Two of the other ponies actually drop a box that they were trying to load on the cart. The one that had been speaking to them gets a look of surprise and almost fear on his face, "Are you saying that you're here to investigate the curse?"
"Um, yeah."
The three earth ponies become visibly nervous as the curse is mentioned. As the other two go back to loading their supplies, the one that spoke to you explains that a number of their colleagues have been turned into statuettes, some for only a few hours, some for days. What's even more worrisome is that some ponies have disappeared completely.
As the two finish loading their supplies and take up positions at the front of the cart, the one sitting in the driver's seat motions to the back of the cart where there seems to be plenty of room for all of you, even with the supplies.
Looking at the four of you he says, "We'll give you gals a ride to the Badlands with us, if it means a possible end to the curse." He offers, as they prepare to depart.
Lilac beams as she gets on the cart. "Thanks a lot!"
LQ nods her head at the driver as she climbs into the back, "Yes, thank you."
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"Thanks!" Cylver chimes in.
"I sure hope we don't get stoned too."
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Looking at Cylver, Verdant asked, "Why would ponies throw stones at us? We're here to help."
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"I think Cylver was using a turn of phrase."
Looking back as you all climb into the rear of their supply cart, the driver tips his hat. In a somewhat nervous voice he says, "Well, we sure hope you can find some answers to this disturbing dilemma we've found ourselves in. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Sunny, Sunny Saddle." He says, introducing himself as they start moving.
"I'm Lilac Cloud," the pegasus introduces herself.
"I'm Lollipop Quickstep, but...my friends just call me LQ." She says a bit shyly.
"And I'm Verdant Leaf."
"So about how far is it to the Badlands from here?" Lilac asks, curious.
Sunny shrugs, "Not too long really. Maybe an hour or so."
Looking over at their friend that seemed to be having trouble staying awake in the back of the cart Sunny says, "If she's tired, there's enough room for her to lay down back there. It'll be a little while before we get to where we're going anyways." She says with smile, glad that someone was finally coming to try and put an end to the awful things that had been happening.
"Cylver will be alright. Won't you?" Lilac asks her friend.
"Yes, I believe I'll be fine. Thanks. I'm just not used to so much activity and excitement." Cylver replies with a huff.
LQ glances at Cylver, "I know, but at least none of us are alone right? I know it's a lot, but it'll be okay." She says, trying to be comforting and supportive.
As you continue on your trip, you notice the air getting drier and warmer. A slight wind picks up, tossing bits of sand and dessert debris around as you make your way to Dodge Canyon.
"So...aside from the curse, are there other things to watch out for in the Badlands?" Lilac asks.
Sunny nods his head, "Like a lot of places, the Badlands are home to many creatures. Most of whom remain out of sight unless you go looking for them. We did have trouble with some kind of monster, but we didn't get a real good look at it. That's why we had to go get supplies. Our expedition lost a large amount of equipment when our first dig site was attacked by the huge creature. As far as we know, that creature has taken up residence in the dig site that we abandoned. There was dust and rocks flying everywhere, so I didn't get a real good look at it while it was attacking us, but it was massive and seemed to have a long snake like body." He explains as they make their way through the hot, rocky desert.
Verdant keep itching her nose as the air got drier, "Why is my nose itching so much?" She asked just before covering her mouth to block a violent sneezing fit. A moment later, she had it back under control.
LQ takes out a hankie and hands it Verdant, "Here ya go. It's really dusty out here, so it's probably irritating your nose and stuff. We should probably get ourselves ready for whatever we might find. Just take it and tie it around your face like this, and it should help a little bit." She says, showing Verdant what she means by taking out another piece of cloth and tying it around her own face to block the dust from getting in her mouth and nose.
"That sounds scary!" Lilac exclaims.
Sunny nods again, "It was something alright. Anyways, don't worry, we're not going there."
Lilac lets out a sigh of relief.
Eventually the wagon arrives at the very foot of the mountain range, and you see a tall canyon with vertical rock walls rising up on either side of the bumpy road you've been traveling along. The wagon approaches the entrance and continues along the road, now made narrow by the steep cliffs. You can see smashed rocks littering the sides of the canyon.
FWOOSH! Suddenly you hear a crackling sound, and a spark of magic energy explodes like a firework in front of the wagon! One of the wagon-ponies seems to disappear before your eyes, but then you notice a tine pony-shaped statuette bounce off the ground and land next to you.
Caught off guard and unbalanced, the remaining wagon-pony careens off to the side of the canyone and crashes into the rock wall!!
Lilac quickly gets airborne as the rocks come tumbling down.
Seeing the danger incoming, Verdant tries to get a hold of Lollipop and pull her to safety.
As soon as the pony disappeared, you all realized just in time that the cart was going to crash. Lilac is able to fly away before it impacts against the rocks.
Cylver senses the danger and leaps off the cart before it crashes, while Verdant grabs LQ and gets them both out of the way of the run away wagon.
Lilac flies toward Sunny and snatches him up before anything bad happened.
While everypony manages not to get smashed into the wall of rock, Lilac notices that Sunny is unconcious. As the dust settles you all hear a deep rumbling coming from all around you, boulders are beginning to fall into the canyon!
You all realize that you will have to get the wagon moving again to avoid becoming pony pancakes!
Just as you are all getting back up on your hooves after the crash, there's a rock falling directly above you.
Hearing the noise and seeing the rocks beginning to fall above them, LQ quickly grabs Cylver and leaps out of the way of the rocks.
Looking over at Cylver she says, "I'm sorry, I just reacted. We need to get this wagon moving again and get outta here." LQ states as she looks around nervously.
Verdant looked about and saw an opening. Pushing off, the Pegasus flapped her wings rapidly to avoid the rocks.
With Cylver out of the way of the falling rock, she uses her magic to keep it from falling on Lilac. The other wagon pony, grabs Sunny as well as the little statuette and gets out of the way of the falling rock, while Verdant is unable to find a safe way out from under the tumbling boulders with everything seeming to fall at the same time.
As the dust settles from that rock slide, Verdant finds herself climbing out of a pony shaped hole in the ground with stars swimming above her head.
Knowing there is no time to rest as the rumbling of the rocks continues, you rush back to the wagon to try and get it moving again, so you can get through the treacherous Canyon of doom.
Setting Sunny in the back of the wagon as he seems a bit dazed, the other wagon puts the statuette in his satchel and starts hitching himself back to the battered wagon, "We're gonna need help to get out of here. We need one of you to help me pull, and someone else to steer. Someone to tell us where the rocks are falling from, might also be helpful and this point." He says loudly above the sound of the rumbling rocks.
LQ hurries to the wagon and starts hitching herself up to it, "I can help pull, if someone else can help steer."
"I can keep an eye out for rocks," Lilac offers once they get settled back into the wagon.