Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound

by Justin Daniels

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Pinkie Pie, Sex, Human, Anthro, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Pie Sisters, Other, Romance, Original Character
Length: 123709

A single father and his "accursed" daughter find themselves lost in an alternate Earth. Desperate to return home, the two embark on a journey to a kingdom called Equestria, where a pair of fabled goddesses capable of helping them resides.

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Justin was just a single father, struggling to raise his only daughter, Ruby. While they may not be biologically related, she was still the daughter of his future wife, who died while giving birth to her, and even when she was alive, he swore to her he'd treat "their" daughter like his own flesh and blood.

At first, things seemed alright for the small broken family, despite life giving them every bad turn... but on Ruby's eighth birthday, something happened that will forever change their lives... they were pulled into a mysterious light that appeared in the center of their Living Room.

After being mysteriously pulled into a different version of Earth run by mythological creatures along with anthropomorphic Ponies with hands instead of forehooves, Justin woke up remaining as a human, but his daughter Ruby, however, didn't. She became an Alicorn filly, who could potentially have the powers of a princess at an early age. If that were the case, and if ever she loses control of it, she could pose a global threat... a threat that has been felt by most magic users, already.

With the fact that Alicorns are creatures of royalty, she and her father are guaranteed to be targeted by the most evil of individuals, who could use either of them to make bits off of... or worse.

Unaware of several new hidden abilities that this magic new world gave them, the two embarked on a journey, hoping to find a way to go back home... and from their hired bodyguard, Gilded Blade, a Gryphon Mercenary from the land they woke up on, Gryphonia, the best place to go would be Equestria; land of eternal peace and tranquility, run by the rumored goddesses, "Princess Celestia" and "Princess Luna".

WARNING

This story contains mild language, sexual references, blood, gore, medium-core violence, interspecies relationships, death, crude humor, and occasional sad moments. If you are under the age of thirteen, please consider these things carefully! There are chances that the violence in the story may result in the story rating up to "Mature", which could automatically turn invisible from your sight, even if you've "Favorited" it before! If you have trouble finding it in that case, you may have to check the "View Mature" option for your profile by hovering over the "Settings" tab at the top of the page. This story, though tagged with "Sex", will not contain anything more than mere references, and/or situations that lead to the event, which will then be skipped.

With that in mind, I hope you enjoy!

Published 2014-06-11 02:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-25 20:00:32 UTC

Season 1, Episode 1: Clear Skies

Author's Note

The beginning events of the story's prologue (when Justin and Ruby were dragged into the other world) are based one month after the return of Nightmare Moon, or during the events of "Boast Busters". At some point in this storyline, it will cross with the original storyline, which will alter the future events from the official episodes from Hasbro in this timeline, leading to non-canon results (AKA. Something will happen that wasn't in the main story.) What that means is that, while Justin and Ruby aren't in Equestria, the events of the show are still going on like the episodes, only anthro-based, and not in the show's direct order. Then, when they run into each other, the events of the MLP storyline in this story will be altered, sometimes in simple ways, while others in more large-scale proportions, possibly even adding more episodes in-between!

The green text at the end of each chapter leads to the song, "Silence Before the Storm", from the game, "Final Fantasy X". I plan to make a fan-based anime out of this story eventually, and might use that song as the ending credits (also giving the proper credits to Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano, the composers of the FFX album, of course!).

(I think it's awesome, and I'm sure a lot of people will agree on that, as well!)

If you want the music to play without losing this page, you can hold CTRL, and left click the link. It will open the music in a different tab. There will also be moments in the story that have sentences in green italic text. Those words are also links, but they will take you to another person's story that requested that I use the italicized event as a reference to their own story, in a "crossover event" between them, where both parties refer to the other one for a short moment before carrying on with their business. More information on this can be found further below, shortly after the "Copyrights 'n Other Stuff" section.

Copyrights 'n Other Stuff!

This is, in case you didn't notice, a fan-based story for the hit TV show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". I am, in no way, shape, or form, the creator of any of the music, MLP, and all that razzle dazzle, and gain no money from any of this! If you like MLP, and/or the music, please show your support to the ones who properly made it by letting THEM know! If you like my story, and wish for it to develop further, then please let me know!

I do not claim any ownership on any of the characters, except for those I've made up, such as Justin, Ruby, Gilded Blade, and a lot more characters that have yet to be introduced.

I hope y'all can forgive me if the cover art isn't that great. I wasn't really that skilled with drawing, even though I've tried countless times. I will, however, admit that it's improved before, so it can improve as I progress! Also, please be aware that I didn't have a graphics tablet, or anything fancy like that to draw it. The only resources I had was a pencil, paper, a lot of free time, a scanner, and an awesome program called GIMP. (Holding SHIFT while using the paintbrush tool helps... a lot.) :twilightblush:

I also don't ask for a critic, so if you have nothing nice to say, then please kindly keep it to yourself. Thank you!

Crossover Details!

Are you working on a story that could make a potential crossover with this, but need more views? (IE: Based in the same world, but in different areas?) PM me, and I'll probably be able to throw in a reference for you, as long as you throw something in your story in return!

For example:

My Story: "Justin was walking through Ponyville, hearing a few rumors about something big going on. Along the way, he could've sworn he saw a [Link to your story starts] Unicorn with a black mane, and dark gray coat, wearing a white lab coat, covering whatever he was wearing underneath [Link to your story ends], but he decided that the events in the center of town sounded like they were far too important to ignore."

Your Story: "Dark Mane couldn't stand the thought of his nephew moving into his house, so he decided to walk away from Ponyville, and into the Everfree Forest for a few moments, putting on his white lab coat as he left. Out of the corner of his eye, he could've sworn he saw a [Link to my story starts] tall bipedal creature like him, only it looked like it had a larger beard, little to no fur, and a yellow jacket on. It greatly resembled a human, the creatures found in the local myths that Lyra Heartstrings constantly spoke about [Link to my story ends], but he decided to ignore it, since he was already dishing in way too much than he could chew at the time."

A word of advice, though! My character will eventually couple with Pinkie Pie, so any romances with her in your story would probably lead to a conflict in mine. If that were the case, I could still make a reference in my story where your character appears in a dream she has, or something similar.

Then again, Pinkie IS known to break the fourth wall on a daily basis, so she could probably say something on the nature of "talking to herself on the phone, while her other self informs her that SHE is dating [Your Character], while Pinkie in my world claims that she is dating my character, and that she must be in a [Link to your story starts] different timeline than ours [Link to your story ends]." When she brings it up, however, everyone in our worlds will just ignore it as her just being "Pinkie Pie", except for my character in my story, who would believe that anything is possible in a world filled with magic. Your character, of course, can respond however he/she wishes to respond, since that one would be on YOUR story, after all!

Okay, folks! As Pinkie Pie would say, "Enough chit-chat! Time is Candy!" Enjoy the show, My Little Bronies!

Season 1, Episode 1: Clear Skies

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 1

Clear Skies

By: Justin Daniels

Inside the Gryphonia Airship, Number 29

The inside of the airship was nothing short of spacious, according to Justin. He was sitting in a black wooden seat, trimmed with gold on the edges, rested below a black, large, and square-shaped table, which also had a golden trim around it's edges, with an added detail to it; a golden eagle-shaped carving in the center, resembling the flag that belonged to Gryphonia, the land that the massive airship departed from about a month ago. Around the table were seven other chairs, excluding the one Justin was sitting in, that resembled said one in both shape, and color, with two on each end. The entire setup was in the center of the huge room he was in.

The flooring was a light brown, with a dark brown square-shaped pattern on the edges of the floor, where the darker wood raised one foot over the brass and gold-colored walls. On the wall that blocked outside the room, however, was a large window that covered most of the wall space. The window was transparent only to those inside, however, and on the other side of the wall, the room was concealed to look like just another wall.

Most of his and Ruby's friends that they made from Gryphonia stayed in Skyhaven, the Capital City of the high-rising kingdom. One of their friends even chose to follow them! He was a Gryphon Mercenary named Gilded Blade. Despite the usual 7 foot heights of the other gryphons, he was a lot more taller, standing at 8'2, while Justin was about 6'1, and his muscles made him twice as wide as Justin, who's arms were about six inches thick. Gilded Blade's arms were about two feet thick, which gave him the "Muscle-Builder" shape that most humans could only dream of having.

Gilded, like most Gryphons, had an eagle-like head, with white feathers from the very tip of the scalp to the bottom of his neck, but on his chest, the feathers shaped upwards, forming a very thin "V"-like pattern, while the rest of his body was covered in brown fur, excluding below his elbows.

From the bottoms of the elbows, his arms and hands were a bright orange color like his beak, and instead of five fingers, his hands had four claws, with two of them that act like thumbs. He had golden eyes that, if shrunk, would make a cat-like diamond shape.

His legs were shaped like a lion's, with the claws retracted in the pads of his paws, and his shins bending further back than a human's. He also stood on his toes like a cat.

He was wearing a dark gray kilt, with a golden belt that strapped it on. Below it, he was wearing white briefs. His chest had a harness on it, with two large shoulder pads that had three spikes on the ends of them, each pointing up, and all at the very tips of the pads, far enough to avoid any contact with his head, even if his arms were lifted all the way up. On his wrists were a pair of iron bracers, which were padded underneath with a thick layer of cotton, wrapped in cloth. Wrapped around his shins were light cloth legwarmers that were guarded with iron leg protectors that ended where his paws were, and covered the fronts of his shins, up to where his knees were. The legwarmers, however, lowered to the centers of his paws, giving his claws enough room to move in and out of the pads of his paws.

Justin sighed and, after looking towards Gilded while lowering the atlas he was given by the locals of Skyhaven, asked in a concerned voice, "Hey, Gilded. I was wondering how much longer it should take us to get to Equestria? I'm kinda worried Ruby might get bored in here quickly at this rate..."

Gilded looked at Justin, and smiled. Then, in a tomboyish accent (the one where he could "voice the leader of a 70's gang of jocks", as Justin would put it), he replied, "Hey, relax, Justin! That's why we gave Ruby all of those toys!" Then, he looked outside through a window, and sighed, with his smile fading quickly. "Looks like we're flyin' over Druathica, though, so it'll probably be about another three months."

That wasn't the news Justin wanted to hear. As soon as he heard that, he groaned, and rested his forehead in his hands, then just sat there silently for what felt like a few minutes. Shortly after his minute of depression, he felt a small arm wrap around him. He lifted his head slightly, only to find his daughter, Ruby, hugging him. Seeing that it was his daughter embracing him in a hug, he couldn't help but smile, as he found his arms wrap around her, avoiding her wings, of course, while gently brushing the back of her mane, avoiding the golden horn on her forehead.

"C'mon, Daddy! It can't be that bad, right? At least Mr. Gilded Blade is with us! Maybe he can tell us a little bit about this place, while we go exploring some more! I hear there's a party going on in the 'Lobby', after all!" Ruby said, sounding much more cheerful than anyone else that was on board. Justin couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.

"Alright, honey." Justin said, trying to hide his disappointment. "First, though, I need to make sure you look alright! Don't forget, it's important that we hide your wings when you're in public! Oh, and they're starting to come loose, again... here, let me help you." With that, he gently tucked his daughter's golden colored wings back under her dress.

He wasn't sure why they kept on popping out of place, but he decided to just go on about saying it was just a natural reflex for wings to try to stay exposed, due to the discomfort of being tucked into clothing.

After a few minutes of quick inspecting, Justin smiled when he saw the progress on his daughter's appearance. She was a golden coated Alicorn, with a red mane, red eyes, and a dark golden colored dress that lowered to her knees.

On her hooves were black buckled-down slippers, rested on top of a pair of long white stockings that raised just below her knees.

Rested in her hands was a pair of stuffed dolls that were shaped like a bunny and a baby alligator.

"Okay, now I need to get a good look at myself in the mirror, make sure everything's in order, and then we can go. Alright?" Justin asked, to which his daughter nodded with a groan. Checking himself out in the mirror, Justin smiled at his looks, while giving himself a slight whistle. "Who'd have thought a month's worth of work can tone my muscles THIS well? Even when all the stuff was so light!" He asked, as he looked in the mirror once more.

He was a Caucasian human, with a light tan, due to the work he's been doing in the sunlight. He also had light blue eyes, and long brown hair which swooped over his right eye, with a medium-sized beard that covered his face, and lowered down to the bottom of his neck.

On his chest, he wore a modified yellow hooded jacket, made of a lightweight cotton-like thread, but the modifications made it resemble a trench coat.

On the bottoms of the sleeves were fingerless leather gloves, while on his fingers were four rings, one made of ruby, one sapphire, one emerald, and one diamond.

He wore thin blue jeans, which covered his whole legs, and even lowered halfway down the brown hiking boots he wore on his feet.

Below his jacket, he wore a dark gray long-sleeved shirt, which was slightly torn here-and-there, but patched up in some spots.

Wrapped around his right shoulder was a leather shoulder pad, which was attached by a belt that diagonally wrapped below his left arm, but above the right, and wrapped around his right armpit for support.

Around his waist, he wore a large leather belt that was originally intended for minotaur use, but Justin felt the extra protection would be nice.

Rested on his left hip, attached directly to the belt, was a large, magically enchanted, modified saddlebag. The modifications allow it to carry as much objects as Justin wanted, and it wouldn't make the bag bulge, or shift it's weight.

On the back of the belt, Justin had a longsword sheathed on the right, with a shortsword sheathed on the left, both of which had golden hilts, and was sheathed in dark brown sheaths that was made out of leather.

Rested on the back of his jacket, he had a medium-sized wooden buckler, about three feet in diameter, that had a metal ring around it. The buckler was hooked onto the center of the shoulder pad's belt.

Below the buckler, he had a large wooden staff hanging in the opposite direction of the shoulder pad, rested in a "c"-shaped loop built specifically for it to easily clip on and off. It was angled to where the top of the staff was visible behind Justin's left shoulder, while the lower half went slightly lower than the area behind Justin's right knee.

Giving himself one last look in the mirror, Justin turned around, and started to leave, only to be stopped by the sighting of a distant airship. "Huh... another ship? Isn't this route intended for one ship each? ...Eh, must be from another location." He thought to himself, before brushing the thought off, and heading outside the door of his room.

When he reached the hallway that led to the main lobby, he smiled sheepishly at his daughter, who looked slightly annoyed at him. "Daddy! Why do you wear that stuff all the time?! We're safe in here, you know!"

Scratching the back of his head with his right hand, he replied, "Yeah, I know... still, though! You never know for sure, until it happens!" A few seconds after that, the father and daughter ended up rambling on about how "overprotective" he seems to be to her, which she often ended up complaining about, since he rarely gives her freedom to do anything herself.

Gilded sighed, and placed the palm of his right claw on his forehead. "If you two are done arguing, can we go on into the lobby?" After he asked that, the two looked back at him, and smiled sheepishly, before nodding. Then, with Justin in front, the three headed back into the lobby, all while Gilded remained in the back of the line, looking around uneasily. Silently, he muttered beneath his breath, "I only hope they didn't follow me..."

The Main Lobby

When they made it back into the main lobby, they were surprised to see a lot of guests in there, celebrating some sort of party. From the looks of it, it was the honeymoon of a lucky couple; a Unicorn man, and a Wyvern woman. With a smile, Justin walked up to them, and congratulated them, which they appreciated highly, considering he was a creature of myths. They said to each other, "If even the legends of mythology agree to our relationship, then who are we to argue, eh?" It seemed that the party was open house, meaning Justin, Ruby, and Gilded Blade were free to join them. Of course, due to the long nature of the trip, they agreed without even the slightest bit of hesitation.

The couple told them that they were planning to move to a small town in Equestria, known as "Ponyville", since there were rumors of a dragon being allowed to live there. The thoughts of such hospitality gave Justin hope that perhaps there are plenty of towns out there that could welcome his daughter and he with open arms. He looked towards Ruby, but noticed that she wasn't around him. Before he could ask where she went, though, the couple pointed behind him, while giggling. Following their finger, Justin sighed with relief when he saw Ruby in a group of children of different races, and smiled when he saw that she was getting along with them quite nicely.

Suddenly, Justin felt someone nudging on his right arm, which instinctively made him look to see who it was. It was Gilded Blade, but he had a slightly worried look on his face. Silently, he motioned Justin to follow him, which he did, excusing himself from the table in the process. He was about to get Ruby, but he stopped himself, and silently murmured, "Nah... she needs to spend some time with people of her own peer group." With that, he followed Gilded Blade into a long hallway, only for the two of them to stop in a corner.

"Look, Justin... I need to be honest with you. I don't feel comfortable in here." Gilded said, which won Justin a confused look. "I know what you're thinkin'. How can a Gryphon feel uncomfortable, when he's naturally born to fly. Well, it isn't necessarily about the height that worries me." He looked around the corners of the hallway, before whispering. "I think we're being hunted."

Now, Justin's confused expression turned into a worried one. "You don't suppose it's that ship in the distance, do you?" Now, it was Gilded who had a worried look on his face.

"Ship?! What ship?!" Justin explained his finding earlier, which made Gilded look more nervous. "Justin... we have connections through every harbor! If you really saw a ship, then that means they aren't supposed to-" Before he could finish his sentence, the ship began to shake furiously. Quickly, Gilded rushed towards the nearest window, and peeked out of it, only to turn back around, facing Justin.

Justin saw his eyes were widened, and his pupils were shrunk, confirming that he was panicking. "What's going on, Gilded?!" he asked, now also on the verge of panic.

With a gulp, Gilded looked Justin in the eyes, and replied, "The Black Wing Pirates!"

Outside the Gryphonia Airship...

On the bottom of the airship, there was a large amount of black smoke coming from one of it's rooms. Beside it floated another airship, only this one was made of an iron-like substance, and had a black flag floating on the top. In the matter of seconds, the top half of the ship folded downward, into the lower half, leaving a few meter-long rails on top of a wooden surface. Standing on the wooden surface was a large group of gryphons, diamond dogs, and two minotaurs. All of the crew wore black leather vests, pants, and boots. They also wore red headbands with the pattern of a black bird stitched in the center of them. One of the minotaurs, however, wore a black hat, with a red outline on the center that shaped into a bird like the others.

When they were within range, they gently glided next to their victims, while the minotaur with the hat stepped close to the balcony, and lifted up a massive greatsword. Then, once the crew had the passengers' attention, the minotaur said in a microphone, which was connected to a loud amplifier, "Alright listen up, all of ya! We are the Black Wings, and we're gonna only ask ya once... come to our ship nicely, and we MIGHT just let ya live! Refuse, and ye'll all take a nice long nap... permanently!" The minotaur gave out a loud chuckle, while the doors to the Gryphonia Airship opened, followed by a long drawbridge attaching the two ships together through magnetic power. After it was stable enough, the passengers slowly crossed it, one-by-one, carrying a bunch of goods with them, and all appearing panicked, excluding one. That very one just happened to be Justin, who was carrying Ruby in his arms, instead of bags of treasure.

He had a serious expression on his face, even managing to glare at the minotaur with the hat, who walked up to them with a menacing smile. Ruby, with tears in her eyes, looked up at Justin, and whispered, "Daddy, I'm scared!"

For a quick moment, Justin looked at his daughter, and smiled, while gently whispering, and cooing at her. "Shh, it's gonna okay, honey. I won't let anything hurt you!" When he finished whispering to her, he suddenly halted his speaking, and looked at the minotaur, who was now standing five meters away from him, still smiling menacingly.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" the minotaur asked. Justin didn't say anything, but merely shook his head, which caused the minotaur to glare, and yell. "Do you even realize who I am?!" Again, Justin shook his head, which annoyed the minotaur even more. "Well, then! Allow me to-"

"I'm new here, so I don't really know who you are. All I can gather is that y'all are a bunch of pirates, and judging from how many people here are afraid of y'all, I'd say you're quite famous. Again I say, though, I'm new here, and haven't really heard about you before." Justin interrupted him, but instead of winning another glare and yell, the minotaur merely laughed, followed by his crew.

Justin saw him walking closer, which made Justin place Ruby on the ground behind him, while telling her things'll be alright. Then, he turned towards the minotaur, and extended his right hand, which caught a lot of people by surprise. "Nice to meet you. Name's Justin. Yes, I'm not from around here. No, I'm not a monster. Now, will you please just calm down?"

The minotaur raised an eyebrow, and sighed, before lowering Justin's hand with his left finger and thumb. "I think you've got the wrong idea here. You see, I'm Captain Iron-Hoof, and I'm what you'd call a pirate. This," he pointed his massive sword towards the others, "is my crew. We're not here to discuss pleasantries, either! We're here to loot you all, and take you all as our prisoners!" At this point, he was standing over Justin, who's head reached his chest.

Before Justin could respond to Iron-Hoof, a loud shriek caught his attention, and made his heart rate go up by a landslide. He turned around, and quickly began rushing towards his daughter, who was being dragged against her will by a bulky black-coated diamond dog. "Hey! Leave her alone!" Justin yelled, catching the diamond dog by surprise. He was about twenty meters from Justin, but Justin was lowering that number quickly.

When he was within range, however, he was quickly lifted off his feet by none other than Iron-Hoof himself, who was holding him in one hand; is left one, of course. He smirked, and held Justin over the edge of the railing, by the neck. Hearing Justin's choking noises, Gilded Blade stepped up, and yelled, "Put him down, Iron-Hoof!"

Iron-Hoof stopped for a moment, and turned around, ignoring the continued choking noises Justin was making, and smiling menacingly at the angry gryphon. "Well well... look who we have here! Gilded Blade!" Then, his smile turned into a glare, while he growled between his teeth, "Long time, no see." He spat on the ground in front of Gilded Blade, before continuing. "If I remember correctly, YOU were the one that killed my brother!" As he said "YOU", he pointed his sword at Gilded, before pulling Justin back over the rails, allowing him to catch his breath.

Gilded grinned slyly at the angry minotaur, before raising one of his claws in the air... one that Justin instantly recognized the meaning of... it was, ironically, the middle claw. Apparently Iron-Hoof also caught the meaning, since he literally exhaled smoke through his nostrils. "You forget, Iron-Butt... it was YOU who betrayed the Mercenaries, and it was YOU who invited your brother to do your dirty work!" He lowered his middle claw, before continuing. "Your brother tried to kill me, so I only did what was necessary!"

"The necessary thing you should've done was die!" Iron-Hoof yelled, now stomping towards Gilded. When he was within reach, he stopped for a moment, and sheathed his sword on his back. Then, after cracking his knuckles, the other minotaur held onto Gilded's arms, which met with very little resistance.

When Gilded was completely pinned, Iron-Hoof raised his right hand and, with all his might, swung his fist at the left side of Gilded's face. When it collided, a string of blood ended up flying into the air, while Gilded yelled in pain, and just a second after the punch, he lowered his head, with a few drops of blood falling from his face and beak.

Then, he slowly lifted his head up, glaring sharply at the laughing minotaur captain, while breathing heavily; unnervingly large portions of blood lowering from his forehead, and circling his left eye, along with more blood below, and on top of, his beak.

After about ten seconds of silence, Iron-Hoof lifted his right hand up again, but this time, it was stretched out, and hovering over his left shoulder. Then, he swung his hand again with the same amount of force, resulting in a painful back-handed slap to Gilded's right face. The impact of this one made him loudly grunt in pain, while the crew laughed again. Justin was about to rush up there and help Gilded escape, but ended up being, quite literally, dog-piled onto the ground.

After turning around, and grinning at the commotion that was going on, Iron-Hoof chuckled. "Well, I'd guess the fun's over, now!" With that, he slowly drew his sword again, and raised it up, preparing to deal the final blow.

"Please! Don't hurt him!" Ruby screamed from the background, which caused Iron-Hoof to turn his head over his right shoulder, getting a good look at the screaming filly. Then, his eyes widened when he saw her back through a mirror that was conveniently placed near the wall that led to the inside of the ship.

"Wings, AND a horn?!" Iron-Hoof asked in a bewildered tone. "So that would mean..." Then, he gasped, and pointed his left finger at her. "You're an Alicorn!" That sudden statement caused the rest of the crew to gasp.

"I-I'm a... a what?!" She asked, now slowly backing away.

With a grin, Iron-Hoof lowered his sword, and left it to fall to the ground, before slowly approaching Ruby. Justin, however, was yelling for him to get away from her, but he wasn't listening. "You know... it's the royalty that fetches the best prices!" Iron-Hoof said in a chuckled manner, which made Ruby only back away further.

Suddenly, Justin used his Ruby Ring to burn the paws of the Diamond Dogs that were holding onto him, before rushing towards the captain, hands on the handles of his swords, prepared to strike. Before he could even cover half the ground, however, the other minotaur quickly grabbed him by the neck, and raised him off his feet again. This time, however, there was nobody to stop him from his intentions, which was given a nod from Iron-Hoof.

While slowly walking Justin to the edge of the rails, he lifted him over his head, giving Justin the chance to watch his daughter get picked up against her will by a group of Diamond Dogs. With a grin, the minotaur said in a menacing tone, "Don't worry, mate! We'll take good care o' her!" before throwing Justin over the rails, as he watched the two ships fly away. Looking down, Justin's eyes widened, as he just then noticed that they were about tens of thousands of feet in the air, and he was quickly lowering that number by every passing second.

After slightly crying, he closed his eyes, and prayed that his daughter would be safe. When he was nearing the ground level, the sounds of the pirates laughing at him while he was thrown from the rails still haunted his mind. Before then, though, he saw his whole life flash before his eyes. "Huh... I guess those rumors ARE true..." he thought to himself. A few short seconds later, everything went dark.

To Be Continued...

Season 1, Episode 2: Hunting the Hunters

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 2

Hunting the Hunters

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"Hey, Gilded. I was wondering how much longer it should take us to get to Equestria?" Justin asked.

Gilded sighed. "Looks like we're flyin' over Druathica..."

"C'mon, Daddy! It can't be that bad, right? At least Mr. Gilded Blade is with us!" Ruby told Justin, embracing him in a hug.

"Huh... another ship? Isn't this route intended for one ship each?" Justin thought to himself.

Gilded looked around uneasily, and muttered to himself, "I only hope they didn't follow me..."

"Ah, well my wife and I are moving to Ponyville! Rumor has it, they even allowed a DRAGON to live there!" The stallion said, with his left arm wrapped around his wyvern wife's shoulders.

"I think we're being hunted." Gilded whispered to Justin.

The ship started shaking.

"What's going on, Gilded?!" Justin asked in a worried tone.

"The Black Wing Pirates!" Gilded said in a worried tone.

"Alright listen up, all of ya! We are the Black Wings, and we're gonna only ask ya once... come to our ship nicely, and we MIGHT just let ya live! Refuse, and ye'll all take a nice long nap... permanently!" Iron-Hoof said in a mic connected to an amplifier.

"Daddy, I'm scared!" Ruby said, while being held by Justin.

"Shh, it's gonna be okay, honey. I won't let ANYTHING hurt you!" Justin cooed to her.

"Do you even realize who I am?!" Iron-Hoof yelled towards Justin.

"I'm new here, so I don't really know who you are..." Justin told Iron-Hoof.

"...I'm Captain Iron-Hoof..." Iron-Hoof said, while pointing a giant sword at the crew behind him. "This is my crew! We're not here to discuss pleasantries, either! We're here to loot you all, and take you all as our prisoners!"

"Hey! Leave her alone!" Justin yelled at a diamond dog who was trying to take Ruby away.

Iron-Hoof lifted Justin over the edge of the rails to the ship.

"Put him down, Iron-Hoof!" Gilded yelled.

"Well well... look who we have here! Gilded Blade!" Iron-Hoof's smile turned into a glare, while he growled between his teeth, "Long time, no see." He raised his sword at Gilded. "...YOU were the one that killed my brother!"

Gilded raised his middle claw at Iron-Hoof. "You forget, Iron-Butt... it was YOU who betrayed the Mercenaries, and it was YOU who invited your brother to do your dirty work!" He lowered his middle claw. "Your brother tried to kill me, so I only did what was necessary!"

Iron-Hoof punched Gilded in the face, then backhanded him. Afterwards, he lifted his sword, and raised it up high.

"Please! Don't hurt him!" Ruby screamed, catching Iron-Hoof's attention.

Iron-Hoof gasped, and pointed his left finger at Ruby. "You're an Alicorn!"

"Get your ugly hands away from my d- ACK!" Justin yelled to Iron-Hoof, who was slowly approaching Ruby, before getting choked, and lifted up by the other minotaur.

"Don't worry, mate! We'll take good care o' her!" The second minotaur whispered to Justin, before throwing him down the ship.

Justin closed his eyes, as his life flashed before his eyes, up to the latest moments.

"Huh... I guess those rumors ARE true..." Justin thought to himself, right as everything went dark.

Everspring Jungle | Somewhere near the center of Druathica...

"A human? Within the Everspring? And here, I thought you knew everything!" A masculine voice said, followed by a feminine groan.

"Zecallo! Have the years blinded you? Come see for yourself, and you'll know it is true!" The female replied, clearly in an annoyed tone. Then, the sound of hoofsteps could be heard, and from the sound of it, they were getting closer.

Suddenly, the hoofsteps made a sudden stop, while the male gasped. "Zeena! Why did you bring him here?! Just look at him! He looks injured, my dear!" Then, Justin's vision started to slowly come back, while he began to groan in pain, which made the couple gasp, as he began to slowly sit up.

"Where am I?" He asked, to which he turned his head towards the source of the two voices; a couple Zebras, one a male, and one a female.

The one that stood closest to him was the female, who had blue eyes, a leafy bra with golden threads keeping it together, a leafy kilt, held by a golden belt, and a large variety of golden necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

The male looked almost the same in masculine form, only his eyes were green, and he didn't have a bra on... or a shirt, for that matter. He did, however, have a lot more necklaces wrapped around his neck, each of which holding different stones on them, through loose golden strands of the chains of the necklaces.

After gathering his senses again, Justin noticed that he was no longer outside, but rather, inside a tribal-looking hut, and was lying in a bed made of hay and leaves. "I must be in their house... but where IS their house, though?" Suddenly, he gasped. "Wait a minute... Where did the ships go?! Where's Ruby?!" He thought to himself, right as he started to panic, with his heart rate jumping up again.

Seeing the panicked look on the human's face, the two zebras quickly rushed up to him, while the female spoke, "That look you give, it's troubled, no? What's happening that makes you feel like so?"

Justin, now remembering that the Zebras spoke in rhyme, replied, "I need to find my daughter! She's still on that airship! Have you seen where it went?!" And now, both of the zebras' eyes were widened, while their mouths hung open. "What?"

"You fell from the ships that sail in the sky? How in the world did you not even die?!" The male zebra asked.

The next thing Justin knew, they started talking to each other in another language... a language Justin has already learned thanks to the reading he did in Gryphonia. He figured out the language was Druathican, as pointed out by the accent they spoke in. What surprised him was the fact that when they spoke Druathican, they didn't rhyme.

"Zecallo! Why would you even ASK that kind of question?! Of course he didn't come from that ship! A fall like that could make even Princess Celestia die, if she didn't have a protection spell on her!" The female zebra asked the male.

"Zeena! If he DIDN'T fall from it, then please tell me why he was unconsciously lying in a crater!" The male replied, unintentionally giving their names to Justin right there. Justin, however, saw that they were arguing, and decided to chime in, hoping to calm things down.

"Actually, I did fall from the airship." Justin said in Druathican, which caught them by surprise. "In fact, I was on a trip to Equestria, when we were ambushed, and I was thrown overboard."

"So, wait... you understand us?!" Zeena asked, to which Justin nodded. This caused both she and Zecallo to blush. "I hope we didn't send you the worst impression... we haven't really been in the best shape since our daughter ran away."

Justin could sense the pang of depression that ran through this household when he woke up, but hearing that statement gave him clairvoyance of their situation. If he was going to find his daughter, he would have to help these zebras find their daughter first. It only seemed logical.

Clearing his throat, Justin asked, "Is there anything you need me to do?"

Zeena, at this point, was already broken into tears, so Zecallo had to answer for them. "Yes... if you ever make it to Equestria, please look for our daughter, Zecora. She said she was going there to make friends who would actually love and tolerate her... but Zeena and I didn't take it seriously, until it was too late."

"Very well, then. Is there a message that I can give her, as proof of how you feel?" Justin asked, to which Zecallo responded by handing him a golden necklace with a small rock in the center that had a sapphire in the center, with a group of emeralds that surrounded it in a sun-shaped pattern.

"If you find her, give her this. It's an ancient family heirloom, handed down by the leaders of our tribe. I am the current leader, and perhaps will remain so... but I feel it is time for me to pass the torch to her. Oh, and if she did happen to make friends in Equestria, then perhaps it is time that we travel there ourselves... but just Zeena and I." Justin raised an eyebrow at that statement, but Zecallo already sensed his confusion, and continued. "After being the leader for so long, I have learned, through my daughter's actions, how much it has been destroying my family. Not to mention the fact that we have no control over our defenses, with our villagers being abducted recently-"

"Wait, your village was raided? By who?" Justin asked, ignoring the language he spoke, since he knew that they could understand him, and that he could understand them.

With a small delay, the two replied in their native tongue, "They called themselves 'Black Wings'... and when they abducted our villagers, they were last seen headed towards the Druathican Grasslands, within the far-eastern side of the island!"

Justin nodded his head, stood from the bed, and picked his saddlebag up from the floor near the left side of the head of the bed, and began walking out the door, picking up his jacket, and fitting it back on his shoulders, followed by him strapping his armor pieces and rings back on, and checking his weapons' conditions. As expected, the swords were bent out of shape badly, so he placed them in his saddlebag, and took out his bow, then wrapped it around his right shoulder, strapping it back into place again.

Once he stepped outside the door, Zecallo grabbed his left shoulder, and said in a worried tone, "You can't be serious! They'll kill you, or everyone in there, if they see you!" Justin, however, pulled his shoulder free, and continued walking.

Before he took five steps, he turned his head to the left, and replied, "Yes, but if I don't go, I may never see my daughter again!" At that, Zecallo's eyes widened, while Zeena stepped beside him.

"Let him go, Zecallo. We may not know him, but I can tell just from looking at his equipment that he knows what he's doing..." Zeena said, while holding onto his right arm. Zecallo, though hesitant at first, nodded, before looking back at Justin.

"Very well... and if you manage to save our village, then we will tell you anything you need to know." Justin nodded, and turned his head forward. Then, after walking down the five steps that led to the ground level, he headed east, carrying his bow in his right hand as he did.

For about an hour, he walked, until he heard a distant sound, the sound of a small branch cracking, which caught his attention. Quickly, he activated the ruby, sapphire, and emerald's powers, which created the "Wind Element", and drew his bowstring back. As he did, a pure white arrow manifested between his fingers, which released a small gust of wind from the tip of the arrowhead. Then, he shot it at the top branch of a tree.

Once it landed, he became surrounded by a white fog, and felt himself quickly get lifted into the air. Unknown to him, though, was that the fog was actually himself, and when he felt like he had been lifted, he was actually transported through the fog as a manifestation of a spirit in the wind, unable to be seen by normal eyes. Once the fog made it to where the arrow landed, he manifested back into his regular form, and found himself standing on top of the branch he shot, while the arrow was no longer there, and didn't even leave a mark where it landed to begin with.

After getting his bearings together, Justin looked down towards where he was standing mere seconds ago, and spotted a diamond dog standing where he just was, holding a jewel-crested golden-handled scimitar with a white blade in his right paw. He appeared to be looking around warily, almost as if he thought he saw a ghost.

"Where are you, beast?!" He asked, now looking around in a circle. "Come on out! I know I saw you standing here!"

Justin smiled slyly, and activated his ruby ring, while pointing his left hand towards his "target". Then, with the snap of his fingers, a branch in the opposite direction of where Justin stood caught on fire, which got the diamond dog's attention. As he turned his head, his eyes widened at the uncommon sight of a fire that just materialized on it's own. At this point, the scimitar in his right paw was shaking, and he was unable to move, due to fear. He didn't even have time to speak when the newly created fire circled around him, and kept him from going anywhere. Then, he was about to cry for help until a bubble formed around him that kept anything from being heard within.

As he yelled, he realized that it was pointless, and sighed, while closing his eyes, and looking down in defeat. It was then that he noticed a pair of legs walking his way, wearing dark brown hiking boots, blue jeans, and had a yellow piece of clothing flowing from behind it. When he looked up, his heart raced even faster when he realized just who it was.

"Y-YOU?! I thought we killed you, already!" It asked, now sounding more angrier than scared.

Justin smirked, and replied, "Well, I guess you thought wrong, then! So, you'll tell me where my daughter is, won't you?"

The diamond dog spat on the ground, and retorted, "You must be outta your mind, freak! What makes you think we even CARE who your daughter is to begin with?!"

Suddenly, Justin's eyes glared daggers at him, while his fists balled up. While doing so, a thought came to his mind... a thought he wanted to try out.

If he was able to survive a fall that was well over a thousand feet in the air, could his strength possibly be greater in this world? To test it out, he walked towards the nearest tree right next to the diamond dog, and cracked his knuckles. Then, with one swing, he punched the tree, which quickly fell to the ground as soon as his fist made contact, leaving only the broken stump that was still planted firmly in the ground.

While Justin was surprised beyond measure, he managed to hide it, and turn towards the diamond dog, who also appeared to be lost for words. Then, Justin walked back towards the diamond dog, and raised his fist again, now aiming at the diamond dog, who closed his eyes in fear. "Now, then... care to rephrase that?" Justin asked, now glaring at the diamond dog again.

The diamond dog, now sweating bullets, gulped, and stuttered, "O-of course! N-now, then... who exactly IS your d-daughter?"

"The one they called an 'Alicorn'!" Justin said through clenched teeth. The diamond dog's eyes widened at that statement, while his sweat continued to pour down. Now growing impatient, Justin lifted the diamond dog through the wind magic, lifting the bubble and the fire that surrounded it in the process, and yelled, "Answer me, mutt!"

Without saying a word, the diamond dog closed his eyes, and pointed his finger towards Justin's right direction, while shaking in fear. "Th-the camp i-is in the far-eastern side of the forest! Y-you can't miss it!"

Justin nodded his head, and began to walk away, before turning his head towards the diamond dog again, and walking back towards him. "Answer me truthfully... what will you do when I release you?" While asking that, Justin walked towards the opposite direction of where he needed to go, while turning the diamond dog around to keep facing him.

With a gulp, the diamond dog replied, "I-I'll probably retire from being a pirate, and try to live a better, honest life!"

Hearing that, Justin sighed, and snapped his fingers, causing the bubble, the fire, and the magic grip he had on the diamond dog to vanish instantly, causing the diamond dog to drop to the ground, which was only six feet below him. While dispelling the diamond dog, Justin also activated an invisibility spell using the same wind magic the arrows used, only he also levitated to avoid any footprints and noises from being heard.

After standing up, the diamond dog looked around, and noticed that Justin was supposedly gone, even though he hovered directly over him. Taking the opportunity that he had, the diamond dog quickly turned towards where he pointed at earlier, and scurried towards it, unaware of the fact that Justin floated smoothly behind him every step of the way.

About five minutes later, the diamond dog began to see a light that shined brightly in the distance. He knew that he was almost home, and was planning on telling his boss his findings right away. Unfortunately for him, Justin already flew past him, and noticed the large wooden walls that surrounded a large fortress that held the familiar "Black Wing" flag on the top of the main gates, which were guarded by pairs of black-feathered gryphons, each wearing red bandanas like the other pirates. The fortress was placed neatly on the top of a distant hill within a large grassland that had bright green grass that flowed like the ocean as far as the eye could see.

Before the diamond dog could leave the shadows of the jungle, and into the open areas of the grasslands, Justin caught him in another bubble spell, which caught the diamond dog by surprise. Before he could scream, he was dragged back several meters out of sight, and placed a few meters on top of a tree. At this time, Justin dispelled his own invisibility, but kept the levitation spell on himself, while he glared at the diamond dog, who couldn't even stop shaking at this point.

"So much for 'better life', huh?" Justin asked, inching closer towards the diamond dog. Before he could get a response, Justin quickly levitated the diamond dog's scimitar, along with it's sheathe, into his hand, drew the blade, and plunged it into the heart of the diamond dog, causing him to shriek in pain, and slowly close his eyes, as his breathing ceased. "You should've done better with your life... I would've spared you, then." Justin whispered, before pulling the blade out, and cleaning it with water magic. Then, he used his emerald ring to make the nearest tree that he stabbed the diamond dog next to lift the corpse with a group of vines that grew on it, and tie the corpse midway through the air, rested on the side of the tree facing the fortress's direction.

When the deed was done, Justin drew another wind arrow, and shot it into the top of a tree on the outskirts of the forest. Before landing, though, he turned himself invisible again, so that when he landed, he didn't even appear to be there.

He quickly, yet quietly, dug through his saddlebag, and pulled out a telescope that he got from an archaeologist in Skyhaven. Then, he stretched it out, and looked through it, revealing most of what was going on inside the fortress... and what he saw was, by far, a sight he did not enjoy seeing.

In the center of the camp that stood in front of the largest tent of "Fort Black-Wing", a large bonfire was set, and in the center of it, there was a large fire building up. Circling the fire was a group of eight diamond dogs, each of which large and strong-looking ones. They were drinking large portions of what appeared to be Evalonian Ale, undoubtedly imported from the grand city of Evalon, the capital city of The Highlands, home of the Minotaurs and Goats. The diamond dogs were sitting on top of logs, laughing at their recent activities, almost like ruining the lives of the poor souls caught up in their deeds were the funniest things on Earth... Justin felt a hint of rage building inside him when he saw that.

Then, they began mocking their victims by imitating them with their gestures. The first one to imitate a victim stood up, and began flapping his arms around, making a serious-looking face. No doubt they were talking about Gilded Blade there.

The next one to make an imitation gathered a bunch of leaves and twigs, then placed it on his face, and began shivering in a playful, yet mocking way. "That must be their imitation of me." Justin thought to himself, lifting his eye from the telescope. Then, he looked through the telescope again, and the hint of rage skyrocketed at their next imitation.

One of the diamond dogs tied a stick onto his forehead, and began flapping his arms, while running around the fire. Justin knew right then that they were mocking his daughter. They continued mocking the victims, until they looked up in unison, all focusing on an object that rested far above the bonfire. Looking towards where they were facing, Justin's mouth opened widely, and out of pent up aggression, his arms began to shake as he saw that the object they were looking at was, in fact, a cage that hung on a rope over the camp, and contained Ruby, who was visibly crying, and curled up into her knees. Justin could feel tears building up in his own eyes at the sight. "I'll freakin' kill them for this!" Justin whispered to himself through clenched teeth.

When they were done mocking their victims, they all looked back at a stack of cages, all containing at least one "prisoner" that they've captured. Justin instantly recognized two of them right away; the bride and groom from the party. They were sitting together in a corner of the cage, arms wrapped around the respective partner's backs, while looking towards the large tent.

Justin followed their gazes, and gasped louder than he intended when he saw the person who limped outside the large tent. It was barely noticeable due to the large amounts of blood covering it's body, but Justin could tell by how tall it seemed compared to the diamond dogs, that "it" was, in fact, Gilded Blade, and he was covered in cuts and bruises that made his former white feathers, and brown hairs, all appear a dark crimson color. His eyes were halfway closed, and his breathing was visibly weaker. He had an iron chain wrapped around his claws, and were bound by a dark iron lock in-between.

He was being followed by none other than Captain Iron-Hoof himself, who was carrying his giant sword over his shoulders, and grinning menacingly at the injured gryphon. From the looks of it, they were headed towards a large stump, while the diamond dogs that were surrounding the bonfire stood up, and followed. Justin, now barely able to control his anger, quickly levitated over the gates, but slowly landed to avoid causing any unwanted noises.

Then, Justin looked down, and noticed the other "prisoners" that were trapped inside cages near the other wall. They contained a few more of the passengers, but also held a large number of zebras as well. It didn't even take a second for Justin to realize that they were the villagers who were recently abducted. Oddly, though, they all seemed to be slightly more malnourished than the others. "Were these pirates causing starvation to the zebras, too?!" Justin thought to himself, before turning back towards the "Chopping Block". He saw that Iron-Hoof was standing towards a wall, and polishing his blade while a diamond dog wearing a black mask slowly walked towards Gilded Blade, who was restrained to the stump by two more diamond dogs, who were spitting on him, and occasionally slapping him in the face as well. The one wearing the mask was carrying a large axe over his head, which pretty much signified to Justin that he was the executioner.

Standing behind the block was the minotaur that threw Justin off the ship. He was also grinning at Gilded Blade, while holding a large scroll in his hands. Slowly, he unfolded it, and began reading through the list.

After saying a few sentences from the long scroll, the pirates pointed and laughed at Gilded, who only sat there silently, but was clearly giving them a cold glare. Then, the executioner kicked him in the right kidney, which only made Gilded spit even more blood out. Then, the Minotaur continued reading until he reached the end of the long list.

From what Justin could catch from the list, he learned that Gilded Blade wasn't the only one who escaped the mercenaries. The other two who escaped the mercenaries turned out to be his younger sister, named Gilda, and a cyan pegasus named "Rainbow Dash", who apparently moved to Ponyville to escape from that life, once she began reading up on the "Wonderbolts", who were a famous flight team from Equestria. She also didn't like the sight of death, even though she was one of their greatest flyers, exceeding speeds that went faster than sound itself.

Gilda, on the other hand, was more quieter than everyone else, making her the perfect assassin. Unmatched by others in the dark art, she was considered to be brutal, ruthless, and rarely showed any emotion, which even made her own older brother jump when he saw her glare at him. How and why she showed no mercy was mostly due to her history as a "fledgeling", a gryphon child.

She was often bullied in school, which led to her taking an even darker path in life, where she bullied right back, and didn't take kindness from others easily. The only living beings that she ever showed her true kindness was her older brother, and her quickly-gained friend, Rainbow Dash. Anyone else would be better off avoiding her at any cost.

Despite their differences, both Rainbow and Gilda were rumored to take a flight school together, all thanks to Gilded Blade's encouragement. After the two of them passed, they moved into Equestria, where they took their own separate paths. The only other thing rumors spoke of was Rainbow Dash becoming an "Element of Harmony", which Justin learned about by reading.

According to the legends within those books, the "Elements of Harmony" were considered the strongest weapons in this world, even capable of turning the Spirit of Chaos into stone. They were also used to banish "Nightmare Moon" into the very same moon that she raised every night alongside her sister, "Princess Celestia". The Elements consisted of five individuals that symbolizes friendship, with the addition of another one that brings them together.

The first five are known as The Elements of Laughter, Honesty, Generosity, Kindness, and Loyalty, while the one that brings them together is The Element of Magic.

It was clear to Justin where Rainbow Dash would most likely stand out as. To be a mercenary, you would have to be loyal to those who guide you.

Once the Minotaur finished the long list of "Crimes Against Loyalty" that Gilded Blade committed, he lowered the scroll, and nodded his head at the executioner, while grinning at Gilded Blade, who Justin noticed was beginning to weakly cry, with his eyes closed. "Alright, then! Enough is enough!" Justin thought to himself, as he drew his bow, and aimed it at the executioner. Then, he drew a light green crystal arrow, and shot it at the executioner while he raised his axe. When it made it to it's target, it went through the executioner like nothing happened, while Justin jumped from the flag, and materialized in the air while his feet were set in a collision course for the executioner's head.

In the blink of an eye, the executioner was lying in the dirt, with his axe on the ground below Justin's feet. At this point, all eyes were on him, and by the looks of it, there was a mixture of anger, fear, regret, and sorrow in the pirates' eyes, while the prisoners were surprised, and joyful to see someone who might've come to rescue them.

Ruby, however, was excited to see her dad again, even though she was caged very high in the air, and couldn't see any possibilities of her making it out alive. Even so, she didn't care, as she felt that her dad could figure out a way to save her.

As Justin stood silently, and glared at the pirates who stared at him, the entire scene became silent. Then, he reached his right hand behind his back, and drew the scimitar from the sheath that was firmly attached to the back of his belt, then pointed it at Captain Iron-Hoof, who only stared silently at him.

"You?! You?! How in Tartarus did you survive?!" Iron-Hoof asked, with anger clearly building up in his expression. Without a moment to wait for a response, he spat on the ground. "Eh, it doesn't matter, now!" He pointed at the executioner, who was on his feet again, carrying his axe, and said, "Well, what're you waiting for?! Kill him!"

The executioner nodded, turned his head towards Justin, and roared, while charging right after him, axe in hand, and over his head, ready to strike at Justin, who merely stood there waiting.

Then, Justin's mouth formed a sly grin, while he snapped his left fingers together, and formed a fireball over his hand, which managed to distract the executioner long enough for Justin to slice him in the stomach, while firing the fireball at another diamond dog that tried to join in.

"What the- He's using magic?! I thought only Unicorns could conjure up magic like that!" One of the other diamond dogs stated, while side-stepping around Justin, trying to find an opening. When he found one, he quickly lunged forward, while two others lunged from other directions, only for Justin to jump up, and use his wind magic to increase the height by five times, making him leap ten feet in the air, and land on the head of a fourth one who tried to ambush slightly later.

The original three attackers crashed into each other, with one getting impaled by the spear of one of the other two, who dropped their spears afterwards, and drew their own scimitars, and charged after Justin. When in range, the two of them began swinging frantically at Justin, while he merely dodged their blows, and eventually countered one of them by pushing his blade back, and managing to roll between them, while the other one accidentally sliced the parried one in the throat.

Once the second one fell, Justin quickly grabbed his scimitar, and blocked the last of the three's downward slice by crossing his blades together. Then, while rising up, he sliced the pirate's kneecaps, and once he stood over the now fallen pirate, he plunged the two blades into the ground where the pirate's neck was just a second ago, and kicked the fallen pirate's head in front of Iron-Hoof, who merely stood there, and glared even more.

"What's wrong, Iron-Butt? You scared?" Justin mockingly asked, which won another glare from Iron-Hoof.

"Don't you dare call me that!" Iron-Hoof retorted, which only made Justin chuckle lightly.

"What?" Justin asked, shrugging his shoulders, before placing his left hand behind his back, and wave his right hand downwards, and to the right, giving a mocking bow, before speaking in an upper-class, nearly posh-type voice, "Would you rather I called you 'Rammy Copperbottom', instead?"

Surprisingly, even a few of the pirates began to laugh at that statement, but soon their minds went back to what they were supposed to do. Seeing the opportunity of attacking Justin while he's unarmed, five pirates charged at him at once, each carrying cutlasses of their own, while keeping a safe distance from each other, after viewing their impaled friend who was lying next to their headless one. This time, however, instead of standing still and waiting for them, Justin drew his bow again, and shot an arrow in the air, while the group began to surround him.

When they were just a hair away from him, Justin suddenly vanished into a thick smoke of white fog, which moved towards where the arrow landed, which was next to Gilded Blade, who fell unconscious due to the blood loss. Then, Justin shot another arrow, only this one led towards where the cages were. While the arrow flew in the air, Justin quickly picked his gryphon friend up, and waited for the arrow to land.

Once it did, both he and Gilded were engulfed in the wind, and quickly landed where the arrow went, while Justin used fire magic to burn the locks of all the cages in unison. Then, the prisoners rushed out of their cages, and towards Justin and Gilded, who was gently placed on the floor.

Ignoring the pirates who were starting to run towards the large group, Justin looked at the zebras, and asked in Druathican, "Is there a healer over here?"

A female zebra wearing a large number of necklaces of all kinds, with a mane tied in a warrior's knot, replied, "I am the town's healer, brave one! I shall tend to this one's wounds, as long as you protect us!"

Justin nodded, and turned back towards the pirates who were halfway towards where they were. Then, he drew his staff from the hook on the belt that held his shoulder pad, slipped the sapphire ring from his left pointing finger, and quickly attached it to the upper half of his staff. After doing so, he swung the staff in a horizontal direction, while water manifested on top of the pirates that ran to them, causing them to stop and stare in confusion. Afterwards, Justin slipped the sapphire ring back on and, with the power of Nature from the Emerald, combined with the power of Light from the Diamond, Justin jabbed his right hand in the air, aiming towards the drenched pirates. As soon as his hand was fully stretched, a large wave of lightning shot out, and zapped those who were covered in the water.

When the spell was done, there was nothing left of the pirates that tried to attack him besides large piles of bones that piled up. Looking around, Justin could tell there were more in the gallows, so he had to think of a way to buy the zebras even more time.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice that caused him to think even harder. "Daddy! Help me!" Ruby called out from the cage she was in. She didn't sound worried at this point, even though she looked like she was beyond nervous.

While double-checking the survivors' safety, Justin knew they would be unsafe if he left them unprotected, so he created a transparent bubble barrier around them, while he drew his bow, and shot a white arrow at the cage Ruby was trapped in.

As soon as the arrow came into view, she yelped, and dodged it, while it went past her, and fell towards the ground in front of the front gate. "Daddy! That almost hit me!" She yelled in annoyance, unaware of the fact that Justin was now flying towards her, in the same path the arrow went.

Once he was within the cage's reach, he stretched his arms out, and broke through the cage, gently grabbing Ruby as he did, much to her surprise. Then, he held her closely, as the two of them fell over a hundred foot drop, which Ruby was the first to notice, as she closed her eyes, and began to scream.

The screaming didn't last long once she felt Justin gently patting her mane, and saying, "Hey, honey! We're on the ground again!"

When she opened her eyes, she looked around, surprised to see that they actually survived that landing... but then, she glared at her dad, and popped him in the back of the head. "Daddy! What's wrong with you?!"

For the first time in a while, Justin chuckled lightly at his daughter, but she only grew more and more irritated. "You almost killed me!"

Then, Justin shook his head, and embraced his angry daughter, while her anger quickly faded. "No I didn't, honey! That was a ghost arrow! It would've gone through you, if it hit anything besides the target I aimed for, and it wouldn't even leave a mark." Then, he pulled one of his dented swords from his saddlebag, and pointed at it with his free hand. "And if I can survive a fall from the sky that even dented Gryphonite Steel, then I think I can manage to survive a fall like that!" After saying that, he placed his sword back in his saddlebag, and pointed at his rings. "Plus, I had you covered in a protective spell, so that you wouldn't even get scratched from the fall yourself!"

While embracing Ruby, Justin quickly rushed towards the barrier, and placed Ruby inside it, where she was soon treated by the zebras as well, while Justin walked towards the gallows. "Where are you going, daddy?!" Ruby asked, now sounding concerned.

Justin turned around, and revealed that his face was no longer cheerful, but instead, was a serious one Ruby recognized as the one he gave when she or anyone else was in trouble. "I'm gonna show Iron-Hoof what happens when he tries to harm my daughter!" Justin said, before turning back towards the gallows, which had another large group of pirates running towards him. Quickly, he drew his staff, and ran towards the crowd, which quickly swarmed him, only to get thrown into the air, each one of them engulfed in flames, and landing as a pile of ash.

Afterwards, Justin quickly freed the prisoners from the other wall, and placed them in a barrier like the other one. Then, he walked past the walls that separated the main section from the gallows.

As soon as he walked past the walls, he was greeted by an army of pirates that stood in a pattern that resembled a road, yet they didn't even attack him. Instead, they were cheering, while some of them said, "Captain Iron-Hoof will teach you a lesson about fighting a pirate!" and a few similar comments.

Ignoring their comments, Justin merely walked through the road, which led around the headsman's block, and ended in a circled out arena made of sand, which was also surrounded by pirates. "Just how many of these guys are there?!" Justin thought to himself, while standing in one of the two circles drawn into the sand, each in opposite directions, and both inside a larger circle, centered in a round open area, and surrounded by the largest walls of the entire camp. Standing in the opposite circle from where Justin was standing was none other than Iron-Hoof himself, only instead of holding his angry face, he was smiling menacingly at Justin, and had his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Well, well, well! Looks like the human, as you called yourself, knows how to, not only survive a deathly fall, but fight, as well!" Then, he smirked, and reached his right arm behind his back. "I have a proposition for you, if you'll listen!"

Justin sighed, then replied, "If you're thinking I'd serve the guy who nearly killed me, and kidnapped my daughter, then you must be out of your mind!"

"Oh?" Iron-Hoof said, pretending to be hurt by the comment. "Why would you think that my actions came without reason, though? Didn't anyone tell you what your 'daughter' is?!"

That got Justin's attention right there. Silently, he shook his head, and replied, "Alright, then... I'm listening."

Iron-Hoof grinned, and said, "Good! I'm sure you know that her race is known as an 'Alicorn', but do you know what makes an Alicorn so special?"

Justin nodded, and replied, "According to the books, an Alicorn is a race that represents the highest of royalty, and according to the books, and rumors, the sun and moon themselves are raised and lowered by two Alicorn Princesses." Then, his eyes widened at the realization. "But nobody else can do that..."

Iron-Hoof nodded his head. "Exactly! So what I have in mind is this... I -err, we can take the two of you to Equestria, the land that those two Alicorns rule, and they can teach her all about her unknown powers!" Then, he rubbed the back of his head. "Also... I never really noticed that the little Alicorn was your daughter, to be honest!"

Justin looked around, and noticed that the former prisoners were watching him from the outside of the gate, while still remaining inside the protective barrier. More specifically, Justin saw his daughter staring at him, shaking her head, as if she knew what Iron-Hoof was saying. He also noticed Gilded Blade was awake again, but still badly hurt. He also shook his head, and mouthed the words, "Don't listen to him." to Justin, even though he couldn't hear him. Even so, Justin understood the meaning of those words enough to read it through lips, beaks, and facial expressions.

Looking back at Iron-Hoof, who was giving a sincere-looking smile, Justin returned the smile, and nodded his head replying, "Thanks."

After a short moment, the pirates looked at Iron-Hoof, who's smile turned into a grin, while he began to walk forward, only for Justin to hold his right hand out, lift his pointing finger up, and shake it left and right. "Now I know how to spot a liar when I see one!" This statement caused Iron-Hoof to back up, while his smile turned into a fierce glare.

"Quite a shame... a good eye like that could've been useful!" Iron-Hoof said, now standing in the center of the circle, while two diamond dogs carried another one of the massive swords that Iron-Hoof carried, and planted it in the ground, where his left hand was hovering over. Then, he gripped both swords, and pulled them from the ground. As he did, the blades melted, and crawled up his arms, which caught Justin by surprise, along with the druids, who were watching from a puddle of water that the magi created in the center of their barrier.

When the blades were completely gone, his arms were completely covered in a metal coating that ended with three spikes where the knuckles were. The metal, however, was flexible enough for him to move where his arms' joints were, from finger to shoulder. Then, he punched the ground, which left a crater where his knuckles made contact, that went one foot deep, and stretched three feet around.

After giving a blood-curdling roar, he rushed towards Justin, who at this point, drew his staff, and held it in a defensive stance, while Iron-Hoof leaped up, and had his right fist stretched back, and ready to collide with it's target.

To Be Continued...

Season 1, Episode 4: The Shadow of Druid Lake

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 4

The Shadow of Druid Lake

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With Goldwood taken care of, and the Black Wings defeated, our heroes find themselves on a path that leads to a landmark called "Druid Lake", a simple little area where large numbers of visitors arrive from across the world to relax. As they get closer, however, they can't shake the feeling that something may be off about this peaceful-sounding community.

"Finally! We made it to Druid Lake!" Ruby happily proclaimed. Justin and Gilded chuckled slightly at her enthusiasm for relaxing.

"What's wrong, Ruby? Tired already?" Justin playfully asked. "I've had an arrow in my leg, and I'm still walking!"

Ruby huffed, before replying, "Well it isn't my fault that you have powers, and I don't!"

Justin held his right finger up in a declarative manner, and said, "Actually, I wouldn't bet my money on it just yet, Ruby! I think you do have the capability of casting Magic, too... you just have to figure out how to use it, that's all!" Then he looked at the rings on his fingers, and added, "And besides... the magic that I use isn't coming from me, anyways! It's all about the jewelry that I'm wearing!"

Gilded nodded his head in agreement. "I'll have to agree with Justin on this one, Ruby... becoming an Alicorn requires unbelievably large amounts of Magic Capacity. You'll just have to read up on a few spell books first, though, so you don't end up blowing a whole continent up unintentionally!"

Justin and Ruby stared wide-eyed at each other once he made it to the last few words, before grinning sheepishly. "Yeah... we might want to get that taken care of the second we get to Draemarth." Justin said, rubbing the back of his head with his right hand. Ruby nodded her head in agreement, as the three walked past the gates to Druid Lake.

The minute they stepped into the lake's area, however, things began to get quiet... unnervingly quiet, in fact. Looking around, Justin quietly asked, "Huh... did everyone sleep in today, or what?"

Gilded squinted his eyes towards the map when he pulled it out of his bag, and unrolled it again. Sure enough, according to the layout of the waters that rested in the center of the large open area, they were in the right place. Looking around nervously, Gilded replied, "I'll have to go with 'or what'. This place was claimed to be active every day of the week, and every night. Something isn't right."

As if on cue, a few bushes began to rustle, followed by a masculine voice shouting, "HALT!" As soon as he shouted that, Ruby rushed behind Justin, who drew his staff in a defensive manner, while Gilded drew a scimitar from the back of his belt, and held it up.

They waited for a few seconds, until the voice that they heard sighed deeply, and said, "Sorry! We thought you lot were someone else. Please stay where you are, though! We need to check you three for any signs of hostility!"

When the voice was heard, a crowd of ten Horses stood from the bushes, and walked towards the three adventurers, who still held their weapons defensively.

The horses were all carrying bows, but the minute they stood from the bushes, they put them away, and slowly walked towards Justin, Ruby, and Gilded. Seeing that they had their weapons put away, Gilded sheathed his sword again, while Justin leaned on his staff, not wanting to appear threatening, yet remaining cautious, after the Iron-Hoof incident.

"Very well, then... but don't try anything suspicious with my daughter, alright? I've almost lost her once, thanks to that Iron-Hoof fellow." Justin said, as he placed the staff on the ground, and rested his chin on the tip of the staff.

One of the Horses gasped, and asked, "W-wait... was it you who defeated the Black Wings?!"

Justin looked around, noticing that these Horses were appearing to be looking at him with a hint of emotional pain in their eyes. He could easily tell that they also needed help.

Even so, he wasn't looking for fame and glory, due to the dangers that it could put both himself and Ruby in. Because of that, he was about to deny their question, until Ruby stepped in front of him, and replied, "He sure did! He saved me, and Gilded Blade here!" She pointed at Gilded, who closed his eyes, and sighed quietly, before waving his right claw at the Horse.

Justin mentally groaned, but managed to hide his annoyance, and added, "But if you're asking for autographs, then I'm afraid I'll have to decline your requests. I don't want to get a reputation everywhere we go, because that will only endanger the lives of my friend, my daughter, and myself." He pointed to Gilded and Ruby as he mentioned their relations with him, before placing his right hand on his chest when he got to himself in the list.

With a nod, one of the Horses stepped forward. This one was wearing a golden helmet with a long, thin line in the front that projected over his snout, and ended where his snout ended. It had a slight "Roman Warrior" type of appearance, with it's colors being gold with a white trim. On his chest, he wore a golden suit of fully plated armor, which looked like an average suit of armor, save for the hooves, which were as flat as a hoof should be.

The Horse, at this point, was up close to him, standing at eye-level, and asked, "Then we won't say a word to those who ask about your whereabouts... but if it doesn't trouble you... we really need your help!"

"I've already invaded the Black Wings, but in doing so, I've been wounded by an arrow. I don't think traveling to enemy territory will work, if that's what this is about." Justin pointed out.

The Horse shook his head, and replied, "Actually, it's the opposite of that!" He looked up at the sky, and found the sun starting to set. "The last two nights have been restless for all of us! You see... last week, we had around one hundred men in this humble little fortress... but since yesterday, our numbers have gone down to a mere ten!"

Justin's eyes widened at that statement. "Wait... so you're saying that you lost ninety men in just two days?!" The Horse nodded his head. Hearing this caused Justin to ponder the situation that these guards must've been in. Should he help them, knowing that his capabilities could change the outcome of these people facing whoever, or even whatever their attackers are? Or should he just pass on by, and speed up his and Ruby's journey back to their home?

With a sigh, Justin mentally cursed his kind-hearted nature, and then asked, "Alright, then... where's the safest place that I can leave my daughter at?"

The Horse smiled, and replied, "There's a building just to the central island in the lake! You can keep your daughter in there, and we'll do our best to keep her under the closest supervision!"

Justin deadpanned, and said, "There's only ten of you, though..."

The Horse shook his head, and replied, "There's only ten of us men! And we're not just men, but the greatest soldiers sent from Diamond Peak, of The Highlands, itself!"

Justin's eyes widened, as he recalled the atlas that he held in his bag. "Wait, so you guys know how to get to The Highlands?!" The soldier nodded his head, which made Justin rub his chin in thought. "Very well, then... if I help you, then I'll need someone to help my group get to The Highlands, so we can go to Equestria without any confusion."

The horse smiled, and then replied, "It's a deal! Oh, and I'll just go on ahead and say that I will be the one who'll guide you three to The Highlands." He extended his right hand, and added, "My name is Swift Justice. It's an honor to meet you."

Justin smiled, shook Swift's hand, and replied, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Swift. Judging by your name, I'm guessing you're quite the skilled one, huh?"

Swift nodded his head, and was about to reply, until a loud bell began to ring in the distance. This caused Swift's eyes to widen, as he looked towards the direction the bell came from, and silently said, "Oh, no! Not now!" Then he turned his head back to Justin, and said, "We'll have to wait on the pleasantries. You need to get your friends over to the central island, asap!"

Justin nodded his head, and then replied, "Alright, Mr. Swift. When I get back, where should I defend?"

Swift pointed downwards, and replied, "This is the only gate that these creatures enter from. The other one has been sealed off by Magic, so there's no crossing it anymore!"

Justin nodded his head, picked Ruby up, and turned towards the center island, saying, "Alright, then. Don't worry, I'll be fast!" Then he, Ruby, and Gilded Blade began running towards the lake, until they were just inches away from the water. Quickly, Justin placed Ruby back on the ground, drew his bow, an shot a Ghost Arrow towards the island, while Gilded Blade spread his wings, and flew across. While the Ghost Arrow flew in the air, Justin picked Ruby up, and said, "Don't worry, Ruby. Mr. Gilded Blade will protect you from up here, while I cover you from far up there."

Ruby nodded her head, and replied, "A-alright, Daddy... j-just stay safe, okay?"

Justin chuckled lightly, and then embraced her in a hug, while the two of them were engulfed in a mist. "I'm not gonna make any promises regarding my safety... but then again, it's your safety that I'm doing this for." Then, once they landed in the center of the island, Justin gently placed Ruby on the ground, while Gilded landed next to them, and held his right claw out for Ruby to take.

At first Ruby was clinging onto Justin, not wanting to let her Daddy go, but after Justin gently patted her mane, she released him, and took Gilded's right claw, while the two of them continued into the tall stone building that rested in the center of the small island surrounded by water.

Then Justin took aim with his bow, and shot another ghost arrow towards the gate. While waiting for it to land, he turned around, and smiled at his daughter who watched him from behind the doorway, and waved good-bye. When she started waving, the arrow landed in front of the inside area of the gate, while Justin flew through a gust of wind to his destination.

As soon as he landed, he was greeted by Swift Justice, who had his golden tower shield and spear drawn, and aimed defensively at the front gate. "So, what exactly are we dealing with?" Justin asked him, right as soon as he materialized in front of the defensive guard.

Swift's eyes shot open, and out of fear, he turned around, and aimed his spear at Justin, only to lower it, and face the gate again. "S-sorry, Justin... I can't really describe what it is we've been facing too well... all that I do know is that they are weak to fire and light!"

Justin nodded his head, and drew his staff, as the gates began to make loud banging noises. The next sound caused Justin's hair to rise from the back of his neck... metal scratching noises that followed the banging.

Then some of the blades started tearing through the metal gate, which caused Justin's eyes to widen. Following the blades, a large black-furred paw broke a large gaping hole in the gate, revealing the creatures behind the gate... or rather, their glowing red eyes and pure white fangs that glowed from the moonlight, shrouded in the darkness.

"Um, Swift? What... in the name of Tartarus... was THAT?!" Justin asked, now noticing sweat pouring over his forehead.

Swift's eyes were widened even more, while he stuttered, "I... haven't seen THAT one before!" As soon as he finished saying that, the gates dented beyond repair. Finally, after it dented, there was an unnerving silence that followed.

For what felt like an eternity, the only sounds that could be heard was the wind, the feint breathing of the ten guards that stood at the front gate, and the distant trees rustling. After that, the gates started to make a small creaking noise, which caused all guards to raise their golden tower shields up, and aim their spears forward. Following that, silence again.

The noises from outside the gate started to lower, almost like whatever it was that was behind it was retreating. This caused some guards to drop their defenses and ask, "Did they give up?"

Justin had a bad feeling about the situation, and said, "Everyone get to the sides! I think they're about to charge in!"

The guards nodded their heads and did as requested, while Justin lifted his staff, and began charging a spell with his ruby and diamond rings. As he charged the spell, the wind began blowing towards him, and the sound of countless footsteps could be heard from behind the gate, getting louder and louder.

*CRASH*

The gates suddenly flew into the air, revealing a giant black-furred creature that had the anatomy of a gorilla, but standing up, it towered over Justin by five times his height. A large number of smaller shadow creatures began pouring into the fortress as well, but the minute they started getting inside, Justin aimed his staff at the large one, and shot a giant fireball that was engulfed in light towards it.

Then, once it made contact with it's target, the giant shadowy behemoth roared, as it vaporized into thin air. The other creatures looked towards where their fallen leader was, and then at Justin. With a glare, they all started rushing towards Justin, who held his staff in a defensive position.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a white and brown blur flew in-between the creatures and Justin, while slicing through a few of them that weren't focused on him. Then, once the blur revealed itself, it turned out to be Gilded Blade, who was standing in a combative position, holding two reverse-gripped scimitars, and glaring at the shadow creatures.

Justin looked from him to the island, which appeared to have a beacon of light in the center, which was being guarded by a few of the knights. Then Justin smirked, then said to Gilded, as they both began fighting the creatures, "Well, now! Look who took their sweet time this time!"

Gilded deflected one of the creatures' attacks, and sliced it in the stomach, replying, "I was just giving you a head start! Now that I'm here, you might get less kills in!"

Justin smirked while knocking one of the creatures' weapons out of their hands with his staff, and asked, "You sure about that?" Then, with his staff held like a baseball bat, he hit the tip of the creature's sword into the skulls of three creatures, pushing them into a Shish Kabob-like position.

When he looked at Gilded Blade again, he raised an eyebrow when he saw Gilded Blade standing in the center of a circle of corpses, while he smiled slyly at Justin, and replied, "Yeah, I'm sure!"

Then Justin spat on the ground, and silently said to himself, "Showoff..." before pushing his staff into the chest of one of the creatures, impaling it once it landed, and in one fluid motion, Justin lifted himself onto the staff, and did a "U"-shaped kick, while his foot was engulfed in a flame by his ruby and diamond rings. When he landed, the group of creatures that were hit by the flame kick fell into piles of ash, while Justin continued attacking the rest of the creatures. In the background, the six guards that stood at the gate watched silently as the two adventurers continued effortlessly slaughtering the creatures that killed their forces mere days ago, all while having a casual conversation.

"Should we go help them?" One of them asked.

Another replied with, "I don't know... I think they might have it under control, actually!"

As if on cue, Justin and Gilded Blade ended up swarmed with the creatures, which caused the guards to quickly rush towards them, only for a large gust of wind and blades to vaporize the creatures that surrounded the two adventurers. Justin was standin upright with his staff held behind his back with his right hand, and his left hand stretched out. Gilded stood slightly leaned downward, and towards the back, with his right scimitar over his head, and his left scimitar in front of his chest in reverse-grip.

With amazed expressions, the guards looked around, checking to see if any more of the creatures showed up. When none seemed to appear, they started applauding their heroes, while Justin smiled and bowed his head politely, while waving his right hand.

Gilded, however, was unfazed by the attention. "Justin... do you get the feeling that this was a little... too easy?"

The cheering stopped, while Justin's happy face turned into a serious one. "You know what? You raise a point..." Then he drew his staff again, and turned towards the gate, only for his eyes to widen.

The corpses of the creatures melted into puddles on the ground, and started moving in the center of the piles of corpses, while the group just watched in mixtures of terror, fear, and anger. Then, once the puddles combined, a huge blob of, what appeared to be black sludge, started to rise. It continued rising, until it was the size of a five-story building. When it opened its eyes, it looked down at Justin and Gilded Blade, then opened its mouth, revealing it's pure white fangs the size of Longswords. Finally, with the volume of a dragon, it gave a loud roar, which caused the guards to back away, all with looks of fear in their faces.

Justin held his staff in a defensive manner, and said while glaring at the behemoth, "Gilded... go to Ruby!"

Gilded nodded his head and flew towards the central island, while Justin stood his ground, and said, "Alright, then! It's just you and me!" When he said that, he shot a fireball into the face of the creature. When it made contact, however, it didn't even cause the creature to feel even slightly injured. Justin's eyes widened, while he silently whispered to himself, "Ah, crap..."

The creature's glare intensified, and before anything else could be said, it gave an even louder roar, while it swung it's right fist downwards, aimed at Justin, who held his staff up, and braced himself for an extremely heavy impact.

To Be Continued...

Season 1, Episode 5: Grimsley, Beast of the Dark Meadows

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 5

Grimsley, Beast of the Dark Meadows

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"Finally! We made it to Druid Lake!" Ruby cheered.

"Huh... did everyone sleep in today, or what?" Justin asked, looking around the camp.

"HALT!" Swift Justice yelled from behind a bush.

"W-wait... was it you who defeated the Black Wings?!" A guard asked from the distance.

"He sure did! He saved both me, and Gilded Blade here!" Ruby replied.

Swift Justice walked up to Justin. "... We really need your help!"

"Wait, you're saying you lost ninety men in just two days?!" Justin asked.

A black-furred paw broke through the metal gate, revealing a pair of glowing red eyes, and pure white teeth. "Um, Swift? What... in the name of Tartarus... was THAT?!" Justin asked.

"Did they give up?" A guard asked.

"Everyone get to the sides! I think they're about to charge in!" Justin said.

The gates blasted open, while Justin blasted a large fireball into the large monster, vaporizing it.

Gilded Blade jumped in, and started slicing through the creatures alongside Justin.

The creatures were all dead, which made the guards cheer.

"Justin... do you get the feeling that was a little... too easy?"

The corpses all melted into a puddle, which moved to the center of the pile of corpses.

A giant creature rose from the large puddle, that stood five stories tall.

"Gilded? Go to Ruby!" Justin said, glaring at the monster.

"Alright, then! It's just you and me!" Justin said to the behemoth.

He braced for impact, as the creature swung its giant fist towards him.

Within The Center of Druid Lake...

Ruby looked around nervously, as a group of Horses, Minotaurs, Wyverns, and Zebras all sat underneath the underground bunker that served as a safe place. There were torches lit around the stone walls, and a few hanging lanterns in the middle of the large room. Out of curiosity, Ruby walked around the place, unaware of the fact that her wings were no longer tucked inside her dress.

At once, a Pony stallion opened his eyes widely, and stuttered, "A... an Alicorn?!"

Ruby's ears perked up at that statement, and at once, she turned around, only to find out that all eyes were on her now.

"Oh, praise Celestia! We're saved!" A Wyvern man said. "Please! Teleport us to a safer place!" The group of survivors started agreeing with the Wyvern, which caused Ruby to stare at them nervously.

With a sigh, she said, "I'm sorry, everyone... I don't even know how to cast magic, yet!" This caused the group to gasp.

"Oh, great! Just like Royalty, ALWAYS LYING TO THEIR SUBJECTS!" The stallion glared at her as he yelled. Then he proceeded closer to Ruby, which caused her to back into a corner, and curl up in a ball. "TAKE US SOMEWHERE SAFE, OR YOU'LL BE OUT THERE WITH THE REST OF THOSE MONSTERS!"

The minute he finished that sentence, he found himself thrown into the wall on the opposite side of the building by a pair of claws. When he saw who it was that threw him, his eyes widened when he saw Gilded Blade aiming one of his swords at his throat.

With a bitter tone, Gilded said to him, "If you so much as WHISPER to her again, then I will have no trouble gutting you like the pig you are!" Then, while drawing his other sword, he pierced the stone wall on both directions of the stallion's head, causing him to flinch. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!" Gilded shouted, causing the whole room to fill with his voice.

While whimpering, the stallion nodded his head, which caused Gilded to pull the blades from the stone wall, and sheathe them on the back of his belt. "Good." He said, before spitting in the stallion's face.

Then he walked back up to Ruby, and held his right claw out for her to take. Out of fear, she shook her head. Then Gilded sighed, and shrugged, before sitting next to her. "It's okay, Ruby... your dad's out there fighting the monsters! I'm sure we'll be fine!"

"H-how do you know that, though?!" Ruby weakly asked. "S-sure he was able to beat Iron-Hoof, and those pirates single-handedly, but he has a bad knee, now!"

"Wait..." a Zebra lady said from the distance, which caused Ruby and Gilded to look her direction. "Did you say... 'Iron-Hoof'?"

Gilded nodded his head, and replied, "Her dad saved Goldwood Village from Iron-Hoof and his gang of pirates... by himself." This statement caused the crowd of survivors to talk amongst themselves.

The Zebra smiled, and sat in front of Ruby. "Please forgive these people... they know not what you have endured. Though with news like that, I know our safety is assured!" Ruby smiled at the Zebra and nodded her head.

Gilded looked at her, and asked, "I take it you're from Goldwood Village?"

The Zebra nodded her head, and replied, "Indeed, I am! Zula is my name. Herbalism is my talent, and I bring it no shame!"

Gilded smirked, then said, "You know we can understand Druathican, right?" This caused the Zebra's eyes to widen.

Then in Druathican, she replied, "Ah, that is good to know! I was worried that you didn't, seeing how you three came from another land." This made Ruby chuckle.

"It's alright... and it's nice to meet you, Miss Zula!" Ruby said, bowing her head politely. Zula smiled at the Alicorn Filly, and bowed her head in return.

"A child who's well mannered, I see! That is quite a rarity!" Then she smirked. "I suppose I can rhyme, even without thinking about it!" Ruby laughed again, while Zula looked at Gilded. "If it's alright with you two, I was wondering if I could hear the story of your travels?"

Gilded looked at Ruby, who smiled at him, and nodded her head, then back at Zula. "Alright, then... it all started like this..."

Justin sat behind a market stall and breathed heavily, while his back rested on the corner of the stall. Turning to his right, he asked Swift, who sat opposite of him, "Any MORE bright ideas, Captain?!"

Swift Justice breathed in a similar fashion as Justin, before shaking his head. "I didn't expect this thing to even appear!" As soon as he said that, they both flinched at the sound of the creature roaring behind them. "But at least it's the only one left, right?"

Justin shook his head, and replied, "As long as there's one, I think that's all it'll take for them to come back tomorrow! And in case you didn't notice, I've kinda got a wounded knee!"

"Perhaps you could make a fine guard, then!" Swift stated, to which Justin glared at him.

"Please... tell me you didn't go there..." Justin said, while his annoyed glare was glued on the knight next to him.

"What?" Swift asked, shrugging his shoulders. "Guards don't have to move as much, y'know!"

Justin pinched the area between his eyes, and said, "You know what? I think we should figure out what it is we're going against, before we throw more punches at it!" He looked at the fort in the center of the island, and back at the monster, who continued searching for it's targets, each of which were hiding behind separate stalls and debris, awaiting their orders. "Is there any books in that place?"

Swift nodded his head and replied, "As far as we know, yes sir... but how can we describe this creature?!"

Justin thought for a moment, until a smile crept on his face. Reaching into his Saddlebag, he pulled out a thin, black device with a touchscreen that reacted to his finger sliding on it. The device itself caused Swift to stare in awe at it. "W-what is THAT?!" He asked.

Justin sighed, and replied, "It's a Cell Phone. No, it isn't a weapon, yes, it's fragile, and yes, it can take pictures, with the addition of recording live footage. Now, I'm gonna take a picture of this thing. You take this to my daughter, Ruby. She's the little yellow filly with red hair. When you return, tell me if anyone gave her a hard time. If they did, please send that person, or even those persons, out, so I can teach them a lesson about what happens when you pick the wrong target."

Swift stared at him wide-eyed, slightly shaky and nervous, as sweat poured from his forehead at the last statement. He felt like it would be best not to say anything at that point, so he merely chuckled weakly, and nodded his head.

Finally, after Justin lifted the phone, and tapped on the screen, it made a small flash, which exposed their positions, and made the creature roar, while it loudly stomped towards the source of light.

"Damn... should've turned the flash off!" Justin muttered beneath his breath, before handing the phone to Swift, locking the screen in the process. "Take this to my daughter. DON'T drop it! It can't get wet, under any circumstances! Alright?"

Swift nodded his head, and accepted the phone. "W-what about you, though?" He asked, right before they realized that the stall was no longer on the ground.

Turning around, Justin casually replied, "Well, I'll just keep this guy busy, of course!" Then, with his wind magic, Justin grabbed onto Swift Justice, and sent him in front of the entrance to the island's bunker, while Justin remained in place, with his staff drawn.

"Something tells me I'm gonna need a side plan..." Justin said to himself, as the creature lifted its right foot, and quickly lowered it over Justin.

Swift quickly ran into the building, frantically looking through the bookcases that surrounded the walls. "No... no... what in the world is this doing here?!" He murmured to himself, as he skimmed through the books. Finally, after about a minute of searching the bookcase, he groaned, and ran to another bookcase.

Suddenly the door to the basement swung open, revealing Gilded Blade and Ruby standing at the other end. The second Swift heard the door open, he turned his head, and smiled. "Oh, it's just you two. Quickly, now! We need to find a book that might help us identify this creature!" He pointed at the phone, then handed it to Ruby.

At first, Gilded Blade and Ruby looked at each other confusedly, but when the creature roared, Ruby unlocked the picture on the phone, and examined it, while Gilded and Swift took a quick peek outside from one of the windows. The second they saw the creature on the phone, and in real life, they ran to the bookshelves, and began skimming through books, throwing the useless ones on the ground as they quickly scavenged through the countless bookcases.

Finally, once they reached the five minute mark, Ruby looked closer in the bookshelves, and gasped when she saw a book called "Pony-Tales: The Beast of the Dark Meadows". When she pulled it out, she brought the book to the window, and examined the creature on the cover, on the phone, and outside. Then she compared the three, and came up with the conclusion that they were all one in the same. "Gilded! I found something!" She said, while turning to Gilded Blade, who was standing at Swift's left. Her sudden announcement caused the two of them to turn around, and walk towards her.

Gilded lowered himself to one knee, and held his claw out, while Ruby placed the book in it. Then, with a smile, he brushed Ruby's mane with his left claw, and said, "Well done, Ruby! This might be what we're looking for!"

Swift raised an eyebrow at the title of the book, and asked, "Um, Gilded? You sure that's the right book?"

Gilded nodded his head, and replied, "Of course it is! Look at the creature in the picture, and compare it to that one out there!" He said, first pointing at the book, then to the creature in the distance.

Without even waiting for a response, the three of them ran back into the basement, where they can read through the book, hoping to find the creature's weakness.

Justin groaned, and continued shooting fireballs at the creature, all while dodging its fists and feet that continued smashing through the now completely desecrated Druid Lake. With each dodge, however, another crater was formed where the creature's fists and feet landed. At first, Justin tried attacking it with force, but soon he found that it was practically useless to even try getting near it.

Finally, once the creature had enough of Justin's shenanigans, it took an extra large breath of air, strong enough to cause the trees to start shaking towards it. The next thing Justin knew, he was picked up off his feet, and was about to be this monster's next meal.

Quickly he pulled his bow out, and drew a ghost arrow. When he shot it, however, he found that he was too close to the creature's mouth, and would be eaten before the arrow could even land. Cursing beneath his breath, he wrapped his bow around his right shoulder, and drew his staff once more, bracing for impact against this creature's jaws.

Before he could even reach the creature's jawline, however, the creature was knocked in the scalp by a large rock that fell from the sky. This caused it to fall to the ground, while Justin continued flying in the air, until the ghost arrow landed. Then he appeared in the area the arrow landed in, only to fall on his rump, and look up. When he saw his mysterious hero, however, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

From the sky, the stranger landed directly in-between Justin and the creature, with his back turned towards Justin. After Justin got his bearings, however, the figure turned around, revealing his appearance.

The figure had a face that slightly resembled a human's, but instead of hair, a large group of white feathers swept from his forehead to the back of his neck, while shorter feathers lowered from his shoulders to his waist, with a patch of flesh over his face and his chest, which lowered down to below his stomach. He didn't have any arms, though. Instead, his arms were his wings, which had long white feathers that stretched out around three feet wide, and five feet long. His legs, however, were covered in brown hair, down to his knees. Below his knees, his shins were similar to a bird's claws, and instead of feet or hooves, he had talons below his ankles.

On his waist, he wore a golden belt with a blue waistcoat that lowered halfway down his knees in the front, and all the way down to his ankles in the back. His chest was decorated with a mixture of silver and gold necklaces. On his shoulders, he had a pair of harnessed silver shoulder pads, shaped similarly to how a royal knight's armor would look.

His red eyes focused on Justin at that point, and for a split second, Justin could've sworn he was looking at another human, but before he could even ask, the figure said, "Now is not the time for introductions! It isn't over yet!"

With a nod, Justin stood from the ground, white the figure turned back to the creature with both wings crossed. "It looks like someone, or something, disturbed Grimsley."

Justin tilted his head in confusion, and asked, "Who's 'Grimsley'?"

"Grimsley, the Beast of the Dark Meadows. Legends have it that it is created from a large number of Shadow Spawns, which are weak to fire and light! Grimsley, however, is not affected by the same elements that made him whole. Instead, it is by the forces of nature that the heroes of the ancient times were able to weaken him, while one hero, wearing the Necklace of Wisdom, pulled Grimsley's diamond heart out of his chest. When the deed was done, the mysterious hero, known only by the name, 'Nightshade', carried it back to the cave where Grimsley's curse was sealed under." Gilded Blade read through the book, while Ruby and Swift Justice listened closely to the words.

"You don't think that Nightshade person will show up again, do you?" Ruby asked, looking back-and-forth between Gilded and Swift, who exchanged glances before looking at her.

Swift shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "I'm not sure... it was difficult to describe him, as well."

Gilded pointed at a picture in the book, and said, "At least the author drew a picture of him. Here, Ruby. Perhaps you can decipher it?" Swift raised an eyebrow, and looked at Ruby with disbelief, starting to feel slightly annoyed, since he knew a child wouldn't be able to find out what Nightshade looked like.

"It kinda looks like a human mixed with a bird, to be honest!" Ruby said, causing Swift and Gilded's eyes to widen at the realization.

Gilded quickly looked at the picture again, and gasped. "You're right! After seeing what your father looks like... it does look a bit like him! Well, the face at least..." He looked up, and said, "You don't suppose..."

Before he could finish the sentence, a loud explosion could be heard from overhead, causing the entire room to fill with panic. Ruby, Gilded, and Swift all three looked at each other, and nodded their heads, without saying a word. Then, without hesitation, the three ran to the door that led out of the basement.

Justin dodged Grimsley's fist again, while the mysterious figure, who revealed his name to him as "Nightshade", flew from overhead, and distracted Grimsley by flying up in his face. Then Justin looked at Nightshade, and asked, "So, you're saying you've faced this guy before?!" Quickly Justin ducked, dodging a horizontal swipe Grimsley made at him.

Nightshade nodded his head, and replied, "Over five thousand years ago, yeah!" He dodged a swipe that Grimsley made in the air when he finished his sentence.

Justin then asked, "So you know his weakness?"

Grimsley roared loudly, as he jumped up, and attempted to smash Justin, only for him to roll out of the way in time. Nightshade nodded his head then, and replied, "Try Nature Magic! That's his biggest weakness!"

Justin stared at him in disbelief, before shrugging his shoulders, and flicking his Emerald Ring with his thumb. Then, after stretching his hands out, he levitated a distant rock, the same one as before, into the air behind Grimsley, and bashed him in the back of the head, which caused him to fall to the ground. After landing, Justin used his ring again to create roots from the grass, which wrapped around Grimsley's arms, legs, and neck, while in the center of his lungs, a hole started to open, revealing a purple diamond in the center of his chest.

The minute it became visible, Nightshade swooped to the ground level, and grabbed a hold of the diamond with his talons, before flapping his wings rapidly. While tugging on the diamond, Grimsley started roaring in even more pain, until the diamond was ripped from his chest entirely.

Grimsley's bindings soon disappeared, as he stood from the ground, and roared in pain. Wobbling back and forth, he made one last attempt to crush Justin and Nightshade, only for the sun to rise from behind him.

With his red crystalline eyes widened, his chest started to glow white, while he roared even louder. Then, after the light was covering the entire hole in his chest, he exploded mid-roar, causing the shadows from his fur to vanish into thin air, and vaporize in a black mist.

After letting out a sigh of relief, Justin turned to Nightshade, and smiled. Then he stretched his right hand out, and said, "Thanks for the help, Nightshade. My name's Justin, by the way. It's nice to meet you."

Nightshade merely turned his back, and placed the diamond in a stone chest that he pulled from his saddlebag. Justin stared at him confusedly, until he lifted the chest, and placed it back in his saddlebag. Then he turned to Justin, and said, "Perhaps one day, we'll meet again..."

Justin tilted his head in confusion, and asked, "What're you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he heard Ruby call out, "DADDY!" Turning his head, he smiled when he saw his daughter running up to him with her arms stretched out.

While they were focused on each other, Nightshade turned his back towards them again, and vanished into a puff of white smoke.

Lowering himself to the ground, Justin stretched his arms out, and lifted Ruby in another heartwarming hug, as the people from the bunker walked out of the boats they used to get to the other side. Gilded, of course, landed near them, after flying over there.

"Ruby! Thank goodness you're alright!" He then turned towards the crowd, and back at her, before asking, "Nobody gave you a hard time, did they?!"

From the corner of his eye, Justin could've sworn he saw a stallion sweating a riverbed. Ruby, however, chuckled, before replying, "No, Daddy! Everything was okay!" She then turned towards the Stallion, and said, "He almost did, but he apologized for it shortly after."

Justin shot the stallion a glare, and gently placed Ruby on the ground. Then he slowly walked towards the stallion, who was crouched to the ground. Before Justin could even say anything, however, the stallion stuttered, "I-I'm s-sorry, sir! I p-promise it w-won't h-happen again!"

Justin sighed, before lifting the stallion in the air with his left hand, and had his right fist balled up, and held between their faces. "You better not let it happen again... to anyone for that matter!" Then he released the stallion from his grip, which caused the stallion to fall to the ground, and land on his flanks. "You're lucky my daughter spared you... because I could've made your moment of peace a living hell, otherwise!"

This statement caused the crowd to go silent, before he looked at them. "My daughter wasn't always an Alicorn, so if you think that she has control of her magic, you're wrong." Then he took a deep breath, and tried to cool himself off. "And in case you didn't know... if you let her power go out of control, I'm certain she would've accidentally killed you all in the process!"

Then he turned to Ruby, and smiled, before lifting her from the ground, and walking towards the gate that was once magically sealed off. Thanks to the events that transpired, though, a hole was conveniently placed next to it. As he walked on, Gilded joined him, followed by Swift. Before they could leave, however, Zula shouted, "WAIT!"

When they turned around, she asked, "I know the challenges will put your lives to the test... but if you wish, I would like to aid you on your quest!"

With a smile, Justin replied in Druathican, "Of course you can come with us! Just please be careful, and make sure you're certain about your decision!"

Zula chuckled, and nodded her head. Then, as they left the city, the ten guards that were stationed there started to repair the damages done to the lake.

Finally, one villager looked out of the hole in the wall, and smiled, as he waved good-bye to the five adventurers who walked towards the horizon, following the rising sun.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

The credit of the character, "Nightshade" goes to my buddy, "troublecake17"! The character is HIS, and was added to this story by HIS request!

Would you like a character to be added to the story? Let me know via PM, and I'll see to it that I get it done, if it doesn't conflict with anything else!

Oh, and while I'm at it, in case you didn't notice, pairing requests are also acceptable, as long as they don't conflict with any other characters! My character, of course, will be paired with Pinkie Pie later on in the series, so that one's a no-go. Nightshade will probably remain single, yet he will still develop close friendships later on in the storyline, especially Fluttershy. Whether he couples with Fluttershy or not is entirely up to troublecake17. Gilded Blade is also planned to be paired with Rainbow Dash, so heads-up for that one, too!

For an application of a character, please write, in full detail, these things that will be important for your character's appearance! (And please make it neat! If possible, have "NAME, AGE, RACE, APPEARANCE, PERSONALITY, PURPOSE, and ORIGINS" in BOLD format, while everything else remains in the normal format!) Also you have to read through the instructions. Yes, I'm aware of the fact that you just read through, like, 4,212 words, but let's be honest. How much reading do you have planned for today, anyways? Besides, this will also be useful for those of you who are curious about the geography of the world outside of Equestria, as well as the many different sentient creatures out there!

I know it's hard, but you HAVE to read this, if you want a character! It's important!

NAME: What is your character's name? Think of something you might find in the Equestrian World! THIS could prove useful, if you have trouble thinking of a name! Of course, you can also get creative, but no "l33KsP33K3R", "tiffany" or "Jeffrey" names are allowed! The characters that are "Cursed Ones" once had a name, but they dropped their names thousands of years ago, and replaced them with nicknames. (If you want YOUR name mentioned, you can always check what your name means, and use that as a reference!) Also, please use "Proper formatting" when dealing with names! It's important to do that, for if you forget to do that, your application may be ignored! (Sorry, but I have to test y'all, and see if y'all are paying attention, y'know? Nothing personal, but it's meant to narrow down the list of adventurers! Don't want my character walking with an army, y'know? It'll raise suspicions when he reaches Equestria, and cause people to think they're being invaded.)

AGE: How old is your character? Is he/she a child lost in the woods that the adventurers find? Is he/she a fully-grown wanderer who crosses paths with the adventurers? Perhaps an assassin sent to kill the group, only to realize that their failure in doing so forces them to join their targets, due to the assassins' strict codes?

RACE: Due to obvious reasons, your character can't be a full-blooded human. You CAN, however, have human-like features, like Nightshade, but you'd have to have another creature in the mix! (Before you ask, Nightshade WAS human, but was cursed by something even HE doesn't know! If your character is Half-Human, then it is also to be noted that he/she will most likely be dark/serious natured, due to their lack of communication. The life of a Cursed One is filled with loneliness.) An important thing to note is this as well: The Cursed Ones are older than Celestia herself, and have existed from long before Equestria and it's surrounding kingdoms were even formed! A list of available races will be at the bottom of this list! Please include the Sub-Race of your character, as you choose the race! (I.E. : Pegasus | Pony, Pegasus | Unicorn Pony | Pony, Unicorn | Earth Pony. Do NOT just say "Pony", though! Also, if you're not part-human, then you are classified as a "Mixed Breed". In that case, please describe, in deep detail, how your character looks, as well as who the parent of any specific traits are! ("You have your mother's beautiful Equine eyes... and your father's Minotaur-sized tusks...")

APPEARANCE: I'm going to need a finely detailed description on this one! If words aren't your talents, then don't fret! I'll also accept pictures, maybe with arrows that tell me what certain pieces of equipment are that your character(s) wear(s)! Don't forget, though, this is an Anthro World! If you describe your character in words, I will need these things; Eye + Iris Color (Pupil too, if necessary!), Skin/Scale/Feather Color, Hairstyle/Manestyle/Spikestyle, Hair/Mane/Spike Color, Clothes/Armor, Clothes/Armor Color, Height (It has to be within, or around the area of, the race's normal scale!), Weight (Same with the Height!), Strength (Again same with the "racial norm"!), and any extra details you can throw in! (For example, a few accessories that stand out from the rest, maybe a chipped claw, a scar in the face, etc. etc.)

PERSONALITY: If you're a Cursed One, then you can use this as how your character ends up personality-wise! Otherwise, this is how your character responds to the world around them. Is your character a kind-hearted individual who, even in the worst of times, can keep their cool? Is your character a brash, ruthless barbaric person who turns a lot of faces in his/her direction, due to their odd sense of humor? ("Honestly, I would've LOVED to see the look on 'is face, while it's impaled at the end o' my spear! HA HA HA!")

PURPOSE: What is your character's goal? Why do they need to go to Equestria? Are they wanting to escape the dangers of the world outside of it? Are they just wanting to go there for fame and fortune? Maybe wanting to settle down in the only place in the world untouched by war? (Maybe wanting to see the princesses about something personal? (Do tell what it is, if that's the case!))

ORIGINS: If you're a Cursed One, then you may skip this one, since they all have the same Origin, as described in the race list. Otherwise, please tell me the location your character came from! If you wish for your character to be an Adventurer, and not a side character, please type "An Adventure's Life for Me!" on the line above "NAME". Also, please explain what job your character had, what talent they have/are destined to have, and what they did to arrive outside Equestria, or whatever location they wish to stay at. Was your character a Farmer, or perhaps a Medic from Equestria? Where at in Equestria? (Use THIS for a reference! It's what I always use as a reference!) Quick heads-up, though! "Hollow Shades" is a secret area in Equestria, that isn't even shown in the maps in the world! Only Royal Guards ever trot CLOSE to that place, since it's cursed with an Undead Plague! The Guards, of course, fight there on a daily basis, and keep any wandering eyes as far away from it as possible, while keeping the Undead at bay. Thanks to the guards there being Elite, the Undead still have yet to escape past their barriers. (In other words, if your character was from Hollow Shades, they HAVE to be an Elite Royal Guard of Equestria that was stationed there. Then we could say that your character was told to go to Gryphonia, and other places, in search for reinforcements that could help them keep the Undead from escaping.) Below the "RACE LIST", I'll also throw in the locations of the other islands!

RACE LIST

Cursed One: For countless millennia, the Cursed Ones have wandered the world, guarding what was left of their civilizations long forgotten by history. Only a select few have ever been seen, but only in rumors, and stories. The ones from the rumors, however, had one thing in common; they only work alone. Due to their immortality, their hearts have grown colder and some, even bitter. As a result, they avoid seeking relationships at all costs, most likely due to their protective nature for their own hearts, and what little sentience remains within them.

Having the appearance of the mythological creatures, "Humans", and a mix of another creature of the land, sky, or sea, their heights range from five feet tall, all the way to eight. Their weight varies from sixty pounds for those who have a bird-like sub-race, up to four hundred and fifty pounds for those who have larger creatures like cows for a sub-race. They can have one of any known creature as a sub-race, excluding giant creatures like golems and whales, and also excluding the main sentient creatures that already exist (Ponies, Zebras, Foxes, Minotaurs, Goats, Horses, Slithians, Dragons, Wyverns, Diamond Dogs, and/or Changelings.)

Although they may seem like Magical creatures, none of them can truly cast Magic, without the aid of enchanted equipment. Instead, they are naturally able to manipulate Magic from spells that are cast near them. Another significant feature about them is that they also hold a great resistance to Magic, which means that they can't be harmed by anything created by Magic. That resistance, however, can prove dangerous for them, too, for they also can't be healed by Magic, as well.

Pony: Natives of Equestria. Short, yet filled with varying personalities, the Pony race has been known to be the most diverse of the world. Powered by teamwork, it is rare to find a single Pony alone. By nature, they tend to be more curious about other creatures at first glance, but rarely do they attack those different from them. They have three sub-races altogether; Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns.

-The Earth Ponies, as their names suggest, are earthbound, and lack both wings and magic. Even so, they have been known as the strongest of the bunch, with the addition of endurance. Their origins can vary from large numbers of locations, but the rumors state that their most common home is Ponyville, a small little town in the central-western side of Equestria.

-The Pegasi, or Pegasus for singularity, are the winged ponies of the sky. Capable of controlling weather, they tend to spend more time in the skies, rather than on the land. The Pegasi from Cloudsdale have a naturally proud nature, which makes most of them hard-headed, and incapable of taking "no" for an answer. Despite that, however, there have been some from Los Pegasus who were raised in the lower halves of the sky, making them more weaker and slower than their higher-up relatives. In return, they have communicated with their fellow Ponies of different races, and have a tendency to being more nicer than the others.

-The Unicorns are Ponies of Nobility and Honor, most commonly located in Canterlot, the Capital City of Equestria. Despite their noble bloodline, however, there have been several other locations throughout the world that Unicorns have inhabited: namely Ponyville, the village just south of Canterlot. The Unicorns of Canterlot uphold their noble blood, and usually frown upon those who come from Ponyville, and any other small communities, viewing them as mere peasants. The Unicorns of Ponyville, however, are far more kind-hearted, and tend to be more hospitable than their upper-class siblings.

Regardless of sub-races, they are considered one of the shortest of all races, second to the Goats, and third to the Foxes. Earth Ponies and Unicorns usually stand up with a height that ranges from four feet tall, all the way up to five feet, and usually weigh from twenty pounds, up to two hundred. The Pegasi, however, have a weight limit of one hundred and twenty five pounds. Any heavier, and their wings wouldn't be strong enough for them to fly.

Gryphon: Though fierce in peace, as they are in battle, the Gryphons of Gryphonia are a dangerous race to compete against. With natural strength and speed, a Gryphon can fly the speed of a Pegasus, and have the strength of an Earth Pony in unison, making them deadly Mercenaries or Warriors.

The Job Opportunities that Gryphons normally have rely on their predatory skills, allowing them to be flawless Hunters, Herbalists, and Gatherers, while their keen eye for details could also make them flawless Chefs, Archaeologists, Leaders, and Investigators.

Normally, a Gryphon would be around six feet high at least, but they have been able to grow up to nine feet tall, as well. For weight, they normally range from one hundred pounds to two hundred and twenty five. Most of that, of course, is normally just muscle.

Zebra: Natives of Druathica, the Zebras are a mysterious, daring race. Where most creatures fear to tread, the Zebras look deeper into the sources of evil, and rely on nature as their ally. While avoiding large civilizations, the Zebras still band together in humble communities, and never discriminate a creature by it's race or origin. Instead, they focus more on the creature's current standings, and when they find problems that the creature could cause, they do their best to right the creature's wrongs, even if it risks their very lives. Naturally, they are a two-sided coin in personality, where they are either kind-hearted and benevolent, or cruel and merciless.

-The benevolent Zebras hail from the central village of Druathica, known as "Goldwood Village", a humble little place that relies more on defense, rather than offense. For job opportunities, they usually focused on Gathering Resources, Pottery, Cooking, Hunting, Nurturing, and Teaching, but they also have Warriors. Due to their good nature, though, they aren't as strong of Warriors as their neighbors, the merciless Zebras of "Redwood Peak".

-The Zebras of the far Western Mountain-Town, also known as the "Redwood Peak", are the polar opposite in personality, compared to their Goldwood neighbors. Instead of the belief of equality, they operate by honor and glory, spilling the blood of those who dishonor them intentionally. To tell the difference of them from their neighbors is easier than most would think. Naturally stronger, the Zebras of Redwood usually paint the white of their coats red, as a sign of honor for their homeland. Painting themselves blue, however, would be a total disgrace, and has even resulted in ten lashes from a whip, a bath in salted vinegar, and a slow execution if they refuse to color their fur red. This, of course, was what they classified as a "simple little warning". For job opportunities, they tended to have Gatherers, Hunters, Barbarians, Wandering Traders, and Mercenaries. Unlike the Goldwood Villagers, however, they are better at close combat, at the cost of ranged combat.

After ten years of war in their blood-soaked history, the Goldwood Villagers, along with the Redwood Barbarians, have finally seen past their differences, and have accepted their union in a "Spiritual Bonding Ritual", where the spirits of their ancestors were raised by Celestia herself, as a final act of retribution. Should they have refused to get along, then their numbers would, without a doubt, be lesser than a quarter percent of what they are to this day.

Now they co-exist in both areas, although by nature, their different personalities still tend to bring about more conflicts, despite the sacred peace treaty. Even then, there is still one thing they have knowledge of, which helps their differences settle... they both have a close connection with nature, and as such, can create artifacts that enable Magic to be cast by those who, otherwise, couldn't even cast it to begin with.

Their heights vary, with the Goldwoodians ranging from four feet high, up to five, and the Redwoodians ranging from five and a half feet, up to six and a half feet high. Their weights are similar, with the Goldwoodians weighing around forty pounds, up to ninety, while the Redwoodians weighing from one hundred, up to three hundred pounds, due to their muscles.

Fox: Sly, and unmistakably cunning, the Foxes of the Far-Eastern side of Druathica are weaker than most known living creatures out there, and, without a doubt, the shortest, as well. Naturally unable to wear heavy equipment, the Foxes rely more on light armor. Though they are weak when it comes to upper-body strength, that does not make them completely incapable, however, for their reflexes, to this day, have been unmatched, and their speed, none can compare. For job opportunities, they make the best Hunters, Assassins, Foragers, Scouts, and Engineers.

With an intellect that can compete with Unicorns, the Foxes have been known to be the most cunning in technology, even being the ones to invent the "Airship", a floating ship that flies hundreds of passengers at a time. They have even created secret weaponry that only the most trusted of their kind could ever use; the Handgun, and the Rifle. Capable of firing magic projectiles, the Handgun is, without a doubt, the most deadliest invention they have ever created, putting bows to shame. While it is able to fire the projectiles as fast as the user's fingers can move, the biggest downfall is that the range is far more limited. That is when the Rifle comes into play. Sacrificing speed for range and power, the Rifle is more deadlier than the Handgun when it comes to long-ranged combat. While the shots are magically boosted, the built-in boosters have to recharge before another shot can be made.

Since they are the shortest sentient beings ever known, they are rarely seen in combat situations, and tend to keep to themselves. For height, the Foxes tend to range from three feet, up to four, and for weight, they weigh from ten pounds, up to fifty.

Minotaur: All the way from the coldest regions of The Highlands, the brutish Minotaurs are known to be, without a doubt, one of the strongest of the entire world, second only to the Dragons, yet only by a little. Always the first to accept a challenge, they rarely run from a battle, and stand firmly in their beliefs, be it good or bad. Through dedication, and hard work, they tend to make the strongest Warriors, Barbarians, and Knights, but have also been known to live the life of a Mercenary, Wandering Trader, Businessman, Miner, Smith, and Teacher.

Standing as the third-tallest sentient beings, the Minotaurs shortest height has been six foot eight, while the tallest recorded height was well over ten feet high, and growing. Though their weight is, at a minimum, two hundred pounds, most of it is gone to muscle that boosts them up to a thousand pounds of weight, making them ruthless, and unmatched in close combat.

Goat: From the warmer, lower islands of The Highlands, the charismatic Goats of "Port Greenhold" have been unmatched in striking deals that benefit both, the Salesmen and the Consumers alike. Physically, they are incapable of even fighting, so they avoid it altogether, and leave the violence to their brethren, the Minotaurs. Mentally, though, they are capable of working with economic situations, making them perfect Salesmen, Businessmen, Traveling Merchants, and occasionally, the ones who choose to take a darker path could make the most convincing Thieves, due to their clever Negotiation skills.

Unlike any other races, however, they are incapable of speaking anything other than Highlandian, making communication for many countries difficult without a translator around.

Height-wise, they can be close to foxes, starting at three and a half feet, and ending at four and a half feet tall. Weight-wise, they range from forty five pounds, and end at eighty pounds.

Horse: Unlike their Equestrian allies, the Horses of Saddle Arabia are a race of Nobility, Power, and Strength, at the cost of Magic. While they oftentimes have visitors from Equestria, and even settlers from other places, they are the primary inhabitants of Saddle Arabia. While Nobility is in their blood, with their direct connection of Equestria, they have adapted to kindheartedness, and generosity as a personality quirk.

Their strength is twice as much as a Pony's, making them balanced Warriors, Knights, and Archers alike. What makes them unique from the rest, however, is their remarkable Leadership skills, and unbreakable Dedication to their causes.

Common Job Opportunities that Horses normally specialize in can range from creative tasks like Pottery, Mining, Smithing, Painting, Carving, Construction, and Architecture, to defensive tasks like Guarding, Retaliating, and Escorting.

While Ponies' heights range from four feet to five, the Horses surpass them by two feet, making their minimum height six feet, and ending at seven. Their weight, due to their extra strength, ranges from seventy-five pounds, but can end at two hundred.

Slithian: Supported by their noble allies and neighbors, the Horses, the Slithian race is a protective, yet dangerous being to ever cross paths with. Due to their snake-like stature, they require constant warmth, and sources of heat nearby. For that reason, they are often found wearing thick clothing over their scales, even in the middle of Summer.

Born in a dying island, the first of the Slithian were rescued by a group of Horses who, to this day, they honor in their shrines within their beloved "Sandstone Village", where they pay tributes on a weekly basis.

Thanks to their constant digging and burrowing underground, they have gained great strength, and make excellent Warriors, Barbarians, Guards, and Knights, and with their capabilities of going underground, they could also be skilled Assassins, Thieves, and Spies. Their eyesight isn't very good, however, so they are incapable of ranged combat.

For Common Jobs, they can make great Miners, Smiths, and Forgers, due to their warmth resistance, and with their digging talents, they have also taken jobs like Pottery, Archaeology, and even Herbalism.

While they stand at seven feet, if they were stretched out, they actually span from twenty feet up to a total of fifty. For that reason, they oftentimes keep their tails curled up. Also, they have no legs.

Wyvern: Whether they fly through the skies, or roam through the jungles and mountains by claw, the proud Wyverns of Drakensonia stand together with their Dragon brethren, always seeking treasures and riches, not to spend, but rather, to quench their unnatural appetite for competition. Just like their Dragon kin, the Wyverns feast on nothing more than minerals of the earth, whether it be jewel or metal.

With their sharp scales, they are unable to wear average clothing, so they tend to only dress in either custom-tailored leather equipment, chainmail, or even plated armor.

The Wyverns are the second-strongest in the world, and stand between the Dragons and Minotaurs in strength. Like the Cursed Ones, the Wyverns are never found doing any jobs specifically, though they still live in communities, and rely on team work. As a result, they make great Mercenaries, but anything else would be slightly chaotic for them.

Standing up, a Wyvern is always considerably tall, with a minimum height of nine feet, and a maximum height of thirteen feet, although the maximum is still capable of change. Due to their enormous strength, their minimum weight is around five hundred pounds, with the maximum weight of one thousand, five hundred pounds for the stronger ones.

Diamond Dog: Born from any of the continents of the world, the Diamond Dogs are a mysterious canine race that compete with Slithians in their digging skills. Unlike the Slithians, however, the Diamond Dogs are more than open for accepting challenges, and threaten those who get in their way.

For a job, the Diamond Dogs usually tend to do manual labor, such as Mining, Forging, Smithing, Pottery, Cooking, and Hunting. With their variable strength, however, the bigger ones can also be great Knights and Barbarians.

The average height of a Diamond Dog is highly complex, starting at four feet, and ending at eight. For weight, the smaller ones can weigh from thirty pounds, up to seventy-five, while the medium and large ones can weigh up to two hundred pounds.

Changeling: From the depths of Atlantis, the Changelings with the blue Atlantic eye-color are known as the peace-walkers. Freed from their evil queen's desires, these Changelings have sought peace throughout the lands, and have lived on, accepting love from their allies, rather than forcing it out.

With their genetic capabilities, the Changelings are capable of shape-shifting into any creature that their magic-filled gaze can see. Those who are immune, however, cannot be mimicked.

With the holes in their arms and legs, the Changelings are unable to grow in strength, which means that they are easily capable of being toppled in a battle. Even so, they are still deadly when it comes to Assassinations, for they can not only get away with murder, but they are also capable of framing their "Targets" that they transform into. Not only that, but with their insect-like eyes, they can easily see in the darkest of environments, making them also capable of being great Spies and Hunters.

Aside from that, the Changelings of Atlantis have learned to be kind towards all, and only use their deadly abilities as an act of defense. They can easily adapt to any Job openings, so long as they don't need to lift things too heavy for their own good.

Like the Ponies, the Changelings can stand from four feet tall, up to five. They have a minimum weight of ten pounds, but unlike the others, however, they can only weigh up to twenty pounds, and not an ounce more, due to their chitinous coat.

If you choose to be a Changeling, then your eye color will be "Light Blue" or "Cyan".

Geography

Gryphonia: Also known as the "Islands of the Sky", Gryphonia is the only known territory to be settled on the top of flying islands. The inhabitants that have originated from it are Gryphons, Minotaurs, Foxes, Zebras, and occasionally, Ponies.

-Skyhaven: The Capital City of Gryphonia, and the largest island, even holding a large forest on it. Skyhaven is the link between Gryphonia and Druathica, with Airships that make a weekly trip in-between. The schedule is unable to be delayed, however, as the trips require long periods of time to get from place to place.

-Featherwood Town: A small little island town just south of Skyhaven. Instead of living in the loud hustle-and-bustle of the city, those who live here prefer peace and quiet, making most of them loners, and grouches. Not all of them, though.

Druathica: Home of the Zebras and Foxes. The creatures that can have an Origin here are Zebras, Foxes, Diamond Dogs, and Gryphons.

-Druid Lake: The Center of Druathica. Here is where the "Spiritual Bonding Ritual" was performed, which saved the Zebras of Goldwood Village and Redwood Peak from destruction.

-Goldwood Village: Home of the Peace-loving Zebras. For countless generations, the Goldwoodians have lived without war, until ten years ago, when the Redwoodians threw the first punch.

-Redwood Peak: Home of the War-mongering Zebras. After arriving longer than hundreds of years ago, they have always found the Goldwoodians to be weak and futile, but after the "Spiritual Bonding Ritual", they have learned to accept their differences, and aid their weaker allies, whether they like it or not.

-Draemarth City: Perhaps the only non-tribal area in all of Druathica. Here is where trade and travel is prime. While a few Zebras appear here-and-there, most of them avoid this area at all costs, and remain in the comfort of the forest areas.

The Highlands: The highest of all places to contain civilization, even spanning higher than Gryphonia. The only locals of these lands are Minotaurs, Goats, and Horses, but they still allow visitors into their territory, either for trade, vacations, or mere visits.

-Port Greenhold: The Port City of The Highlands. Filled with blood-thirsty pirates and mischievous businessmen, this very place has been known as the most corrupted city in the world. Only the brave or foolish ever tread in these streets alone.

-Diamond Peak: The Capital of The Highlands, rested at the very top of the tallest mountain. Only the strongest are even capable of reaching these parts, making it the least populated Capital City in the world.

-Shaded Meadows: Some call this place the "End of the Sun". The reason is quite clear, at first glance. Nowhere in this area is where the Sun shines, making it the coldest place in the world, even putting the Frozen North of Equestria to shame. Even so, deep within the land of blistering cold, a small fortress, built for research on the plants that somehow grow there, was built. Though communication from the place is rare, the existence of this fortress has been proven true.

--Fort Shivercrest: A fortress built in the coldest region of the world, Shaded Meadows. While it looks more like a desert at night, this place is rumored to be home of an ancient civilization long forgotten. As a result, it is not uncommon to find many adventurers in these lands, though most of them are Archaeologists.

Atlantis: A land of many secrets, where the Rock Golems and the "Converted" Changelings were first discovered. The creatures who originate from this land are Ponies, Minotaurs, Goats, Diamond Dogs, Changelings, Horses, and Gryphons.

-Atlantis: Unlike the other continents, the city IS the continent! Many researchers and archaeologists find themselves compelled at the wonders of this mighty city below the sea, making it the perfect place for trading with the Zebras of Druathica. Due to the size of it, however, the Zebras refuse to live in this mighty city.

Saddle Arabia: The desert wasteland, most may think at first glance. Take a closer look, however, and you might be able to see the majestic grassy fields past the relentless sandstorms that surround the lands. Home to the Horses and Slithians, this sun-touched land is one of the top traders for Equestria, exchanging their valuable metals from their underground caves, along with their artistic pottery, in exchange for the food, water, and resources that they need to survive. The only creatures that could originate from this land, however, are the Horses, Ponies, and Diamond Dogs. Many other creatures, however, are able to visit these humid lands... that is, if they are capable of taking the heat.

-Sandstone City: The Capital of Saddle Arabia. Only the Horses and Slithians can originate from this part, due to it being the capital city of their homeland.

-Rockwell Village: Unlike Sandstone City, Rockwell Village is home of the other races that originate from Saddle Arabia, with the population primarily being Slithians. Despite being a village, it is considerably taller than the average village, even having a fortified wall that surrounds it.

Drakensonia: Deep inside the hottest region in the world, Drakensonia is known to be the birthplace of the Dragons, and their relatives, the Wyverns. Unlike any of the other regions, the only creatures that can originate from this place are the Dragons and the Wyverns.

-Lava Grove: Rested directly on the outskirts of the always active volcanoes of Drakensonia, Lava Grove is the only town that the Wyverns can originate from in the volcanic region. With a village populated only by Wyverns, they rarely allow any visitors who are not invited directly by their leader, Lord Spike.

-Molten Village: The village of the Dragons. Unwelcome visitors are usually treated with a thousand-degree burning on the spot. The only other welcomed race, besides Dragons, are Wyverns, and any individuals that the Wyverns allow inside.

Equestria: As the only known continent that has never been touched by war, the proud kingdom of Equestria houses Ponies of all kinds, along with Diamond Dogs and Gryphons. Many individuals claim that the grass is always greener in these parts, due to the magic that surrounds the peaceful community.

-Locations: Please refer to THIS map for where your character can originate from! The excluded places are: The Frozen North, The Badlands (Unless you're a Wyvern!), and Hollow Shades (Unless you're a Pony Knight!).

Yes, I'm aware that I left out "Rock Golems" and "Dragons". Sorry, but those are a no-go, for obvious reasons. (No, I don't hate Dragons! :twilightangry2:) Anyways, remember that if you want your character in my story, you'll have to send me a private message with your application filled out! I will NOT accept any applications sent through the "Comments" section, so please bear that in mind. They MUST be in my inbox, via PM! (If you're wondering how to PM someone, just click the icon with the envelope next to my account picture, on the left side of the "Follow" or "Unfollow" button.

Season 1, Episode 6: The Gryphon and the Pony, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 6

The Gryphon and the Pony
|PART ONE|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

As our heroes journey through Druathica, rumors begin to spread across Gryphonia, and in a certain tavern where Justin once had a side-job in, business begins to pick up. The bartender, an overweight gryphon named Mr. Good Cheers, has been asked by a visitor from Equestria for a job that she could do to make a few bits that could help raise morality in the town. Unsure of what she was talking about, he decided that she could work for him at night... but after her first night there, she noticed the inhabitants stare at her for, what she could already tell was, the wrong purposes.

The Bloated Eagle | Midnight...

Taking a deep breath, a high-pitched female mare said to herself, "Alright, Pinkie... you can do this! Just a few more weeks, and I'll be able to afford a trip back home!" Then the pink mare stepped inside the tavern, wearing a pair of black stockings over her hooves, and a pair of long black gloves over her hands. While walking towards the tavern, she wore a long red coat, but once she stepped inside, she removed it, revealing a black vest and panty combo, slightly resembling a swimsuit.

When she stepped in, a large group of male creatures looked at her, and gave her a stare that only made the blood in her veins run cold. "At least... he didn't give me the same job that he gave the other girls, right?" She silently told herself, before continuing on, ignoring the stares she was getting.

Good Cheers looked her way, and smiled, before motioning her behind the bar. "It's alright, Pinkie! I'm sure you'll do fine! Now, I just need to run in the kitchen and pick up more snacks! In the meantime, I would like you to simply... put on a show!" He gave her a wink, which caused her cheeks to turn red. Noticing the image he just gave her, he chuckled, before adding, "Oh, no! Not THAT kind of show! I meant like juggling the mugs, and serving! You know, those kinds of things!"

Pinkie sighed with relief, before chuckling. "Oh, thank Celestia! I'm sorry, Mr. Good Cheers. I'm still getting over my first day here!"

Good Cheers patted her back, and replied, "Listen. I know you might not come back here again, but believe me! You aren't the only one that came here who was in dire need of money! In fact, that fellow needed to go to Equestria himself!"

Pinkie smiled, and nodded her head. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!" Then she looked at him confusedly, and asked, "But why did he need to go to Equestria?"

Good Cheers was about to answer, when another group of customers walked in. "I'll tell you later, Pinkie. We really need to get to work, though!"

Pinkie nodded her head and saluted, before replying, "Yes, sir, Mr. Good Cheers, sir!"

With a chuckle, Good Cheers turned around and began walking towards the kitchen, while saying, "And I must say, Pinkie Pie... you wear your title proud, that's for sure!" Then he stepped into the kitchen, while Pinkie Pie giggled, before walking behind the bar.

"And what can I get for you today, good sir?" She asked a nearby gryphon.

The gryphon placed his right claw under his beak, and asked, "Can you pour me a mix of Moon Berry Punch, with the addition of Ogre's Tear Herb in it? Oh, and make it extra salty, please!"

Pinkie Pie nodded her head and smiled, as she backed up, and placed her hands on two bottles behind her, causing a few eyes to wander in her direction. Then, without even looking, she slung the two bottles in the air, while reaching her tail below the back counter. Then, while doing a flip, she slung a tightly sealed box of salt in the air with her tail. Finally, when she stood from her quick roll, she held her arms out, while catching the two bottles, before the box of salt landed on her mane, bounced, and landed on her nose. This act caused the entire crowd to turn to her again, as she poured both bottles in the mug at the same time, before juggling them in her left hand, while she opened the box of salt, and quickly pulled a pinch of it from the box, before quickly dabbing the pinch in the mug, creating a red and blue puff of smoke in the process.

"One Ogre's Punch Supreme, good sir!" She said, pushing the mug towards the gryphon, while sliding the bottles from her mane to her tail, and back into their original places. The entire bar cheered for her, and a round of applause followed from the tables in the "Tavern" side of the room. The gryphon, now with a wide smile, lifted a bag of bits from his left pocket, and placed twenty bits on the counter. Pinkie looked at him confusedly, and said, "Wait, but that drink's only seven!"

The gryphon chuckled, before replying, "Ma'am... with talent like that, I should owe you seventy!"

Pinkie chuckled, then said, "Oh, nonsense! I'm just familiar with juggling! This is the first time I've worked at a bar, to be honest!"

As soon as she said that, a nearby minotaur spat his drink out, and stared at her in shock. Pinkie, of course, didn't notice him, and continued with the next crowd.

The minotaur, with a toothy grin, said, "Well, if she's THAT talented in new things, perhaps I should take her to my room! Maybe the famous 'Party-Planner' can learn about a new kind of party!" His two gryphon friends lightly chuckled at his statement while he stood up, and began walking towards Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie looked at him, and smiled, before asking, "Good evening, sir! What can I get for you today?"

The minotaur grinned at her, before replying in a whisper, "Well, I was wondering how much you would sell your body for?"

That statement caused Pinkie's smile to drop, and her cheeks to turn red, before she shook her head, and said, "S-sorry, sir! I'm afraid I don't do THAT kind of partying!"

The minotaur raised an eyebrow, before chuckling lightly. "And if I said I can easily TEACH you?"

Pinkie Pie, at this point, backed into the shelf, which caused a couple bottles to fall to the floor. The entire room stared wide-eyed at the minotaur, who started walking towards the entrance to the counter. Then, when he started to lift the hatch, he found a pair of claws grab him by the back of the neck, and slam his face into the counter.

Holding his bleeding nose, he looked up to see who it was that just attacked him, until a low-pitched female's voice said in a tomboyish accent, "Ya heard the lady! She said BEAT IT!" The next thing the minotaur knew, he was running out of the door, with his eyes widely opened.

Pinkie Pie, however, stared wide-eyed at her unexpected hero, and stuttered. "G... Gilda?!"

Gilda, who was wearing an outfit similar to Gilded's, with the addition of a silver and golden breastplate, shifted her golden-eyed gaze from the minotaur to Pinkie, before asking, "What're you doin' here, Pinkie?!"

Pinkie backed up nervously and sighed, before replying, "I... was wanting to see what it was like up here! I heard from Rainbow Dash that you were born and raised here, and the impression you left Ponyville told me that you must've had it rough... so I came up here, hoping to boost everyone's spirits!" Then she paused, before adding, "...But the minute I got here, I realized there was no direct routes from here to Equestria, so I had to make some extra money to get back home..." She sighed, and then scratched the back of her head. "And when I first got here, I was robbed by knife-point! So, here I am, working a side-job as a bartender!"

Gilda scratched the bottom of her beak, and sighed, before turning towards the door. Then she looked at Pinkie, and said, "You really should've stayed home, y'know?" Pinkie nodded her head in agreement.

After a long pause, Gilda walked up to her, and said, "Well, come on, then! The next stop will have to be Druathica!"

Pinkie stared wide-eyed at Gilda, before asking, "W-what?! Why are you helping me, though?!"

Gilda groaned, before walking towards the door. "If you ain't at the airship in five minutes, I'll just leave on my own!" Then she left the room, leaving Pinkie Pie staring from the front door to the kitchen.

Before even five seconds passed, Mr. Good Cheers walked up to her, and smiled. "It would seem my daughter sees something in you..." Pinkie turned towards him, and stared wide-eyed, until he covered her snout with his left claw, and placed his right claw in front of his beak, shushing her. Then, while gently patting her mane, he placed a bag of bits in her hands, and said, "Go on, then... you'll be safe around her, I'm sure!"

After a moment of silence, Pinkie smiled at him, and wrapped him in a hug, which he returned. Then, after saying her thanks, she ran out the door, picking up her coat in the process. Mr. Good Cheers looked out the door, and waved at the mare, who was now walking next to Gilda, and talking about something in the distance.

"So you and Rainbow Dash went to that place before going to Flight School?" Pinkie asked, pointing at a large wooden hut that was shaped like a dome.

Gilda looked towards it, and nodded her head. "I don't think ya wanna know what goes on in there, though." As soon as she said that, a minotaur flew out of the door, with a wooden sword following right beside him.

The sudden incident caused Pinkie Pie to jump slightly, before turning back to Gilda, who continued walking unfazed by what just happened.

Then they walked into a dark alleyway, where the bustling streets were replaced with pure, silent darkness. Gilda looked both ways and came to a complete stop, before holding her claw in front of Pinkie, which caused her to stop behind her. "Hold on... I've got a bad feeling about this place. Lemme take a look, real quick."

She slowly started to walk forwards, until the next thing she knew, a masculine voice shouted, "HALT!" When they turned to see who it was that told them that, it turned out to be the minotaur from the bar, and the two gryphons that sat beside him earlier. "Well, well! If it isn't the ol' party planner!" Then he grinned menacingly, as another minotaur appeared from the opposite corner, surrounding Gilda and Pinkie Pie. The minotaur looked at Gilda, and huffed. "And I see you brought your little hero to save you, too!"

Gilda smirked, before replying, "Actually, it was me who brought her, dumbass!" The sudden hint of profanity caused Pinkie Pie to turn towards Gilda with a shocked expression, while Gilda continued looking at the minotaur from the bar with a short smile.

The minotaur glared at her, and motioned, with his right hand, a "Neck-Slicing" signal to the minotaur from the other side. The other minotaur nodded his head and drew a long scimitar, while he slowly crept towards Gilda. Then, after he was close enough, he swung the scimitar in a downward thrust, while Pinkie Pie noticed, and gasped, as her eyes widened in horror.

Before he could reach his target, however, Gilda quickly backed closer to his arm, causing his elbow to clash into her right shoulder pad. Then, in the blink of an eye, she disarmed him of his scimitar, and with a twirling motion, sliced the minotaurs neck with his own blade.

He stood stiffly on the ground for around five seconds, until Gilda turned towards the first minotaur, and kicked the minotaur behind her to the ground. While his body flew back, his head fell forward, and rolled on the ground, ending with his frightened face angled towards the first minotaur.

Then Gilda walked in front of Pinkie Pie, and stretched her wings out, while pointing the scimitar towards the minotaur. "You bucked up big time, pal!" She said, before swinging the scimitar in the air, sending a string of blood towards the three petrified bandits.

The minotaur stared in horror, unable to say a word, while the two gryphons beside him quickly turned around, and started to run away. Before they could even take their second step, however, they were caught off-guard by Gilda swooping in front of them at a blurring speed. Then they stopped in place, as Gilda spat on the floor, and said, "What's the matter? Can't handle a little... blood?" When she said "Blood", the two gryphons gulped, and started reaching in their waists, attempting to draw their scimitars. The second their claws touched the handles, however, Gilda quickly dashed in-between them, slicing the one on her right in the stomach, while his right claw fell to the floor, followed by the rest of his body. Then the other one attempted to slice at her while drawing his weapon, only for his sword to be knocked clean out of his claw. Without sparing another second, Gilda kicked the other gryphon onto the ground, and walked towards the minotaur, who was now facing Gilda, with two scimitars in his hands. Then, once the gryphon bandit landed on the floor, his sword landed in his chest, impaling him in the heart, while Gilda took the other sword and jabbed it in his throat, while continuing to the last bandit unarmed.

The minotaur took this as his chance to strike. With a loud roar, he lifted both scimitars over his head, and attempted to slice Gilda, only for her to back up, and cause his swords to land on the ground. Then she stepped on the scimitars, pinning them on the floor, while the minotaur glared at her, released the swords, and tackled her to the ground.

"IT'S OVER, HERO!" He shouted, only to find one of his scimitars stabbed into his kidneys. Looking down, he choked, as he was rolled to her right, while she lifted the other scimitar with her tail, and placed it in her right claw.

"Yeah, you're right... it's over. Oh, and by the way, Champ..." She said, while standing over the frightened minotaur. "...I'm not a hero." Then she lowered the scimitar to the right corner of his neck, and added, "I'm a Mercenary." With that, she sliced through his neck, and stabbed the scimitar into his head, before it could roll more than two feet away.

After standing there for a few moments, she turned towards Pinkie Pie, and sighed. Pinkie Pie, at that point, was curled up in a ball near a stack of crates, crying out of sheer terror.

Gilda deadpanned at her, but her expression quickly changed to one of concern, as she remembered one of the major differences between her homeland and Equestria. This was, undoubtedly, the first time Pinkie Pie ever witnessed the death of anything.

Finally, she walked towards Pinkie Pie, and sat next to her. Pinkie was still crying, and her mane was straightened out. Gilda looked at her, and gently patted her right shoulder, then said, "Hey, listen. Pinkie Pie..." She looked away from the crying mare, and tried thinking of what to say. "Dammit... I was not cut out for this kinda stuff!" She thought to herself. Then she looked up, after the sound of thunder could be heard.

After a moment of silence, she heard a distant-sounding honk coming from an all-too-familiar airship. "I'm not gonna leave ya, alright?!" Gilda finally blurted out.

Pinkie looked her way, and sniffled a few times. "W-what? B-but... why are you doing this for me, though? Last I remember, I got you in trouble over in Ponyville!"

Gilda sighed, before turning away. "Look, I spoke with Rainbow Dash before I left... and she kinda told me somethin' that I kinda wished I knew before." She then turned to Pinkie Pie, who was staring wide-eyed at her. "When I disrespect her friends, I disrespect her, too."

Pinkie Pie's eyes widened, and a smile started to slowly form. "S-so are you saying-"

Before she could finish, however, Gilda placed her right claw over her snout, and glared. "Of course we ain't friends, yet, you dolt!" Then she stood back up, and added, "But we ain't enemies, either! Now come on!" She stretched her right claw out, which Pinkie took, still weakly smiling. "I guess I'll just say I'm doin' this for Rainbow Dash!"

"Thanks, Gilda..." Pinkie weakly said.

Gilda rolled her eyes, and replied, "Whatever, Pinkie... now, let's go, or we'll miss our ride!" With that, the two of them ran towards the docking bay, where an airship, which resembled the other ones (save for the number "48" on it), floated, accepting large numbers of passengers. Before heading that way, however, Gilda and Pinkie checked their claws and hands respectively, to make sure the blood was off of them. Then, when their claws and hands were completely cleaned off by a nearby bucket that caught rainwater, they joined the long line for the passengers in the airship. The next thing they knew, they were on a journey of their own to Equestria; one of them for a Reunion, and the other one for Redemption.

To Be Continued...

Season 1, Episode 7: Campfire Stories

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 7

Campfire Stories

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

After freeing Druid Lake from the evil, shadowy clutches of Grimsley, our heroes continued on their journey, where halfway to Draemarth City, they decided to set up camp. Due to the long, sleepless fight that Justin had to endure, he was, no doubt, too tired to handle the whole trip. After taking a nice long nap, however, he ended up awakening in the setting of the sun. Exiting his tent, he realized that he wasn't the only one up.

Camp | Nighttime...

Justin yawned and stretched his arms out, as he slowly walked towards the campfire that the other four adventurers were sitting around; Gilded Blade the Gryphon Mercenary, Zula the Zebra Herbalist, Swift Justice the Knight Captain, and Ruby, Justin's most beloved daughter, and Alicorn with no magic.

When he was within the light of the campfire, he smiled at the group, sat down on a log that Ruby sat on, and then said, "Hey, everyone... how long was I out?"

"It's been about six hours." Gilded replied. He was standing on the opposite end of where Justin sat, and slightly to the right. Directly in the opposite side of Justin was Zula, who was sitting on the grass. Ruby sat next to Justin, wrapped around his left arm, while Swift sat on a stump at Justin's right.

Zula looked at Justin and Ruby for a moment, before clearing her throat. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but..." She paused for a moment, trying to find what to say. Justin, however, already knew what she was about to ask, considering how she was looking at both, Ruby and he.

"You're wondering how I'm Ruby's father, and Ruby's my daughter, right?" Justin asked. Zula nodded her head, and looked down.

"Of course, if you don't wish to say it, you don't have to." She added.

Justin looked at Ruby, who looked back at him, and smiled. Then she nodded her head, signaling to Justin that she's okay with him telling their story. Clearing his throat, Justin began his story.

It started back in my world... it's called "Earth" just like this one, but... it had its fair share of differences. For starters, the only sentient beings were Humans like me. Ruby, herself, was a Human, until we were brought here.

Going further back... I raised her on my own. Unfortunately, her mother died while giving birth to her... and on her death bed, I swore to protect her with my life.

No, she isn't related to me biologically. I made sure she was aware of that before it would ever be a problem. It doesn't matter to me, though. Her biological father was... not a good person at all. In fact, he was, as my fiance called, an abusive ex boyfriend, who was imprisoned for the things he did to her, and eventually, killed. Still, though... Ruby was given to me by her mother, and so she is my daughter, and I'm her father, even though we don't have the same genes. And to top it all off, she's all the family I've got left.

To this day, I'm unsure of how she became an Alicorn, and I remained Human. It might be the fact that the light that dragged us here chose her first.

Oh, right... I should also mention that we were living in an old, shabby apartment building, barely managing three meals a day... but I made sure she was well fed, and educated. One day, on her birthday, I was in the kitchen, just making her breakfast. She, at the time, was watching some sort of cartoon... can't recall the name of it, though.

When I heard her screaming, I ran from the kitchen, and into the living room, only to see that a strange, white light was pulling her inside it. Out of instinct, I did what any other father should do in that situation, and ran up to her, trying to pull her out of it, refusing to let her go. Inevitably, it pulled us both in.

"And so we landed in some sort of jungle in Gryphonia... Skyhaven, to be exact. For two days, I carried her through it, protecting her with my life. Then we found the city, and walked up to it, only to find that we were, without a doubt, in another world altogether."

"At first, the locals were hesitant, and couldn't understand a word that I said... but when they saw Ruby, they allowed us in." Justin looked at Gilded, and motioned for him to continue with his side of the story.

Taking a deep breath, Gilded began speaking of the events that led him to his journey.

So there I was, just waiting for my sister to show up at our father's bar. She was supposed to be coming back after a trip to Equestria. Anyways, I was simply working at the bar, when all of a sudden, I got word that a foreign creature and an Alicorn Filly, which I KNOW wasn't normal, came from out of nowhere! Quickly, I ran up to them, and saw that they must've been through a lot. Somehow, his daughter was able to speak to us, and we could understand her... but her dad spoke with her, and only she could understand what he said. I don't know, maybe it's the fact that she's an Alicorn, or somethin'. Whatever the case, we spoke with her, and she translated what we said to her dad. In the end, we gave her dad a lot of books, and before we knew it, he was fluent enough to speak, read, and write most of the languages out there.

Gilded walked closer to the fire, and sat on another fallen log that was near him. Then he looked at Swift, and asked, "So, what brings you here, if you don't mind me asking? You said you were from The Highlands, right?"

Swift nodded his head, and replied, "Indeed, I did. Diamond Peak, of course, is the Capital City, but it's at the top of the coldest mountain in the region." And so, he started telling them some of the major parts of the city that they should expect to see.

Meanwhile, just past Goldwood Village, another camp was set up. This one, however, was shorter than the one our heroes have. Within this camp, a pair of females sat around the campfire. One of them was a Gryphon named Gilda. The other one was a pink-colored Earth Pony named Pinkie Pie. The two of them sat silently around the campfire, with both of their minds full of thought.

"So... what was your childhood like, Gilda?" Pinkie finally asked, turning her blue gaze from the fire to her ally.

The sudden question caught Gilda off guard, which made her raise an eyebrow, as she looked back at Pinkie Pie. Then, with a shrug, she replied, "I don't think you wanna know, Pinkie."

Pinkie looked at her confusedly, before asking, "Why not?"

Gilda's raised eyebrow lowered, and she replied with a deadpanned expression, "Because it's too dark for your kind. I'd rather not give you nightmares."

The response made Pinkie look back at the fire, and sigh. "Sorry, Gilda... I thought that, since you and Rainbow Dash were friends when you both were little, I had a feeling you might explain more than what she told me."

Gilda sighed, then looked at the fire for another ten seconds. "Y'know... I'm not sure what Rainbow Dash even sees in you, to be honest. Why, no, how does she even put up with you?"

Pinkie shrugged her shoulders, and replied, "I'm not completely sure, to be honest... I mean, yes I'm always there for her when she's feeling down. I always dedicate my time to making my friends smile, even when they don't need my help."

"Yes, but why, though? I don't understand why you even bother with them! I mean, last time I was there, they looked at me like I was a monster, you know? And from where I came from, I'm sure you know what I normally do to those who give me that look, after what you saw a few days ago. Right?"

Pinkie closed her eyes, and nodded her head. "They just aren't used to seeing other creatures from outside Equestria. There's a reason why we only spoke Equestrian there, y'know."

Gilda pinched the space between her eyes, and said, "Yeah. Rainbow Dash told me about that... and you may as well thank her that I didn't kill anyone while I was there, too. If she didn't warn me about that, you might as well say that Ponyville's roads would be a lot more redder than they are now."

With a nervous smile, Pinkie nodded her head, and replied, "O-of course! That wouldn't have ended well, otherwise!" She nervously chuckled, but stopped when she saw Gilda deadpanning at her again.

Then they just sat down in even more silence.

After five minutes of silence, Gilda sighed, and said, "You still want to know my back-story, huh?" Pinkie Pie looked up at her, and nodded her head. "Alright, then... but don't say I didn't warn you!" With that said, she cleared her throat, and began to tell her story.

So as you already know, I was born and raised in Gryphonia, as a Mercenary. That wasn't always my job, though. In fact, I was originally just a simple kid in school who would listen to the teacher, and do as she was told without question.

One problem, though... the other kids didn't take too kindly to a "Teacher's Pet"... and believe me, they called me names far more worse than that. In the end, I was about to go off on them, when Rainbow Dash stepped between us, and stood up for me. We both got in a fight against a gang of bullies; just the two of us. We kicked so much a-err... flank that day, it was almost like we were meant to be a team. By the end of that day, I made my first, and only friend. Before then, the only one that showed that they cared for me was my dad, and my older brother.

His name's Gilded Blade, by the way. Unlike me, he always seemed more sympathetic when it came to those who were being hurt... something I didn't necessarily understand until Rainbow Dash pointed out that I was the same way when we first met. He was trying to be a role model for me most of his life.

Dash and I soon enlisted in Mercenary Camp... that old place that Minotaur flew out of in Skyhaven. Rainbow Dash and I... well, let's just say that, by the end of our training period, we were the most dangerous of the entire building... even the teachers feared us!

Of course, fear wasn't something that Rainbow Dash wanted... she only wanted respect, and popularity. Me, I wanted to rip the skulls out of the jerks who bullied me in the past. I almost did one time, after they called me a name that, to this day, makes me want to kill those who would even think of the word. I encourage you not to ask me what that word is, as well... for your own safety.

Eventually, though, our different paths led to her moving on in life. She joined Flight School, and had to move to Cloudsdale, over in Equestria. Surprisingly, I was given the option to be an exchange student for the Cloudsdale University... to which I accepted without hesitation. The next thing we knew, we were in the same classes, and had fun doing... well, I wouldn't say "GIRL" stuff. You get the idea. We were Cheerleaders to the team over there, but at the same time, we intervened with the opposite teams by striking fear into their hearts... with a pair of switchblades we had hidden in our pom-poms. She seemed more pumped about it than I ever was, as you could tell from when I visited Ponyville.

Then the time came that I had to leave again. Re-enlisting as a Mercenary, I continued living on up in Skyhaven, while Dash and I wrote to each other, after exchanging our addresses. Four years later, I was invited to hang out with her over in Equestria, while she gave me information on her new home, which is over Ponyville, along with the rules of the "humble little community" over there.

First, I had to let my brother know. You'd be surprised by how tall he is, by the way! You said I was tall when I made it to Ponyville, yet if you saw Gilded, you'd think I was a shrimp on a plate! Still, though... to this day, I think he's merely a softy. Like all softies out there, he tried to keep me from going, which only made me glare at him even more.

"Ya didn't hear this from me, but... I may be his younger sister, and he may be taller than me, yet, according to what he told me, I even scare him when I get angry." That statement caused Pinkie Pie to giggle.

Then Pinkie Pie looked at Gilda, and realized that, for the first time in her life, she saw that Gilda was also giggling. "Wow... I can probably see why!"

Gilda stopped giggling, and looked at her again. "Why's that, exactly?"

"Well, duh! After what you did to those meanies, you could even make a Minotaur wet himself!"

Gilda lightly chuckled at that statement, then replied, "Yeah... I guess I could." Then, she looked back at the fire, and sighed, as her smile turned into a frown.

"What's wrong, Gilda?" Pinkie asked, now noticing Gilda's change of expression.

For a moment, Gilda remained silent, until she closed her eyes. Then, a single tear fell from her left eye. "Why don't you hate me, after what I did in Ponyville? What kind of creature would even want to be friends with me, even after hearing... no, SEEING that I kill for a living?!" She lowered her head, and allowed the tears to pour down her face.

Another moment of silence followed, until Pinkie Pie scooted next to her, and gently wrapped her arm around the back of Gilda's shoulders. To her surprise, Gilda didn't even push her back, or anything. She just sat there instead, while her muscles tensed up.

Slowly Gilda looked at Pinkie Pie, revealing the tears that continued lowering from her golden eyes. Then with a weak smile, Pinkie Pie replied, "Trust me, Gilda... any friend of Rainbow Dash... is a friend of mine!" Gilda was about to retort, when Pinkie Pie shook her head. "I don't care if I'm not YOUR friend, and I don't care if I never do become your friend! I will still treat you like a friend, even if you avoid me, tell me mean things, and refuse to be my friend! You know why? Because even though I'm not your friend, doesn't mean that you aren't my friend!"

Gilda's eyes were slightly widened at that statement, as she just sat there in bewilderment. Then her eyebrows lowered on the outer edges, while a weak smile formed on her beak.

Giving a small chuckle, Gilda said, "Pinkie... you're so weird..." The two of them giggled at that statement. "I guess that's what Rainbow Dash sees in ya."

Then, after a moment of silence, Gilda nodded her head. "Alright, then... ya promise to keep a secret?"

Pinkie, having been familiar with promises, replied, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" As she said those words, she gave her signature sign language with her arms.

Gilda raised an eyebrow, until Pinkie giggled again, and said, "That means I won't say a word, even if it kills me!"

Nodding her head, Gilda replied, "Alright, then... might not wanna do that in public, though. Anyways, as I was saying... I guess we can be... secret friends."

Suddenly, Pinkie's eyes widened in shock. "W-wait... you MEAN that?!"

Slowly, Gilda nodded her head, and smiled. "Yeah." Pinkie was about to hug her, when she held her right claw on Pinkie's chest, and added, "But no hugging! I don't hug anyone, unless it's for a surprise attack."

Pinkie nodded her head, as thunder started to silently crack from a faraway distance. With a yawn, Gilda said, "Well, Pinkie... It's been a... very eventful day, and all, but not all of us can handle being awake all day and night, so... g'night."

Smiling at her new friend, Pinkie replied, "Good night, Gilda! Oh, and... thank you!"

Looking back at Pinkie while standing between the zipper to her tent, Gilda smiled back, and replied, "Any time, Pinkie." Then, after zipping the tent shut, Gilda sat on the pallet she had in the center of the room, and removed the armor around her chest. When she placed it on the ground next to her, she curled the blanket around her, and slowly closed her eyes. With her eyes closed, she looked back on the events that recently took place and, for the first time in a long time, she was able to sleep with a smile on her face.

Season 1: Complete!

Author's Note

Finally! Done with Season 1! Yes, I know this season was short and all, but trust me! The next one is planned to be much, MUCH more longer than this one! In fact, we haven't even scratched the surface, yet! Anyways, stay tuned for more exciting adventures, as our heroes reach the next part of their journey, in "Season 2: The Highlanders"! Stay tuned, My Little Bronies!

Oh, and yes, I did choose a different song on purpose!

Season 2, Episode 1: Highland Hospitality

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 1

Highland Hospitality

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

After a week-long voyage, our heroes find themselves at the entrance to "The Highlands", home of the Minotaurs and Goats. Of course, their first stop is Port Greenhold, the area where the Goats are more common, although there have been rumors of many other creatures from across the world gathering in this large port city.

"Alright, so the plan's clear, right? We'll all meet back up at the center of Town Square, and book a ticket to Atlantis." Justin said, to which everyone nodded their heads. "Ruby, I'm gonna go get something for us, but I don't want you to be moving around. Zula, I'm leaving her under your care. Okay?" The Zebra lady nodded her head, while Justin hugged his daughter, the young Alicorn Filly named Ruby.

"What about me?" Gilded asked. Justin looked up at him, and smiled.

"I'll be going to the Tavern over there... but if things get hairy, I'm gonna need you to make sure nobody gets to Ruby or Zula. Guard them with your life... okay?" Gilded nodded his head, and punched his right fist on his chest.

Little did they know, however, that a group of Minotaurs were watching them from a distance, and split up around the city, with two walking inside Justin's destination. Justin, out of security, had the hood of his jacket over his head, to avoid any unwanted attention.

"The Raging Bull", as the sign of Port Greenhold's largest tavern stated, was packed full of creatures of varying races. Minotaurs were arm-wrestling other creatures over round tables, some creatures were jamming a knife between their fingers, which were spread out across other tables, but most of the creatures' attention was at the bar, where a hooded figure sat down, waiting for his order to come up from the Goat that served as the bartender.

"Baa?" The Bartender asked, to which the hooded figure merely pointed to a jug of milk that rested at the corner of the bar. The Bartender nodded his head, and held up two fingers.

Nodding his head, the hooded figure opened his saddlebag, and pulled out a small wallet, while the bartender went to the jug of milk, and began pouring it in a mug. Then, when he placed the milk on the bar, the hooded figure placed three bits in his hands, while giving him a thumbs-up.

The bartender smiled at the tip, and bowed his head politely, before moving on to the next customer.

"So, I take it you must be new around here, huh?" A nine foot tall Minotaur asked the hooded figure from behind him, while another one of the same height stood next to him, both of them on both sides of the hooded figure.

The hooded figure merely nodded his head, and started reaching towards his milk, only for the Minotaur at his left to swipe the milk up, and start drinking it. Then, when he finished drinking it, his eyes widened, and then he spat it back in the cup, with a few drops falling on the hooded figure. "UGH! Milk?! What are you, a little child?!"

A few of the other customers looked his way, and started laughing at the mysterious hooded figure, who seemed unfazed by the insults that were given to him. At the angle he was in, nobody could see his face.

Then the Minotaur gently chuckled, and motioned for the other Minotaur to place his left hand on the hooded figure's right shoulder pad, and ask, "What's the matter, kid? Did it hurt you when we took your milk from you?"

The crowd continued to laugh at them, until the figure sighed, and pulled away from the Minotaur's hand. Then, in a casual-sounding tone, he replied, "I don't know... did it hurt you when I threw you out of that window over there?" He pointed at the window on the opposite end of the room, rested on the left side of the door from inside.

The Minotaur raised an eyebrow, and started to laugh, while his friend joined in on the laughter.

Zula and Ruby sat on a bench in the center of Town Square, where they talked a little bit about their lives in the past.

"So, Misses Zula... you're saying that you had a friend from Redwood Peak, which was where a bunch of meaner Zebras lived?"

Zula nodded her head, and replied, "That is correct, Ruby... but he was different, of course! Yes, we were from different lands, but he was, without a doubt, a kind individual, with the heart of a Goldwoodian."

Ruby sighed, and looked on the ground, while she kicked her legs back and forth. "You're so lucky, Misses Zula... Daddy doesn't even let me do anything with other kids!"

Zula chuckled lightly, and replied, "Oh, Ruby! I don't even need Magic to see that he only wishes for the best of you! He loves you dearly, and is fighting for your safety. If anything, I believe you are the lucky one, here!"

Then Ruby looked back at Zula, and smiled. "Thank you, Zula... I'm glad we could talk." Finally, she looked at the entrance to the tavern that Justin went into, and hummed. "Huh, I wonder what's taking Daddy so long..."

As soon as she finished that sentence, the entire right window shattered open, and out of the tavern flew a tall Minotaur, who landed on a light pole, which dented the second he landed on it. With a sigh, Ruby said, "I just HAD to ask!"

The commotion caused a large crowd to form around the unconscious Minotaur, then at the yellow-hooded figure who simply walked out of the hole in the wall, as if nothing happened. Then the figure turned to Ruby and Zula, and tapped two fingers on his left wrist, and pointed towards a large pile of crates near the ships, which Ruby caught onto instantly.

In a whisper, Ruby told Zula, "We need to hide!" Zula nodded her head, and in the matter of seconds, the two of them started heading for the barrels and crates.

"Ugh... how much longer will we be?" Gilda asked, as she leaned over the side of a ship, which swerved around relentlessly over the water. "Dammit, Pinkie! I don't know how you even talked me into this!"

Pinkie Pie, who was giggling at the fact that she was sliding on a barrel that was moving back-and-forth from wall to wall, replied, "According to the captain, we should reach The Highlands in about a week, since the waves are a lot more smoother than a week ago!"

Letting out an annoyed grunt, Gilda slammed her forehead on the top of the deck, which caused her to rub her forehead, and grumble, "Yeah... THAT was smart..."

Then Pinkie Pie's smile turned into a concerned one, as she leaped from the barrel, and asked, "What's wrong? Are you alright, Gilda?"

Gilda sighed, and replied, "Yeah, I'll be fine... I just get a little seasick, that's all. I ain't used to being on the water, y'know? Usually, I'm either on the land, or in the sky. Occasionally, both."

"How can you be on the land and sky at the same time?" Pinkie asked, until the realization kicked in. Then she busted into laughter, and added, "Oh, I get it! It's because Skyhaven is, literally, floating in the sky! HA!"

With a weak smile, Gilda chuckled, and replied, "That's quite smart of you, Pinkie... not everyone gets that joke, y'know?" Then a sudden realization hit her. "Wait a minute... how do you know that?! The Airships don't normally let commoners in the rooms with windows!"

Pinkie raspberried, then replied, "Well, duh! Being an Element of Harmony means that I'm quite well-known around the-"

"Hold on, hold on!" Gilda interrupted, waving her claws in front of Pinkie. "You mean to tell me that you're not only some friend of Rainbow Dash's, but also an Element of Harmony?! As in, those legendary weapons from the stories?!"

Raising an eyebrow, Pinkie asked, "Legendary weapon? I haven't heard that one before! But then again, considering my friends and I converted Nightmare Moon into Princess Luna again, I guess that does consider me a weapon!"

Staring wide-eyed at the pink mare, Gilda looked out of the ship, towards the horizon, and hummed. "Wow, Pinkie... you sure are full of surprises, aren't ya?"

With a light giggle, Pinkie replied, "Of course, silly! What kind of Party Planner would I be, if I wasn't?" Then the two of them continued watching the horizon, while Pinkie held onto the side of the deck next to Gilda, as they both viewed the sun slowly starting to move from the morning point to the evening point.

Standing in the center of a circle of unconscious Minotaurs and Horses, who were all wearing "Black Wing" outfits, Justin held his staff in a defensive manner, and breathed heavily. Then, with a smile, he turned his head towards the piles of crates, and walked up to them, raising his staff in a non-aggressive manner as he did. "The coast is clear, Ruby!"

When he reached the boxes, his eyes widened, as he looked around frantically. Then, the next thing he heard caused him to worry. Ruby was screaming in the distance. Turning left, he glared at the group of Minotaurs that held Swift, Gilded, Zula, and Ruby, with the first three being unconscious, and the fourth wrapped in a thick cloth bag.

Justin was about to call out to his daughter, until from behind his back, a large rock bashed the back end of his head, and caused his vision to instantly blur. Then he fell onto his knees, and soon, his chest, as everything around him began to grow dark. The last thing he could see was the large band of Minotaurs who were carrying his friends and family, walking towards the outer gates of the city that lead to the massive mountains in the far distance. Towards him, a number of Minotaur Knights were walking his way, each holding spears towards him.

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 2: The Gryphon and the Pony, Part 2

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 2

The Gryphon and the Pony
|PART TWO|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With our heroes caught in a bind, it would seem that their journey has reached a snag. One week ago, Justin woke up in the lower depths of a dungeon, where he was wanted for vandalism, and assault; both of which he tried to explain was the results of self-defense. In the Highland society, however, he quickly learned that they are stereotypical about anything, and anyone, who they don't recognize.

After seeing who the "Knights" that captured him were behind their helmets, however, he knew that there was something odd about them... they were members of the "Black Wings"... and he knew that he had to find a way out of there, if he hopes to see his friends and family again.

As he continuously tries to find a way to escape, and save his friends and daughter from the Black Wings, another group of adventurers arrive at the scene, where their curiosity drives them towards the rumored "Alien" that the knights captured. Little do they know, however, that they are about to walk into the life of a broken man who's life is constantly surrounded by danger.

"FINALLY!" Gilda shouted, as the wooden ship lowered the plank for the passengers to leave. The second it reached ground-level, she was the first to run out of the ship, and kiss the ground. Pinkie Pie, out of curiosity, and the mindset that it was meant for fun, decided to run out next, and kiss the ground as well.

Then the two of them looked up, and saw a goat staring at them, holding a clipboard and a quill in his arms, while raising a confused eyebrow at the two.

"What? I thought it would be fun!" Pinkie said with a smile, as she stood up. Gilda, however, was still kissing the ground. "Um, Gilda? I think this young lady here wants to get our names!"

Gilda, at this point, stood back up, and glared at the goat. "Ya don't wanna know how much I've missed the land..." Then she walked up to the goat, and stretched her right claw out. "Oh, and the name's Gilda Blade... this is my f-err... acquaintance... Pinkie Pie."

The goat's eyes widened, while she asked, "Baa?! (Wait... Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter?!)"

With a giggle, Pinkie replied, "Baa! (That's right!)"

Gilda raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Wait, you know Highlandean?!"

Pinkie giggled, and nodded her head, replying, "Well, yeah! I have a sister who's been around the world! She also taught me many other languages that she learned in her travels!"

Gilda hummed, and nodded her head. "Huh... alright, then." Then she turned towards the goat lady. "Are we free to pass?"

The goat nodded her head, and stepped to the side, allowing the two to pass through, and enter the Town Square.

Right as soon as they reached the open area, the first thing that caught their attention was the large number of construction work that was being done on the tavern to their far left. "What the Hay happened there?!" Gilda asked nobody in particular.

A couple seconds later, a passing Fox looked their way, and replied in an "Australian" accent, "Ah, well ya see, mate, there's been talk around the town that some alien creature was the cause of it! The creature had unbelievable strength, too! Threw a Minotaur from the other side of the room, he did!"

Gilda raised an eyebrow at the Fox, and asked, "I take it you were there?"

The Fox nodded his head, and replied, "Sure was, mate! Name's Stealth Paws, by the way!" He stretched his right paw out, and waited for one of the two ladies that towered over him to shake his paw. Pinkie was about to, until Gilda pushed her hand down.

"Think ya can tell me more about this alien? Like, what else do ya know about 'em?" Gilda asked, giving him a stern look.

The Fox grinned slyly, and replied, "Ah, well you know how talk can be, right? You might also want to know that that kind of information doesn't come cheap, either!"

Gilda rolled her eyes, and looked down at him, while moving her right claw in front of him, revealing her fur bracelet that had the Mercenary Symbol on it. This caused Stealth to gulp, while his sly smile turned into a nervous grin. "Ah, but I see you've already got a keen eye, and swift reflexes yourself! I'll... tell you whatever you need!"

With a triumphant smile, Gilda nodded her head, and said, "That's more like it! Now, then... did this alien happen ta have any other creatures with 'em?"

Stealth nodded his head, and replied, "Sure did! He had a group o' friends with him when he arrived by ship last week! They couldn't catch him, though, because the 'Black Wings' got to them, first! Seeing how he was, in some way, affiliated with them, along with the fact that he caused that over there," Swift pointed at the construction, "he was taken into custody, where he would rest in the dungeons below here to be interrogated, and perhaps tortured... Celestia herself doesn't know what's going on in there!"

Gilda nodded her head again, and asked, "Alright, then... I ain't worried about that creature! Who were his affiliates?"

Stealth rubbed his chin with his right paw, and replied, "Hmm... let's see. There's that Zebra lady named Zula, a Unicorn Filly named Ruby, a Horse named Swift Justice, and a Gryphon named Gilded Blade."

The second he reached that last name, Gilda's eyes shot open, while she shouted, "WHAT?!" Then she glared at the people around them, and shouted, "IF YOU AREN'T IN THIS CONVERSATION, THEN GET THE BUCK AWAY!" That statement caused the crowds to immediately disperse.

With a bone-chilling glare, Gilda looked at Stealth, and asked, "Where did they go?!"

Stealth, who shook nervously at the infuriated Gryphon, replied, "I-I d-don't know! B-but-" Gilda raised her right claw up, which was balled up in a fist, which caused Stealth to flinch, and yell, "B-BUT I THINK THE ALIEN KNOWS!"

The next thing he knew, he was lifted in the air by the collar of his shirt, and carried like a bag of some sort. "Good, then take us to him, Stealth... I have some questions I'd like to ask." Without even waiting for a reply, the three of them began walking towards where Stealth told them to go, all while any eyes that were caught focusing on them were quickly averted by Gilda giving them a glare from around her shoulders.

The second that they stepped into the doorway to the dungeons, they were nearly halted by a Minotaur guard, until Gilda showed him her bracelet. "I'm here for the alien... he knows about one of my relatives who were taken by the 'Black Wings'. And unless you want to wage a war against Gryphonia, I suggest you let me pass... and these two. They're with me." As soon as she said that, the guards looked at each other nervously, before nodding their heads, and allowing them to pass.

While they walked down the seemingly endless steps that continued to go on and on, Gilda looked at Pinkie, and asked, "You ain't usually this quiet, Pinkie... what's up?"

Pinkie looked up at her nervously, and replied, "S-sorry, Gilda. It's just that... well... I'm used to laughing at things that scare me, but after what happened in Gryphonia, I... I've been trying to find another way to ease my nerves."

Gilda nodded her head understandingly at Pinkie Pie, and smiled. "It's alright to be afraid, Pinkie. I don't really like dark tunnels like this, either."

"In case y'all didn't notice, I'm still here!" Stealth grumbled, as he was held by his collar. "And I don't understand why you're still carrying me like a bag!"

Gilda glared at him, and replied, "Because I know better than ta trust a fox!" Then she lifted him up to her eye level, and held her left hand in front of him. "And by the way, Mr. Sleight-of-Hands... I think you'd better give me back my two bits, unless you want to lose your paws!"

Stealth grinned nervously, and placed the two bits that he snuck from Gilda's Saddlebag, and chuckled. "Crikey! You surely are a Mercenary, aren't ya, mate?"

Gilda smirked, and replied, "Only one of the best, that put the teachers ta shame! So if ya know what's good for you, you'd also want to give Pinkie Pie back her four bits!"

Stealth raised an eyebrow, and said, "But I took ten from- err... I mean..." Gilda rotated him to Pinkie, who started to glare at him, as her mane started to deflate slowly. "Er... I'll just... give 'em back, now!" He said, as he pawed a medium-sized bag of bits to Pinkie, who took it, and continued to glare.

"We're here." The guard that led them to the cells said, as he turned the lock with his key, and opened the barred door.

The three of them slowly walked into the dark and gloomy room, while the guard remained in front of the gate, and kept a lookout for any attempted escapees. For about thirty seconds, the three looked through the cells; some empty, some with a weak-looking prisoner, some with a healthy-looking prisoner trying to break out of his or her bindings on the wall, and a lot with skeletons in them, which caused Pinkie to gasp in horror.

Then they reached the one at the furthest distance, rested in the center of the wall. There, they saw a man that looked far more different than the rest. He appeared to have a few cuts and bruises across his yellow jacket, while his saddlebag rested on the opposite end of the room. Around his wrists, he had thick metal cuffs that held him to the wall, and around his elbows, he had metal cuffs to avoid him using his muscles. He had a long beard that lowered to his chest, and long hair that was ragged, and appeared to be unkept for at least a year.

When they reached his cell, he was looking down, with his eyes closed. His legs were crossed, and his cheeks were covered in dried tears and small chunks of food that was force-fed to him for the week that he was there.

"This must be it... or him, considering it has a beard. Strange, though. He doesn't even look dangerous, let alone, capable of throwing a Minotaur across a room! What do you think, Pinkie?" Gilda asked, as she turned to Pinkie, and looked at her puzzled. "Um... Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie's eyes were widened, while her pupils were completely dilated to the point that her blue irises were barely even noticeable. Her jaw was dropped, and her shoulders were arched forward. "W-who... is... THAT?!" She asked, now pointing at the man chained to the wall.

Gilda sighed, and slapped her forehead with her left claw, before groaning. "Ugh, please... PLEASE don't tell me you're infatuated with someone who's been claimed ta be a criminal!" Then she glared at the man in the cell, and added, "And the one who I'm about ta get answers from, one way or another!"

With a loud bang, Gilda slapped a bar from the cell door with her left claw, and shouted, "HEY! YOU IN THE YELLOW JACKET! WAKE UP!"

The man's eyes slowly opened, while he weakly said in a hushed tone, "Get... out... it's a trap!"

Before any of them could reply, the cell doors to the entire room opened up, and the criminals all ran towards the three "visitors".

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 3: Rebels of Undercity, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 3

Rebels of Undercity
|PART ONE|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

And now, with the odds stacked against both parties, it would seem that the chances of survival are growing even more slimmer by the minute for our heroes!

When Pinkie and Gilda met with Justin, they soon found out that they stumbled into a trap that quickly led to their capture, as well! Now, all four of our heroes appear to be caught in a bind, with their arms chained onto the same wall that Justin was chained to. As the four of them are trapped, however, Justin begins wondering about the skeletons from the unused cells.

With that in mind, he also begins to wonder if there may be any more innocent people inside this Hellish dungeon that need a hero to come to their aid. Before he could do anything, however, he would have to find a way to save himself, and the other three who appear to be in the same bind that he's in. Little do they know, however, that he had a whole week to find a solution... and could've already stumbled across one...

Justin sighed, as he continued listening to Gilda ask him countless questions about where he's from, what his business was in these lands, and where he was trying to go to.

"I told you already, ma'am... I ain't telling you, because that could risk too much. Now, can I ask you the next question, please?"

Gilda glared daggers at him, as she retorted, "Not until you answer at least one question!"

Justin rolled his eyes, and sighed. "Does it have anything to do with me?"

Gilda shook her head, and replied, "Actually, it has something to do with one of your co-workers!"

With another sigh, Justin said, "I'm sorry, but I put their safety above my own, actually."

"THEIR SAFETY?!" Gilda shouted, which caught Justin off guard. "YOU HAD MY BROTHER CAPTURED! NOW TELL ME WHERE GILDED BLADE IS, ALREADY!"

Then, Justin's eyes widened at that statement. "Wait a minute..." One of his eyebrows raised, causing him to stare at the angry Gryphon in confusion. "Gilda?!"

Now, it was Gilda's eyes that went wide. "You... know me?!"

Justin sighed in relief, and replied, "Well, yeah! Your brother told me about you..." Then his smile dropped, and a glare soon followed. "Wait a minute... from what I heard, it was you who caused the flight from Gryphonia to Equestria to be cancelled out!"

Gilda glared at him again, and retorted, "Well, what's that gotta do with YOU, or even Gilded?!"

"EVERYTHING!" Justin shouted, causing his voice to be heard from the whole room. Gilda's glare turned into a mixture of shock and surprise. "If you didn't cause the commotion in Equestria, then my daughter and I would probably be home again, your brother would be in Gryphonia, and everything would be back to normal!" Then he closed his eyes, and lowered his head. "And in case you didn't notice, the 'Black Wings', as they call themselves, are probably hunting me now, because I sabotaged their entire base in Druathica... and with knowledge like that, then we don't have long to save them."

Gilda raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Wait... it was YOU who single-handedly took down the entire base?!"

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "Yeah... but it wasn't for glory, or money. I just wanted to save my daughter, and my first friend I've made in this world... your brother."

Gilda looked away from him and sighed, as her expression seemed to show sadness at that point. Then she said, "Well... I'm sorry for delaying your trip to Equestria... I honestly didn't expect Celestia and Luna to make that kind of judgement, because of my actions."

While shaking his head, Justin replied, "It's fine... I guess it was for the best, right? Goldwood probably wouldn't have their people back, Druid Lake would probably be completely wiped out, and maybe the Black Wings would've done worse up here, then." Then he looked at Gilda again, and smiled. "By the way, my name's Justin. It's... nice to meet you, Gilda."

Gilda smiled back at him, and nodded her head. "Yeah... it's nice to meet you too, Justin. And as you already know, I'm Gilda... the mare on your right is Pinkie Pie."

Justin looked right, and was about to talk, until he found that the pink mare was staring wide-eyed at him, with her mouth opened in a wide smile, almost completely unfazed by the fact that all four of the people were chained to the wall. Looking closer at her, he also noticed that she was... drooling. "Um... it's... nice to meet you, too?"

Pinkie Pie continued to stare at him silently, causing his gaze to turn away from her, and back to Gilda. "Gilda... is she alright?"

Gilda sighed, and replied, "I don't know. She normally speaks a lot more than this." Then she looked at Pinkie, and asked, "Hey! Earth to Pinkie! SNAP OUT OF IT, WILL YA?!"

Pinkie quickly shook her head, and looked at Justin nervously. "Um... hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! Are you single?!"

Justin raised an eyebrow at her, completely surprised by her sudden bluntness, but replied, "Yes...? But I'm not interested in romance. Sorry."

Then, her mane started to deflate, while her nervous expression started to sadden, which only added to Justin's confusion even more. "W-wait... what? Why not?"

Justin sighed heavily, and was about to reply, when he heard hoof steps from outside. "I'll tell you when I bust us out of here."

Gilda raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Wait... you have a plan?!"

"Had a plan from the start. I was just using these boneheads to get a good idea on where they took my daughter, and friends." Then he looked at the Minotaur who slowly opened the barred door that separated the cell from the main room.

When the Minotaur entered the room, he grinned menacingly at Justin, and said, "Time for your lunch, maggot! Oh, and don't worry, your siblings have already gotten their fair share!" As he said that, he lifted a dark brown pile of gunk that had worms and bugs crawling inside it... much to Pinkie Pie's disgust.

Gilda, on the other hand, smiled at him, and asked, "Hey, ya got any of that for me, too?"

Justin looked at her confusedly, and asked, "Wait... you can eat this kind of-" Before he finished his sentence, he remembered just who he was looking at... a Gryphon, which is part bird... and quite frankly, birds can eat worms and bugs like a delicacy.

Even so, the Minotaur grinned at Gilda, and replied, "Sorry, lady... you ain't got anything on the menu, yet!"

Gilda sighed, and glared at him. "Well, ya damn well better get something on it, quickly!"

"Gilda! Shut up, already!" Stealth Paws huffed from Pinkie's right-hand side. That statement, of course, caused Gilda to glare at the cuffed Fox, while the Minotaur smiled at him.

"Ah, a prisoner that I may actually like!"

Then Justin sighed, and said, "Will you ALL just shut up, and let me eat, already?!"

Pinkie looked at him confusedly, and asked, "Wait, so... you WANT to eat that?!"

Justin deadpanned at her, and replied, "No, Pinkie... but considering I haven't even eaten yesterday, I don't really have much of a choice, do I?" Then he looked at the Minotaur, and asked, "But just so you know... I'm aware of the 'One Week to Poison' rule that your friends made... so please... tell me where my daughter is, and if she'll be okay, while I'm gone... I want to think of her... in my final moments."

The Minotaur laughed, and replied, "Oh, she'll be fine, alright!" Then his grin turned into a weak smile. "She's been assigned to be our captain's future bride, over in Fort Shivercrest, deep in the Shaded Meadows!"

When he said that, Justin's heart rate picked up, and with a glare, he spat on the Minotaur's face.

Pinkie gulped, and watched as the Minotaur wiped the saliva from his face, shrugged, and then spat in the food. "There... extra flavor for you, maggot!". With that, Justin closed his eyes, and reluctantly opened his mouth, as the plate inched into his face.

Then, when Justin began to feel the bugs crawl onto his beard, his right hand started to dimly glow green. As it did, the bugs crawled into his mouth, and waited for the food to enter. As it did, Pinkie stared in horror at the scene, while Gilda and Stealth stared confusedly at what was going on. The Minotaur, however, didn't seem to focus on the bugs standing neatly in a row in his mouth, eating all of the food, due to the fact that the plate was blocking his view of the bugs.

When he lowered the plate, his eyes widened when he saw the bugs fly out of Justin's mouth, and spit the food into the Minotaur's face, while Justin's left hand started to glow red, causing the cuff around his left hand to melt away. As it melted, the Minotaur screamed in horror, while the bugs began crawling into his throat, causing him to choke and gag. Then, when the bugs filled his mouth, he began relentlessly trying to spit the bugs out, only to find that they blocked his mouth and nostrils. When they spat the food in his throat, he gagged, while vomit began to fill his throat... only for the bugs to relentlessly keep inside.

In the matter of two minutes, the Minotaur fell to the ground, and made a gargling noise, as he choked on his own vomit. As he did, Justin slid slightly to the right, giving his left elbow enough room to move freely. Then, in one fluid motion, he forcefully yanked on the cuff, causing a hole to form in the wall, as he broke free. With his left hand freed, he reached to his right elbow, and pulled the other cuff off of his elbow, followed by the one on his right wrist.

When he turned to face Gilda, Pinkie, and Stealth, he noticed that their expressions showed how they were feeling. Gilda's eyes were widely opened, and her beak was held low. Stealth Paws' eyes were wide open, and his jaw hung low. Pinkie Pie, however, was different. Her mane was fluffy again, and her dilated-eyed, drooling smile returned.

"Anyways... it would seem that y'all have the same goal that I do..." Then he looked at Pinkie Pie uneasily, and added, "...I think. Because of that, I believe it would be best that we stick together, and get to the bottom of this attack... something tells me these 'Black Wings' are more than just a common band of pirates and thugs." Justin said, as he turned to the Minotaur's corpse, and held his right hand out. "May I have the key, please?"

As soon as he asked for the key, a group of beetles flew the key from the corpse, and placed it on Justin's hand. With a smile, he nodded his head, and said, "Thank you... please do enjoy your meal. We don't want anyone to suspect that their goon was attacked, do we?" The beetles all seemed to reply with nods of their own, and in the matter of seconds, they flew back to the corpse, and ate it relentlessly, while Justin turned back to the others.

Then he walked up to Gilda, and unlocked the cuffs around her. Following her, he unlocked Stealth, who smiled at him, and then thanked him, while introducing himself. Finally, when he reached Pinkie Pie, he raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeling alright?"

The second her senses came back to her, she looked up, and noticed just how close he was to her. This, of course, caused her drooling smile to drop, and be replaced with a nervous expression, while her cheeks turned red. "Oh, um... y-yes... my name is Pinkie Pie?"

Justin rolled his eyes, and replied, "Yes... I caught that the first time. Anyways, hold still for a moment." As he stated that, he held the key up, unlocked the cuffs from Pinkie's bindings, and motioned for the three of them to follow him.

When he reached the end of the room, however, he stopped the group, and whispered, "We should probably go deeper... it might not be safe for us to go back up, knowing how many eyes are working for the Black Wings over here."

Gilda raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Wait, what? Why?! I thought you said we're leaving this place!"

Justin raised his right finger over his mouth, and shushed her. And then, he whispered, "Because they might have more innocents in here... maybe even someone willing to help us go through the town unnoticed, even! We'll just need to find a way to get further down the dungeons without being seen... and besides that," he looked down, and scratched his chin with his right hand, "I have a feeling there might be a tunnel under here... there's gotta be a way how they managed to sneak past the security unnoticed."

The minute he finished whispering that, a light started to glow from upstairs, with the sound of yelling and laughing. This caused the four to step back into the room, and hide behind the wall. Quickly, yet quietly, Justin closed the cell door, and drew his staff from his saddlebag, after wrapping it back around his waist. Then the barred door slowly opened, and in walked a pair of Minotaurs who were carrying a third Minotaur between their arms. This one, however, had black fur, and pure white horns. On his body, he wore a brown ragged sleeveless shirt, and a tattered pair of brown shorts that must've been pants at one point in time. On his hands, he had a thick chain wrapped around his wrists, binding them together.

With a loud huff, he said, "You'll see what happens when you try to take over OUR city!"

The two guards chuckled lightly, and then pulled on a torch that was resting on a wall, revealing a hidden door that, when opened up, led to a large hole in the ground. Then one of the guards shoved the Minotaur into the hole, and replied, "Tell it to your friends down there, chump!"

As they shoved the prisoner inside the hole in the ground, Justin slowly drew his bow, and then shot a ghost arrow at the other side of the room. Just the sight of the action caused Gilda's, Pinkie's, and Stealth's eyes to widen. Pinkie looked at Gilda, and asked in a hushed tone, "I thought only Unicorns could use magic!"

Gilda looked back at her, and whispered, "Looks like this guy knows it too, apparently!"

Then, ever-so-slowly, Justin tiptoed towards the two guards and, before they could turn around, covered their mouths in roots that he created from the ceiling, and wrapped the roots around their necks. Before they could even make anther sound, the roots lifted them up by the neck, while another four wrapped onto their toes, and stretched them in an uncomfortable noose. In mere seconds, their flailing arms went limp, and their breathing ceased entirely.

Quietly, Justin looked around the room, and sighed in relief when he found that nobody else was in there. Then he went to Pinkie, Gilda, and Stealth, and motioned for them to follow him... which they did, without question.

All four of them looked inside the circle, while Gilda asked, "So... how deep do you think it is down there?"

Justin shrugged, before replying, "Not sure, to be honest. Here, let me check." As he said that, he created a small spark of flame, and dropped it into the hole, illuminating the path to the ground level... which seemed to go unbelievably far down.

Then Justin looked at the group, and asked, "Alright... which of you won't be able to survive a fall like that?"

Stealth smirked, before replying, "I'm a Fox, mate! I can handle a fall twice as far!"

Gilda shrugged her shoulders, before replying, "I'm a Gryphon, so I'm naturally capable of handling falls from miles high without even the slightest bit of pain."

Pinkie stared in the hole silently, with a look of fear in her eyes. Then she slowly raised her right hand, which made Justin nod his head. "It's alright, Pinkie... here, take my hand."

He held his left hand for her to grab onto. She looked at him for a second, before nodding her head, and grabbing onto his hand with both of hers. Then he said, "Now, would you please climb onto my arms?"

Pinkie was about to ask why, when the sound of movement from the stairway behind them caught her off guard, and caused her to instinctively jump into his arms. Then Stealth and Gilda jumped into the hole, and whispered through the tunnel when they were safely out of the way.

With a nod, Justin jumped into the hole, holding onto Pinkie Pie as he did. While they fell, Pinkie closed her eyes, and gripped onto Justin's shoulders tightly, with her eyes closed. Then, once they landed, her eyes shot open, and the first thing she noticed was Justin looking concernedly at her. "Are you alright?" He asked.

Her eyes started dilating, and her mind started going someplace else. This time, however, Justin noticed it first-hand, and sighed. "I guess that's a 'yes'." Then he gently placed her on the ground, and turned away, while Gilda snapped her fingers in her ears, which got her attention.

"Oh... s-sorry." She replied, before looking away from Justin, who began looking around the area they were in.

"It looks like there's a hallway here... but where did that Minotaur go?" Then he started to feel sweat building up, as he quickly drew his staff from his belt, and held it defensively, before adding, "I hope he doesn't work with the Black Wings. I have a problem with them, myself."

Gilda raised an eyebrow at him, and replied, "Yeah... I kinda figured that, by the way you killed that one guard that nearly poisoned you... but why are you saying that out loud, exactly?"

As if on cue, the sound of the barrel of a gun clicking caused her eyes to widen, and her head to turn towards the source of the sound. Out of instinct, she also drew a sword she picked from the guard, and raised it defensively, while Pinkie and Stealth backed in-between the two experienced fighters.

When they prepared for an attack, the sound of more barrels clicking could be heard surrounding the four, with the addition of blades being drawn from sheaths.

"What's goin' on?!" Gilda asked. "There ain't anyone in this room! How is it that I can hear the sound of weapons?!"

Justin raised an eyebrow at her, and replied, "What're you talking about? They're all around us, in clear sight!"

Then, a confused man's voice asked in a rough low-pitched tone, "Wait, you can see us?!" That statement caused Gilda to jump, and turn towards the source of the voice... a small pebble on the ground.

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "Yes sir, and we mean you no harm."

"Put down your weapons, then, and we'll believe you!"

Justin nodded his head, and placed the staff back on his belt, while Gilda sighed, before dropping her sword on the ground.

"I said put it down!" The voice added, aiming towards Justin.

"I am, sir... I'm just keeping it all in one place, so that it could be easier for you to inspect." With that, he unclipped the belt that held his shoulder pad, and placed it on the ground, while also unclipping the belt that held his saddlebag, and placing it on the ground next to it. Then he held his hands up, and said, "Alright, sir... I also have four rings on my fingers, but I don't intend on using them for anything evil... will it be okay if I keep them on, at least?"

The voice huffed, before another one said in a higher-pitched voice, "I say we blow 'em all up! I can already tell that they ain't from around 'ere!"

A different voice that belonged to a female with a pirate-like accent, added, "Aye! They sure ain't welcome 'ere, if they have somethin' with the Black Wings!"

The original voice shushed the other voices, before replying, "I'll make the call on this one!" Then he asked, "How do you know about the Black Wings, exactly?"

Justin closed his eyes before replying, "I was the one who destroyed their base in Druathica."

A collection of gasps was heard, before the first voice asked, "You? You?! As in, just you, and no one else?" Justin nodded his head, while the voice hummed. "Well, I did hear rumors from our leader of a foreign creature destroying their base... but everything else was just common chatter." Then he sighed, before saying in a louder voice, "Lower your weapons... we'll let Boulder and King Goldheart decide what to do with them."

As he said that, the group lowered their defenses, and revealed their appearances.

The leader of the group was a male Diamond Dog that stood about six feet high, Justin's height, with a rugged brown coat, a darker brown-colored, torn vest, and a pair of equally brown-colored shorts that were torn at the bottom. His hair was flat-topped, and rose an inch over his head. He had bright green eyes, resembling an emerald.

To his left was a Slithian lady with golden-colored scales, but due to the dirt that she was covered in, it was difficult to tell the color directly. She wore the same kind of clothing that the Diamond Dog wore, along with the rest of the group. On her scalp, a pair of dark brown fins extruded three inches out, and five inches back. Around her eyes, there was a pattern that shadowed her thin-pupiled red eyes.

To the leader's right stood a Changeling with blue eyes who held two copper-bladed daggers, while the Diamond Dog held one copper-colored rifle, facing up, and the Slithian carried two copper-colored pistols, the one in her right hand facing up, and the one in the left facing down.

Directly behind Justin were three more Diamond Dogs, one a male with gray fur and blue eyes, one a female with yellow fur and purple eyes, and one another female with silver fur and yellow eyes. All three were holding similar rifles up, pointed away from the group.

To Justin's left was a Minotaur male with a gray coat, holding a copper longsword, but in a non-threatening way.

To Justin's right was a Minotaur female with a yellow coat, holding two longswords, also in a non-threatening way.

The strangers nodded at the group, while the leader said, "Alright, then... if you promise not to try anything, you may wear your equipment... but you may not draw anything out, including your staff! Knowing you're from Druathica, there ain't a doubt in my mind it's a 'Shimmerwood Staff', the only kind that is said to be physically unbreakable... correct?"

Justin smiled at the Diamond Dog, and nodded his head. "Yes, sir... I'm surprised you actually knew that! Nobody else could figure it out just by seeing it."

The Diamond Dog chuckled lightly, before replying, "Well, there's a lot that living in a cave most of your life can do for your eyes, when it comes to certain details!"

Then he motioned for them all to follow him, which they did. As they walked through the dark caves, Justin looked back towards Pinkie Pie, who looked nervously around the entire area, and silently hummed to himself. "What is it with this one? Out of all the creatures I've met, this one seems, by far, much more different..." Then he looked away, and sighed. "And why does she remind me so much of Ruby?"

Once they reached a large opening in the hallway, Justin's, Pinkie's, Stealth's, and Gilda's eyes all widened at the sight before them.

There, sitting at the bottom of a huge underground hole, was a large rock with countless holes in it, each of which contained a light that illuminated the large numbers of tall rocks that had entire rooms mined into them. Large numbers of creatures of different races wandered large bridges that connected the rocky roads that surrounded the large rock, and the rocks from within it.

The leader of the other group looked back at their four "visitors", and smiled. "I see you didn't expect to see this, huh?" They shook their heads, causing him to chuckle. "Welcome to Undercity! I am Topaz Claw, by the way."

Justin nodded his head, and held his right hand out, causing the guns to aim at him again, which made him back away, and raise his hands behind his head. Topaz sighed, before glaring at the ones who pointed their guns at him, and stretched his right paw towards Justin, who continued what he started. "I'm Justin Daniels... it's nice to meet you, Mr. Topaz Claw, sir."

Topaz chuckled again, and shook his head. "No need for formalities... I hope you don't take it personal about how we... revealed ourselves. Nowadays, we can't seem to trust anyone out there, anymore."

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "I understand... and don't worry, it isn't the first time I was nearly attacked just for entering someplace. Ever heard of Druid Lake?"

Topaz's eyes widened. "Yes... did something happen there?"

Justin replied, "It was attacked by a few odd, shadow-like creatures, along with a monster from a pony tale. Grimsley. Ring any bells?"

Topaz nodded his head. "Indeed... blasted pictures gave me nightmares!"

"Well, when I made it there, I was attacked by the same patrol that I helped protect from him... her... it... whatever it was."

Then Topaz stopped in place, and glared at Justin. "Sorry, but there's just no way that you could've even looked at that monster! And without any proper evidence, you might as well keep it to yourself!"

Justin lowered his head, and thought for a second, before remembering something that could, without a doubt, be the evidence that he needs. "Actually, if I had the proof that you need right now, would you be willing to trust us even more?"

Topaz's glare lowered, and he scratched his chin in thought, before nodding his head. "As long as you can show me proof that you fought that thing, then I suppose we can at least lower the security for you and your friends!" As he said that, he motioned for them to follow him down the stone steps that led to the bottom of the city.

With a nod, Justin reached into his right pocket, and pulled out his cell phone, which received an odd look from all of those around him, including Pinkie Pie, Gilda, and Stealth. Then he tapped on the screen a few times, until he reached the picture of Grimsley that he took from behind the cart.

The second he showed the picture to Topaz, Topaz's face turned completely pale, and that very second, he stopped in place, while the entire group looked at Justin with wide eyes.

Pinkie Pie's pupils, instead of dilating, completely shrunk at the sight of the creature, as she turned from the picture to Justin, to the picture again, to Justin again, before asking, "W-wait... YOU ACTUALLY FOUGHT THAT THING?!"

Justin nodded his head, before replying, "Yes, but I wouldn't have done it without the help of my friends, Gilded Blade, and Swift Justice."

The moment Justin mentioned the second name, the group of Undercity Residents gasped from around them. Topaz then asked, "Wait... you know Swift?!"

Justin nodded his head, before replying, "Yes, sir... is he a friend of yours?"

Before anyone could reply, a loud booming voice shouted out, "WHAT HAS BECOME OF MY SON?!" When the entire group looked at the source, the Undercity Residents bowed their heads, while Justin looked up at, who he would assume to be, the tallest horse he has ever seen, standing at nine feet high, and having the strength of a Minotaur.

He wore a sleeveless black metal chest plate with a golden trim, a red half-sized cape, and a pair of brown torn shorts over his legs, while a pair of black metal leg braces that had the same color as the other plates were clamped over his shorts. On his head, he wore a black helmet with a Roman Warrior-type look, with a red feather at the center of the top.

Justin looked up at him again, and punched his chest with his right fist, then bowed his head politely, saying, "I'm sorry... I'm new here. Please, sir, may I know who you are?"

The behemoth of a stallion looked down at Justin, and replied, "I am King Goldheart... and Swift Justice... is my son."

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 4: Rebels of Undercity, Part 2

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 4

Rebels of Undercity
|PART TWO|

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"I told you already, ma'am... I ain't telling you, because that could risk too much..." Justin's voice echoed.

"YOU HAD MY BROTHER CAPTURED! NOW TELL ME WHERE GILDED BLADE IS, ALREADY!" Gilda shouted.

"Wait a minute... Gilda?!" Justin asked in a shocked expression.

"You... know me?!" Gilda asked, now confused.

Justin nodded his head. "Your brother told me about you... from what I heard, it was you who caused the flight from Gryphonia to Equestria to be cancelled out!"

A Minotaur walks into the room, carrying a plate of bug-filled gunk. "Time for lunch, maggot!"

"Please... tell me where my daughter is, and if she'll be okay, while I'm gone... I want to think of her... in my final moments." Justin plead to the guard.

The guard smiled. "Oh, she'll be fine, alright! She's been assigned to be our captain's future bride, over in Fort Shivercrest, deep in the Shaded Meadows!"

Justin spat in the Minotaur's face, who in turn, spat in the food.

The Minotaur choked on his own vomit, as Justin broke free, and unlocked the cages to the others.

"So... how deep do you think it is down there?" Gilda asked, as the four adventurers looked down a large hole in the ground.

The sound of guns clicking sounded through the dark room.

"Wait... you can see us?!" Topaz asked.

The group walked into a massive underground city. "Welcome to Undercity!"

"WHAT HAS BECOME OF MY SON?!" King Goldheart's voice echoed through the city.

"I'm sorry... I'm new here. Please, sir, may I know who you are?" Justin asked, as he bowed with his right hand over his chest, and his back arched downwards.

"I am King Goldheart... and Swift Justice... is my son."

Fort Shivercrest | Shaded Meadows

Slowly, Ruby's eyes started to open. As they opened, the first thing that she noticed was that she was no longer in the cloth bag that the Minotaurs had her tied into. Instead, she was lying down on a stone floor, in a pure dark room. She closed her eyes, and curled into her knees; mixed feelings of fear, loneliness, misery, and coldness bundled within her little body. Without even saying a word, her eyes filled with tears, and she started to cry.

Mere seconds after she started crying, a sudden spark of light appeared from the distance, which gained her attention. As she looked towards it, however, her fears only got the better of her, as one of the Minotaurs that abducted her stood on the other end of the door. The light came from a torch that he was carrying in his left hand.

At first, he squinted his eyes, and scanned the room, until his eyesight reached Ruby, who scooted into the corner of the room. Then he smiled at her menacingly, before saying in a low-pitched gargled voice, "Ah, so you must be the Alicorn we've heard about..." Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow, and added, "Hm... shorter than I expected. Ah, well... I guess we'll have to make due with what we've got, eh?"

Ruby sat there silently, while she shivered out of both, fear and coldness. This caused the Minotaur's smile to only widen. "Well, the boss said I should bring you to him... so come on, then!" He walked closer to her, but she seemed to refuse to move. This caused the Minotaur's smile to drop, and out of annoyance, he lowered himself to her level. "Are you bloody deaf?!"

She merely responded with a whimper, while she closed her eyes, and flinched at his words. Then he shrugged his shoulders, before saying, "Welcome to the real world, Princess." With that, he reached his right hand to his left shoulder and, without holding back, slapped her across her right cheek, causing her to fall to the ground, unconsciously.

Justin was telling King Goldheart and the others around him about the journey that took him up to that point, until from out of nowhere, he yelled in pain, as his right cheek started to burn from an unknown source. The sudden outburst caused all eyes to widen, as Pinkie rushed up to him, and asked, "J-Justin?! What happened? Are you alright?!"

Justin breathed heavily, before shaking his head. "Did someone just... slap me?!"

King Goldheart hummed for a second, before looking towards a Minotaur that stood as tall as he, and said, "Boulder... you're my adviser here, what's going on?!"

The white-coated, black-maned Minotaur replied, "If what he said about his daughter being an Alicorn is correct, then I may have an assumption to why she doesn't have powers, yet he does... and maybe it has something to do with him getting hurt just now."

Justin looked up at the Minotaur, and nodded his head. "Any advice would be helpful at this point, sir..."

Boulder closed his eyes, and looked down. "Well, you said that humans can't cast Magic, and Alicorns are the most powerful of all Magic Users out there... correct?" Justin nodded his head. "And you said that she couldn't cast any spells, no matter what the books said?"

Justin nodded his head again. "But when I wear the rings, I'm able to cast the spells..."

Boulder nodded his head. "I may be wrong, but... don't you think that maybe, just maybe, it was you who obtained the powers of an Alicorn, while she remained with the powers of a Human?"

Justin was about to reply, when the thoughts began to kick in. The magic was supposed to be natural for an Alicorn to cast, yet to Ruby, it was far more challenging than when she had to learn her first words when she was a baby... and that was a challenge that took Justin nearly a whole year to help her achieve progress doing. Indeed, it was seeming to all fit together, until the conflicts also began to add up.

"What about the fact that she can understand anything that's said to her, without having to learn the language? Or how she can read foreign words, and tells me that it's written in plain English to her? Or in this case, the language that we wrote and spoke back in our world."

This caused Boulder to hum again, before shrugging his shoulders. "Now that you mention that... I'm not entirely sure, now."

Pinkie hummed to herself, until her eyes opened widely. "Hey! What if the two of your spirits were mixed up when you both made it here? And what if what you feel is exactly what she feels?" The Minotaur looked at her dumbfounded, which caused her to raise an eyebrow out of confusion. "What?"

Then the Minotaur looked at Justin, and nodded his head. "As odd as it may sound... I believe the Earth Pony raises a point... and it would explain why your right cheek just felt like it's been slapped."

Suddenly, Justin's eyes widened at that statement. "Wait... so if we feel the same thing... that must mean..." Then he gasped, before his face started turning red with anger.

Gilda's pupils shrunk, and for the first time in her life, she felt true fear. The others backed away from him, while he looked up at Boulder, and asked in a hushed calm-like tone, "Boulder... where's a practice dummy?"

Boulder gulped, before pointing at a nearby training area for the soldiers of the city. Justin then gave a menacing smile, and nodded his head. "Thank you..." Then he walked up to the training area, and looked at the dummies that sat there.

He looked through them, and found the largest one that, according to some of the guards that Justin walked past, was meant to simulate the power of a Wyvern. Then he glared at it, and balled his right fist up, before taking a step back, and building up his power, before releasing a flame-covered punch that made a loud swishing noise. Then, with a loud yell, Justin's right fist made contact with the dummy.

Gilded Blade groaned in pain, as his eyes started to open up. As his consciousness began to normalize, he realized that he was no longer in Port Greenhold... or any known civilization, for that matter. He instantly felt extremely cold, and could hear the wind around him, yet the entire area around him was pitch black.

"Hello?" Gilded yelled, followed by the sound of his own voice echoing through the howling winds, surrounded by darkness. He stood up, and noticed right away that he was standing in snow.

From not too far nearby, he heard the sound of movement, followed by an all-too-familiar voice responding. "Gilded? Is that you?!" Swift Justice called out.

The next thing they knew, Swift quickly added, "Hold on! I'm coming your way!" Then, once he stumbled a few times, he stopped, and said, "Wait... I think I might have a torch nearby!"

After about thirty more seconds of darkness, there was finally a spark, and the next thing they knew, there was light... but it was just barely enough to illuminate the area around them.

"So where do you think we are?!" Gilded asked Swift, as soon as the two of them were close together. Due to the constant wind, however, they still had to talk loudly.

"There's no thinking required for me to know... we're somewhere in the Shaded Meadows!" Swift replied.

"MEADOWS?! But we're standing in snow!" Gilded retorted.

"I know... that just means that it's night time! Come morning, the snow will be gone!"

"Will we be able to see, though?!"

Swift went silent for a moment, before shaking his head. "No... it'll still be dark!"

Gilded yelled out of frustration, before kicking the ground... only for his right talon to hit a solid object, which caused him to grunt in pain.

Swift's eyes widened, and at once, he brought the torch closer to the object... a stump that was neatly cut three feet high.

"Gilded! Someone's been here! Maybe they left a trail of hoofprints, or something!"

"Well, great! Only one problem, though! Their prints would've probably been covered by snow at this point!"

"Then let's check for more stumps!"

After he finished that sentence, the sound of a loud bang echoed from the distance.

They stopped for a moment, and both looked at the same direction that the sound came from. Then, after a small moment of silence, the two of them looked at each other, and nodded their heads in unison, before heading towards the source of the noise.

Zula grunted in pain and fatigue, as she continuously scrubbed the tables of the large tables, all while large groups of Minotaurs laughed, ate, and drank large portions of different drinks, continuing to dirty the tables up that she just finished cleaning.

"Hey, slave! You missed a spot!" One of the Minotaurs teased, pointing at a puddle of ale that he poured on the ground. Zula sighed, before slowly picking up the bucket of water and the rag that they had her use, and carry it towards the puddle on the ground. Then she lowered herself to the puddle, and was about to start cleaning it, until she felt a hand slap her inappropriately on her flank. This caused her to rise up, and glare at the Minotaur who poured his drink on the ground, as he pulled his hand back to where his dishes were. The others around them began to laugh, which caused Zula's cheeks to turn pink. "Have you no manners?" She asked, only for the Minotaur to turn towards her, and chuckle.

"You still haven't cleaned up your mess, Stripes!" He said, before shoving her in the chest with his left hand, causing her to stumble back a few steps, and trip on the maiden dress that they forced her to wear. "Don't make me tell you again!"

Her eyes began to water with the pain that she felt, but her glare didn't soften any. On the contrary, her glare even intensified, as the Minotaurs in the room continued to laugh at their "slave". Then she stood back up, and lifted the rag from the bucket, and rung it over the Minotaur's head, much to his surprise, and anger. The Minotaurs from the table he was in "Oohed", as the one who poured the drink on the floor glared at Zula, crushed the wooden mug between his fingers, and dropped it on the ground, before standing up, as his cold gaze was focused on the Zebra, who didn't even show the slightest hint of fear.

Then he raised his right fist in the air, and swung it at her face, only to find his fist deflected by her left arm, his chest caught in her left hand, and in the matter of seconds, he was swung over the Zebra's "feeble-looking" body, and onto the cobblestone floor, while the laughter silenced immediately.

Then she glared at him, and said, "Your captain's orders were clear, you fool! You may not harm the servants, and they, in turn, may live!" With that, she released his arm from her grasp, and went back to cleaning, while the entire room grew silent.

Ruby started to slowly wake up again, only to find that she was no longer in the dark room, but rather, in a well-illuminated room, and was lying on a red-cushioned, golden sofa, while nobody else seemed to be inside. When her vision was clearer, she managed to get a good glimpse at the area around her.

The walls were white, with golden trimmings around the borders, with a wall that had a golden fireplace on the side of the sofa where her feet were resting. On the floor of the room, a large red carpet was spread, with golden tiles below the carpet. In front of Ruby were two other sofas; one on her left, and the other across from her, while a white coffee table with golden trimmings sat in the center of the tree sofas and the fireplace.

From across the room, and to her left, she could see a tall white door with golden trimmings that crossed in the center, with a golden frame around it. The door rose up eleven feet high, and was well over eight feet wide, giving it an odd shape.

Slowly she started to stand up, until the sound of the golden handle of the door shaking filled the room. The sudden sound caused her to quickly jump back onto the sofa, and curl into a ball, while another Minotaur appeared to be walking into the room. This one, however, was different from the last one.

Standing ten feet tall, this Minotaur appeared to have a brown coat, with an even darker brown Mohawk, and was wearing a golden sleeveless shirt, a red half-cape attached to the back, and a pair of dark green shorts.

When he opened the door, the first thing his eyes focused on was the sofa that Ruby was curled up onto. Then his frowning face slowly turned into a smile, as he walked into the room, and closed the door behind him.

As he walked closer to Ruby, he could tell right away that she was frightened. His expression, however, didn't seem to change one bit. Then he merely sat on the sofa that was pointed towards her left, and motioned for her to look at the coffee table.

When she did, the first thing she noticed was a plate of fruits and flowers.

Slowly, she started to uncurl, and began to walk up to the plate, until she stopped, and looked at this new Minotaur with a hint of confusion and fear for her own safety.

The Minotaur nodded his head, and said in a low-pitched voice, "It's alright, Miss... they're fresh from the Market."

At first she hesitated to reply, until her stomach started to grumble. Then she lowered her head, and took the plate, before walking back to the sofa she woke up on, and started to slowly eat a red apple from the plate.

The Minotaur raised an eyebrow at the sight of the filly eating as much as she was. "You must've been starving, eh?"

She stopped mid-bite, before swallowing the food, and nodding her head. "Y-yes, sir... m-my daddy was about to... to feed me, when we were... you know..."

The Minotaur nodded his head, and looked at the fireplace. "Yeah... I'm sorry for the way my men treated you... don't worry, though. I made sure that the one who slapped you was... well, let's just say that I don't appreciate my future wife being treated with such disrespect."

His last statement caused her to nearly choke on the bite of apple she had. Then, after coughing a few times, she asked, "W-wait... WHAT?!"

The Minotaur scratched his chin with his right hand. "I know it's sudden, and all... but don't worry! You won't have to worry about that until you're the proper age." Then he looked back at her, and asked, "Tell me... how old are you, exactly?"

Her cheeks were burning red at that point, but she stuttered, "E-eight, sir..."

This caused the Minotaur's eyes to widen. "Ah... that is quite young, isn't it?" Then he smiled again. "Don't worry, though... I'm a patient man, and can wait until the time is right." Then he leaned closer towards her, and asked, "So now I'd like to ask... what is your name?"

She closed her eyes, and looked away from him. Then she whispered her name, but it only came out as a whimper.

The Minotaur noticed this, and sighed, before standing from his sofa, and sitting next to her, while gently patting her on the back. "I couldn't catch that... but if you want to know mine, it's Lord Stonefist!"

Then he stood back up, and walked back to the door. "Anyways, I want you to stay in here. The others won't take too kindly to seeing an Alicorn roaming out and about. I'll send a few slaves up here to serve you... don't bother with the ownership rites, though. You may treat them as you wish." With that, he opened the massive door, before walking out of it. Then, as soon as he was about to close the door, he commented, "Farewell, my fiance." With that, he closed the door, leaving Ruby alone in the room.

She sat there silently for a moment, and pondered the thoughts that she was going through. Her life was pretty much written in stone at this point. "There's no way I can get out of this... unless Daddy were here..." With that, she burst into tears again, and cried for well over five minutes. Then, as soon as she felt too tired to cry, she opened her eyes, and eyed the plate that the food was on... the golden platter. Slowly, her blood started to boil, and her eyes began to crunch up into a glare and, before she could even bring up any positive thoughts, she ended up throwing the platter across the room, smashing it into the fireplace, where the fire still burned. Then her rage was lost in a split second, as the thoughts of poor innocent people were probably going to suffer should she lose her temper... and her friends would most likely be in danger if she didn't go through with it.

Slowly she walked up to a mirror on the wall, and placed her right hand over her cheek, where the red mark where she had been slapped still showed. "Daddy... if you can hear me... please... hurry..."

The soldiers that were training with the dummies, the group of heroes, the king, his adviser, and the entirety of the city stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the sight that they just witnessed. Justin was standing in front of a crater where the life-like dummy of the strongest Wyvern ever written in history once stood; now a pile of ash scattered across the wall of the large building that served at the barracks.

Justin's right fist was still smoking from the impact, and his face still didn't show any signs of softness, as his glare continued to show. Then, after taking a few deep breaths, he turned towards King Goldheart, and asked, "Pardon me for the lack of manners, but where may I find this 'Stonefist' person?"

The people around him gasped, before King Goldheart stuttered, "Y-you can't be serious! Lord Stonefist lives deep inside Fort Shivercrest!"

Gilda then raised an eyebrow at him. "Fort Shivercrest? I thought that place was a safe haven for adventurers!"

King Goldheart shook his head, and replied, "Unfortunately, it was a safe place, until the Black Wings took over, and overthrew me from my throne in Diamond Peak. Then things went downhill from there... and before we knew it, the original guards from all across The Highlands were thrown down here, where we managed to colonize, and form a new city... Undercity."

This news caused Pinkie's expression to lower into a saddened look. "Wait... so you all were the guards, and might still have family up there?!"

King Goldheart was about to respond, when a familiar low voice spoke up. "That is correct... and that's why I left the first time... to see my wife and son again."

When the source of the voice revealed itself, it turned out to be the black-furred, white-horned Minotaur that was thrown into the hole the first time.

When he made it to Justin, he punched his chest with his right hand, and said, "I've heard about you, adventurer... you are seeking to infiltrate Fort Shivercrest, and destroy Lord Stonefist, correct?"

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "I mostly aim at saving my daughter... but yes, I also don't see him surviving, once I'm done with him. If anything, I plan on making him suffer for what he did." Then he placed his right hand on his face, and took another deep breath. "If any of them slapped her... I swear, I won't hold back a single punch!"

Then the Minotaur smiled at him, and nodded his head. "Well, you may need someone who knows their way around the Shaded Meadows... perhaps I could take you to them?"

Justin looked at him for a moment, before nodding his head. "If you're willing to help out, then I see no reason to decline. Welcome aboard, Mr... um..."

The Minotaur stretched his right hand out, and said, "Shiver Tusk, first-class Warlord, and former guard of Fort Shivercrest."

Justin nodded his head, and shook his hand. "Well, Shiver... I'm glad to have you with us." Then he looked around, and asked, "So... how do we go about getting through the snow, and the darkness?"

Shiver smiled, before replying, "Oh, don't you worry about that... I have it all taken care of!" As soon as he finished saying that, he turned towards a small brown goat female, and said, "Grubby! Prepare the Snowflake!"

Grubby nodded her head, before replying, "Baa! Aye, sir!" Then she pulled a keyring from her pocket, and then searched the keys through it, until she found a small, thin whistle. After taking a deep breath, she blew on it, only for it to not produce any sound.

For five seconds, there was pure silence. Then, the sound of a train's bell rang through a distant hallway, which led through a massive-looking tunnel. When the entire group looked at the source of the noise, Justin's eyes widened at the sight of a large ship that looked like it was sailing on the ground, and was made entirely of snow.

Justin looked at Shiver confusedly, before asking, "Is that made of real snow?!"

Shiver nodded his head, and then replied, "Of course it is! Don't worry, though... it's been enchanted to feel natural, and adjust itself to the passenger's liking. You could prefer the heat, and you'll feel heat, while the others around you feel cold, should they prefer that one!"

Then he motioned for the group to follow him into it... only to be stopped by King Goldheart. "If I may, Sir Shiver... I would like to aid you all on this conquest."

Boulder stared at him wide-eyed, before stuttering, "Y-your majesty! Please tell me you are joking! Do you realize what could happen to The Highlands, should their great king end up falling in battle?!"

King Goldheart chuckled heartily, before replying, "Of course I do, Boulder... but what do you think would happen if the king never fought for his kingdom?" Then he looked towards the city, and said, "You lot nearby might want to cover your ears." After saying that, he cleared his throat, while the group did as they were told. Then, with a thunderous voice, he spoke to the entire city in a volume that, according to Pinkie Pie, resembles the infamous "Royal Voice".

"ATTENTION ALL OF MY SUBJECTS!" At once, the entire city's population stopped what they were doing, and looked towards the king, and bowed their heads in unison. "THE BLACK WINGS HAVE SHOWN US NO MERCY THESE PAST FEW YEARS... AND THEIR THREATS HAVE BECOME MORE RELENTLESS... BUT NOW IT IS TIME THAT WE SHOW THEM HOW RELENTLESS WE CAN BE! I WANT ALL ABLE BODIES TO BOARD THE SNOWFLAKE, OR ANY ICE BOATS THAT THEY MAY HAVE AVAILABLE, AND FOLLOW US, FOR TONIGHT, WE ARE TAKING BACK OUR HOME! TONIGHT, WE ARE BRINGING THE WAR TO THEM! TONIGHT... WE ARE GOING HOME!" As soon as he finished saying that, the entire city filled with applauds, as the countless citizens started headed towards the stairs in a surprisingly orderly line, and at the speed that they were moving, it was clear to Justin that these "able bodies" were more experienced than they seemed.

"Wow..." Justin began, before looking up to the king, and smiling. "... I can see that you are a great leader... but I would like to ask that you leave their leader to me, if that's alright?"

King Goldheart nodded his head, and smiled back at him. "Of course, Justin... but it wasn't just me who made these men so willing to lay their lives on the line, if that's what you're thinking." Justin looked back at the men, and then returned his sight to King Goldheart, before nodding his head, and motioning for him to go on. "I'm certain that you and your daughter are not on a journey to see the world for what it is... you both must be headed for your home, correct?"

Justin's eyes widened again, while he asked, "W-wait... how did you know that?!"

Goldheart chuckled again, before patting Justin's left shoulder. "You have that look, my friend... the same one that all of those men, women, and even children, all have in common. The look of determination... you all are on a journey back home, and will do whatever it takes to ensure that you get there... and even if it kills you, you are not concerned about your own safety... but of your daughter's."

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "Wow... that's... amazing, your majesty!" Then he looked back at the Snowflake, and hummed to himself. "I only hope we can make it before it's too late, though..."

With a sly grin, King Goldheart replied, "Oh, I know we'll be able to get there quickly... after all, it's not like we haven't gone there before, you know!" With that, the entire group headed into the massive Ice Boat, and prepared for movement.

After five minutes of waiting, the Snowflake took off at fifty miles-per-hour, which caused Justin's coat to flow backwards, yet he held onto the front of the deck, keeping a keen eye on the distance, while a few of the crew members stared in awe at the figure.

"Now that I look at him..." one Diamond Dog began, "...he looks just like the Hero of Goldwood!"

Another replied, "What the... he does look like him! At least, according to the descriptions!"

The two Diamond Dogs looked up at the sudden extra pair of hooves that towered over them. When they saw the source of the hooves, their eyes widened as King Goldheart stood between them with his massive arms crossed, and a smile to show on his face. "That's because he is, my friends!"

"K-King Goldheart!" The two said in unison. They were about to bow their heads, until King Goldheart placed his hands on their heads, and chuckled.

"Please, you two... I'm not really that formal now, am I?" With that, he looked up at Justin, and his smile lowered into a more serious one. "But still... he carries a serious burden on his shoulders... one that I, too, am carrying as we speak. We both have a child that needs us now... and the devotion that he puts in his child's safety tells me that she is, without a doubt, the world to him." Then he looked back down at the two Diamond Dogs, and said, "That is why we shall ensure her safety, and honor his devotion."

The two Diamond Dogs nodded their heads, and looked worriedly at Justin. Then the first one that spoke said, "I hope he finds her safe, and unharmed... devotion like that is rare to find, nowadays."

The other one nodded his head, and replied, "Me, too... for him, I shall fight the Black Wings with double my might!"

Up ahead, the tunnel appeared to end, which caused Justin to raise an eyebrow, and turn towards the ship's captain, Shiver Tusk. "Captain... are you sure that this is safe?!"

Shiver chuckled, before replying, "Of course it is, my friend!" Then, as soon as the ship landed, the entire wall in front of them blew open, and the next thing they knew, the ship was surrounded by a magic force field, and was exiting a giant mountain, while a few smaller boats followed.

Justin looked around, and noticed right away that they were in an extremely dark area. "This must be the Shaded Meadows, huh?"

After the ship was a safe enough distance from the snow that fell from the mountain, it came to a complete halt, followed by the others that followed it. Then Stealth walked up to Justin and nodded his head, while examining the area around them.

A smaller boat, which carried a young Horse child, rested at the outskirts of the large number of boats, and the child looked around the area with a pair of magically enhanced goggles that made him see through the heavy blizzards. Then, once he saw a pair of figures coming their way, he shouted, "CAPTAIN! I SEE SOMEONE!"

Justin looked towards the child at the same time that Shiver did, and gasped. "Survivors, perhaps?!" Shiver asked, before pulling out a magic telescope with the same effects of the child's goggles, with the addition of a zooming feature.

Once he saw who it was, his jaw dropped, before he turned to Justin, and said, "Justin... you might want to see this!"

With a nod, Justin accepted the telescope that Shiver offered him, and looked through it himself. The second he saw who the two figures were, he slowly lowered the telescope from his eye, and turned towards King Goldheart, Gilda, and Pinkie Pie, who were all three standing next to a few of the miscellaneous crew members and Stealth Paws. "Gilda, King Goldheart... you will not believe who it is..."

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 5: The Calm Before The Snowstorm

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 5

The Calm Before The Snowstorm

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With tensions high, our heroes have partially reunited! Unfortunately, though, they soon found out that Ruby and Zula were still in danger! As they travel the cold, dark meadows, they come across a large fortress, and camp out of it's sight, while they devise a plan to save the last of our heroes, along with any other poor souls who were captured by the Black Wings! Will fate finally smile upon our heroes, or will things continue to go downhill, as Ruby and Zula continue to suffer at the hands and hooves of the cruel Black Wings?

Zula glared at the Minotaurs who were in the bedrooms, as they constantly insulted her for different reasons that they created. Some called her clumsy after intentionally opening their hands after they asked for her to give them a glass of wine... though the females actually showed her pity, but mostly because they, too, were slaves to the Black Wings, and were forced against their will.

Then Zula made it to the last room that she was told to check... the one where the leader's future wife was said to be held. Taking a deep breath, she told herself, "Just one more, Zula... I only hope the leader's fiance is good, at least..." Then she turned the handle, and walked inside, only for her eyes to widen.

"R... RUBY?!" Zula stuttered, which caught the crying filly's attention.

Ruby turned towards Zula, and gasped, before she wiped her tear-filled eyes, and ran up to her Zebra friend.

"Z... Zula! I'm glad to see you're safe!" Ruby cried, as she soon felt the Zebra's arms wrap around her, and the Zebra's own tears falling on her back.

"Ruby... what have they done to you?!" Zula asked, once the hug was broken.

Ruby looked up to her, and sniffled a few times, before Zula's eyes widened at the sight of her right cheek. "No... they didn't..." Then her expression turned more cold, while her hands started to shake. "Ruby... who did that to you?!"

As soon as Zula asked that question, the door swung widely open, and in walked Lord Stonefist, who had a smile on his face... that is, until he saw Zula hugging Ruby. Then his smile quickly lowered, and in the snap of a finger, he walked towards the Zebra and the filly, glaring daggers at the Zebra.

"You, there! Slave! Unhand her at once!" Stonefist demanded, only for Zula to embrace Ruby even tighter. "Fine, then... you will die here, and now!"

With that, he held his right hand out, and flicked a ring on his finger that, upon contact with his thumb, created a scimitar made out of diamond. Then he aimed it at Zula, and chuckled. "You think you can take my fiance away from me, huh?!"

At that statement, Ruby glared at him, and broke from the hug, only to stretch her arms out, in an attempt to keep Zula from getting harmed. This, of course, caused Stonefist's right eyebrow to raise. "DON'T YOU DARE HURT MY FRIEND, YOU JERK!" Ruby shouted, unable to hold the tears from her eyes.

Stonefist tilted his head, and asked, "Friend? Who, this slave over here?!"

Ruby's glare intensified as she shook her head. "She is NOT your slave!"

This sudden outburst caused Stonefist's eyes to widen, and his hooves to step back a couple steps. Then, after a small delay, he chuckled, while smiling menacingly at the two. "Oh, I see! You're her friend! And it would make sense that her friend try to take her away from me!" Slowly, he started walking towards Zula and Ruby, while Zula stepped in front of Ruby, and stretched her arms out.

The next thing they knew, Zula was lifted into the air by wind magic, which was created by one of Stonefist's rings. Then he pulled her closer to him, as his menacing smile only grew. "Alright, then... I can tell that my fiance doesn't want to go through with this, so allow me to clarify what happens, should she not choose to marry me!"

Slowly he raised the sword that he created from one of his rings, and aimed it at Zula's throat.

Ruby noticed the sincerity in his face, and shouted, "NO! PLEASE, DON'T!" Then she began running up to Zula, only for Stonefist to start inching the blade closer to Zula, even making her scream in pain.

The scream caused Ruby to back away, and for Stonefist to stop pulling the sword closer to her mildly bleeding neck.

"If you so much as try to escape, then this one's life will be taken." Then he turned towards Zula, and said, "And if you get any closer than this to my fiance, then I'll kill you just as easily!" He pulled the sword closer to her neck again, and hissed, "Is that understood?!"

Quickly, Zula nodded her head, while a single tear fell from her left eye. Stonefist then grunted, before removing the blade from in front of her neck, and shoving her to the ground behind him, and walking towards the door again. "Don't go anywhere. I'll send a guard back up here to keep an eye on you both." With that, he closed the door, with the sound of his hoof steps growing increasingly silent.

For about a minute, Ruby looked around, trying to find a way out of there. She couldn't find any windows that could lead out of the room, so that was out of the question.

Then her mind went back to the fireplace. "Of course!" She silently said to herself, before turning to Zula, and at once, her happy expression was replaced by uneasiness. "Miss Zula... are you okay?!"

Zula weakly smiled, and nodded her head. "I am fine, Mistress Ruby... I-"

"Please, don't worry about calling me that while he's away. And besides... I might have a way out of here!"

Zula's eyes widened at that statement, and quickly, she stood back up from the ground. "R-really? How?!"

Ruby pointed her right hand towards the fireplace, and replied, "We need to put the fires out of this fireplace, first... then we can climb the chimney! Don't they usually lead out of the top of the building?"

Zula hummed to herself for a moment, before shrugging her shoulders. "I was never told of how chimneys work... but I trust that, since you know of it, we must go with it."

Ruby nodded her head, and smiled. "Now, we just need some water, and we can escape this p-" Before she could even finish her sentence, the door swung open, and in walked Stonefist, as well as a Minotaur clad in heavy red-colored armor.

"I'll leave you to them, then. Oh, and one more thing..." Stonefist began, before turning from the red-armored Minotaur to the Zebra who turned towards the two unexpected guests. "... I want you to keep the Zebra away from the Alicorn... and you may do with her as you wish... so long as it doesn't kill her. I must respect my fiance's wishes, after all."

The red knight nodded his head, and replied in a low-pitched caveman-like voice, "Yes, sir." With that, the door closed behind the red knight, who merely stood there, watching the two mares ever-so-menacingly. Then he slowly started to walk towards Zula, who looked up at him nervously. "So... what Thor'lok and new friends do, first?"

Around a circular table with a map of Fort Shivercrest, Justin, Gilded Blade, Gilda, Pinkie Pie, Stealth Paws, Swift Justice, King Goldheart, Boulder, Topaz Claw, and the others that were with Topaz when they first met the adventurers, all stood in a circle, looking at the map, and the leaders of their factions.

"So, where do we start?" Gilded asked Justin, who in turn, looked at King Goldheart.

Goldheart looked at Justin, and smiled. "I'll leave you to decide, Justin. It is your daughter we're trying to save, right?"

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "And all the others with her, of course." Then he turned to Gilded. "Gilded, how much more flight do you have left in you?"

Gilded chuckled, before replying, "I know I can manage! I've been through worse conditions!"

The Minotaur child with the goggles from earlier looked up at Gilded, and smiled. "Excuse me, Mister... you might need these!" He offered Gilded his pair of goggles, revealing his red eyes.

Gilded looked down towards the child, and smiled, before nodding his head and accepting the goggles. "Thank you, kid! I'll take good care of it!"

Then Justin turned towards Swift, and asked, "Swift, do you think you can handle another battle?"

Swift nodded his head, and replied, "Of course I can! I'll take care of the sides of the entrance, so long as someone could guard me."

"I can handle that, my son." King Goldheart boldly stated, before looking at Boulder. "Boulder, you can cover us from the back, right?"

"Of course, your majesty." Boulder happily replied. "I haven't been able to taste battle in a long time!"

Then Topaz looked at Justin, and asked, "My group and I can take the Middle levels of the fortress. Will you be okay with taking the higher grounds?"

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "Of course, Topaz. I'll need to leave a few of mine to aid y'all, though." Then he looked at his group and asked, "Gilda and Stealth. Are y'all up for this?"

Gilda nodded her head, and smiled menacingly. "I was born to kill."

Stealth chuckled lightly, before pulling out a pair of flintlock pistols. "As long as you can keep them from me, then I'm up for it!"

Justin nodded his head, and turned towards Pinkie Pie. "Listen, Pinkie... I don't want to sound rude, or anything, but I don't think this is something you should get involved in."

Pinkie raised an eyebrow at him, before asking, "What do you mean?"

Justin sighed, and placed his right hand on his forehead, then replied, "You don't seem like you're fit for combat, and I'd rather not have you die because I brought you into a battle with me."

This caused Pinkie's mane and tail to start deflating again, which caused the group to look at her in confusion. "B-but..." Then she sighed, and asked, "Justin... can I talk to you alone for a moment, please?"

Justin was about to object, when he noticed the group already leaving the room for the two. This caused him to sigh, before nodding his head. "Alright, then... but please make it fast. We don't have much time."

Pinkie nodded her head, and replied, "Okay..." Then she closed her eyes, and at once, her entire mane and tail was completely flat, which caught Justin by surprise. After a few moments of silence, she opened her eyes, which showed an expression that Justin didn't think that she could ever show... sadness.

"Listen... I wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way that I've acted earlier. I promise it isn't normal for me to act that way... and I don't even know why I was acting that way to begin with, but... I want to be your friend. And I don't want to leave a potential friend out of the picture!" Then she looked towards the window that showed the fortress. "I want to help you! I don't care what happens to me, either!" Slowly, her smile turned into a grin which, with the flat mane and tail, actually caused Justin to start feeling even more nervous. "And besides... I'm not new to combat, believe it or not. I grew up on a Rock Farm, and took on Timberwolves with my bare hands several times!" Then, with a loud pop, her mane and tail puffed back up, she walked closer to Justin, and then she asked, "So, Justin... may I please go with you? I won't be able to rest easily, knowing that your daughter is in there! I can't imagine what they would do to a mare her age!"

Justin thought for a moment, before weakly smiling. Then he looked her in the eyes and asked, "Do you promise me that you won't do anything stupid?"

Pinkie nodded her head, and was about to cross her heart, before shaking her head, straightening up, and giving him a salute with her right hand. "Don't worry, Coach! I won't let you down!"

Justin then looked at the map, and back at Pinkie Pie, before nodding his head. "Alright, then... you can join us in the higher levels, Pinkie... but stay close, and don't get yourself killed. Alright?"

With a quick nod, Justin and Pinkie both exited the door, and prepared to face the upcoming battle.

Gilded Blade and Gilda were talking to each other in another part of the ship while Justin and Pinkie were left inside the map room. Gilda, of course, wasn't looking too happy to see Gilded.

When they were safely away from ears' reach, Gilda popped the back of Gilded's head, which caused him to grunt in pain, rub the spot he was popped, and ask, "Ow! What was that for, G?!"

Gilda's glare intensified, which caused him to smile nervously, as she pulled him down to her eye-level by the top of his harness. "You know damn well what! Where in the name of Tartarus have you been?!"

Gilded weakly replied, "Didn't pop tell you, already?!"

"No, because by the time I got back home from my week-long visit to Equestria, I ended up having to go back, to take Pinkie Pie in there back to her home!" Then she looked towards the door, which just closed after the last person to leave the room exited. Then she turned back to him. "Look, I know that you were never one to sit idly by and watch things go on, but quite frankly, you seem to have gotten involved into something too big for you to handle by yourself."

Gilded raised an eyebrow, before asking, "Wait... what are you saying, exactly?"

Gilda groaned out of frustration, before pulling him back to her level again. "I'm saying that, no matter what you say, Pinkie and I are going to Equestria WITH you! Now, you be sure to encourage him to let us join in on this 'journey', because if you don't, then I'll be sure you get a very 'friendly' greeting when we get home. Understood?"

Gilded gulped, before nodding his head. "S-sure thing, sis! I'll tell him once they are through talking!"

As soon as he finished saying that, the door to the map room opened up, and out walked both, Justin and Pinkie Pie, who had her normal smile on her face again.

From a very high distance above the scenery, a gray-coated Pegasus stallion with a black, back-spiked mane, a black collared jacket, a black shirt, black fingerless gloves, and a black pair of pants, sat on top of a cloud, with his right hand over his ear, and his left hand rested on the cloud. Attached to his back was a short, black-bladed Ninjato Sword, sheathed in a black sheath. His eyes appeared to be red, with black irises. As he began to speak on an earpiece that was rested in his right ear, it revealed a pair of sharp-looking fangs that projected from his teeth.

In a voice that sounded like a low, yet young, stallion from Manehatten, he said, "Hey, Thunderwing! I might've found the guy that I've been hearing rumors about in Druathica!"

Through his earpiece, a higher-pitched stallion's voice replied, "Wait, really?! So the rumors are true?! There's an alien creature roaming around?!" Then after a moment of silence, the voice asked, "What should we do about this, Zero? Should we report it to Princess Celestia?!"

"And let the Royal Guards ruin this chance of adventure for me?! Nah, I'm good!"

"What about the rumors of the dragon in Ponyville, though? Clearly you'd be more interested in learning about that, right?!"

"Well, apparently my trip to Equestria's been delayed anyways, so maybe I can see if this guy's going in the same direction? Besides that, there's a lot of dragons out there anyways, and only one of this guy! You think I'd miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance?"

With a sigh, Thunderwing replied, "No... just don't do anything stupid, alright?"

After giving a slight chuckle, Zero replied, "Not gonna make any promises, Thunderwing. Oh, but do NOT let the princesses know about this, alright?"

"Of course... good luck out there, Zero. Thunderwing out." With that, the voice in the earpiece turned into pure silence.

Zero looked down, towards the Iceboats, and hummed to himself. "So, Mr. Alien... let's see who's side you're on..." With that, he tapped his right hoof on the cloud, and made it lower towards the ground level, right as the events of the battle were about to unfold.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Zero (AKA; Zero Gravity) belongs to the user, "zeroxdoom", and was added by his request through PM. If YOU would like a character of your own, please be sure to check out "Season 1, Episode 5" of this story, and read up on how to apply! Thank you!

Oh, and "Thunderwing" is an OC that I just made up. He is in the Weather Team over in Manehatten, and is one of Zero Gravity's old co-workers who he kept in touch with for a while, before Zero left the Weather team, seeking adventure and discoveries.

Zero is planned to be paired with either Fluttershy or Twilight, so Twilight is no longer on the list of available love interests! Oh, but a quick heads-up, in case I forgot to mention this. Zula isn't planned to be with anyone in the group as of yet, so if you happen to like HER, then she's available, as well. If your character is a female, though, then Swift Justice and Topaz Claw are available for love-interests!

Season 2, Episode 6: Enter | Zero Gravity

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 6

Enter | Zero Gravity

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

Within the bustling late-night streets of Port Greenhold, many citizens of different races roam throughout the streets, escaping the cold weather that blows through their skin and fur. Amongst these citizens, a small little Earth Pony filly can be seen running through the town alone, and carrying a bag of goods that, despite the protests from the guards, was purchased legitimately. Far behind her, a group of Minotaurs wearing the armor of the City Guards were chasing her; a group of three. They each had their weapons drawn, and were, without a doubt, planning on killing her with cruel intentions. Little do they know, however, that they are being watched by a pair of red eyes in the sky.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, THIEF!" the Minotaurs roared, as the filly ran through the streets, carrying a large paper bag of food, and looking towards the yelling "guards".

Then, she bumped into a large object that caused her to stumble and fall, scattering the groceries all over the floor. Looking up, her worried expression intensified as she saw a trio of guards blocking her way, while the other three soon caught up, and before she knew it, she was surrounded by Minotaurs that stood slightly over six times her height.

"P-please don't hurt me! I swear, I paid for the food!" The filly begged, only to receive a glare from the Minotaur directly in front of her, while the one behind her lifted her up off the ground by the mane, which caused her to scream in pain, while holding onto the Minotaur's hand, and lifting herself up, in order to nullify the pain.

The Minotaurs all laughed at her, while the one directly in front of her chuckled, and lifted his sword towards her throat. "I'd say we go on ahead and kill her! Spare the boss his troubles!"

With a nod, the one that held the defenseless filly replied, "Yeah... but first, I'd like to hear her beg."

The filly's eyes filled with tears, but hearing them ask her to beg caused her natural "Rebellious Nature" to kick in. Due to the silence, the Minotaur who held her by the mane started moving her hands out of the way, causing the pain of the grip to rise against the filly again. Then her screaming continued, until she screamed, "MOMMY! DADDY! HELP! HE'S HURTING ME!"

At once, a pair of Earth Ponies rushed out of the nearby house on her left, and once the stallion noticed what was going on, his eyes widened, while he shouted, "ROSIE! UNHAND HER, YOU MONSTER!"

Then one of the Minotaurs caught him right as he was trying to rush in and grab his daughter, while another one punched him in the chest, which caused him to tumble back, and wheeze for breath.

"GOLDEN ROCK!" The mare shouted, before rushing up to her husband, and glaring at the Minotaurs with tear-filled eyes. "STOP THIS AT ONCE! PLEASE!" She begged.

The Minotaurs chuckled, before turning towards Rosie. "How about we kill her parents first? Make her cry in her last moments?"

"Why... why are you doing this?!" Golden Rock asked, while weakly looking at the Minotaur that held his daughter, with one eye closed, and his right hand over his chest.

The Minotaurs all chuckled, before replying, "Why? Well, for starters, we can! And also, we can remember hearing her talking about us being 'Black Wings'... that alone says too much!"

That statement caused Golden's eyes to widen. "You.. you're with the BLACK WINGS?!"

Then the Minotaur nodded his head, while another one raised his sword at the defenseless stallion. "Indeed, we are... and now that you know that, I see no reason for you to live!" He raised his sword over his head and, in one fluid motion, sliced across the poor stallion's neck.

As soon as his hand stopped moving from the attempted swing, he soon came to realize that his sword was no longer in his hand, and the stallion was completely unharmed. Looking around, the entire group's expressions changed from happy to worried. Then, from over their heads, the sword landed on the ground, piercing into a crack between the cobblestone road. As soon as it landed, the entire group looked up, and at once, their jaws dropped at the mysterious stallion standing on top of a cloud, with his eyes glowing through the darkness; his blood-red eyes shooting chills down the Minotaurs' spines.

The figure quickly jumped from the cloud and was about to land between the stallion and the guard after using both of his hooves to buck the Minotaur in the face, and using both of his light gray wings to propel himself in the air long enough to lower his hooves onto the ground. The impact of the kick sent the Minotaur flying into the wall of a white brick house, where he bounced off, and rolled onto the ground.

With a shocked expression, the Minotaurs all stared at the Pegasus that wore a black shirt beneath a black collared jacket; a pair of black pants; and a pair of black fingerless gloves. His mane was spiked from the sides and up to the center, curved towards the back of his head, and side-parted around his forehead, in an "M"-like shape. Rested on his back, and over his left shoulder was a black handle that belonged to a black-bladed Ninjato Sword.

He opened his mouth, and growled at the Minotaurs, revealing his pure white teeth that revealed two fangs on the sides.

In a low-pitched young man's voice, he said, "You guys better say your prayers... because you ain't gonna see the next sunrise."

The Minotaurs' worried expressions turned into glares, and at once, four of the six Minotaurs ran towards the Pegasus in unison, swords aimed high, and ready to slice.

Giving a simple shrug, the Pegasus said, "Suit yourself." Then, without a second to spare, he spread his wings out, and flew towards the Minotaurs, and watched as they aimed at him. In the blink of an eye, he was in-between the middle two, who blindly sliced towards him, only to end up decapitating themselves; the one on the left slicing the right one's head off, and the one on the right slicing the left one's head off. Then the Pegasus made a u-turn to the left, and caught the thrust that the far-left Minotaur attempted, before bucking the sword from his right hand, landing on the ground, and impaling it into his neck once he reached down to grab either of the two. After that, the stallion kicked the choking Minotaur off of him, and stood back up, facing the Minotaur that held Rosie.

"Last chance, sir... give up, or die."

The Minotaur spat on the ground, and raised his sword in the air, pointed it towards Rosie, before shouting, "I'LL TAKE YOU WITH ME TO TARTARUS!"

The second he was about to stab Rosie in the neck, however, the Pegasus ran towards him in a blurring speed, before bucking the sword out of his hand in a backwards kick-flip, and slicing half of the Minotaur's right arm off, which lowered Rosie to the ground again. Then she quickly rushed towards her parents, who embraced her in a warm, tear-filled hug, while the Minotaur grasped onto his elbow, which was missing the lower half, and roared at the top of his lungs in pain.

In one swift movement, the Pegasus leaped onto the Minotaur's shoulders, grasped the blade of his Ninjato Sword on his left shoulder with his right hand crossing his chest, and sliced the blade across the Minotaur's neck the second he drew it.

The Minotaur choked for a second, before the Pegasus flew off of his shoulders, landed in front of him, kicked his body on to the ground, while his head started to fall directly downwards, and sliced it in half with his sword, before slowly sheathing it into the sheath that rested on his left shoulder again.

After a moment of silence, the Minotaur that was originally knocked onto the wall slowly started to regain consciousness, only to find that he was tied to a pole, while Golden Rock, the stallion that he threatened the daughter of stood there, glaring daggers at him, along with the filly's mother. They both were holding torches, and walking towards him. It was at that moment that the Minotaur realized that he was no longer in his armor, and was covered in oil.

"N-no! NO!" He tried to say, only to realize that his mouth was muffled, and tied shut. Then he started to sweat nervously, as the couple of ponies looked towards the Pegasus that saved them, and their daughter, who was following the Pegasus towards their house again.

Then they turned towards the Minotaur, as their glare intensified. "This is for trying to kill our daughter, you bastard." they said, before lowering the torches towards the Minotaur's hooves, which were tied onto the pole separately, and sat inside a bucket of oil. The Minotaur's screams were muffled, but noticeable by those nearby. Unfortunate for him, though, those were the families of the citizens that were held captive; and they were well aware of the situation already, so they merely laughed and mocked the Minotaur, as he was soon set on fire.

The Pegasus looked at Rosie, and noticed right away that she was staring at his eyes and fangs, before jerking her gaze away from him. This caused the Pegasus to chuckle lightly, before saying, "Don't worry, Rosie. I'm not a Vampony."

Then Rosie looked up at him, and asked, "W-wait... how did you know that I was about to ask that?!"

The Pegasus shrugged his shoulders, before replying, "Well, I kinda figured it out, since you were staring at my eyes and fangs."

"Are they real?"

The Pegasus shook his head, and pulled the fangs out of his mouth. "They're called 'Stimulator Fangs'. What they do is improve the nutritional value of the food that I eat, kinda like the way a Vampony's fangs work for them." Then he bit the Stimulator Fangs back in his mouth, placed his right hand over his right eye, and pulled a red lens out of it. "These are 'Extrasensory Lenses'. As the name implies, they increase my senses, only these have magic enhancements in them. They improve my vision, my reflexes, and my hearing by a landslide. They're safe to leave on, so I usually just keep them on all the time, unless I'm showing them like I am now." Then he placed the lens back into his right eye, while Rosie gave him and understanding "Oh".

With a smile, she looked up at him, and said, "Thank you for saving me back there, Mister! You're my hero!"

The Pegasus looked back down at her, and gave a warm smile. "I'm glad to hear that, Rosie."

"So what's your name, Mister Hero?"

The Pegasus chuckled lightly, before replying, "Well, my name's Zero Gravity."

At once Rosie's eyes widened at that statement, while her jaw hung low. "W-wait... you mean to tell me that you're... THE Zero Gravity?!"

Zero raised an eyebrow, before asking, "You've heard of me?"

Then Rosie cheered, before replying, "Well, yeah! You were the pony that I saw on the television who saved Manehatten from the Wild Hurricane last year!"

Zero chuckled at that statement, before replying, "Actually, that was a group effort. I was just the one who ended up in front of the cameras. We all plaid our part in the end, as I said in the interview."

Rosie giggled, before saying, "But wasn't it you who rallied them up when the Hurricane was about to reach the shoreline? And wasn't it you who took the charge, and led the other Pegasi?"

Zero shrugged his shoulders, before nodding his head. "I suppose you caught me there, then."

Then there was a moment of silence. Rosie looked up at him, and asked, "What happened after that, though?"

Zero hummed for a moment, before replying, "Well... I quit the Weather Team shortly after that."

This caused Rosie's eyes to widen. "W-WHAT?! Why, though?"

"I was getting too much attention at that time... plus, I was looking for adventure, anyways. I wanted to see the world, in all it's beauty. Meet the other creatures, travel unknown lands. You know, something bigger than just a little adventure."

"What do you mean?"

"An adventure can be anywhere, from stepping out the door of your house, or merely waking up, and getting out of bed. What I wanted more than adventure, is the same thing that I'm on, right now... a journey."

Rosie raised an eyebrow at him, before asking, "What's the difference, though?"

"Well, an adventure is the steps towards a certain goal. A Journey, however, is a list of many separate adventures, with more revealing themselves as the journeyman continues to press on."

Rosie's eyes widened at that statement. "Wow! That's really cool!" Then she looked at a poster on a wall, and hummed to herself. "What's that man on the poster?" She asked, pointing at it.

Zero looked towards her finger, and followed it towards the poster on the wall. Slowly, he walked towards it, and raised an eyebrow at it, before taking it from the wall, and examining it even closer. "Wait a minute..." His eyes widened, as he silently said, "It can't be..."

On the poster, a drawing of a young-looking human male stood facing the viewer's direction. The man had long, messy hair with a long, messy beard, and wore a leather shoulder pad over his right shoulder, with a belt that stretched across his chest.

Then he looked below the picture, and saw the word "Wanted Alive" written on it. The bounty was the most jaw-dropping. Fifty-Thousand Bits for him, and the filly that was drawn in the back of the poster. Zero hummed to himself, before turning the poster around. Then he stopped moving altogether, as his eyes shot open again, and his jaw dropped.

"A horn, and wings?!" He said to himself. "Then that must mean... she's an Alicorn!"

He quickly looked back at Rosie, who tilted her head in confusion, before asking, "What does it say?"

Zero looked back at the poster, folded it up, and placed it in one of his jacket pockets. Then he smiled at her, and replied, "It says that they want to capture the next person I should visit."

Rosie nodded her head, and looked towards the house in front of her. "Well, while we're at my home again, would you like something to drink, or eat?"

Zero chuckled at her, before shaking his head. "No need, I've been satisfied for the day." He pointed at his fangs as he said that, which caused Rosie to chuckle.

"Well, Mommy and Daddy are on their way now. I can see them over there!" She pointed behind them, towards the alleyway that they just came from, and sure enough, Rosie's parents were on their way to her.

Before Zero could say another word, he found himself nearly crushed by both parents, as they locked him into a strong hug. "Thank you, sir! We will never forget this!" Golden Rock said in a wavy moan.

Zero, after catching his breath from the unexpected double bear-hug, replied, "It was the least I could do... I have a zero tolerance when it comes to evil." Then he looked both ways, and pulled the poster from his pocket. "By the way... do any of you happen to know where this person went?"

When the couple looked at the poster, they nodded their heads. Then the mother pony answered, "We saw the guards take his group of friends away, towards Fort Shivercrest. They locked him in the dungeons, though." Then she added, "Considering the fact that he's 'Wanted', I wouldn't be surprised if he's on his way there, now!"

Zero nodded his head, and smiled. "Thank you... and sorry, but I must be off, now."

The couple nodded their heads in unison, before replying, "Of course, sir! If you need anything at all, please feel free to stop by! We'll be more than happy to help!"

Zero nodded his head, and replied, "Thanks again... I'll be sure to drop by before I leave towards my next destination."

With that, he took off into the sky, and waved at the three ponies that he saved the lives of. They, in turn, waved at their savior, all the way until he vanished into the night sky, and towards the dark clouds that surrounded Shaded Meadows.

With his right hand over his ear, Zero asked, "Did you catch all that, Thunderwing?"

After a couple seconds of delay, a higher-pitched male's voice replied, "Yeah... but I wouldn't bet my bits on that one, Zero! Besides, don't you remember the rumors that were spread by that Lyra person over in Ponyville?"

Zero chuckled, before replying, "Yeah, yeah. Cut the mare some slack, already, sheesh! Just because she was on the 'Nutcases of Equestria' program doesn't really mean that it's true! And besides, you know me better than that! When did I ever believe what they say on TV?"

After landing on a cloud, he looked around the snowstorm, as he hovered a safe distance from Fort Shivercrest. Then, after a few more seconds of scanning the area, he heard a distant explosion, and followed it.

Once he saw the cause of the racket, the Iceboats that broke through the mountain were already headed towards Fort Shivercrest. This, of course, made Zero hum even more, as his curiosity grew.

After a few more minutes of flying, he found the Iceboats rested a faraway distance from Fort Shivercrest, and saw it holding many passengers.

For a good thirty minutes, the boats were just sitting there, while Zero Gravity waited on his cloud.

"I'm telling you, man. Just leave that place, or you'll catch a cold!" Thunderwing spoke through Zero's earpiece.

Zero groaned, and replied, "Not until I see who's in that ship! Now pipe down, already!"

As soon as he finished saying that, the passengers of the front Iceboat started leaving the room, which caused Zero's eyes to widen. "Hold on! I see something!" Then he looked closer at the passengers. "I see two Gryphons, a flank-load of Diamond Dogs, a... what's a Slithian doing in the snow?! Anyways, there's a Slithian, about three Minotaurs, and a... Sweet Celestia! That third Minotaur's actually a horse!"

Thunderwing chuckled through the earpiece. "Somepony must be jealous, huh?"

"Oh, shut up, Thunderwing! If you were here, I bet he'd make you jealous!"

Thunderwing merely raspberried through the earpiece, and retorted, "As if!"

"Anyways, so there's a couple horses, actually. One is that big bulky dude, and the other is a shorter one... I guess that's it."

As soon as he finished saying that last statement, he noticed the door to the Iceboat open up again, while two more figures stepped out of it; one a pony, and the other an unknown creature.

With his eyes opened widely, Zero stared at the unknown creature, before placing his right hand over his earpiece. "Hey, Thunderwing! ..."

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 7: The Battle of Fort Shivercrest, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 7

The Battle of Fort Shivercrest
|PART ONE|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With their plans set into motion, our heroes prepare for a battle of historical proportions. As they get ready to strike, however, many unexpected things would appear to be happening inside the mighty fort; specifically, within the very same room that Ruby and Zula are in.

Ruby and Zula just stood there, wondering what the armored Minotaur was planning on doing. So far, he just... stood there.

He looked around, and hummed to himself. "Thor'lok likes games... do Alicorn and Zebra like games?"

That sudden question caused Ruby and Zula to raise an eyebrow, and look at each other. Then then looked back at Thor'lok, and nodded their heads, while Ruby replied, "Y-yes, sir. We like games... why do you ask, though?"

Thor'lok chuckled, before slowly pulling his red helmet off, revealing his red fur, brown mane, amber eyes, and crimson tusks. Then he replied with a smile that seemed to oppose the ways the other Minotaurs' smiles would express; in a friendly manner, "Thor'lok want play game with friends."

"Friends?" Ruby asked, now tilting her head out of confusion. "Who are your friends, exactly?"

Thor'lok hummed out of confusion, before replying with his head tilted, "Pretty Pony, and Pretty Zebra, of course!"

At that statement, Zula's and Ruby's eyes both widened. "Wait..." Zula began, "so you aren't here to harm us?!"

Thor'lok shook his head, before replying, "Thor'lok no like being bad. Thor'lok promised friends for doing good, by keeping friends inside this room."

This sounded like the spark of hope that Ruby was looking for, but under the current situation, she couldn't muster up enough courage to show it. With a saddened expression, she sighed and turned away from him, which caught Thor'lok's attention.

"What wrong, Pretty Pony?" He asked, with his tone actually showing genuine concern.

Ruby looked back up at him with a halfhearted expression, and then counter-asked, "Thor'lok... why am I here?"

Thor'lok hummed, before rubbing his chin with his right hand. "Thor'lok no understand... Boss said he marry you, I be Pretty Pony's friend."

Ruby closed her eyes, and glared through the back of her eyelids. Finally, out of built-up anger, she shouted, "I have a name, you know! IT'S RUBY!"

Thor'lok, despite his size compared to her, was taken aback by her sudden outburst, and even flinched his face with both of his arms, which caused Ruby to raise an eyebrow. "Please! No hurt Thor'lok! Thor'lok not know name, but mean well! Ruby nice name! Thor'lok call Ruby 'Ruby', now!"

Ruby's annoyed expression turned to one of concern again. "Oh... I'm sorry, Thor'lok. I didn't mean to scare you..." Then she sighed, and looked at the fireplace, while Thor'lok uncovered his face, and saw the sad expression on Ruby's face. "It's just that... I'm not really in a good mood."

Thor'lok's expression turned from fear to concern, as he slowly walked up to Ruby, and asked, "Ruby can tell Thor'lok. Thor'lok keep secret, if wish. A friend of Thor'lok's can trust Thor'lok... trusting be what friends do, right?"

Ruby looked up at him, and weakly smiled. "Only if you let Zula stand closer than what Stonefist said... deal?"

Thor'lok nodded his head, and looked at Zula, who still looked at him uneasily. "Thor'lok befriend Pretty Zebra... Zula her, right?" Ruby nodded her head. "Then Thor'lok be Zula's friend, too! If Zula say, that is."

Zula raised an eyebrow, before weakly smiling. "Of course... but first, you have to do something for us."

Thor'lok raised both eyebrows and smiled widely, before replying, "Gladly! What Thor'lok do for friends?"

Zula looked at Ruby, before replying, "You have to listen to our story."

Thor'lok's smile widened, while he nodded again. "Of course! Thor'lok like stories!"

Ruby nodded her head, and stated, "Well... this story is a true story... based on what happened when my daddy and I got to this world." And with that, she began telling Thor'lok the events that transpired from the journey, starting at the beginning of when they first arrived.

From behind the front gates, a few Minotaurs were standing guard, two on each side, while below their feet, they couldn't detect a certain Fox clawing through the ground, carrying a bundle of dynamite on his back in the process; with the addition of a string attached to each dynamite. Then, once he placed enough dynamite to stretch across the entire front entrance, he quickly crawled back the way he came, and tapped on the single red button on a small, metal handheld device he carried within his bag, and looked up towards the guards' towers.

From on top of the guards' towers, a single Minotaur was watching the lower halves of the ground; armed with a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a longsword on his waist. He looked around left and right; an arrow drawn from his quiver, and stretched through the bow; eagerly awaiting his next daring, foolish, and/or unsuspecting victim.

The next thing he knew, an arm suddenly grasped his mouth; muffling his scream, before a blade soon found its way into his chest. Then he fell limply to the ground; his eyes rolling up, and his blood flowing out of his chest, until the arm removed its grasp from his now breathless mouth. Finally the mysterious figure walked towards the corner of the wall and knelt behind a pile of crates; right as a ghost arrow landed in the center of the area.

As soon as Ruby finished telling the story of her adventure so far, Thor'lok looked surprised at the two of the, now obvious, "prisoners" and "hostages".

"B-but... Thor'lok told that he being good, though!" His eyes filled with tears, before he fell to his knees, and shook his head. "Why they lie, and hurt poor Ruby? Why they hurt poor Zula like that?!"

Ruby walked up to him and placed her left hand over his right shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, Thor'lok... none of it was! It was them who told the lies, after all."

Thor'lok's expression turned from a sad one to a slowly built-up glare. "Well... they no treat Thor'lok friends like that!" Then Thor'lok stood up and stretched his hand out for Ruby to take. "Thor'lok be good for friends, then! Thor'lok... help you escape!" As he said that, he looked at Zula. "And Thor'lok help Zula, too! Zula Thor'lok friend too, right?"

Zula and Ruby looked at each other and smiled, before they turned their heads back to Thor'lok, and nodded in unison. "Of course you're our friend, Thor'lok!" Ruby replied, before accepting his hand.

Then Thor'lok lifted her over his shoulders and offered his hand to Zula.

"Ruby hang on tight... Thor'lok fast runner!" Ruby nodded her head as Zula took his hand.

What she didn't expect, however, was for Thor'lok to lift her up, and place her on his shoulders behind Ruby. "Zula hold onto Thor'lok, and keep Ruby from falling. Thor'lok protect you both!"

The two of them nodded their heads, and tightened their grips. Then Thor'lok slowly walked towards the door, and placed his hand on the door. What the Alicorn and Zebra didn't expect, however, was for him to push the door and run... the opposite direction.

"Wait, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Ruby and Zula asked in unison, before Thor'lok lifted his arms over his head in a defensive stance to protect them from the impact; his forearms over their hands and their forearms, and then rammed his head into the wall; smashing through it, and into the hallways.

While Justin awaited for Stealth to plant the bombs, he looked through his arsenal once more. Now, to protect his skin from the cold winter breeze of The Shaded Meadows, he had a fur chest piece over his jacket; brown, with a pair of white shoulder pads; covered in leather for additional defense. Over his jacket's built-in fingerless gloves, he wore a pair of dark brown fur gauntlets that rose to his elbows. Over his jeans and boots, he wore a fur padding that rose up to between his thighs. Below his waist, however, his yellow coat still flew out and about freely, and over his head, he wore his yellow hood. Over his face, however, he wore a gas mask with a pair of built-in night-vision lenses.

As soon as Justin landed on the guard tower, he froze in his spot and hummed to himself. "Huh... I didn't expect someone else to be here against them... an escapee, perhaps?" He then lifted his right hand over his ear, and said, "King Goldheart... was someone else supposed to assist me in assassinating the upper halves of the tower?!"

He stood there for a moment, listening through his headpiece. "Uh-huh... then I guess we might have another one here who has a problem with the Black Wings. Might have to watch our aim... he could be useful, if he was able to sneak up like this. Be careful, though... he could also be another threat, too."

"I assure you, I'm not your threat." A low, serious-toned young male's voice replied through the shadows. Justin froze in place, but turned his head towards the source of the voice.

There, now standing up from behind the crates, was Zero Gravity; his Ninjato Sword still in his right hand. The sword was angled downwards, in a non-threatening way, so Justin considered his words, and turned the rest of his body around towards the Pegasus stallion. "I see... well, that's a relief. So... what business do you have with these guys?" Then he moved his face closer to get a better look at the stranger. "You aren't here for my daughter and I, are you?"

Zero shook his head, and then replied, "Not in the way you might think... I was on my way back to Equestria, when I heard rumors of an alien creature on the same path. I kinda figured you could use the extra pair of hands."

Justin moved his head back in a normal stance, and sighed. "Well... you've definitely shown me that you can handle stealth... but can you handle a fight?"

Zero nodded his head, and then replied, "This sword isn't just a prop, y'know. I know my way around the battlefield, even if it's in a foreign land. Heck... I've even managed to defeat countless enemies with their own weapons!" Then his expression turned into a small frown. "But don't think that I take joy in it... I only fight for those who are good... I can fight in ways that defy gravity, and I have a zero tolerance for evil... thus my name, 'Zero Gravity'."

Justin rubbed his right hand over his chin, hummed, and thought for another few seconds. Finally, when his decision was made, he nodded his head, and then said, "Well, Zero Gravity, if you're true to your word, then you can come with us. Just don't try anything around my daughter, and there won't be a problem. Deal?" He held his right had out, which Zero shook firmly, and nodded his head. "And the name's Justin, by the way... Justin Daniels."

After a few moments of silent flying, Gilded Blade scanned the area with his goggles. "And here I thought they would've at least improved their security!" He shouted through both; his mic and the wind.

Swift replied through his headphones in an equally-toned volume, "No kidding! I can't find a single guard on the outskirts! It's almost like something is going on inside there!"

From inside the dining hall, Thor'lok stood in front of Ruby and Zula; bashing, hacking, and slashing the skulls, the chests, and any other parts of the countless Minotaurs that dared approach them with weapons in their hands. In both of his hands, he held two-headed axes half his size, with blades that reached seventy-five percent of his width, which was around eight feet from shoulder to shoulder. His axes were made of red iron, and was shaped with two blades that lowered close to his knuckles in the front. In the center, they had spikes that were capable of emulating the results of a spear. On the backs, the blades were slightly smaller to avoid damage to the wielder, but were still spiked on the tips to increase the piercing damage.

He roared with vigor, as more and more arrows were deflected with one axe, while a few were even caught between his teeth, and spat out. These actions even caused the enemies' eyes to widen in shock.

"Th... there's just no way!" One of them said in fear, before the front doors opened.

As soon as they turned their heads towards the front doors, they breathed sighs of relief when they found Lord Stonefist walking inside the dining room; a pair of massive swords in each hand, and a glare painting his face, as he walked in.

"Thor'lok! What is the meaning of this?!" He shouted, before pointing his right sword towards Thor'lok. At this point, he was still across the room, standing twenty meters away from Thor'lok.

Thor'lok's glare intensified, as he spat on the ground. "You harm friends! You let them escape! Thor'lok quit, because Thor'lok good guy!"

Stonefist groaned and rolled his eyes, before stabbing one of the swords into the ground. "Thor'lok, we've been over this a thousand times! You are being good when you keep them in that room! Celestia's Blood, what lies have they fed you? That I'm holding them against their will?! Look at the little one, and ask her if she even wants to marry me! I'll guarantee you that she would say-"

"NO!" Ruby shouted at the top of her lungs. For some odd reason, though, when her voice echoed through the room, she heard herself say, "Yes."

"W... WHAT?!" She gasped, before covering her mouth and looking up at Thor'lok and Zula, who were both staring at her confusedly.

"What do you mean... 'yes'? Ruby, he's trying to take you away from us! He's trying to take you away from your father!" Zula said in a concerned tone, as she looked Ruby in the eyes; unable to believe what she was hearing.

Ruby tried shaking her head, and replying with, "I said 'no'! Didn't you hear me?!" Instead, she unintentionally nodded her head, and then replied, "I know that... but it's for the best."

Her eyes moved from Zula to Stonefist, and widened when she noticed one of his necklaces glowing.

While Thor'lok scratched his head in confusion, Ruby's left eye widened towards the necklace, which made Zula turn towards Stonefist again. Then, it was her eyes that widened. "Thor'lok! He's controlling her responses with that glowing necklace!"

Thor'lok looked from Ruby to Stonefist, and gasped. "Y-you... you LYING to Thor'lok! YOU MONSTER! YOU LET RUBY SPEAK FOR SELF!"

Stonefist gave another audible sigh. "Well... I guess that one didn't work... but, I suppose there's a 'Plan B' for a reason."

In a split second, Stonefist appeared behind Thor'lok in a puff of black smoke, and whispered in his right ear, "Zure odol traizio duzu, anaia." "You have betrayed your own blood, brother."

Thor'lok's eyes widened at both; that statement, and his unexpected speed. Before he could turn around to retaliate, though, he felt a sudden sharp pain, as one of the scimitars that Stonefist held before was pierced through his back, and out of his stomach, making him scream in agony, while Ruby's eyes widened, and then filled with tears.

"THOR'LOK! NO!" Ruby yelled, before running towards her fallen friend, only to get lifted by her hair by Stonefist, as Thor'lok fell to the ground on his back, and clutched his wound with his right hand; the one closest to where the new hole was located. "YOU MONSTER! I... I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS!" She yelled at Stonefist, before spitting in his face.

He slowly wiped the spit from his face, and slammed Ruby onto the ground; rendering her unconscious again. "Good... then you will never forget it, either..." Then his gaze turned to Zula, who was leaning over Thor'lok; trying to administer First Aid to his wounds with strips of cloth that she tore from her dress just then. "Don't worry... you will join him, too." Slowly he raised his sword in the air and was about to make the killing blow.

Before his sword could reach over his shoulder, however, a loud explosion, and a sudden violent quake in the room caused his eyes to widen, and his jaw to drop. "What in the name of Tirek was that?!"

As soon as Justin and Zero finished shaking hands, Justin felt a sudden vibration in his back pocket. "Oh... hold on." Quickly, he pulled a metallic device similar to the one Stealth held out of his pocket, and pressed the button on it. "Looks like stations are set. Let me introduce you to the crew, though." Then he held his right hand over his ear and said, "Hey listen up, everybody! We have a new recruit here, so quick meeting on the ship before the attack!"

Zero looked from him to the ship in the distance. "Need a lift?" He asked.

Justin drew another ghost arrow for his bow, and then looked back at Zero. "Nah, but you might."

Zero grinned and spread his wings out. "I worked for the Wonderbolts, buddy... I know how to move quickly."

With an understanding nod and grin, Justin turned his gaze back to the ship, and fired the arrow, as Zero flew down in a blurring speed; cautiously to avoid being seen.

When everyone was back on the ship, Justin was the first to speak up. "Alright, everyone. This here is-"

Pinkie Pie gasped before Justin could even finish. "Oh my gosh! You're... you're..." Then, she started speaking in a speed that caught all passengers by surprise.

"You're Zero Gravity! The most daring-est, speediest, straight-to-the-point-i-est Pegasus Pony that ever worked with the Wonderbolts! Oh my Celestia! I saw you on TV! How did you manage to guide that stray tornado from Manehatten?! How did-"

Gilda rolled her eyes, before reaching into her saddlebag, pulling out a small biscuit that she held onto from the cave, and stuffed it into Pinkie Pie's mouth, muffling her constant speaking. "Pinkie... you're doing it again."

Her statement caused Pinkie Pie to stop speaking, and smile sheepishly at Gilda. "Oops... sorry, G." Then she turned back to Zero. "Sorry, Zero! It's just that my great friend 'Rainbow Dash' told me a lot about you! I... guess I kinda went back to being goofy ol' me!"

Zero chuckled nervously, before turning away. "It's alright, Pinkie... you aren't the first one out here who noticed me." His memories, of course, went back to the family he rescued earlier that day.

After the long and tedious process of introductions, Justin spoke. "Well, now that we know each other, we can... huh?" He suddenly felt a slight pain on his scalp, which caused him to remove his mask and hood; gripping the back of his head shortly after his scalp. Then he let out a roar of pain, as he fell to his knees. His hands started shaking violently; his knuckles clenching into fists. After another moment of head pains, he yelled again in agony, as he felt a surge of even more pain spread across his entire body.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at him, as Pinkie ran to his side. "Justin! Are you alright? What's going on?!"

Before he could reply, his cheeks puffed up, and in the matter of seconds, he spat out a small puddle of blood; letting out a gagging cough as he did.

Then, after taking another moment of deep breathing, he glared at the ground, slowly raised his gaze up towards the fortress, and said in a venomous, gargled-up tone, "Stealth... light the bastards up..."

With a gulp, Stealth nodded his head, and pressed a red button attached to a metal square disc-like remote. Shortly following that, a huge explosion in the front gate. Then Justin stood back up, and said, "Today... I'M KILLING THAT ASSHOLE TODAY!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Oh, sweet Celestia! You would not BELIEVE how much work I've had to do to find time to work on this chapter! And trust me, being separated from this awesome community due to unexpected work thrown at me from my dad (who I still happen to be in the household of, at the moment), and the video below can pretty much explain how I feel when I'm gone... and occasionally when I return, and prepare for the critics to nibble at me. (Metaphorically speaking, of course! I love you all!)

Anyways, I'm sure a lot of you were wondering what's been going on, and a few more might've thought that I must've died, or something. No need to fear though, My Little Bronies! I'm still alive, and kicking! Expect a few more edits in the previous chapters to better represent-ate the new way how I use Emphasis!

One more thing! Zula is no longer on the list of "Available Love Interests"! I have... plans for her, now. *Evil Laugh*

Season 2, Episode 8: The Battle of Fort Shivercrest, Part 2

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 8

The Battle of Fort Shivercrest
|PART TWO|

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"Wait..." Zula's voice echoed. "So you aren't here to harm us?"

"Thor'lok no like being bad. Thor'lok promised friends for doing good, by keeping friends inside this room." Thor'lok replied.

"I have a name, you know! IT'S RUBY!" Ruby shouted.

Zula said, "You have to listen to our story."

"King Goldheart... was someone else supposed to assist me in assassinating the upper halves of the tower?!" Justin asked through his headpiece.

"I assure you, I'm not your threat." Zero replied.

"You aren't here for my daughter and I, are you?" Justin asked.

"Not in the way you might think..." Zero said in response.

"Zure odol traizio duzu, anaia." "You have betrayed your own blood, brother." Stonefist whispered to Thor'lok, before impaling him with a scimitar.

Justin spat a small puddle of blood out, and looked up with a glare.

"Today... I'M KILLING THAT ASSHOLE TODAY!" Justin's voice echoed.

As soon as the explosions went off, large swarms of black and red-armored Diamond Dogs, Gryphons, and Minotaurs all ran towards the opened front gate. From the distance, they saw a large number of rebels headed their way; one striking fear in the Elites of the group; the king of Diamond Peak. Without hesitation, he turned to leave; the others around him running to battle.

Justin drew his bow and shot a Ghost Arrow towards the top of the tower that he and Zero recently left. As the arrow flew in the air, he took the hands of Pinkie Pie, Gilda, Stealth, and Zero. Then, in the matter of seconds, the five of them flew into a gust of wind, before re-appearing in the proper spot.

Quickly the five of them ran over the gates; slightly crouched to avoid detection, while in the room below them, Topaz and his group rushed through the hallways; slicing through the enemies that swarmed them.

Topaz looked to his right and sliced the midsection of a Minotaur, while a pair of "Black Wings" Diamond Dogs leaped up to stab him in the back while he was crouched. Before they could reach him, though, the two of them were blasted away by a Diamond Dog with two pistols, who was about to be stabbed in the back by a Minotaur with a spear. Topaz used that time to break the spear with his sword while the Diamond Dog turned both pistols towards him and fired towards his skull.

From a short distance behind them, the Slithian and female Minotaur both held their rifles and fired at the crowd of Diamond Dogs that started scaling the walls. As a few were standing up, the Slithian fired at the claws of the ropes they used to climb; sending several down. The Minotaur fired at them as they made it over the boundaries, before kicking the claws down. In the matter of seconds, though, they were outnumbered, as many more Black Wings soon started to swarm them.

The Slithian looked at the Minotaur and said, "Up!"

The Minotaur nodded her head and aimed her rifle towards the ceiling. Then, as soon as she fired the rifle, a ghost bullet flew out; sending her towards the ceiling while the Slithian stretched her tail out and spun in a quick circular motion; sending most of the Black Wings towards the edges, and out of the room; a fall to their deaths on the other side.

When she landed back on the ground, the Minotaur aimed her rifle at one of the five who managed to dodge the Slithian's "tail whip", and fired at him, while the Slithian shot another one with hers. Then, once their rifles were recharged, they fired at the other two, as the fifth one rushed towards them; a Minotaur carrying a claymore over his shoulders; dangerously close to the two ladies who felt a sudden sense of panic. The next thing they knew, the Minotaur with the claymore flew into the wall; a red flaming arrow attached to his skull through the left temple.

The Slithian and Minotaur looked towards the direction the arrow came from and bowed their heads respectfully, as they continued through the hallway.

From across the area and one floor above, Justin nodded his head in response to the ladies who bowed their heads respectfully. Then, as he lifted his bow, he, Pinkie, Gilda, Zero, and Stealth continued down the hallway, inching closer to the leader's chambers; Justin firing his bow with fire arrows, Pinkie remaining a safe distance, but bucking the closest Black Wings with one of her hooves, Gilda slicing them with a pair of scimitars, Zero slicing through them with his Ninjato Sword, and Stealth firing at the Black Wings with two pistols.

Once they made it to the room, Justin turned towards the group and said, "Y'all cover me! I need to make sure Ruby's okay!"

The group nodded their heads in acknowledgement, and stood in defensive positions around the entrance.

With a kick, the door to the bedroom swung open as Justin ran inside, scanning the entirety of the room from left to right. "Ruby? Are you in... here?" He stopped in place at the sight of the massive hole in the wall on the other side. Carefully, he looked around the room and found the plate of food on the floor, and the mirror on the wall in the right hand of the fireplace.

He groaned in annoyance and walked closer to the carpet in front of the fireplace. Then he stopped in place, and gasped. Not too far from the fire was a few small drops of blood. The sight caused his face to form a glare. "That... better not be what I think it is..." Then he looked around a little more, and found another sight that caused his anger to build up; a few long strands of red hair not too far from the blood.

Lifting the strands up, his hands started to shake. "Don't worry, Ruby... I will not let them harm you anymore!" He then stood up and looked at the entrance. "On me, everybody! She isn't in here!"

At his command, the others nodded their heads and ran into the room; taking in the sight first, before following Justin past the hole in the wall.

From inside the dining hall, Stonefist looked at the soldiers who ran inside; the ones who interrupted him from delivering the final blow to the Zebra. "So... the Human has finally figured it out, huh? Very well, then... give him my regards... and make it as quick as your hooves and paws can move!"

The soldiers nodded their heads and punched their chests, then turned towards the entrance to the dining room, only to be stopped by the sound of an angry male shouting. "STONEFIST!"

In unison, the soldiers turned their heads towards the group headed their way. Stonefist hummed to himself before pointing at the door. "Close it... and lock it with Magic!"

The soldiers nodded their heads and ran to the door; a large group of them leaving the room to fight the group on the other side. Altogether, four of them stayed inside, while twelve ran outside.

Before the doors shut, however, a ghost arrow made its way inside the room. Despite the doors shutting and the Magic locks sealing it shut, Justin appeared inside the room, and glared at the Minotaur who stood over his daughter's unconscious body, his injured friend, and the other Minotaur that looked like he was barely breathing.

Without saying a single word, Justin drew his staff and aimed it at the four guards at the door who began running his way. Before they could even take two steps towards him, however, they all combusted into flames; and in a split second after their combustion, their ashes flew into the wall; covering it in a red and black-colored pile of sand-like coal.

Then Justin slowly turned towards Stonefist, who didn't seem to even react to the loss of his guards, or the death glare that Justin was giving him. In fact, he merely smiled and slowly clapped his hands, as he slowly walked towards the enraged Human.

"Well done, Human! I see you haven't lost your touch, since that scrap you had with Iron-Hoof. Tell me... how does it feel? Knowing that you are a failure of a parent, who couldn't even keep his daughter safe for a measly five minutes?" Justin's grip on his staff strengthened to the point his knuckles gave out a cracking noise.

"Or better yet... how does it feel to learn that you just made the most foolish mistake of your life in merely passing that door? Don't you realize that it's sealed with a spell that only I can dispel?"

Justin didn't reply with words. Instead he lifted his staff up; aiming the tip at Stonefist's face, ready to fire.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you... you wouldn't want anything to happen to your daughter now, would you?" As he asked that, he quickly levitated Ruby in-between the two of them, grinning slyly.

The sight of Ruby levitating caused Justin's eyes to widen. "Ruby?!" Then he glared at Stonefist again; his staff shaking from his clenched hands. After pondering the situation, he sighed and shook his head. "You're a sick bastard, Stonefist... I hope you're ready for what lies ahead..."

Stonefist chuckled again, before replying, "On the contrary, Justin..." Justin's eyes widened at the mentioning of his name. Before his eyes were even fully opened, however, Stonefist appeared next to his left ear, and whispered, "...I'm not the one who should be getting ready."

Zula, who was lying next to Thor'lok on her stomach, slowly leaned up, faced Justin, and shouted, "LOOK OUT!"

At that sudden statement, Justin noticed the location of Thor'lok's wound, and decided he was about to jab towards his right kidney. With that in mind, Justin quickly jumped to the left, lifted his staff in a defensive position, and bashed Stonefist's scimitar into the air, only for it to fly back into his hands, and allow him a chance to chop downwards. Instinctively, Justin held his staff horizontally, and managed to block the attack.

"Ah... a Shimmerwood Staff! Those are quite valuable and rare... I'll be sure to take it from your corpse, once I'm done with you... could make a nice trophy!" In a puff of black smoke, Stonefist quickly materialized an identical scimitar in his left hand and lowered it for a stab.

Anticipating the attack, Justin quickly twirled his staff counter-clockwise; causing Stonefist's arms to cross, and giving Justin a chance to roll behind him and kick his lower back with his left boot. The results caused Stonefist to fly three meters forward, and roll on the ground, before standing back up, and landing on his hooves with a menacing smile. "Oh, I don't think so!"

Quickly, Stonefist crossed both of his scimitars overhead and slid them together. As they slid, they made the usual grinding noise of blades, before the blades of both swords expanded in size; forming massive claymore-sized scimitars; seemingly capable of slicing entire groups of targets in half in one swing.

"Let's see you block this!" Stonefist shouted, as he leaped into the air and prepared for a downward chop with both blades in unison.

Not wanting to take any chances, Justin quickly placed the staff on his back, drew his bow, and shot a ghost arrow out of range for the attack. Then, once he appeared on the other side, he gasped when he saw Stonefist disappear before even landing.

Nervously, Justin turned around; an arrow still drawn, and ready to fire. Then, in the matter of seconds, Stonefist appeared behind him, and whispered, "Bego, Giza." "Rest in peace, Human."

A split second after he whispered that statement, Justin vanished in a cloud of smoke the exact same second that Stonefist lunged his right sword left.

He hummed in confusion, before looking around. Just a mere second of searching later, he ended up getting the wind kicked from his lungs, as a pair of fur-covered boots bashed his back extra strongly; sending him flying across the room, and into a circular table.

Grunting in pain, he slowly stood up, before smirking. "Well... looks like the Human isn't as flawless as he thought... is he?" As he asked that, he raised his right scimitar in the air; revealing a small string of blood on it.

Justin glared intensely at him, as he held the left side of his stomach with his right hand; a small hint of blood covering his hand in the process. "I'd hate to break it to you... but I wouldn't get too comfortable, if I were you."

Stonefist tilted his head in confusion. "Oh? And how is that, exactly?"

With a sly grin, Justin replied, "Why don't you look down, and find out?"

The second he finished that sentence, Stonefist's eyes widened, as the sound of a high-pitched beeping sounded off. Looking down, he gasped when he saw that his rings and necklaces were removed, his scimitars were no longer in the area, and there was a bomb between his legs on the floor. "W-WHAT?! HOW?!" He yelled, as Justin lifted a small handheld device in his right hand; armed with nothing more than a red button.

"Simple... I disarmed you while you weren't looking... the beauties of ghost arrows, how you can choose what goes with you while you're in 'Spectral Form'." Justin replied casually, before aiming his bow towards Ruby, Zula, and Thor'lok. Then, after releasing the arrow, he appeared behind his two friends and acquaintance. Then he looked at Zula and asked, "Is he on our side?"

She nodded her head, which made Justin nod his head. "Alright, then... hold onto him and Ruby, please."

Zula did as requested, while Justin pressed the button on the device, and shot an arrow towards the opposite wall; a ghost arrow that went through the wall which, in the long run, was on a course for "The Snowflake"; the ship that he and his friends rode up to Fort Shivercrest. As the arrow flew in the air, Justin quickly picked Ruby up and took Zula's hand. "Everyone should be heading towards our ride, now. Be sure to take care of Ruby for me, as I check and make sure everyone's out, before this bomb goes off."

Then he pointed his emerald ring towards Stonefist, and created a large amount of vines from the walls, the ceiling, and the floor; each of which firmly gripped him by the wrists, hooves, and neck. He fiercely shook his arms and legs; attempting to break free. Regardless of his strength, though, he quickly found that there was no escaping his fate.

A few moments later, Justin grinned mischievously, before using nature magic to create another vine from the ground that lifted the bomb onto the wall... right in-between Stonefist's thighs; causing his eyes to widen. Before he could scream out of fear, though, a pile of leaves flew into his mouth, while a group of bugs from within the cracks of the walls climbed from the vines into his mouth; muffling his voice entirely.

Then, once the arrow finally landed, Justin, Ruby, Zula, and Thor'lok disappeared into a white smoke, which flew through the walls, and towards the massive ship.

From the other side of the dining hall, the group of heroes stood in a circle; staring around the piles of corpses of the guards that tried to attack them. Gilda then ran up to the doors and tried to kick it open; only for an unknown force to push her back, and into the arms of Pinkie, who caught her without even noticing. "Gilda! Are you alright?!" She asked concernedly, before looking at the door.

Gilda groaned in pain, before nodding her head. "Yeah... damn place is under magical lock-down, now! Who in the name of Tartarus even put that in this dump?!"

Stealth shrugged his shoulders, before commenting, "Well, mate... any other ideas?"

As if on cue, Justin appeared from a puff of smoke, and said, "We don't have much time... Stonefist is unaware of me being here, but I need to let you guys know what I'm planning!"

Pinkie ran up to him and was about to hug him, only for him to raise his left hand to stop her. "No, Pinkie... he got me, I can feel it."

She raised an eyebrow out of confusion, only to lower her gaze at the side of his stomach that he was holding, and gasp. "Oh, no! You're hurt!"

"It's alright, Pinkie... I've lived through worse. Now, I need you all to get out of here... I left a bomb where I warped from, and he didn't seem to notice it... but right now, he's on the other side of the door. And besides... this isn't really me talking to you all, so you'll just go through me. I'm just an illusion created from a ghost arrow... a new trick I learned on the boat ride up here. Anyways, listen up! By the time I press the button, there will be a two minute timer for the bomb to go off, and it should be enough to destroy this whole place... so I need you all to gather up as much survivors as you can, and meet me on The Snowflake to take care of Ruby, Zula, and anyone else that's injured, and on the ship. Okay?"

Pinkie nodded her head, before replying, "W-well... okay, but what about you, though?!"

Justin smiled and nodded his head. "I'll be there, too. I'll just have to do a quick sweep around the area, and make sure there's no survivors left behind."

Pinkie shook her head, and then replied, "No! You need someone to take care of your wounds!"

"Ruby is the top priority for me, Pinkie... if she dies, then I will... but if I die, then she shouldn't... and besides that, I'd rather put my own life on the line, than anyone else's. Okay?"

With a long sigh, Pinkie nodded her head. "Okay, then... but be careful, Justin!"

Justin weakly smirked, before replying, "Hate to break it to you, Pinkie Pie... but I ain't really known to be the 'careful' type." With that, he disappeared into a cloud of white smoke, as the alert devices in everyone's pockets began to vibrate.

Gilda looked at hers, and then said, "Looks like the timer started... we need to go!"

Zero nodded his head, and then replied, "Alright, then... let's get back to the ship, and-"

"You're not going anywhere!" A gruff-sounding voice said from the far-right corner of the hallway.

In unison, the group assumed a defensive position, as one-by-one, more Black Wings started appearing from the hallways. "You think we'll just let you go like that? Sorry to burst your bubble, but... we aren't gonna go down without a fight! We'll take you all to Tartarus with us!"

"What if I sent you all there, first?" A low-pitched voice spoke from the far-right corner; catching the attention of the large wave of soldiers. Then, in the matter of seconds, the entire crowd was flung into the air by none other than King Goldheart himself; wielding his massive sword in both hands. Beside him, Boulder charged into the crowd with a tower shield; acting as the blunt force of the blow.

Gilda chuckled at him, before saying, "Took your sweet time, huh?"

Goldheart shrugged his shoulders, before replying, "Well, when there's just two verses hundreds, you should expect a small delay, at least!"

Then he motioned his head towards the direction he and Boulder came from. "There's no more survivors left in here. They've all been freed, thankfully. They're already on their ways home though the other ships. All that we need is your friends, you, Boulder, and I."

Deciding to take the king's advice, the group followed him out of Fort Shivercrest, and into The Snowflake.

As soon as the fort exploded, the ship was already sailing through the snow, and towards Port Greenhold again. In the medical room, Ruby was awake again, and worriedly looking at her dad, who was lying in bed, now unconscious due to blood loss.

"Please, Daddy... please be okay..." She said through tears, as she lowered her head on her dad's chest; sobbing heavily.

Pinkie looked concernedly at the little filly, before walking up to her, and wrapping her right arm around Ruby's shoulders. "It's okay... he's gonna be fine! I may not know him as good as you, but as far as I can tell, he's probably too hardheaded to let a wound keep him down!"

Ruby chuckled slightly at Pinkie's comment, before looking up at her. "That... does sound like him... doesn't it?"

Suddenly, an unexpected realization hit Pinkie Pie, once she got a good look at Ruby's appearance. "Wait a minute... are you an... Alicorn?!"

Ruby sighed, before shrugging her shoulders. "I don't even know, anymore... I mean, everyone else says that I am, but... I wasn't always an Alicorn, to be honest. I wasn't even from this world... and neither was Daddy, here."

Pinkie's surprised expression turned into a concerned one again. "Oh... yeah, your Daddy told me that you both weren't from around here... but he did let me know how much you mean to him... and that he would even carry you to the other end of the world, if that's what it would take to get you home safely."

"... And back, if necessary..." a groggy voice grumbled from the bed.

With wide eyes, both Pinkie and Ruby looked at Justin, who had one eye opened, and a weak smile plastered on his face... along with a few plasters.

Disregarding the obvious injuries, Ruby quickly squeezed Justin's neck firmly, and then cheered, "DADDY! YOU'RE OKAY!"

Justin groaned in pain the second Ruby made contact, but weakly chuckled shortly after, as she released her grip and looked away; her cheeks turning red, and her expression; a sheepish smile.

"It'll take more than a sick-minded Minotaur to put me six feet under..." The two ponies stared at him with confusion. "...to kill me." Then they nodded their heads in understanding.

Ruby weakly smiled at him, and then said, "I knew you would save me, Daddy... because I love you!"

Justin shook his head, and then replied, "You could've hated me, and I still would've saved you... because you're my daughter... and for that, it's because I love you... not the other way around."

The group chuckled lightly, as the others smiled at the reunited family. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity... the father and daughter were reunited.

Season 2: Complete!

One week has passed since the events at Fort Shivercrest. Justin, Ruby, Pinkie Pie, Gilda, Gilded Blade, Stealth Paws, Swift Justice, Zero Gravity, Zula, Thor'lok, and even King Goldheart were on a ship that was due to take them to Drakensonia.

As they boarded, however, Justin noticed that they were circling the the island; headed slightly off from the directions that they were supposed to take. "Um... King Goldheart, isn't Drakensonia supposed to be that way?"

King Goldheart nodded his head, and then looked over the railings of the ship. At this time, everyone was looking on in confusion, as well. "I know... but if I am to leave my kingdom for the time being, I must ensure the safety of all of them... and to do that, I feel like we should check the other side, first... make sure no other outposts were set up in my absence."

Justin nodded his head. "True... good call. Y'know... you're a good king... but now, I think you're a great friend." With a smile, Justin held his right hand out, which caused King Goldheart to chuckle heartily, before shaking his head in response.

"Can't say you're the first to claim me a friend... but you surely are the first to give the proper handshake!" Then he walked towards the dining area of the ship, with Justin following him shortly after.

Inside the Dining area, Justin noticed Gilded Blade and Zero talking to each other about something in the backgrounds, while Swift Justice sat between them; trying to flirt with Zula, who rolled her eyes occasionally. On another side, Thor'lok and Ruby were... playing "patty cake" with each other. Justin would've objected that kind of behavior, had it not been made clear that Thor'lok was apparently raised lacking knowledge on romance... and as such, he was more of an overgrown child, which Justin felt Ruby should be able to socialize with... with proper supervision, of course.

Then King Goldheart filled a pair of mugs with, what appeared to be, a red juice of some sort. "Don't worry, Justin... it isn't a salted beverage, so it's safe for kids, too." Giving the counter a few hard knocks, he managed to get the attention of the entire room. "First off, I know this may seem sudden, but... I would like to give a toast to our valiant success one week ago, in the rescue of my kingdom!" Then he raised his mug in the air, while everyone else raised their mugs on the tables that were set out for them. They, of course, were told not to drink any of it until given instructions.

"Now, I know some of us might not be thirsty at this time, but I insist... we all must need some refreshments, after such a hard week of recovery, eh?"

Justin chuckled lightly, before shrugging his shoulders. "Well... it smells like Grape Juice, so... sure, why not?" Then he raised his mug in the air, and said, "For victory!"

"Victory!" The others said in unison, before they all took a sip of their drinks.

At first, things seemed normal. Then, after a few moments of silence, the group started falling on the tables, one-by-one. Justin's vision started to blur, as he looked around in confusion, before noticing King Goldheart standing there; his drink untouched.

"W-what... what's going..." Justin began, before falling onto the counter; grasping onto it with his left hand. He then let out a gasp as he heard Goldheart let out a light chuckle.

"Please do understand, friend... it is for the good of my kingdom." Then he snapped his right finger, as the doors to the dining area opened up.

From outside, a large group of figures dressed in Black Wing uniforms walked into the room; picking up the adventurers, and carrying them out, as Justin's blurred vision focused from Ruby to King Goldheart. "Y-you... you... traitor!" He mumbled, before his vision completely darkened.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Uh-oh! I bet NOBODY expected that one, huh? Honestly, when I said that Season 2 will be longer, I meant it! We didn't even scratch the surface of what The Highlands has to offer! :ajsmug:

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and expect another one eventually! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually! (And hopefully soon, too!)

Season 2, Episode 10: The Experiment Wakes, Part 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Season 2, Episode 11: Tales of a Forgotten Child

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 11

Tales of a Forgotten Child

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With the rumors spreading wide of a fourth Alicorn existing, many more threats begin to lurk in the dark alleys of the world. Through countless streets in many dangerous cities, the crime rates have seemingly gone up, as more guards begin to lose their lives by the hands of overwhelming criminals... but that isn't the only thing that those guards lost their lives over. With the only known Alicorns existing in Equestria, the ponies soon find themselves in even more dangerous situations, as rumors turn to local tales in the taverns of their rulers hiding something from the world... something that COULD be a hidden weapon of war, should anything happen.

On the top of the mountains of The Highlands, things begin to get more challenging as Swift Justice, the son of their tyrant king, Goldheart, wakes up in a cage hanging over a dangerous-looking fall from the top of the mountain. In the same cage, Gilda slowly wakes up equally confused.

"Please... don't tell me... we were ambushed?" Gilda groggily asked Swift; who slowly stood up in the golden cage, and nodded his head.

"Unfortunately... it would seem that my father has... betrayed us all..." he replied with a sigh.

That statement caused Gilda's eyes to widen, before her expression turned into a glare. "Y... YOUR BUCKING FATHER DID THIS?!" She shouted; causing her voice to echo through the distant mountains. When she noticed the situation they were in, she gulped. "Wait... where are we?!"

Swift looked around again, before replying, "It would appear that we're in a... trap."

This caused Gilda to deadpan at him. "No... really? I would never have guessed that, Mr. Starswirl."

Swift deadpanned at her in response. "Well sorry! Kinda figured a featherbrain like you would've figured that one out!"

The second he finished his sentence, however, he found himself pinned to the ground by none other than Gilda who, by the looks of her expression, showed a sense of rage that he thought could literally make a Dragon wet itself out of fear.

Then, in a venomous voice, Gilda whispered to him, "Don't... you bucking... call... me that... again! UNDERSTOOD?!"

With a gulp, Swift nodded his head nervously, causing her death glare to remain on her face; yet she crawled off of him, and just sat there. "Sheesh... you didn't have to get aggressive like that, y'know... what do you have against that word, anyway? I haven't seen you get that pissed off back in Fort Shivercrest; even against the Black Wings!"

She huffed, before retorting, "Why the buck should I tell you, exactly?!" Before he could reply, she raised her right claw, and added, "Ah, buck it. Ya know what? I'm a bucking mercenary, so... I bet you could figure out why I'm the top of my class easily, if you put two and two together."

Swift hummed for a moment, before nodding his head. "Well... if you're the top mercenary... and you gave me a look that pretty much says that you want to brutally kill me because I called you feather-" He stopped himself once she looked his way again; the glare intensifying. "-that... bad word that I'm sorry for calling you, by the way... then that must mean..." Then he snapped his right fingers, and stated, "You must've been called that back in your fledgelinghood... and it was that word that made you the most skilled killer of the mercenaries!"

Slowly, Gilda started clapping her claws together... slowly, and in an unimpressed manner. "About damn time someone got the picture. So... ya don't wanna call me that anymore, huh?"

Swift waved his hands defensively, smiled sheepishly, and replied nervously. "N-nope! I'm alright with remaining alive, thank you very much!"

Gilda's expression finally changed into a weak, sly smile. "Good... then maybe you can quit buckin' around, and figure out a way outta this mess!"

With a sigh, Swift looked around the cage, and then replied, "Sorry to say this, G, but... this cage isn't just an ordinary one. It's been sealed off by a magic spell. The only way to open it would be to use a certain spell from an outside force."

Silence followed his last statement. Slowly, though, Gilda started to growl, until she slammed her right talon on the bottom of the cage. "DAMN IT!" She then shouted, before glaring at Swift. "WHY THE BUCK DID YOUR FATHER EVEN DO THIS?! AND WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US THAT HE WAS GONNA BE A BUCKING TRAITOR?!"

Swift glared back at her and replied in an annoyed tone, "Because I didn't know! Why do you think I'm in here, too?!"

More silence followed his statement.

Letting out a sigh, Gilda sat back down and placed her claws over her forehead. Then she looked up at him and asked, "So... what exactly did you do to cause him to treat you like this?"

Letting out a smirk, Swift replied, "I wish I could tell you that... but even I can't give you an exact answer..."

Gilda thought for a moment, before asking, "Then start from the beginning. What was it like growing up for you?" Swift looked up at her and was about to ask her something, but she already beat him to the point, and added, "I mean... if we're gonna die here, we might as well know who we're gonna die with, after all."

With a sigh, Swift nodded his head. "Alright, then... but I'll go on ahead and tell you that if you get bored of my story, feel free to stop me, so I don't make your ears bleed. Deal?"

Gilda nodded her head. "Deal."

With that, Swift took a deep breath, and began his story.

"It all started like this..."

Fifteen Years Ago...

Swift Justice was just five years old when he started training to become an Elite Knight. He was raised in a broken family; his mother having already died at his birth. His father, however, was as loving of a father as anyone could ever ask for.

His motivation for becoming an Elite was shortly after witnessing a pair of Elite Knights stopping a Minotaur from attacking a defenseless Earth Pony. Swift saw the Knights defeat the Minotaur without even bringing up much of a fight. One swing from the Minotaur's fists, and the next thing he knew, he was flipped onto the ground, and cuffed before he even landed.

With those thoughts running through his head, Swift exercised absurd amounts every passing day. It was when he was eight when his newly crowned father noticed him in the garden; kicking a boulder.

His father, at first, was wondering why his son was kicking the boulder, until he noticed the other half of the boulder, where his son was kicking it. His eyes then grew wide, as the boulder's other half was dented with clear hoof-prints covering the entire surface. He even gasped at the numbers that his son was panting after each kick.

"Four hundred, forty nine thousand and one..." *KICK* "Four hundred, forty nine thousand and two..." *KICK* "Four hundred, forty nine thousand and three..." For the next few hours, he continued to watch his son, who didn't even stop for a break between each number.

"Four hundred, forty nine thousand, nine hundred, and ninety eight..." *KICK* "Four hundred, forty nine thousand, nine hundred, and ninety nine..."

"What are you doing?" Goldheart asked; catching Swift off-guard, and causing him to miss the boulder and land on his flank.

"EEK! Father?!" Swift shrieked before landing on the ground. "What are you doing here?!"

His father chuckled before replying, "Just wondering why in Celestia's Green Earth you're sculpting a statue with your bare hooves!"

Swift's cheeks turned red at that statement as he looked over at the boulder's countless kick marks. "I'm... not really sculpting, father... I'm just... practicing..."

Goldheart tilted his head in confusion. "Practicing? Practicing for what, my son?"

"W-well..." Swift began, until he stood upright, and saluted his father. "I'm practicing to become an Elite Knight, Your Majesty!"

Goldheart stood there silently, until his mouth formed a smile. Then the smile curled up, until he started chuckling. After mere moments of chuckling, he finally burst out in hysterical laughter.

Swift, however, stood back up and sighed. "I know, father... I'm technically a prince now, and have more rights, but..." he then curled his right fist, and held it up in the air with a serious expression on his face. "I still want to do something for the people of your kingdom! I want to become a hero, instead of sit around in a throne room! I want to see the world... and I want my name to be known across the lands, as one of the greatest heroes around!"

Goldheart's laughter didn't stop, though... much to Swift's annoyance. "What's so funny, father? Do you think I can't do it?"

Goldheart finally managed to stop his laughter, but his smile was still on his face. "That is correct! I think you can't do it!"

Swift then glared at him. "W-WHAT?! Why can't I-" Swift was quickly silenced by Goldheart covering his mouth with his hand.

"But... just because I don't think you can... doesn't mean you can't do it! That's why, from this day forth, I will train you to become an Elite Knight!" King Goldheart's words echoed through Swift's mind, and made his glare quickly turn into a wide, toothy grin.

"Really? R... REALLY?!"

Then Goldheart raised his right pointing finger up. "But... on one condition!"

Swift stood up again, and saluted. "Yes, sir! Anything for you, Your Majesty!"

"Two, then... one, you will still address me as 'Father'. I don't want you to grow up thinking I'm not!"

Swift nodded his head, and smiled. "Yes, sir! And the other thing, Your M-err... Father?"

Goldheart's smile instantly turned into a serious one. "You will have to prove me wrong someday... that will be your final test, in fact."

Swift nodded his head. "H-how will I know when I'm ready, though?"

Goldheart thought for a moment, before snapping his right fingers. "I know!" Then he reached his hands around the golden belt he wore, and pressed the button in the center of it, causing it to fall. Before it could reach the ground, however, he caught it in midair, and gently placed it on the ground; between his son and himself. "Get used to the weight of this belt, son... when you can lift it, I want you to practice with it on every single day! And then, whenever the weight of the belt becomes something you're familiar with, I want you to tell me that it's time to finish what we started!"

Swift stared at the belt, and smirked. "Really? That's it?" Then he reached down and attempted to lift the belt. The only problem, however, was that he couldn't even make it budge. "What the-"

Goldheart then chuckled again, before patting his son's mane. "You still have a long way to go, son... but you'll get there, someday!" With that, the king left his son to continue his training. "When you are ready, I will have a meal waiting for you, my son."

"Four hundred and fifty thousand!" Swift began, before nodding his head. "Y-yes, sir!" Then he continued kicking the boulder throughout that day.

Later on that night...

King Goldheart searched the halls of the castle for any signs of his son, but to no avail. Then he turned to a pair of maidens and asked, "Has anyone seen my son?"

The maiden on the left shook her head and replied, "I haven't seen him get his lunch, Your Majesty!"

The king nodded his head and turned towards the gardens. There, he headed towards the boulder, and stopped in place. Then his mouth formed a weak smile. "Oh, Swift... what will I ever do with you, boy?"

He then chuckled at the sight of his son, who was sleeping... on his hooves. His forehead was rested on the rock, and his eyes were closed. He lightly snored as well, with a bubble hanging from his nostrils.

Goldheart shook his head with a smile before walking up to his son. Then he lifted him off the ground, and carried the young prince to his own bedroom; leaving the door slightly cracked open so he could hear him from his own room across the hallway. "Sleep well, my son... for you have a lot of work ahead of you." With that, he went into his own bedroom and rested on his bed. After just a few minutes, he slowly drifted off into a deep sleep.

Four Years Later...

Swift, now seventeen years old, stood tall and proudly, as his father drew his sword and gently placed it on both of Swift's shoulders. "Swift Justice... not only have you been training for this day, but you have also proven that you can face fear itself; having slain the ogre that nearly took a merchant's family away!"

Swift smiled as he heard the sound of applause behind his back. "And you have also proven yourself worthy of wearing the belt that I have left for you, as well! The 'Belt of Kings'... considered the heaviest belt in the world... and even with that on as a burden, you have proven that you can endure great challenges, and yield even greater results! That is why, from this day forth, I hereby declare you, an Official Elite Knight!"

More crowds began to cheer, as Swift looked down, and smiled at the belt that he was finally able to wear properly... the golden buckle in the center even looked like it shined for a brief moment.

Present Day...

"And after that, there really wasn't much left. I was sent to guard Druid Lake in Druathica a few months ago, and the rest... well, it's history." Swift finished, before looking down at his belt, and sighing.

Gilda hummed to herself, before nodding her head. "So I guess your father's change must've hit ya the hardest then, huh?"

Swift nodded his head again. "Yeah... and to be honest, I didn't really think I'd have to face him like... well, like this... if you know what I mean?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I hear you." Then she turned to her right and asked, "Hey... so what do you think will happen now?"

Before she could even get an answer, the sound of the front of the gate unlocking could be heard. When the two of them faced the gate, they gasped at the sight of Zula standing on the side of the mountain. "Zula! What the- where did you come from?!" Swift asked, before noticing three familiar figures standing next to her; the Diamond Dog named Topaz Claw, the Slithian, and the female Minotaur that worked alongside the Slithian.

"Topaz Claw!" Swift said while facing the Diamond Dog. Then he turned towards the Slithian and added, "Sand Barrier!" After addressing the Slithian, he turned to the Minotaur and addressed her, before turning to the other three. "Storm Light! You're all okay?!"

Zula nodded her head before replying, "Yes, Swift Justice... and I see we are on time, as well!"

Swift nodded his head and stepped from the gate. Then, with a loud bang, Storm's rifle blew the gate off, and dispelled the magic lock from it.

Swift then turned to Gilda and motioned for her to leave the cage first. "Ladies first, after all."

With a smug smile, Gilda nodded her head. "Y'know, ya ain't half bad, when ya treat a girl like a guy should." Then she stretched her wings and flew to the other group.

Swift chuckled lightly before moving towards the other end of the cage. Then, in one swift leap, he quickly landed next to the group, and joined them.

"So... where do we go from here?" Zula asked Topaz.

Topaz shrugged his shoulders before replying, "Now, we need to go find the others, of course! They've been scattered around the city... but since they know our faces, we'll have to stick to the shadows... and so, we'll need to figure out a way to locate them without being seen!"

"Then perhaps we could be of assistance?" Came an unknown male's voice from behind the group.

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 12: The Great Gathering, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 12

The Great Gathering

|PART ONE|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

"To get a greater view of the future, one must have a firm grasp of the past."

-Starswirl the Bearded-

As soon as the rest of the group was taken out of the ship, Goldheart turned towards the rest of the Black Wings, and sighed. "Well? What are you waiting for? I didn't pay you all to just sit there and admire the scenery!"

The group of pirates gulped and gave him a salute. "S-sorry, Your Majesty! We'll bring you to port right away, sir!"

Goldheart nodded his head. "Good." Then he turned towards the unconscious human. "I want this one to be in the same area as the Alicorn. Apparently, worrying about her will only make him stronger... so when she's there with him, he won't be as much of a problem to deal with."

"And what of your son?" The two who carried Swift Justice asked.

Goldheart stared at Swift for a long moment, before huffing. "I don't have a son."

With a nod, the two of them picked Swift up again, and locked him in the golden cage that also carried Gilda. Then they lifted the cage up, and started carrying it onto their ship, while Goldheart lowered to the ground next to Justin. After that, he lifted Justin's 'Shimmerwood Staff' up from the clip it was rested in on Justin's belt, and began chanting an incomprehensible spell on it. Through each word he chanted, he placed his right hand on the staff, then on Justin's forehead, then back again. Each time he finished a word, the staff began to glow a light blue color, and following it, Justin's entire body, until he finished chanting the spell.

As soon as he finished with the spell, he then placed the staff in Justin's saddlebag, and sighed. "I... only hope you will understand... please... take care of my... son..." he said with a saddened frown. Then, after closing his eyes once more, his saddened expression turned into a menacing glare, as he walked out of the ship's dining quarters. At the same moment he left, a group of Minotaurs came it to pick the unconscious human up off the ground, and into a cloth bag.

Fort Black Wing Ruins | Druathica

Within the center of the area surrounded by burnt, broken down walls, Software Patch stood upright; scanning the area for any clues on the whereabouts of the fourth Alicorn. Nightshade, on the other hand, inspected the burnt and mutilated corpses of the pirates that were scattered across the entire fort.

Meanwhile, from the outskirts of the fortress, Heavenly Quill stood with his back facing the wall. Tucked in his right arm, he held a notepad, while in his right hand, he held his quill.

He felt the sweat drip from his brow at the sight of the entire area. "And here I was starting to hope there would be less things to give me nightmares..." Quill thought to himself, before he noticed a foreign shadow stand over him. Just the sight of the shadow caused the pupils of his eyes to shrink, and his jaw to slightly drop.

After turning around to face the shadow, he was greeted by none other than Nightshade who, by the looks of it, didn't like Quill observing him from afar.

"Who are you, and why are you spying on us?" Nightshade asked as his eyes glowed red; creating a red spectral sword that floated between them in the process, with its blade angled towards Quill.

Nervously, Quill replied, "Please! I mean you no harm!"

The blade only inched closer to Quill's neck, as Nightshade retorted, "That doesn't answer my question... who are you, and why are you spying on us?!"

Quill closed his eyes and curled up against the wall; hoping to survive the situation he was in.

As if by a stroke of luck, Software Patch appeared between the two and gripped Nightshade's spectral sword with his Wyvern hand. "My scanners indicate that he is no threat, Nightshade." Then he turned towards Quill and asked, "Though we do request that you explain why you are here."

Quill sat there silently for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Alright, then... I was sent here by Princess Celestia to investigate some sort of 'Forth Alicorn'... and I was also informed that this Alicorn's reading came from a source of immense power... and by immense, she noted 'could pose a threat' as a description in the letter."

Software stood there silently for a moment, until he smiled. "Well rest assured, my friend... I shall aid you on your quest." Then he also added, "Unfortunately, though, Nightshade will have to depart from us after we find the Forth Alicorn."

"Thank you, Celestia!" Quill thought, before nodding his head. "Thank you, Mr... um..."

Software extended his right arm (the Wyvern half) for Quill to take. When Quill took it, he also stretched his Fox arm towards Nightshade, who in turn, took it. "Charge is complete... now arriving in The Highlands in five... four... three... two... one..." In the blink of an eye, the three travelers vanished within a flash of light.

"Come on! Wake up!" Those were the words that Zero Gravity first heard, prior to the darkness that surrounded him being lifted from his eyesight. Then, once he was aware of the surroundings, Zero looked around, and noticed the filly that he rescued from before.

"W-what's going..." Zero began, only to be cut off by the sound of guards yelling something in the distance... something incomprehensible.

"Hurry! You have to save your friends!" The filly called out, before being picked up by her parents.

Zero quickly turned towards the guards, then back at the filly, before nodding his head and lifting himself off the ground, and back on his hooves.

"Alright, then..." Zero began, before drawing his Ninjato Sword from the sheath on his back, "let's make this quick."

He crouched into a fighting stance, and braced himself for a battle... but as soon as the soldiers, or in this case, "Black Wing" soldiers could reach the end of the alley that they were coming from, a blinding light appeared between the two separate alleys; causing all the people around it to shield their eyes.

Whenever he was able to see again, Zero uncovered his eyes and gasped at the three mysterious figures that appeared from out of nowhere. "What the..."

From high on top of a distant guard's tower, a pair of Diamond Dogs were examining Port Greenhold for any signs of hostility. When they saw the light in the distance, they smirked. "Looks like the Weasels found 'em!" one of the two Diamond Dogs said to the other.

The other one nodded his head and replied, "Indeed... perhaps now, we can... wait, do you hear something?"

As soon as the two of them turned around, another blinding light appeared in the center of the tower; causing the two to shriek in terror before falling off the edges to their deaths.

From that light appeared Software Patch, Nightshade, and Heavenly Quill. The three of them looked around the area, until Software nodded his head. "Teleport complete... Location: Port Greenhold of The Highlands. Estimated-"

Before Software could finish his sentence, Nightshade covered his mouth and whispered, "Shh! Do you want us to get caught?!"

Software shook his head and replied, "Negative."

Quill just stood there silently, until he spotted a trio of sets of Horse Armor; each of which possessed by magic orbs in the centers. "Hey, guys... you might want to look at that!"

Software and Nightshade both looked from each other to Quill, then towards where he was pointing. When they saw the Armored Golems, they nodded their heads.

Software then said, "Scanners indicate that they are hostile towards the Alicorn. Estimated difficulty up close: Mediocre."

As soon as Software said that, the crystals on his shoulders began to glow brightly; slowly materializing a pair of cannons on his hands. "Estimated chance of victory... ninety percent."

Nightshade shrugged his shoulders before flying up in the air, and towards the three Armored Golems.

From the blistering cold corners of the ice-filled mountains, a large Rock Golem effortlessly climbed. While climbing, it spoke in the common tongue.

"Almost there, my mistress... but are you sure that this is the right way?" It asked.

A monotonous female's voice replied from on his back, "Yes, Boulder... we are getting close. I can sense it."

The Rock Golem, now known as Boulder, raised his right thumb up. "Very well, then... let us see what we have up here!" After placing his left stone hand over what looked like his headless chest, he chuckled. "Well, it would appear that you were right again! I can see a group of travelers who need our help!"

The female's voice replied, "Indeed. Then let's go see what we can do... but be careful, though."

Boulder replied, "I always am, my mistress!" With that, he continued onward towards the group.

As soon as the group managed to escape the cage, Boulder and the mysterious female stood behind them and listened to their conversation; the female standing on top of Boulder's headless shoulders.

The Diamond Dog of the group shrugged his shoulders, and then stated to the others, "Now, we need to go find the others, of course! They've been scattered around the city... but since they know our faces, we'll have to stick to the shadows... and so, we'll need to figure out a way to locate them without being seen!"

Clearing his throat, Boulder replied, "Then perhaps we could be of assistance?"

At once, the group of stray travelers looked at the Rock Golem, and then at the female who stood on top of him. "Who are you?" The armored Horse asked, before looking up at the female.

The female leaped from the top of Boulder's shoulders to the snowy floor, revealing her appearance.

She was a gray-coated Earth Pony with an even darker gray colored mane brushed neatly over her brows. She wore a dark blue frock over her chest that lowered down to her knees, and below it she wore a black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of black pants. On her hands, she wore a pair of black gloves, and on her hooves, she wore a pair of dark blue boots that matched her frock. Over her shout, she wore a black rag. Over her mane, her frock's custom-tailored hood covered most of her face.

As soon as she was in their eyesight, she lowered her hood and rag, stretched her right hand towards the Rock Golem, and then replied, "This is Boulder," she then placed her right hand on her chest, "my name is Maud Pie... and I'm looking for Pinkie Pie... my younger sister."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

A QUICK HEADS-UP!

The event that Heavenly Quill was referring to... It was the death of his parents.
It was somewhere in "Tragic Beginnings".

ANNOUNCEMENT

Uh-oh! Here comes a new member! This time, a character from the Main Series!

Please welcome to the team... Maud Pie!

Season 2, Episode 13: The Great Gathering, Part 2

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 13

The Great Gathering

|PART TWO|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

Across the kingdom known as The Highlands, tension continues to build up. More battles begin to spread across the mighty kingdom... and within these battles, new heroes begin to rise to the challenge to find the "Fourth Alicorn".

Far away from these incidents, in the capital city of The Highlands; "Diamond Peak", the tyrant king sits on his throne, and observes his two prisoners who are trapped in a cage, under the effects of a sleep poison that can only be undone by a spell... and locked inside of the cage with a spell that can only be broken by an artifact that he carries.

King Goldheart sat on his throne, listening to his advisers' suggestions for his next plan of action. His right fist was balled up, and his right cheek was scrunched on top of it, with his elbow rested on the golden throne with a red cushion.

"I say we scatter our forces across the lands! Make it so they don't have a chance at escaping!" one of the advisers said.

Another one retorted, "Nonsense! Have you not seen what they are capable of?! We should only focus on the main areas, so our numbers don't deteriorate slowly!"

The last one countered, "So let more of them die at once, and allow us a quicker death?!"

"SILENCE! ALL OF YOU!" King Goldheart roared through the entire room. At once, the entire room grew silent. Mere moments after the room grew silent, however, a weak feminine groan could be heard from overhead.

From deep within the lowest parts of the dungeon, Pinkie Pie was chained to the walls again. She was being guarded by a pair of Minotaurs dressed in Black Wings outfits; a black sleeveless leather vest with a pair of red outlines that were shaped like a pair of wings that spread out, and black leather pants with the same emblem on the left side of the thighs.

As grim as the situation was, however, they quickly came to realize just how much of a mistake it was to choose to guard this one...

"So yeah! That was the story of how I got my Cutie Mark! Boy, was it a huge day for my family and me! Hey! Would you like to hear what happened at that party? I'm sure you'll really want to hear about it, if you were a fan of how I got my Cutie Mark! You see, it all started when-"

The Minotaur on the right side of the jail cell had his ears cuffed inside his hands, and was looking at the other one on the opposite end. "Someone get this thing to shut up!" He groaned.

The other one, however, shook his head. "Don't look at me! My orders were to stay out here and keep watch!"

From inside the same cell, however, a chuckle could be heard. There, chained on the same wall, was Thor'lok. He was giggling at Pinkie Pie's story. "Ooh! Thor'lok enjoying the story! Please tell more!"

Pinkie Pie nodded her head with a smile. "Okie Dokie Loki! So anyways, my Pappy Pie wasn't much on smiling, but when he saw my party, it was almost like he's never even seen one before!"

The Minotaur on the right groaned again. "Why did we even sign up to guard the idiots of the group, exactly?!" he silently asked himself.

The other one, however, decided that enough was enough, so he turned around and opened the gate. Before the other one could ask what he was doing, he shushed him and said, "If anyone asks... they tried to escape."

At that statement, Pinkie's eyes widened. "H-hey! What are you talking about? Are you trying to help us escape?"

The Minotaur froze in place with the gate halfway opened at that point. "What? No! I'm trying to-"

"Because if you are, then wouldn't that mean that you're betraying your king? Or maybe you're a good guy in disguise! Or are you even a guy? Hey! Is that you, Twilight? Did you cast some sort of illusion spell on yourself?" Pinkie began to continue rambling on, causing both Minotaurs to cover their ears and growl.

Finally, the first one to speak (the one that was stepping into the room) shouted, "SHUT THE BUCK UP!"

That statement caused the room to grow silent, until he stepped into the room and slammed the gate shut. "I'm not gonna save you, you annoying little Pony..." he drew his scimitar, and pointed it towards her, "I'm gonna cut your bucking TONGUE out!"

Pinkie gasped at that statement, before a worried look grew on her face. "W-wait! You don't want to threaten me like that!"

The Minotaur ignored her statement and drew dangerously closer; now with a menacing smile on his face.

"N-no! Really! You don't want to know what happens when... when..." Suddenly, Pinkie's heart rate began to build up. Her pupils then started to shrink, and her irises began to grow darker... followed by her coat and mane altogether. As soon as the darker shade reached her mane and tail, the two of them instantly deflated, and her worried expression dropped into a demented glare.

Then, in a lower tone, she smiled at the Minotaur who stopped in place, and said, "Alright then, tough guy... do it!"

The Minotaur raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head in confusion at the mare's sudden change of personality. Then he shrugged his shoulders and continued towards Pinkie Pie.

When he was within reach, he said, "Alright, then... you asked for it!" With that, he lifted his scimitar back, and sliced horizontally; aimed at her throat.

In the center of Port Greenhold, Zero Gravity held his Ninjato Sword in a defensive position; both hands on the handle, with the blade lifted up, and tilted forward diagonally. Directly in front of him was a suit of horse-shaped armor with a glowing blue orb in the center of its chest. Next to it were two other ones.

Considering the size difference between a Pony and a Horse, they towered over Zero by at least two feet. The size and numbers, however, didn't scare Zero at all.

Finally, after a moment of staring, the front Armored Golem charged after him, and swung both fists downward, while Zero angled his sword to catch the gauntlets.

Before any contact could be made on Zero's sword, however, a pair of talons caught the gauntlets from over the Golem's shoulders. Looking up, Zero gasped at the sight of an unknown creature shaped like a six-foot-tall bird, with a human-like face.

Nightshade looked down at the confused Pegasus Pony, and said, "Don't worry, we're here to help."

Then, from directly behind him, the other two Golems attempted to strike him with their fists, only for the one behind Nightshade's right shoulder to get blasted by a white ball of light with blue electricity surrounding it; and for the one behind Nightshade's left shoulder to be caught by another Armored Golem that glowed a light blue color.

Zero then looked towards a nearby market stall, and noticed Heavenly Quill sitting beside it with the quill from his hat, which was glowing green with a blue outline (the outline being the same color as the glowing Armored Golem), and a notebook opened in his left hand. Within the notebook, he was writing in an ancient, and long-lost language that none would understand. What he said, though, appeared to be verbs like "Attack", "Catch", "Defend", and a few others.

Without sparing another second, Zero quickly dashed towards the last two Armored Golems (excluding the one Quill controlled), and sliced through each of their chests; destroying the orbs in the process.

From the distant mountains in the far northern areas of The Highlands, Maud Pie, Boulder, Swift Justice, Zula, Topaz Claw, Storm Light, Sand Barrier, and Gilda all sat in Topaz's ship, "Snowflake". They were gathered in the Captain's Quarters, talking about the situation they were in.

"So wait... you mean to tell me that you are Pinkie Pie's older sister?!" Gilda asked in a shocked tone. Her eyes were wide at how different Maud Pie was, compared to the famous "Party Pony" that she knew of, and recently became friends with.

Maud looked at her emotionless, and replied with an equally emotionless tone, "Yes."

There was a moment of silence, until Swift hummed to himself. "Though I've only seen her briefly, I can't really see the resemblance... were one of you adopted, or something?"

Maud then looked at him and shook her head. "No."

Again, more silence.

Finally, Topaz was the one who decided to speak. "So... how did the two of you find us, exactly?"

Maud turned towards Boulder, and then explained her side of the story.

"I was in Atlantis when I felt it... the sense that one of my loved ones is in danger. To have a clearer view of who it was, I sent a letter to my parents in Equestria. They then told me that Pinkie Pie was, according to her friends from Ponyville, missing for a little over a month. So, I followed my senses, and traced her steps... which led me to you guys."

As soon as Maud finished her story, Swift and Gilda looked at each other confusedly. "Wait... you mean to tell me that... you sensed that she was in danger?" Gilda finally asked.

Maud nodded her head. "And sensed the locations that she's been. It's kinda like her sense, which foresees certain events before they happen. As for me, I sense when and where my family members are, and the situations that they are in at the present time."

The rest of the group, aside from Maud and Boulder, rubbed their heads in confusion. Then Swift decided to use that last statement as a vantage point. "So... how is she feeling right now?"

Maud closed her eyes, and hummed to herself... but then, her eyes shot open, and she let out a loud gasp, which caused the entire group to look at her worriedly.

Maud then stuttered, "S... she's..."

"Oh, no... don't tell me she's... dead?!" Gilda asked, only for Maud to shake her head.

"Worse... she's... angry." Maud replied.

Swift then raised an eyebrow out of confusion... followed by Gilda. Then Swift asked, "Wait... how is her being angry worse than her being dead?!"

Maud looked at him and, for the first time since they've seen her, she had a worried look on her face. Then, in a grim tone, she replied, "Because when she's angry, she won't hesitate to kill anyone that tries to throw a punch at her."

The group stared at her with wide eyes. "Wait... Pinkie? Kill?!" Gilda asked, before weakly chuckling. "You're kidding me, right? I've seen her in a battle before, but so far, I haven't even seen her kill a fly!"

The Minotaur that remained in front of the cell door backed away with his jaw wide open, as he just witnessed his co-worker who attempted to silence a certain pony with his scimitar end up getting said scimitar caught between Pinkie's teeth, disarmed, and then jammed deep inside his forehead by the pink mare, who then somehow managed to "slip" out of her bindings, and remove the scimitar from the Minotaur's forehead. Now, she was standing at the other side of the barred door, grinning dementedly at the frightened Minotaur.

"What's the matter? I thought you would enjoy me not talking! Did you not recall what my other side warned you of? Here, let me explain it for you!" She then reached behind her back, and pulled out a small blue box with a red button. Then she placed it on the ground and stepped on the button, causing the small box to glow, and levitate in front of her left hand, while the scimitar remained in her right hand. When the box made it to her palm, a rod projected out of it, and wrapped around her hand, until it formed a cylinder shape around her entire forearm. After that, a few electric antennas protruded from the center of her covered hand, and began to glow.

"When Pinkie goes away... Dianne comes to slay." As soon as she finished that sentence, the entire front wall that separated the cell from the main room was blasted out by the mysterious arm cannon that, somehow, used a large number of confetti to do so.

When the wall was completely removed, the Minotaur flew onto the back wall, and bumped his back on the opposite end, leaving a crack where the impact was made. Not taking any chances, however, he quickly stood back on his feet and drew his scimitar, then looked around nervously through the large number of dust that covered the entire room.

"Show yourself, you coward!" He shouted.

Suddenly, he heard a giggle behind his back, causing him to turn around, and swing blindly. Then, from his right ear, he heard Pinkie whisper, "Nice muscles you have there... perhaps I could make cupcakes with them!" He quickly swung his sword to his right, only to miss again, followed by more laughter.

"S-shut up! SHUT UP!" the Minotaur shouted, before swinging wildly in random directions where he thought he heard her laughter.

"Why? Are you getting... scared?" She asked him in his right hear once more.

This time, he swung at his left, only to miss yet again... but when he turned to the right, he screamed in fear when he saw her standing right next to him.

Back in Port Greenhold, Zero Gravity, Nightshade, Software Patch, and Heavenly Quill all gathered in the center, introducing themselves to each other. Zero, however, was surprised to see Heavenly Quill there, and likewise for Quill, for they both have already heard of one-another.

After giving Quill a firm handshake, Zero commented, "It's a surprise to see the one who wrote Princess Celestia's latest speech here... Heavenly Quill, right?"

Quill chuckled before replying, "Indeed, and you must be Zero Gravity! It's quite rare to find one who could take as bold a step as to guide a team of Pegasi to stop a wild tornado. By the way, I didn't see you there at the day of the speech... but the other members of the Manehatten Weather Team were there! Did something happen?"

Zero shrugged his shoulders before replying, "Eh, I was just in the mood for more adventure. I'm sure you can relate, being a traveling poet, and all that!"

Quill nodded his head. "Yes... but my reasons are actually a slight bit more different." Then he chuckled. "But it isn't something that should worry you, of all people!"

Zero nodded his head, before turning to Nightshade and Software Patch. "By the way, I'm Zero Gravity... thanks for your help, guys."

Nightshade nodded his head in response, while Software's arm cannons shifted back into his mismatched arms. Then he stretched his right arm out, and shook Zero's hand with a smile. "Software Patch... it is an honor to meet you, Mr. Zero Gravity."

Nightshade then said, "The name's Nightshade. Sorry, but that's all I can tell you."

Then Zero tilted his head in confusion, before his eyes went wide. "Wait... didn't I see you in that book? That little Pony's Tale about that 'Grimsley' creature?!"

Quill's eyes also went wide at that statement. "No wonder I thought you looked a little familiar! I remember reading that book a while back in Druathica!"

Nightshade sighed before nodding his head. "Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you kept your voices down. I don't like being seen in the public... and standing here isn't helping, either."

Before anyone could say another word, a blood-curdling scream echoed through the streets from the prison. Without even saying a word, the entire group rushed towards the prison and, after reaching it safely, ran down the stairs to find the source of the scream.

While they were headed down into the lower levels of the dungeon, they heard the sound of more screaming, blades clashing, blades going through flesh, bone, cloth, and armor, blood spewing on surfaces, and bodies thumping on either the furniture, the walls, the iron bars, the debris, the rocks, or the floor. Then, when they made it to the entrance, they saw a large pile of Minotaur limbs scattered across the room, ranging from heads to hooves, and everything in-between.

In the center of it all, they saw a Minotaur wearing a Black Wings outfit standing still in the center of the room, and a red-coated one that was still bound to the wall; alive and frightened with his eyes closed.

Then, the one that stood in the center of the room fell onto his back, which split from his torso, his arms, his legs, and his neck. There, they saw Pinkie Pie covered in the blood of her fallen enemies, and holding two scimitars in each hand; one reverse-grip stacked next to one that was held properly. In her mouth, she also held two scimitars; both of which had the sharp ends of the blades facing forward. In her tail, she held one in a similar manner to the stinger of a scorpion. The scimitar that her tail held was attached to a dismembered head when the group arrived.

Slowly sliding the scimitar from the head, she looked at the group with an unfazed demented stare, before walking towards them, still carrying her new weapons.

In an uncharacteristically dark, muffled voice (due to the two scimitars in her mouth), she said, "Free him, and meet me at the northern gate." Then she walked right past the group, who all stared at her in shock.

Then Zero turned towards the room, and noticed that Thor'lok opened his eyes. "Hold on, Thor'lok. We're here to help."

Thor'lok nodded his head, and chuckled. "Thor'lok thank friends!"

The next thing they knew, Thor'lok and the others were out of the dungeon, and on their way to the northern gate, only to find another unexpected group of travelers to show up.

When Pinkie Pie made it to the main entrance, she hummed to herself. "Huh... why am I getting the shudders? It's not that cold out here... unless..."

Whenever she made it to the front entrance, she stopped in place, and dropped all of her weapons when she saw the familiar face that walked in with the other familiar faces.

When Maud was close enough for ears' reach, she smiled at Pinkie, and said, "It's good to see you're okay, Pinkie Pie."

For a brief moment, Pinkie smiled at her older sister, until she noticed Topaz Claw, Storm Light, and Sand Barrier standing behind her. Then, Pinkie stomped on the ground, which sent the swords back in the air. While in the air, she caught each and every blade in a similar way to when she headed that way. "Get away from my sister, you bastards..." she growled through the blades in her mouth.

Swift, however, held his hands up defensively and said, "Don't worry, Pinkie! They're on our side!"

Pinkie continued to glare at the Diamond Dog, Minotaur, and Slithian, but nodded her head. "Okay, then..." She then spat the two scimitars that were in her mouth on the ground, and said, "But so help me, if you so much as try to back-stab us, then I'll see to it that each and every one of you, and any of your family members, are butchered into cupcakes, and served to the Manticores and Timberwolves! Understood?"

The entire group, save for Maud Pie, all stared at her with shocked expressions, while Topaz, Sand, and Storm all nodded their heads nervously. Pinkie then smiled at them and said, "Good... then you can start proving your worth by leading us to Justin and Ruby!"

Topaz nodded his head again. "From what I've overheard, they kept the two of them close by each other, so if we find one, then the other would more than likely be there, too!" Then he raised his right hand up, and added, "And as far as I could tell," he then pointed towards the northern gate, "he took them to his castle, in the capital city of The Highlands... Diamond Peak!"

Pinkie nodded her head and stomped the scimitars in her mouth again. "Good... then let's go!" With that, the entire group headed towards Diamond Peak, until Gilda stopped in place, and gasped.

"Wait... where's Gilded at?!" She asked in a panicked tone.

"You just had to be the one I'm stuck with, didn't you?" Gilded asked the Fox tied onto his back, while the two of them dangled loosely on the top of a massive mountaintop with a massive city that rested just overhead.

Stealth Paws groaned before replying, "Well, don't look at me, mate! I wasn't in charge of the operation that involved us getting captured!"

Gilded sighed before stating, "I don't think any of us were in charge of that one... I'll give you that." Then he hummed. "By the way... where are we?"

Stealth looked up, and grinned. "Crikey! It looks like we're in luck, after all!"

Gilded then tilted his head in confusion. "Luck? How so?"

Stealth chuckled and then replied, "Well, for starters... you're a Gryphon, so you can easily fly us out of this mess, once we find a way out of these ropes!"

Gilded nodded his head. "Yeah... and the location?"

With a wide smile, Stealth replied, "We, my dear friend, are in Diamond Peak... the capital city of The Highlands, and the location of the rat bastard that betrayed us!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Finally! Another chapter completed, and JUST in time for breakfast, too! :pinkiehappy:

Anyways, I'd like to remind you all that, if you haven't already, please feel free to comment, and remember to let me know if you'd like to see more!

(Not that I'd risk getting rid of THIS idea anytime soon! (This story is a personal favorite of mine to write, so there's no way I'm getting rid of it!)

As always, stay sharp, My Little Bronies! And remember... "If life gets you down, remember that, to get stronger in life, you have to get broken down first, so that there could be room for improvement! Then, you'll get rebuilt even stronger than last time!" :pinkiesmile:

Season 2, Episode 15: The Skirmish of Diamond Peak

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 15

The Skirmish of Diamond Peak

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With their focuses set to victory, two mighty opponents face off against each other. With this battle, however, there is one fact written in stone... only one Boulder shall survive.

While the two colossal titans of war battle outside the castle, however, another series of battles rise, as our heroes brawl through, not only a group of Black Wings, but an entire army of a corrupt king, in an effort to save their friends, and even some of their family.

The war bells have rung... and the Skirmish of Diamond Peak... has begun.

The tension has risen between the two mighty opponents that stood in the center of a battlefield... the front entrance of a massive golden castle. The opponents, of course were a gray Rock Golem with a massive headless torso, a pair of rocky arms, and a pair of rocky legs, with the top central area of his chest containing a light blue, glowing, round orb that shone brightly; and a Minotaur with a silver coat, and a black mane tied in a long ponytail over his back. On his chest, he wore a black t-shirt, and on his legs, he wore a pair of dark brown pants and a pair of black boots.

After a moment of the cold blizzard stirring up around them, the two made a mad dash towards each other, with the Minotaur taking a massive leap in the air, and the Golem lifting his arms up to counter the Minotaur's bash. The second the two collided, however, the ground below them began to shake, and in an instant, a mixture of snow and dirt covered the air within the entire area around them.

When the dirt and snow cleared up, the Minotaur laughed when he saw the Golem lying on the ground in pieces. "Well... that was easier than I thought! I'm beginning to wonder why your little 'mistress' had such faith in you to begin with!"

Suddenly, the Golem chuckled before replying, "Perhaps because I could do this."

"What?!" The Minotaur was able to say, before a large rock floated from behind him, and launched him in the air towards the Golem's torso and remaining left leg, only for the Minotaur to be punted up from the leg, while the rocks that scattered around the Golem re-attached in their proper joints.

Then the Golem stood back up the second the Minotaur landed on the ground, and raised his fists again. "A humorous attempt, ol' boy..." the orb formed a crescent shape before he continued, "but you'll have to hit harder that that, if you expect to break me down!"

The Minotaur glared at the Golem, before running towards him again. This time, however, he used less powerful, but slightly swifter, attacks, while the Golem managed to deflect each attack, and attempt counter-thrusts, which the Minotaur, in turn, blocked, and shortly followed with counter-thrusts of his own, which resulted in more blocks and counter-thrusts from the Golem, and vice versa.

From inside the dungeons of the tower in the castle, Limestone and Marble sat down, and grumbled at the binds they were in. Then, once they heard the explosion outside, then checked and, sure enough, the first thing they saw was their butler, Boulder. "Oh, no! Boulder's out there, and he really needs our help!" Limestone cried.

Marble grumbled before she sat on the cold stone floor, and began looking around the area. Then she said in her naturally tomboyish accent, "I don't think there's much we can do right now, Limestone. Besides, we kinda have ta figure out ah own mess, first."

Limestone sighed before sitting down on the cold stone floor next to her sister. Then, with a nod, she meekly replied in her high-pitched accent, "Yeah... you're right... if only we didn't have these shackles on, maybe we could do something... guess all we can do is wait."

Then they sat there for another few minutes, listening to the action going on outside their cell. With a sigh, they just sat there quietly for more silent minutes.

Eventually, out of sheer boredom, Limestone started jingling the chains that her hands and hoover were bound to... for well over five minutes. Within each passing minute, however, Marble's expression turned from bored to plain annoyed, and then eventually, angry.

Finally, once the five minutes were up, Marble shouted, "UGH! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" Then she angrily slammed the chains on the ground, causing a few of the rocks to start cracking. This, of course, caused her eyes to widen.

Limestone also noticed, and stopped jingling the chains. "Marble! You're a bucking genius!" Then she felt a hand slap her on the back of the head. "Ow! HEY!"

"Language, Limestone! You're only seventeen!" Marble complained.

Limestone, in turn, glared back at her. "So?! You use that language all the bucking time!"

Again, Marble popped her sister in the back of the head. "Yeah! Cuz I'm twenty, dumbass!"

Limestone, at this point, glared at her sister even more before swinging her fists out of frustration. Marble, due to her gymnastic capabilities, managed to dodge it in time, while Limestone's arms swished over her, and hit the metal bars.

The second they hit the bars, however, the bars bent dramatically out of shape, causing both of their eyes to widen. Then, Limestone looked at her arms and smiled triumphantly, as her bindings were no longer attached to her wrists, but rather, on the ground in two pieces. "YES! I'M FREE!" Limestone shouted, only to notice the main door to the jail cells burst open, and a group of three Minotaurs run inside; each holding spears and shields, and aiming them straight at their prisoners. "BUCKING TARTARUS!" she yelled, only to get slapped in the back of the head by Marble again. "STOP HITTING ME, MARBLE!"

"WELL QUIT YA BUCKING CURSING, AND MAYBE I WILL!" Marble retorted, while the guards looked at each other and raised their spears up, while scratching the backs of their heads.

"HEY! I CAN BUCKING CURSE WHEN I BUCKING WANT, ALRIGHT?!" Then she lightly shoved her sister's ribs with her hands, causing Marble to stumble back a few steps, and the guards' eyes to widen, as the sisters feuded.

"WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET HOME!" Marble then shoved Limestone in the ribs, causing her to stumble back a few times. A few of the guards began to chuckle in the background, but the sisters didn't really seem to even care about the guards in the room... which went from three guards, and built up to six.

"Is anyone gonna stop them?" one of the guards asked, only for a few other ones to shrug.

"I don't know, man... this is getting pretty good, actually!" another one replied.

Then the mares continued to bicker even more, this time incomprehensible, and in unison. Finally, Marble asked, "ALRIGHT, THEN! YA WANNA FIGHT RIGHT HERE AND NOW?! WILL THAT SHUT YA UP?!"

Limestone retorted, "BUCK YEAH! I'LL BUCK YOU UP BIG TIME, YOU UGLY LITTLE WHORE!"

"LITTLE?! I'M A COUPLE INCHES TALLER THAN YA, DUMBASS!" Marble shouted, before the two of them locked each other's arms together, and butted foreheads with glares in their eyes.

"LET'S GO, THEN! READY?!" Limestone asked, before Marble tightened her grip on her sister's forearms.

"YEAH!" Marble replied, while Limestone tightened her grip on her sister's forearms.

"ALRIGHT, THEN! GO!" Before any of the guards could react, Limestone slung her sister across the room, while her chained hooves swept across all six guards; finally breaking off at the last one's skull. Then Limestone placed Marble back on the ground, and chopped her sister's hand bindings off, while Marble stomped Limestone's hoof-bindings off.

"Awesome thinking, sis!" Limestone said with a smile, while Marble chuckled and bumped her fist with Limestone's.

"What I say? Works every time! Now come on, let's get the buck outta here!" Marble replied. With a nod, Limestone followed her out of the jail, while the guards that were lying on the ground grunted in disoriented pain; completely confused, and unsure of what just happened. The last one, of course, was dead, though.

From the entrance to the castle, a large swarm of soldiers clad in plate armor and tower shields lowered to the ground, and held their shields in a wall, with their spears aimed forward between the cracks. They also encircled the group of heroes, while the group braced for battle. Then, in one loud battle-cry, the soldiers began closing in on them, while the heroes charged forward, ignoring the soldiers behind them, and instead, focusing on the ones in front that led to the hallway to the throne room.

When they were within reach, Pinkie Pie quickly threw the swords that were in her left hand into the skulls of two of the guards, then drew the box that transformed into her self-proclaimed "Party Cannon". Instead of confetti, though, she was sure to pre-load it with rocks that, once fired, went through a triangular wave of guards, allowing the group enough time to go through the halls.

As they were in the halls, however, they soon found themselves caught in a dead end. "BUCKING TARTARUS!" Gilda shouted, as she saw the end straight ahead.

"Stand back, I've got this!" Maud replied, as the group stood aside, and watched her run towards the wall non-stop with her right fist behind her back. Then, once she was within reach, she punched the wall with all her might, causing a large crater to form where her fist landed... a crater large enough for the whole group to go through.

When the guards in the background saw that action, a few of them stopped in place, and gasped, before nervously falling behind, while their co-workers continued to run through relentlessly.

When the group went past the crater, they found themselves in the center of the left wall of the Dining Hall... only instead of seeing a large number of tables and chairs neatly arranged, they saw a number of broken planks, rocks, dishes, weapons, armor, and an absurd number of unconscious and dead guards scattered across the room. In the center of the room, however, they noticed a pair of all-too-familiar Earth Pony mares in the center... Marble and Limestone.

"Marble! Limestone!" Pinkie shouted with joy, before running up to her sisters, who turned towards them, and smiled at the sight of their sister, Pinkie Pie.

Limestone and Marble Pie were both running through the halls of the castle... blindly and aimlessly. They heard a large number of commotion going on in the Main Hall, so they decided to avoid it at all costs, and try to find another way out of the massive castle.

Instead, they headed straight into the Dining Hall, where they were "greeted" by the guards who were on lunch break. Then Limestone and Marble noticed the entrance that they came from was blocked off by more guards who somehow managed to give chase to them without them even knowing.

"Uh... hey! What's on the menu, fellas?" Marble asked nervously, only for Limestone to plant her face into her right palm.

The guards looked at one-another, before shrugging their shoulders and drawing their weapons. Then they all stood from the tables, and approached the mares, while the guards behind them grabbed hold of their arms.

"HEY! YA DON'T TOUCH A WOMAN ON THE FIRST DATE, ASSHOLE!" Marble shouted, before kicking her hooves in the air, and landing them on the guard that held her. The awkward position caused the guard to lose his grip fast, before feeling her left hoof land on his left shoulder. Following that, her right hoof kicked the back of his head; sending both him and his helmet flying separately into the crowd in front of them.

Limestone, on the other hand, gripped the guard's arms that were holding her, and slung him over her head, and planting his face into the stone floor; leaving a red chunky puddle where his head once was. "You Minotaurs are so fragile!" She said, before turning to the guards that stopped in their place at the sight of the unbelievably strong mares.

At that point, the guards all stepped away from them while the two mares walked towards the center of the room with menacing smiles on their faces. Then, when they were in the center, the guards nervously surrounded them, and held their weapons up.

Marble looked at Limestone and winked, before turning to the guards that surrounded them. "What's wrong, fellas? Can't handle two mares at once?"

Limestone grinned before adding in, "We can make it quick for you... if you ask nicely!"

The entirety of the guards looked at each other confusedly, before turning to the mares with glares on their faces. Then, in unison, they all charged after the mares with their spears aimed at them.

"What do you think, Marble? Think it's nice enough?" Limestone asked while turning her head to her sister.

Marble chuckled before nodding her head. "Sounds nice enough ta me!" Then Limestone and Marble faced each other, and placed their hands on each other's shoulders, while the guards closed in on them.

Then, the very second that they were within the center, the entire room was engulfed in a whirlwind of flying guards, all of which were attacked by the pair of mares who were, at this point, doing an attack that they called "The Tornado".

Marble was lifted upside-down onto Limestone's shoulders with her hooves spread out, while Limestone spun in a circle with her arms spread out. With her arms, Marble quickly spun the opposite direction, sending the guards that were caught in Limestone's "Fist Hurricane" flying even further with her own "Hurricane Kick".

When the guards were all sent flying, Marble quickly leaped from her sister's shoulders, and landed on the chest of the last Minotaur who was standing; sending him to the ground. Then she leaned down to his eye-level, and smiled wickedly. "Next time... try ta last... alright?"

Before the Minotaur could even respond, she raised her right leg, and smashed his face into the ground, sending a gush of blood from where his face once was in the process. Then she walked back up to Limestone and raised her right fist, which Limestone bumped with her fist, in return.

Then, the wall behind them burst open, and the next thing they heard caused their eyes to widen... Pinkie Pie's voice.

"Marble! Limestone!" their playful sister called out.

Turning around, their mouths formed wide smiles at the sight of their unharmed sister. "Pinkie Pie! Oh my gosh, we were so worried about you!" Then the three of them wrapped their arms together in a group hug.

Then, Maud decided to intervene. "LIMESTONE! MARBLE! WHAT IN THE NAME OF TARTARUS HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU BOTH?!"

Marble glared at her older sister and retorted, "MAUD! WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT PINKIE PIE TOO, YA KNOW!"

Maud shook her head and sighed, before taking a deep breath with her hands over her forehead. "That doesn't give you both the right to leave the bucking Rock Farm, though! Mom and Dad are getting way too old to have to deal with the manual labor! Please, in the name of Celestia, tell me that you both at least told them about this!"

At once, Limestone and Marble looked at each other uneasily, before turning to their oldest sister. "Well... not exactly."

Maud's new-found glare only intensified at that statement. "Not exactly? So..." she tried to take deep breaths, but in the end, her anger still caused her to yell. "YOU BOTH RAN FROM THE HOUSE WITHOUT OUR PARENTS EVEN KNOWING?! HAVE YOU BOTH LOST YOUR BUCKING MINDS?!"

Pinkie stood between her three sisters and nervously asked, "Girls?"

"WELL EXCUSE THE BUCK OUTTA ME FOR ACTUALLY CARING ABOUT AH FAMILY! HAY, YA DON'T EVEN WRITE TO US ANYMORE, MISS 'I'D RATHA LIVE IN ATLANTIS THAN EQUESTRIA'!" Marble shouted in response.

"GIRLS?!" Pinkie asked, now getting more serious.

"DON'T EVEN GO THERE, MARBLE! YOU KNOW GOOD AND WELL WHY I HAD TO LEAVE THE FARM! AND AT LEAST I TOLD MOM AND DAD BEFOREHAND, SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT STATEMENT, AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ATHLETIC A-"

"GIRLS! SHUT THE BUCK UP!" Pinkie shouted at the top of her lungs, causing her sisters' bickering to cease at once. Then Pinkie pointed towards the incoming guards, and said, "We don't have time to argue right now! We have a situation on our hands!"

Maud, Limestone, and Marble stared at their pink-coated sister, before realizing that she did raise a point. "Thanks, Pinkie... we kinda needed that." Marble stated with a smile, before gently patting her on the shoulder.

"HEY! YOU DIDN'T SLAP HER FOR USING PROFANITY!" Limestone complained, only for her to get popped in the back of the head by both, Maud and Marble.

"Yeah! Because she's still, technically, a Legal adult now! And were you using profanity, Limestone?!" Maud retorted, causing Limestone to glare at her "unfair" sisters.

Then, all at once, the entirety of the guards ran into the room, and before they knew it, the entire group was caught in a battle with the guards... which was easily won in the end, at least.

Gilda managed to cut through the groups of enemies that Pinkie launched in the air with her modified "Party Cannon", while Pinkie cut through the ones that she didn't hit with the scimitars and spears that she pillaged from the corpses.

Maud merely dodged the attacks that the Minotaurs did, and punched them in the chest hard enough to fly into Marble's back kick-flip, launching them in the air, only to get pummeled down by Limestone's "Quake Fist" attack, where she jumped in the air, and bashed both of her hands into the chests of the flying victims, and then fell to the ground with them, while she angled her legs over her fists in a "diving" pattern. When they landed, they were instantly impaled by her fists, while she remained unharmed, despite the armor that her hands smashed through.

Thor'lok sliced through the enemies with both of his axes in his hands, while Swift used his tower shield to block off any attacks, before impaling his enemies with his spear.

Topaz, Sand Barrier, and Storm Light all took the combat at a safe distance, while covering each other's backs from any who attempted to attack them from behind.

Software Patch blasted the enemies with his arm cannons, and occasionally sent a blast towards Nightshade, who in turn, reflected the magic from the blasts, and sent directly into the enemies that weren't already struck by his talons' sharp claws.

Zero Gravity took the flight in the air, and managed to decapitate any of the enemies that Gilda missed, before going for a few swoops onto the ground level, and sending a few of the guards flying.

Zula, since not fit for combat, encased herself and Heavenly Quill in an "Earth Magic Barrier", which surrounded the two of them in thorny roots that would whip any hostiles that went their way.

Quill, while under Zula's protection, used his quill to summon a pair of Armored Golems to attack any of the nearby guards, while also defending each other, since he would end up receiving their injuries on his end, should any of the two Armored Golems take any hits.

Finally, after five minutes of relentless assault, the entire group stood in the center of mountains of corpses gathered in the Dining Hall, while panting heavily.

Whenever the Armored Golems were dispelled, Quill instantly grunted in pain, and held onto his side, which caused the group to look his way.

With his left hand over his stomach, Quill quickly moved his coat and his shirt; revealing a nasty-looking cut on his side.

"Quill! Are you alright?!" Zero asked worriedly, only to notice Zula quickly go through a bag, and pull out a small bag of green dust.

"Here, let me see." Zula stated, causing Quill to look at her confusedly. "I'm a Shaman... I know what I'm doing."

With a nod, Quill slowly removed his hand from his cut, giving Zula enough room to sprinkle the green dust over it.

In an instant, the cut was covered in a green foam, and no longer hurt. "It should speed up the recovery process... but as a side-effect, it will make you tired. You'll need to rest for now."

Nightshade looked at Software and asked, "Software, how much more hostiles are around?"

"Calculating... only two within one-hundred miles, and growing." he replied.

"So they're retreating, then... that's good to know." Gilda replied with a nod. Then she turned to Topaz and said, "Topaz, you take these guys' friend here to the resting area in your ship."

Topaz nodded his head, and turned to Quill. "Can you stand, my friend?"

Quill slowly started to rise to his hooves again, before nodding his head with a chuckle. "Yeah... thankfully, this stuff is holding me together pretty well!" Then he turned to Zula. "Thanks, Miss... Zula, was it?"

Zula nodded her head. "You have a good memory, that is true... I wish a good rest to come for you."

Quill chuckled before replying, "I could probably use your help in some of my poetry!"

With a nod, Zula replied, "Indeed, us Zebras can be good with poetry, for rhyming in non-Druathican comes naturally!"

Then, the group pressed onwards, while Topaz and Quill decided to sneak out of the castle through the abandoned courtyard.

Once the rest of the group made it to the Throne Room, then stopped, and caught their breaths before checking the others if they were ready for whatever lied ahead. Then, with a nod of approval, they kicked the doors to the throne room down, and stepped inside.

When they stepped inside the room, however, they were greeted by the sight of nothing but emptiness... save for the cage in the center of the room that contained two comatose figures.

"JUSTIN! RUBY!" Pinkie shouted before breaking from the group, and running towards the cage they were in.

"PINKIE! DON'T-" Maud began, before Pinkie was flung backwards by an unseen force-field. When she landed, she was unconscious, which caused the Pie sisters to gasp in panic.

"PINKIE PIE!" they all screamed in unison, before rushing towards their fallen sister. When they checked for a pulse, they were relieved to find that she was merely unconscious... but also furious at the spell that her friend was caught in.

After a few moments of panic, Pinkie's eyes shot open, and her body began to quiver... followed by the other Pie sisters. Then, all four mares gasped in horror.

Gilda raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong?!"

In unison, Maud, Pinkie, Limestone, and Marble looked at each other and shouted, "BOULDER!"

Without sparing another second to lose, the group quickly raced back to the entrance of the castle, and burst out the front door.

After a long moment of fighting, the Rock Golem and Minotaur breathed heavily, while staring at one-another with hatred in their eyes.

The Rock Golem raised his fists in the air and asked, "Are you through, ol' chum? I'm still getting start-ED!" Right at his height in volume, he felt a sharp silver spike go through his back, and out his fore-chest. Then the rocks that were held together slowly started to fall, until the only obvious sign of his life (the glowing blue orb) was left on a short spherical rock.

The Minotaur chuckled, before turning around at the entrance to the castle, where the group just burst through. At that point, they all looked furiously at the Minotaur, who only chuckled and said, "Don't worry... you'll all join him soon!"

"N-not... YET!" the Rock Golem grunted, before the shattered pieces of rocks suddenly entombed the Minotaur, much to his surprise.

"W-WHAT?! H-HOW DID YOU-" The Minotaur began, only to yell in fear as his head was covered by the rock containing the orb of light.

"Boulder? What are you... BOULDER?!" Maud stuttered, before noticing a small, glowing blue pebble fall from the orb of light.

"Mistresses Maud, Pinkie, Limestone, and Marble... please... send the Masters my regards... and my thanks!" he weakly choked out, before the rocks shot into the air with the Minotaur screaming in muffled silence as the two flew in the air. Then, with a loud bang, a massive blue explosion filled the sky, sending small pieces of ash and pebbles on the ground.

Maud slowly walked up to the pebble that Boulder's "eye" cried out, lifted it up in both hands, then fell to her knees, while her sisters surrounded the pebble in her hands. Not long after that, all of the entire family's eyes filled with tears, as Maud's hands quivered.

In one loud cry, all four sisters screamed in a stretched-out cry, "BOULDER!"

The rest of the group watched with saddened expressions on their faces at the scene before them. Swift slowly walked up to them, and was about to say something, when he noticed a shadow within the fog... a muscular figure that he knew the shape of all too well. "No... you... didn't..." he mumbled through clenched teeth, before stepping forward.

From the sky, the rock that contained the orb of light that, at this point, was a thin crescent-shape, landed directly in front of the figure... King Goldheart.

Without even looking down, he placed his right foot over the glowing rock and, in the blink of an eye, smashed it to pieces, sending a thin trail of electricity to the ground.

That caused Swift to freeze in place, and gasp, before his glare turned to a look of sheer hatred. Then he clenched onto his spear and, with a shaking hand, shouted at the top of his lungs, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, FATHER!"

The rest of the group began to charge after Goldheart with Swift, but before they could even get close to where Swift was, they were pushed back by a similar spell that kept them from Justin and Ruby.

After that incident took place, Swift's eyes widened and he turned around to notice that his friends couldn't help him with this one. Then he turned towards King Goldheart, and breathed heavily.

"Swift... so good to see you again, my boy..." Goldheart spat on the ground. "I thought my little... pet... would kill you back in Druathica."

That statement caused Nightshade's eyes to widen, before he stepped closer to the, now visible, bubble that kept them from both Swift and Goldheart. "What do you know about Grimsley?!" He asked.

Goldheart looked at him and chuckled. "I was the one who freed him, of course!"

That statement caused the entire group to gasp. Then, Swift's nose crunched up in disgust. "You... you killed all those people... just to get rid of me?!"

Goldheart nodded his head with a smile. "But of course, son... I wouldn't be able to get rid of my... mistake... directly, of course!"

That statement tugged on Swift's heart, as tears began to fall from behind his helmet.

Goldheart continued. "Tell me, Swift... why do you even wear that armor? I doubt if your friends even know what you look like!"

Swift grunted angrily for a response.

"Is it because you're afraid?"

No answer.

"Is it because you want to look all-powerful?"

Again, no answer. Then Goldheart began to chuckle.

"Or is it because you remind yourself of your mother?"

That statement caused Swift's eyes to open wider, and his jaw to drop.

Goldheart then chuckled once more. "I see... and so you burden yourself with all of that armor... because you can't even avoid crying like a little foal... over your own reflection!"

"ENOUGH!" Swift shouted, before dashing towards King Goldheart with his spear at hand. "I'LL BUCKING KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 16: Father VS Son

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 16

Father | VS | Son

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

A thirteen-year-old Swift Justice ran through the gardens, and went through countless exercises, all while his father watched from a distance with an amused smile on his face.

"What are you doing, my son?" Goldheart asked the young Swift.

Without breaking from his hoof pull-ups that he did from the top of a large boulder, he replied, "Training my body to lift that belt, Father! I will show you that I can do it!"

Goldheart stood there for a moment, before bursting into laughter... much to Swift's bemusement. "What's so funny, Father?"

With a smile, Goldheart lifted a bag of apples that he was carrying, and then replied, "A good body must be maintained properly, my son! That means you need to eat, as well!"

Swift continued doing hoof pull-ups, then chuckled nervously. "D-don't worry, Father! I'm not even hungry, yet!"

As he said that, however, his stomach decided to contradict his statement. "Darn it..."

Goldheart chuckled, before throwing his son an apple, which he took and began eating while he continued exercising.

"Thank you, Father!" Swift said with a light laugh. "You're the best!"

As a flash of one of his old childhood memories went through his head, Swift, fueled with merciless rage, pierced his spear after his father.

What he didn't expect, however, was for the snow from the ground to lift up with Goldheart's glowing silver necklace, and deflect the spear.

With a gasp, Swift jumped back from the snow, and then dodged a few blasts of ice that Goldheart cast towards him; each one that flew into either the bubble that surrounded them, or his tower shield, getting shattered.

Then, after dodging an eighth ice chunk, Swift attempted another thrust with his spear. This time, however, it didn't get deflected. Instead, a line of snow caught it, and managed to yank it from his hand, causing him to jump back as his spear was turned around, and thrust back towards him like a harpoon.

After dodging the spear, however, he noticed the snow below him starting to shake. Before he could react, a large clump of ice rose from below the ground and surrounded him. Then, in the blink of an eye, the ice barrier closed, and began to lower to the ground level, causing the group outside the bubble to gasp.

Then, Swift managed to kick through the ice with his golden-plated hooves, and dodge the next wave of ice blasts with ease.

"I see you've improved in your running, son... why, so you can run away from your problems even quicker?" Goldheart asked, only for Swift to run towards him, draw his sword from the back of his belt, and attempt to slice at him.

"See Father?! I'm getting stronger!" Young Swift commented, as he revealed the pile of rubble that was once the boulder that was in the garden.

King Goldheart chuckled heartily at his cheerful son. "Well done, my boy! I knew you would make progress!"

"But is it enough, yet?" Swift asked, as he walked towards the belt. When he tried to lift it, though, it proved to be useless, which made him grumble and complain.

"Seriously?! Darn it!" Swift complained, causing him to kick the belt... and then bounce around on his injured hoof.

His father chuckled before rubbing his son on the mane. "Not making as much progress as you'd like?" Then he rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm... I think I may have a solution there, son!"

Then his son's smile beamed back up on his face yet again. "R-really? Yes-sir! I'll do it!"

Goldheart chuckled again. "I haven't even told you what it is yet, lad! You could end up doing things you don't want to do if you agree to do something blindly! Remember that one!"

Swift nodded his head, then apologized. "Sorry, Father... what is it you have in mind?"

Then his father turned to a guard that was standing behind him and held his hand out. With a nod, the guard brought him an assortment of belts strapped in a chest's pillow.

When Swift noticed the belts, he raised an eyebrow. "Wait... there's ten belts here!"

Goldheart nodded his head. "Indeed, and each one in order from least heavy to the most heavy!" Then he pointed at the belt that rested on the ground for a little over a week. "That one over there is one step above the heaviest of this chest! I want you to wear the one that proves to be a challenge for you, and then, once you get used to the weight of that one, you can move on to the next!"

Swift smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, sir!" Then he attempted to lift the heaviest in the chest... but he couldn't even make it budge. The runner up couldn't budge... and the runner up of that one. When it came to the sixth one, however, he was able to lift it up, but only for a second.

"That's the one!" Goldheart chuckled, causing Swift's eyes to widen.

"Y-you're joking, right?!"

Goldheart shook his head. "No joke, my son! I believe you can handle the sixth one first!"

With a tired grunt, Swift nodded his head and slowly lifted the belt. Then, once he clamped it over his waist, he started to run... which ended up being cautious walks in the end. He continued running through the garden, while his father smiled at the progress he's been making.

Swift tumbled through the snow, as the ice continued to batter his armor, and relentlessly strike at him, while he raised his shield to defend himself from the assault of ice blasts.

Even a shield has its limits, though... he learned that one the hard way.

After his shield broke, he quickly tossed it towards Goldheart, only for more snow to send it away, and towards the end of the bubbled area... much like his sword.

Goldheart chuckled at his son. "Well... it looks like you're out of options, son... you no longer have a weapon!"

Then his necklace glowed, and up raised a silver conjured spike (the same kind that stabbed Boulder the Rock Golem) that aimed towards Swift's chest.

"You... lose..." Goldheart venomously stated, before the spike flew at an alarming speed, and pierced through Swift's chest.

"At long last! You have trained well this past year!" Goldheart chuckled to his teenage son who, at this point, was wearing the belt that he was training so hard to merely lift off the ground.

"I wouldn't have done it without your help, Father!" Swift replied, before giving him a salute.

Goldheart chuckled, before gently placing his left hand on Swift's back. "My boy... please... don't pretend to be someone you're not."

Swift thought for a moment, before nodding his head. Then he scooted up to his father's side, and wrapped him in a warm hug, which he returned with a smile.

"So, is it time, yet?!" Swift asked eagerly.

Goldheart burst into laughter, before shaking his head. "Good heavens, no! You just now managed to wear that belt... I want you to do what you did with the sixth one with that one, my son!"

"Wear it to the point where I can skip the next three?" Swift asked curiously.

Goldheart rubbed his son's mane. "You got it, lad!" Then, after a moment of silence, he added, "I'm proud of you... my son."

For some reason, those words always made Swift's eyes tear up, and his mouth to quiver in a smile. Then, the two of them wrapped in another hug, while Celestia's sun started to set.

Gilda's eyes widened at the sight of her ally being impaled. "SWIFT!"

Then, she gasped when she saw the helmet of Swift's chest piece fall to the ground... empty. "What the...?" Gilda stared confusedly at the battleground, until she looked up to where the mountain of ice was formed from the failed close-in attack that Goldheart attempted. Then she gasped when she saw Swift... and for the first time, she could see what he looked like behind that armor.

He was a medium-built, white-coated stallion with a long, two foot tall blonde ponytail for a mane that blew within the breeze. His eyes were an emerald green that appeared youthful, and sparkled in the daylight. His legs were covered in a pair of black slacks, and around his waist, he still wore the golden belt that his father gave him all those years ago. For some reason, though, he was shirtless.

His father chuckled, before saying, "Well... it looks like you've finally come out of your shell, now! Too bad you won't be able to take any hits from me!"

"Father..." Swift began, before pointing his right finger down, and towards Goldheart's eyes. "You leave me no choice, but... it's time... to finish what we started!" Then, he punched the center of the golden belt, causing it to fall loosely down the thin ice mountain that he stood on top of.

The second the belt landed, however, the entire inside of the bubble was covered in snow, and a loud explosion-sound boomed through the area, causing the entire group's jaws to drop... save for Nightshade, who merely rubbed the back of his head with wide eyes.

When the smoke inside the bubble cleared, a crater was formed where the belt landed. Swift, however, still stood on top of the ice mountain with a serious expression on his face, as his fists were balled up.

His father roared, and shot a few ice blasts after him, only for Swift to leap in the air... and disappear before their eyes.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he appeared directly behind Goldheart and attempted a punch, which was deflected by the snow. Goldheart turned to retaliate, only to find Swift disappear and reappear behind him again. At this point, he glared nervously at Swift, while Swift continuously blurred into thin air, only to appear in another spot, inching closer to Goldheart by the second.

Finally, after another thirty seconds of constant mind games, Swift appeared in the air and attempted to kick Goldheart with both hooves. Seeing this as his advantage, Goldheart attempted to catch Swift's hooves for a counter-attack, only for Swift to vanish, and appear directly behind him, much to his shock.

Before either Goldheart or his shield could react, Swift kicked both of his hooves into Goldheart's back, sending him flying up in the air. Then, once he was around twenty meters in the air, Swift appeared in the air over-top of him, spinning forward, and curled up. Finally, when Goldheart was within reach, Swift gave out a loud battle cry, before launching Goldheart into the ground with his right hoof.

The impact caused another large crater to form, with a large strand of snow flying in the air where Goldheart landed. Swift, at this point, landed in the opposite side of the battlefield. When Goldheart regained composure, he growled furiously, while Swift raised his arms in a defensive manner and growled in return.

Swift, at the age of sixteen, stood tall, and watched as a group of soldiers ran past him. He, of course, was walking the opposite direction that they ran.

"Commander Swift! Where are you going?!" one of the guards asked, followed by a roar from the direction Swift was headed.

With a grin, Swift replied, "Well, I'm going to deal with the Manticore, of course! Isn't that what we were assigned to do?"

The guard shook his head and replied, "N-not alone, sir! Those things are-"

"Dangerous?" Swift completed for him. Then he smiled and continued moving onward. "Exactly why we should deal with it!"

The guard nervously watched, as the bold prince's walk soon turned to a run, and before they knew it, he was clashed in an arm-lock with the Manticore that was terrorizing the village they were in.

After the Manticore made a few snaps with its teeth to end Swift, Swift quickly lifted the Manticore up, and slammed its head into the ground; leaving a mark of red where its face landed. Then, before it could even stand back up, he quickly lifted his right boot, and jammed the Manticore's head into the dirt, caught its scorpion-like tail that lunged his way, and then ripped it off with his bare hands.

After a short moment of nonstop bloodshed, the Manticore's clawing ceased at once, while Swift stood there; unscathed. Then he walked towards the guards who stared at him wide-eyed, and said, "That's how you kill a Manticore, my friends." Then, he walked on, to where his father watched from a distance. He had a stern look on his face.

"What's wrong, Father?" Swift asked, before Goldheart shook his head, and smiled again.

"Nothing to worry about, son... good work, as usual!" Then the two went back to their chariot, where they flew back to the castle. At that point, Swift was starting to worry about his father's health.

Swift continued to dodge the blasts that Goldheart attempted to throw at him, but each time he would get close enough, Goldheart's shield would take effect, making him have to move away to avoid getting caught.

Finally, after dodging a few more of the chunks of ice, Swift chuckled. "Getting too slow, old man!"

Then, the unexpected happened. Despite his constant misses and failed attempts at hitting him with the chunks of ice, Goldheart burst into hysterical laughter. "Oh, did I? Care to examine your surroundings... a little closer?"

Swift raised an eyebrow out of confusion, before looking around. Then, his eyes widened when the realization hit him. The entirety of the bubble was surrounded by the glaciers of ice that was thrown at him... and each one of them appeared to be too sharp to merely punch through. Worse than that, they covered the entire area, meaning a closed-in attack could, without a doubt, be fatal.

While distracted, Swift didn't even notice, nor have time to react to, his father rushing towards him with his right fist in the air. Then, his heart skipped a beat as his father's fist collided with his skull, and sent him flying several meters away, landing on his back, and sending a gush of blood out of his mouth.

He looked to his right, and noticed Goldheart didn't stop there. Instead, he was coming in quick, with both hands in the air for a ground pummel. Sparing no second, Swift managed to dodge it at the given moment, and attempted a counter-punch with his right fist.

Before it could reach Goldheart, however, he caught his fist mid-punch; nullifying his movement instantly. Then, with his left arm, Goldheart thrust his entire arm up, and bent Swift's elbow backwards, to the point where the cracking noise could be heard from a good distance.

Letting out a scream of pain, Swift attempted to pull his arm free, only to be thrown into the ground even further away. The group watched in horror at the scene before them... but no matter how many times they tried, nobody could get past the barrier to help their friend in need.

After taking a few more painful punches from his father, Swift made another attempt to kick Goldheart at a hyper speed with his right hoof... but before his hoof could make contact, it was soon caught in the snow; rendering his movement useless once more.

Then, Goldheart took his left hoof, and bent Swift's left knee backwards, which like his right arm, cracked loudly, and caused him to scream in pain yet again, before his right hoof was caught in Goldheart's hands. After a few spins, Goldheart threw Swift into the air, and used his magic to send the ice chunks flying his way.

Unable to dodge effectively, Swift made one last attempt to stay alive. When the ice was within reach, he managed to use his right hoof (his unbroken one) to kick himself further to the left, and dodge most of the rocks... but when he landed, he made another scream in pain, and looked to his right.

...His arm was caught inside the ice, and pierced into the ground.

He tried pulling free, but it only resulted in more sheer pain, as the temperature of the ice began to feed through his bloodstream. Quickly, he was starting to feel increasingly cold and hurt, but at the same time, he was unable to do anything at that point, but watch as his father dashed his way.

"It's over now... YOU'RE FINISHED!" Goldheart shouted, as he raised his spear up, and continued to run towards his son.

Swift started to panic, as his vision began to blur with a mixture of blood loss and tears. Then... just a split second after his vision cleared up, he noticed a glimmer of light next to him... his longsword.

Taking a deep breath, Swift started reaching for it, and could hear the sound of his father's hoof steps getting dangerously close.

When his middle finger began sliding the longsword, his father was already within reach. Then, in a loud cry, Goldheart made his final jab with the spear.

"You wanted to talk to me, Father?" Swift asked curiously. (This was two months before he went to face Grimsley.)

Goldheart nodded his head and let out a hacking cough. "Yes, son..." Then he slowly stood from his throne and motioned for Swift to follow him.

When they were in the library of the castle, Goldheart pulled a book out from one of the shelves. "Have... have I ever told you about... the story of Nightmare Moon?"

Swift nodded his head. "I've heard about it, Father... but why do you ask?"

Goldheart coughed a few more times. "You remember... who she was though... right?"

Again, Swift nodded his head. "She was the sister of Princess Celestia... but Father, I don't understand why you ask me. What's going on?"

Goldheart weakly smiled at his son, then brought up a subject that caused Swift's heart to skip a beat. "Do you... know about the curse... of the 'Black Heart'?"

Swift's eyes widened at that statement. "Father, you just got done telling us that you weren't hit by the Necromancer! Was... was that a lie?!"

Goldheart's smile turned to a pained expression, as he closed his eyes. Then, a tear fell from his left eye. "I do not know how much longer I have, son... until I fully lose control... the way Princess Luna did. But... here's what I do know."

"No, Father... please, don't ask me what I think you're about to ask me!" Swift' eyes filled with tears, as he rushed up to his father, and braced him in a hug. "I... don't think I have the willpower... to do so!"

His father patted him on the back of his shoulder, before replying, "I know... it's difficult... but you know good and well that... the only cure for the Black Heart... resides in Equestria. And furthermore, you know what would happen if one were to be fully changed before the Elements of Harmony would even be used... right, son?"

Swift sniffled through his tears, and nodded his head. "It wouldn't be able to save the soul who was inflicted with the curse, anyways..."

Then, Goldheart nodded his head. "I... don't want you to kill me right away, though... I just... want to be able to see you... as long as I can."

Swift nodded his head in understanding. "Y-yes... yes, sir."

Goldheart smiled again. "But... when the time comes... I want you... to be the one who... makes it right. For all of us..."

Swift closed his eyes and nodded his head. "But... there has to be a cure! Maybe we can focus on Druathica, ask them for help! M-maybe they'll have something!"

Goldheart weakly chuckled, before coughing a few more times. "I... appreciate the concern, but... I don't want you to chase fantasies, boy!"

Swift stepped towards the entrance of the library, and began walking out. Before he crossed the doorway, he turned left, and faced his father again. "I'm not, Father... I'll do my best to ensure that you remain safe!" With that, he headed out the door, and into the main lobby, where he checked a flight to Druathica... where he would stay in the outpost built in Druid Lake for the next two months.

After the fog of war began to clear up, the group looked at the scene before them. Gilda was the first to notice the scene, and gasped, before covering her beak with both of her talons.

Goldheart stood tall, but his back was arched upwards. Swift was behind him... with his longsword plunged backwards through Goldheart's chest through the back. His right arm, though... wasn't on him. Midway down his shoulder, a few thin streams of blood fell from the stump that remained of his right arm, and painted the snow below them red.

His eyes were covered in tears, as his breathing remained heavy. Goldheart, on the other hand, was choking, and spitting out blood.

Without even turning around, he coughed a little more blood, before smiling. Then, his back began to arch down again, as he weakly muttered, "W-well... done... m-my... son..." After that, the two of them fell to the ground, and lied there for a long time.

As they lied there, the bubble faded away in an instant, giving the entire group enough time to rush to their friend's aid.

"SWIFT?! SWIFT! ANSWER ME, DAMMIT!" Gilda shouted at the top of her lungs, as she rushed up to him, and began feeling for a pulse.

"Don't do this, Swift... DON'T YOU BUCKING DIE ON US NOW!" She couldn't control the tears that fell from her eyes. "You... you bucking IDIOT!" She raised her right talon in the air, balled up in a fist. Instead of hitting him, however, her fist quivered, and ended up landing on the snow.

The rest of the group slowly circled their friend, who merely lied there motionless.

Suddenly, from the center of where the battle took place, a pair of paws and claws broke through the ground. Then, the sound of two familiar males' voices echoed through the valley.

"Damn it! Why the buck do we always miss the..." Stealth Paws grunted, until he noticed the castle in the foggy distance. "BLOODY TARTARUS, MATE! WE ACTUALLY MADE IT!" he then shouted, before he flew into the sky by a cheerful-looking Gryphon.

"About damn time, ya stupid navigator! Maybe next time, we'll..." suddenly, he noticed the rest of the group gathered around in a circle, staring at a lying form on the ground.

At first, he didn't realize what was going on, but after catching a glimpse of the all-too-familiar chest plate lying on the ground nearby, his heart jumped. He turned to the group and, sure enough, recognized the figure lying motionlessly, and with his head rested in his sister's arms.

"SWIFT!" he shouted, before running a full sprint towards his fallen friend. "Oh, no... no, NO, NO!" At once, he wrapped his right talon behind Gilda's shoulder.

For the first time since he could remember, Gilda didn't even push his arm away, though. Instead, she buried her head in his chest, and returned the hug, while the two Gryphons' eyes filled with tears. Before they knew it, the rest of the group's eyes were also watered up.

"Step aside, mate!" Stealth called out, before quickly rushing between the Gryphons and the Horse.

He then thoroughly examined the wounds that Swift had, and placed his saddlebag on the ground in front of him. Before he could even open it, however, he was lifted by Gilda who, at this point, glared daggers at him. "DON'T YOU LAY YOUR THIEVING PAWS ON HIM!"

Stealth, instead of stare nervously at her, glared back and shouted, "CHILL OUT, MATE! I'M HERE TO HELP HIM!"

Gilda's eyes widened at that statement, before she released her grip, and watched as he "worked his magic".

When he opened his saddlebag, Stealth began pulling out random metal objects of different shapes and sizes, while he turned to Zula. "Zebra girl!"

"Zula."

"Right, Zula! I need you to get him something to stop the bleeding at once!"

Zula nodded her head and rushed up to them. Then, she pulled out her bag of green powder, and sprinkled it over Swift's right stub. Quickly, it was covered in a green foam similar to the one Quill's wound was covered in.

Then, Stealth pulled from his saddlebag an inch-thick metal circle with a few needles sticking from the center of it. On the other end, it had three circles within it, and circled the center in a "Y" formation.

When he examined it carefully, he nodded his head and aimed the needle at Swift's green-coated stub. "You're lucky you've got that foam there, mate... otherwise, this would hurt like Tartarus." Before anyone could ask, he jammed the thick needle into Swift's arm socket, and twisted it a few times.

Before a second could even pass, the circles of the metal device opened up, and out protruded three curved metal bars that, when completely out, merged in the center, and extended further out, before combining where his wrist would've been. Then a series of plates covered the stub of his arm and reached up to the top of his shoulder; covering his exposed flesh in metal, before the circular area around where his metal wrist was opened up, and created five mechanical fingers.

In the matter of seconds, Swift had a complete mechanical right arm.

With a shocked expression, Gilda stared at Stealth, then at Swift's mechanical arm. "W-what... how did-"

"I'm a first-class Thief, but a second-class Inventor, mate. Don't ask, because I honestly don't have an answer for it." Stealth interrupted.

Then Zula knelt down to Swift again, and felt his left arm. With a smile, she said, "Thank Celestia! We haven't lost Stealth! We still have time to get him to full health!"

Gilda's eyes widened at that statement. "W-what?! Oh, thank Celestia!"

Then Zula pulled a red herb from her saddlebag, and started crushing it in her hands. "A Fire Herb... it should help keep his blood temperature normal." After she finished crushing the herb, she sprinkled the dust around Swift's body, and smiled. "I believe... he will be fine, now."

Suddenly, they heard the sound of hooves clopping their way. When they turned around, they noticed Thor'lok walking their way, carrying two unconscious figures over his shoulders. They instantly recognized them.

"Justin! Ruby!" Pinkie shouted, before running up to the two. Then, her expression froze when she realized that they were not responding.

Gilded ran up to them, and gasped. "They need medical attention, also! We need to get the wounded to the ship, now!"

With a nod, Thor'lok and Storm Light (both Minotaurs of the group) carried the three back to the Snowflake and, as fast as the ship could go, they were headed back to Port Greenhold.

In the dark area surrounding him, Justin stood firmly, trying to overcome his fears... his fear of pain, which he physically felt, despite being in a dream-like state, his fear of heights, and his fear of spiders. Eventually, he managed to overcome each and every one of them.

Then, the fourth, and final fear always showed up... which he would fail to overcome, resulting in the process repeating itself.

...His fear of losing his daughter, and being unable to do anything about it.

Every time he faced his fears, they came in different appearances, whether it be that he lose her in a court case, or that she would be dragged away, and murdered, while he would be held against his will, or even spirit-like, and unable to even feel her, or her captors. And every time he heard her cries for help, he would burst into tears, and fall on his knees.

"You have to face your fears, Justin! It's the only way for you to awaken!" the voices called out.

Justin turned around and tried to find the source... only to find more obstacles that involved pain headed his way.

"WHY DO I HAVE TO FACE THIS BULLSHIT?!" he finally snapped, only for the countless blades that surrounded him to stop in place.

Then, the voice replied in its usual calm voice, "Because if you can't... then your daughter never will!"

"What?!" Justin asked, only to notice his daughter appearing in a projected image... instantly, he recognized a few of the figures that she was looking at... a few nightmares that she had when she was just a baby. Like him, she was excelling at passing through the obstacles with ease... but then, when she was in the last one, she burst into tears, as she saw an image of Justin... leaving her alone, and not looking back.

At the sight of that, Justin's fists balled up... but instead of crying, he muttered to himself, "I... would never even do that!"

Suddenly, the voice said, "Well done... you have passed."

Before he could even ask what happened, everything around him faded to white.

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 17: New Day, New Faces, New Path

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 17

New Day | New Faces | New Path

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With the battle won, our heroes make it back to Port Greenhold, where the news of their king's death fill the hearts of the entire area with sadness. Thankfully, though, the truth of the matter became clear, and the inhabitants had their bold prince to thank for their freedom.

Unfortunately, though, their prince was unconscious by the time he arrived, and needed medical attention, despite the healing that was done through the Druathican herbs.

Now, there are four patients in the hospital of Port Greenhold. When two of them wake up, however, there will have to be a lot of explaining to do...

Slowly, Swift's eyes started to open. The first thing he noticed, though, was that he was no longer in the snow... and that he felt warm. Then, the next thing he noticed was that he was in a hospital, in the same room that Quill was in.

Suddenly, his next realization caught him by surprise. His right arm was completely covered in a cast, along with his left leg. "What the..."

Then, another realization hit him... a Gryphon was sleeping on a chair with her head rested on the foot of his bed. He recognized the body shape to know just which Gryphon was lying there.

"G... Gilda?" Swift asked, only for the Gryphon to turn her head towards him, and stare at him with half-lidded eyes.

Then she mumbled, "Shut up, dumbass... I'm trying to sleep..."

He raised an eyebrow before shrugging his shoulders (which turned out to just be his left one, since the right one was "too heavily bound for him to feel it") and rested his head back on the pillow.

Suddenly, he felt a shift at the lower half of the bed, which made his closed eyes open again. Then, when he sat up to see what was going on, he saw Gilda staring at him slack-jawed and... wide, open, and teary eyed.

He raised both eyebrows in confusion before asking, "Um... Gilda? Are you okay?"

Slowly, she raised her right talon, and let it inch closer to his face. His look of confusion only remained plastered across his bandaged face, but he felt too tired to do anything besides stare.

Then, after she felt his face, she jerked her talon back and balled it up in a quivering fist. Then she closed her tear-felt eyes, looked down, and furrowed her eyebrows, before raising her right talon up, and lightly, but still painfully, punching Swift on the top of his scalp, stuttering, "Y-you... You bucking IDIOT!"

"OW! GILDA! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" Swift grumbled, only to be answered by her leaning closer to him, and poking him in the chest with her right talon.

"DON'T YOU EVER TRY TO DO SOMETHING SO STUPID AGAIN!" She composed herself, took a few deep breaths, and then continued. "Do ya have any idea... any BUCKING idea how worried I was?!"

Swift grunted in pain as he continued rubbing the top of his head with his left arm. "Hey! It's not my fault that-" suddenly, an unexpected realization caught his attention. "Wait... you were worried about me?"

Gilda's cheeks suddenly turned red and she covered her beak with both talons, before glaring at him again. Then she popped his forehead with her right talon's palm, before retorting, "N-no! I said WE were worried about ya, dumbass! Gosh, can't ya open your ears for once?! Sheesh!"

Then she turned back towards the entrance, and stormed out of the room, not looking back.

Quill, who apparently woke up in the commotion, said, "I think she likes you."

Swift turned to the other Horse, and raised an eyebrow. "What? Why would she like me of all people, though? I mean, sure I might have been trapped in a cage with her at some point, then poured my life's story out for her... but she couldn't possibly think about me like that that easily... right?"

Quill shrugged his shoulders. "Hay if I know." Then, he smiled. "By the way, my name's Heavenly Quill. I take it you must be Swift Justice?"

Swift nodded his head, and chuckled. (Though they were in the same area, they never truly asked for the other's name.)

"Yes, sir... and I'm guessing you caught my name from Gilda?" Swift lifted a glass of water that was rested on the table near his left arm, then began to take a sip of it.

Quill nodded his head with a slight chuckle. "She did shout your name when you passed out three days ago."

At that statement, Swift spat the water from his glass out, and coughed a few times, before stuttering, "T-THREE DAYS?!"

Quill nodded his head, and then replied, "Yeah." Suddenly, his smile dropped. "By the way... I'm sorry for your loss."

Swift waved his left hand dismissively. "It's okay... I kinda had a feeling it would boil down to that."

"Not just your father, though." Quill added, which caused Swift to raise an eyebrow. "You lost something else in the battle, as well."

"Something else? What are you-" Before he could even finish his sentence, one more sudden realization hit Swift's mind... the sacrifice he had to make in order to deliver the final blow. Turning to his right arm, he quickly began undoing the bandages, only to gasp at the unfamiliar sight before him.

Instead of a right arm made of flesh, he saw a silver mechanical arm with several pipes in-between each joint that somehow managed to move naturally once freed from the cast. Of course, he couldn't feel anything that that arm held, but somehow, it felt natural as well.

"Whoa... that's something you don't see every day!" Swift stated, before moving the arm around and examining the fingers, the joints, and then trying to get used to the feel of it.

Then, he heard the sound of whistling coming from the entrance of the doorway. Turning to his left again, he spotted none other than the very same Fox that built him the arm.

"I'd say I've outdone myself! Ya might become the next lady-killer, mate!" Stealth chuckled before hopping on Swift's bed, and examining the arm.

"Wait... you built this?!" Swift asked confusedly.

Stealth nodded his head. "Indeed I did, mate. You like it?"

Swift looked at his arm again, and then nodded his head. "Y-yeah! It works like a charm... thanks!"

Stealth nodded his head before stretching his right paw out. When Swift took it, however, he noticed Stealth haunch down in pain, which made him quickly remove his grip, and pull his arm back.

"BLIMEY, THAT HURTS!" Stealth shouted, before placing his right paw in his mouth. Then, in a muffled voice, he said, "Gonna have to work on that grip there, mate!"

Swift rubbed the back of his hair with his right arm nervously, before yanking his head forward at the feel of the sudden chill of metal. "Yeah... and I'm gonna have to get used to it, as well... might take some time."

Stealth nodded his head. "Indeed... well, rest easy, mate!" Then he hopped off the bed and headed towards the door again.

"Wait!" Swift called out, which caused Stealth to turn his head back.

"Yes, mate?"

After looking around for any other visitors, he asked, "How's... Justin and Ruby?"

Stealth's smile that he formerly had was sunken into a frown. "They... haven't woken up, yet... and the doctors say that it's no mere exhaustion, either."

"What do you mean by that?!" Swift asked, now with a look of worry in his eyes.

After taking a deep breath, Stealth replied, "Swift... they're in a coma."

Even though the battle was won... not a single smile was on any of the faces of the visitors in the room where the father and his daughter lied.

Sitting in a chair between the two of their beds was Gilded Blade. He wasn't looking at any of them, but rather, at the ground, between his feet.

On the left-hand side of Justin's bed, Pinkie sat there with his left hand wrapped in her hands. It doesn't matter how long she knew them... any friend of hers would be treated like a best friend. Seeing them in this condition, though... it tore her spirit up.

Sitting next to her, Limestone and Marble had their arms wrapped around their sister. The last time they ever saw their sister crying the way she did dated back to when she lived in the rock farm with them.

Maud, instead of sitting in a seat like her sisters, stood at the back-left corner of the room, squeezing onto the pebble that remained of Boulder, while looking at her sisters. Even though she didn't appear to have any emotions on her face, the streams of tears that fell from her cheeks said enough.

Thor'lok sat on the right side of Ruby's bed, and had his face covered by both hands. His elbows were rested on his knees and, like Gilded, he was looking at the ground.

Zula stood next to him, and had her left hand rested on his right shoulder. She looked at Ruby with a hurt expression, unable to cope with the thoughts of this poor girl never waking up.

Zero leaned on the left side of the entrance, with his mane covering his eyes. He looked down, and glared at the ground... unsure of what to say in this kind of situation. While he didn't really know Justin all too well, he also felt like, if he or Ruby never wake up, then he will have lost a golden opportunity for knowledge that this world could've needed. Add to that, a potential friend that he could hang out with. (His communications with Thunderwing were long gone at this point. His earpiece was stolen when he and the others were abducted... he hoped that the others back in Manehatten didn't assume the worst... but as he already knew, Thunderwing was always considered one to be melodramatic.)

Nightshade was no longer with them. He departed from the group, but told them that Justin and Ruby will be fine... despite what the doctors and nurses said.

Suddenly, the heart monitor that Justin was strapped in started to go to one long beep, which caused Pinkie Pie to stare up at it, then at Justin in complete horror. "N-no... NO!" She shouted, before a group of doctors ran in.

"Everyone get back!" The doctors stated, as they carried a pair of defibrillators in each hand.

Gilded stared wide-eyed at the scene before him... his mission... he failed them... he could've been there... but he wasn't. When those thoughts came to his mind, he broke down into tears, as he let out a pained roar.

From the dark room, Justin took a deep breath, and fell backwards. Then, he looked up and glared at nothing in particular. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR F**KING MIND?! I HAVE TO FACE DEATH?!"

The voice replied, "Rest assured... we will see to it that you do not remain dead... but yes. This is one of your fears... is it not?"

Justin shrugged his shoulders and stretched his arms out. "Yeah, well I kinda figured that the whole point of this shit is to, like, NOT die! And whatever happened to 'you have passed', huh?!"

"You must have mistaken the meaning of our words, Justin... we told you that, with the meaning that you have passed on."

Justin's eyes widened at that statement. "Wait... so are you saying that... I'M ALREADY DEAD?!"

"Yes... and you have already felt it."

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!" Justin shouted, before loudly growling out of frustration. Then, he fell to the ground, and sat with his knees stretched up and forward.

"I just wanted to go home... is that too much to ask?! I just wanted to go home, and live a normal life with my daughter again..."

There was another moment of silence. "Justin... it is time."

"Oh REAL f**king clever! Yeah, I guess that's another one of your fancy 'you are dead' jokes, huh?!"

"No... it is time for you to wake up."

"Yeah, nice! Only one problem, though... HOW THE F**K DO YOU EXPECT TO WAKE A DEAD GUY, HUH?!"

"Have no fear... for we won't be the ones to wake you up."

This statement caused Justin's eyes to widen. "Wait, what? Then... who will-" Before he could finish speaking, another projection appeared in front of him... the image of the situation that was going on in the hospital. Then, he gasped at what he saw next. "Ruby... she's... she's..."

"D... Daddy?" Ruby weakly mumbled from her hospital bed. Then, when her hearing became more clear, she turned to her left, and froze in fear. The monitor... she knew about what it meant by the many different TV shows she watched... but this one was strapped onto the chest of a figure lying in the bed opposite of her. "D-Daddy?! DADDY?!" She quickly stood up and, without even realizing it, pulled the cords from her heart monitor out of her chest.

"DADDY! WAKE UP! WAKE UP, DADDY!" Ruby cried, before the doctors started moving closer to take her away. Before they even got close to her, however, they stopped in place, and noticed just what their patient was.

"I-is she an... Alicorn?!" One of the nurses behind the two doctors asked.

Ruby ignored their statements and, instead, rested her head on her father's chest, while Gilded, who was standing there right next to her, wrapped his left arm over her shoulder, and closed his eyes, while his head bowed over the scene.

Then, out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a glow. When he opened his eyes again, they grew wider, as he noticed Ruby's horn was, for the first time, glowing.

It glowed a bright golden color, and following it, both her whole body and Justin's glowed along with it. Even so, her eyes remained closed, and buried in his chest; unfazed by the glowing.

"Please, Daddy... d-don't go... please... please!" Then, as the two of them glowed a golden color, the monitor cracked, and the room started to quake, causing the entire group to back away. Then, after ten seconds, all of the glowing ceased.

"Please, Daddy... don't go..." Ruby cried once more, before she placed her right hand on his chest, directly over her forehead.

Then... she felt a comforting hand brush the back of her mane... which caused her muscles to tense up.

In a gargled, yet familiar voice, she heard the one word that made her ears perk up. "...Never..."

Slowly, she looked up from Justin's chest, and saw his eyes... were half-opened.

With her mouth covered, Pinkie Pie let out a relieved gasp from outside the doorway, while Gilded's jaw dropped... and formed into a smile. "J... Justin?!"

Justin looked around the area, and raised an eyebrow. "What the heck's going on? Was there a funeral, or something?"

Instead of getting a verbal response, he soon found himself caught in the (surprisingly strong) arms of his daughter, and shortly following that, Pinkie Pie as well.

Then, after another moment of crying and explaining the current situation, Justin asked, "So... what did I miss?"

Both he and Ruby looked at Gilded in unison, while he let out a weak chuckle. "Well... it's a long story..." With that, the rest of the group explained everything from their perspectives, until the sun was getting closer to the west of the horizon.

After one week of recovery, the group found themselves in the docks of Port Greenhold. Justin was impressed with Swift's new arm, and also sympathetic over his loss... and what had to come next.

"Well... guess this is it, huh?" Swift stated, before looking around at the wandering citizens who stood around the heir of the throne.

Justin nodded his head, and placed his hands on his waist. "Yeah... I hate it, though... I mean, we've had you with us since Druathica, but it still feels like we just met after all, doesn't it?"

Swift nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah..."

"I blame the armor mostly, though." Justin pointed out, which made the two of them chuckle.

Swift then sighed and turned around. "I... wish you all the best of luck on your journey."

Justin nodded his head. "Hey, we'll write to you when we get there... it's the least we can do, before going home. After all, weren't you an important part of this journey?"

Swift chuckled in response. "Yeah..."

"Top that off with the fact that you're a hero around here!" Swift paused his movement when Justin stated those words.

Then he turned around and asked, "Wait... I'm a... hero?!"

Justin nodded his head and turned to Ruby. "If you weren't there to intervene with your father's plans, then Ruby and I would probably still be stuck in those cages!"

Then Justin walked up to Swift, and held his right hand out. "And for that, you have the thanks of an Alicorn, and an Alien... something I bet no one has ever achieved, yet!"

Swift smiled at that compliment, before accepting the handshake... with his metal hand.

"And for the record, that new arm looks badass." Justin whispered, which made Swift chuckle even more.

"I... I'll always remember you... all of you... thank you." he stated. Then, he turned around, and began walking back towards the northern gates, while the rest of the group began loading up in the metal boat that was scheduled for a route to Atlantis. The first person to enter the boat, however, was Gilda... which Swift couldn't help but find odd. (Throughout the week, she has been avoiding him.)

Season 2: Complete!

As he walked through the streets, he turned to watch the distant boat. Then, he let out a sigh. Why was he feeling so... alone, now?

At once, a sudden realization hit him. He no longer had a family up here in The Highlands... and he was never a huge fan of being the prince during his life... so why would he even want to be a King?

He looked to his left and noticed a young mare who carried a picture of Zero Gravity with her... and the rest of the group. "Is she a fan of theirs?" he thought to himself.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Swift asked the mare, who turned and gasped. When she noticed who it was, she froze in place, and bowed her head respectfully... which made Swift feel uncomfortable.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" she asked in a nervous tone.

"Um... you may rise. Anyways, what do you know about them?" Swift asked, as he pointed at the pictures in the mare's hands.

"Oh, um... w-well... the one with the red eyes and the fangs here," she pointed at Zero, "saved us from some of Stonefist's men..."

Swift nodded his head and rubbed his chin in thought. "Hm... so, you're saying that you all have good standards, then?"

Again, she nodded. "Y-yes, Your Majesty... why do you ask?"

Swift looked towards the horizon again. The boat was still within eyesight, at least.

Then he looked back at the mare, and replied, "Because... by royal decree, I, Swift Justice, declare your family to be the next rulers of these lands!"

At once, the pictures flew from her hands. "Y-you're... joking, right?"

He shook his head and smiled. "No! Go tell your family at once! You are all to live in the castle, and be treated as royalty!" Then he placed the necklace that King Goldheart wore in her hands, which made her raise both eyebrows.

"And now, as a king, I resign! Good luck, Your Highness!" Swift said, before turning around, and bolting towards the docks. Then, with all his might, he made one mighty leap... but due to his speed, he only appeared as a white, gold, and silver blur.

From on board the S.S. Atlantis, Gilda sat at the rails that faced Port Greenhold. Her legs were rested outside the rails, and her elbows were rested on the rails themselves. Her cheeks were tucked in her talons, and her expression seemed... empty.

Gilded opened the door from the passengers' quarters and asked, "Can I get you anything, G?"

In a surprisingly calmed, yet sad tone, Gilda replied, "No thanks, Big B... I just need to be alone for a sec... alright?"

Gilded nodded his head with a concerned expression. "I understand... please let me know if you need something."

Gilda nodded her head, and continued to stare at the island. "What's the point... I can't even tell what I'm feeling anymore... I mean, what the buck is wrong with me?!" Then she let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Is THIS what I think it is that I feel? If so... then why? And of all the people out there... why him?!"

Suddenly, she heard a loud thump from the lower half of the ship... and the sound caused her head to jump up, and her eyes to widen.

"You know... for someone who doesn't even like me, you sure seem to be pretty mopey when I'm away!" Swift's voice sounded from below.

"SWIFT?!" Gilda screeched, only to cover her beak and look down. Sure enough, Swift was hanging on one of the ropes that the anchors would be tied to. "SWIFT! WHAT THE BUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" Gilda shouted before spreading her wings, swooping down, lifting him from the rope, and placing him on the deck where she sat at.

"Thank you..." Swift said as he caught his breath. Before he could even breath his fifth heavy breath, though, Gilda's talon found its way to his right cheek... quickly. "OW!"

"SWIFT! WHAT THE BUCK WERE YOU THINKING?! YOU COULD'VE MISSED AND DROWNED, YOU DUMBASS!"

Swift rubbed his red cheek before replying, "Yeah... I wasn't really the brightest tool in the shed... but still, I wouldn't want to leave my family behind!"

Gilda's cheeks turned redder, before she glared at him again. Then, she gripped him by the neck with her left talon, and slapped his face again with her right talon. "You..." *SLAP* "Stupid..." *SLAP "Little..." her right talon quivered at that point, as she swung behind his neck this time. Then, with her right talon locked on his head, she pulled the two of them in for a kiss... which caused Swift's eyes to shoot open.

The kiss lasted for thirty seconds, but five seconds in, and Swift closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around her (while avoiding using any grip with his right hand for obvious reasons). Then, when they broke from the kiss, Gilda whispered, "...Dumbass."

With a nervous blush, Swift replied, "Um... thanks?"

Then, the two of them heard Stealth say, "Oi! Get a room, you two!" When they noticed him standing there with a camera, Gilda's entire face turned red, and her happy expression became one of both, embarrassment and rage.

Then, in a flash, she roared and chased Stealth around the ship, while he screamed of either genuine fear, or humorous... his tone, however, made it difficult to tell for sure.

Swift, on the other hand, stood back up, and looked on in the distance. Shortly after that, though, he heard the sound of footsteps getting closer.

After letting out a light chuckle, Justin asked, "So... family, huh?"

Swift nodded his head. "If that's okay, that is."

"Swift," Justin began, before gently patting Swift's left shoulder, "just you helping us get there has already made us consider you family... and by the way... welcome back."

Swift chuckled again, before nodding his head. Then, as the two stared at the sunset, he asked, "So... where to now, boss?"

Justin shrugged his shoulders before replying, "Pinkie's sister Maud told me that Ruby and I have quite a bounty on our heads... so we're gonna have to stay at Atlantis until the heat dies down. Then... wherever Celestia's sun takes us."

Swift nodded his head, and placed his arms on the rail.

A gentle breeze made Justin's coat flow freely, along with Swift's mane. When Swift looked up, he smiled... and could vaguely hear his real father speaking to him through the gentle breeze.

"Well done... my son."

Season 2: Complete!

Author's Note

SWEET CELESTIA, WHAT A RIDE!

And here, I thought I'd never reach the end of this season! (I even found myself crying over these last few parts the past few months since I originally thought up this scene! :raritycry: )

So, what did you all think? Did you like it? Please feel free to leave a "like" if you haven't already! (It motivates me to do MORE, after all! :twilightsmile: )

Brace yourselves, though! There's gonna be a LOT of peace going on for our heroes... but sometimes, even the PEACEFUL places can have their issues! What kinds of issues, one might ask? Find out next time, in "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound", Season 3... "Atlantis: City Below the Sea"! See you then, My Little Bronies!

As always, stay sharp, My Little Bronies! And remember... "You can always be happy... but then, you'll never be satisfied... and you can always be satisfied... but then, you'll never be happy." :twilightsmile:

Season 3, Episode 1: From Below the Sea

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 1

From Below the Sea

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

At long last, our heroes once again move forward in their seemingly endless journey.

Three days ago, they were given a boat that, with the gratitude of The Highlands, could take them wherever they needed to go. Due to the increase in danger across the lands, however, they had to make their next destination the only other place that could be considered as peaceful as Equestria, itself... Atlantis.

Alas, though, the trip to Atlantis from The Highlands would take a week... and already at day three, trouble seems to stir... from far below the sea, no less...

Inside the dining room of the S.S. Atlantis, Gilda and Pinkie Pie were sitting at the same table, telling each other about a few "interesting" stories about their childhood... but in reality, Gilda was just quietly sitting on the bench with her elbows leaned on the table, and her talons buried within her cheeks. With half-lidded eyes, she was nodding off to what Pinkie was saying.

Finally, Pinkie managed to catch her attention. "By the way, what do you think about Swift?"

Gilda raised up from her talons, and stared at the curious Pony mare with a raised eyebrow. "What? What're you talkin' about?"

With a giggle, Pinkie replied, "Oh you know, silly! What do you feel when he's around you?"

Giving an annoyed groan, Gilda replied, "Why the buck does everyone keep on askin' us about that? We feel perfectly fine, alright?"

Pinkie nodded her head and replied with her unbelievably large smile, "Hey! You and Swift have become boyfriend and girlfriend! You know what that calls for? A PAR-" Before she could finish her sentence, however, Gilda covered her mouth with her talons, and deadpanned.

"No, Pinkie. No parties this time, alright? We're happy enough already, so a party wouldn't be necessary. All you gotta do... is just congratulate us, and go with the flow... alright?" Pinkie noticed that Gilda wasn't looking as angry as she normally would be before she and Swift admitted the events that transpired three days ago to the rest of the group. "Although I'd hate to ask... but why have ya been askin' me that same question the last three days in a row? Last time I was in Ponyville, ya didn't even ask any of the other couples the same question!"

Pinkie's smile slowly lowered, before she looked away. "Um... well..."

Then Gilda sighed, before patting Pinkie on the left shoulder. "Look, Pinkie Pie... I've told ya that tryin' ta romance with Justin ain't gonna work. Ya wanna know why?"

With a sigh, Pinkie looked down at the glass of punch that she was drinking. Then she slowly nodded her head and replied, "Because he and Ruby are going to Equestria to leave this world, anyways... and if I were to get too attached to him, then... then it would be even harder to say good-bye in the end."

Then Gilda nodded her head. "Trust me, Pinkie... there's plenty of Stallions out there for ya!"

Pinkie nodded her head and replied with a serious expression, "You're right! I just need to keep my eyes peeled, and not think about romancing with Justin!"

Suddenly, the spoken human stepped into the room with a morning yawn, and a smile on his face. "Whew! Finally, I got a chance to take a bath, and sleep on a bed again!"

For the first time since Pinkie saw him, Justin's hair was no longer covered in dirt... and it was neatly combed down once again, while his beard even appeared to be groomed to the best of his abilities, allowing it to fall down to his chest in a straight row.

At once, when he looked at her without the muck over his bright, lightly-tanned face, Pinkie's eyes dilated again, and at once, she began to drool... before fainting in Gilda's arms, which made her roll her eyes and groan, before gently placing the unconscious pink mare on the table.

When Justin noticed the scene before him, he quickly hurried to Pinkie and asked, "Pinkie! Are you alright?!"

Gilda looked at him and replied, "Yeah, she's fine. Just had a little too much salt in her drink, that's all."

Justin nodded his head and replied, "Ah, okay... I've heard that salt is pretty much my world's term for 'alcohol'. Quite strange, really."

That statement caused Gilda to raise an eyebrow. "What's so strange about it? Do humans have some sort of salt tolerance?"

With a chuckle, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah. Funny story about that, really!" He then sat on the bench at Pinkie's right, while beginning his story.

Back in Druathica, when it was just Ruby, Gilded, Swift, Zula and I, we made it to Draemarth City. When we made it there, it didn't take long for us to figure out that we were short on bits, and had to find a way to earn some for the boat ride to The Highlands.

Thankfully, I have a slight history in guitars, though... instruments that slightly resemble the Ukulele. With the knowledge I have of guitars, I ended up practicing the Ukulele a few nights, then began playing a few tunes from my world's historical days... needless to say, it caught on pretty quick.

Then, after we managed to save up enough money to take the boat to The Highlands, we figured out that all the tickets were taken... and as you probably know, the route only has one boat that goes back and forth, since the control one has of water vehicles are more limited than the aerial ones... but after what happened between Gryphonia and Druathica, don't expect me to take another airship ever again.

Anyways, I'm getting off-topic here. So when we thought all hope was lost, we heard a group of drunkards were in the local tavern, boasting about their latest purchase... which, ironically, was the last five tickets. Then, they decided to get cocky, and challenge anyone to an "Ale Drinking Contest". They started betting bits, and won every round.

Anyways, one of them decided to pick me, and challenge me to their stupid challenge. Of course, I said no, because I don't drink alcohol... never have, and never will.

Their confusion, of course, led to them asking me what in the world alcohol is... and mentioned something about me already drinking too much salted beverages.

I took a taste-test, and could guarantee that the salt that the inhabitants of this world get drunk over is the same salt that humans put on their foods as a delicacy.

With that in mind, I took them up on their challenge.

After flawlessly defeating them without showing even the slightest bit of tipsiness, they went in all-or-nothing... and wagered their tickets in the process. In return, I'd have to buy all their drinks in the end, if I were to lose.

Yeah, I think they were too drunk to realize the level of stupidity of the choice that they made.

Anyways, after beating them in their own game, I took the tickets, left the bits for the bartender, who appreciated the kind gesture, and the following day, we were on our way to Port Greenhold, where we were ambushed, and dragged to the cells.

"And the rest, as they say, is history!" Justin concluded, just in time to notice Pinkie Pie drooling on the table next to him.

With an impressed smile, Gilda chuckled. "So... you out-drank a group of what? Foxes? Goats?"

"Minotaurs." Justin stated matter-of-factly, which made Gilda's smile drop into shock. "Come to think of it, Minotaurs seem to be the ones who hate me the most... can't explain why, though. Maybe it's just in their nature to be competitive, or-" Before he could continue his sentence, Gilda cut him off.

"Wait, wait, wait... you mean to tell me that you out-drank a gang of Minotaurs?!" When Justin nodded his head, Gilda hummed. "Huh... guess I'm gonna have ta see ya in the taverns! Perhaps you can get us a flank-load of bits in those challenges!"

Justin shook his head and stood from the table. "Sorry, but I'm not that kind of guy. I might be able to handle salt greater than a Minotaur, but that's no excuse to abuse that power... besides, Ruby shouldn't grow up under that kind of influence, anyways. She's a Pony now, after all... one from this world, that is... so I wouldn't doubt if it would affect her the same way it affects everyone else."

Gilda nodded her head in understanding. "Good point... hmm... I wonder what Swift's up to. Anyways, catch ya later!"

Justin nodded his head, and shook her talon good-bye. "It's been good talking with you. Oh, and congratulations, you two. I've been trying to teach Ruby some basic mathematics, so I couldn't really talk much to everyone else."

"Huh... interesting. Anyways, let her hang with me, and I can teach her some fighting tricks!" Gilda boasted.

With a chuckle, Justin replied, "I'll keep that in mind..." After that, Gilda headed out the door, only for Maud to walk in as well.

When she looked at Pinkie Pie, she hummed. "I take it Gilda told you that she's been drinking too much?"

Looking back, and noticing Maud walking in for the first time, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah... something like that."

"You know she's only eighteen, don't you?" Maud stated.

"Who, Gilda? I thought she said she was nineteen."

Maud shook her head. "Pinkie's only eighteen, so she isn't allowed to drink yet... and Gilda's a Gryphon, so she is allowed, and has been since she was only sixteen."

Justin raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Oh... well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on her, so she doesn't do this anymore, then. Thanks for bringing that up."

Maud, though expressionless, sounded more stern at this point. "I don't think she was drinking, Justin... I think there's something going on between the two of you. As her older sister, I'd like to know what it is."

With a sigh, Justin replied, "Look, I don't even know what you're talking about, okay? I've only met her about a few weeks ago, when we first got to The Highlands, and I only view her as a friend... and I view her as that only because she helped us get out of there."

Maud nodded her head. "I see... well, I don't know if you know this already, but she seems to be romantically attached to you... and for that, I cannot say why."

Justin sighed, and placed his right hand over his forehead. "I had a feeling she never dropped it..."

"Dropped what?" Maud asked, before tilting her head to the left slightly.

Justin's right hand lowered to his eyes, and as he rubbed them and shook his head left and right, he replied, "When we first met, I was in a prison, held up in bars... and when I looked her way, she... stared at me... in an odd way."

Maud hummed, and rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmm... can you show me how she looked?"

Justin shook his head again. "Sorry, but any expressions that her face can make... kinda defies logic in many ways."

Maud nodded her head again. "I understand that one... then can you at least describe it? I may not show any emotions, but that doesn't mean I can't understand them... especially Pinkie Pie's."

With a nod, Justin closed his eyes again, and started thinking back on the past couple weeks. "Well, her eyes were completely wide open... her mouth was open, and formed into a smile... and her tongue was out. She was drooling, and from the looks of it, breathing heavily."

Maud sighed at his revelation, and closed her eyes. "Then it is as I had feared... she's not only attracted to you romantically, but she's also attracted to you physically."

"What do you mean by that?" Justin asked, now with an even more worried tone in his voice.

"It means that you might want to avoid going near her when that happens... but at the same time, don't hurt her feelings, because that could have some... unwanted side-effects." Maud finished, while looking away.

"Like?" Justin asked, only for Maud to blink, and turn back towards Justin.

"You've read about Ponies, correct?" Maud asked, only for Justin to nod.

"At least, I've read about Earth Ponies being more stronger, and capable of more manual labor than the Unicorns and Pegasi combined."

"Then... have you read about 'Estrus' Periods?" Maud asked, which caused Justin to step back nervously.

"Y-yeah... what about it, though?"

"When Pinkie Pie looks at you like that, it's best to pretend you didn't notice, and bring something up that would require you to get away from her... then avoid contact with her for the following week. You're lucky the past week has been filled with trouble, though... otherwise, you would've had to deal with her while she's... you know..."

Justin nodded his head. "I'll also keep that in mind... but why do you think she fainted? She hasn't done that last time."

"Simple," Maud began, "it's because she changed her personality. It's a... unique ability that she has, to say the least. When we lived on the Rock Farm, she was oftentimes miserable... but at the same time, she was the most daring of us all. In fact, she was the one who often faced off against the Timberwolves when they were to invade. While our neighbors would've used the simple 'Repel them with metal sounds' technique, she actually ran up to them, destroyed them, and then burnt their ashes to keep them from returning."

Both of Justin's eyebrows raised at that statement. "Wow... so she's that dangerous?!"

"Only if angered, or threatened... but despite common rumors, she's still in control, and can change between, what we call, 'Pinkamena Dianne Pie'... and back into 'Pinkie Pie', at will... and either way, she won't harm a friend, regardless. Think of it as her... darker personality, but more tamed than the usual victims of MPD... Multiple Personality Disorder."

Again, Justin nodded his head. "I'm glad to know that one, at least. Thank you for the heads-up!"

Maud then walked closer to him and asked, "But I have to ask, though... what exactly do you have against starting a relationship? I know you and your daughter are both trying to go to Equestria so you can go home again, but what if there isn't a way to send you back to your world? Or what if you end up going back, but return here again someday? Wouldn't you like to have an extended family to look forward to coming back to see again, eventually?"

Justin closed his eyes, and began heading out the door. "It isn't about me not wanting to start a relationship... it's about a promise I made... long ago."

"Who did you promise, exactly?" Maud asked, now starting to cause Justin's hands to curl up into fists.

"I'd rather not say." Justin whispered.

"Why not? You are in control of your life, now! Who could possibly hold you against starting a relationship?!"

Finally, Justin snapped. With a glare on his face, he punched the wall to his right with his right fist, and looked down... silencing Maud's questioning, and leaving a large dent in the wall. Then, at the top of his lungs, he shouted, "I PROMISED RUBY, OKAY?!" Then his eyes began to fill with tears.

Maud remained silent for a moment, before looking back at Pinkie Pie. "But... she and my sister get along very well, though... what do you mean-"

"I'm not talking about my daughter..." Justin interrupted, which made Maud raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Not your daughter? So wait... you mean to tell me that..."

With a heavy sigh, Justin nodded his head. "Yes... I'm talking about my fiance... my daughter's mother."

"What... happened?" Maud asked, now sounding far more concerned than before.

Taking a deep breath, Justin turned back to her and replied, "She died... after giving birth to my daughter."

"But... she isn't biologically your daughter, is she? She told us, already."

Justin nodded his head. "Yeah... but even so, I took her in. After all, I was engaged to her mother when she was born... and as such, I feel it is necessary to be her father... since her biological father was a criminal... a rapist, no less."

Maud looked away from him, and slowly nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss... we've both gone through a tragic loss... so I know how you feel." As she said that, she pulled the pebble that remained of Boulder from her pocket.

Justin looked at the pebble, and then looked away. "It wasn't your fault that she died... if anything, I'm the one who should be sorry... your friend sounded like a good person. I wish I could've met him."

Suddenly, Justin felt a pair of arms wrap around him from his back. When he turned around, he noticed Ruby was there, hugging him. Weakly smiling, Justin lowered to the ground level, and picked her up in a returning hug. "Daddy... I don't want you to be sad... or mad."

Justin chuckled at his daughter, and gently brushed her mane. "Hey, Ruby... don't worry, I'm feeling better, now... sorry if I caused a commotion." Then he turned to Maud, and smiled. "Thank you, Maud... it's been a while since I could talk about-" before he could finish his sentence, however, the ship started to shake.

"What the..." he began, before Gilded ran in. Then Justin passed Ruby to Gilded and said, "Gilded, watch over Ruby! I'm going down to the Maintenance Room to see what Stealth is up to!"

With a nod, Gilded replied, "Be safe, Justin!"

"I never am." Justin replied with a smirk, before running out the door, and towards the manhole. Then he pulled open the door to the manhole, and slipped through, only to find a few spots in the bottom of the metallic boat, and Swift constantly running through the rising puddles of water from the holes that were spraying water from. "Stealth! What's going on down here?!"

After plugging a hole with a small screw, Stealth replied, "Something hit us from the south, mate! We need to find land, and we need to find it quickly!"

Suddenly, the door to the manhole opened again, and Limestone ran in. "Justin! Stealth! We need to abandon ship, now!"

"What's going on in the radars? Did you find something?" Justin asked, as both he and Stealth followed her to the manhole; shortly after Stealth plugged the last of the holes with whatever he could find, and checking to make sure he knew that the holes that were spewing water were all plugged up, and no longer a threat for now.

Limestone nodded her head as they climbed up and replied, "Yes... and it's something big!"

The second that they exited the manhole, the group were all standing at the edges of the rails, trying to find the source of the massive quake that nearly took the ship.

At first, it almost seemed to be gone, until Marble's voice called from the loudspeaker, "GUYS! WHAT'S THAT UP THERE IN FRONT OF US?!"

When the group looked up front, their eyes widened at the sight of a massive glowing white orb of light attached to a black tentacle-like pole that rose from the water, four times the length of the ship up high. Then, from the distance, they saw a pair of giant, pupil-free eyes attached to a colossal, spherical fish with an enormous mouth, filled with teeth three to four times the size of the ship.

"Oh, buck..." Gilda stuttered, before turning to Justin. "WE JUST PISSED OFF A BUCKING ANGLER WHALE!"

As she said that, the distant Angler Whale began to growl, before roaring in a loud, roach-like hiss, before starting to make a floating dash towards the boat.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Consider the pic at the top of this announcement a size reference (though the one in the story isn't THAT big. No need to worry about it being THAT overpowered!) Oh, and for the source, it's in THIS LINK.

Here we are again, My Little Bronies! A New Chapter, of a New Day! (Imagine how much of a doozy it's gonna be to fight THAT thing! :pinkiegasp: )

As always, stay tuned, My Little Bronies! And remember... "When someone's got you down, it takes a TRUE friend to help you back up... but for most to know you need their help, it's always wise to ask for it." :twilightsmile:

Season 3, Episode 2: Fishing For Trouble

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 2

Fishing For Trouble

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"By the way, what do you think about Swift?" Pinkie's voice echoed.

"...We're feeling perfectly fine, alright?" Gilda replied in an annoyed tone.

"Whew! Finally, I got a chance to take a bath, and sleep on a bed again!" Justin happily stated after a yawn.

Pinkie Pie fainted.

"Pinkie! Are you alright?!" Justin asked concernedly, before rushing up to her.

"Yeah, she's fine. Just had a little too much salt in her drink, that's all." Gilda replied calmly, while placing Pinkie on the table.

"You know she's only eighteen, don't you?" Maud asked Justin.

"Oh... well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on her, so she doesn't do this anymore, then. Thanks for bringing that up." Justin replied.

"I don't think she was drinking, Justin... I think there's something going on between the two of you. As her older sister, I'd like to know what it is." Maud stated.

"...I only view her as a friend... and I view her as that only because she helped us get out of there." Justin replied.

"You've read about Ponies, correct?" Maud asked.

Justin nodded his head and replied, "At least, I've read about Earth Ponies being more stronger, and capable of more manual labor than the Unicorns and Pegasi combined."

"Then... have you read about 'Estrus' Periods?" Maud asked.

Justin looked at her nervously and took a few steps back.

"...What exactly do you have against starting a relationship?..." Maud asked.

"It isn't about me not wanting to start a relationship... it's about a promise I made... long ago." Justin replied, now starting to look and sound annoyed.

"Who did you promise, exactly?" Maud asked.

Justin tried to deny her questions, only to end up snapping.

"I PROMISED RUBY, OKAY?!" He yelled.

"But... she and my sister get along very well, though... what do you mean-" Maud was cut off by Justin.

"I'm not talking about my daughter... I'm talking about my fiance... my daughter's mother."

"What... happened?"

"She died... after giving birth to my daughter."

Ruby hugged Justin.

"Daddy...I don't want you to be sad... or mad." Ruby said.

Justin picked her up and hugged her back. "Hey, Ruby... don't worry, I'm feeling better, now... sorry if I caused a commotion."

Justin looked at Maud, and smiled.

"Thank you, Maud... it's been a while since I could talk about-" before he could finish his sentence, however, the ship started to shake.

Gilded stepped in.

Justin passed Ruby to Gilded.

"Gilded, watch over Ruby! I'm going down to the Maintenance Room to see what Stealth is up to!" Justin stated.

"Be safe, Justin!" Gilded told him.

Justin smirked. "I never am."

Justin climbed through the manhole, and saw the entire area flooded. "Stealth! What's going on down here?!"

"Something hit us from the south, mate! We need to find land, and we need to find it quickly!" Stealth replied.

"Justin! Stealth! We need to abandon ship, now!" Limestone stated.

"What's going on in the radars? Did you find something?" Justin asked.

Limestone nodded. "Yes... and it's something big!"

The group spotted a giant fish-like monster headed their way.

"WE JUST PISSED OFF A BUCKING ANGLER WHALE!" Gilda shouted, as the said monster began charging their way.

As the behemoth of a sea monster charged towards the group, everyone on board looked nervously at the creature's fangs. Then, after looking around the ship, Justin checked his saddlebag, and found his old wooden buckler that was still dented from his plunge into Druathica.

Gilded recognized the expression that he had, and asked, "Justin? I know that look... what's the plan?"

Gilda popped Gilded in the back of the head and replied, "The bucking plan is ta get the buck off the ship!"

Although the crew nodded their heads and were about to head to the lifeboats, Justin dismissed her claim and loudly declared, "All hands on deck! Get to your stations! We can't lose this boat!"

"WHAT?!" Gilda shouted, only for Justin to pull the shield from his belt, lick his thumb, and lift it in the air, not even being phased by her shouting right next to him. "HAVE YA LOST YOUR BUCKING MIND?! THAT THING WILL TEAR THIS SHIP APART!"

In a calm manner, Justin replied, "Yeah, well if we're in a lifeboat, we're even more defenseless. Now, hold this for me, please." As he said that, he passed her a rope that was tied to the side of the ship.

"Daddy... what are you doing?!" Ruby asked in a nervous, yet slightly annoyed tone (having grown familiar with the look he was giving, also), only for Justin to chuckle.

Then, with a mighty swing, Justin threw his shield in the air, aimed directly over the Angler Whale's antenna, and drew his bow. After that, he drew a ghost arrow, shot at the flying shield, turned towards his daughter, and replied with a daring smile, "Fishing!"

As the crew's jaws dropped, Justin quickly ran towards the rails, put his bow back around his arm, and drew both of his longswords from the sheaths that crossed at the back of his belt. Then, as soon as the arrow hit the distant shield, he evaporated in a mist mid-jump, and in the blink of an eye, he was falling on a collision course for the Angler's antenna.

As soon as he reached the Angler, he quickly pierced both of his swords into the stem below the light, while the force of his landing caused the antenna to lean towards its back... much to it's displeasure.

With a loud hiss, it stopped moving towards the ship, and began flailing about, in an attempt to get the human off of it. Regardless of its strength, however, Justin still managed to keep his balance on it, while using his swords to climb higher up.

Debating on his next course of action, Justin looked up, and saw that it would take too long for him to reach it through climbing. So, once the creature's flailing lessened in strength, he quickly lifted his feet to the center of the blades, and kicked the blades out, sending him flying backwards. Then, as quickly as he could, he placed his right sword between his teeth, flipped his left sword reverse-grip style, drew his bow, and shot a ghost arrow upwards, sending him even higher up the creature.

After landing once more, he had to close his eyes to keep the light of the creature's antenna from blinding him. Then he put his bow back around his shoulder, drew his right sword again, and started stabbing at the antenna, which again caused it to flail about. This time, however, it managed to sling Justin in the air, while it rotated into the water, and went deeper, leaving Justin flying in the air.

"DADDY!" Ruby shouted, only for Gilded to spread his wings.

"I'M FINE! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" Justin shouted to Gilded, which caused him to stop his attempted rescue.

Before he could even ask why, he noticed the water below Justin started to glow. Then, in the blink of an eye, the colossal Angler Whale leaped out of the water, and had its mouth open, ready to swallow Justin whole, much to the crew's shock.

Instinctively, Justin threw one of his swords in the air, and shot an arrow at it, while the Angler Whale drew ominously closer to him. Then, as soon as he was within reach, it enclosed him inside it with one gulp, and a massive snap of the fangs, which only made Ruby's eyes widen in fear.

"DADDY!" She screamed, only for Gilded to block her from trying to jump in and rescue him.

Suddenly, the Angler Whale turned towards the crew, and opened its mouth in a loud hissing roar, while unknown to it, a human falling from far in the sky was diving below, sword-first, and aimed for its scalp.

"NEXT STOP: THE SUSHI BAR!" Justin shouted, which made the crew and the Angler Whale turn their heads towards the source of the yell.

As soon as the Angler turned to face him, however, it was too late. From inside its forehead, Justin took a deep plunge, and sent both of them in the water with a huge splash.

Then, the two of them remained underwater.

Things remained silent, until five minutes have passed. Ruby looked over the rails, and began to panic, until Gilded quickly removed his shoulder pads, dropped his weapons, and jumped onto the rails. "That's it, I'm going in!"

As soon as he said that, however, he was blown off the rails by a gust of wind, which was the result of the Angler Whale rising back up to the surface level. Then, it slowly started moving towards them, which only made the crew gasp, and step back from the rails. Gilded quickly put his armor back on, and held his spear up in a defensive stance.

Then, the unexpected happened. The Angler Whale turned around, revealing a surprisingly cheerful human standing on its back with his staff glowing a green aura.

"Alright, Gilda! I need that rope, please!" Justin called from the back of the creature, as it slowly backed closer to the ship.

Gilda stood there silently, and slack-jawed, until she pointed at the Angler. "What... the buck... did you just do?"

With a shrug, Justin replied, "Eh, just killed it, and used Nature Magic to re-animate it to do what we want. Now, we have a faster way of transportation!" Then he pointed at the Angler's antenna. "I'll tie the rope to it's antenna, and maybe add a couple more to the sides of it for extra stability. Then, we can get to Atlantis in no time!"

Gilded chuckled, and then walked up to his sister and friend. "Good thinking, Justin!" Then he patted him on the back... but then, popped him in the back of the head.

"OW! What the Hell, Gilded?!" Justin complained, only to get popped in the back of the head by Gilda, as well. "OW!"

Then Ruby walked up to him, and tugged on his arm. "Oh, please! Not you too!" *POP* "OUCH! RUBY?!"

Suddenly, Ruby stopped herself from popping him a second time, sniffed her hand, and gagged. "Eww, gross! Daddy, you smell funny!" She said while pinching her nose with her hand she didn't pop him with.

When Gilda and Gilded noticed the smell also, they backed away from him. "Ugh! Justin!"

With a shrug, Justin chuckled nervously. "What? I was inside the belly of a fish for five minutes! Don't think something like that would smell like freakin' roses and daisies!"

That statement caused Ruby to tilt her head in confusion. "By the way, how did you stay underwater for so long?"

"Simple!" Justin stated, before pointing at his sapphire ring. "I used Water Magic to make my lungs emulate gills while I was in there."

"Well... just please don't do something like that again, Daddy!" Ruby complained with teary eyes.

With a sigh, Justin lowered to her level, and replied, "Don't worry, Ruby. If I ever do anything, it's with good purpose... to protect you, and the rest of our 'family'. Okay?"

Ruby nodded her head, and reached her arms out to give Justin a hug... but before she even got close to him, she stopped in place and deadpanned, as her jaw dropped out of disgust. "Ugh! Not until you get a bath, Daddy!" Then she pointed at the main entrance, while Justin chuckled and nodded his head.

"Alright, already! I'm going!" He said with a chuckle. Then, once he stepped into the room, he noticed Pinkie Pie was right there headed towards the doorway. "Hey, Pinkie!"

She froze in place, and started to turn red at the close proximity that she and Justin were standing in. Then she nervously replied, "H-hi! Um... d-did I... miss anything?"

Justin shrugged his shoulders and continued to move onward towards the bathroom. "Yeah, I caught an Angler Whale, and need to go take a bath now."

At the mentioning of the word "bath", Pinkie's nose spewed a small stream of blood. Then, in a wavy tone, she stuttered, "J-Just... tin... b... baa... bath...?" Then she passed out again, while Justin was already out of the room, and headed towards his destination.

When he stepped out of the bathroom, he had his clothes drying in the drier, after having his clothes wash while he was bathing. So, he had to wear a towel over a pair of long undergarments that he had tailored for such occasions... not that anyone from the group had minded him being shirtless before, anyways. He wore the towel over the long-johns for extra consideration of the group's comfort, and his privacy.

As soon as he made it to the main room again, he noticed Pinkie on the floor, and gasped. "Pinkie! Are you alright?!"

When he leaned down to help her up, she slowly opened her eyes, and nodded her head. "Y-yeah, I'm o-" Before she could finish her sentence, the first thing she noticed was Justin's chest... his bare chest.

His chest was naturally hairy, but scattered across it were clearly visible healed wounds that appeared to span across his entire body. On his chest, several scratch marks that appeared to have come from Timberwolves crossed over other scars in several different directions. On the side of his stomach, the scar that he got from Stonefist was healed, but still visible. Near where his right kidney was, a round mark where he was impaled was visible, but also healed. Across his back, though... there were huge gashes the size of a Manticore's claws that stretched from over his shoulders, all the way down to his midsection.

Despite the fact that he was bare-chested, Pinkie gasped and asked, "Oh my gosh! What in the world happened to you?!"

After looking at her confusedly, Justin followed her eyes, and noticed that her eyes were locked onto his wounds. "Oh, these? Don't worry, they're old flesh wounds."

"OLD FLESH WOUNDS?! JUSTIN! THESE ARE FROM TIMBERWOLVES!" Suddenly, her eyes noticed the marks that started on his shoulders. Quickly, she crawled around him, and gasped when she saw the ten claw marks that lowered to his back. "Oh my gosh! Are... are those what I think they are?!"

With a sigh, Justin nodded his head. "From a Manticore? Yeah."

"I... had no idea!" Pinkie stated, before crawling in front of Justin again. At this point, the two of them were seated on the floor cross-legged. "H-how did you get clawed by a Manticore?!"

Justin turned to the main door and replied, "It was about to pounce on Ruby... so I jumped between them, and took the hit. It's thanks to Gilded that the wounds aren't any worse than they are now."

At once, Pinkie looked saddened. "Wow... you would get clawed by a Manticore just to keep her safe, wouldn't you?"

Justin nodded his head without looking her way. "And more, if necessary. Heck, I even caught the Angler Whale out there for all of our safety!"

Pinkie gasped at that statement, which made Justin turn her way again. "Wait, wait, wait-wait! Did you just say... Angler Whale?!"

Again, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah... didn't I tell you that already?" Then the realization hit him. "Oh... I guess you must've passed out at around that time."

Pinkie blushed once more. "Y-yeah... I'm sorry. This whole thing is very new to me! I don't even know how, or where, to begin stopping myself from fainting over my own fan-"

Suddenly, the laundry drier buzzed through the doorway, signaling Justin that his clothes were dry now, and interrupting Pinkie Pie mid-sentence. "Huh. Guess my clothes are done drying, now!"

"C-clothes? Wait, you mean-" It was then that Pinkie noticed that she was next to a man who was only in his underwear... which made her nose bleed out once again, her entire face to turn red, and her eyes to widen at the sudden realization.

Unaware of what was going on with Pinkie, Justin was facing the bathroom door. "Perhaps when I put the rest of my clothes on, I can show you the-" *THUMP* "...Pinkie?"

To Be Continued...

Season 3, Episode 3: The Road to Atlantis

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 3

The Road to Atlantis

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

In three days, our heroes have already found, and managed to capture, an Angler Whale; a vicious behemoth from the deepest portions of the sea.

With it on their side, the supposed week-long trip was reduced by two days. The boosted speed would surely be an improvement in their transportation, and with the mighty Angler Whale in front of their ship, they were also guaranteed no interferences with pirates.

After Pinkie woke up from her unconsciousness, the first thing she saw was Justin. Thankfully for her, though, he was completely clothed again. Unfortunate for her, though... it was him that she saw first. (Or maybe, it was unfortunate for him, that she saw him first...)

Slowly, Pinkie Pie started to wake up... only to notice that she was in her bed, instead of in the main lobby of the boat. She looked out the window that rested between hers and Gilda's beds, only to be interrupted by the door to the room opening. When she turned around, she froze in place again, as the figure who stepped in her room was none other than Justin, himself. This time, however, he was wearing his usual clothing; a yellow trench-coat like hooded yellow jacket, blue denim jeans, and dark brown boots, with his right shoulder pad belted over his jacket, and his saddle bag belted over his waist with a Minotaur-sized buckle over his belt.

He smiled at her, and chuckled lightly, while motioning his arms forward, which were carrying a tray with a sandwich on top of it. "You sure do have a tendency of passing out around me. Here, this should help you wake up."

Slowly, Justin walked up to her, and offered the tray to the nervous Pinkie Pie. Then, he sighed and gently placed it on her bed, and turned around to leave. "I should... probably get back to the lobby."

"Wait... please." Pinkie stated, which made Justin stop mid-swing of the door, and turn around. Then he noticed she was no longer looking at him nervously, but rather, with a weak smile. "Thank you... I'm sorry. I probably should've told you that I've been dealing with my Estrus Period for a while now... and my mood swings are a result. It's okay now, though... I've gotten past it at this point."

With a nod, Justin stepped back in the room, and sat on the bed opposite of Pinkie's, while she, in turn, sat back on her bed, and picked the sandwich up from the tray. "Thank you, Justin. I know you must be feeling uncomfortable around me... and to be fair, I kinda feel the same way around you... but only because of my Estrus. It comes and goes at random times around the week that it occurs... but only during the week before or after is when it does so... and within three days, at most."

Justin chuckled at her, and shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, it's no big deal. I'm already used to it, anyways. Besides, your sister Maud already gave me the warnings, and all that."

Pinkie lightly giggled at that. "Good, good... she always was a good caretaker when my mom and dad weren't around."

Rubbing his chin in thought, Justin said, "You know... you haven't really told me much about Equestria, yet... if you don't mind me asking, what's it like?"

With a wide smile, Pinkie looked up in the air, and asked, "Oh, where to begin?"

"How about the place you're most familiar with? I've heard you no longer live in the Rock Farm with your parents or closest-aged sisters."

"Of course! Yeah, I haven't really been to the Rock Farm in a while, but my mom and dad still kept in touch through mail. Actually, I live in Ponyville, which is a small little community close to Canterlot, the Capital City."

"So, you live close to Princess Celestia and Luna, then?" Justin asked, which Pinkie nodded in response.

"Uh-huh! Even better, though! My friends and I actually know the princesses on a closer level than the average citizen!"

Justin's eyes widened at that statement. "No, way! Really?!"

With a cheerful nod, Pinkie replied, "Yep! Then again, it does help with the fact that my friends and I are the bearers of the 'Elements of Harmony', after all."

"Wait... so YOU and your friends from this 'Ponyville' place... are the 'Sacred Weapons' that the books spoke of?!" Justin asked in a shocked tone.

Pinkie nodded her head again. "Yep! I... guess I forgot to tell you that, huh?"

Justin simply nodded his head, and looked away from her. "Wow... no wonder you seemed different from the rest of the Ponies I've run into. You stand out from them both physically, and personally."

"Yeah... hey, can you guess which one I am?" She asked with a huge, somewhat unnerving smile.

Justin hummed to the question. "Well, considering you wouldn't hesitate to kill any threats when necessary, I'd say Kindness is out of the list. You tend to avoid going into too much dangerous situations when you're... 'Pinkie' and not 'Pinkamena', so Loyalty isn't it, either. You're an Earth Pony, so Magic is an obvious no. You might be honest, but you also have a lot that you don't say, like your Estrus Period, so not Honesty. If anything, you could either count for Generosity or Laughter, since you give everyone your utmost attention, even when you don't appear to be paying any attention... but since your mane and tail seem to show off a 'goofy' vibe, I'm gonna have to go with 'The Element of Laughter'."

Pinkie gasped at his revelation, then nodded her head. "Wow! You're pretty good at this, huh?"

Justin shrugged his shoulders. "Believe me, it's not that difficult. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for the most details."

"Yeah! Like how you have a spirit trapped in your staff!" Pinkie stated randomly, only for Justin to raise an eyebrow and tilt his head.

"I beg your pardon?" Justin asked confusedly, only for Pinkie to giggle.

"What? Didn't he tell you that he would be visiting you soon?" Pinkie asked casually.

Then, Justin looked at his staff, and stared at it in different directions. "I'm... not sure what you mean there, Pinkie... where did you-"

"You'll know later, Justin! Believe me... you'll know!" Pinkie stated calmly, until she finished off the rest of her sandwich, and picked the tray up. Then, she bounced from the bed with, what Justin claimed to have heard, a 'spring'-like sound.

"Okay, then..." he stated confusedly, before following the pink mare. "You've got me in the need for some fresh air." Then he snapped his fingers, and called from the hall, "Hey, Pinkie! Want to see the Angler Whale up close?"

Pinkie stopped in place, and turned around with wide eyes and a slack-jawed expression. "O-oh! S-sure!" Then she raised an eyebrow, and tilted her head. "Wait... are you sure you're comfortable with me spending time with you, though? I mean, I wouldn't hold it against you if you were to, y'know, avoid me, and all that!"

Justin shook his head and chuckled. "Pinkie, like I said, you're practically part of the family now, like everyone else! What better way to cure your infatuation than just to act like normal friends?" Then, before she could even respond, Justin was already in front of her with his right hand stretched out for her to take. "We are friends, aren't we?"

Pinkie merely stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, until she looked up at him and smiled warmly. Then, she nodded her head, and placed her left hand in his offered hand, and replied, "O-of course! Lead the way, friend!"

With that, the two of them headed to the end of the hall, and out the door... headed for where the Angler Whale was.

From inside the dining area, Swift and Gilda were sitting at the same table. "So, Swift. What do ya think about moving to Gryphonia with me? I mean, we are boyfriend and girlfriend now, ain't we? Isn't that what couples kinda do?"

Swift hummed to himself for a moment. "Well, I don't see why not... as long as the Gryphons don't mind, that is."

"Buck their opinions! I'm the top-class Mercenary there, Dumbass! If they have a problem, they can take it to their graves!" She retorted with a sly grin at the last statement.

Swift, however, smiled nervously and nodded his head. "Y-yes, dear! Then I'd be happy to move in with you! (As long as you don't end up killing me beforehand!)"

Gilda chuckled, before playfully punching him on his right shoulder. "Hey, c'mon, champ! Ya know I wouldn't kill my boyfriend, don't ya?" Then, she grinned mischievously, before adding, "That is, I wouldn't kill my boyfriend, unless he ever gets caught cheating on me, or decides to dump me! Perhaps even try to disagree with me too much. Oh, and you'll also have ta know how to handle my dad, too! I'm sure he will have a lot ta say!"

That statement caused Swift to look away, and sweat nervously. "H-hey! I'm not that kind of stallion, G! I wouldn't even look at another female with those kinds of eyes!"

"Then there ain't nothin' to be afraid of, is there, Dweeb? You don't look all googly-eyed at any other girls, and I won't have ta worry about gouging those googly eyes out!" That statement made Swift gulp and nod his head. He then started nervously tugging the collar of his light blue t-shirt, and looked away from her once more.

That, of course, gave Gilda an idea.

With a sly grin, she rested her arms in her lap and leaned towards Swift (giving him a better view of her chest behind her breastplate), and winked. "What's the matter, Swifty? Can't handle lookin' at cha own girlfriend?"

When he turned her way, his eyes widened, and his pupils shrunk. Then, he felt a slight copper-smelling liquid running over his mouth, which made him stand up and stutter, "I... t-think... I b-better go, now..."

When he started walking away from the table, Gilda called back to him. "Don't forget ta wash your hands!"

Letting out a gasp, Swift retorted, "I was talking about going to get a breath of fresh air!" Then he walked out of the door; face red as a tomato, and girlfriend laughing her hindquarters off. Whenever he wiped his right hand over his upper lip, he looked at his finger, and tilted his head in confusion, sure what it was, but confused of how it got there. "How in Tartarus did I get a nosebleed?!"

In Zula's room, Zula was standing on one finger, which was balanced on a stick of bamboo. Her entire body was upside-down, and she was wearing nothing more than her panties and bra, which were both stitched out of leaves and pine. Her right pointing finger was balanced on the stick, and her hooves were crossed. Her left hand was in a prayer-like pattern, ending directly at the central area of her chest, and hovering just barely under her snout. Her eyes were closed tightly, and her mouth was sealed shut. Not a word was being spoken in her room.

Suddenly someone on the other side of her room began to knock on the door. "Who is it?" She asked.

"Um, Miss Zula?" Ruby called from the other side, which made Zula smile.

"Please, come in, little Pony Child. I could always use a guest! Please, don't mind my room... it may not look its best." Zula said in a cheerful mood.

When Ruby stepped in the room, she noticed Zula's form of exercise. "Whoa! I wish I could do that!"

Zula giggled at the curious child, and opened her left eye, which was facing the doorway. "An exercise passed down from generations since... and yet to this day, it has made quite a difference! For a Zebra to clear its mind, one must be physically fit and swell, and one must be smart, for the brain is a muscle, as well!"

Ruby giggled, and nodded her head. "I see that... by the way, do all Zebras rhyme like that?"

Zula closed her left eye again, and nodded her head. "Indeed, it is tradition that we do. I could stop, though, if it bothers you."

Ruby shook her head in response. "Actually... I think it sounds really cool! Please, don't stop yourself from being yourself."

Then Zula opened her left eye again, and hummed. "Your father is right, in protecting your heart of pure. You are wiser than your age states... of that, I am sure. Tell me, Little Ruby, why did you come to see me, though? I'm not the most interesting of the crew... and even I know."

Ruby closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Zula... I want to learn how to use magic... and I was wondering if you could teach me? I may not be a true Alicorn, but Gilded told me that I did something back at the hospital in Port Greenhold! He told me that I... brought Daddy back to life!"

Closing her eyes again, Zula nodded her head, as her smile turned into a serious expression. "Indeed, I was there, when the miracle occurred. I must apologize to you, though... that power I've never seen or heard. That is, until you performed it before our very eyes. I can tell you have more power than any of us realize." Then, Zula folded her hooves over her chest and, in one spry leap, did a flip in the air, and landed her hooves on the bamboo, which was still balanced on the floor somehow. "If you wish to train the Druathican way, I must have permission from you, and hear what your father would say. Then, you'll need to think about the safety of the ship... for if something were to happen, your father's heart would surely skip."

The two of them lightly laughed at that last statement, while Ruby nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Miss Zula! I'll go ask Daddy right away!"

"Never forget your manners, kind-hearted child... and remember to speak with me, should your spells start going wild. And please, remember to tell your father this as well! He can always talk to me, should he need help with any spell." Zula stated, as she leaned halfway down the bamboo stick to look at Ruby closer.

With a nod, Ruby smiled and started heading out of Zula's room. "Yes, ma'am Thank you, Miss Zula! I'll try to be back shortly!"

Zula smiled and nodded her head. "Take care, Ruby. Come back any time! Perhaps then, I can also teach you how we rhyme!"

Gilded was sitting on a bench with a small round table in-between he and Stealth Paws. Both of them were glaring at each other, while covering their mouths with sets of cards.

Sweat started falling from Stealth's forehead, until he grinned. "Do you have any... fives?"

Gilded sighed a breath of relief, before replying, "Go fish."

"Damn it!" Stealth retorted, before he started drawing the next card from the top of the deck.

"Do you have any nines?" Gilded asked, only for Stealth to grin again.

"Go fish, mate!" he stated, only to stop drawing the card from the top of the deck... which happened to be a nine. "You bucking cheated!"

"Did not! And that's a false call, so you gotta skip a turn!" Gilded retorted.

Stealth groaned, before Gilded called out his next card. "Ya got any aces?"

"DAMN IT!" Stealth shouted, before placing the card in front of Gilded.

Finally, with the last card in his hand, Gilded asked, "Ya got any threes?"

Stealth laughed and retorted, "GO FISH!"

Gilded merely shrugged his shoulders, drew the next card, paused for a moment, then grinned mischievously. "Stealth, do you have any-"

"My turn! Do you have any sixes?" Stealth interrupted.

Gilded deadpanned at him, then showed him both of his cards, which made Stealth's pupils shrink, and his jaw to drop. "-idea what this means?" Gilded's beak formed a clever smile, in contrast with Stealth's angry glare.

"Ah, BUCK YOU, MATE!" Stealth complained, before throwing his cards on the table.

Gilded chuckled before standing from his seat. "Looks like you're the one in charge of dishes today!"

Stealth sighed before nodding his head. "You suck..."

Gilded shrugged his shoulders, closed his eyes, and then turned to leave. While leaving, though, he said, "Ya know, it would've helped if you didn't have that mirror behind you."

That statement caused Stealth to gasp and turn around. Sure enough, a large mirror was hanging on the wall directly behind him. "How the buck did I not notice that?!" Stealth mumbled to himself, until a realization hit him. "HEY! YOU CHEATED! I CALL A REMATCH!"

Gilded rolled his eyes, while he continued smiling and walking out. "Not 'till tomorrow, buddy! Anyways, later!" And just like that, he left the angry Fox to pick up the cards, and mutter complaints beneath his breath.

When Gilded stepped into the hall, he had to stop himself in his tracks to avoid bumping into Ruby, who was quickly walking through the hallway with a smile on her face. "Oh, hey Ruby!" Gilded commented, while waving his right claw at her.

Ruby stopped, turned around, and smiled, before waving right back at him and replying, "Oh! Good morning, Mr. Gilded! Sorry if I bumped into you!"

Gilded chuckled and shook his head. "Nah, it's fine! I gotta ask, though... what's got you so worked up today?"

"Sorry, I was just happy because Zula said she'd help me learn more about magic!" Ruby replied.

"Ah, that does seem like something you'd be happy about. After all, you did want to learn more about magic before we went to Druid Lake." Gilded commented as he crossed his arms and nodded his head. "So I take it you're looking for your dad then, huh?"

Ruby nodded her head and turned around. "Yes, sir! Anyways, I gotta go now. It's been fun talking with you again, Mr. Gilded!"

Letting out another chuckle, Gilded waved at the ecstatic filly and replied, "And to you as well, Ruby! Stay safe!"

And before another second could even pass, Ruby was already out of the hallway, leaving Gilded to continue walking through.

Zero Gravity and Heavenly Quill were in the Entertainment Room, which contained a dartboard, a Ping Pong table, a net, and a ball to be thrown inside the net. On another corner, there was a bookshelf with numerous books stacked on it, and two were missing.

Sitting on the opposite ends of each other, Zero and Quill were reading "Daring Do", an increasingly popular book that was said to have originated from Equestrian Literature.

Thor'lok and Topaz Claw were both in the room as well, playing Ping Pong with each other... although to Topaz, it felt more like "Dodge Ball", instead, because Thor'lok continuously hit the ball too hard, sending it flying at a dangerous speed. Sand Barrier and Storm Light were tossing the ball at the net, already on a tied-in game of "Horse", where one would throw the ball in the net a certain way, while the other would have to emulate the shot next. Software Patch merely stood at a corner, and was keeping score for everyone who were competing.

Finally, with a mighty swing, Thor'lok sent the ball flying across the room, while Topaz ducked for cover, and watched in horror as the ball flew towards Zero at an alarming rate.

Before it could even reach him, however, Software appeared in front of it and caught the ball with his right claws and said, "One point for Topaz Claw."

Thor'lok grumbled and sat his paddle on the table. "Thor'lok no like Ping Pong. Thor'lok go get fresh air."

Topaz breathed a sigh of relief and held his right claw out. "Good game, Thor'lok! I noticed you were trying to do better, and I respect that!"

Thor'lok nodded his head and shook Topaz's outstretched claw, only for a crunching noise to be heard, and following that, Topaz was lifted off of his paws each time Thor'lok shook his claw up. "Thor'lok thank Topaz. Thor'lok be back soon."

With that, the red-coated Minotaur walked out of the room, and into the hallway, while the Diamond Dog began rubbing his possibly broken claw, and whining with dog-like moans.

Before he could even take two steps, Thor'lok felt a bump on his right leg, and quickly turned to see Ruby stumbling back; about to fall down. Quickly, Thor'lok reached his right hand out, and caught Ruby just in time. "Thor'lok sorry! Ruby okay?!" He asked in a panicky tone.

Ruby chuckled nervously and turned away from the worried Minotaur. "Oh, hey Thor'lok! Don't worry, I'm fine! Actually, I'm sorry for getting you worried like that. I was just looking for Daddy. He wasn't in our room, and now I'm worried about him."

Thor'lok nodded his head. "Thor'lok understand. Ruby need help?"

That statement made Ruby smile. "You can if you want! Thank you, Thor'lok!"

Thor'lok smiled and gently brushed Ruby's mane, which made her giggle. "Thor'lok happy to help!"

And with that, the two of them began their search for Justin.

"SWEET CELESTIA! YOU ACTUALLY MANAGED TO CATCH THAT THING?!" Pinkie Pie practically screamed, as she and Justin stepped out of the Main Lobby.

With a chuckle, Justin nodded his head. "Indeed, I did! And thanks to it, we are able to get to Atlantis much quicker, now!"

Pinkie merely stared at the behemoth that was pulling the ship forward with wide eyes. "W-wow! You must be quite the Angler, huh?"

That statement caused both of them to chuckle, while Justin nodded. "An 'Angler for Anglers', I guess."

Then, he rubbed his chin in thought. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. While catching it, I noticed a pretty neat view. Want to check it out?"

Pinkie looked his way, then back at the Angler. "Um... sure! What kind of view is it, exactly?"

With a shrug, Justin replied, "It's a pretty high view... but it's safe, nonetheless... at least, while I'm up there." Then he released Pinkie's left hand, drew his bow, and shot a ghost arrow in the sky, which made Pinkie's eyes widen. "Hold on tight, please."

Pinkie gulped and nodded her head, before abiding by his instructions. Then, in the blink of an eye, the two of them were engulfed in a mist, and were now standing on top of the Angler Whale's dim light on the top of its antenna.

When Pinkie noticed just how high they were, she shrieked, and began hugging Justin's right arm, while he chuckled and said, "Relax, Pinkie. I have us under a protective shield bubble. We don't have to worry about falling." As he said that, he reached his left hand in front of them, and stepped towards the edge of the antenna. As soon as he made it to the edge, a blue wave of, what appeared to be, light pulsed around them, revealing the location of the bubble.

Pinkie looked around their location, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh... thank you, Justin. That's a relief!" With that, she released his arm from her bear hug, and smiled at him.

Justin looked her way again, and chuckled. "So... like the view?"

He then felt her left hand wrap around his right hand again, while she said in a calm tone, "Yes... it's really nice... thank you, Justin."

Justin nodded his head, and smiled at the sunrise, unaware of the fact that Pinkie was looking at him as she said that. Even so, she found herself looking at the rising sun with him.

Ruby, Swift, Gilded, and Thor'lok looked up at the two from the edges of the rails, and smiled. "Well... looks like someone might be cheering up already!" Gilded said, before looking at Ruby. "What do you think, Ruby? Should I fly up there and get your dad?"

Ruby rubbed her chin in thought, before shaking her head. "Nah... I think it's time that Daddy starts feeling more calmer... and it looks like Pinkie Pie could be the only one who can help him with that."

With a nod, the adults of the four started heading towards the Main Lobby again, while Ruby continued looking up at her dad, and her new friend. Then, when she turned around to leave, a sudden thought caused her to stop in her tracks, while a pang in her heart made her start feeling a sudden sense of sadness. "What... what if I don't... what if I don't even want to go back?" Ruby stuttered. Then, after walking into the main room, she quickly ran through the hallways, and back to hers and her dad's room. There, she burst through the door, and started crying in her pillow, as the impact of having to say good-bye to her new friends began clouding up her mind.

To Be Continued...

Season 3, Episode 4: Tension Aboard the S.S. Atlantis

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 4

Tension Aboard the S.S. Atlantis

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

After five days of traveling over the seemingly endless ocean, our heroes finally receive a few distant signals from other Atlantic Ships...

...Atlantis is close by...

Unfortunately, though, tension quickly builds up for some of our heroes... enough tension that could risk someone getting hurt, if not tended to quickly.

With a long, drawn-out yawn, Justin slowly woke up from his bed. Looking across the room, he smiled when he saw his beloved daughter, Ruby, fast asleep on her own bed that rested just across the room.

Letting out a light chuckle, Justin slowly stood from his bed, and gently placed a kiss on his daughter's scalp; avoiding the horn on her forehead in the process. Needless to say, he noticed her mouth form a weak smile in response, as she continued to lightly snore. Then, Justin walked back to his bed, and re-attached his armor pieces over his clothing. (At this point, his armor pieces included a leather vest, an extra shoulder pad to go over his originally uncovered left shoulder, and a pair of leather gloves to go over his fingerless gloves that were attached to his jacket's sleeves. Then, the additional attachments like belts, saddlebags, and weapons were added over that.)

After checking himself in his mirror one last time, Justin gave himself an approving nod, then stepped out of the room, and into the hallway.

When he made it out of the main quarters, Justin walked up to the rails, and watched the late night sky, where the moon was slowly lowering to make way for the incoming sun. All he could hear at this point was the waves of the water, the occasional grunt that the Angler Whale would make, and the occasional scampering underneath, where Stealth would be maintaining the metals that made the ship move.

"You're up early." Justin heard Gilded say from behind him.

Turning around, Justin nodded his head and replied, "I could say the same for you, bud."

Gilded chuckled at his friend before walking up beside him, and relaxing on the rails; standing at Justin's right. "Well, what can I say? Being a Mercenary requires little sleep, and a watchful eye."

Justin nodded his head in response. "True, true... but you know we have an Angler Whale in front of our ship, right? Not many people out there would be stupid enough to face something like that."

"Yeah... even so, we can never be too careful. The Black Wings might be filled with pirates, but after these past few weeks, it's safe to say that they are more clever than we took them for at day one."

Again, Justin nodded his head. "Yeah..." Suddenly, a realization hit him. "By the way... how exactly did you know about them back then? I'm aware that most of them were Mercenaries who disbanded, and dedicated their lives to a more evil cause, but... it's no coincidence that there were more on different continents, now that I think about it."

With a sigh, Gilded nodded his head. "You would be right about that, Justin... the Black Wings are, without a doubt, more than that group that disbanded. In fact, they've been a threat before I was even born."

Then Justin rubbed his chin in thought. "So... you knew about them your whole life... but not in a personal level?"

Gilded shook his head. "No... at least, when it came to a personal level, it wasn't in... the best of terms, per se."

Justin nodded his head again. "I understand... and you must've been worried about our friendship back then because they were, at first, your enemies?"

Gilded closed his eyes, and slowly nodded his head. "Yeah... and to this day, I sometimes wonder what would've happened, had I not been there to accidentally drag you all in that mess."

Then, Gilded's eyes widened when he heard Justin lightly chuckle. When he looked at Justin, he asked, "What's so funny?"

"Gilded," Justin began, "you have no idea how much help you've been throughout this journey, do you?"

"Well... not really, no." Gilded replied, before looking at the setting moon.

"Alright, then..." Justin thought for a moment, and began describing certain events Gilded helped them through.

"When Ruby and I were stranded in Gryphonia, who was it that took on that Manticore that nearly took both Ruby's and my life?" Justin asked.

Gilded weakly smiled and replied, "Me... but still, I-"

"You also helped me learn the Common Tongue, did you not? We wouldn't even be having this conversation, otherwise!"

"Yeah... but I don't understand why you-"

"Then there's the time you stopped Ruby from poisoning herself with meat, considering the fact that she's an Alicorn... or as you put it then, a Pony."

"Still, though. Those are simple things compared to what most of the crew did."

"Simple or not... you were the first one who helped us! And if it weren't for you, none of what they did would mean anything, because I wouldn't have been able to fight that Manticore, otherwise!"

Gilded remained silent as Justin pointed out that last statement. Then, he let out a light chuckle, looked out at the horizon, and nodded his head. "Thanks, Justin... I needed that."

Justin then patted his left shoulder and replied, "Any time. Feel free to let me know if anything bothers you. I'll do my best to help out, however I can."

With a nod, Gilded turned to Justin, and gave him a thumbs-up. Then, Justin turned towards the Navigation Room, and took the short trek to the door that led to the hall that could take him to where Marble and Limestone usually stayed. Finally, after taking a deep breath, Justin opened the door, and stepped inside.

"I gotta hand it to ya, Limestone... ya did good over there. I'm surprised ya didn't even hurt ya self when ya punched through that Minotaur's armor!" Marble told her youngest sister. The two of them were sitting on a bench, drinking coffee, and still waking up, though it was clear that Marble Pie was more of a morning person than the average Earth Pony. While Marble was weakly smiling, though, Limestone was utterly depressed. Seeing that her compliment didn't even faze her sister's sorrow, Marble's smile quickly turned into a worried frown. "Look, sis. Boulder didn't sacrifice himself so we could all cry for him. He did it so we can escape that place, and live on!"

At least Limestone reacted to her sister's words that time... though it wasn't the reaction that Marble expected. Instead of a weak smile, Limestone's blank expression turned into a sharp glare, and with both fists clenched, she slammed her fists on the table; causing it to break into little chunks, and fall over. Then she venomously spoke through clenched teeth to her sister.

"Why the buck do you not even care about him, huh?! HE WAS STILL ONE OF OUR FAMILY!" At that point, Marble realized that her sister has officially snapped... something the entire family seemed to have a problem with for countless generations, in fact.

With a returning glare, Marble gripped the collar of her sister's shirt, and pulled her closer to her, retorting in an equally venomous tone, "Don't ya dare think that I don't care about him! I'm just as hurt about his loss as ya are too, sis, but I ain't gonna sit around an' bitch about his death for the rest o' ma life! Who the buck do ya think ya talkin' to, anyways?! An emotionless mare like ah older sister?! Buck, even she cried over his loss, an' yet she an' ah sister Pinkie Pie can still manage to put on a smile today! So why the buck ain't you? Huh?!"

Limestone continued to glare at her sister, as she whispered, "Let go of me."

Marble, however, shook her head and intensified her grip. "I ain't gonna let go of ya, sis." she replied in a whisper.

In a louder tone, Limestone firmly stated, "I said let go of me, Marble!"

Again, Marble shook her head and retorted, "No! I ain't lettin' go of ya, Limestone! Not until ya can the attitude, an' bucking smile again!"

As Marble continued to deny her requests, Limestone's fists balled up, until her arms shook. Then, in a loud outburst, she threw both of her fists into Marble's chest, shouting, "I SAID LET GO!"

Despite their keen senses, Marble took the hit, and instantly flew into the wall, leaving a crater where she landed. Then, she fell from the wall, and onto the ground on her hands and knees, wheezing for breath, while Limestone stood there in shock of her actions.

Slowly, Marble looked up at her sister, revealing the tears in her eyes, as she opened her mouth to say something. Before any words could come out of her mouth, however, she quickly gripped her throat, and coughed out a small hint of blood, which only made Limestone's eyes widen even more, and her jaw to drop. "Oh my gosh! MARBLE!" She shouted, before running up to her sister, and reaching out to help her up.

When she was within reach, however, Marble swatted her hands away, and crawled backwards. Then, in a weak and groggy voice, she stuttered, "W-why... why d-did you just..." Before she could finish her sentence, she coughed up even more blood, before falling on her left shoulder.

"MARBLE! SOMEONE GET IN HERE! QUICK!" Limestone shouted, only for the handle of the room's door to start shaking.

With his voice muffled from the door, Justin asked, "Limestone? What's going on in there?!"

Limestone looked at the door, and shouted, "JUSTIN! GET IN HERE! HURRY!"

Before even a second could pass, the door busted open, and in ran Justin, who quickly noticed Marble passed out on the ground. "Marble?! Limestone, what's going on? What happened?!"

Limestone's tears continuously fell, as she tried explaining the situation. Unfortunate for her, though, she was only able to stutter incomprehensible words.

Not sparing a second, Justin quickly ran up to Marble, and knelt beside her; feeling around for any signs of broken bones. Since he saw thin stream of blood coming from her mouth, he had a feeling the problem was coming from her lungs. As he felt around, he nodded his head in confirmation. "Both of her ribs are broken. She needs medical attention immediately!" Then he looked at Limestone and asked, "Is there a first aid kit in here?"

Limestone nodded her head and ran to the side of the wall where the toppled door rested. There, she opened a small cabinet, and pulled a white box with a red cross on the lid out, and rushed towards her sister, handing the box to Justin in the process. "W-what are you g-going to do, Justin?" she asked in a worried tone.

After digging in the box for a second, Justin pulled out a scalpel and replied, "Well... it might sound gruesome for you, but... since she's bleeding internally, I have to cut her open to sprinkle the healing powder over her ribs directly. Then, I'll have to heal her wounds with the rest of the powder before she loses too much blood."

When Limestone saw the scalpel and heard the news, her pupils shrunk, as she watched the scalpel inch closer to her sister. Then, instinctively, she reached at Justin's right hand (the one that held the scalpel), and said, "W-wait! I've taken first-aid classes! Please let me do this... I want to make things right for my sister... and besides that, you're a male, so... so..."

Justin looked at her closely, before nodding his head, and gently placing the scalpel in Limestone's hand. "Alright... as long as you know what you're doing." Then, he reached in his saddlebag, and pulled three bags of herbal powder from it. After checking the contents to confirm that they were the right ones, he gently placed the three bags on the ground between Limestone and Marble, and turned his head away. "I'll let your sisters know what's going on. Maybe they can help when necessary."

"NO!" Limestone shouted, causing Justin to jump at her sudden outburst.

Confused, he turned around and asked, "Why not? They're your sisters! They need to know this!"

Limestone sat there silently for a moment, before replying, "B-because... because I was the one who did this..."

Justin stood there for a moment, and sighed. "I kinda figured there was more to this. Look, I know you're scared, but even so, if you don't have any help from them, then you're not only risking your relations with your sisters, but also the life of Marble!"

Limestone closed her eyes, and sniffled a few more times. Then, she quickly nodded her head and said, "A-alright, then... p-please! Go get them for me!"

Justin nodded his head and turned to leave. "I'll keep the fact that you did this from them... as long as you tell them."

Limestone nodded her head, and replied, "A-alright. Thank you."

And with that, Justin ran through the hallway, and towards where he figured the other Pie sisters were.

Slowly, Pinkie Pie opened her eyes, yawned, and stretched her arms out, as she sat up from her bunk bed, while Maud rested on the top bunk, sleeping peacefully.

When Pinkie stood from her bed, however, she felt a sudden shudder. "Oh no... the shudders!" she whispered to herself.

Behind her, Maud opened up with a loud gasp, before turning to Pinkie Pie. "Pinkie... something's wrong!"

As soon as the two of them were out of bed and in front of the door, a knocking noise was heard from the other side. Then, Justin's voice called from the other side, "Pinkie! Maud! You both need to get to the Navigation Room, pronto! Marble's been hurt badly, and now she's unconscious! Limestone needs both of y'alls help now!"

"WHAT?!" both sisters shouted in unison, before dashing out of the room, and towards the Navigation room in a blurring speed.

Not sparing another moment, Justin quickly followed the two.

When they made it to the Navigation Room, Maud and Pinkie gasped in horror, as they saw Limestone sitting there in front of Marble's unconscious body, crying with her head pointed down.

"Marble?! MARBLE!" Pinkie shouted, before running up to her sisters, and checking Marble for a pulse. When she felt her heartbeat, she noticed right away that her pulse was getting weaker, so she had to act fast. "Limestone, what happened?!"

Limestone tried explaining the situation, but as soon as she saw Maud step in behind Pinkie Pie, her fear overtook her, and only weak whimpers could come out. Even so, she pointed at Marble's chest, and with both of her hands, motioned something breaking.

"H-her ribs are broken?!" Pinkie gasped, while Limestone nodded her head.

Maud turned around and noticed Justin standing at the doorway with his back turned to give the family their privacy. "Justin, we need Zula in here now."

Justin nodded his head and replied, "I'm on it." Then, in the blink of an eye, he ran full-speed through the hallway, and out the door; headed for Zula's room.

Then Maud turned around and noticed the broken table and fallen chairs... which gave her enough evidence that this wasn't just some accident. With that in mind, she felt that she needed proof before any judgements could be made, so she turned to Limestone and looked her in the eye, before slowly walking up to her. "Limestone... what happened?" Her tone showed a slight hint of anger... something that both Limestone and Pinkie always feared, and something that Marble always rebelled against, due to her brash nature.

After gasping for breath several times, Limestone continued to speak, while Pinkie carefully lifted Marble's shirt off, revealing the bruises on her chest... two bruises shaped like a pair of fists. "M-Marble and I... w-we... we..."

As soon as the bruises were revealed and Pinkie noticed them, Pinkie gasped loudly, which caught the attention of Maud. Quickly, Maud walked up to Marble and, as soon as she saw the two bruises, turned back to Limestone; now with a fierce glare on her face. "We'll talk later..." she growled, before turning towards the door, while Zula rushed in, followed by Justin.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Justin asked concernedly, while averting his eyes from Marble's exposed chest.

Pinkie backed away from Marble once Zula knelt over her to take a look, and walked up towards Justin, while her eyes remained locked on Marble. "I... I don't know. I'm n-not even sure what to do myself!"

Zula hummed to herself before taking the scalpel in her right hand. "It is as I have feared... her lungs are punctured by the cracked ribs... I will have to tend to them surgically. Everyone get out!"

At once, everyone nodded their heads and obeyed the shaman. Clearly she was more experienced than any of them. Limestone, however, stayed behind. "I've taken Medical Classes... please, allow me to help, too."

Zula nodded her head and replied, "Very well. I need you to hold her skin open, while I pull the broken ribs out of her lungs... but you have to be careful, because we'll have to operate close to the heart... and considering how much blood she has already lost, we don't have much time!"

After Limestone nodded her head, the two of them began their procedures, while Justin lifted the fallen door, and snapped it back on the hinges; giving the three their privacy.

While Justin, Maud, and Pinkie Pie stood there in the hallway, Pinkie cried out of fear for the safety of her sister. With no other ideas, Justin patted her on the shoulders and replied, "Don't worry, Pinkie. I've known Zula for a little over a month, now. Your sister's in good hands."

With a sniffle, Pinkie nodded her head and weakly smiled at him. "Y-you... you think so?"

Justin shook his head and replied, "No... I know so."

Then Pinkie caught him in a warm embrace and buried her head in his chest... which caught him by surprise. "Um... Pinkie?"

"I-I'm... I'm sorry. I believe you, but... I'm just... I'm still s-scared, Justin..." She stuttered, as her grip tightened.

While Justin felt uncomfortable with hugging her (considering the risks that it would make on her feelings about him), he also felt sympathy for her... and because of that, he felt he had no other choice but to wrap his arms around her, and return the hug. As he did, though, he felt her muscles tense up from his contact.

"Listen, Pinkie... as long as you and your sisters are under my care, I'll see to it that nothing bad happens to any of you. Alright?" He felt her nod as she continued to cry. Maud merely stood there and watched, but at the same time, her lips were starting to curve into a weak smile.

Thirty worry-filled minutes have passed since Zula and Limestone began operating on Marble. With each passing minute, Pinkie only began feeling more and more nervous. Maud, however, headed out to find the rest of the crew and let them know what's been going on.

"Are you feeling any better, Pinkie Pie?" Justin asked the mare who sat on the ground, leaned against the wall across the door that the operation was taking place in.

Pinkie looked at him and gave a weak smile and nod... but it was clear to Justin that she was only acting on confidence, rather than emotions. Because of that, Justin was about to question her again... until the sound of heavy claw and hoof steps could be heard from the distance.

When both Justin and Pinkie turned to see the source of the sound, they noticed it to be none other than Gilda and Maud, who both wore worried expressions on their faces.

"Gilda? Maud? What's wrong?!" Justin asked when they were within ears' reach.

"Justin! We can't find Swift, or any of the other guys!" Gilda replied while panting for breath. That statement caused Justin's eyes to widen.

"What?! Where could they have gone?!"

Before Justin could even receive an answer, however, the entire ship started to shake. "What the... now what's going on?!" Justin asked nobody in general, before dashing towards the exit, while the others (save for Zula, Limestone, and Marble) followed him.

As soon as the group made it outside, they gasped at the sight before them. On top of the Angler Whale's antenna stood a mysterious hooded figure that wore a purple cloak over its body. In the hood, all that could be seen was two red dots for eyes and a pitch black haze. Below the cloak it didn't even have legs, and from the ends of the long sleeves, it didn't appear to have any hands.

In a loud, yet whisper-like, masculine voice, it said, "Ah, at last we meet... human..."

To Be Continued...

Season 3, Episode 5: A Startling Truth

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 5

A Startling Truth

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

While Limestone and Zula tend to Marble's wounds, an unexpected visitor mysteriously arrives at the scene... a hooded individual that, without a doubt, isn't there to make friends.

Justin, Pinkie, Gilda, Maud, Storm, and Sand (the last two having joined the first four shortly after hearing the commotion) were standing at the front half of the ship, looking up at the mysterious hooded figure that stood on the tip of the antenna of the Angler Whale that steered the ship.

"Excuse me, sir, but who are you, and what are you doing here?" Justin asked, albeit casually. (Despite the ominous appearance that this figure had, he knew better than to judge a book by its cover.)

After giving a light chuckle, the figure replied, "Oh, you'll know... soon enough..." Then, he slowly stretched his arms out. Instantly, his entire body started to glow an eerie red, which nonverbally told them that he was about to attack, and caused them to draw their weapons.

Suddenly, the Angler Whale let out a screech, before stopping in place, and turning to stone. As soon as it did, it sunk underwater... and with it, the ship. Quickly the crew grabbed the railing, and in the matter of seconds, they were quickly sinking to the bottom, while the figure levitated overhead, and crossed his arms. "Now, then... let's see what you're capable of, human."

In the matter of seconds, the ship instantly popped back up, with Justin holding onto his staff, while a bubble dissipated from around the entire ship. The ropes and chains that were holding the Angler Whale were also cut loose.

Justin glared at the mysterious figure and asked, "What the hell was that for?!"

The figure shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I was just testing you, to see what you can do..." Then he lightly chuckled, while Justin's glare intensified. "Though to be honest, you should be thanking me for all I've done for you... like spare you from the same fate that befell your entire race all those millenniums ago." That statement caused Justin to gasp.

"What do you mean... 'All those millenniums ago'?!" Justin asked, now starting to feel a new sense of rage begin to build up inside his heart.

The figure crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side. "Did you honestly believe that I took you into a whole new world?" For a second, there was silence. Then, the figure burst into laughter, while Justin's grip on the staff intensified. After that, the laughter subsided, and more silence filled the air. Then, the figure stretched his arms out and made the statement that made Justin's suspicions start to kick into his mind, as common questions that he often asked himself began to repeat themselves in his mind. "Is it no coincidence that humans are considered a myth to these creatures, rather than aliens of some sort? Nothing but an extinct or nonexistent race, only told in story books? Think about it! Everywhere you've been, there have been claims that you are, and I quote, 'a creature of mythology' written in ancient texts..." He then chuckled and pointed at Justin with his right sleeve blocking his arm. "This world and YOUR world are all one in the same... and yes, I should know that!"

With his hands shaking with rage, Justin asked, "And how exactly should you know that?!" His voice was no longer hiding the confusion, the rage, and the despair after hearing that statement.

"Because," the figure began, as he stretched his arms wide open, "I was the one who wiped your race to extinction, of course!"

That statement caused the group to gasp, while Justin took a step back in shock. Then, Justin regained his posture, and muttered, "You son of a bitch..." After that, he stepped closer to the end of the railing and then said in a saddened tone, "You killed all those innocent people..." Then, in a bloodthirsty roar, he asked, "WHO THE F*** ARE YOU?!"

The figure merely shrugged his shoulders before replying, "You wouldn't know me, but I know you quite well ALL of you, in fact! I've seen you all from your births, and can easily destroy you all with the snap of a finger... and by the way, I'm sure the Element of Laughter knows who I am... after all, she read the stories about me... and what I did to King Solaris, or as you know, King Sombra... then Nightmare Moon, of course." After that, he smirked. "Tartarus, I even inflicted the same curse to King Goldheart recently!"

Pinkie Pie gasped, before looking worriedly at the figure... no doubt she knows him, now. "Y-you mean... you're... you're..."

With a nod, the figure concluded, "That's right..." Slowly, he lifted his arms up to the top of his hood, before lowering it; revealing his face for the first time.

He was a blue-coated goat with two long, black curved horns, a long, thin beard that matched his coat color, white eyebrows, and glowing red eyes. Despite being a goat, however, he was able to speak the common tongue, which normal goats wouldn't be able to do without the aid of powerful magic. Around his neck, he wore a red necklace with a silver bell attached to it. On his chest, he wore a pitch black sleeveless shirt and black pants.

"I am the infamous 'Necromancer'... but you can call me King Grogar, former leader of the Kingdom of Tambelon!"

Quickly, Justin pulled his bow out, drew a fire arrow, and shot it towards Grogar... but what he didn't expect, however, was for the arrow to simply go right through him, and into the ocean. "Don't waste your time on me, human... when you have other things to worry about."

"What are you-" Before Justin could finish his sentence, however, he was silenced by the sound of screeching around the ship... followed by the sound of the door to the lower side of the ship opening. Then, when Justin looked towards it, he found none other than the males of the crew... but something was off about them. Their eyes were glowing green, as if they were under some kind of trance.

Justin quickly turned to Grogar with a glare, only to shoot another few arrows after the goat when he saw him floating away in the distance. Regardless of arrow type, though, the arrows would simply either go through him, or disappear before even getting more than a meter away from him. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU BASTARD?!"

Grogar chuckled once more as he slid his hood over his head once again, and began to fade away. "You will know... soon enough..." With that, he completely vanished, and was no longer around the area, leaving Justin with a feeling of mixed emotions... all of which negative.

He didn't even have time to react to his emotions, however, when he heard the distant screeches move closer. Then the screeches turned into the sound of beautiful feminine voices singing. Looking around, his eyes widened at the sight before him. Now, even the females of the group were under the same trance... which made him back away worriedly. "What the hell is going on?!"

"DADDY!" Ruby shouted, which caused Justin's attention to turn to the entrance to the dining area, where Ruby burst through the door and towards her father. Justin quickly picked her up and looked around the ship, until he found one of the sources of the voices...

The figures looked almost like mermaids from the storybooks (even with human-like features), only their skin was completely made of water, and in the centers of their chests, red glowing orbs shined brightly in each one of the countless figures that started boarding the ship, one-by-one. Like the crew, their eyes glowed green, but it was clear that these were the ones controlling everyone... or in this case, almost everyone.

"Sirens... Ruby, get a rope! Lots of rope!" Justin stated before gently placing Ruby down. With a nod, she quickly ran towards the ship's interior, while Justin drew both of his swords, and glared at the sirens that, when aboard the ship, split their watery tail-fins into pairs of legs, then started moving towards the crew, as their mouths revealed icy, demonic-looking fangs.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Okay, so I know that this was a short one compared to most of the others... but hey, think of this as more of an introductory to the next problem, along with the revelation of a complete "Game Changer"!

Oh, and in case you didn't click Grogar's link (his name when it's written in green), he's a villain from G1 of MLP... I bet nobody saw him coming!

And now that we know that he ended humanity thousands of years ago (or perhaps longer than that, even), how will Justin take the losses when this battle is over? What is Grogar's intentions?

The journey has just reached a major turning point everypony, so stay tuned for next time, My Little Bronies! :twilightsmile:

(Imagine Dragon Ball Z's announcer's voice in that, and you might get a few kicks out of that!)

(( On a side-note, holy crap! "Demonic ram necromancer", even in the lore?! And they said "My Little Pony" is only for little girls! (Hell, {SPOILER BETWEEN ARROWS!} >Tirek even DIES in Generation 1! Doesn't get arrested... perishes (By a rainbow, no less!))< ))

Season 3, Episode 6: The Sirens' Song

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 6

The Sirens' Song

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

While trouble stirs for our heroes from far in the ocean, a mysterious new figure appears to be arriving in Gryphonia... straight from Equestria. A female, no less... and she appears to be wearing a long, brown cloak that hides her appearance. The cloak itself, however, appears to be Druathican.

The Bloated Eagle

Mr. Good Cheers, the overweight gryphon bartender, was humming a cheerful tune while wiping a wine glass with a white rag, when the sound of the doors creaking caught his attention. "Ah... good timing, friend! I was about to close the shop, but I can make arrangements! Now, then... what can I do... for... you?" When he looked at the entrance, he stopped wiping the glass when he saw a hooded figure step into the tavern, while covering its face. From the body shape, it was clear that it was a female, and from the clopping of the hooves, it was clearly a form of Equine... perhaps a pony, horse, or zebra. By the looks of the cloak, however, it was clear that the figure was from Druathica. "Ah... Druathican, eh? I take it you're here for information, then?"

The hooded figure nodded her head before pulling out a picture of Pinkie Pie, and pointing at it, revealing her hands being covered in brown gloves.

Good Cheers looked at the picture, before humming to himself. "Ah, Misses Pie. A cheerful pony, and a valued employee, even though it was for one day. Yes, ma'am. I gave her some bits that could help her return to Equestria, where she came from... but if you're an enemy of hers, then you may as well surrender now... I sent my daughter with her to guard her, and she's a mercenary... like my son."

The figure merely placed the picture back in her cloak and turned to leave. "You don't seem like you're intending to harm her, though... I feel like there's more going on. Good luck, nonetheless... and please tell her I hope she's okay." Then the figure nodded her head before leaving the tavern.

When she was merely halfway towards the path to the dock, she turned towards an alleyway, and noticed a group of minotaurs who were walking her way. "Well, hello there, pretty lady!" He grinned and motioned for the other three of his group to surround her. They did without hesitation, while drawing daggers from their pockets. "You picked a bad time to get lost... so how about you hand us your bits, and we'll let ya leave here alive!"

The hooded figure merely shook her head before moving one of the minotaurs' knives out of her way, and walked past him... much to the group's disapproval. "Hey, bitch! We're talking to you!" The leader firmly stated before walking towards the hooded figure with his knife ready to strike.

As soon as he was within reach, however, he tripped over a root that instantly tied around his hooves. This, of course, made him angrier. "That's it! KILL HER!" he shouted, causing the three other minotaurs to charge at the hooded figure and lunge for her back.

When they were within reach, however, the figure quickly jumped high enough to glide over their heads without even risking a cut from their knives if they were aiming at her from overhead, and landed with a back-flip behind the central minotaur. Then, before he could even turn around, a pair of blades appeared from the figure's sleeves, and in the blink of an eye, the figure pierced both blades in the backs of the left and right minotaurs' necks before leaping on top of the central one's shoulders, and looking at him upside-down with, what appeared to be, a grin behind a black mask over her face. Then the last thing the minotaur could see was his own body a good distance away, while the world around him started spinning.

After the figure finished with the central one, she turned to the trapped minotaur who was still caught in the root... only this time, his arms were also caught in roots on each side, and his neck was soon caught in one that was stretched widely. The hooded figure slowly walked up to him while he continued to struggle and scream profane words to the figure for when he "manages to escape". Then, when the figure grew tired of him, she raised her right hand, and lifted the middle finger at him, which only made him roar in anger, before he started to choke, as the vine wrapped around his neck started to slide him forward, while the ones on his arms started to pull in opposite directions. Then the figure walked away while his roar became a scream, which soon became the sound of a crack... then the sound of liquid spewing.

Finally, the figure made it to the docks. After looking both ways, she noticed a group of guards rushing towards her; more than likely ready to either arrest her or interrogate her for the recent stunt performed. Without even giving them a chance to get close to her, she stretched both arms out and jumped from the edge of the island, while the guards rushed after her, only to find that she was no longer in sight.

S.S. Atlantis | Present Time

"Ruby, make sure that Gilded is unable to fly out of the ship!" Justin called to his daughter while kicking one of the human-shaped water creatures known as "Sirens" away from Ruby, who was tying a rope around the lower half of the wall, which held most of the group in place.

With a nod, Ruby replied, "Don't worry, Daddy! The rope is triple-knotted, so there's no way they can easily break free!"

"Good... now, I need you to go inside, and make sure Marble and the others are okay! If their eyes glow green, then lock them in the room!"

Ruby looked at her dad confusedly, before retorting, "B-but... what if the sirens are inside?!"

Justin punched one of the sirens in the face that tried gripping him by the neck before turning towards Ruby. "Then call me... and I'll rush in there, and keep them away from you!"

"But... I'm scared..." Ruby stuttered, as a siren inched closer to her from behind... only to find an arrow in its forehead; shot by none other than Justin, himself.

"I know, Ruby... but don't listen to your fears! I... I know what you're afraid of, and it isn't true!" She looked up at him with wide eyes, while he gave her, despite the siren screeching in his face, a comforting smile, as he held the siren by the neck, as if ignoring the chaos around them. "I will never leave you... that's a promise!"

A few tears fell from Ruby's eyes, while a weak smile formed on her face. Then, with a nod, she turned towards the door to the main lobby, and ran inside; slamming the door behind her in the process... while a small group of sirens bumped into the door and hissed.

Inside the ship, Ruby ran from the door that was pounded with the sound of ominous shrieks outside, and towards the hallway that lead to the Navigation Room.

After making it to the door that led to the Navigation Room, Ruby paced her right ear on the door in high hopes of hearing something inside. When she didn't hear anything, however, she started to feel nervous. "H-hello? Zula... Limestone... Marble? Are... are you alright?!"

Before she could get an answer, however, the door swung open, and in the blink of an eye, Limestone picked Ruby up and pulled her inside before closing the door. Once inside, she gently placed Ruby on the ground again and turned towards Zula, who was now placing green powder inside Marble's open chest. Just the sight of it caused Ruby's face to turn green and her to turn away from the scene quickly.

Limestone sighed before saying, "S-sorry, Ruby... but it isn't safe out there, now! We have to stay in here, so that nothing bad happens to you."

Ruby was about to respond, when the sound of a low moaning noise caught both of their attention. Turning towards Zula and Marble, both of their eyes widened at the sight before them.

When the Sirens started pounding at the door, Justin was quick to react. Taking both of his swords, he quickly impaled the three Sirens in the red orbs; causing the three to screech loudly before melting into a puddle of salty water on the ground. A forth one ran up to him and was about to bite into his neck, but before it could even reach him, he sheathed his left sword and gripped it by the throat which, surprisingly, felt more like gelatin than water, only more solid. As the Siren made gagging noises, Justin glared at it before raising his sword up to its chest and growling, "Stay away from my daughter, you bitch!" Then, after the Siren attempted to bite his hand, he quickly plunged his sword into its chest which, in turn, caused the glowing red orb inside it to disappear like the other two. Shortly following that, the Siren's entire body melted into a puddle like the others.

At that moment, the shrieking noises the other Sirens made ceased, and was replaced by silence. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the rain that was pouring at this point. Justin drew his other sword and turned around to face the massive swarm of Sirens. There were presumably thousands of them staring at him; most of which were walking on top of the water below the ship. Their expressions showed mixtures of shock, confusion, and anger... but Justin didn't care. He raised his swords up defensively and said a silent prayer in his mind. He knew he was strong... but even so, he also knew he couldn't handle this level of danger. Even so, he didn't care about his own safety, though... for he had a far more greater purpose for doing what he was planning to do.

He looked at the crew that was still dazed and tied up onto the walls. He gave the crew a quick smile before turning back to the Sirens. Then he shouted to the swarm, "If you want something to eat so badly, then why don't you try hunting it instead, you cowards?! I can at least give you all a run for your money, if you'd like! Eh, but I'm pretty sure you all couldn't handle me, anyways! After all, I'm far more capable of fighting than all of you put together, and I'm willing to put that to the test by giving you all a challenge! Why would I challenge you all, you might ask?! Well, it's simple, really... I don't think you can win! Well... there's that, plus the fact that I think you're all a bunch of sluts!" He smiled when he noticed that the swarm was now glaring even darker at him before he put his left sword away. Then he chuckled, raised his middle finger up in the air, and shouted, "SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! COME AND GET ME, YOU BASTARDS!"

At that statement, the entirety of the Siren army charged after Justin, who in turn, jumped up on the railing and drew his left sword again; flicking the blades together in a taunting manner to get the Sirens' attention. Then, after activating his Sapphire Ring, he dove head-first into the water with an air bubble surrounding him.

"Marble! You're... you're alive?!" Limestone cried out when she saw her sister's eyes open.

Marble lightly chuckled before turning to Zula. "Yeah... so, how much ribs did I lose, Doc?"

Zula chuckled before replying, "Do not worry, Miss Marble. Your ribs were welded back together with the green powder... and along with that, the rest of your body."

Marble nodded her head before slowly sitting back up. Sure enough, she felt healthy again, but at the same time, her cheeks turned red when she looked down and noticed that she was shirtless... and she wasn't wearing a bra. Letting out a nervous shriek, she covered her chest with both arms and scooted into a corner... only to notice the red glows coming from the sea. "What the buck is goin' on?!"

Before anyone could respond, the door quickly opened up, and in ran Gilded Blade; now no longer under the "Curse of the Siren's Song". When he stepped in, he looked around and asked, "Is Ruby in here?!"

His cheeks instantly turned red when he saw Marble turn around. Then, in the blink of an eye, he turned his head around, ran back outside of the room, and gasped. "S-sorry! I didn't m-mean to..."

"Mr. Gilded?" Ruby asked after closing the door behind her.

Gilded looked back up to her and his eyes widened. "Oh, thank goodness, you're okay! Have you seen your father anywhere?"

Ruby's eyes widened. "He was outside with you all! What happened?!"

Gilded's jaw dropped before he quickly turned around. "Oh, no... don't tell me... he's the one who's making the Sirens swim away?!"

"WHAT?!" Ruby screamed before dashing through the hallway. Gilded followed her the whole way with a worried expression on his face.

"Damn it, Justin! Why can't you ever just sit back and not do something crazy like this?!"

From under the water, Justin continued to swim at a blurring speed (thanks to the powers of his rings). As he swam, he continuously checked backwards and noticed that the Sirens were no longer focused on the ship.

"That's right, assholes! Get the hell away from my ship!" he thought as he made a sudden stop and increased the size of the bubble he was surrounded by. When the bubble was a decent size, he stood at the lower half of the bubble like it was a flat surface and braced for impact.

Then, one by one, the Sirens started pouring in; allowing him enough time to quickly slice through the Sirens that entered. Each time one would fall, however, two or more would soon take its place. It would only be a matter of time before Justin would have to think up a different strategy.

Before long, he stood in the center while the entire area around him in a perfect circle was swarmed with Sirens stalking their prey. Justin sighed before flicking the blades together in a crossed-out pattern; sending sparks between both blades. "Come on, then! Why'd you stop, huh?! I'm waiting!"

The Sirens started moving closer and closer to him. Then, in unison, the entire swarm ran up to him (some even leaped into the air) to finish Justin off.

... At the last second, though, a loud horn-like sound blared through the air; causing the Sirens to instantly vaporize. Justin tilted his head in confusion before turning around, and noticing a massive-looking submarine that, shortly after he turned his head around, flashed several massive lights towards him; causing him to cover his eyes with his left arm. Then he heard the sound of the Sirens' screeches in the distance. Looking back, he gasped when he saw the red orbs were now headed away from him, but were now headed back towards the S.S. Atlantis again!

Before Justin could take more than a few steps forward, however, he heard the sound of someone stepping closer to him. When the hoof steps stopped (after eight steps) another sound caused Justin to feel nervous... the sound of a gun's safety clicking off.

After a brief moment of silence, a low-pitched gruff male's voice growled, "Don't move!" Then a few more hoof steps came, before the male added, "State your business here!"

Justin gulped before replying, "I'm with the S.S. Atlantis! The Sirens are after them!"

Then he heard the man gasp. "Alright, then... we'll put you under custody until we receive verification from anyone else on board! Come with me, though! Quickly!"

With a nod, Justin turned around... only to find the entrance to the new, massive submarine open... from the bottom. Getting a better look at it, he noticed that it was perhaps larger than five of the Airships from Gryphonia... and those alone could carry hundreds of people at a time! Not wanting to argue, Justin quickly stepped into the doorway which, surprisingly, was dry on the other side, despite being opened underwater. "Wow... magic sure is nice to have, now that I think about it..." Justin murmured to himself as the door closed behind him.

"Damn it! There's too many of them! Where in the name of Tartarus did Justin go?!" Gilded grunted as he held another table amongst the stack of five that covered the entrance to the main room. Behind him, the rest of the group were gathering the tables and chairs from the dining area, and carrying them to add to the barricade.

Gilda retorted with clenched teeth, "Don't know... but I've got a guess... though it ain't a good one, if that's what you're wondering!"

Swift rolled his eyes as he carried the same table Gilda was carrying on the opposite end before replying, "Oh, I'm sure he's fine! He probably went to get help, that's all!"

Stealth sighed while he carried a chair; not wanting to cut into their conversation. Instead, however, he was having a separate conversation with Ruby, who was carrying a chair beside him. "Don't sweat it, mate. I'm sure your father's alright!"

Ruby gulped nervously before turning towards the confident Fox. "H-how do you know that, though, Mr. Stealth?"

Stealth chuckled before replying, "Just an ol' intuition, mate. Gotta trust your instincts, after all! Especially when you're as tall as a filly, and practically a full-grown adult!"

With a sigh, Ruby nodded her head and smiled weakly. "Well... my instincts tell me that he's fine!"

Stealth hummed to himself before turning towards Ruby. "Ah, but are you sure it's your instincts... and not your mind?"

For a moment, Ruby was lost in thought. Then, with a far more confident smile, she nodded her head and replied, "I'm positive! Normally, Daddy would think these things through, so there really isn't anything to worry about!" A bang in the door made her jump before lightly chuckling. "W-well... maybe except for the huge army of Sirens outside the door."

Shortly following the bang on the door, a completely unexpected sound occurred... the sound of knocking.

The Sirens continuously tried to break through the metal door to the Main Room. Regardless of how many times they attempted, however, they only resulted in barely making a scratch. Amongst their furious attacking, however, the Sirens that weren't in the water were greeted with the sound of a massive ship's horn blowing behind them... followed by the appearance of a massive submarine with the word "Poseidon" written on it. The Sirens quickly turned around and hissed at the massive submarine, before raising their clawed hands over their eyes to block out the light.

Then, the upper half of the ship's outer frame lowered; revealing countless Ponies in it wearing blue camouflaged armor and black helmets with, what appeared to be, black gas masks over their faces with blue visors. Their helmets all appeared to be sound-proofed, so any sounds the Sirens would make was ineffective. On the left halves of the chest pieces of the Pony's armors, the letters "AA" were written in a brighter blue color, with the words "Atlantic Army" written below the letters in small writing. In every one of the soldiers' hands were rifles made of light blue and black metals. (The black metals were used for the handles and the triggers.)

In the center of the huge army, one Pegasus Pony stallion stood out from the rest. Instead of wearing a helmet, he wore a blue beret and a pair of light blue shades. Inside his beret, he wore earplugs, so even he was protected from the sounds the Sirens made. He had an orange coat, and from the bottom of the beret, his red and orange-streaked mane was slightly showing.

"LOOK ALIVE, MEN! ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGERS ARE UNHARMED! THEIR SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY!" the stallion in the beret shouted.

The rest of the soldiers shouted, "SIR, YES SIR!" in unison before jumping from the Poseidon and onto the S.S. Atlantis; immediately firing their rifles into the chests of the Sirens, and mowing the swarm down quickly. In the matter of minutes, the entire swarm was no more. Any remaining made a quick retreat back into the ocean. With the ship no longer in danger, the soldier in the beret walked up to the door to the Main Entrance and gave it a few quick knocks.

From inside the S.S. Atlantis, the group tilted their heads in confusion at the strange knocking pattern. Due to the sound-proof capabilities that the door had, however, that was all they could hear from outside.

Maud Pie slowly made it into the Main Room with, surprisingly, a smile on her face. "Help has arrived." She said in her usual monotonous voice.

With the clear signal, the group quickly moved the barricade out of the way; leaving Maud standing in front of the entrance. After placing a key in the side of the door, she unlocked it and pressed the button on the left side of the door, which caused it to slide open.

The Pegasus stallion's eyebrows raised and his jaw dropped when he saw Maud standing there. Then a smile formed on his face while he stood in attention and saluted her, right as Pinkie, Marble, and Limestone entered the scene (after Pinkie gave Marble a heartwarming hug in a hopeful attempt to fix their sisterly relationship).

For a moment, the soldier stood there saluting Maud, which only built up the confusion the crew felt. After blinking once, Maud said, "At ease, Commander Fire Wing."

The soldier (now known as Fire Wing) nodded his head and lowered his right hand from his forehead. Then, his next statement caught everyone in there off guard.

"Glad to see we weren't too late, President Maud."

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Holy crap, this took a while to update!

Please note that I'm half-asleep as of right now, so unfortunately, I was unable to proofread it, and quite frankly, about a month is way too long for an update on my biggest focused story! Please do accept my apologies, everypony! Life's been hitting me in weak areas lately, but I'm over it, now! (That, plus the fact that my laptop died... and I don't mean "Out-of-Power" Dead, either! I mean "Blue Screen of Death" Dead! :pinkiegasp: )

Anyways, stay tuned, My Little Bronies! And remember... "No person is perfect... but that doesn't mean we all can't try to be, at least! And with the help of a friend, your trials of perfection can yield better results than if you were alone the whole time!" :twilightsmile:

Season 3, Episode 7: Poseidon

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 7

Poseidon

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

After narrowly escaping death, thanks to the aid of the Atlantic Army, our heroes end up finding more questions, rather than answers... and most of which are now directed to Maud Pie, and are related to the first statement that Commander Fire Wing (the one in charge of their rescue operation) said upon entering the S.S. Atlantis.

"How did you find us, exactly?" Maud asked Fire Wing, who was escorting the group through the massive metallic halls of the Poseidon, the massive ship that the Atlantic Army appeared in.

Fire Wing chuckled before replying, "Well, it wasn't easy, Ms. President. At first, we had to send a few scouter ships to find any signals... turns out, though, we could only find the signals of your ship through bouncing waves from distant satellites. As a result-"

As they went on with their conversation, Ruby and Pinkie, who were following behind Maud and Fire Wing, remained close by each other, with Gilded and Gilda beside Pinkie, and Ruby in front. All four of them had worried looks on their faces... which Swift noticed, despite being behind them. (He noticed when Gilda turned towards Pinkie, and started to frown.)

Clearing his throat, Swift turned towards Fire and asked, "So... you guys pretty much ran into us by a stroke of luck, then?"

Quill shrugged his shoulders before adding, "To be fair, there were a lot of Sirens out there... and according to the books about them, the red orbs in their chests are considered to be disruptive of any known signals."

Zero looked at him and tilted his head in confusion. "Really? I didn't think it was possible for anyone to even write that kind of information on Sirens, and survive long enough to make a whole book about them!"

Quill looked at Zero and chuckled. "No, it's quite possible! In fact, the only known way to be able to resist their curse is to plug your ears and strike down the orbs in their chests!"

Fire turned towards Quill and hummed. "That is correct... but do you speak out of experience, or...?"

Quill turned to Fire and shook his head. "Good heavens, no! I'm more of a poet than a fighter! I just know about their weaknesses because I've read The Siren's Call... it was a classic by Quill and Ink... I'm sure you've heard of him?"

Fire chuckled before nodding his head. "Indeed. I even read one of his foal-friendly works to my daughter back when I was free."

Ruby looked up at Fire and raised an eyebrow. "You have a daughter?"

He looked at Ruby and smiled warmly. "Indeed I do, little one. She lives in Equestria, under the care of a trusted family friend... somepony whose family has a historical tie-in with mine, in fact! My parents and her parents both worked in Cloudsdale at the Weather Factory!"

That statement caused Ruby to tilt her head in confusion. "Weather Factory? What's that?"

Fire cleared his throat and began speaking in a way that, if listened to closely, could almost guarantee was the result of years of rehearsing.

Well, let me try to make it as simple as I can...

The Weather Factory is, as the name implies, a factory that helps control Equestria's weather... think of it like a huge air conditioner, but operated by magic, instead of the technology the Fox Race uses in their works.

You see, as a result of the Magic Ward around Equestria's shoreline, the weather in there, unlike the rest of the world, has to be supervised and controlled manually, rather than naturally.

The ward, as you may be able to guess, is to keep the dangers of the world out of their peaceful community.

"In fact, Equestria might seem more... detached to the rest of the world metaphorically... and it only got worse after a recent magical surge that, according to eyewitness accounts, even put the princesses themselves under a state of shock... some unimaginable power from Gryphonia. As a result, they requested that Gryphonia's Airship Route be directed as far away from Equestria as possible... though that's not to say it didn't help morality for most visitors." He shook his head and sighed. "And after the knowledge of an Element of Harmony missing from their kingdom... I'd hate to imagine what the princesses might do if the cause of that surge happened to capture the Element."

The group was silent for a moment to let Fire Wing's words sink in. Then, Gilda was the first to speak. "Wait... so they didn't redirect the route to Gryphonia because of me?"

Fire tilted his head in confusion at the confused Gryphon before replying, "Not that I know of. My information came from President Maud, who told me about it from a letter from the princesses, themselves!"

Gilda then looked at Maud with a slightly annoyed expression plastered across her face. "You mean you knew that I wasn't the cause of that mess?! Why didn't you say anything?!"

Maud turned towards Gilda and replied, "You never told me you thought that. I would've explained it to you, if you'd have asked."

Gilda opened her beak to retort, but Gilded decided to cut in; much to his sister's annoyance. "So, anyways... Commander Fire Wing, right?"

Fire Wing turned to Gilded and nodded his head. "Yes?"

Gilded looked around at the large number of doors across the hallway. "Going back to when you saved us from the Sirens... you wouldn't have happened to come across a... person, have you?"

Fire rubbed his lips in thought. "Hm... long, dark brown mane, with a long beard? Barely any fur on his face?"

Gilded's eyes widened in surprise... along with the rest of the crew, minus Maud. Then Gilded asked, "Long yellow jacket?"

"More of a jacket modified to fit like a coat."

Gilded's beak quickly formed a smile. "Please tell me you found him alive!"

Fire turned up front, to where the hallway finally ended, and pointed at the larger door that would slide open from the center when someone were to get close to it. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

As soon as the doors were open, the group was met with the sight of a large, plain gray metal room with several heavily armored guards standing around each wall who were aiming their rifles at an all-too-familiar human who was merely sitting in the center of the room with a tired expression on his face. His tiredness was cut short when the sound of the doors sliding open filled the room.

Despite the large number of armed guards in the room, however, Ruby was the first to react... and shortly after her, Justin.

"DADDY!" Ruby shouted with a wide smile on her face.

Justin's tired expression quickly changed to a mixture of joy and relief, as he stretched his arms out and caught his beloved daughter in a loving embrace. The guards in the room lowered their weapons and tilted their heads in confusion.

Then, while Justin's eyes were closed, he couldn't hold back his tears... and neither could his daughter. "Thank goodness, you're okay! After seeing those Sirens head towards the ship... I thought I failed you all!"

Ruby shook her head and replied, "No, Daddy! I-if... if you didn't get their attention, then they wouldn't have stopped targeting everyone else... and we wouldn't have made it!"

As the father and daughter continued to hug, Fire looked at Maud and asked, "So... I take it there's more to these two than meets the eye?"

Maud nodded her head and replied, "Indeed... but they are both on our side, so there is no need for security to be working against them. In fact, I want you to increase the security around those two... and everyone else involved with them, for that matter."

"For an unknown species and its Unicorn daughter? I... well... it shall be done, but may I please ask why, exactly?"

Maud turned towards Justin and Ruby, who were now looking at them. When the two of them broke from the hug, Justin nodded at Ruby, and motioned for her to move closer to the two.

"There's... more to this Unicorn than you might think." Maud finally said before turning back to Fire Wing.

With a confused look on his face, Fire asked, "Um... what's so special about her, exactly? Well, besides having a mutated dad?"

Ruby looked around nervously before reaching behind her back and lowering the back half of her dress to reveal her wings that were tucked underneath. Just the sight of the wings caused all guards' eyes inside the room to widen, and all jaws to drop... save for those who already knew.

Fire, after regaining his ability to speak, slowly raised his right pointing finger up towards Ruby and asked, "W-wait... so... she's the 'Forth Alicorn' we've been hearing about?!"

Maud nodded her head and replied, "Yes... but she isn't a threat to anyone, so long as she isn't threatened. Also... her dad isn't a mutant. He's a Human."

That statement caused a few more comments from the guards in the room to fill the already increasing sounds of other guards talking amongst themselves.

"But she's only a filly!" some were talking about.

"As in the old legends?!"

"How is a Human the father of an Alicorn?!"

Maud then looked at the guards and loudly cleared her throat; silencing all of the noise instantly. "Yes, I know that this is... unexpected, to say the least... but I can assure you all that they are good people, despite any of the rumors that may have been spread about them. Due to the nature of those rumors, however, they will need to remain under the protection of the Atlantic Army at all times. You are not, in any way, allowed to point a single weapon at them, and if your presence is not needed, and they say so, then you are to obey them the way you obey me. Is that understood?"

"YES, MS. PRESIDENT, MA'AM!" the entirety of the soldiers in the room shouted as they saluted her in unison.

"Good." Then Maud turned to Fire and added, "When we get to Atlantis, they are all allowed to enter my manor, and use the Guest Bedrooms for as long as they need. Understood?"

"Of course, Ms. President!" Fire Wing saluted before turning towards Justin and Ruby. "Please do forgive my quick judgement earlier. Though I had a feeling your intentions were to save the president and her allies, I was only going by the rules."

Justin shook his head and chuckled. "There isn't any need to apologize, Commander. I've been down that road a couple times before. You were just doing your job, so there wasn't anything wrong in your actions... and I would've done the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot... err... hoof."

Fire smirked at the alien word before tilting his head. "So it would seem." Then he sighed. "I have to admit, though... seeing you and your daughter slightly reminds me of me and my daughter."

Justin nodded his head. "I heard that from down the hall... that door isn't sound-proof."

"It... isn't?!"

Justin shook his head and chuckled. "Nope... not to me, at least."

"But... I thought we had this entire room under a sound-proof spell!"

Justin shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "Eh, don't worry about it... the spell might be working, still, but I wouldn't know."

Fire tilted his head in confusion. "Why wouldn't you know?"

With a smile, Justin replied, "Because I'm immune to magic... to a degree, that is."

"You're... immune to magic? So you're saying that if we were to hit you with a magic blast-"

"It won't work on me. Correct. Now, if you were to toss a physical object after me, like a sword or something, then it could be problematic... but if you were to try to lift me up with magic, or anything in my possession, then it will have no effect."

Fire thought for a moment before smiling. "Do you... mind if we test that?"

Justin shrugged again before nodding his head. "As long as it's controlled, and won't risk harming anyone else, then sure. I've already been hit by magic fireballs, conjured water and ice spikes, as well as conjured rocks. The conjured items just vanish before they could even reach me."

With a nod, Fire drew a pair of pistols from his waistcoat and aimed it at Justin's shoulders. Then, in the blink of an eye, he fired both in unison; sending two flaming projectiles at the calm human. The second the projectiles reached his shoulders, however, they vanished into thin air, which caused the eyes of the guards in the room to widen even more.

"By the goddesses... you must be very lucky, my friend... and to think, you could've easily survived my soldiers' weapons, yet you continued to remain patient with them!" Then he nodded his head with a smile and holstered his pistols once more. "That alone is proof that you're trustworthy enough to roam freely in here. Please, though, look through the laws in the library of this ship. It'll be another day until we reach Atlantis, so you'll have plenty of time to look through the most important details." He then turned back towards the group behind him and smiled. "I will escort you all to the Dining Hall... no doubt the discomfort of combat has left you all parched... especially after being cursed with the Sirens... bloody monsters' powers can be draining! And I speak from experience, as well!"

With the group's approval, the soldiers, the group (along with Justin) headed back into the halls, where they would then be led towards their next destination... the Main Lobby, and through that; the Dining Hall.

Despite the plainness of the hallway that they were going through, the group was surprised at the size of the ship. Five minutes have passed, and they were still in the same hallway. "Now that I think about it... how big is this ship?" Gilded asked one of the guards that was walking next to him.

The guard he asked chuckled before replying, "Would you believe me if I were to tell you... the size of a small city?"

"I... don't have an answer to that. Gonna need more proof than a huge hallway, to be honest."

Fire Wing, who was leading the group in the very front of the line, looked behind his right shoulder to where his eyes met Gilded, and chuckled. "Well, there's no need to worry! The end of this hallway is just around the corner up there!" As he said that, he pointed forward, towards the tenth left turn that they saw. (This one would be the second that they took, however.)

Shortly after they took the left turn, they were met with another long hallway... but on the right side of this hallway, just a few meters away from the turn they took, was an opening, where they could see the Main Lobby, even from a distance. Needless to say, they were amazed at what they saw.

Well over twenty stories below them were long balcony-like platforms that surrounded a huge open dome-shaped room... and that wasn't counting the ten stories above them, either. On several corners of each and every platform were square platforms that lowered, raised, and even moved across the walls at the push of a button. The platforms would, thanks to a conveyor system on the walls, bring the passengers to whichever floor they requested by carrying the platform in the direction that the button they pressed directed them to.

Countless arched doorways were also visible in each and every floor, with most of them leading to even more hallways. Some, however, merely led to rooms where shops were open. One, in particular, caused Pinkie Pie's eyes to open widely... a bakery was open, and running.

Another thing that the group noticed that seemed off was the fact that not all of the hundreds, if not thousands of people on board the ship were soldiers. In fact, a vast number of the passengers appeared to be commoners.

Zero looked at Fire and asked, "I take it this isn't just a military ship?"

Fire chuckled before shaking his head. "Of course not! Why, this is actually more of a simple civilian transport!"

"But... why did you choose to risk the lives of these people to face a swarm of Sirens, then?" Swift decided to ask.

Fire shook his head and replied, "I didn't risk these peoples' lives! What you saw out there was just a mere pod out of this ship, meant strictly for the military! While we were traveling through the halls, that was when the pod re-attached to the ship itself!"

That statement caused Swift's eyes to widen in shock. "So... that was just a pod?!"

Fire nodded his head and shrugged his shoulders. "But of course! Atlantis has quite the abundance of unused metals and materials, so we had to find a way to make use of the excess!"

After hearing that, Stealth's ears perked up, and a sly smile rose on his cheeks... which was quickly dropped when he felt Gilda's right paw nudge him in the back, implying for him to not get any ideas. With an annoyed expression, he turned around and saw her deadpanning at him. "Y'know... sometimes I really don't like you, mate."

She smirked before shrugging her shoulders. "You wouldn't be the first."

A little over two hours have passed, and the group, with the addition of Commander Fire Wing, were gathered at a large table in the center of a large dining room area, surrounded by different food stands of different kinds. During their break, Fire was informed of the adventure that they were in... and throughout most of the story, Fire quickly found himself impressed by the feats that they have shown.

Then came the latest events... as well as their encounter with Grogar. Hearing that name caused Fire's brow to furrow, and his right hand to cover his jawline. "So... The Necromancer is out of Tartarus now... I should've known."

He looked at Swift and frowned sympathetically. "I'm sorry for what he did to your father, Mr. Swift Justice. I actually met King Goldheart a few times in the past... and to hear that he was inflicted with the Black Heart... well, I know the feeling of losing my father, but not in that kind of way."

Swift nodded his head and sighed. "To be honest, I was left with no choice. He wasn't my father anymore... just a shell of greed and power. Whatever it was that made him him was long gone before we even returned to The Highlands." Then he smiled. "But in his final breath, I didn't see any anger or hatred in him... it was more... appreciative. Like the curse was hurting him, and he needed a way out... sorry, can we please change the subject?"

Fire nodded his head quickly. "Of course!" Then he turned to Gilda and Pinkie Pie. "So, Mrs. Gilda Blade."

"Just Gilda" Gilda replied as she bit into a hunk of grilled tofu. "And for the record, I'd like real meat at some point, y'know. No offense, but it's been too long since I had a nice Hydra Steak."

Fire shrugged his shoulders. "Unfortunately, we had to cut down on the meat imports from Gryphonia, due to the routes being shut down, so now we find less and less in the stocks... though I've heard that the new monarch of The Highlands is doing what he can to improve conditions, but since he's new, he has to go through a series of practices that would help him do so."

Swift chuckled and nodded his head. "Glad to see I gave the monarchy to a good person."

Fire nodded his head. "Indeed. If The Highlands was to become the victim of a tyrant, I'd hate to imagine what would become of our exports in metals!"

For another hour, the group continued to talk. While they did so, however, Pinkie looked at Justin, and noticed that he was unusually silent throughout the whole conversation... in fact, the only time that he seemed to talk was when they were being sent to their rooms, which were conveniently placed one after another in the same hall, on the same floor as the Dining Hall. "Thanks, Commander." he said, to which Fire looked at him with a smile.

"Of course, Justin. I hope everything turns out better for you and your daughter."

"About that... you said that you have a daughter?"

Fire chuckled before nodding his head. "That, I do... and I would do anything for her, so long as it is within my power!"

Justin nodded his head. "What about a wife?"

That statement caused Fire to freeze, before sighing and turning away. "She... didn't make it through my daughter's birth, I'm afraid. Cardiac Arrest, to be more precise." Then he stopped for a moment and looked back at Justin. "And you?"

"Same thing." Justin then nodded his head. "Looks like we're in the exact same boat."

Fire nodded his head and lightly chuckled. "Metaphorically, and literally, no less."

The two shared a laugh, before Fire cleared his throat. "Anyways, I'm sure you have a lot on your mind now... but if you need anything at all, there's a buzzer beside your bed. Just push the button on it, and someone will be right up. And if you need to talk to a fellow single father, just let me know, and I'll do what I can to help you."

With a nod and a handshake, Justin replied, "Thanks... and the same goes for me, too. If you need anything, just let me know." Then the two parted ways; Fire Wing heading back down the hall where they came from, and Justin heading to his room, with the door sliding shut from the top to bottom right behind him.

Once inside, Justin headed into the bathroom to wash up for the second time that day. Then, after taking a warm shower and re-dressing in his blue jeans and gray sweater that he wore beneath his yellow jacket, he held the said jacket up for a little while before sighing. After staring at it for an extended period of time, he stepped into the bedroom area and sat down with the jacket in his hands. Then, with a long, drawn-out sigh, he folded the jacket neatly on the bed beside him and placed it on the nightstand at his left.

Letting out a yawn, he rested his head on the pillow and stared at the ceiling for what felt like eternity. He was so lost in thought, however, that he didn't even notice the tears forming in his eyes.

The sound of a distant knocking caused Justin's eyes to bolt open. Looking around, he noticed that the room was slightly darker than, what felt like, mere minutes ago. When Justin looked to his left at the clock that hung over the door, he noticed that he fell asleep for four hours without even noticing it.

The knocking continued, but this time, a voice followed suit... Pinkie Pie's voice. "Um... Justin? Is... is it okay if I come in?"

Justin slowly stood from the bed and walked up to the door. Then, after yawning once more, he pressed the button on the door's right side. The first thing he noticed was that Pinkie Pie was no longer wearing the clothes that she wore before (the black leather beneath the long red coat). Instead, she was wearing a white sailor's shirt with a red bow tie, blue stripes on the sides, and a blue skirt that lowered to her knees. The skirt was rigid, and slightly open at the bottom to allow her legs room to move. Altogether, she practically looked like a sailor, minus the hat.

She looked up at Justin, and weakly smiled at the fact that he was examining her change of clothing. "Um... hey, Justin!" She waved her right hand, which caused Justin's eyes to quickly jump back up to her blue eyes.

"Oh, um... hey, Pinkie." Then he stepped back and motioned with his left arm for her to enter. "Please, come in. Make yourself at home."

She nodded her head in appreciation and stepped in, while Justin closed the door once more. "Thanks. I... see you've decided to change your clothes for once!"

Justin smirked before shaking his head. "Nah, I've worn this sweater beneath my jacket since I got here... but I'd like to say the same to you, though."

Pinkie giggled before nodding her head. "Yeah. I didn't really like wearing that old jacket and that... kind of clothing, to be honest. While it was a little comfortable, I felt like it was still too inappropriate. So, I asked around where I could find something better to wear... though for sailors, the outfits are quite limited."

Justin nodded his head in response. "Well, I think it suits you. At least it gives a better message to anyone who sees you."

"Yeah..." Then Pinkie looked at the jacket that was folded on the nightstand and walked up to it. "So... if you don't mind me asking, what is so special about that jacket? And why do you wear it all the time? Especially with a sweater below it?"

Justin took a deep breath and slowly exhaled; clearly showing signs of recomposing himself. Pinkie noticed right away and gasped. "Oh! I mean... y-you don't have to explain, if you don't want to! Sorry I asked!"

With a weak smile, Justin shook his head. "It's fine, Pinkie... maybe it's best that I tell you. After all, talking about problems is one of the best ways to find a solution for it."

"Problems? Is... is the jacket a burden to you?" Pinkie asked, to which Justin shook his head in response.

"No. In reality, the jacket is one of my most prized possessions. It... was a gift to me from my dad, before he passed away."

Pinkie gasped at that revelation and put her hands in front of her mouth. "Oh my gosh! I'm... I'm so sorry..."

"It's fine, Pinkie. You don't have to be sorry, when you didn't do anything wrong."

"B-but... but I brought those bad memories up!"

"No, Pinkie. I did, and I still do every time I put it on." Then he walked up to his bed and sat down next to the night stand, while Pinkie stood there in the center of the room, until Justin motioned for her to take a seat next to him. When she did, he opened his saddle bag and pulled out something he didn't show anyone before... a dark brown leather wallet. When Pinkie tilted her head in confusion, he clarified, "This is a wallet. It's what us humans used to hold our money, our identification cards, and a few other things. Me, though?" He opened it up, and pointed at a photo that was attached to the inside of it by a paperclip. "I use it to hold pictures."

When Pinkie inched closer to the picture, the first thing that caught her eye was a pair of humans... one in particular looked strangely familiar... a pale-skinned human male with short brown hair combed over his right eye. He didn't have a beard, but did have the same bluish-green eyes, and was wearing a yellow hooded jacket.

The next figure in the picture caused Pinkie's eyes to widen... a human female was there, standing next to him. She stood up to the man's neck, and was smiling widely at him with her unusually red eyes. Her hair was also red, and lowered below her back in a ponytail. The two of them were in the middle of a hug, and were smiling at each other... almost like they were slow dancing.

"That was during a party. Needless to say, the photographer was quite good, and decided to give us the picture for free."

Pinkie's eyes were still glued at the girl in the picture. "She... she looks so... pretty, actually!"

Justin smirked before nodding his head. "Yeah. Back then, I was too nervous to tell her that up-front... but even so, that day ended up being the same one that we shared our first kiss together."

Pinkie winced at the last three words. "You... you both looked very happy, then."

With a weak smile, Justin replied, "We were... and what's more, she was like you in so many ways."

Pinkie tilted her head in confusion. "She... she was?! How so?"

"Well..." Justin began rubbing his chin in thought while looking up. "First off, she was always the life of a party. She would always help out, and assure everyone that they would leave with a smile, or she'd chase them back home wearing a clown outfit." Pinkie smirked at that comment. "Then there's the fact that she always put her friends ahead of her own personal needs. Sometimes, I would have to remind her to eat something or take a break... three times in a row. Even then, she would always be cheerful in the end, and ensure that everything is perfect for our friends."

Pinkie hummed before rubbing her chin in thought. "Did... did she like parties?"

Justin nodded his head and chuckled. "Every day would be treated like a party, at least. She even helped host quite a few birthday parties for the neighbors of the city we used to live in." Then he looked at Pinkie and added, "Honestly, if she and you were to meet, I'm sure it would almost be like the two of you were twins."

Pinkie stared at the picture with a saddened expression. Then she closed her eyes and sighed before nodding her head. "I... I can see why I make you uncomfortable, then."

Out of confusion, Justin raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "I beg your pardon?"

"Please... don't lie. If there's anything I know about being the Element of Laughter, it's that I can easily tell when someone is happy... and sad." She opened her eyes and looked at Justin's confused face. "I can see that I remind you too much of her... and for that, I'm sorry."

She turned to leave, but before she could even take a step away, though, she ended up kicking her hoof on Justin's saddlebag, and gasped as she fell from her hooves...
...and right into Justin's arms.

She slowly opened her eyes after expecting a painful face-plant... and her eyes widened when she saw Justin's concerned face staring right down at her, with his arms behind her back to keep her from falling. In a brief moment, both of their cheeks were red.

Before anything else could be said, Pinkie sighed and regained her balance by gripping onto Justin's shoulders and pulling herself up on both hooves again. "Um... s-sorry..."

Justin looked away and scratched the back of his head. "It's okay... accidents happen. Just... please be careful... and also..." he then surprised her by wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She stood there frozen and silent, while Justin added, "Please don't stop being yourself because of me. While you're both similar, there's also quite a few differences... and not just because she's a Human, and you're a Pony."

Pinkie started to shiver, as her arms found themselves slowly rising up to Justin's back. Then she closed her watery eyes and buried her head in his chest. "B-but... I... I don't want to be the one that causes you to frown, though! You're... you're the only friend that I wasn't ever able to get to smile!"

"Hey, Pinkie... look at me." She slowly pulled herself away, but her eyes were closed, and she had to wipe her eyes with her right arm before opening them. When she did, though, only more tears came out, as she saw Justin smiling at her... and being the Element of Laughter, she could tell that it wasn't forced, either. "Just you being there to support Ruby and I is enough to make me smile... you just haven't noticed it." Then he gently used his thumbs to dry her cheeks, while she breathed heavily at both the close proximity and the crying.

"B-but..." Justin's right pointing finger quickly found its way over her lips, while his head shook left and right.

"No buts, young lady. You have been nothing but a great friend to us all. And plus, Ruby seems to have grown attached to you, now."

That statement caused Pinkie Pie to gasp. "W-what? But... how do you know that?"

Letting out a light chuckle, Justin replied, "Because she's been mumbling your name in her sleep." Then he gently patted Pinkie's shoulders. "And speaking of which, you should probably start heading to your room before-"

Suddenly, the sound of the door locking echoed through the room... much to Justin's disappointment "Well, crap. Looks like this place has a curfew, after all."

"Y-you mean that... we're..." Pinkie began, to which Justin nodded his head.

"Don't worry, though. I'll talk to the operators. Perhaps they can escort you, or at least direct me to an escort for you." Then he walked up to a desk that was positioned in the opposite corner of the Minotaur-sized bed and took a seat on the chair below it. Checking around the desk for any writing utensils, he ended up finding a quill and a bottle of ink, along with a scroll. On the top-left corner of the desk was a lantern that had a green fire lit. Justin knew from the manual that it was the fires of a Messenger Wyvern; A Wyvern commonly mistaken for a Dragon, due to their similar shapes at birth. Though greed would cause them to grow colossal sizes, a fully-grown one would normally stand at nine feet or taller.

After adjusting the light of the lantern to the point where he could see the scroll in front of him, Justin dipped the quill in the ink pot, tapped the excess ink back into the rim of the pot, and started to write in the Common Tongue. (Due to the fact that he was still getting familiar with the handwriting, he had to redo a few words here and there. In the end, he had to get Pinkie to proofread it, and correct it where necessary.)

Finally, when thirty minutes of writing were up, Justin double-checked the letter.

To anyone who can hear this!
There's been a slight mix-up in someone's schedule. While we read the manual and tried to be as cautious as possible about the time, we ended up running out of it. Is there, perhaps, any portal services available that could send one visitor out, and another one in? One of us has a daughter, and we need to ensure that she is safe!

Thank you in advance!
--Justin Daniels.

With a long, drawn-out sigh, Justin wrapped the scroll up and placed it in the lantern, where it immediately combusted into a sparkling smoke that faded into the wind... and materialized right back on the desk.

When Justin looked at the scroll, he groaned. Double-checking the contents, it ended up being the same one. "Well, crap! Looks like nobody's available!"

Pinkie shifted uneasily and turned towards the door. "This isn't good! What if Ruby isn't in a room?!"

"They'd escort her here... maybe we can ask that escort to help you get to your room!" Justin's smile returned.

Then Pinkie's ears drooped immediately. "Oh, wait... last time I saw her, she was with Gilded Blade. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she might've been sent with him to his room!"

Justin sighed at that statement. "Well... guess we're stuck here, then. At least until six tomorrow morning."

Pinkie hummed for a moment before nodding her head. "I'm really sorry, Justin! I promise, this was not intended!"

Letting out a light chuckle, Justin waved his hands defensively. "Hey, easy! I'm not accusing you!" Then he shrugged his shoulders. "It is what it is."

Pinkie nodded her head and yawned... which resulted in Justin yawning in response. "Well... I'm okay with sleeping on the floor, at least. Perhaps that-"

"Not gonna happen." Justin interrupted, before motioning towards the bed. "I've been sleeping on the floors of inns several times, while giving Ruby the bed. If there's anyone who's sleeping in the bed, it's you."

"But Justin! This is your-"

Justin covered her lips with his right finger again and shook his head with an amused look on his face. "Again, no buts, young lady. You're a friend first, and a guest. As such, my friends get nothing but the best." Then he gave her a quick wink. "And besides, ain't I the leader of our little group?"

Pinkie lightly chuckled at the word. "I'm... not so sure little seems to cut it anymore."

Justin shrugged his shoulders. "Regardless, it isn't an army, at least." Then he pointed at the bed and gave Pinkie a mischievous smile. "As your leader, I order you to sleep on the bed tonight, where it's comfortable... and I also order you to have a good night's rest, and try not to worry so much... okay?"

Pinkie thought for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Well... i-if you insist." Then she looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, Justin."

Justin smiled and nodded his head. "Any time, Pinkie. Good night!"

"Good night, Justin." Then she crawled in the bed and tucked herself beneath the covers... but stopped when she looked both ways of the bed. "Um, Justin?"

Justin, who was now relaxing on the floor with both of his hands behind his bed, looked her way and asked, "Yes, Pinkie?"

"There's... enough room for both of us to sleep on this bed."

Justin raised an eyebrow at that request and remained silent for a few seconds, before replying, "Um... no, thanks."

"...Please?"

Justin sighed and sat up from his spot on the floor. "Pinkie... it's fine."

"No, it isn't! I... won't be able to sleep comfortably, knowing that I'm stealing your own bed from you! And... and there will even be enough space between us to avoid any visitors from thinking anything!"

Justin thought for a moment, before sighing. "I'm okay, Pinkie. Really, I am."

"But... but I'm not..."

Justin sat there for a moment, before closing his eyes and sighing. "Very well, then... but please stay on your side of the bed."

Pinkie nodded her head and scooted to the far-right corner of the bed to allow Justin his room. Then he folded the blankets inward to scoot his legs in, before folding the blankets over his chest. Afterwards, he rested his head on the pillow and yawned, before turning towards Pinkie, who had her back turned his way... much to his relief. Then he turned his head to where he was facing the ceiling and slowly closed his eyes.

About an hour passed, and he still couldn't sleep, due to a mixture of discomfort and worry for his daughter. Justin was still staring at the ceiling with the same expression on his face.

Little did he know, however, that Pinkie was now rolled over his right arm... much to his shock. He turned her way and noticed the back of her mane was all that was visible... so he couldn't see her face. "Um... Pinkie? You're not-" he was interrupted by her light snores, "-even awake anymore, are you?" She didn't even move her head left or right to signify any sign of being awake. All he received in response was an ear twitch. Then he raised his left hand to try waking her up, but froze before his hand could even hover over her.

For some odd reason, memories of several years ago began to play in his head... of his former fiance that he loved dearly. Feeling the extra weight on his arm caused him to feel unusually peaceful.

With that in mind, all he managed to do was sigh before placing his left hand back on his chest. Finally, after just a few minutes of silence, he closed his eyes, and was, for the first time in a while, able to sleep peacefully, without any worry in the world.

Swift Justice stood there in the bathroom of his dorm washing his face. He couldn't face his girlfriend after the incident with the Sirens. How was it that he suddenly found himself attracted to several different-looking women?! And why was it that none of them were Gilda... or Gryphons, for that matter?!

Then he froze in fear when he heard the said Gryphon call him from the other side of the door. "Hey, dumbass! Ya want a pillow in there, or are ya gonna get out anytime soon?!"

"Um... c-coming, dear!" he nervously replied before looking at himself in the mirror once again. "You've got this, Swift! Just... act natural!" After having a brief mental conversation with himself, he took a deep breath and opened the door... only to find the room completely dark, except for the bed area with a dimly lit candle beside it.

"G-Gilda?" Swift began, only to jump when he heard the door behind him slam shut. When he turned around, however, he felt a talon grip his mouth to keep him from screaming.

Then, from the darkness, he heard Gilda say, "Relax, dumbass! It's me!"

"Gilda? What's... what's going on?!"

Gilda sighed before guiding him to the bed and pushing him onto it so he could sit down and see her. She was standing over him at that point, with an unusual expression on her face... one of slight worry.

"Gilda? What's wrong?" Swift began, only to be cut off by her glaring at him.

"I know that you saw other women in those Sirens, Swift." If Swift's fur wasn't white, then he would've gone pale at that point... but before he could even speak to defend himself, she already began speaking again. "But I'm not judging you. And besides... I happened to see a few good-looking studs in my hypnosis, also. That's why I gotta ask you this." Then she inched closer to him and smiled slyly. "Before I ask you this, though, I want you to know that a Mercenary's word is that Mercenary's life... so when I say I ain't gonna kill ya if you're honest, then I mean it." Her smile slightly shrunk, but her eyelids lowered halfway down her eyes, as she stared at him in a slightly sultry way. "Would you say I look better than those girls, or not?"

"Y-"

"Oh, and if ya lie to me, then that deal earlier is off. I want the truth, only."

Swift gulped nervously and closed his eyes. "O-okay, then..." He began to say a silent, mental prayer, before regaining his breath. "I... don't know."

Gilda stood there dumbfounded at his answer. "What do you mean by that, exactly?"

"W-well... the truth is, I haven't really seen a Gryphon female... like... right there, y'know. Being a Soldier, I was always too busy to start any relationships."

Gilda stood there for a moment, before sighing in relief. "Well, that's good enough, I guess." Then she raised an eyebrow at him flinching from her. "Hey, Swift! Look at me!" He did as instructed, only to find that she was now right there in front of him, mere feet from his face... and now, she was sitting next to him on the bed. Then her next action caught him by surprise... she gripped his right hand and lifted it up behind her chest plate; causing his hand to "accidentally" bump into what was hidden beneath the armor piece. After that, she pressed his hand onto her chest, where he could feel her heartbeat. "I may be a Mercenary... but inside, I'm still just another girl... so grow a bucking pair, and treat me like one, okay?"

Swift's entire face was red at the sudden bold move, but he nodded gulped and nodded his head nonetheless.

Gilda then removed Swift's hand from her chest plate and stood back from the bed. "Good. Now, then... just so you know, I'm in the same boat that you're in... metaphorically, of course."

Swift raised an eyebrow at that statement. "Wait, so... I'm your first, then?"

Gilda nodded her head and turned to where her back was facing him. "Yeah... and while I promised I wouldn't kill you, I'd make living a pain if you told anyone that." And now, Swift was nervous again. "But... I trust that you wouldn't."

Then she turned back towards him and asked, "So anyways... you haven't seen any Gryphons in that band of Sirens?"

Swift shook his head and replied, "N-no, dear. I didn't see any Gryphons."

His eyes then went wide when Gilda's sultry look returned on her face. Then she walked closer to him and placed her talons on his shoulders, before pushing his back on the bed, and locking her beak onto his lips for ten seconds. Then, when they broke from the kiss, she grinned mischievously and said, "Well... since we're a couple, now... we're gonna have to find a solution to that problem together."

Slowly, she lifted her talons behind her chest plate and undid the strap holding it on. Before she took it off, however, she turned towards the dimly lit candle, inched closer to it, and blew the flame out, leaving the couple in the darkness, with only enough light for the two of them to see each other.

When the sound of the chest plate hitting the ground echoed through the room, Swift only had three words to answer her question with.

"Better! Definitely better!"

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And now, I must go wash my brain out in milk... or, I'd suppose my stomach will be washed from that, instead! :pinkiecrazy:

Anyways, here's the long-awaited Episode 7 of Season 3! Expect a few newcomers to show up in the next one! Also, I figured I'd give the "Romance" tag a few boosters, since so far, the story was lacking in it for so long! (Until Gilda and Swift became a pair, in fact!)

So yeah... I've been up to my CHIN in work, lately, what with babysitting my niece and nephew, then helping a few of my friends in "Fantasy Life" for the 3DS.

Of course, I also learned that my new friends are okay with Bronies, so I introduced 'em! :twilightsmile:

Anyways, that's about all I got to say, besides an apology for the delay. Since I've been apologizing a lot, however, I've decided to post a picture of Pinkie Pie dressed as a chicken, instead! :pinkiehappy:

All joking aside, I want to thank you all for your undying attention, your amazing patience, and your outstanding support in making this story get this far! Without you guys/gals, I would've given up ages ago!

:heart: THANK YOU ALL, MY LITTLE BRONIES :heart:

Season 3, Episode 8: Smooth Sailing

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 3 | Episode 8

Smooth Sailing

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

Three days have passed since the rescue of the S.S. Atlantis. After what felt like eternity, our heroes are now on their way to the second safest place in the world, where they could rest for a month, or at least until the heat dies down for the young Alicorn and her Human father.

Justin slowly opened his eyes at the sound of frantic knocking on his door. Then, without warning, the door slid open, and in ran his daughter, Ruby, who had a huge smile on her face. From the other side of the door, Pinkie Pie and Gilded Blade stood with smiles on their faces, though Gilded was attempting to hide it behind his right hand's claws.

"Daddy! Wake up, we're here! We've made it to Atlantis!" Ruby cheered, all while Justin turned towards her and weakly smiled before gently ruffling her mane.

"Alright, honey... let me get my stuff. You go on ahead and get your stuff ready, too... okay?"

Ruby nodded her head and ran back out of the room and into the hallway, while Gilded quickly followed her. Pinkie, however, stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. Justin looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Um... you okay there, Pinkie?"

At once, Pinkie's smile fell, and she was looking away nervously. "Um... y-yeah..." She paused for a moment, until she looked up at him again. "I wanted to say I'm sorry for... putting you in an uncomfortable position three nights ago."

Justin sighed before sitting up and scooting his legs off the bed. Then, while standing up to slip his jacket on, he replied, "You weren't conscious, Pinkie Pie. There's no need to apologize for something you didn't even do."

"But I did do it, even though I was asleep! As such, I feel it is my fault!"

When Justin had his jacket on again, he began strapping the leather vest over his torso. "And as I said, you weren't conscious, so you didn't do it in my eyes."

"But-"

Justin turned towards her and gave her a silencing glare. "No buts, young lady. You don't have to apologize to me, because I'm not even penalizing you. Now please... stop hurting yourself for me... okay?"

Pinkie was silent for a moment, until she sighed and looked away from him. Then she felt his hands gently grip her shoulders, which instantly caught her attention, and caused her to look back up into his eyes... which were no longer glaring, but appeared to be more cheerful. She even noticed a weak smile on his lips.

"You help us smile, Pinkie Pie... and while that might not seem like much... after all that Ruby and I have gone through, that means the world to us. If anything, we should be thanking you more." Then he pulled her into a hug, which she hesitantly returned. "Thank you, Pinkie Pie."

She sniffled a few times before nodding her head. Then, when they broke from the hug, she weakly smiled at him again. "Um... I s-should probably get ready, too!"

Justin chuckled before nodding his head. Then he walked towards the door and held the button for her, and motioned out the door. Pinkie followed his motion and nodded her head appreciatively. "Thank you, Justin... it's good to know I did something right for you and Ruby."

With a nod, Justin replied, "Any time, Pinkie... and remember, you can come talk to any of us if you have anything that's bothering you. Okay?"

She nodded her head. "Okay." Then, Pinkie began heading back to her room to start packing any of her belongings that she unpacked shortly after their arrival.

When she was no longer in his sight, Justin closed the door to his room and continued to strap his armor back on. When he was finished, he was wearing his usual attire, with the addition of the leather vest, two leather shoulder pads, a pair of leather gloves, leather shin guards that rose up just above his knees, and a round wooden shield over his back, rested on top of the strap that had his staff hanging over it. On the belt over his waist, he had both of his longswords, which he had repaired and re-sharpened two days prior in The Poseidon's military smithy, with the permission of Maud Pie. On his fingers, his magically enchanted diamond, sapphire, emerald, and ruby rings were shining brightly, with two additional rings added; a pink opal ring that had a mixture of fire and wind magic, and a yellow jasper ring for enhanced electricity magic.

After giving himself one final look in the mirror, Justin stepped out the door, and noticed that Ruby and Gilded were already outside of his room, and the rest of the crew were already up, and headed down the hall. Not wasting any more time, he joined with Ruby and Gilded, and the three of them soon joined with the rest of the crew, where they would all have breakfast, then prepare for their entrance to Atlantis.

Meanwhile, in The Highlands, a group of sailors were on their way back from a fishing trip with a large portion of fish on their boat.

One of the sailors was a Minotaur with the name "Golden Fish" written on the tag. He turned towards the Gryphon sailor with the name "Silver Eagle" on his tag and asked, "So, ya think you've got what it takes to handle the seas, Silver?"

Silver nodded his head and chuckled. "Ya kidding? I've had to handle clouds worse than this! And with this job, it's safe to say I've conquered the skies and the sea, now!"

Gold chuckled before nodding his head. "Yeah! Though... our passenger seems to have quite a knack for the skies... I mean, she's always lookin' up all the time!"

Silver tilted his head in confusion before turning towards his Minotaur friend. "The guest that somehow found her way on our ship while we were headed from Gryphonia?"

Gold nodded his head in response. "Yeah. Funny how much like a mercenary she can fight! Took down them pirates like they were butter in front of a sharpened knife... but she's dressed like a Zebra, though! Can't tell 'er for a mare or just a short 'n skinny lad! Course, her ears kinda speaks of Equine nature!"

"Indeed! Can't even see inside that brown cloak of hers to tell if she's some kinda Zebra from Goldwood, or something else... quite a mysterious lot those Zebras are..."

Their conversation was cut short when they heard the door to the boat's Main Lobby slam open. Then, when they turned to see just what happened, the hooded figure stepped out of the lobby and turned towards them. Then she pointed at the nearby island, which caught Silver's and Gold's attention.

Gold gently smiled and nodded his head. "That's the place, lass! If yer lookin' fer a good ol' bite, an' maybe a good rumor or two, then 'The Raging Bull' is the place to go!"

With a nod, the figure watched as the boat got closer to the port.

When the boat arrived in the port, the hooded figure jumped over the watery gap, while the sailors continued on with their jobs. Then, after reaching the tavern, the figure stepped through the makeshift curtained door and eyed the large number of mixed creatures that, at this point, all turned to see her.

The music from the bard went silent, the conversations went silent, and the bartender who was tending to a Minotaur customer went silent. Despite the curious eyes, the figure walked past the crowd and, upon reaching the bar, lifted herself onto the nearest empty stool, and pulled out her picture of Pinkie Pie.

The bartender, a snobby-looking Gryphon dressed in a black suit, asked in an accent that seemed surprisingly close to Canterlotian (only in Common Tongue), "I say, what is a ruffian like you doing in here in that cloak?! Perhaps you can't read the signs outside!"

The figure tilted her head in confusion, but remained silent.

"Not much of a speaker, huh? Very well, then..." He reached behind the counter and pulled out a sign with multiple odd writings on it. Translated, the writings were "Druathican", "Drakensonian", "Highlandean", "Common Tongue", "Equestrian", "Gryphonian", and "Saddle Arabian"... each of which written in their own native languages.

The figure thought for a moment before pointing at the "Druathican" one.

The Gryphon nodded his head and cleared his throat. Then, in Druathican, he said, "You have to take the cloak off."

The figure scratched her chin with her right hand before shaking her head left and right... much to the bartender's disapproval.

"Then if you refuse to remove the cloak, I'll have no choice but to issue a complaint to my friends, if you know what I mean? And believe me... they know more about these streets than the guards, themselves! They'll hunt you down when you run away... so, are you going to remove it, then?"

Again, the figure shook her head before pointing at the picture of Pinkie Pie once more; this time, with more force.

"Well, that's too bad! It's been fun, but you left me no choice, so I'm going to have to ask you to hold still, so we can make it quick." Then he turned towards the Minotaur beside the figure and nodded his head.

The Minotaur glared at the hooded figure before reaching behind his back and pulling out a clockwork pistol. Then, once he aimed the barrel at the hooded figure, too much happened at once for him to comprehend.

The hooded figure quickly gripped the barrel of the pistol and pushed it forward while she moved backwards; disarming the Minotaur's grip on the pistol, and causing it to be fully disarmed, and now in the possession of the hooded figure. Then the hooded figure quickly aimed the pistol at the Minotaur's left leg and shot his hoof; sending him on the ground yelling in agony, and causing the entirety of the room to be cleared, save for a few who must've known the Minotaur and the bartender.

When they tried to draw their weapons, however, they soon found their arms and ankles tied into several roots that grew from the ceiling and floor. Then, with them out of the way, the figure pointed at Pinkie Pie's picture, while glaring at the bartender, who was now staring wide-eyed, slack-jawed, and shakily at the sudden turn of events.

"Y-you wouldn't h-hurt me if I told you I know where she is, would you?!" the bartender asked.

Despite his weak attempt of persuasion, the figure sighed before pointing the pistol at the furthest-left beverage on the back counter. Then, a vine grew from directly behind the bartender's back (coming out of the wall) and wrapped around his neck. In the matter of seconds, he found out that his face was at the farthest-right corner of the assortment (but the far-left side of the figure's perspective).

Wordlessly, the figure pulled the trigger of the pistol, and at once, the twentieth bottle shattered and sent the clear green liquid splattering all over the counters and floor. One second later, the nineteenth bottle shattered, mixing a slightly brighter green liquid to splatter. (The drinks were lined up from red at the left to green at the right, and every shade in-between.)

With each passing second, the bottles were quickly depleting, and the bullets were getting much more closer to the bartender's head. Finally, when she reached five, he screamed, "OKAY! I'LL TALK! PLEASE, DON'T KILL ME!"

The figure stopped shooting and looked him in the eyes. Then he shakily pointed at the picture of Pinkie Pie and said, "S-she went with that human there on that picture on that wall over there! They were planning to go to Saddle Arabia, but they were forced to go to Atlantis first, to let the tension from all around the globe ease up on their case!" He then pointed on an old WANTED poster that had a red "X" marked over it.

Slowly, the figure walked closer to the picture of Justin and ripped it off of the wall to have a closer look at him. Then, after bringing it up to the defenseless bartender, she pointed at the picture, to which the bartender replied by chuckling. "She was awful clingy to that guy... almost as if her life depended on it!"

The hooded figure stood there speechlessly before staring at the picture. Then, after her left hand (the one that was holding the picture) started to shake, she Frisbee-tossed it in the air and shot the picture several times, before slowly looking at the bartender and pointing at the clock that rested on the wall behind him.

"T-the ship to Atlantis? When will it be back?" The figure nodded her head. "I'm s-sorry, Miss, but-"

The figure aimed the pistol at the fifth bottle and shot it. *BOOM*

"I don't know what happened to it!"

*BOOM*

"I'll let you know when I hear from it! Honest!"

*BOOM*

"REALLY! I DON'T-"

*BOOM*

"THE SHIP HAS BEEN DESTROYED! I SWEAR, THE SHIP WAS LOST AT SEA! BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON BUILDING A NEW ONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS! THE CREW SURVIVED, THOUGH! THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO ATLANTIS AS WE SPEAK! THEN THEY'LL BE ON THEIR WAYS TO SADDLE ARABIA!"

The hooded figure stood there for a moment with the pistol aimed at the last bottle. Then, with a sigh, she walked up to it and took it from the shelf before turning to her left, where a goat waitress lied under the table nervously.

She looked like she wasn't anything more than an innocent female who was used by the males for certain activities; her black-laced outfit only supporting that theory. Her fur even had a few red spots where she was abused, and her right eye even had a dark spot around it, where she's been struck.

The hooded figure hummed before taking a large pouch of bits from behind the counter, which caused the waiter to gasp and glare at her.

"HEY! THAT'S-" The figure pointed her pistol at his forehead. "-PERFECTLY FINE FOR YOU TO TAKE! PLEASE, DO HAVE A LOVELY AFTERNOON!"

The figure said nothing, but walked up to the goat and placed the bag of bits in her hands and pointed at the door. The goat, in turn, bowed her head respectfully before running out of the place quickly with the bits still in her hands. Then the figure walked up to another WANTED poster of Justin and pulled it off of the wall. Afterwards, she turned towards the exit and began walking.

As she walked, though, she kept everyone in their bindings, considering they were only the criminals that were hired to protect the bartender. Then, when she made it to the doorway, she turned around and threw the bottle of red cocktail towards the bartender. When it landed, it landed just inches over his head, and shattered; sending the liquid all over his body, and the floor beneath him.

The figure then turned away while the soaked bartender breathed heavily. Then he started to cry before saying, "T-thank you for sparing me! I promise, I'll stop making deals with thugs if you-" he couldn't even finish his sentence before the figure aimed the pistol at the area where the cocktail landed and shot a fire bullet onto it; igniting the Gryphon on fire, and causing him to shriek in pain, while the fire from his body traced down the liquids on the counter. Then the hooded figure stepped out just in time for the fire to start seeping closer towards a propane tank that was used to heat up the stoves.

Justin was sitting next to Ruby at the breakfast table. The two of them were eating salads, and despite Ruby's insistence that he eat a meat substitute, he continued to refuse her request, stating that they are both in the same boat together. After finally deciding to just drop the subject, Ruby began telling him that she wanted to practice magic with Zula.

"I know she doesn't use Unicorn magic, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I can't learn it, right?"

Justin scratched his chin in thought before turning his head to Zula, who was looking at them while they spoke. Most of the other crew were just busy chatting amongst themselves, though. Then he turned to Ruby, smiled, and nodded. "I'm sure we can find some time for you to visit her for that... but don't think this is a free ticket to staying out late at night! I want you to be where I can see you at seven at night every time you go! Okay?"

Ruby nodded her head and returned the smile. "Yes, sir! Thank you, Daddy!"

Justin ruffled her mane and replied, "Any time, Honey."

Meanwhile, Quill was speaking with Zero about what they were expecting in Atlantis.

"Honestly, I've heard that the city is so deep in a huge shield bubble, that the top of the water level can easily be mistaken for the sky, itself!"

Zero shrugged his shoulders before replying, "I think it might be a spell, really. After all, they do have days and nights here... and being so deep under the ocean kinda makes one wonder if, without that magic, would the entire place be pitch black?"

Stealth Paws was on the seat in-between the two, who were at the far corner of the large rectangular table. "Honestly, mate, it's probably just some emulators that float above the place. I mean, I've been through a few caves that had lights powerful enough to be mistaken for the sun... and one example would be The Undercity!"

Gilded, who was sitting beside Quill, nodded his head. "Yeah, I was wondering how they got the place to be lit up like that... so it was the result of Fox technology?"

Stealth nodded his head and replied, "Indeed it was, mate! Helped a few of 'em be installed, even! Of course, that was before... it started getting populated."

Quill scratched his chin in thought. "It's all so surreal to think about, really! I haven't really been to Atlantis before, so maybe this could be something I could add to one of my poems!"

Zero chuckled before shrugging his shoulders. "Haven't been here, either, to be honest. Hope the water level doesn't disable flight, though! Would like to get my wings out for a stretch every now and then, y'know?"

While they continued to talk, Gilda was sitting right next to Swift, with both of their eyes focused on Maud. Gilda and Maud were talking, while Swift listened in, but barely spoke.

"So, Maud! When we get to Atlantis, what are we all going to do?"

Maud slowly blinked before replying, "Once we get there, I'll send a letter to Princess Celestia. She might be able to send Pinkie's friends to Saddle Arabia once the month's come to pass. With them on our side, we should have a free passage directly to Equestria, without any legal work required. After all... they are the Bearers of Harmony."

Gilda nodded her head and sighed. "Yeah... I've been told that."

Swift noticed her sudden change in mood. "What's wrong, Dear?"

Gilda cleared her throat before replying, "Well... I've just been thinking about what a friend of mine said when I was up there. She and I... kinda got in a little fight before I left there, and... she said some things that hit me where it hurts."

Swift nodded his head and gently rubbed her right shoulder with his left arm. (His arm was stretched behind her back, and he was sitting at her right.)

Gilda weakly smiled at Swift's gesture before continuing. "Before you guys, she was literally the only friend that I had... well, besides Gilded up there, but that doesn't count, since he's my older brother."

Maud nodded her head. "Friends and family will always have a fight every now and again... but don't forget that the fights are normally what leads to a better understanding of what's right and wrong. I may not know your friend that you fought with, but I'm sure if you both were the only friend to the other, then eventually, the realization will hit you that, maybe, you both were wrong about something."

Gilda tilted her head in confusion. "About what, though? Being friends to begin with?"

Maud shrugged her shoulders before replying, "Either that, or maybe one of you did something that offended the other?"

Gilda paused for a moment before closing her eyes, looking down, and slowly nodding her head. "Yeah... I was angry because she made other friends... and put them above me. And... after this whole ordeal, I've learned that maybe, just maybe... I actually kinda deserved it, too."

Gilded scratched his beak in thought before turning towards his sister. "Hey, G. I'm sure you and Rainbow Dash'll be able to work things out once we get to Equestria, won't you?"

Gilda smirked before looking up again, and rolling her eyes. "I can only hope so... though knowing her, that's highly doubtable."

Pinkie, who also sat next to Justin, chirped in. "Believe me, Gilda! If she was like you were at some point, then I can guarantee that she will be more than happy to forgive you!" She then gave Gilda a determined smile and pointed at herself. "And if she refuses, then I'll make her forgive you!"

Gilda looked at her, weakly smiled, and nodded her head. "Thanks... I appreciate that."

As they were talking, Thor'lok and Software Patch sat at a separate table that was pulled up close to the one everyone else were sitting at. Software merely stared at the assorted fruits and veggies on his plate while Thor'lok scarfed down multiple plates of food in individual bites.

Thor'lok paused for a moment before turning towards Software. "Friend going to eat?"

Software hummed for a moment before looking at Thor'lok confusedly. "My databanks read that the consumption of food by ordinary means would be a bad idea. Therefore, I must wait until none are present before absorption of nutrition is applied."

Now it was Thor'lok who stared at him confusedly. He then looked at Maud and scratched the back of his mane. "Um... Thor'lok have a headache... Thor'lok go to other table."

Software hummed before replying, "My scanner indicates that your headache is the cause of-"

"I think you merely speak over his head, for he is troubled at knowing what you said." Zula commented from in-between the giants of the group. She lifted a mug of tea and took a sip before turning towards Software Patch. "Though I am rather curious about how you eat. What makes your methods different? Do you only eat meat?"

Software shook his head before replying, "Negative. The crystals inside me absorbs the life force of the targeted food item, and leaves behind any and all biodegradable materials."

Fire Wing, who sat on the other side of the three, rubbed his snout in thought. "So you're saying that you absorb the nutrients, and pretty much leave... you-know-what... on the plates?"

Software turned towards him before asking, "If by 'you-know-what, you mean fecal matter, then that would be correct."

Zula sputtered the tea in her mouth back into the mug and groaned. "Great... now I have lost my will to drink. Please, Software, before you speak, think!"

Software sat there silently before replying, "I did think it through, and replied the facts as they were asked. Is that not what this is about?"

Zula groaned before shaking her head. "Honestly, is your knowledge of manners unstable? Do you not know what to keep from saying at the table?"

Software rubbed the lower end of his snout in thought before replying, "My memory banks do not apply to such knowledge. Please, do explain how I may avoid this issue, so that they may be added for a future reference."

Zula opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the door to the dining area opened up, and in walked a peculiar sight that even Pinkie Pie did not expect to see.

"Well howdy, y'all! Got room fer one more?"

From on board a nearby single-room submarine, a black-coated Bat-Pony stood in the center of a pile of corpses wearing Black Wings uniforms with a wicked smile on his face.

He had a blood-red mane, tail, and eyes, and wore a black hooded jacket over black jeans and a black t-shirt. In both of his hands, he held a black-bladed scythe with red symbols on the tip of the blade, and on his back he wore a black backpack with a black strap that held both flaps over his shoulders in place. There was another strap at the left corner that he folded his scythe and strapped it into. Hanging from another strap between the backpack's exterior and his back, a black wood and metal rifle hung loosely, with more red symbols embroidered on the outside of the barrel of the rifle.

He smirked at the corpses lying on the ground before shaking his head. "Honestly, Black Wings? You guys will have to step it up a notch when trying to ambush me!" While shrugging his shoulders, he walked up to the driver seat of the submarine and lifted the head of a minotaur off of it, then stared into its cold, dead eyes, and rubbing the hole on its forehead with his right thumb. "And you should've minded your head, buddy... would've probably lasted at least another five seconds!" He then chuckled before throwing the head over his shoulders and sitting on the seat casually. Then he gripped onto the steering wheel and set the course for Atlantis.

"This is the Atlantis Port District calling. Please state your identity and your intentions." the loudspeaker stated on the intercom.

The stallion tapped on the microphone button and replied, "The name is Crimson Shadow. I'm just here to visit for a few days... and to drop off a few bodies from a group of bandits."

"Black Wings?"

"Yep. So, do I have permission?"

The male on the other side of the radio hummed for a moment before replying, "Well... as long as you park in the Slums District, then it should be fine. We'll send a group of cleaners to... take care of the mess."

Crimson chuckled before nodding his head. "Alright, then. Don't worry, it's only seven Minotaurs."

He heard the male on the other side gasp before he tapped on the communication button again, and ended the conversation there. Then he sat back, folded his arms behind his neck, and placed his hooves on the counter. Sighing contently, he looked up at the red-soaked interior and asked, "Something's off, though. Usually the Black Wings would send more after me... but for some reason, their numbers must be going down... did that Alicorn have anything to do with it?"

He hummed before shaking his head left and right. "Nah. Might've been her father, or something. That guy looked like he knew how to handle himself... and after hearing those rumors in Druid Lake, I wouldn't mind asking if I could tag along... might even be able to run into more of these clowns to kill!" He turned towards the head he threw earlier, and smiled at it while it continued to look directly at him. Then he stuck his tongue out before turning back towards the radar. Sure enough, Atlantis was nearby for him... and the huge transport ship that was already ahead of him by perhaps a mile or two.

"Now to see what kinds of challenges Atlantis has to offer!" he told himself before speeding the submarine up towards the massive bubble with giant but distant pointy-roofed buildings in the shadows.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Still kinda-sorta on my break, but decided to give y'all a quick update on this one, as per popular request via PM's. I'll try focusing on this story primarily once again, after my break is done! :twilightsmile:

On a side-note, Crimson Shadow is another character that was applied for, and belongs to "mad haxz".

(OFF-TOPIC) INTERLUDE: The Bathhouse, Part 1

Author's Note

Thought I'd throw this little piece into the story for kicks and giggles. May or may not be considered "canon" to the story, but who knows? Could've happened within the three-day time skip between S3E7 and S3E8, I guess. :rainbowderp:

(OFF-TOPIC) INTERLUDE: The Bathhouse, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

INTERLUDE

The Bathhouse

(PART 1)

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

It has been a harsh journey for our heroes so far. With the aid of multiple townspeople, however, their journey has been, without a doubt, easier than it would've been without them.

Every now and again, however, a hero must take a break. And what better place to take a break... than a bathhouse inside the Poseidon?

Gilded sighed in relief as he sat in the huge boiling tub with his towel directly behind his back. He stretched his talons out, closed his eyes, and smiled warmly at the relieving sensation that his entire body was feeling.

Around him in clockwise order, most of the other males of the group (so far) were relaxing in the water as well; Stealth Paws, Zero Gravity, Thor'lok, Swift Justice, Topaz Claw, and Heavenly Quill. Software Patch, however, stood in the sidelines, as his lower half was primarily robotic.

"Ah... this is the life, huh?" Gilded asked nobody in particular.

Topaz nodded his head before replying, "Indeed it is... much more relaxing than the coldness of The Highlands, that's for sure!"

Swift chuckled before turning towards Topaz. "Yeah, well considering you're a Diamond Dog, can't your fur naturally keep you warmer than usual?"

Topaz nodded his head before replying, "Of course, but it takes time! And not just that, but it tends to shed more quickly after sudden changes in temperature, so I've been forced to take less baths and showers than usual."

Quill turned towards him before sliding a couple feet away from him. Swift did the same on the other side.

Thor'lok hummed before turning towards the entrance. "Thor'lok wonder why this place empty, though."

Zero, however, popped his neck a couple times before spreading his wings out across the stone corner of the tub. "Didn't you hear, big guy? These two baths were reserved by orders of, and I quote, 'President Maud Pie of Atlantis'. And since Justin figured we've been going through a lot, he gave us the thumbs-up to take a break in here!"

Quill scratched his chin in thought. "Speaking of which... has anyone seen him anywhere?"

Stealth shrugged his shoulders before replying, "Not sure, mate. Last I heard, he was on his way here!"

Gilded sighed before closing his eyes again. "Eh, I'm sure he's fine. What could go wrong?"

Swift, however, scratched the back of his hair in thought. "I don't know, Gilded... does he even know how to read Atlantic yet, let alone speak it?"

Gilded hummed and thought for a moment before turning towards Swift with a confused expression on his face. "Now that ya mention it... I'm not entirely sure!"

Justin sighed in relief as he entered the room while covered by a white towel. Out of unspoken shyness, he kept the towel on most of the way up to the steam-infested tub and removed it after his feet were around halfway into the water, only to quickly sink into the water completely mere seconds after removing the towel.

He leaned back on the towel and sighed at the soothing feeling that the water gave his aching bones and muscles. His eyes slowly opened up when he heard the sound of someone whistling on the other side of the tub... but then his eyes shot open even wider when he heard Gilda speaking. "Well, what have we here?"

When he looked towards the other side of the tub, he was able to see none other than an unconscious Pinkie Pie (with bloody nostrils and a dopey smile), Gilda, Zula, Sand Barrier, Storm Light, Maud Pie, Limestone Pie, and Marble Pie; all of which with their arms crossed over their chests, but with a mix of confused and slightly amused expressions on their faces.

Justin's entire face turned red at that point. Then, without saying anything, he gripped his towel, plopped it inside the tub to cover himself, stood up with the wet towel around his waist, and began heading towards the entrance... only for Ruby to appear standing in front of the door with a towel around her entire body. Her expression turned from curiosity to an unamused deadpan.

"Daddy? What are you doing in the girls' tub?"

"... Shit."

To Be Continued...

(SNEAK-PEEK) Trailer One: "Welcome..."

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

:PROLOGUE:

In a land far from Equestria... One week after the Summer Sun Celebration...

Lost in the woods for more than a few days, Justin and Ruby both stumbled across a village inhabited by Gryphon-like creatures that stood on two lion-like legs, with clawed fingers. They said they were in the Islands of Gryphonia, a land ruled by Gryphons. Of course, they didn't just tell them, and take Justin's appearance all too well. At first, they addressed him as a monster.

After seeing Ruby in her new form, however, they greeted them like they were royalty, and agreed to help them find their way home, as long as they help their town for a short period of time, guaranteeing food and drink to be on the house. With no choice, they had to accept, only to do manual labor in the town for a whole month, cleaning the streets and making sure everything was perfect for their upcoming visitors from the western lands, known as Equestria. If they did a good job, they would take them to Canterlot, the capital city, ruled by two princesses who they claimed were in charge of raising the sun and moon.

At first, Justin didn't believe them, but after witnessing the magic of a few Unicorns (each of whom also stood on two hooves, and had hands) that visited, he stood corrected.

The labor, of course, wasn't as bad as they would've thought. Most of it was just small requests from the locals, asking for things to be delivered, or cleaning certain parts of businesses that the inhabitants were unable to reach. All of it, however, was mostly aimed towards research purposes for the only human known to exist in this world.

It didn't take long for them to even befriend the locals, along with some of the visitors from other continents, like Druathica, the lands of the Druids, which contained both Zebras and Foxes, each of which were as anthropomorphic as the other intelligent races around these lands.

The Zebras often spoke with rhymes, and were skilled Shamans, while the foxes were the best hunters and scavengers, always ending up finding something on their hunts, whether it be good or bad.

Then, there was The Highlands, which was where the Minotaurs and Goats lived. The goats, of course, were almost like Minotaurs, only they were more gifted with intelligence, with the pen being mightier than the swords for them. It was always a mystery to Justin about just how the two got along, despite their differences.

Further to the south of The Highlands, below the sea level, was the aquatic city of Atlantis, which was inhabited by Rock Golems and other creatures from different factions, along with a few Ponies that visited the place for research and intellectual trades. It was there that the ideas of Rock Farms became popular, due to their varieties in both value and uses. The Rock Golems were actually friendly with all races, even allowing Changelings to live with them, under an oath that they would not try anything hostile towards them, and that they remain their true forms. Failure to do so, of course, would be death by twenty tons of rocks... if they resisted, of course.

To the North of The Highlands rested the sandy land of Saddle Arabia. While inhabited by a few Ponies, the whole continent was mostly ruled by Horses, who were naturally built to be taller and stronger than the Ponies of Equestria. They also had a few snake people, known as Slithians. The Slithians, while resistant to the heat, can't live in the cold weather, so they often wore thick layers of clothing, even in the middle of the summer, to protect them from the cold nights. While they are naturally strong, they tend to avoid violence, and only act aggressively if they, or their friends, feel threatened, and/or are attacked.

Further East, and you would reach Drakensonia, a land inhabited by both Dragons and the dragon-like race, the Wyverns. While dragons are naturally tall, the Wyverns normally reach about a foot higher than a Minotaur. While their dragon relatives are strong but clueless and reckless, they are naturally flimsy, but smart and stealthy. The dragons rely mostly on fire to burn their opponents then and there, but the Wyverns rely on poisons that kill their enemies only a few minutes slower.

Further East, or directly West of Gryphonia, and you would reach Equestria, home of all three Pony races; Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and the Pegasi. The Earth Ponies are the most complex of the three, despite the Unicorns with their magic, and the Pegasi with their flying.

While the other two can do most of the same things the Earth Ponies can, the Earth Ponies tend to be the best with gardening, strength, and even food-related businesses.

The Pegasi, or "Pegasus" for singular, are naturally gifted with wings, which allow them to fly. That's not to go without consequence, though, as they tend to require more food and drink than the others, due to the constant usage of their wings. They also normally weigh less than Earth Ponies. Their muscles, however, have been known to even surpass certain Earth Ponies at times, but only with the right amount of balance in both running and flying.

Then, there's the Unicorns. While the other two excel at physical exercises, the Unicorns tend to be more superior with intelligence and knowledge. Like the Earth Ponies, they can deal with any kinds of businesses, including food-related, however, they tend to be more on the higher-classed businesses, like universities, colleges, and even schools on magic, which they are all born with.

If ever in a physical fight, it is most likely that a Unicorn would lose, due to their lack of natural strength. Instead, they rely on their magic to levitate the enemies away from them, sometimes hurling them in the air, at dangerous levels of height, but the Pegasi are naturally capable of defending themselves from that, which would make them more of a problem in a fight.

That's why the Unicorns usually avoid fights at all costs, and prefer to focus more on defensive or passive spells altogether. That's not to say they can be entirely useless, however! With their magic, they can easily harvest the vegetation from the farms run by Earth Ponies, or make it possible for the Non-Pegasus creatures to walk on clouds for a given time.

The Unicorns require the most rest and plenty of extra drinks, due to the constant strain of their spells. The ones from Canterlot also tend to be naturally snobby, and view any Non-Unicorns as "Peasants". There have, however, been the rare exceptions rumored around the places by travelers from across the lands.

North of Equestria is the Frozen North. Not much is known about it, other than the fact that there used to be an ancient civilization of Crystal Ponies, but any explorers that ever entered the place were never heard from again.

South of Equestria is the infamous "Badlands". As it's name implies, most of the creatures that live there are most likely a mix of any, and tend to be hostile to anything on sight. Only a few travelers dared to enter it, and any stories they managed to bring back were, without a doubt, bad.

The Badlands even inherited an alternate name, due to it's dangerous nature; "The End of Equestria".

Then, there's the East, the high-rising island of Gryphonia. Despite it's name, however, it is only run by Gryphons, but also has a mix of Diamond Dogs, Ponies of all kinds, Wyverns, a few Dragons, Slithians, Horses, and a few mixed breeds of the many races. No doubt they tended to gain stares from many, but surprisingly, they were nothing compared to when Justin first arrived.

When they were finished with their month of work, Justin and Ruby were given a few gifts to aid them on their travels, should anything happen to the ship.

Justin received a modified Saddlebag that wrapped around his waist, a staff for him to lean on, should he get tired, and a few pieces of light armor, like a Leather Shoulder-pad to wrap around his right shoulder, a longbow with a magic enchantment that creates arrows out of pure energy, a longsword for if he ever gets in danger, and a shortsword for secondary parrying. He was also given a wooden buckler, in case something happens to his shortsword. Finally, he was given one of his jackets that he entered the world with, but it was patched up, and modified to be a long yellow cloak that he could wear, in case he got cold. It also came with a pair of built-in leather gloves that ended at the tips of his knuckles, allowing his fingers "room to breathe", as the tailor pointed out.

By a Zebra visitor, he was given an assortment of enchanted rings, each of which containing a different stone on them that gives him the ability to cast magic of that stones nature; a Ruby, which gives him the power of Fire, a Sapphire, which gives him the power of Water, an Emerald, which gives him the power of Nature, and a Diamond, which gives him the power of Light.

The Fire element, despite it's infamous usage of combat, could also be used in healing, if combined with a Sapphire, to burn impurities from any wounds, while the Sapphire numbs the pain, and uses magic water to heal the wounds, both outside and inside.

The Water element, while it is known to be used for quenching thirst, can also be used in manipulating the weather, as well as the lands. Of course, while it can create water to heal wounds, it can even enchant water that comes in contact with it, while purifying it as well. If combined with both Fire, and Nature, it can bear the same effects of the Wind element, which is created from Topaz.

The Nature element is mostly used by farmers to help their plants grow healthy. Combined with Light and Water, however, the wearer of the said rings can make any plants that they can consume grow for them instantly, even in the harshest of deserts, or the hardest of rocks, at will.

The Light element is considered the most useful of them all. Not only can it light a path for those who travel in the dark, but it also grants the wearer to see in the dark. It can also be used to remove curses from any poor victims of the Demons of Tartarus. It can also be combined with the Fire element to melt anything the wearer desires to melt, or burn anything the wearer desires to melt, by waving his or her hands over it, while leaving what the wearer desires to leave unharmed.

While Justin received his gifts, Ruby was also given a Saddlebag of her own, containing a few toys for her to play with, like stuffed dolls, toy swords, and other random accessories. Her saddlebag was loaded with spare changes of clothes for both of them, while Justin's was loaded with snacks, drinks, and basic survival gear, along with an atlas, which contained descriptions of the world's continents, along with a variety of major landmarks for each.

When they made it to the docks, which they've never truly been to, they were surprised at what they saw. Instead of taking boats by sea, the Gryphons actually drove their passengers in massive Air Ships, which were operated by large propellers, which circled overhead by steam and coal power. The ships themselves were made of a type of metal that resembled brass, but was noticeably more sturdier than it. In a way, they resembled a bunch of Blimps, only more "Steam-Punk like", as Justin would say.

When the last ship arrived, a little over fifty passengers walked out, each passenger being a few ponies, along with a large amount of other races. That's not including the staff that worked inside it, which looked to be about ten or more. The scary thing Justin thought... there were enough seats to fit a hundred inside! After saying their good-byes, both Justin and Ruby, along with one of their friends who decided to join them, were booked into the VIP lounge, which rested close to the top of the large balloon-shaped contraption, containing it's own windows that couldn't be seen from outside.

Another month on, and here they are, cooped up in an air ship from a month-long voyage to Equestria. They've been well acquainted with most of the staff, and a large amount of the passengers. Ruby even made a few friends inside, as well! Little do they know, however, that they are being watched, and followed, by an ominous-looking ship with a black flag on the top.

And so, their journey begins...

Season 1, Episode 3: Fists of Steel, Hooves of Iron

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 1 | Episode 3

Fists of Steel, Hooves of Iron

By: Justin Daniels

Previously, on "Journey to Equestria: Homeward Bound"...

"A Human? Within the Everspring? And here, I thought you knew everything!" Zecallo told Zeena.

"Zecallo! Have the years blinded you? Come see for yourself, and you'll know it is true!" Zeena replied to her husband.

"Where am I?" Justin asked.

"That look you give, it's troubled, no? What's happening that makes you feel like so?" Zeena asked Justin.

"I need to find my daughter! She's still on that airship! Did you see where it went?!" Justin asked.

"You fell from the ships that sail in the sky? How in the world did you not even die?!" Zecallo asked.

"Zecallo! Why would you even ASK that kind of question?! Of course he didn't come from that ship! A fall like that could make even Princess Celestia die, if she didn't have a protection spell on her!" Zeena complained to Zecallo in Druathican.

"Actually, I did fall from the airship." Justin said in Druathican, which caught the two Zebras by surprise. "In fact, I was on a trip to Equestria, when we were ambushed, and I was thrown overboard."

"They called themselves 'Black Wings'... and when they abducted our villagers, they were last seen headed towards the Druathican Grasslands, within the far-eastern side of the island!" Zecallo and Zeena both said to Justin.

Once Justin stepped outside the door, Zecallo grabbed his left shoulder, and said in a worried tone, "You can't be serious! They'll kill you, or everyone in there, if they see you!" Justin, however, pulled his shoulder free, and continued walking.

Before he took five steps, Justin turned his head to the left, and replied, "Yes, but if I don't go, I may never see my daughter again!" At that, Zecallo's eyes widened, while Zeena stepped beside him.

"Where are you, beast?!" A Diamond Dog in a "Black Wings" uniform asked, now looking around in a circle. "Come on out! I know I saw you standing here!"

"Y-YOU?! I thought we killed you, already!" It asked, now sounding more angrier than scared.

Justin smirked, and replied, "Well, I guess you thought wrong, then! So, you'll tell me where my daughter is, won't you?"

"Th-the camp i-is in the far-eastern side of the forest! Y-you can't miss it!" The Diamond Dog replied nervously.

Justin sat on the top of a tree, examining a giant wooden fortress.

Justin's mouth opened widely, and out of pent up aggression, his arms began to shake as he saw a cage that hung on a rope over the camp, which contained Ruby, who was visibly crying, and curled up into her knees. "I'll freakin' kill them for this!" Justin whispered to himself through clenched teeth.

"Well, well, well! Looks like the human, as you called yourself, knows how to, not only survive a deathly fall, but fight, as well!" Iron-Hoof stated, before he reached his right arm behind his back. "I have a proposition for you, if you'll listen!"

"If you're thinking I'd serve the guy who nearly killed me, and kidnapped my daughter, then you must be out of your mind!" Justin retorted.

"Why would you think that my actions came without reason, though? Didn't anyone tell you what your 'daughter' is?!" Iron-Hoof asked.

Silently, Justin shook his head, and replied, "Alright, then... I'm listening."

"Good! I'm sure you know that her race is known as an 'Alicorn', but do you know what makes an Alicorn so special?" Iron-Hoof asked.

Justin nodded, and replied, "According to the books, an Alicorn is a race that represents the highest of royalty, and according to the books, and rumors, the sun and moon themselves are raised and lowered by two Alicorn Princesses." Then, his eyes widened at the realization. "But nobody else can do that..."

Iron-Hoof nodded his head. "Exactly! So what I have in mind is this... I -err, we can take the two of you to Equestria, the land that those two Alicorns rule, and they can teach her all about her unknown powers!" Then, he rubbed the back of his head. "Also... I never really noticed that the little Alicorn was your daughter, to be honest!"

"Thanks." Justin began, before shaking his right pointing finger left and right. "Now I know how to spot a liar when I see one!"

"Quite a shame... a good eye like that could've been useful!" Iron-Hoof stated, before grabbing onto two giant greatswords, which melted, and crawled onto his arms, turning them into spiked-knuckled metal arms.

After giving a blood-curdling roar, he rushed towards Justin, who at this point, drew his staff, and held it in a defensive stance, while Iron-Hoof leaped up, and had his right fist stretched back, and ready to collide with it's target.

Within the Arena of Fort Black Wing...

For over twenty meters around the arena, dust flew upwards, causing most of those within it to be untraceable. Ruby squinted her eyes, and tried to see if her dad, Justin, was okay.

Her expression turned into one of great joy when she saw the two figures' shadows through the sand. One of the figures was Iron-Hoof, who had his right fist caught on something.

Beneath his fist, Justin stood his ground, with his staff somehow still intact, even though it was made entirely of wood. Around the two, the circles that were drawn were completely dissipated, while a large crater sat where Justin's circle used to be.

With his eyebrows raised, Iron-Hoof asked, "W-WHAT?! How did you..."

Justin grinned, before replying, "Isn't it obvious, Mr. Copperbottom? I'm not using an ordinary staff!"

As he said that, he quickly pushed Iron-Hoof's right fist away with his staff, before twirling it behind his back, and swinging it forward. When he did, a large gust of wind followed the direction, causing Iron-Hoof to fly back a few meters, which was enough for Justin to rush forward, and lift the staff in the air.

Iron-Hoof braced himself, and curled both of his metal fists in front of his face, prepared for impact. What he didn't expect, however, was for Justin to slam the staff on the ground between them, and launch himself in the air.

Caught off guard, Iron-Hoof attempted to turn around, and punch the ground where he thought Justin landed. When the smoke cleared from where his fist landed, however, he found that his attempted swing was a miss.

Behind his back, Justin managed to kick him with both feet, which caused him to dive head-first into the ground, which formed another crater where he landed.

Spitting a small hint of blood from the ground, Iron-Hoof quickly used the momentum to roll forward, and charge in the opposite direction, before leaping a small distance, then sliding his hooves and right arm onto the ground, while crouching in a pouncing position, as he turned around, and was facing Justin again.

Justin held his straight face, and positioned his left hand in front of his body, outstretched, while he held his staff with his right hand, angled behind his back. His left leg was outstretched, and his right foot was leaned downward. His back was arched forward slightly.

Iron-Hoof huffed out a small hint of steam from his nostrils, before charging head-first towards Justin, while letting out a blood-curdling roar. Justin took this as a chance to brace for impact again.

Mere moments before Iron-Hoof could reach him, however, Justin grunted in pain when he felt an arrow strike him in the right leg, creating a painful-looking cut in the center of his calf. Turning his head towards the direction the arrow came from, he realized that the pirates were defending their leader at this point, much to his disgust. "Oh, how pirate-like can these clowns even get?!" Justin thought to himself, right before he ended up getting rammed into a pile of crates that were all filled with an assortment of wines.

Quickly, Justin stood from the broken crates, and glared at Iron-Hoof, who managed to stop himself once he managed to hit Justin. The pirates all laughed at their victim, who glared daggers at Iron-Hoof, before smirking.

"D'aww, look at that, Iron-Butt! You couldn't handle me yourself, so you had to get your wittle helpers!" Justin taunted, as he stood back up.

Iron-Hoof grinned slyly, before replying, "Only a fool rushes into a battle alone! Especially when they go against a pirate!" With that, large numbers of the pirates began to break from the circle, and rush towards Justin, who drew his staff, and held it in a defensive position.

Finally, he threw his staff in the air, drew his bow, and shot a ghost arrow towards the top of a distant wall behind Iron-Hoof. As it whizzed in the air, the group of pirates were distracted by the staff, until Justin backed up, positioning the staff between both, himself and the arrow's designated landing spot.

When he turned into a breeze of air, the staff transformed with it once the breeze made contact with it. This caused the pirates to look around confusedly, until one-by-one, they started to get shot by random arrows from different directions.

Eventually, the pirates backed away, and tried to retreat, only to get shot down in their backs.

When Iron-Hoof saw this, he glared nervously, and began looking around, yelling, "What the- SHOW YOURSELF, YOU COWARD!"

The next thing he knew, he heard Justin reply from behind his back, "You brought it on yourself, Copperbottom!"

Out of frustration, Iron-Hoof turned around, and hit the ground again, creating yet another crater. This time, however, he didn't turn around, and merely swung at the air, which yielded no results.

Turning around, he punched the air, only to find that he was swinging at, literally, nothing. "That is NOT my name!" He shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Strange, because I'm pretty sure your bottom might be stained with a copper color, by now." Justin replied from behind him again.

Out of frustration, Iron-Hoof swung behind his back again, but this time, it managed to make contact. "SILENCE, YOU FOOL!"

After a few seconds of the dust dying down, Justin began to laugh from behind him again, as he realized that he just punched his spiked knuckles into the corpse of one of his own men... although considering how the corpse was twitching once the dust cleared up, it was clear that it wasn't a corpse a few seconds ago.

"ENOUGH PLAYING AROUND! FIGHT ME LIKE YOU MEAN IT!" Iron-Hoof shouted, before adding in a much more silent manner, "Or I'll just forfeit, and hunt your daughter down, instead!" That statement caused Justin to stop hiding, and appear in front of him. Instead of his former sly grin, he was now holding an enraged expression.

"Trust me when I tell you this... you shouldn't have gone there..." Justin replied, as his tone began to lower. "And now, I show no regrets in agreeing... play time is over!"

In the matter of seconds, a ghost arrow landed behind Iron-Hoof, which caused Justin to teleport behind him, while he grabbed his metal left hand with his right one. Then he caught Iron-Hoof's attempted right-armed swing, which he tried by turning around clockwise, which ended up the same, only this time, Justin's arms were crossed. When he caught the other hand, Iron-Hoof's eyes widened, as he felt the metal on his hands bend into his flesh inside, causing him to yell in agony.

"And now..." Justin began, "I think you owe Ruby an apology!"

Iron-Hoof spat on the ground, then replied, "Buck you!" With a shrug, Justin uncrossed his arms, which caused Iron-Hoof's arms to cross instead, resulting in more pain and yelling.

"Care to rephrase that?!" Justin asked, now getting annoyed at this pirate's attitude, even while facing death.

"I ain't apologizing to some brat!" Iron-Hoof retorted, now spitting in Justin's face.

This caused Justin to release him, and wipe the mucus-filled saliva out of his eyes. At that point, Iron-Hoof quickly picked him up, and rushed him into one of the massive bird-shaped wooden statues. In self-defense, Justin raised his feet into the air, and kicked Iron-Hoof halfway across the battlefield, before rushing towards him with his staff drawn again.

Iron-Hoof, who lied on the ground at that point, used his hooves to kick Justin in the chest when he was within range, which caused him to stumble to the ground. Then Iron-Hoof pinned him to the ground with his metal hands, and growled, "It's over, human! I've won!"

Justin glared at him, and replied, "Oh, really? You think you've won, even though you cheated?!"

Iron-Hoof smirked, before replying, "Once a pirate, always a pirate!"

Justin looked around for a silver-lining for his situation. It was then that he found the statue of the bird was falling towards them, beak-down.

Then Justin created a small blaze with his hands, and heated Iron-Hoof's metal arms unbearably, which caused him to yell in pain again, and loosen his grip. While freed, Justin quickly kicked Iron-Hoof off of him, and then rolled to the left, as Iron-Hoof stared wide-eyed at the eagle statue that had it's beak in a direct collision-course for his chest.

The next thing that could be heard was a loud masculine scream, followed by an even louder bang, and then silence. Standing up, Justin looked behind his left shoulder, and saw Iron-Hoof lying under the eagle's head, with it's beak pierced completely through his chest, and into the ground.

"Yeah... you took your job straight to the heart, huh?" Justin said to the corpse, as he walked towards the gates of the gallows, which led to the main entrance.

When he got there, he was greeted by a loud cheer. Looking around, he saw a large number of Zebras, Gryphons and Diamond Dogs who wore torn rags, and a few Wyverns and Ponies, some in rags, and others in the clothes that they wore from the Airship. He wasn't entirely focused on most of them, though. In fact, there were only two out of the hundreds that he was focused on. One of them was already running his way.

"DADDY!" Ruby joyfully yelled, which caused Justin to smile, and lower to one of his knees, with his arms stretched out.

When she was within reach, he quickly embraced is daughter, and lifted her up, while she had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. "I... I'm so sorry I ever doubted you, Daddy!" Ruby said through her tears.

Justin's own tears built up in his eyes, while he replied, "Shh, it's alright, honey... I would NEVER let anything harm you... I've already promised you that... and I intend to keep it!" He then closed his eyes, as his tears broke from his eye-barrier. "At first, though, I was scared that I might've failed you... I thought I lost you for a second... but I'm just thankful that I was wrong about that."

As the reunited father and daughter embraced each other, a crowd gathered around them, some confused, some deeply touched, and some turning to their loved ones, and embracing them, as well.

Three Days Later...

"And you're sure you can't stay with us?" The Zebra Healer asked Justin, as he, Ruby, and Gilded stood at the entrance, with Gilded holding a map that was supposed to take them to the nearest port town.

With a smile, Justin shook his head, and replied, "I'm sorry Zeia, but we really need to reach Equestria as soon as possible. Thank you for the offer, though! Perhaps we'll be able to send Zecora here to tell y'all if we made it back home, or not... but for now, we'll say it in person. Thank you all for the supplies y'all have given us... we will never forget y'all. To me, you're all our friends, now!" After saying that, he waved his right hand, and smiled at the Zebra Village, which gained a ton of new inhabitants... namely the Pony and Wyvern couple, who have decided to live there instead, and avoid the dangers of the outside world. Everyone else have decided to stay, and wait a month for a few guards to arrive and escort them to Draemarth, the Capital City of Druathica.

"We shall never forget you, Justin! Human Savior of Goldwood Village!" With that, the entire town cheered loudly, as Justin blushed, and nodded his head, before the three waved their final good-byes, and headed out the gate, and into the dark, dirt road through the brighter-looking jungle.

"Daddy?" Ruby asked Justin, as the three of them walked out of Goldwood's reach.

"Yes, honey?" Justin replied, lowering his ear to her.

After a few seconds of a delay, she popped him in the back of the head. "Ow! What was THAT for?!"

"Scaring me when you carried me out of the cage!" She retorted.

"What?! I already told you that-" Justin began, before he was interrupted by Gilded Blade popping him in the back of the head as well. "OW! Gilded?!"

Gilded grunted, before saying, "And that was for taking your sweet time!" Then the three of them slightly chuckled. "Seriously, though... thank you for the save, Justin!"

Justin nodded his head, and replied, "Any time! You know I've already considered you a friend, right?"

Gilded lightly smirked, while he looked up. "Yeah, I kinda figured that... but it's still going to take some getting used to, though..."

Ruby looked up at the two, and asked, "So, Mr. Gilded! Where will we be going, now?"

Gilded smiled at the little Alicorn Filly and replied, "Well, it'll be about a day's length of a walk from Goldwood to Draemarth, and somewhere between the two is the Druid Lake. Perhaps we could set up a camp there!"

Justin clapped his hands together, and smiled. "Well wherever we go, I'm looking forward to some rest! This arrow wound ain't gonna heal that well if I keep moving on it, right?" The others nodded their heads, as they continued through the forest, and towards the horizon, where the sun began to rise.

To Be Continued...

Season 2, Episode 9: The Experiment Wakes, Part 1

Author's Note

I know what you're thinking!

"Justin... didn't you just say that you're NOT going to give us another chapter tomorrow?"

No, I said "Maybe Not"! Oh well...

As it turned out, I have more freedom than I thought! (And my dad was hanging around my laptop a lot less, meaning more Brony Time! *Dances next to Pinkie Pie, only to end up slung into a wall*

Anyways, Software Patch is another OC from another epic applicant (which is described in the Author's Notes of "Season 1, Episode 5"!) (His name is "firebirdnamedsam", by the way! He doesn't have a story as of yet, but I bet he could be one Tartarus of an author, just by reading his application for this character! Descriptive with a capital "D" at the beginning!)

Oh, and there's a little not-so-hidden Easter Egg below the "To Be Continued" sign, so... yeah! Remember to check it out, if you like immersion with a hint of suspense! :pinkiehappy:

Season 2, Episode 9: The Experiment Wakes, Part 1

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 9

The Experiment Wakes
|PART ONE|

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

With our heroes captured by King Goldheart, it would seem that all hope has once again fallen for them. Now, with their king spreading lies about the heroes through The Highlands, they are deemed international criminals, and should they escape, are to be put to death immediately. Unfortunately for them, even the citizens of Undercity were in on it, too! Now, with the citizens of Undercity in charge again, all of our heroes are locked into maximum security... and with the knowledge of their capabilities and weaknesses, they have Ruby and Justin in cells next to each other. Should one speak out of line, Ruby would be hurt, or worse, resulting in the injuries going to Justin... and with his wounds from the prior battle, he knows he can't handle much more of it.

Meanwhile, a new creature rises from the world's past. Sided with a fabled hero in a temporary truce, it is up to the two of them to save our heroes from certain death. There is only one problem, though...

...They are all the way back in Druathica...

Ponyland (Before "The Great Division") | 1,500 Years Ago

The area around the magic kingdom of Ponyland was covered in fire and brimstone. Where trees and mountains once stood, now ash and cinder could be seen endless miles away.

In the center of a crater, an android-like hybrid creature lied down with its left hand clenching its chest; a gray diamond with a cloud-like aura inside it. From its appearance, it was male. He appeared to have the ears, snout, and left arm of a crimson-colored Fox, a cream-colored Unicorn's head and left half of a torso, with Royal Blue Irises with Blood Red Pupils in the centers of each eye, Wyvern-like fangs, and gunmetal-colored scales over the right half of his torso, and a pair of metal hooves. In the center of his chest, the diamond was three inches in diameter, and in a cracked-like pattern of scars that surrounded it, the inside of the scars glowed in a circuit board-like pattern. His right arm was like a Wyvern's in shape and strength; his claws capable of slicing through rocks with minimum effort, a pair of Wyvern's wings, and a Wyvern's tail with a foot-long silver blade at the tip. He had a noticeable scar around his neck that was sewn shut. Another scar, much larger than the other one, curved around the diamond from his left shoulder to his right hip; ending at the point where his metal legs began.

Slowly sitting up, he placed his right claw on the ground and tried to stand up, only for blue electricity to shock his upper body; causing him to slightly twitch in pain, before looking up at the cause of his injuries.

There, towering over him by ten times his height, was a red centaur with black horns, a long black beard with a long black mane, red furred arms, four hooves on his lower body, and a giant wooden staff in his hands.

He grinned at the creature that tried standing from the crater, before saying in a dark, low-pitched tone, "Where is the Magic that your Alicorns have given you, Software Patch? Can't you see that you are nothing without it?!" Then he looked behind his back; his pitch black eyes focusing on the Draconequus on the ground; covered in blood, cuts, and bruises. "And besides... you nearly managed to kill a potential... ally."

In a low-pitched male's voice that sounded like a man speaking from a tin can, Software Patch replied, "Tirek! You will never get away with this!"

Tirek chuckled lightly before slowly walking towards the weakened creature. "On the contrary... you won't even be able to wake up once I'm done with you..." Then his mouth opened up, as a golden aura flowed from Software's diamond; causing him to yell in agony; his scars' neon blue lights to fade, and his eyes to slowly close. Then, once he fell to the ground again, he remained motionless, while Tirek turned towards the injured Draconequus and reached his right hand towards him. "Discord... I should've known you'd need me sooner or later."

With a muffled cough, Discord replied, "Ah, I could've had him..."

Tirek raised an unamused eyebrow at him. "Well... since I saved your life, you know what our codes as Spirits of Destruction mean... right?"

Discord sighed, before shaking his "partner"'s hand. "Indeed... so, now that you saved my life, I am to aid you, when needed." As he said that, he started to glow. His wounds and blood soon disappeared, and any injuries and fractures that he had were no more.

Then Tirek turned around, and walked away. "Remember... when I need you, you will know." Then he turned to Software, and grumbled. "This creature shouldn't even exist... but at the same time, he was built too cleverly to merely kill." He then turned to Discord, and said, "I would suggest burying him with some of the new powers I gave you from him... he must never be near another Alicorn again... or he will be back."

Discord nodded his head, and then replied, "Don't worry, Tirek... I have it all under control." Then Tirek turned around, and vanished into a flash of light.

Discord chuckled maniacally, as his eyes started to glow. Then, after a few moments of chanting a spell, the entire landscape around him turned from destruction to oddity, as the ground and sky turned a purple and blue checkered pattern.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, Software levitated towards an "edge" of the surface, and began to fall down an endless drop. "Ta-ta!" He said with a chuckle, before conjuring a throne for him to sit on.

What he didn't expect to see, however, was a pair of Alicorns to call his name from a faraway distance.

To Be Continued...

Gryphonia | 1,500 Years Later

Deep in the center of an unknown jungle in the middle of an unknown island, a Human male and an Alicorn female appeared from a sudden flash of light; the man wearing a simple yellow hooded jacket, blue denim jeans, and a pair of dark brown hiking boots. He appeared to be thirty years old, his face was covered in centimeter-long stubble, and his hair lowered down to his neck midway. Looking around in a panicked mood, he soon found the Alicorn lying on the ground.

The Alicorn was a filly with a golden coat, a medium-length red mane tied in a tail in the back, and was wearing a gold-colored dress. She looked at the Human nervously, before mumbling, "Daddy... I don't feel so good..."

The Human's eyes widened at the sound of the Alicorn's voice. "Oh my gosh... Ruby? Is that you?!"

The Alicorn raised an eyebrow at the Human, before nodding her head, and slowly backing away; the sight of the jungle finally getting to her. "Daddy... what's going on? Where are we?" Then she looked at her hands, and gasped. "W-why do I have... so much hair all over me? DADDY, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!"

Both of their eyes filled with tears, as they embraced each other in a hug. "I don't know, honey... but I promise, I'll find a way to fix this! There has to be help somewhere..." Then he picked her up, and added, "Hang tight, and don't let go!"

Then the two of them traveled through the unknown forest, while thousands of miles below them, hidden beneath a cave, a diamond started to glow a light blue color through a large pile of dirt in, what would appear to be, an ancient mausoleum.

Season 2, Episode 14: The Gateway to Goldheart

Journey to Equestria

Homeward Bound

Season 2 | Episode 14

The Gateway to Goldheart

By: Justin Daniels

And so, our Journey continues...

As our heroes progress through the snowy lands of darkness, better known as "Shaded Meadows", an unlikely pair of the group manage to find a way out of their bindings, and into the castle; hidden behind the corners and walls.

Meanwhile, a pair of prisoners slowly start to wake up in a pair of cages that hang over the throne room. The first thing they see, however, is another pair of prisoners that are trapped in a coma-like sleep... and the two of them are in a single cage that rests in the center of the room, between their cages.

Sitting on the throne, the behemoth of a Horse looks up at them, and smiles. "Ah, it looks like the pair of nosy mares have finally woken up..."

Darkness... that was all that Justin was able to see around him.

"Hello?" He asked, only to be answered by his own echoes. "Where... where the hell am I?!"

Suddenly, Ruby appeared in front of him; unconscious. "Oh my gosh... Ruby?! Ruby, are you okay?! Wake up!" She didn't answer, which only made him panic even more.

"You have to face your fears, Justin... it's the only way for you to wake up!" A vaguely familiar voice replied from within Justin's head.

"Who said that? Where are you?!" Justin asked while looking around confusedly.

The voice replied, "We will show ourselves when you've faced your fears... rest assured, you will succeed... we have already foreseen this."

"Who's we? What's going-" Justin stopped himself from talking, and gasped. "Wait a minute... I'm just... sleeping?!"

The voice replied, "No... you are in a comatose state, along with your daughter, Ruby. We are already speaking to her in her dreams also, so you need not worry about her."

Justin nodded his head. "So... can I at least get a name, please? Who are y'all?"

"We," the voice began, "are the Nymphari."

Gilded and Stealth were crawling through the dirt beneath the castle; in a small, enclosed tunnel... at least, that's what they thought, due to the darkness of the environment making that assumption more of a guesstimate. Due to the fact that Foxes were great diggers by nature, Stealth was the one in front, while Gilded followed him, and dug around for him to fit through.

"I think we're here, mate... let's climb up now." Stealth said as he began to dig upwards.

Gilded sighed with relief and replied, "About freakin' time! Let's get out of this damn tunnel."

"A simple thank-you would've been better, you know."

"You'll get one when we get there, now hurry!"

Stealth grunted as he began clawing through the dirt overhead. Gilded also groaned as his muscles began to grow tired with every passing minute. Eventually, they reached the surface area, and smiled.

Then, once Stealth clawed the outer area, he cheered... only to notice something off. They were no longer in the castle's area... or the city, for that matter. Instead, they were somewhere in the Shaded Meadows.

When Gilded peeked his head out, he complained. "Damn it, we went too far... nice navigating work, Stealth." Then he began to crawl back down the tunnel while Stealth followed.

"Just drop it, Gilded." he replied, only to bump into Gilded as they crawled down.

Gilded turned away from Stealth as his weight began to affect his sore muscles. "Get your ass out of my face!" He grunted, as his claws and paws began to slide on the edges of the surface.

"Well get your face out of my ass, and hurry!" Stealth retorted as he stopped in place, and allowed Gilded time to get some distance.

"I'm not a Fox, you stupid navigator..." Gilded muttered beneath his breath.

"I said drop it, mate!" Stealth retorted, before they both stopped in unison, and noticed the rocks starting to shift. Then, once they both looked up, they screamed at the sight of a snowy ship passing over the hole; sending snow down the tunnel, and causing the two of them to fall back to the bottom of the tunnel again.

When they landed, Gilded groaned in pain. Then he mumbled, "Consider it dropped..."

Stealth, however, slightly chuckled. "Well, at least it was a soft landing."

"Easy for you to say..." Gilded mumbled beneath the snow, before lifting up, and noticing that Stealth landed on him. "Well get off of me!" He then complained, until Stealth nodded his head and climbed back to the top of the tunnel. "Where the hay are you going?!"

Stealth replied from the top of the tunnel, "I'm looking to see where the ship went! Maybe it can lead us in the right direction!"

Gilded nodded his head and lifted his right thumb-claw up. "Alright, then... good idea, for once!"

And then, after noticing the direction the ship went, Stealth slid down the tunnel; landing his lower paws on Gilded's back, hopping back onto the ground, and then digging shortly afterwards, while ignoring Gilded's groans of pain.

"Damn it! Warn me next time!" Gilded complained, while they both continued to dig through the tunnel; hoping that they could finally make it to the castle to save their friends.

From inside the front gate of Diamond Peak, the group examined the scenery before them. Instead of being a sprawling metropolis that Swift claimed it to be, it was more of a dark and gloomy city, with almost every building barricaded and boarded up from the inside. A few curious eyes occasionally looked between the boards, only to move away again... or be moved by another.

Swift sighed with a glum expression on his face. "It looks like a lot has happened since my absence."

Gilda nodded her head. "Yeah... we should just go to the castle, and be done with it."

With a nod, the group began to head towards the massive building in the distance; guarded by another gate from inside the city. As they walked, however, Maud stopped in place, and gasped. Pinkie was the first to react.

"What's wrong, Maud?" she asked her older sister.

Maud began to breath more heavier, as she turned to her younger sister and replied, "Something's wrong..."

"You bucked up big time, pal... just you wait! When we get out of these bindings, we'll make ya wish ya never crossed with the Pies!" A silver-coated mare with a dark gray mane that covered her left eye shouted in a tomboyish accent, as she and another mare (both wearing light brown rags for clothes) with a dark gray coat and silver mane that was combed neatly over her forehead, were being pushed along a small hallway by a group of guards with spears angled towards their backs.

The other mare sighed and said to the first mare in a high-pitched voice, "Please, Marble... threatening them will only make things worse!"

Marble groaned before looking into her sister's golden eyes with her purple gaze. "Limestone! Ya know that we ain't gonna go back home if we don't do somethin' here!"

Limestone sighed, before closing her eyes and pulling at her chains on her wrists. "If only my hands were free..."

Marble glared at the bindings that limited her hooves from moving. "Yeah... and my hooves!"

"Keep walking, you measly little Ponies!" the Minotaur behind them grunted before pressing his spear harder in Marble's back.

"Chill out, buck-head! I'm goin'!" she retorted, as the four of them (she, Limestone, and the two guards) walked on in the dark hallways towards a jail cell.

Pinkie stared at Maud wide-eyed, and her jaw hung open, while Maud finished explaining her latest senses that she just felt.

"Oh, no... if the others are out here, then... we have to hurry!"

Maud nodded her head. "I agree. I only hope we're not too late..."

From directly in front of them, a familiar gruff voice said, "You aren't going anywhere, I'm afraid." When they saw who it was, their eyes rested on a Minotaur with a white coat and a black mane. He was wearing a black t-shirt, dark brown pants, and a pair of black boots over his hooves.

"Boulder... I should've known you'd be against us." Swift muttered through his teeth, as he stepped through the group.

Boulder the Minotaur chuckled before replying, "Ah... your father would be proud to see you again... I'm sorry to say this, though... you won't be seeing him any time soon..." then he stomped his right foot behind his left and raised his fists up in a fighting stance. "... Or ever again, for that matter!"

Swift glared at him and reached behind his back to draw his longsword, only to be stopped by Maud, who stepped in front of him. "You guys go find the others... Boulder and I will take care of this one."

Pinkie turned from the Minotaur to her sister and gasped. "W-what?! No! I just-"

Maud cut her off with a stern expression, which Pinkie grew up knowing all too well. "Pinkamena Dianne Pie! We have two more sisters in need of our help... and if none of us go, then they will die!"

"Then let me take this one down! I can do it!" Pinkie interjected with her own glare. "Besides, I've always been faster than you!"

Maud shook her head at her sister, while the others around the area stared at the bickering sisters in confusion... even the Minotaur.

"Speed alone won't make a difference, Pinkie Pie! You have to have a proper balance, and know the pressure points first!"

"I know about pressure points, Maud Pie! You can even ask the others about the guards in Port Greenhold's Prison!"

"Yes, Pinkie, but don't forget you also need the proper strength to go with the speed, if you expect to even inflict any damage to begin with!"

"Maud, why don't you ever let me do these things, huh?! You aren't my parents, and you're not my boss!"

"I'm your older sister, though! Our parents told me to protect you! Doesn't that say enough about my actions?!"

Before another word could be said, the two of them were lifted off the ground by a smiling Rock Golem; both being held by the backs of their coats (Pinkie was still wearing the red jacket, by the way. She never could find her other sets of clothing.)

"Boulder! What are you doing?!" Maud and Pinkie asked in unison.

Boulder chuckled and replied in his Atlantic (British-sounding) accent, "Have no fear, my mistresses... I shall handle this one, and you both go find the other mistresses!"

Maud and Pinkie raised an eyebrow at him. "Boulder... you can't be serious... you haven't fought in years, though... at least over a decade, even!"

Boulder (the Golem) replied, "All the more reason to stretch ol' Granite and Igneous! I don't want to become Sedimentary, after all!"

For some reason, Pinkie and Maud both had a small, brief giggle out of that one. "Ah, it looks like Mistress Pinkie Pie is wearing off on me! I may have to be a comedian after this!"

Maud then looked from her friend to the Minotaur, and back at her friend again. "Please... don't die, okay? You're too important to our family."

Boulder (the Golem) nodded his torso/head. "Have no fear, Mistress... I may be old, but I am no pushover!" With that, he walked up to the open area, and raised his fists.

Boulder (the Minotaur) chuckled and said, "I'm going to enjoy this..." then he turned towards the guards around him and said, "You guys go warn the king! I'll handle this one on my own, also!"

When the battlefield was cleared of all but the two Boulders, the Minotaur said, "It's been a while since I've seen visitors from Atlantis... perhaps I should send you to your family in pebbles!"

The Golem chuckled before replying, "I say, perhaps you mistake me for a mere rock, ol' chap... let's see who sends who to the ground first, though!"

"Indeed... let's!" With that, the two charged head-first, with the Golem planting his feet to the ground, and bracing for impact from the Minotaur's leaping punch.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note

And so, yet ANOTHER pair of heroes join the team! Please welcome...

Marble Pie (Inkie Pie is her nickname, like Pinkamena's "Pinkie" name.)
and
Limestone Pie (Blinkie Pie is HER nickname, like Pinkamena's "Pinkie" name.)

(Before you go on asking why, I'd like to point out that this group NEEDED more mares to begin with... and what better choice than to add the REST of the Pie Sisters?! :pinkiehappy:)

Oh, and I'm sure y'all are curious about the ages of the characters, so I may as well throw that in, as well! (I kinda overlooked that throughout, like, this WHOLE story! :twilightblush: )

Justin Daniels: 32 (Yeah, I'm old in this story! :derpyderp1: (Just kidding. 30 is still kinda young, isn't it? :derpytongue2: ))

Ruby: 8

Gilded Blade: 25

Gilda: 19

Pinkie Pie: 18

Stealth Paws: 21

Zero Gravity: 19

Thor'lok: 24

Swift Justice: 20

Zula: 22

Software Patch: ?? (Approximately 1,500 years old)

Sand Barrier: 26

Topaz Claw: 25

Storm Light: 23

Heavenly Quill: 17

Maud Pie: 26

Limestone Pie: 17

Marble Pie: 20

Nightshade: ?? (Approximately 10,000 years old, and up.)

Twilight Sparkle: 18

Fluttershy: 19 (She's a year older than Pinkie, obviously. :derpytongue2: )

Rarity: 21

Applejack: 17

Rainbow Dash: 19

Any other ages, I'll add when requested! :twilightsmile:

As always, stay sharp, My Little Bronies! And remember... "The best path in life is different from each individual... but to go through it, we ALL start the same way... with a single step!" :twilightsmile: