private Rebuilding Equestria (1x1 between C. Thunder Dash and ExplosionMare)

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

"I...I need an animal to do that..." Fluttershy said as she started to quiver, seeing the place get darker. "We will just have to stick together." Celestia stated as she continued to lead the group through the Everfree. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“O-oh...” Global sighed.

In that case, using the artifact would be trickier than she thought. They would have to locate a random animal’s ashes and hope that the animal was willing to use the artifact. Fluttershy’s assistance would help, no doubt, but that did not mean the process would be quick. She took Celestia’s advice for now to stick together and kept a lookout for animal ashes. She wouldn’t want to separate from her group now, anyways, especially since they were the only living ponies nearby.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

There was a cave up ahead. "I believe that this cave is where we will find the artifact." Celestia stated as she lit her horn a little more to brighten up the place. Fluttershy gulped loudly. Pinkie walked beside Global. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global Gleam wasn’t sure whether to feel adventurous or fearful. She loved caves and how expansive they were, but deep down, she knew there was a likely chance that she would see something that would make her upset. Thankfully, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Celestia made her feel safe enough not to worry about anything. She held her head high and trekked through the cave, careful not to step on anything that would get caught in her hoof.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Drops of water could be heard and so could creaking. Was there something lurking? "Keep a huge watch." Celestia warned. She then made a shield around the group. What seemed like a shadow phantom lunged towards them, but bumped the shield, letting out a shriek. Fluttershy let out a loud scream clinging hard on to Global...and starting to cry.  

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global shuddered. Creepy horror film sounds were bouncing off of every inch of the cave. Something was watching the group, too, she could feel it. Thankfully, the Princess knew this ahead of time and cast a shield spell around everyone.

“Phew!” Global was about to say before a strange shadow creatures lunged at them. She jumped, but only slightly due to the weight of Fluttershy on her back. Fluttershy began to cry from the shock, so Global picked her up off her back and gave her a comforting hug. She glared menacingly at the shadow creature. If it dared to face her, it would have to prepare for one mean pony.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare 

The shadow creature gave a piercing glare looking right into Global's soul as a threat not to mess with it. "I wouldn't look at that shadow soul if I were you. Their glares could penetrate your soul and cause torment." Celestia warned. Pinkie reached over and turned Global away from the shadow soul. The evil shadow soul eventually retreated into the darkness.

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“H-hey!” Global cried as Pinkie turned her face away from the shadow creature.

When she was able to turn back around, she glanced around for the creature. It was nowhere to be seen. She angrily kicked a hoof at the ground. She could have dealt with it at least enough to scare it off if she had been given the chance.

“I understand what you were saying, Your Highness, but I wasn’t going to engage in a conflict unless the creature was going to hurt one of us,” she explained to the princess. “I was only going to let it know it couldn’t be messed with!”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

”Well you should thank Pinkie for turning you away like that. Those shadow creatures could start corrupting your soul if you look at them too long. You won’t notice it right away...but in due time, you may feel yourself slipping...” Celestia warned as another shadow creature bumped the shield. Fluttershy let out another small scream. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Oh, I see what you’re saying, Your Highness,” Global said guiltily. “Thank you, Pinkie,” she then told the pink mare.

They trekked a bit further into the cave, looking for any more signs of animal ashes. So far Global still couldn’t see any. She wasn’t sure if that was because the cave was dark or if there really wasn’t anything around. Frustration was beginning to build up inside of her, but she kept it down for fear of lashing out.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

There was a gleaming light coming from somewhere else. Perhaps this could be the artifact they were looking for. "Over there. That could be the artifact." Celestia stated. "We must be fast, for shadow creatures may be nearby." Celestia warned. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Without hesitation, Global sprinted towards the glowing artifact. She held on to Fluttershy so she wouldn’t fall. When it was just in hoof’s reach, she stuck a hoof out in an attempt to grab it. She shielded her eyes in case the shadow creature was nearby.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Unfortunately, a shadow creature noticed Global, and charged at her like lightning. Celestia however reacted perfectly on time before the shadow creature could touch Global. The shadow creature let out a shriek. Other shadow creatures noticed. "Hurry Global!" Celestia called out, waiting back in the protection of the shield with Pinkie. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global had barely noticed a shadow creature approach her until Celestia swatted it out of the way. Her heart began to race as other creatures began to approach her. Immediately, she began running as fast as she could. As an extra measure of safety, she kept her eyes shut.

“Fluttershy, can you be my eyes? All of these creatures are after me and looking at them will only make things worse!” she pleaded to the mare on her back.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare
 

A shadow creature swiped at Global. Celestia was able to fire a beam just in time. "Follow my voice Global!" Celestia called out. "Shift right and you'll be in the shield again!" Celestia called out. A shadow creature swiped at Fluttershy, causing her to let out an ear-splitting scream. She fell off of Global's back. "GLOBAL!!! HEEEELP MEEE!!!" She cried at the top of her lungs, as shadow creatures started to surround her. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Global did as the princess commanded and shifted towards the right. She was relieved that Celestia was able to defend her as she ran. Suddenly, she realized that she had to stop when Fluttershy fell off of her back. She screamed for help and Global ran back as quickly as she could to retrieve her. She opened her eyes momentarily to find the pegasus.

“Come on, get up!” she cried in a panic as she stuck a hoof out.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

The shadow creatures were really close to Fluttershy. "Careful Global! Don't look at the creatures' faces! They'll paralyze you from shock if you do!" Celestia warned as she saw Global rescue Fluttershy. Fluttershy reached out her hoof and pulled herself out of the shadow pile. However, the shadow creatures seemed to start merging into a larger shadow creature... 

"Hurry!" Celestia called out. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Aah!” Global rasped as she picked up Fluttershy. Fear had taken over her entire body at this point. She barely felt her hooves making rushed contact with the ground. As she sprinted, she could hear a variety of gloppy noises that would make most ponies squeamish. What were the shadow creatures doing now? She wanted to look back, but she did not want to suffer and consequences. She instead continued to follow Celestia’s voice like a compass as she continued to gallop.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

Celestia and Pinkie waited for Global. "Shield your eyes!" She called out. Pinkie and Fluttershy shielded their eyes. Celestia let out a very bright flash of light that stunned the large shadow creature. "Let's go! Now!" Celestia called out as she was ready to sprint out of the cave. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

As Celestia blasted another set of creatures, Global continued to push herself as much as she could. Sweat was streaming down her face but she tried to ignore it. She could feel her lungs burning, desperate for air. She tried to push that out of her mind, too, but her gasps for air made that difficult. She sincerely hoped she could keep herself together until everyone was clear from the shadow phantoms.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare 

Celestia lifted Global on her back and made a dash for the exit of the cave. The large shadow creature had no idea where the group went, and let out a loud shriek, but it didn't affect Celestia and the group. Celestia made it out of the cave. Fluttershy had the artifact around her neck. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Celestia, being the kind pony she was, lifted Global on her back when she could run no more. Everything became a blur to Global then until they finally escaped from the cave. She hopped of Celestia’s back and gave herself a moment to catch her breath. She silently wished to herself that she had taken up running during her travels.

She looked around to see if everypony was okay and noticed something on Fluttershy’s neck that wasn’t there before. She had found the artifact! Global stood up and beamed at the pegasus, overjoyed at her accomplishment.

“Great job, Fluttershy! I don’t know how you found that little thing, but regardless, I’m glad you did,” she complimented. “Now we just have to find an animal soul before we use this thing...”

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

”It is going to be tricky, for there are many different spirits roaming in the Everfree.” Celestia stated. The artifact around Fluttershy’s neck started to glow a soft nature green. Ashes emerged from somewhere and a spirit zipped to them. It reformed into a red bird. It chirped at Fluttershy. “Oh, it’s nice to see you mister bird.” Fluttershy stated. The bird chirped. It said it wanted more company. “I know mister bird...my friends and I will surely help get your friends back.” Fluttershy said. 

[Global Gleam]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

“Does the amulet only need one living animal to work or do we need to keep looking for ashes?” Global asked, still a bit uncertain as to how the amulet worked.

She watched as a red bird flew towards Fluttershy, chirping excitedly despite how lonely it was. Global had thought for a second that the amulet would awaken all the other animals, but perhaps its magic was not that simple. She thought, also, that if it did everything at once, there was a high chance it would resurrect something dangerous. It was this group’s responsibility to resurrect everything that had fallen, she knew, but she did not want to put anyone’s lives in anymore danger than she already had.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare

”The amulet relies on the wielder’s mind and mindset. Fluttershy can restore almost all of one animal but there’s a risk.” Celestia explained. Fluttershy gulped at the notion of there being a risk.