Title:           ToE Chapter IV-3
Author:          AnonKnight
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Nzd4fH6C
First Edit:      Monday 28th of May 2012 04:37:22 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Monday 28th of May 2012 04:37:22 AM CDT

>After an hour of paddling down the river, the boat has covered most of the distance between P0nyville and the southwestern mountains.
>You and Twilight are sitting near the front of the boat, on one of the benches. Applejack is in the cockpit, steering the boat around each curve in the river.
>"We should arrive in about twenty minutes... Then, we'll see what all the fuss is about."
"These hooded creatures. Do you have any idea what they might be, Miss Twilight?"
>"Hmmmm... No, I don't, but Mayor didn't say much about them, and I've yet to get a look at one. Maybe I'll be able to tell you what they are when we see them..."
>Twilight doesn't seem to be worrying much about what lies ahead.
"Miss Twilight?"
>"Mhm?"
"Do you have to deal with... Danger, very often?"
>"You mean, do I?"
"I mean, Ponies in general. Does Equestria have a lot of trouble with wyverns and other violent creatures?"
>"...Not really. Creatures that are, uh... Murderous, are few and far between in Equestria. They only live in the wilderness, and the Everfree Forest, anyway, and most ponies know well enough not to go wandering around there. Likewise, those creatures prefer not to leave their natural habitat. In fact, there hadn't been a wyvern attack anywhere in Equestria for centuries, until yesterday. I didn't even know there were any wyverns left in Equestria."
"...I see. So, what could have brought it here?"
>"Desperation, maybe? Perhaps it couldn't find enough food in it's usual hunting grounds, so it left it's home and chanced upon Rainbow Dash while she was flying back to P0nyville?"
 
"...I suppose that would make sense, wouldn't it?"
>To think something so vile could have been acting on instinct alone...
>"Hey, Anon!"
>Applejack calls, from the cockpit.
"Uh-huh?"
>"Yah wanna take the wheel fer a bit?"
"...Sure."
>You walk to the cockpit, and step in. Applejack stands aside and you place a hand on the wheel.
>"Now, just take it nice an' easy, an' be careful not tah make no sharp turns, okay, Captain?"
"Hmhm, okay."
>Applejack trots over to Twilight, and takes a seat next to her.
>You slowly turn the wheel left as the boat approaches another bend in the river. With minimal delay, the boat turns in adherence.
 
>Now, you're traveling down the river, through the mountains. You can make out part of the lake, but much of it is still hidden behind a large mountain side. About thirty yards ahead, on the right side of the river, you see a little dock, with some stairs, that lead up to a small path along the side of a mountain.
>Because of the water level, the deck of the boat is about five feet lower than the dock. P0nyville's rivers must have gotten a lot lower by now...
>You pull the lever in the cockpit back, which stops the engine. Twilight trots over to you, in the cockpit.
>"Anon, why are you stopping? We haven't reached the lake yet."
"Miss Twilight, I think we should walk the rest of the way. Knowing these creatures are hostile, I don't want to announce our arrival by sailing up in this boat."
>"Good thinkin', Captain!"
>"Alright, then, we'll walk. It shouldn't take long."
>You gently steer the boat towards the dock, careful not to bump into the river bank.
>Applejack takes the mooring line in her mouth, then jumps up onto the dock, and slips the hoop over the wooden bollard.
>"There we go! Come on up, you two."
>You approach the dock, grab onto the edge, and pull yourself up. Twilight jumps up after you.
>You all walk up the rather creaky stairs, onto the path. It's quite narrow, and rocky, but usable.
>Applejack takes the lead, while Twilight follows behind you.
>"We're gonna have tah watch our steps, here. An' we'd best be on the look out for any fallin' rocks."
"Mhm."
 
>After a few minutes of carefully walking along the path, you come across a gap about ten feet wide. On each side of the gap, there are remnants of a simple bridge, now destroyed.
>Without even a running start, Applejack effortlessly jumps across.
>You're up next. You approach the edge of the path, and look down. Fifty feet below, there is a small stream, with lots of pointy rock spires sticking out of it.
>You quickly take a step back, and bump into Twilight.
"Oh, sorry."
>"Hey Anon, what's the hold up? Can't yah jump it?"
>Applejack shouts, from across the other side.
"Uhm... I don't know."
>You'd probably be able to make it across... Ten feet isn't an extreme distance, and though you didn't really pick up on it until now, the gravity in the talking p0ny universe does seem somewhat lower than Earth's, which would make jumping this gap easier... But do you really want to risk being impaled by those rocks?
>Before you can decide to jump or not, Twilight speaks up.
>"Don't worry, Anon. I'll find us a way across..."
>She looks around, then spots a rather tall rock spire above you.
>"Aha!"
>Twilight aims her horn at the spire. It glows for a moment, before firing a purple, laser-like beam, which cuts through the base of the spire like it was nothing.
>Woah.
>Before the spire can fall more than a few feet, a purple glow surrounds it, holding it in place. Twilight carefully brings it down, and places it across the gap.
>"There we go!"
"Nicely done, Miss Twilight."
>"Hmhm, thanks."
>You both cross the makeshift bridge, and continue following Applejack.