Friends We Made Along The Way

"What on earth?" Pandora muttered as she tried opening the chest. Aphrodite shrugged.

"Could it be rusted shut or something?" Aphrodite asked.

Pandora shrugged and sighed. "Probably, who knows how long it was down there," she replied.

The two mares stared at the chest, debating their options. 

"I can see if anyone at home can open it," Pandora suggested.

Aphrodite snorted. "Well I'm coming with you, I want my half," she said.

Pandora shrugged. "Suit yourself, but you are helping carry this thing," she replied. 

The two mares lugged the chest, taking turns carrying the heavy burden. Poe, having been denied real treasure, sat on Pandora's back playing with his fake coin again. 

"This thing is damn heavy," Pandora said, panting slightly as they took a break. 

Aphrodite nodded, head drooping slightly. "Probably water logged," she replied. 

A rustling in the brush had both mares turning. Apparently they were closer than Pandora thought, as Menodora and Abraxas came through the brush. 

"Hello Abraxas, Menodora," Pandora greeted the pair.

Abraxas trotted up, staring at the chest in wonder. "What is this?" 

Menodora sighed. "Manners, Abraxas," she chided. "A pleasure, who are you?" she asked turning to Aphrodite. 

"I'm Aphrodite, nice to meet you," Aphrodite replied. 

Abraxas greeted Aphrodite, a bit embarrassed. 

Turning back to Pandora, Abraxas asked "Does this have anything to do with that treasure map you found?" 

Menodora glanced between Abraxas and Pandora and sighed. "Knew that wasn't your idea," she muttered. 

Pandora nodded slightly. "I found the treasure, and well. It was fake. Found another map inside though, that led to a spot on a sunken ship. Aphrodite has a water form, she helped me get it out," she explained.

"And this is the treasure?" Menodora asked, a bit of curiosity in her eyes. 

"Yeah," Aphrodite responded. "But it wont open." 

The four contemplated the chest for a few moments, before Abraxas grinned. "Well lets get it back to the others! Maybe they can help!" 

Aphrodite and Pandora looked at each other for a few moments. "Fine, but you are carrying it," Pandora said, and Aphrodite laughed. 

The group of two that had now become four set off again, Abraxas lugging the chest with him.

Avia was the only one in the clearing that Pandora and her children called home when they arrived. "Whats that?" Avia said with excitement, bouncing toward them. 

"Treasure!" Abraxas said excitedly as he dropped the chest with a thud. A dull clink came from inside as whatever lay within it shifted. 

"Oh fun!" Avia said, skidding to a stop. 

"Pan found a map, then Ma and I went on a treasure hunt but didn't find anything! But Pan found something, she found another map! Then she and Aphrodite here got this chest!" Abraxas summed up in a hurried breath. 

Menodora sighed softly at her sons exuberance. 

"The idea of treasure is silly," she said, then noticed Abraxas's hopeful eyes. "But you never know," she added after a moment. 

Avia peered down at the chest, nudging it a few times. "How does it open?" she asked.

"Great question," Pandora said with a shrug. 

The five of them contemplated it for a few moments. 

"Oh I know!" Avia exclaimed. "Cyrenne could do it, she tinkers with a lot of things!" 

Pandora looked questioningly at the others. Menodora and Aphrodite exchanged shrugs, neither knowing the mare in question. But Abraxas's eyes lit up.

"Oh for sure!"

"What can it hurt?" Aphrodite replied, and Pandora nodded. 

"We can give it a shot," Pandora replied. 

Abraxas lugged the chest again, and the group set back off. 

It was a bit of a hike, but they found the mare grazing in a small meadow surrounded by brush. Menodora had opted to stay back, Abraxas with her. Neither wanted to squeeze through the brush.

Pandora and Aphrodite took a moment to pick the leaves and twigs from their hair, but Avia just bounced over to the purple mare.

"Cyrenne!" Avia cried out, and the mare looked up with a smile. 

"Hello, Avia, a fine morning today," she greeted. "Who have you brought with you?"

Avia grinned in response, and gestured to each as she spoke. "This is my momma, Pandora, and her friend Aphrodite!"

Cyrenne nodded to each in greeting. 

"What brings you here today?" Cyrenne asked. 

"We found a chest," Aphrodite supplied. "A treasure chest, but it wont open."

The pair dragged the chest forward to where Cyrenne and Avia stood. Avia and Aphrodite moved back a bit, all three mares watching as Cyrenne inspected the chest. Poe flapped over, landing on Pandora's back, also eager for a look at the treasure. 

"Oh, this won't be too difficult," Cyrenne said, fiddling with the lock. A few seconds later a click sounded, and she pushed the chest open. 

The three mares leaned forward eagerly, each craning their necks for a look at what lay within. 

"Oh," Cyrenne said with a note of surprise. "There seems to be a-"

Pandora snorted loudly. "Don't tell me its another map!"

Cyrenne chuckled. "Another map," she confirmed. 

Groans were heard all around, with the exception of Avia who laughed. 

"Great, just great," Pandora muttered. 

"Good news is though!" Cyrenne added on. "The coins are real at least."

Pandora shook her head. "I am not doing any more treasure searches," she decided. "The coins will have to do."
Cyrenne let out a laugh. "Guess the real treasure is the friends you made along the way!"