“Wow!” Discord cheered with a thrust of his clenched paw. “Those three really can give a good show! And here I was worried they’d die quickly and painlessly.” He shook his head in mild disappointment, banishing the idea to an unused portion of his mind.

“Oh, but we can’t watch the same thing twice now, and more of the same means there’s never anything different.” The draconequus’s claw shook at the screen, pointing out the four flaming demons that danced around the room. “Seen one, seen them all, and four to one odds all go the same way.” A mocking sigh came from behind his lopsided, mischievous grin.

“But now the question is, where should the show go now?” He twisted in the air, his back facing the screen as he looked down upon the earth far below. His sneer was unseen from his height, but his glowering eyes would have pierced the soul of any pony unfortunate enough to gaze upon them.

“No say I to the two in the woods!” He yelled into the air, bellowing with the strength of a hurricane. “Nah do I decree will it be the four in the tower!” Discord could not help but lick his lips as the trees far beneath him shook with the volume of his scream. His head twisted thrice around his neck, body whipping as the tension was released. He stopped only when he faced the screens upon the monolith, his claw pointing viciously towards it.

“It shall be the three in the caves, burdened with shadows they cannot see!” His claw snapped.

Instantly, the screen fazed out again, harsh static taking over the image of the dueling princess and her compatriots. As the image began to return, it showed a trio that had appeared on the massive black screens before. The figure in the center was holding papers in his hands, his two allies standing in the back of the well-lit room. Discord coughed into his paw.

“Gah. It’s always such a pain trying to be a dramatic.” He spoke condescendingly, flicking what he thought to be pieces of his discomfort from his chest. “But I can’t be myself all the time, that wouldn’t keep the ponies on edge. Besides…” His miss-sized eyes stared hungrily at the screen.

“There’s nothing better to see than a pony slipping off the edge.”

His hollow laughter echoed through the empty sky.

Fluttershy wasn’t sure what to say.

She had heard of many kinds of birds before-- seen them, too. Birds able to dance in the air, sing in different chords, fly for hours, rest for days, and even share nests. She had seen birds do things that birds shouldn’t have been capable of doing, and they had been named for those things.

Fluttershy had seen hummingbirds hum, some cardinals play poker, and doves make magnificent dives. But in all of her years, venues, and times helping ponies she had never heard of a creature called the songbird.

“Oh, no,” the pegasus answered Batman with a shake of her head and mane. “I-I’ve never heard of anything like that. I’ve heard of birds that sing songs, but, never a bird called a songbird. Oh, I’m terribly sorry. Maybe if I had done a bit more research on foreign animals I’d-” she stopped as a hand was held up, wrapped in a dark glove and holding sheets of white paper.

“I doubt you’d ever have heard anything about this kind of creature.” Batman spoke in the same deep voice, his highly-detailed scans looking over images and text once more. Nothing new was gained or catalogued. “From what I am seeing, it’s an artificial creation, most likely made off the designs from something that I haven’t yet identified. I was only hoping it might have been named after a song or fairy tale you might know.”

“O-Oh,” the meek return came, shortly before a low groan rumbled from behind her. Batman paid it little mind. The metal beast was near mindless, but it was at least anchored to Fluttershy’s well being. So long as she was safe, and happy, so too was he, at least the former.

What was important now was the little information Batman could speculate. It was heavily unlikely that any form of experimentation took place in this room, even with the copious amount of notes strewn and placed around it. No, it was far more likely that the remaining altar was another passageway to the true area of machinations.

That left more than one question for what the purpose of this room was. Storing notes and documentations of one’s work, in science, engineering, or even art away from the actual work was not unfounded. It was often times encouraged, developing back-up for crucial pieces of data.

But the notes that Batman observed were not organized, were not collected, and most definitely were not kept in any observable order. That meant one of two things. Either there was another purpose for this room, one he didn’t have the evidence yet to discern, or, far more likely, something happened in the room to cause the once collected pieces of data to be strewn and partially destroyed. That would likely mean a struggle of some kind, and where there was a struggle, there was likely a panic.

“Is something wrong?” Fluttershy’s voice spoke up, breaking the Dark Knight from his thoughts. “You haven’t moved in… well some time.” Her yellow forehoof nervously rubbed against her other, gaze avoiding direct contact with tall man she spoke to.

“No,” Batman answered, placing the papers down and swiping across the side of his cowl. His vision returned to normal before he focused on the mare. His cape hung around his form entire. “I was only thinking of what we should do next. As of right now, the obvious choice is to try the other altar now.”

“You mean, um, the one we passed before. The… first one I saw?” The nervous swallow Fluttershy made when she was done was louder than the words she spoke.

“Yes,” He spoke deeply, eyes never moving from the mare. “It’s highly likely that the mechanism for opening it would be the same as this room. Hopefully there will be more there, maybe even a way out.” His final words created a noticeable lift in the pegasus. Specifically, her raised wings.

“Y-You mean it?” Just as her raised wings were impossible to not notice, so to was her pink tail swaying left and right. Beneath his dark cowl, Batman raised a brow. “We… We’ll be able to leave?”

“Yes.” Another half-truth, another partial lie. They would get out, one way or another, but too many times before had Batman seen the obvious path lead to dead ends or deadly traps.

“Oh my, that’s just great.” The mare cheered with what Batman could only assume was her loudest voice. “Did you hear that Mr. Bubbles? We’re going to be able to leave.”

Batman could only watch placidly as the metal beast rumbled in what he could guess was satisfaction. The green lights washing over the room made that clear. The dark knight was a clever man, sure of many things. And one of the things he was sure of was that Fluttershy could control the beast, Mr. Bubbles, in a way that he never could.

Turning a potential enemy into a powerful ally. It was gift more rare than any superpower he had ever seen. It was only to his great benefit that his own ally possessed said ability.

“We should go then,” Batman spoke, earning the attention of the two. “There’s nothing more of importance here.”

“There isn’t?” The pegasus tilted her head as she asked her question, mane twisting with it. “But… there are so many papers? Shouldn’t we take some, that is, I mean, if you think we should. I-If your sure, that’s okay too.”

“I already have all that I need.” Batman spoke determinedly. “All the data I need has already been copied and saved to the system in my cowl. It’s the same one you saw before, when I analyzed the cave markings.” The pegasus lightly moved up and down as her jaw lax. Silent stunned acceptance. He was used to that.

“O-Okay,” Fluttershy mumbled, turning away from the dark dressed man to the metal adorned beast. “Mr. Bubbles?” The creature let out a long groan as its green lights looked down at her. “Can you please move for us? It only has to be a little bit, I promise.”

If Batman had any doubts with the creature’s understanding of their language, they were dashed as the beast took a step backwards, opening up the doorway for the mare and man to move out of the room. It groaned loudly once it was done, shaking as if to adjust the metal hanging from its body. The idea didn’t seem implausible.

“Thank you Mr. B.” The pegasus spoke cheerfully, bowing and raising her head towards the metal beast. It did the same in return before holding out its large open hand. Fluttershy looked at it for a moment before catching its meaning. Then, with a small flutter of her wings, Fluttershy jumped onto the large hand. The covered appendage rose to the creature’s shoulder, light scratching the thick material that covered its hide.

Fluttershy either paid little mind or had little care for the coarse material and dark appearance of the beast. She light stepped onto the creature’s shoulder, lightly shaking her coat as she did so. Then, patting over the material like a cat, she curled around its shoulder, forelegs hanging over the metal adorned on the creature’s chest.

A moment of silence passed between the odd pair and Batman. It did not help the dark knight to think that he was the only one standing in the light, his two companions, reluctant and oblivious, standing in the shadows outside the room.

“Let’s go Mr. Bubbles,” Fluttershy spoke, the same odd tone that hid all of her fear. “There’s no time to lose.” With another resounding groan, the creature turned in the hallway, arms swaying at its side as it did so. The ground shook with every fall its footsteps made.

Batman watched passively as the creature lumbered down the hall, the lights from the room fading from its back. Soon only the green lights of its helm were visible against the bare walls of the dark tomb. His gaze turned towards the light switch in the room, staring at it as he would a misplaced batarang.

“And to think,” he spoke to himself. “You aren’t the oddest thing I’ve seen here.”

Taking the few steps necessary, his hand moved over the switch, darkening the room and sending him back into the shadows, back into the comfort of the blackness. He walked a slow pace behind the pair ahead of him, matching their speed, but giving not a sound towards his position.

“Oh, we’re here,” the words were only barely audible to Batman, the booms of the creature’s steps still echoing off the halls, sloshing water moving beneath his boots. Regardless, the mare was right.

In front of the metal beast and timid pegasus stood another metallic altar, shaped with spikes and an open hole high off the ground. Unlike the first object, however, this one had water collecting in front of it. Yet, it barely rose past the small part of the structure jutting outwards.

Though it was the fourth time he gazed upon it, it was the first time Batman truly began to wonder about the object. Now that its purpose was clear, as well as method of use, that only left the obvious question.

Who used it, how, and why?

The shape means only small objects, similar to Fluttershy’s size could maneuver through it, but its high position off the ground would have made most it difficult for most beings the size of the pegasus to reach. Children were an example.

The small pedestal in front of the altar-like object could have been used to minimize the height required, but why? Why not a hole closer to the ground? Why not something more secure?

Batman couldn’t figure the altar out, and like all things he couldn’t figure out, he didn’t like it.

“Well, here goes.” Batman turned his head in time to see Fluttershy’s wings begin to flutter.

It only just occurred to him it was the first time he had actually seen her fly, seen those wings be used for more than an arbitrary sign of her emotions. The sight momentarily distracted Batman, a hero with more friends with the ability to fly than the number of fingers on his hands. Seeing a creature fly without the manipulation of the environment around them or magical influence to lift them. Just the simple beating of wings.

It helped, he had to admit, that he was watching a timid pegasus attempting to be brave.

Without the aid of either the metal beast or the dark knight, Fluttershy was able to squeeze into the hole, disappearing into the darkness once more. Batman moved closer to the hole, wary of the hulking creature he passed as he did so. The only indication it gave towards his presence was another low groan.

The silence was occasionally broken by the sound of the pegasus moving behind the walls, doubtlessly looking for a switch. Last time, it was supposedly easy for her to find. To Batman, it sounded like she was having a slightly harder time.

But he wouldn’t speak, not until she did. She was timid enough while looking at him. If he spooked her beyond the walls and in the total darkness, it wouldn’t be unlikely for her to lose track of herself. Batman did after all have a long track record for scaring things in the dark.

“Got it.” The meek voice barely made it to Batman’s ears. He didn’t need to question what she meant.

The same loud thump and heavy groan of steel began to echo through the hall, shaking the water that pooled at their feet. The scanners within his cowl watched as the stone began to rise, disappearing into the ceiling above them. The same water that rumbled with the wall began to move, drifting forwards as the wall slid.

Then, with a loud bang that shook the walls, the sound was gone. The beast next to Batman groaned loudly when it was complete. It took only a glance inside for the dark knight to see Fluttershy, huddling close to the wall with her hoof over a switch. It took Batman only three strides to reach her side, stepping over the small edge outlining the wall in the floor. The water ended there.

The lights of the metal beast illuminated the room, giving the crucial amount of luminance necessary for Fluttershy to see. When she did, she eagerly rubbed her side against the outside of Batman’s cape.

“Good job,” he spoke simply, nodding towards her as he said so. His scanner caught her looking up at him with joyful eyes.

“Th-Thank you,” she spoke a timid smile working over her lips. “I was nervous when it didn’t work at first, but… b-but you said you there was a way out, a-and I trusted you.” He saw her eyes moving away from him, towards the beast still standing behind him. “And Mr. Bubbles, too.” The creature behind Batman stepped into the room, his heavy foot falls shaking the large room they now stood in. Fluttershy trotted to him, leaving the dark knight to himself.

The first thing he noted was the size. The room was massive. Far larger than the halls or small room from before, doubtlessly as large as the courtyard with clay walls. A ceiling was high above them, but it was hidden well in the shadows of the room. Though his scanner was turned off, in loo of the creature’s lights, it was more than evident that not a single bulb hung from the ceilings or the walls.

It only took one look, but it was all Batman needed.

“Something’s not right.”

It wasn’t a question, even a warning. It was a statement that Batman was sure of, as sure of the cape on his back. There was something wrong with the room, something he couldn’t see. But enough nights under the guise of shadows had given Batman a sense that went beyond sight, beyond hearing, and far beyond any other sense. It was a feeling.

“It… It’s very dark in here.” Fluttershy spoke meekly near him. “Is there another light switch? I-I don’t see one.” The dark knight heard the metallic beast rumble in response. He took it as agreement with the small yellow Fluttershy. The normally green eyes of the monster were glowing yellow, giving the room a tinted color Batman would expect from a flashlight. It wasn’t unwelcome. Unwanted for him, but not welcome. It was keeping Fluttershy calm.

But more importantly to Batman, it was keeping her distracted.

His hand brushed against the side of his cowl, shifting his vision again as his lenses altered what he saw. The dark interior of the unlit room changed to another more defined display, a room filled with grids and three-dimensional scanners.

As Batman took note of the room, three things became immediately obvious. Number one, it was large. Large enough to easily match the size of the fort’s exterior. By rough numbers and guessing measurements. The entire fort was made of only the one long hallway, the side room filled with notes, and this expanse of space.

Number two, its size was a convenience. He could already see many tables and documents lining the far walls, others flipped and laying on their sides in the middle of the room, hiding from the creature’s light in the densest of shadows. Batman could not make out from this distance, or the current display, what any of the notes said. But it didn’t matter.

Because number three was a corpse in the room.

It wasn’t a body, not in the strictest of meanings, but it very well was the shell of something that once held life.

At the far end of the room, doubtlessly no less than thirty meters, sat the metal wreckage of a device Batman did not recognize. Bent and shaped metal, torn and worn leather, tubes of immaculate designs, and shards of glass; they were all strewn beneath the remains of the corpse, sitting undisturbed for he couldn’t tell how long.

It would have been, quite literally, like a walk in the park to reach the wreckage, to leave Fluttershy under the protective gaze of the metal beast. He would have been able to analyze it in the dark, to look over the details they couldn’t see.

But he didn’t. He wouldn’t. His feeling had yet to die down, even with the sight of the metal corpse at the ends of his vision.

“Oh dear, is something wrong?” the soft voice of Fluttershy broke Batman from his thoughts, earning his careful gaze down at the pegasus. “You looked very deep in thought.”

He felt the lights of the metallic beast wash over him, their soft heat soaking into his dark attire. They were wary of one another, the pegasus between them their only link.

“Do you feel anything?” It was an open question, a broad one at that, but the widest nets caught the most fish. It earned a curious look from Fluttershy. “Is there anything that feels… wrong to you?”

“Well, now that you say that, um,” The pegasus timidly held up one of her forehooves, barely visible under the green light of the hulking beast. “My hooves do feel a bit chilly. Is that bad?”

Batman had no response. There wasn’t any need. Fluttershy, by choice or ignorance, didn’t have the sense for danger like he had. He turned from her, deciding it would be best to investigate the papers strewn across the floor. One of them must have more detail to the metal corpse or the structure entire.

He heard, and felt, the beast walk across the floor, doubtlessly to move closer to the pegasus. It mattered only minutely to him. The beast, no matter how wary Batman was of it, was protective of Fluttershy.

The dark knight knelt down, grabbing at a few odd pieces of paper on the ground. Dust fell from the sheets, billowing through the air before they landed back on the dark ground. Once more he let his glove run by the side of his cowl, enhancing his sight as he observed the pages.

Disappointment was quick to wash over him. The ink on the pages was runny and ruined, doubtlessly distorted by some kind of liquid. Furthermore, it was aged far too much for his restoration programs to make sense of it. A line there, a letter here, but never words, let alone phrases. Worthless.

He dropped the pages to the floor, turning his attention to the desks. At a glance, that’s all they were, wooden desks with metal supports turned on their sides. Destructive, but unimpressive.

That was until he saw the broken bolts along the metal supports.

Batman knelt down by one of the broken desks, looking over the twisted metal beneath it. The bolts, as his detailed vision noted were not cut or twisted, as age and wear would allow. They were snapped, pulled apart by a monstrous force. The bolts themselves were thick, easily half an inch in diameter, most likely shaped from a low grade source of steel.

Still, even low grade, it took forces in the quadruple digits to rip it apart in tension. That only left one question.

What was capable of such strength?

CRASH!

The dark knight whirled at the sound, crouching with a hand over his belt as he pushed his cowl back to normal.

He was greeted with the sight of Fluttershy scolding the beast that followed her.

“No,” the pegasus spoke sternly to the large diving suit. “That’s not okay, Mr. Bubbles.  You must be more careful.”

Her hoof came down on the stone as she spoke. It had as much impact as a twig falling from a forest giant. Regardless of the small sound her hoof made, it caused a visible drop in the armored beast.

“Now, say you’re sorry.” Its drill and arm fell slack at its sides, head falling in tune with a large metallic groan. A softer groan came from it as it lifted its empty hand, offering it to the pegasus. Fluttershy, however, puckered her lips and shook her head, mane shaking with it. Another disappointing noise came from the beast.

The noise that came next was much higher, continued with the creature pushing its hand closer to the pegasus. Fluttershy’s lips softened as a smile took up residence over her muzzle. Her eyes half shut as her forehooves lightly touched on the creature’s hulking hand.

“It’s okay. I forgive you,” she spoke cheerily, never letting her vision waiver from the creature’s helm. “You just made a mistake. We all make those. It’s alright.”

Batman could only watch passively as the hulking creature quickly submitted to the much smaller pony’s gaze, nodding in tune with the pegasus’s words. And here the dark knight thought the oddest thing he would ever see was a creature capable of anything. Obviously, as proven to him once more, the little things were always the most noticeable.

His eyes drifted slightly to see a glass vase broken, some form of liquid spilling from the broken container. It was far more than likely that the lumbering creature had broken it while walking by, releasing whatever the clear liquid was. With the poor lighting of the room, Batman was ashamed to admit he didn’t even notice it until it was broken. Nevertheless, it meant little now.

That was until something caught his eye.

It was fast, moving in the shadows of the room. He might have missed it were his cowl not tracking for foreign movements. His cape spun lightly with his torso, following the path of the unknown object. It ducked behind an overturned desk, dashed to a pile of boxes, then straight out the doorway behind them, all on the edges of Batman’s vision.

He would have been impressed if he weren’t on guard. The trouble was, he was always on guard.

“Fluttershy,” he spoke the pegasus’s name quietly, hoping he heard her. The silence that followed was the only sign that he needed. “We aren’t alone.” The air may have been cold, but he could tell the words were more frigid to the mare than the condition of the air.

“W-We aren’t?” Batman saw the lights of the beast turn colors, changing from the peaceful and obedient green to a cautious and prepared yellow. For the first time, he was glad to see such a change.

“No,” he spoke again, turning to face the outer doorway once more. “Something just-” He cut himself off.

Batman knew what the noise was the moment he heard it, trickling beneath his feet. Regardless, his cowl moved to look downwards, observing the ground beneath him. What he hoped to see, vainly and hopelessly hoped to see, was the solid dust covered ground.

Instead he saw water, trickling over the edge in the ground. It was flowing faster and faster the longer he watched it. He didn’t need to watch it for long.

He heard something large coming.

“Fluttershy, move!” Batman shouted, already running from the doorway. He didn’t watch the door as he ran. He had to get out of the way of whatever was coming.

Four steps away from a far wall and the rumbling began. It was much longer than the ones caused by the metal beast, continuing and rolling through the room. The desks lying on the floor rattled, being lifted and dropped repeatedly. The papers fluttered under the force. But far more ominously, the wreckage of metal in the back of the room groaned.

Any one would have been enough to prepare Batman. All at once, it was more than enough to turn the helm of the metal monster red. Fluttershy whimpered into its side.

Then, it happened.

An explosion of water erupted from the door, pushing into the empty room with a monstrous force. It would have rocked Batman from his footing if he wasn’t ready for it. The beast groaned loudly, just barely audible above the sound of the rushing water. The dark knight was only sure Fluttershy was safe when he saw the timid pegasus curled on the hulking creature’s shoulder. She was doubtlessly sobbing.

Water swiftly pooled at their feet. Like a riptide in the ocean, the water that flowed inward quickly started to be drawn back. Batman felt the footing beneath him being ripped out, nearly forcing him to the ground.

It roared like an awoken beast, echoing off the halls and deafening the trio. The water was not gentle in the slightest.

A quick shot of Batman’s grappling hook to the wall secured his position. It would have made more of a show for the pegasus and beast if they were not occupied by the sight of the rushing water.

Batman had to correct himself on that. Rushing water implied that it was unidirectional, forced by a change in elevation or pressure.

This water… it was being controlled.

It all piled into the center of the room, forming and billowing upwards like the currents of a wind, but into a solid amorphous shape. Batman watched, enraptured and focused, as the discarded papers and shambles of desks were drawn up into it.

He watched as the hard wooden shapes were broken into splinters, as the papers were simply dissolved, and the red lights of the beast reflected through the churning water.

He saw the creature stare with its red-lit gaze at the forming water, its drill beginning to spin and position crouched in defense. The pegasus on his shoulder was put behind him.

Then the noise stopped.

The rushing water ceased to penetrate Batman’s ears. It stilled as it was, curled and pushed up from the floor into a tentacle like shape.

That was when Batman really saw it.

It wasn’t the water itself, it wasn’t any object in the room. It was the thing that doubtlessly caused the water to move, and quite possibly, what would soon begin to attack them.

“Oh.” It was the only word Batman could say.

“The creature of endless shapes,” a deep voice spoke in an empty hall. Its bearer walked with heavy steps, marching down the well-decorated and maintained structure with an image floating by his side. The malicious green smoke surrounding it reformed as fast as it dissipated.

His hand, armored with a thick gauntlet, washed over the image, focusing the dark pictures until are members of the party were visible to his eyes. His red eyes gleamed with a cold joy.

“Morpha,” he spoke again, grinning maliciously as he did so. “A warrior from the waves against a warrior of the shadows.” His chuckle shook the chandeliers above him. It did not hinder his strides in the least bit. “It will be fun to see those cavernous halls painted red.”

His other hand gripped the sword at his side a bit tighter before his free arm beat the image away. He walked on down the darkened halls, his destination far more important to him than the inevitable events of others at present. For a man of plans and deception, he was far more concerned with events that drove a path more than the battle that lay at its end.

As he turned another corner, he flicked his open hand, conjuring another portal of mist. It churned and spun, dissipating in its center until only a circle of the hazy material followed him.

Image started to form again, like a liquid pool reflecting water. The ripples began to subside as shapes took form, colors soon following. Even in the dark and gloomy halls in which he marched, the picture was as visible to him as the sun was in an open sky.

The bright colors of a man’s white robe and the mare’s orange coat were the first visible forms to appear in the swirl of mist, but the rest soon followed. Stone walls and halls, roots breaking through the cracks, dirt littering the ground, and the pink source of light that continued to flutter and fly around them.

“Now those two walk in another temple of mine.” His dark voice mused as he watched the pair move within his conjured image, scribing their movement with detail. “A temple once home within the forest of the wandering, cursing the souls to venture forever without purpose or gain. A home the lost, a haven for the forgotten.”

The smile Ganondorf made would have brought a chill to even the most battle hardened of warriors.

“They will be right at home.”

BEGIN

“Ah don’t like this.” Applejack spoke for the pair, her eyes moving no less than they had for the past few minutes, looking every which way. “There ain’t been nothing yet but stone halls and dead roots, maybe a hole here or there.” She snorted, adjusting her hat mid-trot. “Reminds me too much of the Everfree.”

“Do not worry Mrs. Apple,” The samurai at the cowpony’s side spoke, a pleasant smile over his face. “Much can be gained in the ruins of old. Many stories that may hold many lessons.”

“Lessons Ah ain’t concerned with,” Applejack turned her green eyes to the small creature hovering above her. “Ah just wanna know where we were dropped off at? It feels like the Everfree, but there ain’t a tree, root, or ounce o’ soil Ah can recognize.” Something in her words gave Jack pause.

“You can tell the difference in the trees?” A flash of a smile was seen across her lips, just barely visible with the help of the fairy still circling the pair.

“Coure Ah can, Ah’m an apple after all. Readin’ the trees and the soil is how we grow our crops. If Ah can’t tell what they need, Ah ain’t fit ta call myself a farmer.” She nodded her head determinedly, an action the creature flying over her mimicked. The bobbing of their light source was not an action that went unnoticed.

“And what of our companion here?” The samurai questioned, coming to a stop. Applejack followed suit, her green eyes looking to Jack before looking at the feather-pink creature that accompanied them. It’s insect-like wings visible only by the reflection they cast off the luminescence of the creature.

“What about it, ya think I recognize it.” Applejack scoffed again, turning her head before looking back at the creature. “Sorry Jack, but Ah know this critter ‘bout as well as Ah know you. That meanin’ not at all.”

“Hmm,” the samurai hummed simply, his attention focused on the ball of light.

His free hand slowly extended outwards, his digits lax and calm. The ball of light ghosted over to them, flying around the hand as if in orbit, sampling what it saw. Jack enjoyed the soft glow it gave, warming his bare hand within the cool confines of the cave. His robe did little, but the creature’s light did more, despite the difference in their size.

Then, softly as its glow, it landed on his hand, perching on it peacefully.

Instantly, Jack felt an aura of relief wash through him, calming his mind to a level he thought only possible through deep meditation. His muscles calmed, energy rejuvenate, and peace return to him. The air that filled his lungs felt fresher than the forest’s own breath.

He closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the sensation of peace and jubilation. Such times were rare for a warrior meant for battle, even less for one caught across dimensions. The smile that graced his lips was evidence of his peace.

“Pardon me, but are ya feelin’ alright?” Applejack’s words broke the samurai from his reverie, letting his gaze fall to the pony looking up at him curiously. “Ya look like yer thinkin’ of somethin’ mighty fine.”

“Oh, my apologies,” He spoke kindly, lightly bowing his head towards the mare. He took extra care to make sure his hand was still as he did so. “I simply felt… relieved by this creature.”

He lifted his hand a small amount, letting the creature slowly crawl down his appendage. The pink ball of light tingled his skin as it moved downwards. It caused a slight grin to pull at the Samurai’s face.

“Yeah, Ah know what ya mean,” Applejack took the few trots necessary for her eyes to be next to the pink-winged ball on Jack’s arm, still slowly descending down the appendage. “That critter helped me out in a big way back there. Bet it would’a made Twi’s head spin clockwise if she heard about it.”

“Twi. Who is this… Twi?” The samurai asked seriously looking at the farm pony with an expression of confusion. Applejack looked up at him, wearing an expression Jack was more than familiar with. It was the expression he was often given when he posed a question that was common knowledge to others. He was rather used to that look, though not fond of it.

“Oh, Ah’m sorry about that,” The farm pony spoke a bit sheepishly, rubbing one of her forehooves over the back of her neck. “Figures you’d have a bit of trouble with short names. Twi is Twilight, ya know, that purple unicorn that greeted ya before?” Jack’s lips opened slightly understanding, nodding slightly as he did so.

Before he could respond, however, the ball of light on his hand took off.

Both the pony and man watched as the small tuft of light lifted into the air, its thin transparent wings fluttering to keep it afloat. It circled above them, it’s speed steadily increasing as it did so. Then, with a small ring from its wings, it took off down the hall. With its quick departure, their light source also began to fade.

“H-Hey now!” Applejack was already in mid-trot as she spoke up. “Where are ya gettin’ off to?” Her pace quickened to follow the fleeing ball of light. Jack was right behind her, his geta echoing off the walls as his pace quickened.

The two ran next together, following the ball of light as it flew down the halls at an impressive speed. No time was given for the pair to observe the stone walls they rushed past or the roots that struggled through the heavy material. Their only concern was the fading glow of pink light, flying far ahead of them.

Momentarily, it vanished, suddenly popping out of existence. Thankfully for the pair, its trail was quickly regained. It had only turned a corner, an action they repeated when they reached it.

But when they turned the corner, they saw something else farther ahead.

Their collective pace slowed, Applejack’s gallop morphing into a trot and Jack’s sprint to a slow jog. Up ahead, like a light at the end of the tunnel, a shimmering glow appeared. The pink ball of light flew towards it, unwavering unlike the pony and man.

“Do ya think that’s the way out?” The farm pony posed the question, leaning towards the samurai as she spoke. “Ah mean, other than the way we came in?”

“Perhaps,” Jack responded simply. “But there is only one way to tell, and only one path we can take.” Without another word, the samurai started to move forward again, his geta clacking against the stone. Applejack’s hooves beating against the building blocks soon joined the sound.

When they reached the end of the hall, they emerged into a space neither had ever seen before.

The room was tinted green, bathed in an emerald light. The grey stones that were meant to match the halls the pair emerged from were a dark jade, but still far brighter than being kept in the shadows. The ceiling, high above them, let the light pour in from a source neither knew of. But what captivated the pony and man was not the size of the room, though it was immense. It was what was present within it.

Trees, grass, and vegetation.

Jack felt his geta fall on the soft green plants, small blades of grass that felt familiar and welcomed beneath his feet. Applejack felt roots beneath the soil, thriving sources of life that filled her with an energy she thought only possible in the fields of her farm. Weeds and small bushes grew from the grass, none of them growing taller than the pony’s carriage.

However, there were giants among the flock.

Eight trees, lined perfectly in two rows, flanked the pair from the entrance, going down the room. Their sizes varied, their bark just the same, but they were all alive, all flourishing, and all very much real.

“Huh,” Applejack let out as she trotted towards the tree closest to her. It was short for a pine, though well groomed. “Never figures Ah’d be seein’ trees like these under soil. The most Ah see when Ah capsize the earth is a few hundred roots. Ain’t never seen somethin’ like this before.”

Jack, however, was silent. He walked slowly over the green floor beneath him, marveling at the well-designed ceiling high above them. Light shined down from cut crystals, bathing the room in a green glow. His eyes briefly looked down at his white robe, seeing it tinted with the color of the precious gems.

The grass beneath his feet crunched lightly with his steps, dampening the sound of his geta from clacking. Jack was careful with his movements, keeping one hand on the hilt of his blade. There was no wind to rustle the trees, no birds to sing as he walked. A low sigh left his lips.

It looked like a forest, but that was all it was. An appearance, an illusion, no different than any other veil cast in front of him before.

The door at the end of the room was further proof of that. It was not the entrance to a hall or castle, but to another room. They were already inside the confines of stone, and and a forest, a truly grand forest, would never belong to the trappings of man. Jack ran his hand down the hard rock, sighing as he did so.

That as when he felt it.

Grooves and markings on the doorway. He looked closer at the brick, analyzing what he felt. Just like his hands told him, there were grooved edges on the door, shaped in a way he was most familiar with.

The designs became clearer when his pink flying friend floated over to him, illuminating the wall with its pink glow. Only now did Jack recognize the pink light to now be a darker shade of pink under the green emeralds from high above.

It was not an art or pattern. It was a language. Words carefully carved into the hard surface, chiseled and beat until a message was placed into the brick. They were easy to read, simple to see, but what they meant, the samurai had little idea.

“Mrs. Apple,” he called to the farm pony, earning the orange mare’s attention. “Do you understand what this means?”

“What what means?” Applejack asked as she started to trot over to the cloaked man, eyes already screwed in confusion. “Did ya find somethin’ useful?”

“I do not know. I only know that the purpose of this message… evades me.” Applejack let her green eyes glance to the taller figure before looking at the stone door.

“Well alright then, step back and let me take a gander.” Submitting to her wishes, Jack took several steps to the side, giving the farm pony the room necessary to read the words.

Applejack may have never been the wisest or most intelligent of her friends, but she was far from uneducated. As such, she understood the words almost immediately. But, just like Jack, what they actually meant went right over her mane, hat and all.

“Only an offering of the wise may open my eyes.” The cow pony’s hoof scratched at her head, pushing her Stetson hat up and down as she did so. “Now that don’t make any kind of sense.”

“Agreed, which means it must be a riddle.” The sigh that Applejack let out was more of a strained breath than a release of stress.

“Ya, Ah got that, but what Ah don’t get is what it means. We gotta offer somethin’ wise up? Like what, prayin’ or something?” Jack’s fingers ran over his lips, unsure if the pony was right or wrong. Prayers could be offered, but what could be wise in a prayer?

His eyes looked over the room, hoping to see a sign of something he might better recognize. Perhaps more markings, perhaps more text. Instead, all he saw were the same stone walls, ceiling and tree growing in line. His eyes widened slightly.

“Mrs. Apple,” he began again, “Did you say earlier you could tell the ages of trees?”

“Ah said I could read them, didn’t say nothin’ but their ages.” A low sigh followed her words, complete with a slow nodding of her head. “But yeah, if somepony asked, Ah reckon I could tell the age of a tree, down to the season it was planted in.”

“Then perhaps,” his hands ghosted over the evergreens flourishing in the large room. “Perhaps these are the wise the door asks about.”

Something in the words made their pink friend react.

The emerald pink form of the winged creature buzzed, moving in quick motions as its wings remained lock in outward positions. It rang between the two, like a bell for supper time.

“Ah think ya spooked it, Jack.” Applejack loosely commented, though her mind was elsewhere. Specifically, on what the samurai had suggested. “And… ya might be on ta something with these trees.” The man was silent as she trotted to the closest one. It was green, no different than any other vegetation in the room. But it was smaller, only just reaching past the height of the samurai.

“Mah granny told me in more than one bedtime story about the wisdom trees. How they know where to grow their roots and survive without food or rain for days on end. Durable buggers, but wise for it.” Her hoof ran over the pines of the tree, either careless or unknowing of their rigidity. “But to be wise, like wise as the dirt, ya have to be nearly as old as it.”

“I… am not sure I follow.” The samurai supplied as he walked closer to the pony, his brows creasing in thought.

“It means that we’re probably gonna have to find the oldest of the trees here.” Her orange hoof motioned over the two rows before them, the eight trees surrounding them. “Ah but if get a good bit of sap from each one, spread over that door like butter, it’ll open right up.”

“Isn’t sap not like… what is the term, glue?” Jack tried, his palm facing up and outwards in motion. “I would not think it to help a door open.”

“’Bout the only way to offer up a tree in here.” Applejack’s hoof then pushed roughly through the evergreen she stood next to, grinning with a confident smile as her hoof moved past the branches that doubtlessly scrapped at her fur.

“See, the thing about tree, even if ya cut them down, they can grow right back. Thankfully, cuttin’ down a tree ain’t nothing like a pony. The trunk, roots, and heck, even the pines will think it’s alive and well for day after they’ve been moved. Like Ah said, they’re stubborn and wise.”

“Would burning them not count?” Jack felt a chill run down his back at the offended gaze Applejack gave him in return for his question.

“Now listen here partner,” the pony spoke with a jab of her hoof, removing it from the tree. “There ain’t no reason for us to go and be burnin’ down perfectly good trees. ‘Sides, it’s not like ya could anyway.” With a swing, her leg hit one of the trees, watching as its branches swayed under the impact.

“Here’s the thing ‘bout trees, they don’t burn unless they’re dry, and let me tell ya that a tree that’s alive is gonna stay that way fer far longer than you ever could.” Her head motioned towards the door behind them, their flying friend still floating in front of it. “I’m willin ta bet apples and oranges that there’s some kind of magical seal on that door. It must need some kind of properly aged sap ta work, far as Ah can figure. If Twi was here, it’d be easier to tell.”

“I see,” Jack spoke with a nod of his head. “Then which trees are the wisest among these?”

“Now see, that’s the easy part, least for me.” As if to prove her point, Applejack beat the ground with her hoof, digging up some dirt and grass as she did so. “See, the thing that most ponies don’t realize is that size ain’t the only sign for how old a tree is. There are some that don’t grow any bigger than a brushel. What really makes a tree old is its roots.”

“The roots?” the samurai questioned, earning an eager nod from the farm pony.

“Yes siree. Ya see, the older a tree is, the thicker or longer its roots get, keeps in in the ground longer. And let me tell ya, Ah’ve got a natural talent for feelin’ the roots of the green gals.” Adjusting the hat on her head, Applejack began to point her hoof at the rows of trees.

“Second from the right,” she began, moving her hoof as she spoke. “Last from the right, first on the left, and finally, this critter.” She finished with a satisfied smile. Jack smiled down at her, letting out a breath of air through his nostrils.

“I am most impressed,” he spoke honestly, nodding as he did so. “You have much confidence in your craft.”

“That I do partner,” Applejack agreed with a pull of her hat. “Now, how’s about you put that bit of steel to use and grapple us up some good old aged sap.”

“It would be my pleasure, Ms. Apple.”

Applejack held back her sigh till the samurai was out of earshot.

END

“Oh, I wonder what’s behind door number one for those crazy critters.” The Mad God spoke with a gleam of his teeth, his paw lightly tapping across the crooked and misshapen bones in his mouth. “The densest of the pack and eye they are the quickest for solving their riddle.” He chuckled deeply at the thought. “Oh, how I love surprises. They truly do make life worth living.”

His slytherin form curled in the air, rising next to the monolith of a structure in a helix shape. Bending his bones was a simple order from his chaotic wishes.

“Now where to go and what to watch?” His raised his claw, detaching it from his forelimb. It rose next to him and he continued to ascend. His head rolled in a continuous circle to follow it.

“We have the princess, spellsword, and statue fighting creatures of flames.” A single talon rose from his claw. “The knight, the coward, and the monster fighting an abomination. Nice touch there.” A second tail pointed to the sky. “Two is good, but it isn’t odd. We need an odd number. Oh but the rule of three is far too predictable for me.”

Discord’s head spun in reverse, twisting until it snapped back into position. His draconic claw popped and repopped into existence, back onto his forelimb. He stared into the blue expanse of sky as he thought, afraid he would become too distracted if he watched a samurai and farm pony cut sap from trees.

Then his lion paw snapped.

“That’s it!” He declared, a crooked grin cracking his long face. “Two fighting for their lives, one set searching for answers, another admiring the scenery, now I just need to send one more group into this Temple of Chaos.” His chuckle was far more genuine than he had thought it would need to be.

“And,” he spoke one, letting his snake like tongue lick his lips. “I know just the trio to wake up next.” Before he could clap his paw and claw, realization dawned in his miss-sized red eyes.

“Oh, wait, it would be four, wouldn’t it?” Discord was well aware of the answer to his own question.

“Dragons are people, too.”

Without even a moment of thought, he snapped his claws. Next Chapter: A Boy And His Dragon Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 3 Minutes