“WOAHHH~ No way!” Came the giddy voice of Supernova Brightshine, the golden Courser trotting over to where the hard, cold rock suddenly transitioned into lush vegetation, an archway made of beautiful, bioluminescent plants marking the entrance.

“Would ya look at that,” Kolga said with wonder, wide eyes scanning the garden before them. As the party trotted into the lush garden, they’d notice their hooves nearly sinking into the ground. The soil, moss, and grass they walked upon was incredibly soft, something that could put a spring into your step.

A sneeze from Pancake brought to attention something they hadn’t caught upon entering the garden, but became glaringly obvious the moment their attention was diverted from its beauty. The pollen in the air was incredibly thick.

Pancake ruffled through his bag–a soft ‘Mrow’ from his cat Miss Buttermilk could be heard as he did so. Soon enough, the Courser pulled out a few old cloths from her satchels, walking over towards Kolga and Nova, handing them their own.

Demonstrating, Pancake finnicked with the cloth to get it to wrap around her face, covering her nose. The cloth wasn’t impenetrable, but it was better than wearing nothing, and would do its job until they made it to the other side of this… strangely grand, subterranean garden.

“Hey, Daere,” Nova called to the white Courser upon wrapping the cloth around his own face. “Isn’t this your thing? I’d thought you’d gallop ahead of us, but you’re hanging to the back.”

Pancake had approached the bay pearl now, handing him a cloth of his own. Daere was glancing to the side, a suspicious look in his eyes–his ears pinned back, his brows furrowed, creasing his face.

“It’s just… strange.” Daere began, their voice slightly muffled through the cloth. “I study flora of all kinds… but this is a garden. Somebody made this place. None of this is naturally occurring.” The courser sighed, finally tuning to meet Supernova’s gaze,”That leads to question… Why was this built in the first place? Why here?”

Supernova squinted in thought, glancing to the side. That is true... it's not like the dungeon would grant one with such scenerey just to grace their eyes. If Nova wasn't mistaken, there was always a trap with these things, right? Like the fight that had been sprung upon them in that grand stadium... they had barely made it out... A shiver went down Nova's spine.

Daere and Nova were both pulled from their conversations as Kolga suddenly spoke up. The dark mare stood tall with a perplexed expression, looking into the eyes--if it could have them--of some shrubbery. 

“These look like Coursers.”

Daere turned towards her with perked ears, alert. With haste, he trotted towards her. One of the bushes was in the shape of a Courser. Daere began to look all around them. It wasn’t just ‘one’ of them, many of the shrubs resembled Coursers. Daere could even make out one rearing back… He let out a sharp gasp of fear and disgust.

There was an eerie silence after Kolga spoke, giving Pancake the chance to hear a slight rustling beneath her. Beneath the ground.

“Come on! We gotta go!” Pancake shouted, lowering their head to push Nova forward, Daere and Kolga, who were ahead of them, took the hint. Running towards the exit as the very ground beneath them became alive.