PonyIsland

Sephinta takes the high road (Group 3)

Because you never know how sturdy that rope bridge really is... I've watched enough movies to know that rope bridges are no good!

And even though I'm scared of heights, I'd rather take a high path where I can see any faults beneath me....

I think I'm overthinking this.

Kitty Kinneas goes behind the waterfall (Group 2)

'Cause it's so purdy.

Round 6: Waterfall Cave, Tunnel (Group 1)

Following the example of the stallion who had been so sure of himself, a small number of ponies decided to take take the tunnel. Slowly, they lowered themselves into the water, squealing at the chill of the water. Luckily it was not flowing too strongly here, nor was it too deep, and they were able to wade through it without too much difficulty.

After a little while, they could hear a rushing noise. The stallion at the head of the party held up a hoof and indicated a halt. Water sloshed around them. "Wait here a moment. I'll go check it out." He disappeared around one of the many twists and turns and the others in the group had an anxious few moments until he returned, a grim look on his face. "The tunnel falls away into a lower level," he said. "I don't think it will be safe to go down there. But there's a shelf we can climb on to and go around the gap. As long as we keep to the right, it should be okay."

There was no help for it really; they could not turn back now. What if the baskets were just around the corner? The ponies forged ahead, taking great care to keep right where the stallion indicated, hoping to Viridia that no one would slip on the wet surface. She must have been watching over them, for they all made it through safely, and the new tunnel gradually dried out.

Unfortunately, however, it did not seem to yield anywhere useful. Several times it would widen, and the adventurers thought they might see another cave, but it narrowed up again, sometimes further than it had been to begin with! They carried on though, heads held high, and eventually a pinprick of light appeared ahead. Picking up the pace, they headed for it with renewed vigour, only to be disappointed when it turned out to be an exit to the cave system.

Blinking, they stepped out into the cold air, still slightly damp from their trip in the water. Before they had even readjusted to the brightness, squeals of delight reached their ears.

"You're back!" Daffodil exclaimed as she ran over to greet them, clearly significantly healed during their time in the caves. "Did you find anything?" Sadly, the ponies shook their heads in unison. "No matter," she said firmly. "Maybe some of the others will have some more luck. In the mean time, you can rest up here and tell me of your travels. I do so want to hear the tale!"

FIN

(I did invent a random stallion to go with this group)

Round 6: Rope Bridge Cave, Rope Bridge (Group 4)

Having waved goodbye to their friends taking the narrow, high path, the remaining ponies turned their attentions back to the rope bridge. It was a long bridge, necessary to traverse the wide river, and certainly more than long enough to fit all of them on at once.

One pony examined it carefully, prodding it with a hoof. "We'll need to be careful," she said warily. "And make sure we spread out, just in case." She stopped short of suggesting they take it one at a time, but went first all the same.

Obediently the other ponies followed her instruction, edging their way along and freezing at any hint of a creak or sway. For a time it seemed to work, and one by one they joined her on the rope bridge. Suddenly, things change.

Whether it was a heavy hoof or a scrape against an already fraying binding, none of them were ever sure, but the fact remained that one moment they were progressing an inch at a time, and the next all six of them were dumped in the cold water, spluttering with shock. Thankfully, they all landed in water deep enough to accommodate them without injury, but the water was swift flowing and quickly took them out of the cave and through a tunnel on a journey that could only be described as a water slide. Downwards they went in the half-light, shrieks echoing off the tunnel walls, lower and lower until an opening appeared and they skidded out onto the beach, absolutely sopping wet.

"Oh dear," a stallion noted sadly, shaking his head. "I don't think we'll be able to get back that way. It looks like the end of the road for us. We'll have to take the long road back."

FIN

Hindsight fights! (Group 2)

<We have come this far, we can't back down now. Stand your grown ponies!>

star * princess fights! (Group 2)

Hindsight is right!! we can do this ponies!

Im happy to see so many brave ponies here