8 Realms of Magic (MLP)

Episode 1: Where Destiny Lies|Ch 13

The auric roots swarmed after Chipped Flint. The twins retreated atop the stoned stairway as Chip raised more rocks to deter the roots' movement.

Yori dived back on the ground beside Yuki, who provided aid to Chip with arsenals of glaciating beams. Yuki groaned heavily after unleashing dozens of magic upon the unrelenting roots. No matter how much she froze to shards, their number never dwindled.

"I don't understand," Yuki said. "Why are they so upset with us?"

Yori assisted her sister with her fair share of beams. Her magic sparked many of the roots with fire as they blackened and fell off the stoned stairway. However, more roots came in its place.

"I don't know." Yori said. "Maybe it's a territorial thing."

Chip noted the twins back on ground. Though he held doubt their safety were assured, he held confidence their odds of survival were greater at their position.

Knowing that, his eyes laid fiercely upon the incoming roots.

"Get out of my way!" Chip roared. He used his magic to drop a wall to bury the roots. With them crushed underneath, Chip used the brief opening to leap atop one of his many walls. He leaped through the top of them eluding and ripping incoming roots with shooting pieces of rocks.

He eventually came upon the end where Lune Star leapt. The entrance to the Cosmic root laid below his sight.

"Hey, Chip!" Yori called. "Where are you going!?"

"Isn't it obvious!?" Chip responded. A pack of roots raised from the edge of the stairway. Chip used his magic to rip pieces from the stairway to shoot swift pebbles that punctured the roots in many holes as it retreated down. "I'm going after Star and Ratty!"

"See that, Yuki." Yori bumped her hoof onto Yuki. "I knew there was a shining armor in him."

"Less bantering, more firing," Yuki ordered.

Chip pulled blocks from the ravine wall to form long platforms to make his descent. As he leaped down closer to the entrance, Chip made frequent repurpose of his magic to fend off the endless tendrils of roots.

But he couldn't keep this up forever. His constant use of terraformation and blasting rocks like a shotgun was quickly exhausting his tank of magic.

"Not yet," Chip told himself. "Not until I know she's safe."

"Chip!" His ears perked to the voice of Lune Star. He found them looking below from the entrance hole.

Star!" Chip shouted. His horn lit bright and propelled the rocks beneath Star and Ratty upward. Their ascent was swift as it launched Star square into Chip's grasp.

He grunted at the rough collision but absorbed her force.

"What are you doing?" Star asked. "You're going to tucker yourself out like that."

She stepped back from Chip and saw him fall on the platform. Chip panted heavily. "I think it's... a bit late for that."

Star came to his side and tried to pull him back to his hooves. However, his body was too heavy for the mare. "C'mon, this isn't the time for this," Star scolded. "We're getting out of here."

The auric roots began to swarm around their rocky platform. From every direction, the roots encroached upon them, ready to ensnare them in their grip.

"Star," Chip breathed as he laid a hoof onto Star's. "I still have enough magic to provide you cover back up the ravine. If you go now, I can clear most of your way."

"That's a stupid idea!" Star retorted. "There's no way I'm leaving you behind."

Chip smiled. "It's okay, Star," he assured. "If it means keeping you safe, then I wouldn't have it any other way."