BEGIN

“Dust,” Applejack spoke the name testingly, licking her lips as it rolled off the tongue; tipping her hat upwards to get a better view. It felt odd calling someone after the sign of a neglected tool, but she wasn’t a pony that would fault someone for their name. Apparently that was Jack’s job. That was when the farm pony noticed the robed figure swaying. “Are ya alright there? Yer lookin’ like ya just had one too many mugs of Cider.”

“Wha?” The furred creature responded with before a shake of his head. His hat waved with the motion, but it did not even come close to falling off. “No I’m fine just… everything’s a bit hazy.”

“Please, sit.” It was an almost commanding tone the samurai used, one Applejack had yet to hear. It almost felt odd hearing his voice being used for anything other than word games. Dust, however, fell into the warrior’s words easily, sitting himself on the green grass. His tail curled about as he did so.

“Oh, that’s a little better,” he admitted as he moved his hand from his forehead, leaning back on his palms.

He took deep breaths, pushing his chest out with each slow intake of air. He acted every bit of exhausted he looked. What Applejack wanted to do was tell Dust to take it easy, not to rush things and end up hurting himself. What she needed to do, however, was get out of this forest cavern as fast as possible.

“Dust?” She spoke his name as a question, earning his attention with a tip of his hat. “Do ya know where ya are?” It was the only question she could think to ask that wouldn’t outright confuse him. Regardless of intention, however, Dust looked every bit as confused as Jack did when he first arrived.

“I… I don’t.” His furry head twisted to and fro as he spoke, hoping to catch sight of some familiar shape or landmark. He found none. “This place… I’ve never been here before.”

“Do you know how you traveled here?” Jack asked the furry creature. Applejack briefly noted that the samurai was bent onto both of his knees, hands placed atop of his legs. It looked very… uncomfortable.

The green-furred creature did not speak for a moment. His tail stilled as he doubtlessly recalled a memory the pony and man were not aware of. His hat bowed, covering even more of his face. Applejack impatiently waited for an answer.

“It… I was… There was a battle, then…” His words began and fell, one after the other, each of his failed sentences being left behind as he started another. Applejack looked to his paws, seeing as they clenched into the grass behind him.

Judging from what she had heard the other creatures say before, Applejack could guess how Dust’s battle went.

“Ya didn’t win, did ya?” There was likely a more appropriate way of phrasing the question, but at least there were worse words she could have used. Besides, he would have to admit it sometime soon.

She was only too surprised when he spoke again.

“No, I… I did win.” Dust’s head nodded, remembering the finer details of an event Applejack and Jack knew nothing of. “We battled from the crest of a mountain, into its center, then… then into the magma.” Applejack’s eyes were wide at the statement. She might not have been the brightest pony amongst her friends, but she could venture a guess as to what happened to Dust from there. She fidgeted, uncomfortable at the thought of it.

“That was when the lifestream called me.”

“And you answered its call.” Applejack turned to see Jack wearing a solemn expression. His eyes were closed, head tilted up as if he were remembering an event from his own world. For all the farm pony could guess, he likely was. Dust chuckled at the words.

“Yeah, I did. I did what I was made to do.” Those words caught the farm pony.

“Wait, what you were made ta do?” She squinted her eyes at the fox-like warrior. “What’s that supposed ta mean? Yer not just talkin’ about destiny and fate, are ya?” Applejack wasn’t sure if she should have been relieved or unsettled by Dust’s smile. It wasn’t malicious, far from it, but the words he spoke with it made it seem… false.

“I was made by magic, crafted as a weapon to end a war.” The furred warrior brought one of his paws out from behind himself, releasing his hold on the ground. He held the appendage just beneath his hat, doubtlessly staring at it. “And I ended the war. My task was done. So when the lifestream called, I had to answer.”

“You are a brave warrior.” Again with that voice, Applejack was beginning to think he spoke a confused tone only to her. Jack was talking to Dust like he was right at home, despite them clearing being from different worlds, if not dimensions.

“Yeah, well, I got a brave soul. The other one… less so.” The farm pony didn’t lose her quizzical eye. It seemed Dust liked talking in riddles just as much as Jack did.

“Wait… what do ya mean yer other one?” Dust kept his smile at the question. Applejack was sure it was a sad one. Being friends with Pinkie Pie gave her the advantage of recognizing the differences between smiles. By the way Jack leaned forward, she figured he saw it, too.

“Like I said, I was made,” the vague response was given again. Thankfully, this Dust now had more to say. “I was made using two souls. A warrior of immeasurable talent, capable of slaying armies, and a boy of innocence, who never feared doing what was right.”

Applejack wasn’t sure if she was more offended by the thought of two foals dying or two ponies dying at all. She swallowed the pill the fox-like creature had said, albeit stubbornly. She was known amongst her friends for being about as easy to sway as a mountain, but she knew this wasn’t the time to be discussing morals.

“And you’re sayin’ that ya got both of their souls in ya?” Applejack felt her hoof rise to her forehead, scratching it as her mind worked. “That sounds mighty troublin’ for ya. Like trying ta raise a barn wall as yer takin’ it apart.” Dust simply wore the same docile smile as before.

“It is… not easy, at least it hasn’t been.” His paw fell down his chest, perhaps feeling his dual nature. Applejack hoped it was only a symbolic gesture. “After I met Ginger… the sister of one of my souls, I began to… remember so much. The night Jin died, the night night Cassius died, what their lives were like, and then, how I was made.”

Jack was silent at the furred creature’s words, his head bowing. It may have been out of respect, it may have been to safeguard his own thoughts. Whatever the reason, Applejack only knew she couldn’t count on him to say anything. She wished he would, because she was getting tired of asking all the questions. Worse, she didn’t know what were the right ones to ask.

“Ah’m… Ah’m sorry ta hear ‘bout that.” Applejack solemnly responded. “Fer what it’s worth, ya sound like a one heck of stubborn fellow fer bein’ able ta deal with that.” Dust’s lips parted lightly, perhaps holding back a word or phrase he wished to speak, but thought better of it.

“That’s… kind of you to say.” He didn’t sound sure of himself. If anything, Applejack would guess he sounded like Apple Bloom when answering a question in class about some high-browed mathematics.

“Well, now,” Applejack began again, scratching the back of her head. “I can’t say Ah know a lot ‘bout cha, but ya seem like a pretty trustworthy guy. Ya haven’t given me a reason ta think otherwise.”

“I apologize, I was not aware I was being tested.” The statement made the farmpony’s eyes widen momentarily.

“Oh no no!” She quickly spoke back. “Ah don’t mean Ah thought the worse of ya, it’s just… today hasn’t exactly been a regular trip through the orchard, if ya know what Ah mean.” Thankfully, he did.

“Your world is being thrown upside down.” He clarified. “So it’s hard to look at anything for face value.” It was a little too convoluted for the mare’s taste, but she at least understood his meaning.

“Ya, Ah guess that’s one way ta put it.” She took in a deep breath, letting it all out with a heave through her nostrils. “Is there anything y’all be wantin’ ta ask me? Can’t imagine yer right as rain at the moment.”

“Actually, I-I’m a little confused as well.” Dust’s raised paw turned until his open palm faced the pair. “I… I have no idea where I am, what’s happening, or even… who you two are. Who are you?” Applejack felt her face heat. Leave it to her curiosity to forgo proper manners. If Granny Smith were here, she would have had her mane in a bundle with a good scolding.

“Beg yer pardon, didn’t mean ta make ya answer twenty questions while yer still in the dark.” The farm pony adjusted her hat before giving the fox-like creature her brightest grin. “Mah name’s Applejack, apple bucker extraordinaire.”

“I am Jack,” the samurai beside her responded simply. He bowed lowly, his balance easily maintained in his kneeling state. “It is an honor to meet you.”

“Well, uh, that’s… great?” Dust uneasily spoke, his smile as telling as his words. Applejack was honestly a little grateful she was not the only one put off by the robed man’s over-politeness. His head turned from Jack, looking instead upwards again. Even with his hat angled, it was difficult for Applejack to see the furred creature’s eyes. “So… where am I?”

“Well, ta tell ya the truth, we ain’t got that much better of an idea.” She didn’t need to see his hat turn towards her to know he was confused. “Jack and I were basically thrown here by that no-good-varmint Discord.” Applejack didn’t even attempt to suppress the scowl that crossed her muzzle.

“Discord?” Dust repeated the name. Jack was the one to clarify the unspoken question.

“He is a beast that is threatening this world. I do not know where he hails from, but he has proven his desires for darkness by attacking our comrades and us. As of now, we are searching for a way out so that we may find our allies again. Only then will we have a chance of slaying this beast of many forms.” Dust listened to Jack’s words in silence, drinking in every detail that he could.

“Sounds like big deal, but why’s he… attacking you?” Applejack responded this time.

“Cause he wants ta.” The farm pony spat the words. “Like his name implies, the show-horse can’t stand anything that’s been the same for longer than half a minute. He’s tryin’ ta change everything that he can, from gravity ta the way a tree grows. That’s not even ta mention how he tries ta trick ya. The fool’s chaos through and through.”

“So then… why am I here?” Dust’s paw fell rose to his chest as he posed the question. Applejack opened her muzzle to speak, but the furry creature was not done. “I am the Sen-Mithrarin, the being of two souls that ended an evil campaign. Why am I here now?”

“You were called once more.” Jack answered, his head risen from its once-bowed posture, though still kneeling on the ground. “You are not the first to be brought into this world. I too was summoned when I believed I had finished walking my path. But I am here now, and I will not abandon a people being threatened by a force of darkness.”

“Yeah, uh, Jack’s basically tellin’ the truth.” Applejack began to speak, hoping to simplify the samurai’s cryptic words. She at least knew what he was talking about now. “Me and the gals have beaten Discord before, turned him into nothin’ but carved stone, twice, but now, he’s playin’ a dangerous game with us. Ah couldn’t tell ya how exactly, but I know that he’s draggin’ folks from different worlds ta help him.”

“Wait, slow down.” Dust kindly but firmly instructed. “Are you saying, I was brought back to life to… fight for him?”

“No, no, no, nothin’ like that!” Applejack couldn’t dismiss the thought fast enough. “Its just that after Discord showed us his new magic trick, we figured the only way ta beat him was to fight magic with magic.”

“Then… you brought me back to help you.” The farm pony bit her lip at the comment.

“Well, Ah honestly hope yer gonna help us out here, but Ah swear we didn’t do a thing ta actually bring ya here.” Dust’s hat tilted sideways with his head.

“She speaks honestly.” Jack agreed. “Us finding you was by fate alone. We conjured no magic and conversed with no demons before entering here. You simply… appeared.”

A moment of silence passed between the trio, the soft breezes through the underground glade keeping the silence away. It was not a tense air, but Applejack would be caught eating a pear before she called it relaxing. Dust seemed heavy in though, his hat falling again to hide all of his features, not even his muzzle left for the mare to see.

After another moment of whispering winds passed them by, the furred creature began to move. He pushed off the ground with the hand behind him, letting his weight roll up to his legs. It took hardly a second before he was standing above the pony and man. That was when he spoke.

“It’s just like before then.” It was both a simple and cryptic response to give. Applejack had no qualms of calling it out.

“Come again?” She asked, offering Dust one of her squinted eyes. “Yer sayin’ this has happened to ya before?” The standing figure shook his head lightly.

“Not… exactly like this. A big difference is I know who I am. Last time, I didn’t know anything except how to swing a sword. It made the first few days an adventure.” Applejack nodded her head, but kept the confused gaze in her eyes. Sometimes the only thing a pony could do was smile and nod.

“But yer… right in the head now?” Dust nodded at her, not insulted by the bluntness of her tone and insinuation.

“I remember who I am, I remember what I did, but most importantly, I remember why I did it.” His paw rose upwards, clenching it in mid-air. Applejack could see a bad memory floating in front of him. “I can’t simply do nothing while people are being threatened. It’s not right.”

Jack did not speak. Instead, he nodded up at the creature, a faint smile pulling at his lips. It took him only a second to rise from his knelt position, leaning back before pushing off the ground. And just like that Applejack was once again the shortest pony in the group. It was a weird sensation having to look up at her companions.

“Then are ya gonna help us?” Applejack didn’t leave anything to chance.

“Of course,” He spoke to her with a smile, eyes still hidden by his low-rimmed hat. “I will not stand for a people to be prosecuted. So yes, I will help, as I was made to do.” Applejack let her cheeks pull her smile wider.

“Well alrighty then,” the farmpony let out with a near cheer. “It’s gonna be great ta have ya.” The mare extended her hoof outwards.

“Likewise, I’m sure.” Dust gripped the blunt appendage with his paw, shaking her leg up and down. He noted how difficult it was. Either he was weaker or the pony was stronger than she appeared to be. “But… we should be going now. I get the feeling we’re pressed for time.”

The question caught the pair off guard.

“Ah, ya, about that…” Applejack’s hoof returned to the ground as she looked about the chamber they were in. As far as the mare could see, there wasn’t a single passageway in it. “We only managed ta open this room cause there was no other way to go.”

“So… what? We’re trapped?” It wasn’t a word anyone liked to hear, but denying what was in front of them was a bad idea.

“It seems that way, don’t it?” Applejack annoyedly blew a blond strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes. She regretted having Rarity straighten it earlier, for more than one reason now. “But I reckin there’s something we’re missin’. It ain’t like Discord ta just say he won and pop away. Wicked fella loves his games.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Dust acquainted. “But I think I already see a way out of here.”

Both Jack and Applejack gave him a look of controlled surprise. He didn’t wait for the question to be asked.

“Here,” Dust replied simply, his paw pointing towards the podium his prior form had floated over. It was not glowing as it was before, but still had the golden chalice and stone stairwell; those hadn’t changed. “I’ve seen a lot of secret passageways. I know one when I see one.”

“Well I hate ta call ya a liar, but Ah don’t really see anythin’ fancy or special ‘bout it.” Applejack had no reason to sweeten the words. “Ah mean, it looks nice, Ah’ll grant ya that, but what about makes ya think there’s a door er cave around it?”

“It’s not around it,” Dust replied, a knowing smile over the little that could be seen of his face. “It’s below it.”

Before the either of the two could respond, the fox grabbed the chalice atop the podium, pressing his full weight onto it. At first, it seemed pointless, but that quickly changed.

Slowly, gradually, the golden object began to seep into the stone, falling into a space the trio couldn’t discern. Dust’s form slumped lower and lower the deeper the object went until finally, he was laying chest down on the podium.

Then the entire stone began to shake.

Applejack felt her hooves quiver as the ground rumbled, forcing the mare to bend her knees for support. Jack did much the same, extending his arms outwards as he approached the ground. Dust, thankfully or not, was lying down on the moving rock.

The farm pony watched with captivation as the stairwell split, the stones leading to Dust slowly pulling apart. The grinding noise grated the Applejack’s sensitive ears, forcing them to fall flat to her head, but she did not shy away from the sight. She watched as little by little, a door began to open, one that she didn’t even recognize was there.

Then finally, with a loud boom, the rumbling stopped with the stairs. Instead of slow incline up towards the green fox, there was now a dark decline into a new hall. Applejack let out a low whisper as she straightened herself out.

“Well, I gotta say that threw me for loop.” She left off an uneasy chuckle as she stared into what amounted to be a dark abyss. “Never woulda thought this kinda stairwell was here.”

“You’d be surprised the lengths some people will go to hide what they want to keep.” Dust couldn’t keep the grin off his lips, much less the pride in his voice. Applejack and Jack looked up to see the green-coated creature brushing off his robe. It had a fine layer of rock dust over it. “But if it’s the only way we can go, we should probably take it.”

“Hey, you’ll hear no complaints from me,” Applejack brushed aside. “Ah want outta here like a rockodile wants a sun-cooked rock.” Silence followed her words, from both Jack and Dust. The mare paid them no mind.

Instead, she trotted forwards, getting a better look into the stairwell, at least as far as better could be considered.

It was dark, far darker than any of the halls they had ventured into thus far, but not unsightly. She could make out the planks of stairs, leading down into the abyss, curiously coated with layers of grass no different than the floor they were already standing on. Small flickers of light bloomed and died, like small fireflies in the air.

It was chilling, but, honestly, Applejack didn’t feel afraid. If anything, she felt daring.

“Well, there ain’t no time like the present.” Without another word, she began to trot down the staircase, full well knowing her companions would be quick to join her. The sound of footfalls behind was all the mare needed to know she was right.

There were moving again, and hopefully, towards the way out of this basin.  

“Thank God they’re finally moving again.” Handsome Jack groaned at the TV, slumping into his chair as let out the exasperated statement. “Je-sus, I thought they were going to talk all damn day. Agh, it feels like months since I’ve seen a good fight.”

“Their conversation has only progressed for fifteen to twenty minutes at most father, it is unlikely that they would continue their exchange for an additional,” The robotic voice of Angel was cut of by Jack spinning in his chair, pointing his finger threateningly at his wired up daughter.

“Hey, Angel, I know you enjoy seeing numbers as much as I enjoy seeing dead bandits, but you gotta understand or at least relearn what it means to exaggerate. I don’t have the time to sit down and talk with you about all the ways to interpret something, so you’re gonna have build a code or figure it for yourself.” The sound of humming electronics kept the room the room from silence before Angel responded to her father.

“Of course father,” The robotic maiden agreed without question. “I will begin to construct verbal and tonal queues for conversation analysis. Is there anything else that you would like me to do at this time?” Jack’s mask got a wicked grin.

He leaned back into his chair, twisting towards the large and imposing television screens. The oddly compiled trio was still walking down the grassy staircase. Jack didn’t know what awaited them at the bottom of their trek, only that he was looking forward to how messy their end would likely be.

His hand grabbed the remote from the floor, pushed to it after his exacerbated performance from before. He thumbed the controls for a moment, waiting as the screen turned from green with patches of white to static. It quickly cleared again, showcasing a new image he found far more delightful to his well-developed palate.

“Angel,” he spoke his daughter’s name with the tone of command. “Get me some good music, cause I’m gonna be watching a bird rip a bat and pony in two.”

“Yes, father.” Next Chapter: Boss 2: Songbird Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 25 Minutes