grown! And you thought Pinkie would see herself out of the fic. No way! She knows there's fun to be had around here and she won't take no for an answer.

9 - Rapid Progress

We got a raft quickly, with Trixie casually snatching some coins out of one of my pocket to pay for it. "For peace," she said with a cocky grin.

If I didn't already like her... She wasn't wrong at least. Sure I was basically broke again, but we had to have that raft, so there wasn't much to do about it.

Trixie lifted the front of the raft in her magic as Pinkie took ahold of the back of the rubbery craft in her mouth and we hurried back to the pool we'd started at.

The crystal ponies had vacated. A step up from cowering in place, or so I figured. Aquator suddenly poked his head free of the waters. "Come to fail, have you? Just remember, I get to parade you around after you fail. The ponies of this city will know you tried with those feeble hands of yours, and you were the only ones willing to even do that."

Pinkie let go of the raft, which bounced softly against the ground, though still held up in the front by Trixie's magic. "Don't be a sourpuss about it. You might even like it when we're done."

"Of this I have doubts, unless you mean relishing in your defeat." He stepped free of the water and shook himself out as if he was covered in fur, rather than being made of water. "Who are you? You are not bound to the Child of Light."

Pinkie shrugged. "I already have a super amazing team. I don't need two. My name's Pinkie! Nice to meetcha." She bounced up to the big horse as if he wasn't special and offered out a hoof to the confused water horse.

While they got to know each other, Trixie and I got the raft into the water and hopped onto it. It sank into the water, but seemed solid and ready. I turned back to Pinkie. "Time to go! Say goodbye to your friend."

Pinkie flashed a big smile. "That's my cue! See you later, alright?"

As she bounced away, he shook his head with confusion showing on his watery face. "You will wish you hadn't, ignorant topworlder. You may not be one of the accursed crystal ponies, but I will have you as well in due time."

The river looked to be a gentle flow against us. I mean, it was against us, which meant magic and muscle to move, but it was so slow, I didn't see it as...

"Let me make this better for you." Aquator cackled as he put a hoof in the water. "A gift, from me to you." The water vibrated powerfully before its flow reversed and accelerated by the moment. We were being sucked right down the tunnel, and he was soon out of sight as we were plunged into darkness.

Pinkie pulled out a lit lantern from... somewhere? I didn't see in the dark, but I also didn't see any pockets or clothes she could have been hiding it in, especially lit. "Woo! This is way faster!"

Looking ahead, I saw rocks rising from the water that'd tear our raft apart in a quick instant at the rate we were going. "Look out!" I pulled at the raft with a great heave, but I could only nudge it a little bit. Trixie's magic quickly joined my efforts, and Pinkie jumped into the mix. Together, we began to steer the raft as the deadly obstructions sailed past too quickly for comfort.

Trixie pointed up ahead as her magic shifted sides. "Right this time!" Pinkie and I had to scramble for the other side to keep the raft to the narrow channel of safety. A squeak of rubber told us we weren't perfectly in line, but there wasn't a hole, so close enough.

Leaping from the water, a fish of pitch darkness flashed disturbingly bright teeth before it fell back in, only to be joined by several of its friends, apparently all waiting for us to mess up and end up in their water. We wouldn't be lost in the water long with them around.

I heard a dull roar and went pale. "Trixie, how can there be a waterfall if water is supposed to flow into the city?"

Trixie looked thoughtful a moment before she nodded. "Of course, the waterfall must be flowing... the other... way!" Her calm expression turned to abject fear as we smashed into the waterfall and suddenly going up along it. We fell back to the rear of the raft as gravity tried to pull us right out of our rubber boat. Pinkie squeaked as she rolled over backwards and started to fall, but I grabbed her left forehoof and held on tight. When Trixie recovered from the surprise of it, she grabbed Pinkie up around her whole body and pulled her in quickly. But there was no time to relax. Jutting out of the waterfall were more deadly-looking rocks, coming down at us instead of emerging from ahead.

A small part of me, the part that remembers what life was like back on Earth, quailed at the entire thing. We were flowing up a waterfall! That should not be possible! Of course, I was also sailing with a bright pink pony, and a blue unicorn, so maybe the waterfall was just the latest of impossibilities I'd have to accept.

We pulled and heaved, urging the raft out of the way as the rapids carried us along. The top of the waterfall was coming, I could see it!

Then the water began to slow.

Pinkie gulped audibly. "I think our ride's over."

"Jump!" I shouted, and we abandoned the raft, coming down in the slowing water just at the top of the waterfall and paddling madly. The water started to reverse course, and the raft plummeted quickly into the darkness.

Pinkie came up from underneath me and lifted me out of the water as she swam towards the shore, where Trixie was already sprawled out and tired looking. Pinkie came up and flopped over beside Trixie, panting for breath. "That was... fun..."

Trixie raised a brow at Pinkie. "You are mad. Thank you for retrieving my familiar." Her magic pulled at me, drawing me to her side. "She became worried they... he?" She tilted her head at me. "What do you prefer?"

A fair question. I wasn't either, but I remembered being a guy, so why not? "He works."

She nodded. "Very well." She pulled out the map she had before, which had somehow avoided becoming wet. Ponies came with very high quality pockets, it seemed. "We're not too far from where we need to reach. Getting back may be... troubling, but we'll cross that bridge as we reach it."

I looked between the two of them. "Everyone alright?"

Pinkie rolled up to her haunches and shook herself out, sending water flying. "I'm okay! Can we do that again on the way out?"

Trixie raised a brow. "If you have another raft, perhaps Trixie will consider it."

"Aw." Pinkie stood up and peered into the darkness. "Well, we might as well get going."

I held out a hand towards her. "Can I take the lantern? Seeing it bounce around on your tail is making me nervous."

Pinkie brought her fluffy tail around to me and I curled my fingers around the ring on the lantern. It wasn't too heavy, and I hefted it up as we walked forward. "How did this not get put out in all the water?"

Trixie tilted her head. "You will live a happier life, familiar, if you begin to accept Pinkie's antics at face value. She is beyond such concerns."

What was she, a god?

"Nothing like that, silly." She leaned in and nuzzled my cheek before bounding ahead, leaving me staring at her retreating form.

No! I had to stay focused. I was determined to see this quest through to the end. Then I could go home!

Trixie nudged me from behind, and we started hiking alongside the river. A hint of something caught my attention along the wall and I turned to it, holding up the lantern to illuminate an aged fresco. It showed dark-furred ponies gathered in a circle, all seated on their haunches. In the middle of them all was a black sphere, and they looked happy and content about it. "What does this mean?"

Trixie stopped and turned to look with me. "Trixie is uncertain. They look... not unsimilar to King Sombra, though she admits they look more peaceful in this picture than most of the others she's seen."

Pinkie leaned over onto me as she looked it over. When had she come back from up ahead? "Why are they all so dreary colored?"

I waved a hand at the fresco. "If they lived in the dark, what would they need bright colors for?"

Pinkie tapped her chin. "How did they see then?"

Trixie scoffed. "Pinkie... Just because they live underground doesn't mean they are without magic of their own sort. Trixie is certain the dark did not trouble them."

I turned away from the fresco and we continued our trek. "What if they were used to the dark by amplifying what little light there was, then there was suddenly a lot of light?"

Trixie frowned. "They would be in a lot of pain."

Pinkie threw her forehooves over her eyes. "Ouchie. Is that what happened to them? Poor ponies. How do ya think that coulda happened?" She did a cartwheel forward, just to get caught upside down. "Oops." She began to sink slowly into some kind of tarry sludge.

Trixie reached with her magic and tried to pluck Pinkie free, but the goop didn't want to let go of her and it became a tug of war, with Pinkie going nowhere in a hurry. "You should watch where you're going. We're not on a vacation."

The goop suddenly swirled up over Pinkie, who barely had time to get out an 'eep' before she was engulfed in the form of a tarry pony. "Mmm, she tastes so sweet... What a treat you have brought me."

Tension exploded in my chest as words snapped into being beside him. 'Food' and 'Hug'. I didn't have any spare food on me, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hug something that already ate one of my friends. "Um, hello?"

The tar pony tilted... her? She sounded like a her, and was shaped similarly to Trixie. She tilted her head at me. "Are you the Child of Light? You're a lot cuter than the stories said. They said you were huge and could take on a whole army at once." She stepped forward slowly, leaving tarry puddles behind her with every hoof that touched the cavern floor. "You're just adorable! I could eat you right up."

Trixie crossed between us. "Halt right there. Return the pink pony to us. She may be loud, but Trixie does not wish her to drown."

Tarry, which I had decided to call her, looked at Trixie with a tilt of her head. "She's alright, and delicious. Want to go check on her?" She reached out a dripping hoof. "You look like you could be scrumptious..."

Author's Notes:

Hello Tarry. You're rather friendly for a boss, and kinda cute, at least in my mind's eye.

Don't trust my mind's eye. You don't know what's been up there.

10 - A Sticky Situation

I licked over my lips as I tried to think fast. I didn't want to have to reset. Just this once, I'd get it right the first time. "Are you hungry?"

She nodded quickly and smiled, though she had no teeth, just tar that held to the same form that teeth should have. "I'm starving. Your friend is so very tasty, but I want more. Please?"

Trixie raised a brow as she looked between me and Tarry. "How do you survive, waiting in the dark with no food?"

Tarry turned to the water. "Sometimes I gobble up a fish or two. They're not nearly as tasty. I can almost feel... normal again... Please?" She reached for Trixie. "Please."

I wasn't sure, but an idea refused to go away. "Trixie."

She took a slow step back. "Yes?"

"Go to her."

She bristled immediately. "Have you taken leave of your senses, familiar? Trixie does not want to be devoured."

I held out a hand towards her. "You trust me, right?"

Trixie clenched her teeth, her jaw bulging with how hard she bit down. "Trixie... does. You are mad!" She spun back to Tarry. "Fine! Trixie will become the Greatest treat you have ever experienced."

Tarry's expression turned to unbridled joy. "You are the nicest pony I ever met!" She rushed forward and hugged Trixie around the neck. Trixie's screams were muffled by tar as she was pulled right into Tarry's form with wet sucking noises. All too quickly, the showmare was drawn right into Tarry, who didn't grow larger despite having two ponies inside of her. 'Feed' flashed softly as Tarry sat down on her haunches. "Oooo, she's soo good! I feel... I..." She sank her head suddenly. "What have I become?" Little trails of black began to leak from her eyes. "I used to make delicious treats for the others, now all I do is eat... This isn't right at all."

I approached her cautiously, my hands making slow placating motions in little circles. "It'll be alright. Tell me what it was like, and what happened."

She looked directly at me. "Oh, I didn't eat everypony. That's unusual... What do you taste... like?" She was starting to look hungry again, licking over her snout as she slowly approached me.

"Wait! Tell me who you used to be."

She recoiled. "Used to be? Used... I was a cook. I made nice things. The foals would rush to my store after school and beg for treats. I couldn't say no." She smiled gently. "I miss them... The light took them away. It took me away, and left this..." She brought down a hoof with a sticky splat. "She's gone. There's only this... this monster left!"

With a cry of anguish, she lashed out with a tarry hoof and I dove out of the way. I was getting used to the small body I had and rolled away from her next swing and jumped under the one after that, narrowly avoiding each goopy lunge. "You don't have to be a monster."

She drew her leg back, unstretching until she sat down on her haunches. "I don't want to be... But I am! I eat and I can feel for a little while, but it always fades away. I'll be back to... to normal soon..."

I stepped towards her. "There's a difference, this time."

"A difference?"

"You're not alone." I gently hugged her from the front, and she went as stiff as tar could be.

She put a hoof on my back and held me even as I began to sink into her. "I'm not alone..." She grunted softly, then suddenly repelled me, sending me rolling backwards. "I won't eat you! I'll let your friends go, just destroy me quickly, so I'll never hurt again." She swelled up with a sharp inhale before she closed her mouth and blew out despite it, building pressure inside of her as her sides bulged dangerously. Trixie and Pinkie were sent flying out to the left and right, landing a few feet away from her. She wobbled drunkenly before collapsing. "T-there... Destroy me!"

Pinkie bounced to her hooves from her expulsion. "That was crazy! Good job." She saluted me before turning on Tarry. "As for you! Well, that was actually kinda fun, but you should ask before gobbling up a mare. It's just polite." She stuck out her tongue.

Tarry looked befuddled. "You're not angry?"

Trixie stood up with a bit of a face, using her magic to make the tar slide off of her. "Trixie is furious! But she is not without compassion. The Great and Understanding Trixie heard what you said. What was your name?"

Tarry slowly sat back up onto her haunches. "I was... I was Sweet Tooth." Her hooves suddenly hardened, becoming actual hooves instead of loose approximations of tar. "Pickled millipedes were the best..."

Pinkie tilted her head. "I never tried that before."

"Oh, you should!" Said Tar-- Er, Sweet Tooth. "They crunch and it's an explosion of sweetness. The little foals would be so happy when I gave them one." Her nose became covered in black fur, drying out back towards her face in a slow wave of de-tarrification. "I miss them..."

I smiled a little. "Did you have a foal of your own, Sweet?"

She froze. "Oh my... How did I forget him? My little Tummy Rumble!" The drying swept over her own belly as she became more and more of a pony of darkness, and less of a tar monster. "Do you know where he is? Is he..." Fresh tears began to seep from her still-tarry eyes. "I couldn't protect him. What kind of mother am I?"

She suddenly sprang to her hooves and ran off, fading into the darkness of the tunnel almost instantly.

Trixie shook her head. "The more Trixie hears, the more curious she becomes. Where did this first light come from? The crystal ponies call it now to banish hostile shadows."

Pinkie looked off into the dark. "I hope we find her. She really needs a friend right now." She smiled at me. "Good job sticking to your plan, even if it did kind of involve me being eaten by a hungry tar pony."

I gave a little nervous chuckle at that. "Yeah, uh, glad she spat you out."

"Me too!" She pointed at the lantern I held. "Guess it was a good thing you were holding onto it after all. Why don't you hold onto it for now?" Pinkie turned to Trixie. "How close are we?"

Trixie pulled out her map quickly and unfurled it. "An excellent question, for a change. We should be very close. Be on alert."

I lifted the lantern high and did a slow circle. There was one nook where the light refused to go, and instead of rushing into it like I had last time, I pointed it out. "I think that's our target."

Trixie flashed a bright smile. "Trixie's familiar is astute, as usual. Come, let's be done with this." She strode for the pitch black crevice with Pinkie and I followed after her. Her horn began to glow brightly, but the darkness was more stubborn than the shadow she dismissed above ground.

Despite the gloom, we pressed on, and were promptly separated. At least, I couldn't see either of them, just dark. Even my lantern didn't shed any light in the cloying darkness of the place. From that black nothing came an unfortunately familiar face. Made of smoke and grinning with his big green smile, he lurched towards me as he hovered. "Hello there! Did you miss me? You've been so busy making grown mares cry. I bet you're proud of yourself too."

I lifted the lantern at him, as if it could ward him away. I couldn't even really tell if it was lit anymore. "We freed her from being a monster."

"You 'freed' her from being happy. She ate, and she felt good, and that was all she needed to know. Hero guy, now she's running wildly through the dark, trying to find a little colt that's been gone for centuries. You know who's the monster? You. Little time-twisting manipulator of innocent people. You should be ashamed, but you're not. I was wrong about you. Maybe you are the biggest jerk around without my help."

He was pressing buttons, trying to unnerve me. It bothered me that it was working a little. I did the right thing! I was sure of it. "We'll find her, and save her."

His grin became truly malignant. "Like you've already saved her? Little children like you? You're the worst kind. Go on, spread your destruction." He faded away with a cackle, and the dimness faded to reveal Pinkie and Trixie on either side of a throbbing ball of blackness.

Trixie beamed. "Ah, here it is! Trixie found it."

Pinkie bobbled in agreement. "Good job." They were both just as close to it. "Now what do we have to do?" She reached up and poked the black ball, which jiggled a bit but otherwise didn't react.

I quickly walked up to them and peered at it. No words yet. "I need to activate it. Last time, holding hooves and hands with Trixie was enough."

She offered a hoof. "Then we start there. Trixie supposes you don't want her using her Great and Powerful magic just yet."

"Not yet." I took her hoof in a hand, but... no words? "Pinkie, could you come over here?" She bounced over and sat beside me before offering one of her own hooves. I took her hoof too and it became clear. It was time for another vision, or at least the word floating beside the ink ball said as much. "I'm going to be like this for a while, but it should be alright from here out."

I gazed into its surface, letting my thoughts get lost in its swirling darkness. I was determined to see the past, and to figure out more of what happened to the shadow ponies, and their true natures. As I began to sink into the shadows, mentally, I was dimly aware of something happening around me, or us. The walls collapsed as ponies of literal shadow swarmed out over Trixie and Pinkie. I was far too gone to go and help them. They'd have to handle it on their own, but he could see them launching into battle, with bolts of magic, and a literal... party cannon?

I wanted to call out to them, but that vision was dimming away, and the one I asked for first was rushing in at me. I'd have to have faith in my friends. to pull things through. Thinking of Trixie, I let go of the last bit of resistance. I'd do my part, and she would do hers, magnificently, of course.

I hoped, at least. The world was darkness, but he could hear movement in it.

The vision had begun.

Author's Notes:

Let's shut down node #2! Things are never as simple or easy as they first appear.

The typos promised they'd try to be better, but it's in their nature. Don't be mad at them, but we should coach them on how to be well-behaved.