Sky and Cobalt flipped over to fly upside down. The shadow above them was a humongous elder dragon, with grayed scales and scars from age and experience.

The dragon was calm and steady in flight as he swooped to grab them with surprising speed. The pair rolled and dove, accelerating greatly in freefall. Lower layers of fog rushed past them in wispy tendrils. A warning of ground level fast approaching. They pulled up, aligned with the horizon, and shot off towards the quarry ahead.

Skyblazer realized he had left Cobalt in the dust. He circled back to stay by her side, willing his nerves to calm down. As a pegasus pony, flight was the more natural aspect of his flight or fight reaction.

Not as though they could fathom fighting this thing. This dragon was the size of a good-sized house, and it had no right to be flying this fast. Perhaps an intrinsic magic was at work.

Through jagged breaths and the shrill whistle of wind, Cobalt's exceptional hearing caught Skyblazer saying the words "quarry" and "lose him".

The ringed levels of open mine fast approached. They flew at considerable speed past the descending levels. Cobalt could not outpace the dragon on their tail.

At the bottom of the quarry, the mine narrowed until it reached a natural canyon. Boulders, branches, brambles, and the twisting walls of the canyon all reached out in an attempt to swat them from the sky.

"Stay on... as I do," Sky heard Cobalt say, and he followed in line behind her.

She maintained a daring line through the impediments. Sky was hard-pressed to copy her acrobatics. Cobalt did a corkscrew through a thick web of branches and roots that blockaded the entire canyon. Sky followed suit and felt a root painfully smash into his flank.

The dragon, now slowed considerably, barely fit in the canyon. A white-hot jet of fire weakened the mess of branches. The dragon smashed through, sundering the wooden barricade into ashes.

Cobalt veered right at a split. Sky missed the turn, and relied on his sheer speed to shoot up into the sky and over the canyon walls in a great arc on his back. He spread his wings wide and felt the heavy pressure of opposing forces as he exited his aerial half-pipe maneuver and took off down the canyon in pursuit of Cobalt.

They were both breathing heavy from flying this fast while burdened with the weight of their supplies and armor. They couldn't keep it up. The dragon had flown above the canyon, lurking patiently. When his prey below ran out of energy, he would then incinerate them.

Sky and Cobalt hurtled through serpentine twists and turns. They splashed through a waterfall in a great spray of water, glanced off the muddy banks of the canyon and flew at a suicidal height right above the river rapids to help avoid overheating.

The canyon reached an abrupt end as they burst out into open space. They were in a vast, rocky badlands, without any cover in sight. All around them was scrub brush and outcrops of rock.

A shadow eclipsed the sun. Sky found himself exhausted first. Trying to keep up with Cobalt's agility took a lot out of him. He gradually lost altitude.

They struggled and strained but had to land. They did so roughly, Sky tumbling and Cobalt skidding in the rocky soil. The massive drake landed right on top of them, but suddenly stopped before he could stomp on them.

Sky peered through a wing he had put over his eyes, and saw that Cobalt was straining with her magic ring. Her entire body shuddered as she set the dragon down using telekinesis. Cobalt fell over on her side, and lie on the ground, breathing hard.

The dragon bowed down and opened a mouth bigger than Cobalt was. An armory of jagged teeth approached her. Suddenly, the dragon felt an intense chill at his belly.

Sky had given all the energy he had left to his element, and a glaringly bright beam of ice magic shot out from it. He had aimed at the dragon's belly--the weak point, according to his mother's journal.

The blast was so potent that the ground at Sky's hooves froze over. It had the effect of aggravating the dragon, who left Cobalt alone and stepped towards Sky. Boulders shattered when the dragon stepped on them.

A great paw came slashing down and slammed into Skyblazer. He was launched through the air, and sent tumbling across the rocky ground, trying in vain to correct his fall with tired wings and only making it worse. He lie still in a battered heap.

The air around the dragon rippled with heat as it reared back to shoot a jet of flame. Cobalt was on her feet now, and she used her element just in time to wrench the dragon's head to the side. Rocks and sand close by Sky became molten.

The dragon took a step back, and stepped on Cobalt with a back paw, crushing her into the ground. The sheer weight pressed the chainmail links painfully into her body. She started to black out. Sky wasn't moving. A tear of pain eased out from her eye. It couldn't end like this. Things were just looking up.

Suddenly, the dragon's paw stopped crushing Cobalt and the dragon staggered to the side. Cobalt was dimly aware of a series of explosions hitting the dragon, which began to bleed.

Gray scales as sturdy as roofing tiles thumped the ground, followed by cascades of hot blood. The dragon turned to look at something, but before it could so much as move two larger, carefully placed explosions almost hit it in the eyes.

The dragon ducked just in time, and Cobalt, now weakly sitting up on her side, saw deep cuts on its face. It gave a shrieking roar that rippled through the air. It took flight, and faded into the distance.

Cobalt felt somebody nudging her, trying to get her to stand. She groggily got up, and almost fell over again with a yell. Her back left ankle was badly sprained.

The earth-pony who had saved her had dark gray fur, a dusty bandanna, a well-stocked hiking pack, and a stern but bored expression on her face. Cobalt leaned on her as they walked. The pony clearly struggled with the weight, but endured.

Sky was stirring. He was trying to stand, shaking and whining with the effort. He finally managed, while breathing heavy and sweating profusely.

"Come with me," said the stranger.

They slowly limped their way towards the canyon. Through the sheer haze of pain and shock, the passage of time didn't seem to exist. Each step felt like an eternity. At long last they came to a cavern entrance.

Sky was dimly aware of wooden stairs and railings leading down the dripping cave. At the base of these stairs, they followed the cavern floor until it reached a side tunnel.

On passing through this tunnel, Sky and Cobalt stopped in amazement. They forgot their injuries for a moment. There was a grand underground lake here, surrounded by massive crystal formations. Vertical shafts rose to the surface and allowed beams of sunlight to enter. Loamy soil under each sunbeam held a small garden plot, some with vegetables, and some with flowers.

This wide, glittering space was comfortably outfitted as a home for an adventurer. There was furniture for a living room, bedroom and kitchen space, tastefully separated with decorative screens. Organized collections of minerals and rocks were all over the place.

The dark gray pony spoke in a bored monotone, "I will get the guest hammocks. I prefer not to have my bed soaked in blood."

A stack of supplies were brought out. Hammocks were set up, and Cobalt and Sky were instructed to lie in them. Their wounds were tended to with healing potion. The strange pony said she didn't have enough for this kind of grievous injury, and Sky weakly said there was more in his supplies.

The bottles weren't broken, so the strange pony applied yet more potion and gauze. She applied aloe for burns and, somehow, a pack of ice for Cobalt's ankle and Sky's right wing.

She left abruptly. Not a single word about who they were, about the threat of the dragon, about who she was. She didn't even sound afraid or worried, just bored.

Just who is this crazy pony? thought Cobalt as she fell into slumber.

On waking, it took the two of them several minutes to recall where and why they were. Their saddlebags, pouches, armor and weapons lie neatly stacked on the ground, with some crimson stains.

They eased painfully out of the hammocks, their heads spinning from pain. Cobalt couldn't step on her sprained ankle, but as a quadruped it wasn't much of a hindrance. Sky was much worse off, and Cobalt hobbled over on three legs to sit by him.

Skyblazer had stopped walking with a horrified look on his face. He sat, and broke down into heavy tears. Cobalt put her front legs around him and hugged him. The very first hug of her life.

Sky placed his left wing on her back, and after some time, stopped crying. He spoke, his voice almost failing him,

"I can barely move my right wing, Cobalt. All I can think of is--"

"Your mother, and losing your own flight. I'm sure."

He resumed crying, and said through sobs, "Please don't tell me we survived just for this. I can't lose my flight. I don't know how to live with that. I can't deal with that. I'm not my mother, I can't deal."

"Easy now, Sky. Deep breaths. Ask the strange pony about your wing, she knows her shit."

The dark gray pony had stepped back into the cave, with the same perpetually bored and tired expression on her face. She had brought food. The pair were startled to note she had made sure to gather food they both would prefer. Again Cobalt wondered just who in the seven hells this pony even was.

Sky blubbered through tears, "My wing, it's numb and I can barely move it, will I..."

"You did not lose your flight forever," said the gray pony blandly, "It is a temporary injury and you will be grounded for a week or two. The wing is sprained."

"I don't mean to be rude," Cobalt began, "but I'm more than a little curious just who the hell you are."

"My name is Maud Pie."

"Alright, and just what kind of pony knows that much about healing magic and goes out to kill rabbits for a griffon to eat?"

"Again, my name is Maud Pie."

"I don't think I like you."

Sky quickly intervened, while wiping away tears with his good left wing, "Uh, thanks for everything Maud. We could have died if not for you."

"Yes."

A bit taken aback, Sky said, "Are you any relation to Pinkie Pie?"

"We are sisters."

"Wow, you're nothing alike."

"We are more alike than ponies think."

Cobalt, still agitated at the attitude of this damn pony, conceded that it was short sighted of her to condemn someone who was helping them. She said,

"Thanks for the food, and the help. What I want to know is how you took down a dragon--an elder dragon--that was making short work of us, when we have magic elements."

"Oh, I have one too," Maud wiggled her ear, which had a glowing earring, "I found this gem. It makes things explode."

"You're not saying... we have to get along with you," Cobalt complained.

Sky, too weary to raise his voice, said firmly, "Cobalt, stop hassling the pony who just saved our flanks. You don't have to like her, but you have to learn manners if you want to be a part of our culture."

"I'll try. I'm sorry, Maud."

"I am not offended," Maud intoned.

While Cobalt took the rabbits to one corner to eat raw, Sky and Maud had their vegetarian meal in the makeshift "living room". A large, ornate rug with a tribal pattern in royal blue and gold cushioned the stone cave floor. Soft couches and chairs surrounded it. The coffee table was a large rock.

They ate in silence for several minutes as Sky chewed on both his food and his thoughts. He said one thing that was on his mind, "I can't believe you killed those rabbits for Cobalt. You're about as unlike an average pony as I am."

"She must eat to sustain herself, as all living creatures must do."

"Well certainly, but you don't have to act so bored about it."

Maud looked over at Cobalt and said, "Do not pee near that boulder. It is my guardian golem. It is named Tom."

Cobalt laughed and poked the boulder, which began shaking and growled at her. She took three steps back and accomplished the reason she had gone over there.

Before Sky could say anything, Maud added, "Twilight got really wasted one night and thought it would be hilarious if she made the memento from their first meeting with Discord a guardian rock monster for me. She was right. It is funny. Oh, Cobalt, don't step on my pet rock please. Boulder doesn't like that."

Cobalt jumped six feet in the air, and hovered there in flight.

"Boulder is just a rock. He won't attack you."

Cobalt flew over, and plopped onto a couch while muttering under her breath.

Skyblazer, between bites of salad, told Maud, "So you're the third Element of Conflict. It's good to meet you then. I don't know if it's fate or coincidence that we ran into you."

"It could be either. I am not a unicorn, I do not know magic that well."

"I hate to tell you this Maud, but, we aren't exactly the chosen ones. Luna said we're like, the exact opposite."

Cobalt specified, "You have the 'legendary glorious elements of harmony', and then you have us. We're the cheap replicas."

Sky nodded, "Princess Luna says we're the least worthy of all to wield these gems."

Maud was still nonplussed. She commented, "That seems fine. It only means we must prove ourselves worthy."

"Are you this calm about everything?" asked Cobalt.

"No. This morning, I thought I misplaced my recent fire quartz vein discovery. It had simply moved. The bottom levels of this cave are enchanted and the layout changes. I was angry about losing my fire quartz."

"Of course," said Cobalt.

Sky commented here, "I don't think these elements just do one thing. Mine gave me a pyro spell at first, but now I can use ice magic. Also now that I think about it, Zecora gave me magic items only unicorns should be able to use. Those might also involve my amulet."

Cobalt held up her ring and said, "This beauty lets me do this," she hefted a giant boulder in the middle of the lake into the air, and set it back down gently. She snidely commented, "I'm terribly sorry if I disturbed another friend of yours, Maud."

"No, that boulder is just a memorial to the ponies who have died in the chaotic events which have transpired since the Elements of Harmony were discovered," replied Maud.

Cobalt sat with her mouth open, quite speechless.

Sky, with a raised eyebrow, said, "I'm thinking Cobalt's crystal can do other things she hasn't tapped into yet. And your earring causes explosions? That is really fucking cool."

"Well, it only explodes rocks into shards."

"How did you fight off that dragon? Dragon scales ain't easy to break."

"I made obsidian arrowheads. They are extremely sharp. A few slivers got under the scales, and it was easy to pry them off from there. My gem gives me precise control over the placement and intensity of each explosion."

Cobalt asked, "I've wondered how you ponies could possibly shoot arrows. Zecora didn't know about it. How do you use a bow?"

"I do not, I'm not a unicorn."

"Let me try that question again, I'm not getting angry here.... how do you fire arrows?"

"Crossbow. It attaches to my front leg."

"Thank you. Dammit."

Sky noted, "I want one," as he finished his dinner.

"You two should check on your supplies and your injuries."

Cobalt and Sky walked over to their packs to check on the damage to their supplies.

Sky, with his ears flat against his head, quietly said, "This is all my fault. I knew the dragon scale was a bad idea, and now it got you hurt."

"Sky, don't blame yourself," said Cobalt in an unusually kind and gentle tone, "We're in this together. I panicked just as bad as you did, we could have done so much better. I'm supposed to be the experienced one here, and it's my fault for letting that dragon ambush us."

She dug around in one large pouch of her saddlebags which had a red cross painted on it. Among her first aid supplies and herbal remedies were four sturdy glass potion bottles. Cobalt pulled two out, holding them in the palm of her birdlike front foot, and she said,

"Smoke bomb, and sticky hot pepper trap. Double thick glass. I could have used either on the dragon, but I panicked."

"Those could have been handy on our earlier bounty," said Skyblazer.

"Too confined, it would have hit us too."

The pair appraised each other's injuries. Sky had deep cuts on his right side from the dragon's swipe, but his armor had taken the brunt of the claws. The dragon scale vest, lying on the ground with specks of blood from the rats and from himself, was now missing three stripes of scales. It had entirely protected Sky where it covered him, and only his flank and chest had been badly cut. Cobalt commented,

"Your wounds are closed properly with thornsap. Maud seems properly prepared to live out here by herself."

Sky nodded, and said, "She does seem highly intelligent."

"My back leg hurts like hell. Twisted my ankle and the whiskey bottle got smashed. Maud got most of the glass shards out. Damn, but we could use that whiskey about now."

"Oh, I filled our flasks before we left town," said Sky as he perked his ears up.

Cobalt examined their armor and packs, "My saddlebags are torn up and the chainmail is damaged, but it held up. I can see blood on the broken links. How bad is my back?"

"The cuts are all shallow, nothing serious," observed Sky.

"You said your mother tried to warn you. She was sure right about how dangerous the world is."

"I knew the risks," said Skyblazer, "My scale armor held up great, it's still perfectly usable. Your chain mail looks too jagged and sharp to wear now. Are your pouches fixable, anything damaged?"

"Well, some straps and buckles are torn, but I carry rope and thornsap so it can be fixed."

They went through their inventory. The damage, thankfully, was minimal. It would be hard to restock supplies this far from any town.

Sky spoke, "Aww, the jar of pickles from our bounty reward got smashed. They were nice spicy ones too. The cover of Twilight's journal also got torn off, but the pages are fine."

Cobalt was scooping up shiny silver coins into a pile. She said, "Looks like my money pouch broke, and the jar of blackberry jam I stole from the market."

Sky stared at her with an angry look.

"What? You helped me steal a water jug, remember?"

"Yeah, but that's something you actually need," grumbled Skyblazer, "How badly broken is the jam, can we go ahead and use it?"

"Just cracked, should be fine."

"How's your ankle?"

"Can't step on it. More worried about your wing, what's the plan from here?"

Sky shrugged, and winced from the pain in his wing and shoulder, "We either rest here, or walk to Everfree."

They returned to Maud, with the jam jar and the loaf of cinnamon bread. Maud went to her root cellar to retrieve a tub of butter, and they all shared the amazing fresh bread. Sky had been the one carrying it, and with his food supplies kept in a sturdy pouch, it wasn't damaged in the tumble.

Half of the bread was eaten with the blackberry jam. For this moment, the three creatures felt at complete peace although they were the total antithesis of each other. The cavern was a serene and blissful space. The ambient temperature down here was refreshingly cool after the blistering heat above ground.

Sky talked to Maud, "Cobalt and I are hunting bounties and exploring Equestria. I didn't expect there to be a third element, and I don't know how we can travel together. Travel by flight is so much faster than travel by hoof."

Maud replied, "Just let me know when you need my help."

"How can we contact you?" asked Sky.

"I will be here. If I am not here, then look in Ponyville or Everfree."

Cobalt, who had been lying on her side, sat up in her chair to say, "Everfree? You go there?"

Maud nodded, "Everfree Forest has lots of minerals and rocks. I also buy first aid supplies from Zecora."

"How long of a hike is that?" asked Sky.

"About three days. I need more healing potion, and I am going there. Would you like to walk with me?"

Cobalt and Sky agreed. It rained for two days, and they used the time to rest. On the third day, the weather cleared and they prepared to leave. They repaired their packs and pouches. Cobalt could not use her damaged chainmail, but Sky's vest was still in good shape.

As they stepped out of the cavern into daylight, Sky spoke, "It's a miracle we didn't break any bones. I'd hate to be grounded for months."

"Would that keep you from flight?" asked Maud.

"Flying is a lot of strain, so I sure couldn't. Don't know about Cobalt."

"It is not very surprising that you have no breaks. Cobalt was lying on soft ground, and you are a pegasus with your own innate durability."

"I guess you're right. Better a sprained wing than a broken one."

They hit the trail, heading Southwest towards Everfree. Cobalt flew low in the air for a time to keep the weight off her ankle. This sustained slow flight was exhausting, so she alternated between hiking and flying.

Sky had not hiked a distance like this since he was a very young colt, before he could fly. With his sturdy muscles and strong heart, it was no trouble for him. Only concern was going through food faster.

The weather was beautiful and the scenery was pleasant. From the rocky quarry, the landscape became forested, with clear areas of floral meadows. They followed a well-worn trail alongside a stream. Water was ample, cold, and pure.

By the time they reached Everfree, Cobalt's ankle had healed enough to walk on. Sky's wing was getting better as well, and he could flap it with some pain. It would take a while longer until the wide span of golden feathers could withstand the pressure of his body weight.

Cobalt paused midway through the third day of hiking to say that they were now in the Everfree Forest. It was hard to tell the transition. More pine trees than deciduous, and the thickets of bushes gave way to more open space. Most of the trees were ancient, and tall. Nopony was foolish enough to cut lumber this close to where monsters and foul magic resided.

Maud and Skyblazer talked to each other while Cobalt walked a ways behind them, still quite annoyed by Maud. The runic mark on her flank now began to glow blue, and she cleared her mind to focus on Zecora.

I'm back, Zecora.

Nothing. Probably still too far out. After a while longer Cobalt tried it again. Still no reply.

Cobalt was worried now, but she kept it to herself. If Zecora had taken out the earring, the telepathy wouldn't work.

The sun began to set as they reached Zecora's cabin. The door was locked and no lights were on. Cobalt flew onto the roof, and used a talon to pull a loose brick from the chimney. She returned with a house key.

They entered as the timber wolves began to howl. Cobalt made sure the magic runes were active and the shutters were all closed. A note was rolled up on the dining table. It read,

'Cobalt, if you read this, do not be alarmed. I am in Ponyville, at the Apple's farm. I am watching the place while they are away, and should return within several days. You will find, in the cellar, smoked fish and good cider.'

They all began to unpack for the night. Cobalt and Sky went out to the root cellar together, and only had to drive off one timber wolf. They returned with food and jugs of the good cider.

Maud and Sky had hay and fruit at the table, while Cobalt rested on her belly in front of the fireplace to enjoy her smoked fish. They finished eating, stacked a couple logs on the roaring fire for the chilly evening, and got some sleep.

Cobalt slept in her bed, Maud lounged on the sofa, and Sky put his bedroll down on the floor. While the others slept soundly in the tranquil quiet of the forest, Cobalt lie awake with anxiety. The world had grown so dangerous. Monsters, dragons, and forbidden magic were bad enough on their own.

All of this new chaos that had happened over the years was just too much, and now they were a part of this whole mess. Cobalt didn't feel like this was even her fight, but then again, she did live in Equestria now. Was it right to just hide away from major threats and let the well-known six heroes handle it? As the unworthy ones, should the three of them even get involved?

At the very least, the real chosen ones kept Equestria safe. Twilight and her friends could rely upon the Elements of Harmony. This, along with the powerful ponies who ruled the kingdom, meant that there was no way Equestria would encounter any actual threat.

She eventually fell asleep, as unaware as anyone was of the dark forces which waited patiently for their time to strike.

Far, far off from Everfree, in a desolate and uninhabited region of Equestria, the queen of the changeling hive considered what it would take to exact revenge after losing to the ponies a few years before. Especially against Twilight and Cadence. Those two had cost her the victory in Canterlot. They had stopped her from ruling Equestria as her own kingdom. The proper time drew near for them to pay due recompense.

Magic was weakening. Queen Chrysalis knew this, and she knew that the Elements of Harmony were only a threat so long as the ponies who could use them were around. Their plan was flawless. The only possible failure was if her swarm could not properly duplicate the behavior of the citizens they planned to capture.

This was a trivial concern. If they could only manage to contain the princesses and the chosen ones, then there would be nopony else capable of rebelling. By the close of the year, or perhaps spring of the next, Equestria would fall.